The Harry and Isabel C. Cameron Foundation, a long-time benefactor of UST, approved a pledge of $1.5 million to create the Cameron Endowed Chair in Management and Marketing for the Cameron School of Business.

“This pledge to fund a Chair is made to assist the University in its plan for Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) accreditation,” said Diane Guiberteau, vice president and trust officer for the Cameron Foundation.

In March 2007, the Cameron School underwent a sweeping reorganization to streamline and strengthen some of its degree programs, while phasing out others. It’s a move that would bring the school closer to a prestigious accreditation that is awarded to less than eight percent of universities worldwide.

“The accreditation process is rigorous and lengthy, but it will be worth the effort,” said Dr. Bahman Mirshab, dean of the Cameron School of Business. “The Cameron Foundation’s generous gift will enable us to hire a distinguished professor whose teaching and scholarly activities will enhance our academic program and ensure that the University builds on its tradition of excellence.”

Over the years, the Cameron Foundation has given the University more than $2 million. In 1969, St. Thomas received one of the first gifts from the foundation to establish the Cameron School of Business. With a gift of $1 million from the foundation in 1978, Welder Hall was remodeled from its original cafeteria configuration to classroom space for the business school. The Cameron Foundation also funded a second renovation of Welder Hall in 2002 and established the Archbishop Michael J. Miller Endowed Scholarship fund.

“As we proceed with plans to develop our next comprehensive capital campaign, gifts of this magnitude are key to our success in motivating others to share their blessings with UST,” said H. Ken DeDominicis, vice president of Institutional Advancement.” The continuing generosity of the foundation has played a key role in transforming the Cameron School to a first quality business program.

Pictured from left to right are Eva Langley, Shirley Cameron Davis, Frances Cameron Miller, Sylvia Cameron and Priscilla Bomet. Trustees not pictured are David Cameron and Diane Guiberteau.