Merage School Celebrates Partnership with Orange County Powerhouse Experian

The Paul Merage School of Business at UC Irvine has announced the receipt of a $550,000 gift from Experian, the global information services company, to be applied toward the Merage School’s new building campaign.  In recognition of this significant contribution and the company’s innovative leadership and partnership with the campus, the Merage School has named two executive classrooms in the current building in honor of Experian and will dedicate two executive classrooms in the new building once it is completed. An invitation-only event in celebration of the gift was held on September 10 on the UC Irvine campus at the Merage School, where special honors were unveiled in tribute to Experian’s major gift to the School.

“We have many strong ties with Experian, which make this gift so gratifying,” said Dean Andy Policano.  “Chris Callero is an active and valued member of our Dean’s Advisory Board and we have a substantial and growing presence of Merage alumni at Experian, one of Orange County’s most innovative and important companies.”

“Experian believes that education is the cornerstone of success, and investing in our future business leaders is the responsibility of organizations and communities alike,” said Chris Callero, president and chief operating officer of Experian.  “We are proud to present this gift to the Merage School and be a part of its future.”

The proposed new Merage School facility is the first new business school building to be built since 1989. Since news of the project was first presented to the business community in January 2009, the Merage School has received pledges totaling $1.5 million. 

“Due to our innovative curriculum, executive programs, and research conducted and presented by the School and its highly regarded faculty, we are expanding at an accelerated rate.  We are outgrowing our existing facility and significant added space will be vital,” said Dean Policano.  “Thanks to the outstanding generosity of Experian and our other generous donors, and the continued support of our vibrant business community, the expansion of our school will become a reality.”

Designed to enhance the delivery of high quality programs, the new living building will enable the Merage School to continue to attract and retain the highest quality faculty and students.  The new structure is planned to house a 300-seat auditorium, high tech classrooms, a laptop computer lab, career resource library, conference and group study facilities, colloquia and interview rooms, food service, and a multi-use reception area.  

About Experian
Experian is the leading global information services company, providing data and analytical tools to clients in more than 65 countries. The company helps businesses to manage credit risk, prevent fraud, target marketing offers and automate decision making. Experian also helps individuals to manage their credit relationships and protect against identity theft. Experian plc is listed on the London Stock Exchange (EXPN) and is a constituent of the FTSE 100 index. Total revenue for the year ended March 31, 2009 was $3.9 billion. Experian employs approximately 15,000 people in 40 countries and has its corporate headquarters in Dublin, Ireland, with operational headquarters in Nottingham, UK; Costa Mesa, California; and São Paulo, Brazil.  For more information, visit http://www.experianplc.com.