Nicholas gift endows business school deanship

A gift from longtime university supporter Albert O. Nicholas and his wife, Nancy Johnson Nicholas, has created an endowed deanship at the University of Wisconsin–Madison’s Wisconsin School of Business.

The donation creates the Albert O. Nicholas Dean of the Wisconsin School of Business, which will cover the costs of the school’s deanship, which were previously paid primarily by university funds.

“This gift is a wise long-term investment in our leadership from great friends of the university,” says Chancellor Carolyn “Biddy” Martin. “The endowment enables the business school to make effective use of its resources as Dean Michael Knetter and his colleagues chart an innovative course for the future.”

Provost Patrick Farrell calls the gift a “far-sighted way to ensure that the business school maintains and builds on its excellent programs through strong, talented executive leadership.”

Knetter, dean of the Wisconsin School of Business, says he hopes the deanship will be a reflection of Nicholas’ considerable achievement, both in the business world and in his support for the campus.

“It’s a tremendous honor to hold a deanship that bears the name of someone of Ab’s integrity, accomplishments and generosity,” says Knetter. “He has made a host of significant contributions to the university and our business school for many years.”

Funding for the endowed deanship comes from a gift made by the Nicholases as part of last year’s Wisconsin Naming Gift, in which 13 donors partnered to give $85 million to ensure that the school’s name remains unchanged for 20 years.

Andrew “Sandy” Wilcox, president of the UW Foundation, says the gift shows the deep commitment the Nicholases have demonstrated for the university.

“Ab and Nancy have made major gifts not only to the Wisconsin School of Business, but also the Division of Intercollegiate Athletics and the School of Human Ecology,” Wilcox says. “This living example of service makes us proud.”

Nicholas is a member of the UW Foundation board of directors, and is a “leader in our university family and a passionate advocate on behalf of UW–Madison,” Wilcox adds.

Nicholas is chair and chief executive officer for the Nicholas Co., an investment management firm in Milwaukee. He earned his undergraduate degree in economics from UW–Madison in 1952 and his master’s of business administration in 1955. As an undergraduate, Nicholas played guard for the Badger basketball team and was twice named all-Big Ten and once to the All-America team.

In October 2003, Nicholas made a $6.4 million gift to establish what is now known as the Nicholas Center for Corporate Finance and Investment Banking at the business school. He also provided a lead gift for construction of Grainger Hall, $10 million for the Nicholas-Johnson Pavilion at the Kohl Center, and $8 million for a building addition and renovation at the School of Human Ecology.

The endowed deanship at the Wisconsin School of Business is the second named deanship on campus. In 2004, a gift from the estate of Frederick W. Miller established the Frederick W. and Vi Miller Dean of the Law School.