![Donald Bren Endowment (then called Bren Fellows Program) created](../../../../../wp-content/uploads/2015/01/1988.jpg)
In an effort to launch UCI as one of best research universities in the United States, Irvine Company Chairman Donald Bren donated a total of $2.5 million to create the Bren Fellows Program in 1989. Francisco J. Ayala was named the first Bren Fellow and director of the program.