The Eller Times, Summer 2004 - National Advisors Celebrate Successes and Change Leaders


	Summer 2004

National Advisors Celebrate Successes and Change Leaders

The Eller College National Board of Advisors kicked off two days of meetings Thursday, April 15th with a wine tasting hosted by E.&J. Gallo in the McClelland Hall Estes Atrium. The group then moved on to a dinner celebration of three recent, outstanding Eller College successes.

The celebration began with Amy Shlossman, Eller College Public Administration senior and one of 80 students in America awarded a $26,000 scholarship for graduate studies in public service by The Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation. Amy addressed the board about the role of community service in her life and the contribution made by Eller faculty to her development as an education activist. Read more about Amy.

image, Professor Gerry Swanson.
Professor Gerry Swanson is the first recipient of the Thomas R. Brown Chair in Economic Education.

Following Amy, Professor Gerald J. Swanson was named the inaugural Thomas R. Brown Chair in Economic Education. The Brown Foundation’s $1.5 million gift established the chair specifically to recognize the accomplishments of Professor Swanson. A long-time leader in educating undergraduate students, teachers, and the general public about economics and its application to business and public policy, he has taught over 40,000 students in his 30 years in the Eller College. Upon his retirement, the chair will be renamed the Gerald J. Swanson Chair in Economic Education.

Thomas R. Brown’s daughters and foundation trustees, Mary B. Brown and Sarah B.Smallhouse (MBA ’88), attended the Board’s kick-off dinner and presented the gift to the College. Sarah noted, “It is with great pleasure that we establish this chair. Our late father worked very closely with Dr. Swanson and deeply respected his commitment, professionalism, and enthusiasm for economics.” Tom Brown was the co-founder of Burr-Brown, Inc., developer of data conversion and mixed signal integrated circuits, acquired by Texas Instruments in 2000.

image, Interim Dean Ken Smith, outgoing Board chair Martha Taylor Thomas, and new chair Jon Underwood.
Interim Dean Ken Smith (left) with outgoing Board chair Martha Taylor Thomas and new chair Jon Underwood.

Lastly, Eller College alumnus and namesake Karl Eller was celebrated as the first Arizonan and second outdoor advertising executive to be inducted into the Advertising Hall of Fame. Karl was inducted to the Hall on March 16th in New York, honored for his vision and creativity in transforming outdoor advertising into a business powerhouse.

The Board’s Friday, April 16th business meeting saw leadership transferred from Martha Taylor Thomas, who has served as chair for four years, to Jon Underwood. Mr. Underwood is an Eller College alum (BSBA ’64) a Berkeley MBA, and president of Scottsdale, AZ-based Desert Mountain Properties, an 8,000+ acre development of luxury homes and world-class golf courses. He has served on the National Board of Advisors since its inception, and on numerous other UA boards, including the Campaign Arizona leadership team.