The Wisconsin School of Business recently celebrated its first-ever investiture ceremony, a recognition of the faculty and staff who hold named chairs, professorships, and directorships, and the donors who make them possible.
The event took place at the University of Wisconsin–Madison’s Memorial Union and brought together faculty and staff from WSB’s seven academic departments as well as the Dean’s Office, Multicultural Center, and the Small Business Development Center. Held as part of the school’s 125th anniversary celebrations throughout the fall semester, the ceremony honored 70 individuals holding named faculty positions, including Albert O. Nicholas Dean Vallabh “Samba” Sambamurthy, and four named center directorships.
“Our faculty are the foundation of the Wisconsin School of Business…Our [named] positions reflect a remarkable commitment, not just from the university, but also from the generous donors who have invested in your work, its trajectory, its evolution, and its impact,” Sambamurthy said to the faculty in attendance at the ceremony. “In funding a named position, our donors demonstrate their belief in the institution and the people who make it exceptional.”
Guest speaker Cynthia Czajkowski, senior associate vice chancellor for research at UW–Madison, congratulated WSB’s faculty and staff honorees.
“Chancellor Mnookin recently launched a new strategy to boost entrepreneurship at UW-Madison—forming the Wisconsin Entrepreneurship Hub,” said Czajkowski. “While this is a new focus and push, it builds on what started right here in the Wisconsin School of Business. If we really want to live the Wisconsin Idea, we need to take our research discoveries and effectively translate them to improve people’s lives, drive economic growth, and solve big societal challenges.”
“It’s moments like this that underscore the unwavering commitment to academic excellence that is part and parcel of our mission—to create, synthesize, disseminate, and apply knowledge,” said WSB’s Senior Associate Dean for Faculty and Staff Nicholas Petruzzi prior to introducing the faculty segment of the program. “It gives me goose bumps when I say it out loud.”
Department chairs highlighted the accomplishments and caliber of their faculty as each department was called to the stage. Each faculty and staff honoree received a customized plaque and medallion recognizing their named title. The associated donors will also receive a commemorative plaque.
“WSB is fortunate to be supported by a generous community that sees the value in this work,” Sambamurthy said. “Through the creation of named positions, donors are the catalyst for enhancing WSB’s reputation, allowing faculty members to pursue cutting-edge research and launch innovative programs: factors that have transformed WSB into a comprehensive business school.”
“The partnership between faculty and donors is a true differentiator for WSB,” Sambamurthy concluded, “and will continue to drive institutional excellence for the next 125 years—and beyond.”
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