DePauw President: $20M Gift Will Develop ‘Leaders The World Needs’
Steve Sanger (image courtesy of DePauw University) received an honorary doctorate from his alma mater in 2004.
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowThe president of DePauw University says The Sanger Leadership Initiative, born from a $20 million gift from 1968 graduates Steve and Karen Sanger, will help shape "the leaders the world needs." Mark McCoy says students on the Greencastle campus will be exposed to experiential tools and opportunities that will help elevate DePauw to a "one of a kind" institution. Steve Sanger spent 13 years at chief executive officer of General Mills Inc. (NYSE: GIS), retiring in 2008.
In an interview with Inside INdiana Business, McCoy said the donation is "proof of concept that DePauw develops leaders." He calls DePauw a leadership laboratory, citing graduates who have moved on as "obvious leaders" like founders or CEOs, "but we also develop leaders that work in the social sector that are in nonprofits, that are in 501c3s — the CEO of Teach for America (Elisa Villanueva Beard), for example, is a DePauw graduate." McCoy adds the business world craves leadership abilities when hiring. "They are truly looking for folks who will serve as leaders, rather than simply come in and tell me what needs to be done," he says.
The Sanger Leadership Initiative will join existing co-curricular centers — The Robert C. McDermond Center for Management and Entrepreneurship, The Eugene S. Pulliam Center for Contemporary Media, The Janet Prindle Institute for Ethics, The Kathryn F. Hubbard Center for Student Engagement, The Justin and Darrianne Christian Center for Diversity and Inclusion, The Tenzer Technology Center and Visualization Laboratory, The Hartman Center for Civic Education and The 21st Century Musician Initiative — together. It will also increase experiential student leadership programming, bring leaders to campus for presentations and to work with students and foster connections with additional universities and post-graduate partners.
In an interview with Inside INdiana Business, DePauw University President Mark McCoy said the donation is “proof of concept that DePauw develops leaders.”