Dean’s board raises money for naming gift

The Dean’s Advisory Board of the School of Business has raised nearly $800,000 to name a floor of the school’s new executive education center for Andrew J. Policano.

Policano is stepping down Friday, Aug. 31, after serving 10 years as dean of the School of Business.

In his 10 years at the helm, Policano’s tenure was marked by launching a number of entrepreneurial ventures, including the Fluno Center for Executive Education, 601 University Ave., a $25.3 million state-of-the-art executive education facility that opened in 2000.

“We felt it was fitting to raise the funds to perpetuate Andy’s name in the Fluno Center because it is a project close to his heart,” says Michael Lehman, executive vice president and chief financial officer of Sun Microsystems, Palo Alto, Cal., and chair of the Dean’s Advisory Board. “The gift is our way of saying thanks for his 10 years of dedication and leadership.”

The board originally planned to raise funds to name a classroom in Fluno for Policano, but the response was so overwhelming, it was decided the entire second floor should be named for him. Eighty-five past and present board members participated in the gift. The funds will be used to develop and support the school’s executive education programs.

“It has been a great honor to serve as dean of this school,” Policano says, “I never anticipated such a wonderful gift — I am surprised and extremely grateful.”

Policano plans to return to teaching in the school’s finance department. R.D. Nair, senior associate dean for academic affairs, will serve as interim dean of the School of Business starting Saturday, Sept. 1.