Campus News

Westminster Welcomes Three New Members to the Board of Trustees

SALT LAKE CITY – Westminster College is pleased to announce three new members to its Board of Trustees. On July 1, 2011 Dr. Hamid Adib, president and CEO of Adib’s Rug Gallery; Preston Chiaro, group executive for innovation at Rio Tinto; and Robert Rendon, senior vice president for Zions Bank, joined the Westminster Board of Trustees. The Board is the governing body of the college. It is comprised of 33 well-respected and dedicated community leaders who volunteer their time to determine the policies and set the strategic direction for the college.

“I am proud to welcome such distinguished members of our community to the Board,” said Dr. Michael Bassis, president of Westminster. “These are individuals who recognize the value and quality of higher education. Their diverse experience and knowledge will benefit current and future students.”

Dr. Hamid Adib owns Adib’s Rug Gallery in Salt Lake City, Utah. Dr. Adib obtained an undergraduate degree from the University of California-Berkeley in mechanical engineering, a master’s degree from San Jose State, and a Ph.D. from the University of Utah. As a research scientist, Dr. Adib has performed research and development work for the Department of Defense. Adib and his wife Maryam have three sons, Omid, Amin, and Iman. Maryam Adib, a chemist, attended classes at Westminster; their son, Omid graduated from Westminster in 2009 with a degree in biology, and Amin is currently a Westminster student, studying biology and art. Dr. Adib believes in community involvement and is known for preserving the historic Villa Theatre which now houses Adib’s Rug Gallery.

Preston Chiaro is the descendent of Italian immigrants. His paternal grandfather stowed away on a boat from Genoa to New York at just 12 years of age. Chiaro has applied that same determination to his career as an environmental engineer. He has a bachelor’s degree in engineering and a master’s degree in environmental engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York. In 1991 Kennecott Utah Copper hired Chiaro to help solve daunting clean-up problems at the Bingham Canyon Mine. Passionate about sustainable development, Chiaro is currently the Group Executive for Technology and Innovation at Rio Tinto.

Robert Rendon is the senior-vice president and community development director for Zions Bank. He graduated from the University of Utah with a degree in business administration and is actively involved in numerous community programs focused on minority owned businesses, housing, and child services. Mr. Rendon and his wife, Wendy, have two grown sons, Jonathan and Robert.

Media Contacts: Krista DeAngelis  and Arikka Von (801) 832-2682
July 18, 2011

About Westminster:

Westminster is a nationally recognized, comprehensive liberal arts college. With a broad array of graduate and undergraduate programs, Westminster is distinguished by its unique environment for learning. Westminster prepares students for success through active and engaged learning, real world experiences and its vibrant campus community. Westminster’s unique location, adjacent to the Rocky Mountains and to the dynamic city of Salt Lake, further enriches the college experience. For more information visit http://www.westminstercollege.edu or follow @WestminsterSLC on Twitter.