April 15, 2005

Two New Endowed Chairs At The Rady School
Professor Vish Krishnan to Hold Chair in Management Leadership

By Lindsay Orth

The Rady School of Management at the University of California, San Diego today announced two new endowed faculty chairs — the Sheryl and Harvey White Chair in Management Leadership and the Atkinson/Epstein Chair in Management Leadership. The Rady School also announced that the Sheryl and Harvey White Chair will be held by Professor Vish Krishnan, formerly of the University of Texas at Austin’s McCombs School of Business.

The Sheryl and Harvey White Chair was funded by a $500,000 gift from Sheryl and Harvey White of Del Mar. Harvey White is a co-founder of QUALCOMM Inc. and retired chairman and CEO of Leap Wireless International. The Atkinson/Epstein Chair was funded through two generous gifts— $500,000 from Drs. Richard and Rita Atkinson of La Jolla and $500,000 from Daniel and Phyllis Epstein of La Jolla. Richard Atkinson served as president of the University of California system from 1995- 2003, and as chancellor of UC San Diego from 1980-1995. Daniel Epstein is the founder and CEO of ConAm Management Corporation, located in San Diego.

From left, Harvey White, Vish Krishnan, Sheryl White

The endowment of a chair establishes a perpetual fund that provides annual income to support the academic and research efforts of an exceptional faculty member. Professor Krishnan was chosen for the Sheryl and Harvey White Chair to lead the Rady School’s efforts in the areas of innovation, technology and operations.

“Faculty recruiting is a priority for UC San Diego and is one of the most important functions as we build the Rady School of Management. Dean Sullivan and I share a common goal: to recruit world-class educators and scholars,” said Chancellor Marye Anne Fox. “The Sheryl and Harvey White Chair and the Atkinson/Epstein Chair provide us with the resources to attract the very best. I am so appreciative of the support provided by the Whites, the Atkinsons and the Epsteins and of their confidence in the Rady School mission.”

“Innovation and operational growth are key drivers for technology industries. Professor Krishnan is a leader in these areas, and he will be an essential contributor to building the Rady School” said Rady School Dean Robert S. Sullivan. “We are very thankful to Sheryl and Harvey White for endowing this chair, which enabled us to attract Professor Krishnan to our community.”

Professor Krishnan echoed the sentiments of Dean Sullivan saying “This chair will allow me to work with students and companies on issues such as innovation and growth, which are critically important to the knowledge economy. I’m honored that I was chosen to hold this prestigious chair, supported by the White family.”

“The Rady School provides management skills for those in high tech and other specialized fields, and the San Diego business community needs this type of expertise for its employees,” said Harvey White. “I serve on the Advisory Council for the school and Sheryl and I felt it was important to offer additional assistance by funding this chair.”

From left, Bill Stensrud, Carol Stensrud, Dan Epstein, Phyllis Epstein, Julie Sullivan, Dean Bob Sullivan, Rita Atkinson, Dick Atkinson

The Atkinson/Epstein Chair in Management Leadership has not yet been filled. The Rady School is in the process of hiring additional faculty, and one new faculty member will be selected to fill this chair.

“UC San Diego is known for the strength of its professional schools, yet a key missing ingredient when I was chancellor was a business school,” said Atkinson. “Funding this chair was a natural fit for Rita and me. Creating a top-notch program on the campus is something we’re proud to be a part of.”

Dan Epstein also has a vested interest in the school’s success; he serves as a member of the Dean’s Advisory Council. “I’ve enjoyed working with the Rady School’s students,” said Epstein. “The faculty member who holds this chair will have a direct impact on them and Phyllis and I are glad to help ensure that he or she has the resources necessary to do great work.”

Harvey P. White retired in June 2003 as chairman, CEO and president of Leap Wireless International, an operator of wireless telephone systems. As a founder of QUALCOMM Inc., he served as president from 1992 through 1998 when he became vice chairman before the establishment of Leap Wireless.

Richard C. Atkinson, was the 17th president of the University of California, from 1995-2003. Before becoming president of the UC System, he served as chancellor of UC San Diego; prior to that he served as director of the National Science Foundation and was a long-term member of the faculty at Stanford University.

Daniel J. Epstein is the founder and CEO of ConAm Management Corporation, an apartment management firm that presently operates approximately 50,000 apartments throughout the United States. In addition to its management activities, ConAm is developing apartments and mixed-use projects in San Diego and Sacramento.

Vish Krishnan was previously the senior research fellow at IC2 (Innovation, Creativity & Capital) Institute, an international research unit focused on knowledge exploration and application across a broad range of academic areas, and associate professor at the University of Texas at Austin’s McCombs School of Business. He taught courses on new product innovation and operations management. Professor Krishnan was the recipient of several awards including the Graduate Business Council Teaching Excellence Award, the Trammell/CBA Foundation Teaching Award and the Texas Business School Research Excellence Award. He also serves on the editorial boards of several top journals and works closely with numerous startup and established firms.

UCSD is currently conducting a $1 billion fund-raising initiative, The Campaign for UCSD: Imagine What’s Next. Campaign priorities include supporting students and faculty through scholarships, fellowships and endowed chairs; creating and expanding academic programs; funding research endeavors and health sciences advancements; and providing innovation funds and unrestricted support. To date, UCSD has raised $713.8 million; the campaign is scheduled to conclude in June 2007.

The Rady School at UC San Diego offers a revolutionary MBA program that grows innovators into successful business leaders. Situated in San Diego’s globally recognized hotbed of innovation, the school is uniquely poised to offer access to both cutting-edge research and a fully engaged business community. The Rady School presents an integrated approach to business and technology and emphasizes cross-boundary collaborations and joint degree programs with UC San Diego centers of excellence in science, engineering, medicine, economics and international relations. The Rady School draws upon UC San Diego’s tradition of risk-taking and breakthrough innovation to recruit the top educators and students in the world.

Media Contacts:
Keri Minehart, (858) 534-0855 or Lindsay Orth, (858) 822-5309