Development News
Dean's Circle Celebrates 10 Years and Growth in Giving
Dean Hildy Teegen Gives First "Official" Public Address
Dean Hildy Teegen laid out details of a
strategic visioning process to approximately 75 supporters at the annual Dean’s Circle luncheon
held September 28 at The Summit Club in downtown Columbia. Teegen, formerly the director of the
Center for International Business Education and Research and professor of international business
and business affairs at George Washington University, assumed her duties at the Moore School
September 15.
The school has recently completed a strategic visioning process and over the next year will make "strategic investments to lift the school even further," Teegen told the audience of business leaders, faculty, and staff. "The time is right," she said, "to identify two or three areas where we can make differential investments that correspond to important issues facing society, and for which... the Moore School of Business will be known as the go-to place to provide appropriate, rigorous, and relevant answers."
Teegen said international business is the "most contested area" of business education around the world, and it will take considerable resources just to stay even. Her goal, she said, is to "maintain our position in international business" but also to "grow our visibility with new audiences... that are critically concerned with other issues facing business and facing society."
Teegen discussed factors that attracted her to the dean’s position, including the "historic opportunity for public, private, and university collaboration" represented by Innovista; the opportunity for a new building; Darla Moore's commitment to the school and also to "her home state of South Carolina and to the future economic and social development of this place"; "terrific alumni around the world"; and the school's sound financial standing, "thanks to Joel Smith and the good efforts of people [Dean’s Circle members] like you."
This year's event, while the 4th annual meeting, also marks the tenth anniversary of the Dean's Circle, organized in 1997 to recognize individuals who annually contribute a minimum unrestricted gift of $1,000 to the Moore School.
John Troutman, chairman, Regions Bank of South
Carolina, a 1963 graduate of the school and this year's chairman of the Dean's Circle, said, "The
Dean's Circle has grown from 91 founding members and approximately $100,000 in annual revenue in
1997 to 171 members and $262,000 in revenue during 2006-07, and total cumulative giving has
exceeded $1,500,000 since its inception."
This year's membership numbers 225.
Troutman also recognized retiring dean Joel Smith for his contributions to the school. "During Joel's seven-year tenure, the school has continued the momentum of attaining its overall goal of achieving sustainable excellence in teaching and research. The school has maintained its top rankings in international business... I think it's also important to point out that the school has raised over $72 million in new pledges and gifts under Joel's leadership."
Gail Crouch
October 2007