Messenger - Vol. 1, No. 1, Page 42 Fall 1991 1990-91 Report of Private Support Supporting business excellence The College of Business & Economics Alumni Association enjoyed a successful first year, thanks to its dedicated board of directors and the enthusiasm of over 450 new members. Directors include: Lisa Cooper Gordon '84, president; William E. Lowe Jr. '85, vice president; Ann Shepard '87, '90M, treasurer; Rose Ann Scanlon '85, corresponding secretary; Paul Goodman '78, recording secretary; Deborah Hopkins '80; Robert P. McNutt '69M; Robert W. Schumm '70M; and William Young '75, '78M. The B&E Alumni Association held its second annual Spring Reception in April at which alumnus Leonard Quill '58, '66M was honored as an inductee to the University of Delaware's Wall of Fame. Plans for the 1991-92 year include establishment of the College Alumni Award of Excellence, to be awarded for the first time on Homecoming Weekend, 1991. In May, 1990, a pledge of over $100,000 established the KPMG Peat Marwick Faculty Development Fund in the Department of Accounting. The gift represents the combined pledges of University alumni partners and employees of KPMG Peat Marwick, the firm's matching gifts, and a contribution from the Peat Marwick Foundation. Robert J. Lipstein '77, chairman of the Accounting Advisory Board, played a leadership role in securing pledges for this fund, which will enhance research and teaching at both undergraduate and graduate levels. The centers of the College of Business and Economics are supported by local and national business and industry. The Center for Economic Education has again received national recognition, as two Delaware public schools received awards from the Joint Council on Economic Education. Funding for the center comes in part from the Delaware Council on Economic Education. Members of the center's board of directors represent many of Delaware's major corporations. The Master of Instruction in Economic Education (MIEE) program support comes primarily from the Alcoa Foundation, Beneficial Foundation Inc., Chevron USA Inc., The Du Pont Co., McKenna Foundation, The Pew Charitable Trusts and Rockwell International. The Financial Institutions Research and Education (FIRE) Center is supported by the University of Delaware, the State and the private financial services community. Bankers Trust (Delaware), First USA Bank, MBNA America, Manufacturers Hanover Bank (Delaware), Morgan Bank (Delaware), Ninth Ward Savings & Loan Association, PNC National Bank, Sears Roebuck Acceptance Corporation, The Chase Manhattan Bank (USA), Wilmington Savings Fund Society, FSB, and Wheat, First Securities Inc. are members. The center sponsors faculty research and seminars on issues relevant to financial institutions. The Center for Information Systems Management, Education and Research (CISMER) has seven contributing partners: Andersen Consulting, Delmarva Power, The Du Pont Co., ICI Americas, The Medical Center of Delaware, Morgan Christiana Corporation and Scott Paper Company. Current CISMER activities include sponsorship of faculty research projects, the installation of a state-of-the-art computing network in Purnell Hall, upcoming seminars on quality management, software testing and reliability, optical computing and the development of interactive multimedia software for education and research.