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College of Business Administration recevies major gift and gets new name
The generosity of a local businessman has resulted in a new name for the College of Business Administration. Faculty members in the college voted unanimously to recommend that the college be named the James M. Hull College of Business in honor of the Augusta philanthropist who made a $2 million cash gift to the ASU Foundation to benefit the business college. The gift is the single largest cash donation in the history of the university.
"Mr. Hull's gift will have a tremendous impact on our university and our ability to expand opportunities for our College of Business," says Dr. William A. Bloodworth, Jr. "The real beneficiaries of Mr. Hull's generosity will be our region and state, as the Hull College of Business educates the graduates who will become the business leaders and managers of the future," he adds.
Mr. Hull is member/manager of Hull Storey Retail Group, LLC, a shopping center acquisition, development, and management firm based in Augusta. With over 10.5 million square feet of leasable area, Hull Storey is one of the largest privately-owned retail estate companies of its kind in the Southeast. Their current portfolio lists more than 49 retail shopping centers, including 17 enclosed malls, in Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Florida, Alabama, Texas, and Tennessee.
A native Augustan, Mr. Hull is well known for his philanthropy and the volunteer leadership he provides to community non-profit organizations. He has served on the boards of Historic Augusta, Inc., Gertrude Herbert Institute of Art, Morris Museum of Art, Augusta First Tee, Augusta Preparatory Day School, Episcopal Day School, and the Community Foundation of the CSRA.
"Mr. Hull honors us greatly, both by his generous gift and by lending his name to our college," says Marc Miller, dean of the college. "He is a man who is well known for his integrity, business acumen, and entrepreneurship, and these are the same characteristics that we seek to instill in our graduates. We are grateful that Mr. Hull chose our business college for this extraordinary gift," adds Dr. Miller.
"The gift will permit the college to become among the leading schools of business education in the South," says Helen Hendee, Executive Director of Development and Alumni Relations.
"We have a long-standing relationship with the Hull Family," she says. "His grandfather, James M. Hull, was the first president of the Rotary Club of Augusta in 1917, and when he passed away, the Rotary Club established the James M. Hull Rotary Educational Fund, Inc., which provides financial support to Richmond County students to attend college.
"This honor is truly deserved. Jim is a new board member of the ASU Foundation, and both he and his wife, Karen (a former teacher), have a commitment to the educational development of our community as well as to the economic development of our region," she adds.
Construction Update
The construction on campus continues with renovations in Washington Hall and a new storm water improvement project.
According to Therese Rosier, director of physical plant, the renovations in Washington Hall to house the art department are scheduled to be completed by the end of October.
As this project nears completion, another major project is about to begin. Next week, work will begin on Project J-89, South Campus Storm Water Improvements.
Ms. Rosier says the project will encompass all of Gorgas Road and the parking lots off of Stovall Street and behind the swimming pool. The location of the first section of work will be behind the warehouses and on the gravel path behind the radio station.
"This portion of the project will have no impact on traffic flow or parking. However, as the project progresses, there will be temporary detours and parking lot closures," she says.
The storm water improvements are expected to take approximately a year to complete. After the project is completed, vehicles will be able to drive around the campus completely without exiting onto any neighborhood streets. In addition to this, the gravel lots behind the central services warehouses and the Maxwell Alumni House will be paved.
At the Forest Hills campus, work is progressing on the new Collegiate Golf House. The golf house and practice facility is scheduled for completion in December.
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