Rebecca Morgan Receives The Alumni Association's Arbuckle Award

The Honorable Rebecca (Becky) Q. Morgan, who served for nine years as a California State Senator and, later, as president and CEO of Joint Venture: Silicon Valley Network, is the 29^th recipient of the Ernest C. Arbuckle Award from the Stanford GSB Alumni Association.

A 1978 graduate of Stanford GSB, Morgan is the first woman to receive the school’s highest honor, which is presented annually for exceptional leadership in the private and public sectors. Past recipients include former Secretary of State George P. Shultz (1987), author and Common Cause founder John Gardner (1993), and Chairman and Co-CEO of Charles Schwab & Co., Inc., Charles R. Schwab (1995). Last year’s recipient was Lorenzo Zambrano, chairman and CEO of Cemex S.A.

In her remarks to an audience of students, alumni, and Silicon Valley executives at the April 13 Ernest C. Arbuckle Award Dinner at Hotel Sofitel in Redwood City, Morgan praised the school for its enduring commitment to equal opportunity and stressed the unique obligations that business leaders have to their communities.

She directed her closing comments at graduating students, urging them to find creative ways to make contributions to the public:

“I encourage you to take time during your remaining weeks in school to reflect on the type of person and type of professional you want to become. I hope you will choose to be men and women of principle who understand and act upon your unique obligations to your community and its institutions, regardless of where you settle.

“Each of you will find different ways to meet these obligations — some through money, others through time or ideas. Not every year, but often. The details are not necessarily important. But don’t think for a minute that our prosperity can endure without the active efforts of people, like you, who enjoy the advantages of a fine education.

“Apathy may be easier. Convictions often have a high cost, but our communities need your contributions.”

A resident of Los Altos Hills, Morgan holds a bachelor’s degree from Cornell University, and has served both as a Stanford University Trustee and on the Stanford GSB Advisory Council. She is on the Board of Directors of Cornell University, Pacific Gas & Electric Corp., Greater Bay Bancorp, and the American Leadership Forum. She served as a member of the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors from 1981 to 1984 and the Palo Alto Board of Education from 1973 to 1978.

The Ernest C.Arbuckle Award, established in 1968, is named for the school’s late dean who served from 1958-1968. The award honors men and women who “by their actions have demonstrated notable excellence as professional managers who are committed to principle and have a continuing concern for and sensitivity to the changing needs of society”.