Former Treasury Secretary Henry M. Paulson, Jr. Establishes The Paulson Institute in Chicago

CHICAGO, June 27, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Henry M. Paulson, Jr., former United States Secretary of the Treasury and Goldman Sachs C.E.O., has announced the formation of the Paulson Institute, an independent center located at the University of Chicago and dedicated to fostering international engagement to address issues of global scope.

The new Institute will have a special emphasis on relationships between the United States and China, serving as a focal point for policymakers, business leaders and researchers and leading the way for real-world engagement. Paulson said the Institute would initially concentrate on two areas: encouraging progress in environmental protection and the development of alternative sources of clean energy; and promoting economic activity and cross-investment between the two countries, leading to the creation of jobs.  

"Every global concern – economic, environmental or security-related – can be addressed more effectively when the US and China work together.  I look forward to devoting my time and energy to building the knowledge and relationships that can contribute to those solutions," Paulson said.  Paulson added he wants the Institute to collaborate with scholars at the University of Chicago on events and programs in Chicago, Beijing and elsewhere.

Also on Monday, the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy Studies announced the appointment of Paulson as a distinguished senior fellow. During his 5-year appointment, he will spearhead research collaborations, speaker series, conferences, and workshops, University officials said.

"We are delighted to bring Mr. Paulson's experience and distinctive voice in policy matters to the Harris School, where he joins a robust conversation about how to bring ideas to fruition in the public realm," said Robert J. Zimmer, President of the University of Chicago. "His decision to create an Institute will provide many opportunities for collaboration with the University and its scholars on issues of mutual interest, such as the relationship between the United States and China."

The Institute will have a University of Chicago faculty advisory board chaired by Robert Michael, Distinguished Service Professor Emeritus and Dean Emeritus of the Harris School. Other members of the board will be Eric D. Isaacs, a prominent University of Chicago physicist and director of the U.S. Department of Energy's Argonne National Laboratory; Randall S. Kroszner, professor of economics at Chicago Booth School of Business and former Governor of the Federal Reserve System; James M. Sallee, assistant professor at the Harris School; and Dali L. Yang, professor in the department of political science and founding faculty director of the University of Chicago Center in Beijing.

Paulson, who served under President George W. Bush as the 74th Secretary of the Treasury from July 2006 until January 2009, was the President's leading policy advisor on a broad range of domestic and international economic issues.

Before going to the Treasury Department, Paulson had a 32-year career at Goldman Sachs, serving as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer since the firm's initial public offering in 1999. He is also involved in a range of conservation and environmental initiatives, having served as Chairman of The Peregrine Fund, Inc., Chairman of the Board of Directors for The Nature Conservancy, and Co-Chairman of the Conservancy's Asia/Pacific Council.

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SOURCE Office of Henry M. Paulson, Jr.