A transformational $10 million gift will name and support an ambitious degree program designed to prepare undergraduate students with both technical expertise and business leadership skills. It is the only undergraduate program of its kind in Arizona.

The Integrated Business and Engineering Program formally became the Mary and Felipe M. Rodriguez Integrated Business and Engineering Program in recognition of the couple's commitment to workforce development, engineering education and student opportunity. University leaders, Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs, Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona, and the Rodriguezes celebrated the renaming in a ceremony today.

A collaboration between the Eller College of Management and the College of Engineering, the degree program, which launched this year, responds to growing demand for graduates with technical expertise and business acumen. It provides a solid foundation in technical problem-solving and strategic management, blending engineering design, software, artificial intelligence, and biomedical devices with business analytics, accounting, marketing and entrepreneurship.

Image

"I am pleased to recognize Mary and Felipe Rodriguez for this generous commitment," said University of Arizona President and Distinguished Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Suresh Garimella. "Their investment will strengthen the only undergraduate program of its kind in the state, equipping Wildcats with the skills they need to step confidently into and grow throughout their careers. Partners like Mary and Felipe help us deliver on our promise of success for every student."

Felipe Rodriguez founded Aeronautical Systems Incorporated in 1988 and continues as the company's CEO. Mary Barrett Rodriguez joined ASI in 1993 following many years of teaching in London and California. She is responsible for the company's charitable giving program, which supports local education initiatives with a focus on engineering and technical education. Together, the Rodriguezes have focused their philanthropy on helping universities improve and expand their engineering and technical science programs.

"Every great leap in human history happens at an intersection," the Rodriguezes said in a joint statement. "Throughout our careers in aerospace engineering, we have seen incredible technical ideas die in labs because no one knew how to build a business around them, and brilliant business strategies fail because they lacked technical depth. We see this gift as a partnership to build a bridge between two brilliant colleges, forging a new kind of leader who speaks both languages fluently. To us, this philanthropy is an act of 'radical trust' in the future –investing in the magic that happens in between business and engineering."

"This program reflects the very best of both colleges," said Karthik Kannan, dean of the Eller College of Management who holds the Halle Chair in Leadership. "It will provide uniquely qualified graduates ready to make an immediate impact in their chosen industry."

Image

Students in the program learn from world-class faculty, advisers and mentors in both colleges. It cultivates an engineering mindset alongside strong business, leadership and entrepreneurial skills, with an emphasis on immersive, real-world learning through industry and community projects.

"Companies have historically had to choose between engineering expertise and business acumen. The education offered through this program means employers can have both," said Kimberly L. Ogden, Craig M. Berge Interim Dean, College of Engineering.

The demand for graduates with this dual skill set is strong across a range of industries, from healthcare and medical devices to mining and aerospace. Employers increasingly need professionals who can connect engineering decisions with business strategy, customer needs and market opportunities. Decades from now, the startups and transformational companies born from this program are expected to create jobs and solutions that don't yet exist, serving as a spark for future innovations.

At the dedication event, John-Paul Roczniak, president and CEO of the University of Arizona Foundation, announced that the gift contributed to a record-breaking $425 million fundraising year. It is part of the $3 billion Fuel Wonder campaign, which surpassed its goal June 30.

"Mary and Felipe's gift is a powerful example of the role philanthropy plays at the U of A: investing in strong collaborations across colleges, accelerating momentum in future-facing workforce needs and expanding student opportunity," Roczniak said. "I'm grateful to them for their investment."

Additional information about the Fuel Wonder campaign is online at fuelwonder.arizona.edu.