UCI benefactor Bren breaks new ground

Tony Dodero

College educators, high-tech computer aficionados, politicians and

businessmen toasted the Irvine Co. Chairman Donald Bren Wednesday for

his considerable financial help and long-term vision to fortify the

future of the university’s cutting-edge computer science school.

Bren, who was revealed recently to be the benefactor of a

previously anonymous $20-million gift last December, and who makes

few public appearances, was the honored guest at an elaborate

groundbreaking ceremony that featured a parade of alumni from the

computer science school, credited with masterminding everything from

the early days of three-dimensional, computer-aided design to

creating Internet domain names.

Bren noted that the idea for the endowment was spawned 20 years

ago in a meeting with former UCI Chancellor Jack Peltason in

Washington, D.C.

“He said something that I will never forget,” Bren said. “He said

‘At the end of the day, the key to a university’s standing, its

reputation, its educational excellence and the quality of its

research is rooted in the excellence of its faculty.’”

Bren called the University of California “the most important

institution in California,” and pointed out that the Irvine Co. began

its relationship with higher education with a large endowment to the

state in 1959.

“Our company feels very much a part of the UCI campus,” he said.

In addition to honoring Bren, whose name will adorn the new School

of Information and Computer Sciences, Wednesday’s event was a

celebration of the appointment of the school’s first dean, Debra

Richardson, as well as the start of construction on the new building

that will house the school. That building, to be named Bren Hall,

will be six stories with 138,000 square feet of research and

classroom facilities when its completed in 2006.

But more than just welcoming the physical building that will be

home to the school, university officials noted that the money from

Bren will enable them to hire top-flight educators and continue to

build the reputation of the nationally ranked computer science school

that has already produced a bevy of celebrity-like computer

scientists.

Among the noted alumni on hand Wednesday were Patrick Hanratty,

considered the father of computer-aided design or CAD; Paul

Mockapetris, creator of the Domain Name System widely used on the

Internet; Roy Fielding, the architect of the Internet’s Hypertext

Transfer Protocol or HTTP; Adam Bonner, the co-founder with fellow

UCI grad Victor Liu of Network Synthesis computing systems; and

Sepideh Gazeri, a UCI student who completed her bachelor’s degree in

three years and is entering the school’s MBA program in the fall.

Richardson promised that the school will continue to be the

pioneer of new technologies like “ubiquitous” computing, which

envisions a world where computers are a part of all aspects of daily

living.

“[The computer school] is a spectacular success story,” Richardson

said. “Top 10 in five [years], that’s our goal.”

Out of Bren’s gift, $18 million will go for 10 endowed chairs for

distinguished faculty. The remainder will be used for research and

other technology developments.

“Today we are celebrating an extremely empowering gift,” said UCI

Chancellor Ralph Cicerone.

Ted Smith, the chair of the UCI Foundation, thanked Bren for his

$20 million investment in the university.

“The return of intellectual capital will be returned many times on

his investment today,” Smith said.

Bren was also presented with the University of California’s

prestigious Presidential Medal, the university’s highest honor, for

his philanthropy to the entire university system.

“It’s a heavy honor to carry around,” said a joking Bren about the

Olympic-style medallion.

The $20 million for the Donald Bren School of Information and

Computer Science is just one in a long line of contributions totaling

more than $40 million that the well-known philanthropist and

billionaire has made to UCI and the UC system.

His money has helped establish the Donald Bren Endowment, bringing

in the best and brightest faculty to the college; the Donald Bren

Events Center; and was the reason behind the naming of the Claire

Trevor School of the Arts, which is named after his late stepmother,

the Academy Award-winning actress Claire Trevor Bren.

“Today is a special day for me, so I am grateful for your kind and

generous recognition,” Bren said. “I am both proud and honored to be

permanently associated with this unique school.”

* TONY DODERO is the editor. He may be reached at (949) 574-4258

or by e-mail at tony.dodero@latimes.com.