Multimillion-dollar commitment will advance key cwu initiatives

ELLENSBURG — Central Washington University has received a multimillion-dollar commitment from Rob and Valerie Moehring to create a Presidential Innovation Fund, which will be used to invest in new strategic priority initiatives.  

CWU President Jim Wohlpart thanked the Moehrings for their generous donation, explaining that the funds will be directed toward a number of the university’s strategic priorities, such as building leadership among CWU faculty, staff and students.

“We will be using the funds to enhance the work we are doing to build community and capacity for transformational leadership at CWU,” Wohlpart said. “This generous gift gives us the opportunity to bring in a nationally renowned speaker for an upcoming Supervisors Summit, develop forums and workshops for leadership training with our employees, or provide resources for our students as they grow into leaders themselves.”

The president added that CWU will also use a portion of the donation for leadership and professional development of the Residence Hall Association staff, and to stage events that will help students involved in RHA build community and capacity.

Both CWU alumni, the Moehrings have made this commitment to further the goals of the university under the leadership of President Wohlpart. 

“My wife, Valerie, and I had such an amazing experience at Central,” Rob said. “We give credit to CWU for setting the foundation for our success. The university provided the perfect environment for personal growth, with inspiring professors who became mentors and helped shape our future. We're excited to give back and support the next generation of leaders at Central.”

As part of this generous contribution, the Wellington Event Center on CWU’s Ellensburg campus will be renamed the Rob and Valerie Moehring Event Center, in honor of their support. 

The space will officially be dedicated at an event this summer.