It’s been a decade plus of dreaming, planning, fundraising, building and moving, but the vision of a modern and multipurposed new home for the Terry College of Business was fully realized this fall. Ivester Hall and Sanford and Barbara Orkin Hall were the last two buildings to join Correll Hall, Amos Hall, Benson Hall and Moore-Rooker Hall as the nexus for business education at the University of Georgia.
It has been a genuine thrill to watch the kinetic scene repeat itself at every class change. Students move in waves, in and out of the Business Learning Community, taking advantage of the new classrooms, lingering in the spacious common areas, and utilizing our student services. At the building dedication on Sept. 6, we were honored to be joined by Doug Ivester, Sanford Orkin and Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, who called the completion of the Business Learning Community “a great example of how a public-private partnership can invest in the future of our state.” UGA President Jere W. Morehead said the “completion of these two final buildings not only extends the Terry College’s state-of-the-art offerings, it also marks the finish of a remarkable transformation of the UGA campus.” I couldn’t agree more, as you see a constant stream of students throughout the six buildings from early morning until well into the evening.
Now that we have our beautiful facilities in place, we look forward to continuing to elevate the education and opportunities for our students. Key components of our efforts are to attract and retain world-class faculty who are at the forefront of innovation in their fields. In September, as part of these efforts, three outstanding faculty members at Terry were appointed to new professorships. By endowing more faculty chairs, we will continue to build our reputation as one of our nation’s top business schools and as an attractive destination for the best and brightest.
On the theme of attractive destinations, we are also working to make study abroad a financially viable option for every Terry student. In this issue you can read how our South American study abroad and internship program is transforming the lives of Terry students, providing a significant international and cultural experience advantageous to thriving in today’s business environment. Close to 40 percent of our students participate in study abroad, but the expense of international travel is a financial barrier for nearly one-third of our students. In response, we are working diligently to establish study abroad scholarships, and with donor support, we can increase and diversify student participation in what is often a life-changing opportunity.
The Terry College continues to be ranked as one of the top public business colleges in the country. Our new buildings give us a tremendous advantage, and we have a clear path to strengthen and build for the future. The great thing is, we’re just getting started.
Sincerely,
Benjamin C. Ayers, Dean
Earl Davis Chair in Taxation