Spring 2008 issue of Terry Magazine - (Page 53)

( in vesting in l e a D ers ) a enDoweD CHairs: transCenDent giFt College, they are providing one of the ultimate faculty recruitment and retention tools. “There the impact that endowed chairs can have on the Terry is an international market for good faculty and they are rare,” says Watson. “A chair really helps College, I’d like to share a brief story about a clergyman, to attract them — and keep them.” Ben Ayers, director of Terry’s J.M. Tull School of Accounting, Henry Lucas, whose gift to Cambridge University has had a lasting impact that extends far beyond the library and the parcel of says it’s no accident that the nation’s top B-schools have numerland that he bequeathed to Cambridge in 1663. Rev. Lucas’ gifts ous endowed chairs. “This is something the university needs to help us finanalso established an endowed professorship at Cambridge, and his generosity paved the way for Lucasian Chair holders to revolu- cially obtain the best researchers and teachers,” says Ayers. “The impact a teacher has on a student in class or through research tionize thinking about the laws of gravity and quantum physics. The first holder of the Lucasian Chair was Sir Isaac Newton, projects is exponential in nature; students will go on to teach at who published a treatise on gravity in 1687 which continues other universities or contribute to the business community and to be regarded as the single greatest work in the history of have a similar type of influence on others.” It’s not only faculty-student interactions that contribute to science. During the Lucasian chair’s 345-year history, it has this multiplier effect. Professors bring supported numerous inventions and distinction to the university through scientific advancements, such as the high-profile activities away from camdevelopment of the standard railroad pus. In addition to the Global Text gauge, contributions to the wave Project, Watson became president theory of light, and the original idea of his field’s academic association. for the programmable computer. During his tenure, he gave five keyThe current Lucasian Professor of note speeches on five continents and Mathematics at Cambridge University in this role brought positive attention is world-renowned physicist Stephen to Terry’s Management Information Hawking. Systems Department. It’s no wonder It required a special kind of the Terry MIS Department has risen faith for Henry Lucas to create a to 11th from 17th five years ago in gift knowing that he would never the reputational rankings published truly see the far-reaching impact his by U.S. News & World Report. legacy would have on the world. The We are pleased to have earned Terry College is fortunate to have such distinctions that support Dean friends who share the sensibilities of Sumichrast’s vision for national a Henry Lucas. prominence at Terry, but it is only Take Dorothy Fuqua, for example natural that these talented teacher. . . did she realize when she estabresearchers are drawing attention lished the J. Rex Fuqua Distinguished from other B-schools. We need to Chair for Internet Strategy that her retain our best professors, who have gift would help Terry professor Rick helped us earn our current reputation Watson spearhead an ambitious venas one of America’s top public business schools. ture to create 1,000 free online textbooks for we also more renowned people in developing nations? Fuqua’s endowby martee Horne Butthroughneed to addprofessorships so scholars endowed Terry ment gave Watson — and future holders of the can continue to ascend to national prominence Fuqua Chair — the precious gift of time to among all U.S. business schools, public or private. develop ideas that can make a difference in the world. I invite you to join Dorothy Fuqua, Jane Willson, the Jim “Most full professors work long hours,” says Watson, who notes that an 80-hour work week is common for professors con- Nalley family and countless others who have invested in Terry’s ducting quality research. “An endowed chair provides professors future to help the Terry College realize its full potential. The extra time to devote to research that will help the university grow tangible impact of these investments may be difficult to imagine at present, but like Henry Lucas and his gifts of a library, a parcel in stature. In my case, I took on the Global Text Project.” When supporters such as Dorothy Fuqua, Jane Willson, of land, and an environment for revolutionary thought, it will be and the Jim Nalley family give an endowed chair to the Terry felt for generations to come! ■ DaN MCCLure o help alumni and friends understand and appreciate ( ) Terry College of BuSineSS Spring 2008 • 53

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Terry School of Business - Spring 2008

Terry School of Business - Spring 2008 Contents Quick Bites Research & Innovation Gatherings Best CEO in America An Unlikely Rock Star Fire & Flavor Beyond the Bench Terry Memo Economic Scorekeeper Class Notes

Terry School of Business - Spring 2008

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