Alumni leading to yes - Broad College of Business - Michigan State ...

Now both the university and the BroadSchool , with its $74 million endowment,have moved up to the middle of thegroup in terms of endowments, withNorthwestern University, University ofMichigan, University of Minnesota, TheOhio State University and University ofWisconsin in the top five spots.Moving forwardAccording to Hicks, gifts receivedduring the campaign have already hadan immediate impact on such areas asstudent scholarships, faculty supportand new initiatives. “When you lookback at what has been accomplishedtrend, our grads must be knowledgeableand experienced in the key elements ofstarting and growing a new business inan entrepreneurial environment.”In fact, some of the early opportunitiesfor students to exercise their entrepreneurialknow-how have been righton campus. Faculty “inventors”have sought business expertise incommercializing their research ideas.Several undergraduate business studentshave energized and transformed theseproduct and service ideas into realbusinesses with several employees.These early successes led the instituteHicks appointedsenior directorof Development[ ]“Wemade remarkable progress inraising endowed funds duringthe campaign”Cathy Hicksthrough the Broad School’s fundraisingsuccesses over the last few years, you havejust a glimpse of what is possible.”One of the newest areas that hasinspired significant giving is the BroadSchool’s Institute for Entrepreneurship.The primary contributors, Robert K.and Georgia A. Burgess and Craig D.and Vicki L. Brown, recognized that theinstitute could offer powerful learningopportunities for students to work withemerging businesses and for facultyto conduct ground-breaking businessresearch. And as successful businessleaders themselves, they appreciatedhow such an effort could bolstereconomic development.According to Bob Burgess, “The futurewill see an increase in small businessstart-ups in the United States, solidlyplacing that sector at the forefront injob creation. To take advantage of thisto plan a Web site to link studentsand faculty research opportunitieswith smaller regional businesses andstart-ups.Hicks says the institute is an exampleof how private gifts can transform notjust the Broad School’s educationalenvironment, but also the BroadSchool’s relationship to the businesscommunity. “Over the next year, ourfocus is on raising faculty endowmentfunds, so we can attract and retain thetop teachers and researchers. Clearly,it is faculty vision, experience andintellectual rigor that is the key tomaking programs like the Institute forEntrepreneurship work. The BroadSchool’s reputation and its futuredepends on the quality of our faculty.“The Campaign for MSU showed asignificant level of commitment fromour alumni and friends,” says Hicks.Cathy Hicks was recently appointed seniordirector of Development for the BroadSchool, having served as acting seniordirector since February 1, 2007. She joinedthe Broad School in 2001 as associatedirector.“We are counting on that support tohelp us make the next-level progresswe all desire.”Continuing supportThe Broad School is grateful to themany individuals, corporations,foundations and associations for theircommitment to, and investment in, theschool. For a list of 2007 contributors,or to learn more about how you canmake a charitable contribution, pleasevisit our Web site at www.bus.msu.edu/development/index.html.31BROADBUSINESSwww.bus.msu.edu