Graduate school of business named in honor of Nashville’s Pam and Phil Pfeffer
Pam and Phil Pfeffer believe strongly in the power of education and have invested their time and resources to support it in numerous ways.
Kim Chaudoin |
Nashville business leaders and philanthropists Pam and Phil Pfeffer were honored for their investment in Lipscomb's College of Business Jan. 31 at a special on campus kick-off to the LIPSCOMBLEADS initiative.
Nashville business leaders and philanthropists Pam and Phil Pfeffer have made a significant investment in Lipscomb University’s College of Business to establish the Pfeffer Graduate School of Business.
This announcement comes days after the university announced the launch of LipscombLEADS, a $250 million campaign initiative. Phil Pfeffer, president and CEO of Treemont Capital Inc. and former chairman of the board and CEO of the Ingram Distribution Group Inc., serves as an adjunct graduate business professor and CEO-in-residence in Lipscomb’s College of Business and has been part of numerous international travel study courses through the college.
“Phil is one of the most well-respected businessmen and entrepreneurs in Nashville. He has led some of Nashville’s most successful companies and is still involved with cutting edge business ventures. He is an inspirational role model for our students. Being able to spend time with someone of the caliber of Phil is a rare opportunity for any aspiring young business leader,” said Dr. Ray Eldridge, dean of Lipscomb’s College of Business.
“Pam and Phil Pfeffer are not just investors in our college of business, but they are also a part of our college family. We are grateful for their passion for what we are doing to develop young business leaders who will follow the values and virtues of Jesus and take that into the workplace.”
Nashville business leaders and philanthropists Pam and Phil Pfeffer have made a significant investment in Lipscomb University’s College of Business to establish the Pfeffer Graduate School of Business.
In recognition of the Pfeffers’ significant financial investment and commitment to the university’s business education, Lipscomb’s College of Business officially established the Pfeffer Graduate School of Business, which houses all graduate business studies including the Master of Accountancy, Master of Business Administration, Master of Health Administration and Master of Management programs.
“We are grateful that Phil and Pam Pfeffer claim Lipscomb University and its business program through the sharing of their time and financial resources. They are making a tremendous impact every day on the lives of Lipscomb business students, and we are thankful for their investment,” said Lipscomb President L. Randolph Lowry.
Pam and Phil have long valued and been committed to supporting higher education. Phil, particularly has become very involved with the Lipscomb University College of Business in recent years.
Pam and I have been impressed by the caliber and character of Lipscomb students. There is something about them – their desire to be successful and their work ethic. Lipscomb students really stand out. — Phil Pfeffer
“Pam and I have been impressed by the caliber and character of Lipscomb students. There is something about them – their desire to be successful and their work ethic. Lipscomb students really stand out,” said Pfeffer, who, in 2011, was the recipient of the Lipscomb Center for Entrepreneurship’s inaugural “Entrepreneur of the Year” Award. Phil further said, “We also value the University’s outstanding student-serving faculty and staff.” Pam added, “We value what is being done at Lipscomb and we value that the University is an intentional faith-based institution of learning. We want these reasons to be known to all so others can appreciate this magical place called Lipscomb.”
The Pfeffer’s gift is the latest investment in Lipscomb’s College of Business. In April 2018, the university received a $23 million gift — a lead gift for Lipscomb University’s College of Business, which celebrated 100 years of business education last academic year. The gift is being used for new facilities for the College of Business; to support business programs, faculty and students; a parking structure; and global learning facilities in Florence, Italy, among other initiatives.
Lipscomb’s College of Business is one of the fastest growing in the university, with more than 600 undergraduate and graduate students and 16 undergraduate and four graduate programs, touting a 95 percent overall job placement rate for 2016 and thousands of alumni around the world. It has been recognized nationally as a leader in business education.
The college has been named the No. 1 Undergraduate Business Program in Tennessee for three consecutive years by both Bloomberg Business Week and Poets & Quants and the No. 2 part-time MBA program in Tennessee in 2016 by Bloomberg Business Week. In addition it was named the No. 1 accounting program in Tennessee and No. 2 in the nation in 2017 by Christian Universities Online. Earlier this month, 2018 College Factual ranked Lipscomb’s accounting program the number one accounting program in Tennessee for the second consecutive year and one of the top 50 programs in the nation. The department of accounting also earned a ranking of 12th in the nation and number one in the state of Tennessee for the second consecutive year for Best Accounting Programs for Veterans.
For more information about Lipscomb’s College of Business visit business.lipscomb.edu.
— Photos by Kristi Jones