20 Years of Excellence: The Tepper School Naming Celebration

The Tepper School of Business celebrated the 20th anniversary of the naming of the school on Friday, Nov. 15, honoring the visionary support of David A. Tepper, whose foundational endowment named Carnegie Mellon’s business school.

In 2004, Tepper gave a $55 million endowment to rename the Graduate School of Industrial Administration (GSIA), which celebrates its 75th anniversary this year, as the David A. Tepper School of Business. Several years later, Tepper made another transformational contribution with a $67 million match gift for the Tepper Quad, which opened in 2018 and provided a home for the school and a hub for innovation at the heart of campus.

During the anniversary celebration, Isabelle Bajeux-Besnainou, Dean and Richard P. Simmons Professor of Finance, spoke of the remarkable progress of the school.

“While we have accomplished so much since our founding 75 years ago, the past 20 years have seen an acceleration on numerous fronts,” Dean Bajeux-Besnainou said. “We transitioned from a Master of Science in Industrial Administration degree to an MBA degree. We added four new specialized master’s degree programs. Our undergraduate business administration program has more than doubled. Our renowned faculty continues to conduct groundbreaking research. Our students and graduates are sought after by the leading organizations across the globe. We are innovating curriculum and programs for The Intelligent Future.”

The event, held on Friday, November 15 in the Simmons Auditorium on Carnegie Mellon’s campus, celebrated Tepper’s generosity as he returned for a visit with students, alumni, faculty, staff, and university leadership. Carnegie Mellon University president Farnam Jahanian and provost Jim Garrett were present at the celebration.

President Jahanian spoke of the university's significant growth and advancement over the past several years, citing the distinctive innovation that arises from the convergence of research, education, and entrepreneurship. He then introduced Tepper for brief remarks, thanking him for inspiring numerous members of the Carnegie Mellon community.

The event culminated in a recreation of a group photo taken at the original naming celebration in 2004, a visual celebration of the school’s incredible journey over the last two decades.

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