The William P. Clements Foundation has pledged $10 million to support the Clements Center for National Security at The University of Texas at Austin. This funding aims to expand student opportunities and secure the center’s future as it prepares students for roles in national security.
“As a public flagship university, we have a responsibility to serve the greatest needs of Texas and our country,” said UT President Jim Davis. “The University of Texas is committed to training leaders who are equipped to shape future national security policy, and the Clements Center is positioned perfectly to serve that vital need. We are deeply grateful to Pauline Neuhoff and the Clements Foundation for their generosity, vision and dedication to educating America’s future leaders.”
Most of the donation will be used for ongoing support of programming and mentorship at the center. Part of the funds will go toward renovating the Flawn Academic Center auditorium, which will be renamed William P. Clements, Jr. Auditorium. This space will become the main venue for center activities while continuing to serve other student purposes.
“The Clements Foundation is proud to continue our long partnership with The University of Texas at Austin as it enters a new era of leadership and excellence,” said Neuhoff, president of the Clements Foundation. “Bill Clements believed deeply in the importance of public service, and we see that commitment reflected in the vision and direction of the University today. This gift reflects our confidence in UT’s leadership and in the Clements Center’s ability to prepare future leaders who will serve our state and our nation.”
Established in 2013, the Clements Center focuses on preparing students for careers related to national security through academic programs combined with practical experiences such as fellowships, internships, and study abroad opportunities in locations including Washington D.C., London, Seoul, and countries around the Baltic Sea.
“Having led the Clements Center in its early years, I have seen firsthand the impact it has on students and scholars who go on to serve our nation with distinction,” said William Inboden, UT’s executive vice president and provost, who founded the Clements Center. “The vision and generosity of the Clements Foundation enabled this impact. This gift secures the center’s future and is an investment in the young people who will shape America’s national security for decades.”
More than 1,000 alumni from programs run by the center now work across federal government agencies, military branches, private companies, or academic institutions influencing policy decisions nationally.
The center collaborates with several colleges within UT Austin—such as Liberal Arts; Civic Leadership; LBJ School of Public Affairs; McCombs School of Business—to offer certificates or graduate portfolios related to national security studies. Each year more than 1,000 students participate across all its initiatives.
“The Clements Center exists to inspire young Longhorns to serve their country with integrity and a Texas spirit only we can bring,” said Joseph Maguire, executive director of the Clements Center and a retired U.S. Navy vice admiral. “Pauline Neuhoff and the Clements Foundation have my sincere gratitude. This generous gift allows us to grow our programs, expand our reach, and prepare our students not only to participate in national security policy — but to lead it.”
Ben Claflin—a recent graduate from UT’s Cockrell School of Engineering—participated in several programs through which he traveled internationally as part of his career development process.
“Going to UT, I really got out of my comfort zone and tried to see the world, and I think I’m going to continue with the adventure going forward,” Claflin said.
