The Palumbo-Donahue School of Business is profoundly impacted by the generosity of alumnus Eugene P. Beard. Mr. Beard is Chairman of Old Westbury Funds, Inc., a $23 billion mutual fund firm. For more than two decades, his gifts to the School have transformed students’ lives, enabled groundbreaking research and improved our programs in ethics and sustainability. We are tremendously grateful for his support, which we humbly note will continue for years to come thanks to his vision and commitment to our future. A two-time graduate of Duquesne University, B’59 and MBA ’61, Mr. Beard was the commencement speaker and recipient of an honorary degree of Doctor of Ethics in Business Leadership from Duquesne in May 1998.
IMPACT on Students
“Honestly, if I could give Mr. Beard a big hug, I would. This opportunity has been such a blessing for me.” – Allison Mora, MBA ‘16
Nine students were selected as Eugene P. Beard Scholarship Award Winners in 2015-2016. Scholarship winners were awarded in four categories: Leadership in Ethics, MBA Fellowships in Sustainability, Undergraduate Scholarships and Study Abroad Scholarships for Women.
Among the recipients was MBA Sustainability student Allison Mora, who received a $20,000 Beard Fellowship in Sustainability. “Honestly, if I could give Mr. Beard a big hug, I would,” recounts Allison with a smile. “This opportunity has been such a blessing for me.”
The fellowship has assisted in funding Allison’s education as well as giving her the opportunity to help Dr. Karen Donovan, Associate Dean, Palumbo-Donahue School of Business, conduct research on how consumers react to for-profit businesses that express religious beliefs.
An avid traveler, Allison earned a Bachelor in Music and a Certificate in Business Management from Duquesne. After earning her MBA, Allison aims to merge the arts and sustainability to create change in music business practices. “Especially with a MBA Sustainability, I feel like I can make a great impact,” says Allison. “I’m really encouraged by this program and know there is a positive change that can happen through being a business woman.”
“I’d been saving money since I started college to study abroad. I didn’t think this would ever be possible, and I definitely wouldn’t be able to afford this trip if it wasn’t for the scholarship from Mr. Beard.” – Abigail Hamilton, BSBA ‘17
Another scholarship award winner was Abigail Hamilton, an undergraduate business student majoring in marketing and pursuing a minor in digital media arts. Abigail received a $7,500 Beard Study Abroad Scholarship for Women. “I’d been saving money since I started college to study abroad,” says Abigail. “I didn’t think this would ever be possible, and I definitely wouldn’t be able to afford this trip if it wasn’t for the scholarship from Mr. Beard.”
Abigail studied in Ireland this summer. During her semester abroad, she took classes at the University College Dublin and then completed an internship at an Irish international marketing company. The scholarship paid for her travel, housing and coursework. It was a transformational experience!
Eugene P. Beard Scholarship Award Winners
IMPACT on Faculty Research Related to Ethics
“Thanks to Mr. Beard, the development of the book series will not only draw upon Duquesne’s faculty expertise but will help shape the field in business ethics in important ways, cementing our school as a leader in an area that fits perfectly with our mission and Spiritan heritage.” – Dr. Dean B. McFarlin, Dean and Professor of Management
Thanks to the Beard Faculty Resource Fund in Business Ethics, the Institute for Ethics in Business at Duquesne University is launching an annual book series, entitled Business and Society 360, sponsored by the International Association for Business and Society (IABS). Each volume is a combination of invited and submitted chapters from top scholars around the world, providing an overview of past work and highlighting cutting-edge research on selected topics related to business ethics.
Co-editors for the series are Dr. David Wasieleski, Chair of the Management and Marketing Department and Associate Professor of Management, and Dr. James Weber, Executive Director of the Institute for Ethics in Business and Professor of Management. Volume 1 in the series explores stakeholder management and is scheduled for publication sometime in 2017.
Business and Society 360
Volume 1: Stakeholder Management—Contents
IMPACT on Faculty Research Related to Sustainability
“For years, I searched for an opportunity to focus on my research and learn more about the Scandinavian approach to business management and sustainability. I am most grateful to Mr. Beard for funding my sabbatical work in Sweden.” – Dr. Robert Sroufe, Murrin Chair of Global Competitiveness
Thanks to the Beard Faculty Resource Fund in Sustainability, Dr. Robert Sroufe, Murrin Chair of Global Competitiveness, was able to seize a significant opportunity to develop his scholarship and teaching in support of sustainable business practices. From January through July 2016, Dr. Sroufe was a visiting researcher at the Blekinge Institute of Technology (BTH) in Karlskrona, Sweden.
For years, Dr. Sroufe searched for an opportunity to focus on his research and learn more about the Scandinavian approach to business management and sustainability, high performance building systems, infrastructure, supply chains and graduate education. Indeed, Scandinavian companies have been at the forefront of understanding and integrating sustainability within their business models.
Dr. Sroufe had a unique opportunity to work with world-class researchers and executives, including key figures in the worldwide sustainability movement. During his sabbatical, he produced academic articles, worked on a book and collaborated on research projects with faculty and Ph.D. students in Sweden. He also delivered keynote presentations at various Swedish universities and laid the foundation for future research projects in sustainability.
Ultimately, Dr. Sroufe’s research in Sweden will help solve the sustainability challenges we face today and keep the Palumbo-Donahue School of Business at the forefront of thought leadership in sustainability. As the School’s strategic plan notes, all students need to understand that sustainability is a core business principle.
These are just a few stories of how Eugene P. Beard’s generosity has profoundly impacted students, faculty and programs in the Palumbo-Donahue School of Business.
