2008 Woodie Awards
MU receives $1 million to increase minority entrepreneurship
Rachel Reeves
Issue date: 11/16/07 Section: Campus
Miami University alumni David and Vicki Herche recently gave $1 million to establish an endowed assistant professor chair for the Miami University Institute for Entrepreneurship within the Farmer School of Business.
The Herches hope the endowment will enhance the teaching of entrepreneurship and promote diversity.
According to Jenny Callison, the director of communications for the Farmer School of Business, David and Vicki Herche were some of the earliest supporters of the entrepreneurship program at Miami. David Herche is a business school graduate who started out in a managerial position for Enerfab, a Cincinnati-based company that engineers steel products and food-grade linings for several industries. Five years later he purchased the company and since then it has grown to become an industry leader.
David Herche is a trustee of Miami and is on the board of the Thomas C. Page Center for Entrepreneurship within the business school. He has an interest in continuing entrepreneurship education and in driving minority growth.
"David always felt the school needed to provide and support entrepreneurship," said Roger Jenkins, dean of the Farmer School of Business. "He felt the program got off track and he said if we got it back on track he would support it. He was true to his word. The Herches spent a long time strategically making this decision to donate. That's what makes their donation really meaningful."
Jenkins noted that the business school is aware that other majors are interested in entrepreneurship. Half of the seats in entrepreneurship classes are reserved for non-business school students. The Herche chair will help support and encourage entrepreneurship across the campus.
"Businesses are started by people from all walks of life," Jenkins said. "We want to aggressively reach out for the whole community to embrace entrepreneurship."
The Herches want candidates with an interest in expanding minority entrepreneurship to be given preference in the selection process for the David and Vicki Herche Endowed Assistant Professor Chair. A selection committee made up of people from the Institute for Entrepreneurship and the Farmer School will make the hire, with approval by the dean and the provost.
The Herches hope the endowment will enhance the teaching of entrepreneurship and promote diversity.
According to Jenny Callison, the director of communications for the Farmer School of Business, David and Vicki Herche were some of the earliest supporters of the entrepreneurship program at Miami. David Herche is a business school graduate who started out in a managerial position for Enerfab, a Cincinnati-based company that engineers steel products and food-grade linings for several industries. Five years later he purchased the company and since then it has grown to become an industry leader.
David Herche is a trustee of Miami and is on the board of the Thomas C. Page Center for Entrepreneurship within the business school. He has an interest in continuing entrepreneurship education and in driving minority growth.
"David always felt the school needed to provide and support entrepreneurship," said Roger Jenkins, dean of the Farmer School of Business. "He felt the program got off track and he said if we got it back on track he would support it. He was true to his word. The Herches spent a long time strategically making this decision to donate. That's what makes their donation really meaningful."
Jenkins noted that the business school is aware that other majors are interested in entrepreneurship. Half of the seats in entrepreneurship classes are reserved for non-business school students. The Herche chair will help support and encourage entrepreneurship across the campus.
"Businesses are started by people from all walks of life," Jenkins said. "We want to aggressively reach out for the whole community to embrace entrepreneurship."
The Herches want candidates with an interest in expanding minority entrepreneurship to be given preference in the selection process for the David and Vicki Herche Endowed Assistant Professor Chair. A selection committee made up of people from the Institute for Entrepreneurship and the Farmer School will make the hire, with approval by the dean and the provost.
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