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LEADERSHIP + INNOVATION CAMPAIGN

Christian Excellence In Action

Watch the construction progress on the Ruth McKee School of Business building.

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Southern Adventist University's School of Business has approximately 450 students pursuing 16 undergraduate and graduate degrees. Each program is designed to equip students with the tools to succeed professionally while inspiring them with the eternal purpose of sharing Christ in their chosen field. Our students excel both in the classroom and the community:

  • Seniors place in the top 20% nationally for Major Field Tests.
  • SMARRT Fund students successfully practice investing with real money.
  • Enactus team members achieve competitive annual rankings within the global social entrepreneurship network.
  • Students provide free tax-filing assistance as a community service.

Together, we can help them achieve even greater success. Join us as we prayerfully pursue the $20 million School of Business Leadership and Innovation Campaign in support of a new building and program endowment.

New School of Business Groundbreaking!

Three people posing with shovels
A group of people at groundbreaking area
Ken shaw standing on a big machine



Number of Business Campaign Gifts and Pledges

327

Total Received and Pledged for Business Campaign

$17.3M

Business Campaign Goal for Building and Endowment

$20M

Ruth McKee School of Business Walkthrough Video

Enjoy a sneak peek at the layout and select spaces included within this exciting new facility coming soon to Southern Adventist University’s campus. Construction is underway!

SOUTHERN'S NEW SCHOOL OF BUSINESS

Building Front View
Front View
Proposed Location
Proposed Location (Orange Building)
Building Rear View
Auditorium Example
Auditorium
Stock Market and News Display
lounge sitting area
Rotunda
First Floor: Auditorium, Finance Lab, and More
First Floor: Auditorium, Finance Lab, and More
Second Floor: Classrooms, Study Areas, and More
Second Floor: Classrooms, Study Areas, and More
Third Floor: Offices, Conference Room, and More
Third Floor: Offices, Conference Room, and More
Fourth Floor: Executive Board Room, Mechanical Area
Fourth Floor: Executive Board Room, Mechanical Area

NAMING ANNOUNCEMENT

On July 20, officials from Southern Adventist University and McKee Foods Corporation gathered to announce the naming of Southern’s School of Business after Anna Ruth (King) McKee, ’26, pictured below. The new campus building that will house the business program will also carry her name. McKee and her husband, O.D. McKee, ’28, co-founded McKee Foods, best known for its Little Debbie snacks.

Ruth McKee“Our goal is that each student who graduates from the new Ruth McKee School of Business will embody the core of Ruth’s leadership of McKee Foods Corporation: integrity, wisdom, acumen, and beneficence,” said Stephanie Sheehan, dean of the business school. “These qualities which transcend the ever-changing landscape of business were foundational to the caliber of Ruth and O.D.’s legacy of business leadership, innovation, and success. We strive to encourage and equip Southern students to live and lead likewise.” (read more)

PREEMINENT LEARNING ENVIRONMENT

Designing and building a new School of Business facility will contribute to a greater sense of purpose, place, and presence for each business student and faculty member, in addition to benefiting the campus and local community.

Purpose. Our programs' focus on purpose will become clearer and simpler to execute as space limitations decrease and students’ affinity and ownership increases. Student opportunities for vocational discernment will blossom with the creation of a dedicated School of Business Career Center, and community service efforts will grow as the public is invited to engage with us in large, multipurpose spaces that are part of the new, easy-to-identify facility.

Place. The new facility will be home to programs where instruction is well-equipped and easily accessible. The SMARRT Fund Finance Lab, Business Innovation and Solutions Center, Leadership Institute, and Enactus will all benefit from dedicated space for experiential learning. A dedicated physical footprint for the School of Business will unlock potential for enrollment growth and improve engagement opportunities between students, faculty, alumni, and the community.

Presence. More than simply brick-and-mortar space, presence means possessing an identity that engenders respect, which increases perception of program value and fosters a sense of belonging, connectedness, and pride. A sense of belonging will be intentionally fostered in new collaborative spaces resulting in idea generation, networking possibilities, and long-term relationships that attract new students, new faculty, and potential employers.

Current School of Business Enrollment

452

Current School of Business Dedicated Sq. Footage

9000

New School of Business Square Footage

53000

ALUMNI INSIGHT

Franklin Farrow"I can trace my success as a Christian business owner to my experience as a student in Southern’s School of Business. I’m so excited to see the opportunities for leadership and innovation expand in this new space. As a result, businesses and communities around the world are going to feel an eternal impact from the next generation of business graduates from my alma mater."

-Franklin Farrow, ’93, CEO and co-founder of Morning Pointe
Senior Living and member of Southern’s Board of Trustees

Support the Campaign

Support Southern's School of Business Leadership and Innovation Campaign today. The future happens now!