CLEVELAND — Dealer Tire CEO Scott Mueller is making a $1 million donation to Cleveland State University (CUS) to establish a fellowship in honor of retiring professor William Bowen,
The donation will fund the William M. Bowen Fellowship for Doctoral Studies in Urban Affairs. Bowen is retiring after a long career at the institution.
The money will go toward merit-based scholarships for those completing advanced studies in the program, CSU said. Newly named Cleveland State president Laura Bloomberg called it the "perfect" way to honor Bowen.
"The doctoral students supported by this generous gift will be afforded the opportunity to grow academically and research subjects to which Dr. Bowen dedicated his career," Bloomberg said. "We are honored that future doctoral students will know about the impact that he has had on our university."
Mueller — who received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters in 2021 — called Bowen the "smartest guy on the planet.
"I am so fortunate to know him. He has touched me, his students and the world. Bill always makes me think, wonder, contemplate, and that type of friend makes you a better person," Mueller said. "When I found out he was retiring, I wanted to find a way to show him my thanks and appreciation for all he has done."
CSU noted Mueller's "business acumen, altruism, significant contributions to citizens across the region and unfailing service and commitment to this community" as reasons for awarding him the honorary doctorate.
Dealer Tire, a third-generation family business founded in 1918, is a wholesale business catering exclusively to new car dealerships. It has 1,200 employees in Northeast Ohio.
