Paul and Theresa Johnston Graduate Fellowship Fund to Support Engineers

Posted on: 29 June 2016

Trinity College Dublin graduate, Dr Paul Johnston, and his wife, Theresa, have endowed a significant graduate fellowship to cover the cost of an engineering or computer science student attending Stanford University each year. 

The $1.2 million fellowship fund was established to attract exceptional graduate students in engineering and computer science from Ireland, with a special focus on graduates of Trinity.

The fellowship should encourage top engineering and computer science graduates to apply to the Stanford School of Engineering (which also houses the Department of Computer Science). 

Dr Johnston said: “The primary objective is to provide increased opportunity for exceptional Trinity graduates. In addition, we are hoping that this fellowship with strengthen ties between Trinity and Stanford, and in some small way contribute to the already strong bonds between Ireland and the Silicon Valley.” 

Dr Johnston is President and Chief Executive Officer of Exponent, an engineering and scientific consulting company headquartered in Silicon Valley. He holds a doctoral degree in Civil Engineering and a master’s degree in Structural Engineering from Stanford, and a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from Trinity. 

Dr Johnston was previously a Consulting Assistant Professor in the Civil Engineering Department at Stanford University, and a member of the Stanford School of Engineering Advisory Council. He is currently a member of Trinity College Dublin’s School of Engineering Development Board. 

Theresa Johnston earned her bachelor’s degrees in Political Science and Communication from Stanford, and currently works as a freelance writer specialising in K-12 and post-secondary education. She is a contributing writer for Stanford Magazine, Packard Children’s News, Stanford Lawyer and Stanford Business magazines.