The Rock Center will sponsor a series of programs designed to deepen the understanding of the governance process, enhance the quality of governance-related education, and improve the practice of governance around the world, the university said.

The first of these programs, the "Governance and the Regulators" conference series, holds its inaugural session in Washington, D.C. on April 3, 2006, and addresses the SEC's proposed executive compensation disclosure rules. This conference series will provide a public forum in which regulators can interact with leading scholars and industry experts as they craft rules that affect the governance process. The Rock Center's conference series is designed to narrow the gap between state-of-the-art scholarship and the regulatory process while promoting more cost effective, socially beneficial regulation.

Rock helped found Apple Computer, Intel, Scientific Data Systems, Teledyne, and many other successful firms. His wife, Toni Rembe, is a director of AT&T and AEGON N.V.

"Innovation and new ventures fuel the global economy but the spark comes from investment," Arthur Rock said. "Investment is about trust. It's about knowing that the people investors entrust with their money are running ethical, transparent and effective businesses. Stanford Law School has a demonstrated track record of leadership in the field of corporate governance. We are pleased to support their efforts."