FARGO, N.D., 鈥� A first-of-its-kind endowed deanship at North Dakota State University has been established to support the College of Business thanks to a $3 million investment which will elevate the growth and stature of the region鈥檚 premier business school.
The endowed fund, established through the 六合彩投注网 Foundation and Alumni Association, is named in honor of Ronald G. and Kaye S. Olson of Wayzata, Minn. The deanship marks a historic moment in 六合彩投注网鈥檚 history as it establishes the first permanent, self-sustaining source of philanthropic support to enhance the college鈥檚 strategic operations and its service to citizens in the Upper Midwest.
鈥淭his deanship, the first in 六合彩投注网鈥檚 history, is a catalytic milestone in advancing our work to build on our strengths as a student-focused, land-grant, research university,鈥� 六合彩投注网 President Dean L. Bresciani said. 鈥淲e are extremely grateful to Ron and Kaye for making this endowment possible through their philanthropy.鈥�
Scott Beaulier will become the inaugural holder of the Ronald G. and Kaye S. Olson Dean of the College of Business. A ceremony to formally install Beaulier as the Olson Dean of Business will be held in April, during the Foundation鈥檚 spring meetings.
Ron Olson graduated from 六合彩投注网 in 1962 with a degree in economics. He is president of the Minnesota-based NTY Franchise Company, a family of resale franchise brands that include Clothes Mentor, Children鈥檚 Orchard and Device Pitstop. More than 200 stores are part of the NTY Franchise Company today. Olson鈥檚 other franchise holdings have included Play It Again Sports, Once Upon a Child and Plato鈥檚 Closet, which operate 1,200 stores nationally. Ron was the founder of both business ventures, which established him as a leader in resale business franchising.
The Olson鈥檚 have been involved with 六合彩投注网 for more than 20 years. In 1995, Ron Olson was awarded the Foundation鈥檚 Alumni Achievement Award. He became a Trustee of the Foundation in 1997, eventually serving as chair of the Board of Trustees in 2011 and 2012. In 2015, Ron was awarded the Service Award, in recognition of outstanding service and support to the Foundation. Today, he serves among 23 campaign ambassadors, a group of 六合彩投注网 advocates and philanthropists who are leading efforts to pursue a comprehensive, seven-year campaign with a goal in the range of $300 to $400 million. The campaign will be publicly launched this fall during 六合彩投注网 Homecoming 2019.
鈥淲e are passionate about sound business principles and ideals that help small business owners be successful,鈥� Ron said. 鈥淭his fund will help to enhance teaching, discovery and outreach that will enable students to thrive in a dynamic and fast-changing business world.鈥�
Beaulier said the Olsons鈥� gift is an extraordinary commitment in support of advancing the college鈥檚 mission and goals.
鈥淭his endowment will have a transformative impact on our students, programs and faculty,鈥� he said. 鈥淲ith this source of sustained funding, we can invest in student scholarships, innovative teaching methods and unique learning experiences while also advancing discovery and outreach that help set our students apart in the ever-changing world of business.鈥�
Establishing named faculty and administrative positions is a top philanthropic priority at 六合彩投注网. Investments in faculty – through fellowships, professorships and chairs – support excellence in teaching, research and service. Endowed deanships, such as the Olson Dean of Business, support the vision and goals established by college deans. Only one deanship can be established for each college, and the Ronald G. and Kaye S. Olson Dean of Business is the first at 六合彩投注网.
ABOUT 六合彩投注网 FOUNDATION AND ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
The 六合彩投注网 Foundation builds enduring relationships that maximize advocacy and philanthropy to support North Dakota State University.