At its Oct. 7 meeting on the Hilltop Campus, the University’s Board of Trustees elected David P. Conner, chief executive officer of Overseas-Chinese Banking Corp. in Singapore, as a new member.
The election was announced by Chancellor Mark S. Wrighton.
A 1974 WUSTL Arts & Sciences graduate, Conner earned an M.B.A. from Columbia University, beginning his career in 1976 with Citibank, including extensive experience in Asia and the Pacific region. He served as managing director and market manager of Citibank Japan, chief executive officer of Citibank India, country corporate officer of Citibank Singapore, and in 2002 was named chief executive officer of Overseas-Chinese Banking Corp.
“We are extremely pleased that David Conner will be joining the board,” Wrighton said. “His leadership in Asia, his loyal service to Washington University and his active membership on the International Advisory Council for Asia have proven immensely helpful to the University.”
In other action, the trustees received a detailed report from Wrighton on the status of the University, noting that the number of applications for next fall’s freshman class is more than 8 percent higher than this time last year.
In addition, he noted that the 1,390 freshmen entering this fall represent the best class in the University’s history according to indicators such as test scores and rank in high-school graduating class. He also said the University received the highest number of applications in its history — more than 21,500.
Wrighton announced that a daylong diversity retreat will be held Oct. 15 for members of the University Council and the Ad Hoc Committee on Diversity and their spouses. Speakers will touch upon such issues as the importance of diversity in campus and business environments, among faculty and throughout higher education in general.
He also recounted the successful dedication of the Farrell Learning and Teaching Center at the School of Medicine on Sept. 16 and the dedication of the Richard A. Gephardt Institute for Public Service on Sept. 19.
Searches for the dean of the Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts and for a vice chancellor for research continue on schedule, Wrighton said.
He added that an advisory committee to assist in the search for a successor to retiring engineering Dean Christopher I. Byrnes, Ph.D., the Edward H. and Florence G. Skinner Professor in Systems Science and Mathematics, will be appointed soon, so that a successor can be appointed when Byrnes steps down June 30.
Updating the trustees on new facilities, Wrighton noted that both the Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum and Earl E. and Myrtle E. Walker Hall are taking shape at the Sam Fox School. Occupancy is expected for late spring of 2006.
He also said Koenig House on the South 40 is completed and students have moved in. Construction on Phase IVB of Liggett House is proceeding, and occupancy is scheduled for fall 2006.
Planning continues on the new University Center, as well as on a social science/law building.
The meeting program focused strongly on international initiatives in graduate and professional education, with presentations by Wrighton, Robert E. Thach, Ph.D., dean of the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences, and James V. Wertsch, Ph.D., the Marshall S. Snow Professor in Arts & Sciences and director of a new initiative to be announced later in October.
The conversation was opened by a detailed report from Wrighton on the 10-year history of the initiatives begun through the work of the International Advisory Council for Asia (IACA), culminating in activities scheduled for Oct. 24-29 in Shanghai and Beijing, China.
Thach reviewed the International Graduate Scholarship Conference to be held Oct. 29 in Beijing for students from 38 leading Chinese universities. Co-sponsored by WUSTL, the Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation and the China Scholarship Council, the conference will attract representatives from 12 prominent American universities, including Penn, Yale, Michigan, Colorado and Indiana.
More than 1,000 of China’s best students are expected to participate in the event, which will provide detailed information on how to pursue graduate education in the United States.
Wertsch briefed the trustees on a unique and innovative new concept intended to attract the best and brightest students from throughout Asia to pursue graduate and professional education at WUSTL. The program involves the establishment of university partners throughout Asia, support from sponsoring corporations and a significant naming gift to endow the program.
The details of the program will be announced on Oct. 19 in New York City, Wertsch explained, noting that much work has gone into fulfilling this dream first announced by Wrighton more than a year ago at the IACA meeting in Seoul, South Korea.
“We are preparing to announce this initiative shortly,” Wrighton said, “and we expect that it will be received well both here in the United States and throughout Asia. With the help of the IACA and the leadership of key faculty — starting with Jim Wertsch — we have conceived, organized, and generated significant support for something we believe will be meaningful not only for Washington University and America, but also for future generations of leaders in Asia.”
In other action, the trustees passed memorial resolutions and observed a moment of silence in memory of two past trustees who recently passed away — Katherine B. Magrath, retired managing director and president of ValueQuest/TA LLC; and Paul L. Miller Jr., president of P.L. Miller & Associates Inc. Miller served on the board until 2003 and Magrath until May 2005.
The trustees received standing committee reports from the following areas: development, audit, educational policy, University finance, Medical finance, nominating and the Alumni Board of Governors.
About David Conner
David P. Conner has served as chief executive officer of the Overseas-Chinese Banking Corp. (OCBC) of Singapore since 2002.
OCBC is one of Singapore’s top banks with about 45 branches, offering a wide range of consumer finance, business banking, investment management and global treasury services. OCBC originally was founded to serve the Chinese business community of Singapore and other parts of Asia, but now the bank serves all members of the public.
Following his graduation from WUSTL’s Arts & Sciences in 1974, Conner earned an M.B.A. in 1976 at Columbia University. He then joined Citibank for more than 25 years, where he served as managing director and market manager for Citibank Japan, CEO of Citibank India and country corporate officer for Citibank’s Singapore and Brunei operations.
Conner and his wife, Selina, are the parents of a 2003 WUSTL Arts & Sciences graduate, Marian.