KNOXVILLE — University of Tennessee alumnus Chad Goldman and his partner, Brian Pendleton, have pledged $50,000 to support the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, College of Arts and Sciences. The gift will fund undergraduate scholarships, faculty awards, and provide other academic needs for the college. Goldman is a 1993 graduate in language and world business.
“Educating tomorrow’s leaders is very important to Brian and me,” said Goldman. “It is absolutely critical to train Tennessee kids to compete in the global marketplace. My heart will always be on ‘Rocky Top,’ and I want to give kids the same opportunities I was given as a UT student.”
“Visionary alumni like Chad are ensuring that current and future students will be able to follow in their footsteps and achieve on a national and international scale,” said UT Knoxville Chancellor Jimmy G. Cheek. “We are grateful for his and Brian’s support of our university.”
Half of the gift will be used to create the Chad Goldman and Brian Pendleton Endowed Language and World Business Scholarship, which will support UT students completing domestic internships and study abroad programs. UT is one of only a small number of US institutions with a major that allows students to specialize in both foreign language and international business.
“Students in the program often study abroad to complete the practical experience component of the program, and the Goldman/Pendleton Scholarship will help provide greater numbers of students with this opportunity,” said Gregory Kaplan, director of the UT Language and World Business Program.
“My experience with UT’s language and world business program really contributed to my professional success and character enrichment,” said Goldman. “It is a great program that can be even greater with more money.”
The other half will establish the Ayres Hall Excellence Endowment to fund faculty awards, undergraduate scholarships, teaching assistantships, and other academic support needs of the college. In recognition of their gift, a vestibule in Ayres Hall has been named for Goldman and Pendleton.
Goldman and Pendleton currently both serve as executives at CauseForce, a West Hollywood-based company that works with nonprofit organizations to help them raise money. As vice president of marketing, Goldman manages strategy, creative development, and execution of all collateral, advertising, web expressions, apparel, and event experiences. Pendleton, who is not an alumnus of UT, serves as president.
Goldman attended the Universidad del Salvador in Argentina and then came to UT. After graduating, he served as marketing director at ITS, a computer services provider in Buenos Aires. He led the company’s marketing initiatives, helping them to establish outsourcing and educational services for Argentina’s top multinationals.
After leaving ITS, he received his master’s degree in business administration specializing in international marketing from the American Graduate School of International Management.
Goldman also served as a brand specialist at Skilset, a Los Angeles consulting firm where he led the development and launching of brand identities, re-branding efforts, and marketing strategies for a wide array of industries.
Gifts to UT Knoxville are part of UT’s $1 billion Campaign for Tennessee, of which the Knoxville campus goal is more than $600 million. The campaign will continue through December 2011 with particular emphasis on increasing the campus endowment to create more student scholarships, professorships, research opportunities, and curriculum enhancements. Funds raised are being invested to help the campus reach its goal of becoming a Top 25 research university within ten years.
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CONTACT:
Beth Gladden, UT media relations (865-974-9008, bgladden@utk.edu)