Regis University’s business and economics college will be known as the Anderson College of Business after a $10 million gift from a University alumnus, the University’s Board of Trustees announced today.
The gift from Andy Anderson, president and CEO of Nor-Son Inc., a construction services firm based in Minnesota, is the single largest ever given to the University.
Anderson, a 1990 Regis business graduate, was inspired by Regis’ mission to combine a comprehensive, integrative business education with a strong focus on character and service.
“I have relied heavily on my Jesuit education in my career to not only help me make the right business decisions but to also make decisions that best serve the needs of my customers and my community,” he said.
Anderson earned his Bachelor of Science in Business from Regis, Colorado’s Jesuit Catholic University, and a graduate degree in banking from the University of Colorado at Boulder. His company, Nor-Son Inc., is a parent company to Nor-Son Construction, specializing in healthcare and hospitality construction, and Nor-Son Custom Builders, a boutique residential builder specializing in high-end custom homes in the upper Midwest states.
Anderson began his career in the banking industry, successfully growing International Bank Corp. from a $250 million business to $600 million and expanding to 19 branches. He then established Northern National Bank, growing it to $200 million before selling in 2008. Anderson also is involved in real estate development.
Regis’ business college offers programs that cater to students at every step in the educational journey, from traditional undergraduates to busy professionals, including flexible options for obtaining an MBA, bachelor’s degrees, master’s degrees or academic certificates. The college’s specialties include accounting, economics, finance, nonprofit management, marketing, project leadership and management, human resource management and executive education. The college also operates three centers of distinction focused on innovation, sustainability and workforce development.
“We are profoundly grateful and proud to have a successful Regis graduate make such a meaningful investment in the very place where his business career began,” said Regis President John P. Fitzgibbons, S.J. “A signature gift like this shows the value of a Jesuit business education in the world today. I am excited to see the positive change and impact future graduates of the Anderson College of Business will have in making our world a better place.”
Tim Keane, dean of the college, noted Anderson had provided valuable input on the college’s strategic direction since the launch of the College of Business and Economics three years ago.
“He was among the first to embrace our unique vision to help businesses become stewards of society,” Keane said. “We will be eternally grateful for his support of our students and faculty in the pursuit of that vision.”
Established in 1877, Regis University is a premier, globally engaged institution of higher learning in the Jesuit tradition that prepares leaders to live productive lives of faith, meaning and service. Regis University, one of 28 Jesuit universities in the nation, has four campus locations in the Denver metro area and Colorado Springs and extensive online program offerings with more than 11,000 enrolled students. For more information, visit www.regis.edu.