$100,000 gift to create leadership program for Clemson engineering students

Published: December 14, 2010

CLEMSON — Bob Hambright believes he has a simple, effective solution to most of the world's problems: good leadership.

"I think most of the problems in the world today can be attributed to poor leadership," said Hambright, a retired construction management executive. "I also think good leadership and stewardship are the answers to most of the problems facing the world today."

That philosophy is the cornerstone of the vision Hambright and the faculty at his alma mater have for a new program to instill leadership skills in engineering students at Clemson University.

Jump-started by a $100,000 gift from Hambright, his wife, Susan, and his former employer, Balfour Beatty Construction LLC, the Bob and Susan Hambright Leadership Program in Engineering will support selected junior and senior engineering students in industry-led leadership training programs. In the future it also may help fund on-campus symposia and conferences open to all Clemson engineering students.

"The leadership program will give our students a chance to distinguish themselves," said Esin Gulari, dean of Clemson's College of Engineering and Science. "They will get leadership experience beyond the campus, in industry."

"Especially in the 21st century, with the increasing focus on interdisciplinary teams to achieve project goals, leadership skills and experience are essential to an engineer or scientist," Gulari said. "Bob has learned that firsthand, and he has taken the initiative to share that understanding with students at the beginning of their careers."

Hambright exercised his leadership potential early on. After earning a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from Clemson in 1970, he began his career as a construction project engineer and earned an MBA from Winthrop in 1974 and was inducted into the Phi Kappa Phi honor society.

In his career with Balfour Beatty Construction, one of the nation's largest building contractors, Hambright rose through the ranks to become division president and CEO in charge of the company's Southeastern commercial operations and its privatized military housing and corporate accounts nationally.

A resident of Blowing Rock, N.C., he is a guest lecturer at the Winthrop University Business School and a member of its Pinnacle Leadership Society. He chairs the Discovery Place board, is on the boards of directors of Charlotte Center City Partners, the Winthrop University Foundation, Appalachian State Foundation, the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation and was co-chairman of the Charlotte Arts and Science Council 2008 Annual Campaign.

The Hambrights' $100,000 gift is the beginning of what they hope will become an endowed program that will sustain leadership programs in the college from now on.

"Thomas Green Clemson believed that one person could make a difference," Hambright said. "An endowment is the foundation upon which Clemson University was built and will help Clemson continue to provide quality education in perpetuity. We want to grow the endowment over time and use that money to help students become more aware of the impact leadership development can have on their careers and in life by accelerating the development of that potential."

Their gift is part of The Will to Lead: A Campaign for Clemson, a multiyear effort to raise at least $600 million to support Clemson University students and faculty members with scholarships, professorships and enhanced learning and research opportunities with top facilities and technology.

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