US varsity creates business school after Mumbai-born alumnus

Washington, October 9: Rockford University in Illinois has announced the creation of the Puri Business School (PBS) in recognition of a $5 million contribution to the University by a Mumbai-born Indian-American alumnus.

Sunil Puri, first Rockford Group founder and president, immigrated to the US in 1979 to attend what was then called Rockford College, where he graduated in 1982 with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting. The first named school at the University, PBS commemorates Puri's lifetime commitment to Rockford University, the announcement said. Housed under the University's College of Social Sciences, Commerce and Education, it will include the Economics, Business and Accounting (EBA) programmes, along with ancillary business related activities of the University.

Puri, who is a Rockford University trustee, has also donated a 28,000 square foot building which will serve as the hub for all related PBS programming at both the undergraduate and graduate level. His company owns and manages about 4 million square feet of retail, office and industrial space in northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin. Puri takes pride in the fact that he can give back to the school to which he attributes much of his success, the announcement said.

"Sunil's is a shared vision with the University to establish a school of business that will not only be envied but provide our students with a superior educational experience that prepares them for success," University President Robert L. Head said. Puri sees PBS not just graduating accountants and business managers; he sees it producing entrepreneurs and business leaders that assist in the economic revival of his region, the announcement said.

"It is important to my family and me," Puri said that significant programmatic and curricular advances at PBS "will deepen the University's commitment to advance the university and partner in the economic revival of this region." "The liberal arts education I received at Rockford College significantly contributed to my success and the Puri Business School is my way of paying it forward." About 250 people, including educators and US Senator Dick Durbin joined the grand opening of Puri Business School at Rockford University on October 3.

IANS