Santa Clara University Elects Paul F. Gentzkow Chairman of Board of Trustees
SANTA CLARA, Calif., June 11, 2015 -- Paul F. Gentzkow, president and chief operating officer of global staffing firm Robert Half International, has been elected to a three-year term as the new chairman of the Santa Clara University Board of Trustees. He replaces Robert Finocchio, Jr. ’73, who completed his term June 5.
“We are pleased to welcome Paul Gentzkow as our new chair of the Board of Trustees," said Santa Clara University President Michael Engh, S.J. "Paul has a proven track record in corporate leadership here in Silicon Valley and around the globe. His international perspective as well as his leading presence in Jesuit, Catholic education have been invaluable to our board. I look forward to working with Paul as he helps guide the University in achieving our goals."
Gentzkow has been instrumental in the growth of Robert Half during his tenure as COO. Revenue for the company’s staffing divisions has grown from $200 million in 1992 to more than $4 billion in 2015 under his operational leadership. Headquartered in Menlo Park, Calif., Robert Half (NYSE: RHI) has more than 400 staffing and consulting locations in 20 countries. In March 2015, Robert Half was listed on Fortune® magazine’s list of the “World’s Most Admired Companies,” ranking first in its industry.
“Paul is the right person, at the right time, to lead Santa Clara’s Board of Trustees," said Peggy Bradshaw, vice chair of the board. "His vision for the University is perfectly in line with the ambitious strategic plan that will propel SCU to a new level of national prominence and help unlock the full potential of all of our students,” she added.
Gentzkow’s first experience with Jesuit education came when his son Joe attended Bellarmine College Preparatory in San Jose. “The emphasis on critical thinking, educating the whole person, creating a culture of service while being a person for others resonated with me,” said Gentzkow.
As chair of the Board of Regents at Bellarmine, Gentzkow met former SCU President and Chancellor Paul Locatelli, S.J., who encouraged him to get involved with Santa Clara University.
During his eight years on the Board of Trustees at SCU, Gentzkow has served as chair of the Governance and Nominating Committee, chair of the Audit Committee, and a member of the Executive Committee.
“I am looking forward to working with Silicon Valley and the campus community to elevate the national profile of this great university,” Gentzkow said.
His advice to students who are ready to graduate from Santa Clara in the coming weekend: Chase your dreams but remember to have a commitment to service and be a person for others – a critical part of the Jesuit Mission.
Gentzkow is a graduate of Minnesota State University, where he received his bachelor’s degree in finance. He has previously served as Chairman of the Board of Regents for Bellarmine College Preparatory in San Jose and as president of the Board of Directors for Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County.
Paul and his wife, Barbara, reside in Saratoga, Calif., have two grown sons Mike and Joe (and his wife Silvana), and three wonderful grandchildren.
About Santa Clara University
Santa Clara University, a comprehensive Jesuit, Catholic university located 40 miles south of San Francisco in California’s Silicon Valley, offers its more than 9,000 students rigorous undergraduate curricula in arts and sciences, business, and engineering; master’s degrees in business, education, counseling psychology, pastoral ministry, and theology; and law degrees and engineering Ph.D.s. Distinguished nationally by one of the highest graduation rates among all U.S. master’s universities, California’s oldest operating higher-education institution demonstrates faith-inspired values of ethics and social justice. For more information, see www.scu.edu.
Media Contact
Deepa Arora | SCU Communications Director | darora@scu.edu | 408-554-5125