Koch Foundation Awards $500,000 to Williams College of Business

Jun 11, 2019

Stephen S. Smith Center allows students to study economic impact of major societal issues

Xavier University’s Stephen S. Smith Center, part of the Williams College of Business (WCB), has received a $500,000 grant from the Charles Koch Foundation. The grant will be used to support the Smith Center’s mission to promote learning, scholarship and debate about fundamental questions and ideas that impact society with a focus on economics and its relationship to law, political philosophy and history.

The centerpiece of the Smith Center is the Smith Scholars Program, an undergraduate honors program started in 2018. The Charles Koch Foundation grant will allow the Smith Center to develop the Smith Research Fellowship, an expanded outreach program that will offer public forums, distinguished speakers and symposiums, and an online resource center.

“The Smith Scholars academic program provides a challenging and comprehensive learning opportunity for students who want to pursue a business major that is enriched by an in-depth study of the liberal arts,” said Stafford Johnson, program director and professor of finance.

“Graduates of our program will become leaders of organizations, academicians, and professionals in a world that is increasingly diverse and complex. With this generous grant, the Smith Center will grow from its academic program and initial research and outreach initiatives to a fully synergistic academic, research and outreach center.”

Since it was established, the Smith Center has sponsored distinguished speakers, including John Taylor, J.D. Vance, and Sam Quinones, hosted panel discussions including one on the opiate crisis, and supported the Matthew McCormick Investment Symposium.

“We are very appreciative of the Charles Koch Foundation’s support of Xavier University, the Williams College of Business and especially our students," said Tom Hayes, Dean of the Williams College of Business. "The Smith Center and our Smith Scholars program are certain to be cornerstones of our undergraduate education for years to come.”

 

ABOUT THE CHARLES KOCH FOUNDATION: The Charles Koch Foundation supports scholars, students, and partners developing creative solutions that will help people transform their lives, achieve their potential, and make the world a better place for us all. The Foundation provides grants to students and scholars at more than 350 colleges and universities exploring a wide range of issues including criminal justice and policing reform, free speech and open inquiry, foreign policy, economic opportunity, and innovation.

ABOUT XAVIER UNIVERSITY: Xavier University is a private university located in Cincinnati, Ohio, providing a liberal arts education in the Jesuit Catholic tradition. Founded in 1831, the University is the sixth-oldest Catholic university in the nation. It has been ranked among the top 10 master’s-level universities in the Midwest by U.S. News & World Report for the past 24 years. The Princeton Review names it one of the “Best 377 Colleges in America.”