Contact:
Flavia Hulsey, 785-532-7548, flaviah@found.ksu.edu
Cargill gift establishes Center for Ethical Leadership at K-State
MANHATTAN, KAN. — Cargill, Minneapolis, Minn., has made a gift of $1 million to Kansas State University to establish the Cargill Center for Ethical Leadership within the Center for Leadership Studies at K-State.
Cargill’s gift was made to honor Warren Staley, the company’s chairman and recently retired chief executive officer. The Cargill Center for Ethical Leadership will provide students and faculty with resources, skills and techniques to address significant ethical issues and promote ethical decision-making. The Cargill Center for Ethical Leadership will be directed by Robert Shoop, professor in educational leadership and a renowned author and lecturer in the area of leadership.
Cargill’s funding will provide financial assistance in the construction of the Center for Leadership Studies, which was made possible by a lead gift from Warren and Mary Lynn Staley in 2005. Leadership Studies at K-State involves more than 1,600 students from all its colleges across campus.
Warren Staley is a 1965 K-State graduate with a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering. He received a master’s degree in business administration from Cornell University in 1967. While at K-State, he was president of Beta Theta Pi fraternity and Interfraternity Council, and he was active in the Blue Key leadership honorary society. He is a member of the board of directors of U.S. Bancorp a former board member of Target Corporation, and a former chairman of the board of the Greater Twin Cities United Way. Staley also was appointed to the President’s Export Council by President George Bush.
Mary Lynn Staley graduated from Kansas State University in 1965 with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education. While at K-State, she was a member of Delta Delta Delta sorority, Chimes honorary society and student government. She is actively involved in her community and the world at large, holding leadership positions with the Greater Twin Cities United Way and the board of governors of Eleven Who Care, and participating in the Habitat for Humanity Jimmy Carter Work Project in Durban, South Africa, and Veracruz, Mexico.
The Staleys are members of Presidents Club, a KSU Foundation philanthropic leadership organization for friends and alumni of K-State.
“Cargill is pleased to support the ethics center as a way to recognize Warren Staley’s commitment to promoting leadership and sound ethical business practices,” said Gregory Page, chief executive officer and president of Cargill. “This gift allows us to honor both Warren and Mary Lynn for their lifelong service to enhance educational opportunities for students at K-State and other communities where they have been involved.”
“The generous support from Cargill to establish an ethical leadership initiative is the perfect way to honor Warren Staley. He is a great asset to our university and understands the importance of a strong leadership concept for our faculty and students,” said K-State President Jon Wefald. “Cargill’s addition to the Center for Leadership Studies represents a shared commitment to teaching ethical business practices and creating strong leaders. The truth is, Warren Staley is one of the finest business leaders in America over the past generation.”
Cargill is an international provider of food, agricultural and risk management products and services. With 158,000 employees in 66 countries, the company uses its knowledge and experience to collaborate with customers to help them succeed. For the past 20 years, Cargill has contributed time, talent and resources to K-State in support of academic programs, diversity initiatives, scholarships and facilities improvements across campus.
The KSU Foundation coordinates fundraising efforts with alumni, friends, corporations and foundations to secure private support for Kansas State University.