UNI marks one year of the David W. Wilson College of Business
It’s been one year since David W. and Holly Wilson made history at the University of Northern Iowa, with a $25 million donation — the largest gift to the institution to date. The announcement arrived on campus greeted by a sunny Friday morning, October 20, 2023 — leading into a weekend of celebration and Homecoming festivities. So much has happened in the last year, and more exciting changes are to come!
David W. Wilson College of Business
The impact of David Wilson’s gift began with the renaming of the business college to the David W. Wilson College of Business. This is the first named college in UNI history.
Inaugural Wilson Scholar awarded full-ride scholarship
As a native of Tama County, Wilson wants to see more students from his home county majoring in business at the University of Northern Iowa. The resulting David W. Wilson Scholars Endowed Fund Scholarship covers tuition, fees, and room & board after all grants and other earned scholarships are applied for high school graduates from Tama County who are enrolling at UNI. Jenna Meyer, a freshman human resource management major who graduated from South Tama High School, is the inaugural recipient. Soon, four Wilson Scholars will receive these scholarships annually.
Two faculty members named Wilson Ethics Fellows
Two Wilson Ethics fellows have been named in the philosophy department. Together, they are already expanding ethics across the UNI curriculum. Robert Earle, associate professor of instruction, was named the inaugural Wilson Ethics Fellow in fall 2023. This summer, he coordinated an ethics teaching workshop for more than 10 UNI faculty this summer. Nicholas Sars joined Earle as a fellow this fall. He is now teaching a brand-new applied ethics course.
Wilson Chair in Business Ethics
The Wilson Chair in Business Ethics, established in 1999 through a donation from Wilson, aims to educate students and the community about social and ethical issues in business and promote discussion on ethical practices. Since 2021, Professor Russell Guay has advanced these goals through his teaching, research, and service. In 2023-24, key achievements include incorporating ethics into leadership and management courses, developing an ethics module for the Professional Readiness Program, conducting research on leadership values, and hosting an Ethics Case Competition with 25 UNI students.
Early Founders Program
Funding from the Wilson Endowment supported the College’s innovative Early Founder’s Program, coordinated by the John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center (JPEC) on campus. The program is designed for a select group of student entrepreneurs who dedicate the summer months to immersing themselves in their ventures' foundational development and growth. The students, known as Early Founders, receive individualized assistance from the JPEC team and work throughout the summer to grow revenue for their business while learning skills that will support their long-term success. Five Early Founders were supported this past summer.