6 minute read
USU to Give Honorary Doctorates to Two Huntsman Alums
dean’s message
a message from Dean Douglas D. Anderson
Recently, I read a speech by Mitt Romney in which he quotes lines of the song, “Forty Years On,” sung by the students and alumni of The Harrow School, the London school for boys, whose most famous graduate is Winston Churchill1 . Here are a few lines from that song:
The lyrics captured me the moment I realized that I am now 40 years on from my graduation from Utah State University in 1973. At that time the George S. Eccles Business Building was just three years old. Like so many before me—and, I suspect, many after—I wonder, “where did the years go, forty years on?” It is not only the notes of a song like “The Scotsman” that bring these thoughts to mind. They come in a walk across the Quad, the roar of a crowd in the Spectrum, a glimpse of Mt. Logan or, as is the case today watching out my office window, the sight of Lund Hall being demolished to make way for the construction of the newest addition to the USU campus: Huntsman Hall. My mother has told me stories of Lund Hall. She lived there in the 1940’s as an upper-class “resident” when it was a dormitory for freshmen women. Hers was the west corner room on the top floor. That was precisely the spot where the demolition began today. When I was a student at USU, Lund Hall was the dorm for the football team. More recently, it has served as the home of the math and statistics department. We will miss Lund Hall, but we will be so fortunate to have this new building. It will be a great asset for the college and for the entire University. Huntsman Hall will be the physical manifestation of our brand—excellence in everything we do! What stories, I wonder, will it tell forty years from now? The name, “Huntsman Hall,” was selected by the University to honor Jon M. Huntsman, Sr., who has done so much for our college of business, and who has provided the lead, private gift for the new building. In coming issues of this magazine, we want to recognize all those whose support is making this wonderful new edifice possible. We deeply appreciate their generosity. This is an exciting moment in the history of Utah State University. We are at a critical “point of inflection.” Building on the legacy of those who have gone before, we are laying the foundation of a truly great business school. Those of us who are actively involved in this effort can sense the momentum of positive change, and feel fortunate to contribute to the University we love at this time. But there is still much to be done to fully realize our ambition. Huntsman Hall will give us the space we need to expand student opportunities in entrepreneurship, leadership, and international programs. But without a permanent endowment to grow and sustain these programs, we will fall short of our vision. So we are continuing to seek out visionaries among our alumni and friends who will help us realize that dream. We hope you’ll join us. Just think of what we can become—forty years on!
Forty years on, when afar and asunder Parted are those who are singing today, When you look back, and forgetfully wonder What you were like in your work and your play, Then, it may be, there will often come o’er you, Glimpses of notes like the catch of a song… How will it seem to you, forty years on?
1 W. Mitt Romney, (BA ‘71), BYU Magazine “Forty Years On; Mitt Romney Discusses the Business of Successful Living..” Winter 2013. You can listen to the song, “Forty Years On, on Harrow’s website at this link: bit.ly/10aGc0u Even better, view and listen to “The Scotsman,” at this link: scotsman.usu.edu
adair ron by photo
USU to Award Honorary Degrees
to Nike President Denson and Bangkok University President Santiwat
barry donna by photo denson
Utah State University will honor two Huntsman School alumni with honorary degrees at the 126th commencement on May 4, 2013. “Charlie serves at the pinnacle of brand and marketing, for arguably one of the best known brands in the world. Charlie president Denson, ‘78, business administration, of Nike Brand, will receive an honorary He is such an inspiration to our students looking to degree and will also serve as the commencement speaker. As president of Nike Brand, Mr. Denson is responsible for leading the strategy of one of the create similar careers of their own. — Dean Anderson ” world’s most distinctive companies in sports. He oversees Nike’s major global categories, including action sports, basketball, football (soccer), men’s training, women’s training, running, and sportswear, as well as the Jordan Brand and Nike Golf. “Charlie serves at the pinnacle of brand and marketing, for arguably one of the best known brands in the world,” said Dean Douglas D. Anderson. “He is such an inspiration to our students looking to create similar careers of their own.” Mr. Denson began his career with Nike in 1979, starting as an assistant retail manager at Nike’s first retail store in Portland, Oregon, where he learned the business from the ground up and the importance of creating and maintaining a strong connection with consumers. After more than three decades, he has developed a deep expertise in the athletic consumer products industry and has been instruCharlie Denson with Aggie athletes donned in their newly Nike-designed uniforms mental in leading Nike to become one of the world’s biggest brands. Bangkok University. Besides her active work with He also has been engaged with his alma mater, the university, President Santiwat is also engaged helping students interested in marketing careers as in several Thai government-related committees, well as leading a 15-month rebranding campaign including her position as a National Quality that resulted in USU’s unveiling of its new athletic Assessor for Thai Higher Education Institutions and logo in the spring of 2012. as the president of the Association of Private Higher Education Institutions of She remains a loyal Aggie despite the thousands of miles between us, and I am honored that she “ Thailand. She is a longtime supporter of the rights of Thai women and is a member
”of the executive board of the will provide the convocation at our graduation. Thai Women Watch. President Santiwat is a — Dean Anderson loyal Aggie who remembers her time studying account USU will also honor Dr. Mathana Santiwat, ‘73, ing at USU under Larzette Hale and living in accounting, with an honorary degree. Dr. Santiwat Merrill Hall. She served as the president of the will address graduates during the Huntsman alumni chapter in Thailand for several years
School convocation following the university’s and gets together at least once a year with the commencement activities. Since her graduation more than 200 Aggies in Thailand. from USU, Dr. Santiwat has worked in a variety of “I had the pleasure of visiting Dr. Mathana positions at Bangkok University, starting as a junior two years ago in Bangkok when she hosted a Mathana Santiwat with an lecturer in accounting and moving on to dean of dinner for Aggie alumni,” Dean Anderson said. “ award from Bankok University the school of accounting, and then vice president She remains a loyal Aggie despite the thousands of of academic affairs, a position she held for 19 miles between us, and I am honored that she will years. Since 2007, she has served as the president of provide the convocation at our graduation.”
