Department of Development

Who We Are & What We Do

The University of Akron is grateful for the generous support of alumni, friends, corporations and foundations it receives to achieve its goals. This support enables the University to fund scholarships, fellowships, professorships, campus renovations, new facilities and much, much more.

The Department of Development works with University benefactors matching their philanthropic interests with student and programmatic support opportunities within the University. Often, through these lasting relationships, alumni and friends of the University deepen and enrich their ties to UA and to the students the institution serves.

Assaf Family Visits Campus

From left: Tim DuFore, Kathleen Assaf, Ron '57 Assaf, David Horn,
Kim Stover, John LaGuardia

Florida residents and Society for Tomorrow members Ron '57 Assaf and his wife Kathleen, along with daughter Kim Stover of Kent, visited the campus in early June and enjoyed a tour of InfoCision Stadium led by Ted Curtis, VP of Capital Planning and Facilities Management. After the stadium tour, the group met Dr. Dale Lewison, the director of the Gary L. and Karen S. Taylor Institute for Direct Marketing and The Suarez Applied Marketing Research Laboratories, for a tour of both facilities.

The family then joined John LaGuardia, VP for Public Affairs and Development; Tim DuFore, Assoc. VP of Development; and David Horn, Director of Planned Giving, Center for Gift and Estate Planning, in the Student Union for lunch.

Ron's son Tim is also a University of Akron alumnus, Class of 1983.

Track and Field Program Honors Special Alumni, Donors

Left to right: Dr. Roger '63 and Judith '63 Read, Jacqueline and Robert '60 Gill

Robert '60 and Jacqueline Gill and Dr. Roger '63 and Judith '63 Read were honored for their support and dedication to Zips Athletics during the 2009 Mid-American Conference Track and Field Championships in May.

As a student, Robert Gill participated in men's cross country and track programs and was a champion athlete, having been the school record holder for the half-mile. He earned seven Ohio Conference Championships in outdoor (800m) and indoor (880m) track and was the 1960 NCAA Mid-East Runner-up in the 800. In 2001, he was inducted into The University of Akron Varsity "A" Sports Hall of Fame. Robert and his wife Jacqueline established the Robert J. and Jacqueline B. Gill Endowed Fund for Track and Field Cross Country as well as The Robert J. and Jacqueline Gill Track Challenge.  

Dr. Read's activities as a student included senior class president, cross-country and track, and the Phi Delta Theta fraternity. He and wife Judith established the Roger T. and Judith A. Read Endowed Scholarship in Business Administration, the Judith A. and Roger T. Read Scholarship Fund in the Buchtel College of Arts & Science and The Roger and Judy Read Project GRAD Scholarships.

The University of Akron Track and Field program received donations from both families to provide facility upgrades to the Lee Jackson Outdoor Track and Field Complex. The Track and Field Head Coach's Office and the Track and Field Hall of Honor have been named in their honor.

The 2009 Donald L. Kaufman Lecture Series is Held

 
From left to right: Dr. Raj Aggarwal, Dean of the CBA; Donald L. Kaufman; Ralph M. Della Ratta, Jr.; Dr. Luis Proenza

The 6th annual Donald L. Kaufman Business Lecture Series was held on April 16. The speaker, Mr. Ralph M. Della Ratta Jr., is the founder and managing director of Western Reserve Partners LLC. His talk entitled "What They Do Not Teach You in Business School [But] You Will Need to Fast Track Your Career" strengthened and enriched the educational experience of our business students as well as provided insight into today's unpredictable financial markets.

The Kaufman Speaker Series was founded by the CBA through a gift from Donald L. Kaufman, retired president and CEO of Alside, Inc. Mr. Kaufman is a member of the College of Business Administration Advancement Council, the University of Akron Foundation, and a frequent guest lecturer to marketing students.

InfoCision Stadium Model Presented to Gary and Karen Taylor

Representives from The University of Akron presented Gary and Karen Taylor with a model of InfoCision Stadium on February 11. The Taylors made the lead gift to begin construction on the stadium, which is named after the Taylor's company to honor their support.

Left to right: Karen Taylor, Gary Taylor, VP of Capital Planning and Facilities Management Ted Curtis, Director of Athletics Mack Rhoades, Summit College Dean Stan Silverman, Assoc. VP of Development Tim DuFore

Towpath Credit Union Gift Names Press Box in InfoCision Stadium

Towpath representatives with Zippy, from left: Alan McArthur, CEO; Zippy; Michael Thompson, Director of Marketing; Wendy Windemuth, Business Development Representative.

Towpath Credit Union presented UA with a gift for InfoCision Stadium on January 9. The press box of the stadium will be named Towpath Credit Union Press Box in honor of the gift.

Corbin Foundation Funds New Finance Lab

Front row, left to right: Robert Berk, Sophie Albrecht, Robert Bonchack
Back row, left to right: Louis Maglione, President Proenza, Joseph Holden, Roger Read

The Corbin Finance Lab in The University of Akron College of Business Administration was dedicated on January 6. The lab was made possible through funding from the Mary S. and David C. Corbin Foundation. In this state-of-the-art facility, students and professors can control six projection screens, each linked to a class computer where data from multiple sources can simultaneously be viewed. The work stations also have access to the Internet, financial TV, current news on material under review, in-house databases and stock information.

Thanks to the David C. and Mary S. Corbin Foundation trustees Joseph M. Holden, Roger T. Read, James S. Hartenstein, Robert M. Bonchack, Sophie E. Albrecht, Louis A. Maglione, Raymond R. Wernig and Robert C. Berk.

Family's $1.9 Million Gift Creates Benjamin and Nancy Suarez Applied Marketing Research Laboratories

The Suarez family, from left to right: Sharon, Nancy, Benjamin and Michelle with husband Tim Ditty

Benjamin '67 and Nancy Suarez endowed The Suarez Applied Marketing Research Laboratories in the Department of Marketing. Located on the fifth floor of the historic Polsky Building, Suarez Applied Marketing Research Laboratories is a one-of-a-kind marketing research teaching and experiential facility. The Laboratories will complement the Fisher Institute and Taylor Institute and make The University of Akron a leading, if not the leading, business college in the nation for sales and marketing.

Benjamin and Nancy Suarez are known for their philanthropic efforts. These endeavors range from the United Way and Disaster Relief to their work on behalf of women, particularly Breast Cancer Research and Women's Shelters.