News Release
NC State Names Jenkins Graduate School in the College of Management
Media Contact(s)
Anna Rzewnicki, College of Management, (919) 513-4478
Christine Shaw, Wachovia, (704) 383-9729
Sept. 21, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
North Carolina State University announced today the naming of the Jenkins Graduate School of Management in the NC State College of Management, in honor of Benjamin (Ben) P. Jenkins III, vice chairman and president of the General Bank at Wachovia Corporation.
The new Jenkins Graduate School is comprised of the Master of Accounting (MAC) and Master of Business Administration (MBA) programs, as well as the graduate economics program, which is offered jointly by the College of Management and the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.
"NC State has a long history of responding to the needs of North Carolina, particularly when it comes to building partnerships and supporting economic development," said Chancellor James Oblinger. "I believe that common purpose is the foundation for our long-standing relationship with Ben Jenkins. We are proud to have Ben, Wachovia and The Wachovia Foundation as partners and grateful for their support.
"Our College of Management is relatively young, but growing rapidly in enrollment and national stature. This naming gift will support that continued growth," Oblinger said.
"This is a tremendous and well-deserved honor for Ben, who is one of the best leaders I know," said Wachovia Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Ken Thompson. "He has built a world-class banking operation that consistently delivers outstanding performance. He has also mentored and developed countless teammates by setting an example of personal excellence and enthusiasm for the business. As this fine school develops future leaders, it will benefit from Ben's involvement and support for years to come."
"The College of Management is very pleased to be associated with the values and achievements that have marked Ben's 35-year career with Wachovia," said Ira R. Weiss, dean of the college. "His career path - transitioning from a technology-focused undergraduate degree to senior leadership positions with Wachovia - parallels the transition that many of our technology-oriented graduate students seek in coming to our programs," he said.
Jenkins earned his bachelor's degree in textiles chemistry from NC State in 1968, and then began his professional career at Wachovia.
Since it was established in 1992, NC State's College of Management has focused on providing management education for individuals with a science or technology background. The MBA program in particular has developed several concentrations that enable professionals to make the transition from technical to management roles.
"I think the College of Management's graduate programs have the potential to be among the top two to three graduate schools of business for technology-oriented students," Jenkins said.
"It's not just the technical skills that you need to be successful; it's the people skills. Management programs round out a person's prior education, providing the skill sets needed for success in business today. This is what I think the college and this graduate school can offer to technology-based graduate students. That's why I'm so excited about this honor," he said.
"Ben's financial support and ongoing relationship with the college will help us continue to strengthen and grow our uniquely technology-focused graduate programs in accounting, management and economics," Weiss said.
The naming of the Jenkins Graduate School recognizes Jenkins' recent and lifetime support.
Jenkins has been in his current position since 1999, providing executive leadership to General Bank Wachovia Corporation, which includes retail and wholesale activities such as branch delivery; commercial, business and community banking, Wachovia Dealer Services, real estate and related financial services, and corporate customer service excellence. He previously held leadership positions with First Union banks along the eastern seaboard, from Florida to Maryland.
Jenkins serves in several community leadership roles, including vice chairman and member of the board of trustees of Presbyterian Hospital, member of the board of trustees and chairman-elect of Queens University, and member of the board of directors for the Charlotte Symphony. He also serves on the NC State College of Management Achieve Campaign Steering Committee. Jenkins earned his MBA from the University of Alabama.
The college's MBA Program offers eight concentrations of study: biopharma management, entrepreneurship technology commercialization, financial management, information technology management, innovation management, marketing management, services management, and supply chain management.
The MAC Program provides rigorous technical accounting training with a general overview of business topics, a specialization in IT, and a foundation in professional skills.
The graduate economics program offers two master's degree options and a doctoral program with various fields of specialization. The program has particular strengths in the fields of agricultural economics, industrial organization, international economics, macro-monetary economics and natural resource and environmental economics.
The college has six centers and initiatives that are closely aligned with the college's academic programs, supporting research and curriculum development and providing outreach to the business community. Its executive programs office provides custom professional and leadership training, focusing on services innovation, technological entrepreneurship, enterprise risk and supply chain management.
The College of Management's undergraduate programs offer bachelor's degrees in accounting, business management and economics.
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