Donors Help Business School Close in on Campaign Goal

The Frys are among the co-chairs of the Business School Campaign Committee. The couple, of Bluffton, South Carolina, and Oxford, also committed a $4.2 million estate gift, with $4 million directed to fund two endowed faculty chairs in business administration.

"In 2019, we set a goal for the business school to raise $50 million for support of the school, our current and future students and our professors," Bill Fry said. "This was an ambitious goal as the business school has never raised this amount of money, and with our enrollment growing to 5,900 this academic year, private funds are critical.

"Thanks to the investments of many generous givers, we have raised $47.86 million and are close to meeting our goal."

The couple recently began funding one of the faculty positions, the Bill and Lee Anne Fry Scholar in Business Administration, with a $500,000 gift, and their estate plans aim to elevate it to the chair level with a $2 million endowment.

John Berns, an associate professor of management, is the inaugural Fry Scholar in Business Administration.

"I am honored to be selected to receive this endowed position," he said." I work with a lot of very talented individuals – who are great teachers, great researchers and certainly deserving of such an honor – so it is truly humbling to be chosen to receive this recognition."

Berns, who focuses his research efforts on entrepreneurship and strategy, said the endowed positions will benefit all Ole Miss business students.

"The resources will help generate impactful research, garnering actionable business insights which can then be integrated into classroom lessons to better prepare students for current and future workplace challenges," he said.

The Frys have enjoyed getting to know many of the school's faculty members, Bill Fry said.

"We have been struck by their deep commitment to our students' success, mentorship and creativity," he said. "For example, faculty members have developed an outstanding curriculum called BASE, which focuses on sales, supply chain management and business analytics. Few universities are highlighting critical skills such as selling.

"In addition, our new Center for Insurance Transformation offers valuable insurance certificates and internships to historically Black college and university students, expanding career opportunities for Mississippians."

Fry said the couple's commitment to faculty support has an accelerated benefit based on the number of lives impacted – thousands of students educated, mentored and encouraged.

"In 2023, we committed an estate gift to fund faculty positions, one in our names and the other in our children's names, the Will and Katie Fry Chair in Business Administration. After discussions with administrators, we thought there was a way for professors and students to receive the benefits of the gift well in advance of the estate settlement."

A graduate of the university's public administration program, Bill Fry is a partner of American Securities, a New York-based private equity fund with more than $20 billion under management. Lee Anne Fry graduated from Auburn University and serves as a board member of the Grisham-Mclean Institute for Public Service and Community Engagement.

The couple are also donors to Ole Miss athletics, the Grisham-McLean Institute and the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College.

Gifts can be made to the Bill and Lee Anne Fry Scholar in Business Administration Endowment by sending a check, with the fund's name written in the memo line, to the University of Mississippi Foundation, 406 University Ave., Oxford, MS 38655; or give online here.

For more information on how to support the business school, contact Angela Brown, executive director for development, at browna@olemiss.edu or 662-915-3181.

Top: Bill (second from left) and Lee Anne Fry are helping the School of Business Administration get closer to its campaign goal by providing resources for an endowed faculty position. The inaugural Fry Scholar in Business Administration is John Berns (left), an associate professor of management. Ken Cyree (right), the school's dean, thanks the Frys for their support and congratulates Berns. Photo by Amy Howell/University Development