University of Tulsa Secures $2.5M Gift for Engineering College — The University of Tulsa

Event summary

$2.5M gift from Antonio J. Pietri (B.S. '87) and wife Sabine to University of Tulsa's College of Engineering & Computer Science.
Funds will establish The Pietri Family Design & Innovation Laboratory and two endowed faculty fellowships.
Antonio J. Pietri is CEO of PowerSchool and former 30-year executive at Aspen Technology Inc.
Pietri family has deep ties to the university, with both Antonio and his father as alumni.

The big picture

The $2.5M gift underscores the growing trend of alumni-driven funding for STEM education, particularly in engineering and computer science. This investment in facilities and faculty fellowships aims to bolster the university's competitive edge in a sector increasingly reliant on cutting-edge research and innovation. The scale of the donation reflects both the Pietri family's commitment to their alma mater and the broader industry need for skilled engineering talent.

What we're watching

Faculty Attraction: How the endowed fellowships will impact the university's ability to attract and retain top engineering faculty.
Student Outcomes: The pace at which the new design and innovation lab will enhance experiential learning and student success rates.
Alumni Engagement: Whether this gift will spur additional philanthropic contributions from other alumni in the engineering and computer science fields.