Arizona State University is launching a new school dedicated to conservation and sustainability thanks to a record-setting $115 million gift from former Walmart chairman Rob Walton, the largest donation in ASU’s history.
The new Rob Walton School of Conservation Futures will be housed within the university’s College of Global Futures, which will itself be renamed the Rob Walton College of Global Futures. Walton’s announcement came during “Climate Week” at the Concordia annual summit in New York City.
“Nature doesn’t recognize borders,” Walton said in a statement. “To protect ecosystems, we need international cooperation, innovative leadership and a skilled workforce.”
The donation will fund several initiatives, including:
Establishing the Rob Walton Chair, who will lead the new school.
Creating three new professor positions to support research and training.
Launching the Rob Walton Scholars Fund, which will provide scholarships for undergraduate and graduate students.
Supporting the upcoming Conservation Futures Academy, a program offering certificates and leadership training for high school students, working professionals, and executives interested in conservation careers.
ASU President Michael Crow praised the gift as transformative for the university. “It is a worthy honor for all that Rob has done. His long-standing support has been critically important to ASU’s leadership and growth in sustainability.”
Walton and his wife, Melani, have supported ASU’s sustainability efforts for nearly two decades. Their previous gifts include $27.5 million in 2012 to expand sustainability programs and funding for the Rob and Melani Walton Center for Planetary Health, opened in 2019.
The new school will offer undergraduate and graduate degrees, as well as professional certificates tailored to conservation organizations, government agencies, and related industries. University officials say the goal is to give students practical tools and connections to tackle global conservation challenges.
“Students bring fresh ideas, energy and innovation,” Walton said. “By getting involved now—through research, advocacy or fieldwork—they gain the skills to drive real change.”
Walton, the eldest son of Walmart founder Sam Walton, led the retail company from 1992 until 2015 and remains one of the world’s wealthiest individuals. He has since become a major philanthropist in conservation, serving as chair of the African Parks Foundation, USA, and sitting on the board of Conservation International.
With this gift, ASU leaders say the university is positioning itself as a global hub for conservation education at a moment when climate change and biodiversity loss pose urgent challenges worldwide.
