The Business-Higher Education Forum Welcomes New Chair David J. Skorton and Vice Chair William H. Swanson to its Leadership

The Business-Higher Education Forum (BHEF), a national organization of Fortune 500 CEOs and senior executives, prominent college and university presidents, and foundation leaders working to advance innovative solutions to U.S. education challenges, welcomes its new leadership for 2008-2010. David J. Skorton, President of Cornell University, will lead the organization as its new chairman, and William H. Swanson, Chairman and CEO of Raytheon Company, will serve as vice chairman.

Dr. Skorton succeeds former TIAA-CREF Chairman, President, and CEO, Herbert M. Allison, Jr., who chaired BHEF from 2006 to 2008. Mr. Swanson succeeds Dr. Skorton as vice chairman. Skorton and Swanson are joined by several other newly elected members of BHEF’s executive committee: Warren Baker, President, California Polytechnic State University; Wes Bush, President & COO, Northrop Grumman Corporation; Christine DeVita, President, The Wallace Foundation; Richard Stephens, Senior Vice President of Human Resources and Administration, The Boeing Company; and former BHEF chair Mark Wrighton, Chancellor, Washington University in St. Louis.

“BHEF is fortunate to have David Skorton and Bill Swanson at the helm. They lead the organization at a pivotal time when BHEF’s initiatives in college readiness, access, and success, and science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education are making a real impact. David and Bill epitomize the dedicated and visionary leadership from both the higher education and corporate sectors that America needs if we are to ensure that our youth are prepared to contribute in an increasingly knowledge-based global economy,” BHEF Executive Director Brian K. Fitzgerald said.

“I look forward to continuing to work with BHEF members, Bill Swanson and others to advance BHEF’s agenda,” said new chair, David Skorton. “I am fortunate to benefit from Herb Allison’s legacy of leadership of this organization and am honored to succeed him as BHEF’s chair. Because this organization can leverage the combined strengths of business and higher education, BHEF is uniquely positioned to build a network of leaders who recognize that, in the 21st century, all students must be college- and work-ready and to advocate for the adoption of practical policies to help realize this vision.”

Responding to his election as vice chair, Bill Swanson said, “I am honored to have the opportunity to serve as vice chair of the Business-Higher Education Forum. Our country faces significant challenges today in preparing the workforce that will be needed tomorrow, especially in the STEM fields. I very much look forward to working with David Skorton and the other committed members of BHEF to continue this important journey.”

BHEF’s new leaders have been heavily involved in the two major initiatives currently being pursued by the organization. The College Readiness Initiative (CRI) promotes college readiness, access, and success for underserved populations, particularly in science and math, harnessing the influence and resources of BHEF and its membership to address education issues spanning the grade school to graduate school pipeline. The Securing America’s Leadership in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Initiative seeks to double the number of college graduates in STEM disciplines by 2015 through research, programmatic, and advocacy efforts.

About David J. Skorton
David J. Skorton is the 12th president of Cornell University and holds faculty appointments in Internal Medicine and Pediatrics at Weill-Cornell Medical College (WCMC) in New York City and in Biomedical Engineering at the College of Engineering on the Ithaca campus. Since coming to Cornell in July 2006, Dr. Skorton has led the university’s efforts to integrate the activities of the Weill Cornell Medical College campuses in New York City and Doha, Qatar with the activities of the university’s Ithaca and Geneva, NY campuses in order to encourage interdisciplinary collaboration; to support appropriately the arts, humanities and social sciences, as well as scientific, technical and professional disciplines; and to use the university’s vast and varied resources and talents to positively impact the world. In support of these goals, he launched, in October 2006, the most ambitious fundraising campaign in Cornell history, a $4-billion, five-year effort, which is now more than half way to its goal.

A seasoned administrator, board-certified cardiologist, biomedical researcher, musician and advocate for the arts and humanities, Dr. Skorton was president of the University of Iowa (UI) for three years, beginning in March 2003, and a faculty member at UI for 26 years. Co-founder and co-director of the UI Adolescent and Adult Congenital Heart Disease Clinic at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Dr. Skorton has focused his research on congenital heart disease in adolescents and adults, cardiac imaging, and computer image processing. He has published numerous articles, reviews, book chapters, and two major texts in the areas of cardiac imaging and image processing.

A national leader in research ethics, Dr. Skorton is charter past-president of the Association for the Accreditation of Human Research Protection Programs, Inc., the first entity organized specifically to accredit human research protection programs. He has served on the boards and committees of many national organizations, including the American College of Cardiology, the American Heart Association, the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine, the American Society of Echocardiography, the Association for the Accreditation of Human Research Protection Programs, the Association of American Universities, the Council on Competitiveness, and the Korea America Friendship Society, and is a life member of the Council on Foreign Relations. In addition to serving as former vice chair of BHEF, he has co-chaired BHEF’s College Readiness Initiative.

Dr. Skorton earned his bachelor's degree in psychology in 1970 and an M.D. in 1974, both from Northwestern University. He completed a medical residency and later held a fellowship in cardiology at the University of California, Los Angeles.

About William H. Swanson
William H. Swanson is chairman and CEO of Raytheon Company, a technology leader with 72,000 people worldwide. Mr. Swanson joined Raytheon in 1972 and has held a wide range of leadership positions. Before adding the responsibilities of chairman to his position in January 2004, he was CEO and president of the company.

In addition to serving as vice chairman of BHEF, he is co-chair of BHEF’s STEM Initiative. He is a member of the Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation board, the Pepperdine University board of regents, the California Polytechnic State University President’s Cabinet, the Cal Poly Foundation board of directors, and the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation board of directors.

Mr. Swanson is a member of the board of governors’ executive committee of the Aerospace Industries Association, a fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, a member of the National Defense Industrial Association, and a member of the President’s National Security Telecommunications Advisory Committee.

A native of California, he graduated magna cum laude from California Polytechnic State University with a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering. His graduate work was performed in business administration at Golden Gate University. He has been awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Pepperdine University and an honorary Doctor of Science degree from California Polytechnic State University.