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Leadership takes many forms: Some lead through their ability to create and sustain a vision. Others use their gift of rhetoric to inspire and galvanize followers. Some implement strategies to reform entrenched systems and promote new ways of doing things. Still others lead by leveraging their financial resources to support worthy institutions and causes.<\/p>\n
Today I would like to thank the many alumni, students, parents, faculty, staff, and friends of the Jepson School who exercised this last form of leadership\u2014namely, stewardship. During UR Here Giving Day<\/span><\/a> on May 27-28, 97 donors gave a total of $50,576<\/a><\/span> to the Jepson School of Leadership Studies<\/a><\/span>, more than five times what the School raised during last year\u2019s inaugural UR Here Giving Day. Our total includes the $10,000 and $2,000 matching gifts given by two altruistic alumnae.<\/p>\n I am humbled and overcome with gratitude for all those who gave, especially in these challenging economic times.<\/p>\n Like many other segments of the economy, higher education is taking a significant financial hit in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. The University of Richmond, and by extension, the Jepson School, have not been immune.\u00a0Your gifts will help the University and the School mitigate some of these financial challenges.<\/p>\n Even more, the generosity of our Jepson family underscores the unflinching faith and commitment you have in our ability to educate future leaders. You understand why our mission to educate students about leadership as it was, as it is, and as it should be matters now more than ever. You also understand that it takes resources\u2014both financial and human\u2014to provide the outstanding education that is the hallmark of the School. Quite simply, you get it.<\/p>\n I recognize and appreciate that many in our Jepson family were not in a position to give this year. All of us have experienced times when we could give more than other times and times when we couldn\u2019t give at all. We do what we can, when we can. Together, we have demonstrated our ability to continue to support, in good times and bad, a School whose core mission is to educate ethical, effective, transformative leaders, such as:<\/p>\n\n