$115 million gift will establish Rob Walton School of Conservation Futures at Arizona State University

TEMPE, Ariz., Sept. 22, 2025 — Arizona State University (ASU) has received an unprecedented $115 million philanthropic investment from the Rob Walton Foundation to establish the Rob Walton School of Conservation Futures — a transformative initiative aimed at reshaping conservation science education and workforce development on a global scale.

The donation, the largest ever made to ASU, will also rename ASU’s College of Global Futures to the Rob Walton College of Global Futures, recognizing Walton’s long-term commitment to planetary health and sustainability. Walton is a longtime supporter of Arizona State University and its ongoing commitment to sustainability.

“It is a worthy honor for all that Rob has done,” said ASU President Michael Crow. “His longstanding support has been critically important to ASU’s leadership and growth in sustainability. He shares our institutional belief that there is an urgent need to tackle the challenges facing our planet — as well as an unbelievable opportunity to find new solutions by dedicating our time, creativity and resources to the task.”

“Protecting the planet’s future is protecting our future, and Rob’s support is key to these efforts,” Crow added.

“Conservation is important for our whole world,” explained Walton, a philanthropist, conservationist and the former chairman of Walmart. “We need nature to survive. We need clean air, clean water, and food that is healthy. All those things come from nature. Ultimately, I’ve made this a priority.”

A bold, new vision for conservation education

The Rob Walton School of Conservation Futures will serve as a hub for research, education and workforce training, integrating cutting-edge biodiversity science with real-world conservation solutions.

The new school is designed to reshape the practice and teaching of conservation science, according to Peter Schlosser, ASU vice president and vice provost of Global Futures.

“The Rob Walton School of Conservation Futures is redefining conservation science to address the challenges of a rapidly changing world,” said Schlosser. “Through its central mission of transforming conservation education for a thriving planetary future, this new academic entity is not just preserving ecosystems, it is developing adaptive solutions to ensure sustainable pathways for future generations.”

The school will offer graduate degrees, certificate programs and eventually undergraduate degrees, preparing the next generation of conservation leaders.

With this investment, ASU will establish:

• The Rob Walton Chair to lead the Rob Walton School of Conservation Futures.
• Three named professorships to support scholarly research, education activities and professional development.
• A scholarship fund — the Rob Walton Scholars — to provide full and partial scholarships to students.

Launching in late 2025 with the Conservation Futures Academy, the school will offer training programs and certificates for high school students, working learners and corporate executives to drive conservation efforts in their communities and internationally.

The school also will offer certificates and credentials tailored for conservation organizations, government agencies and related industries, which are collectively working to conserve 30% of terrestrial and marine habitats by 2030. This worldwide initiative provides an opportunity for many new jobs and a need for specialty skill sets.

A collaborative approach to planetary health

The Rob Walton School of Conservation Futures will collaborate with global and local NGOs, governments, businesses and Indigenous communities to develop holistic conservation strategies.

The school will weave together the best of biodiversity research and conservation know-how with a range of knowledge systems to holistically develop solutions, emphasizing global interconnectedness and the importance of place. The school will also unite traditional and nontraditional learners, employers, teachers, scholars and practitioners from different perspectives.

That’s exciting news to Peter Seligmann, who was instrumental in the formation of the school.

“Solving the planet’s greatest conservation challenges requires the wisdom, innovation and leadership of people from all corners of the world,” said Seligmann, chairman emeritus and former CEO of Conservation International, which he co-founded in 1987. “By bringing together diverse, place-inspired solutions and perspectives we can spark transformative action that extends far beyond any single region.”

“The launch of this new School of Conservation Futures at Arizona State University is a vital step in growing the next generation of global leaders to create a future that ensures that nature and people thrive together,” he added.

It will also provide opportunities for nontraditional learners and professionals seeking advanced credentials in conservation science.

“We are incredibly grateful for this transformational investment from Rob Walton and his unwavering support of ASU and planetary health,” said Gretchen Buhlig, CEO of the ASU Foundation for a New American University. “This gift will accelerate ASU’s work with global partners by enabling them to collaborate and co-design and deliver cutting-edge conservation education and training programs to ensure the next generation of conservation leaders are equipped with the skills and knowledge needed to lead in the rapidly evolving field of conservation.”

Walton said he wants the new school to give emerging leaders the tools, knowledge and networks to take conservation to new levels. He is saving his biggest aspirations and hopes for the students.

“Students bring fresh ideas, energy and innovation,” Walton said. “They’re the next generation of leaders, researchers and advocates. By getting involved now — through research, advocacy or fieldwork — they gain the skills to drive real change. We need their voices and commitment to sustain a healthy planet.”