The University of Tulsa is pleased to announce a transformative gift of $2.5 million from chemical engineering alumnus Antonio J. Pietri (B.S. ’87) and his wife, Sabine, to benefit the College of Engineering & Computer Science. This generous gift, which honors the Pietri family’s legacy, will support the college’s ongoing commitment to provide state-of-the-art facilities, as well as create two endowed faculty fellowships.
“We are forever grateful to the Pietri family and their vision to bolster the college from which Antonio and his father graduated,” said UTulsa Interim President Rick Dickson. “Their generosity will lay the foundation for multiple endowments to offer exceptional educational and research experiences to future generations.”
A portion of the total gift, $1 million, will be used to build and maintain The Pietri Family Design & Innovation Laboratory, which will provide crucial experiential learning opportunities for all students.
The remainder of the total gift, $1.5 million, will be divided evenly to endow two faculty fellowships: one in the Russell School of Chemical Engineering and the other in ECS. The endowments will support the recruitment and retention of distinguished faculty fellows who will advance teaching and research and attract top-notch undergraduate and graduate students.
These faculty fellows will be formally known as the Antonio A. Pietri Faculty Fellow I and the Antonio A. Pietri Faculty Fellow II in honor of Antonio J. Pietri’s father (B.S. ’61), who was also a chemical engineering alumnus.
“Recruiting excellent faculty and surrounding them with the best possible lab spaces and equipment is critical to achieving our teaching and research goals,” said Andreas A. Polycarpou, who serves as the James Sorem Dean of the College of Engineering & Computer Science. “As we continue to rise in the college rankings, we must stay competitive with other top-rated programs. The Pietri family’s forward-looking gift gives us just such an edge.”
Antonio J. Pietri met with much success following his graduation from UTulsa with a degree in chemical engineering. He currently serves as CEO of PowerSchool, a leading provider of cloud-based software that transforms education using innovative technology.
For over 30 years, he was with Aspen Technology Inc., a provider of software and services for the process industries. Beginning as a sales territory manager, Pietri went on to become senior vice president for Asia Pacific operations and then executive vice president of field operations before being named president and CEO of the company in 2013. In March 2025, AspenTech was acquired by Emerson Electric Co., a global industrial technology leader that provides advanced automation, in a multibillion-dollar deal.
In 2024, Pietri was inducted into the College of Engineering & Computer Science Hall of Fame in recognition of his extraordinary career achievements. Currently a member of The University of Tulsa Board of Trustees and chair of the ECS Advisory Board, he also freely gives his time and talent by serving on UTulsa’s Chemical Engineering Advisory Board.
“The University of Tulsa profoundly shaped the trajectory of my life. When I arrived from Venezuela as a young student – knowing little English and navigating an unfamiliar culture – UTulsa became far more than a university. It was a community that welcomed me, believed in me and provided the academic rigor and personal support that allowed me to flourish,” Pietri said. “The mentors I met here, the opportunities I was given and the confidence I gained became the foundation of my career, just as UTulsa had done for my father before me. This gift from Sabine and me is an expression of deep gratitude and enduring loyalty to an institution we love – one we believe is exceptionally well‑positioned to thrive and lead in the years ahead.”
Learn more about The University of Tulsa’s new fundraising campaign to make a positive impact in the lives of students and transform the future of UTulsa at give.utulsa.edu.