Wichita Family Foundation adds $500,000 to entrepreneur-focused chair at OSU
Monday, June 30, 2008
Jabara family inspired to make gift by recent Mitchell commitment to business school’s
entrepreneurship program
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The Wichita-based family foundation is led by Fran and Geri Jabara and their three
children, Leesa, Lori and Harvey. Fran earned his undergraduate degree in accounting
from OSU in 1948 and is a certified public accountant. Fran taught at Wichita State
University for 40 years and served as Dean of the College of Business where his name
has become synonymous with excellence in education and entrepreneurship. A retired
business professor, Jabara continues to be actively involved in entrepreneurial development
by assisting other universities in establishing academic programs and by speaking
worldwide on entrepreneurship
“As a leading expert on entrepreneurship, we are honored that Fran Jabara and his
family are making a lasting impact on Oklahoma State University’s new world-class
entrepreneurship program,” said OSU President Burns Hargis. “We congratulate Fran
on his many accomplishments and contributions to the business world and greatly appreciate
all he has done for his alma mater.”
With the announcement the state is changing the endowed faculty chair matching program
on July 1, the Jabara family chose to take full advantage of the current dollar-for-dollar
state match to add significant faculty support to OSU through this donation. The
Professor Fran D. Jabara Chair Fund is housed in the Spears School of Business.
Fran and son Harvey are the founders of the private equity and investment company,
Jabara Ventures Group, where Fran serves as active Chairman. The family has been sponsoring
entrepreneurship education since 1977, and Fran believes that OSU’s move to focus
on this area is an important step particularly in light of the Amy and Malone Mitchell
$28.6 million gift to the program last week.
“We were inspired to make this gift after hearing about the tremendous entrepreneurship
gift donated by the Mitchell family, so we wanted to dovetail our gift into those
plans happening at the Spears School of Business,” said Fran. “Universities aren’t
always on the cutting-edge of change, and we believe this gift will distinguish OSU
from the rest of the crowd. The United States is the foremost entrepreneurial country
in the world, and we’re excited about this opportunity for OSU to set itself apart
and attract students from around the globe.”
Jean Van Delinder, chair of the OSU Faculty Council, said, “OSU is poised for growth
and further prominence but to realize its full potential we must continue to attract
and retain top scholars and researchers. These chairs highlight the important role
that scholarship and teaching play at Oklahoma State University, and they are made
possible through the generous support of donors who value excellence in scholarship
and want to help OSU continue to nurture a strong faculty.”
Endowed professorships and chairs are academic designations which provide support
for faculty salary, graduate assistantships, equipment and research needs, as well
as other support. These endowed faculty positions allow a university to attract and
retain the best and the brightest academic minds in the world.
“We are confident the Fran Jabara Chair will attract top tier talent for this important
academic endeavor and serves as a wonderful tribute to my father who pioneered the
vision of teaching entrepreneurship at the collegiate level into reality,” said Harvey
Jabara.