Hathaway Family Classroom Dedicated in College of Business Building

May 9, 2011
Man
Brent Hathaway, University of Wyoming College of Business dean, stands near a plaque outside a room that was dedicated and named the Hathaway Family Classroom. (Jeremy Stegall Photo)

Brent Hathaway received quite the surprise recently when a classroom in the new University of Wyoming College of Business was named in honor of his family.

Members of the College of Business Advisory Board hatched the plan to honor Hathaway, the college's popular dean, when the group met for the first time in the new building last September.

The location of the dedicated space, Room 111 and called the Hathaway Family Classroom, is just off the Jonah Bank Atrium on the main level and accommodates about 35 students. The classroom is equipped with a Blu-ray player, document camera, computer, wireless microphone, lectern-mounted microphone, dual screens and dual high-definition projectors, a Crestron control panel in the lectern, ceiling speakers for playback and speech and a whiteboard.

"I was honored to have our Advisory Board and leadership team recognize the Hathaway family in such a meaningful way," Hathaway says. "It has been a pleasure to serve with such wonderful people and to be engaged in such a significant cause, improving business education in Wyoming."

Total amount raised to name the facility was $255,000, which was the published price for naming rights for that particular classroom, says Kent Noble, College of Business assistant dean of external relations. More than 30 people participated in the fundraising effort, including all College of Business Advisory Board members and three members of the college's senior leadership team.

Proceeds from the fundraising efforts will be used to enhance business education in Wyoming -- 50 percent of the funds will establish a permanent endowment for that purpose, while the other half can be used for more immediate educational needs, Noble says.

A sign honoring Hathaway and his family is now permanently displayed in the classroom.

"You just do your job with grace and dignity. You are the embodiment of a leader -- passionate, honest, hardworking, committed," said Peter Johnson, College of Business Advisory Board chairman and Sinclair Oil president, during the dedication ceremony. "I believe the last sentences on the plaque say it best:  ‘Dean Brent Hathaway -- A Great Man with Great Vision. The good you have done today will not be forgotten tomorrow.'"

Don Kany, past advisory board chairman and current partner of Walnut Street Securities, recognized Hathaway and his wife, Tammy.

"Brent is a great leader who has dramatically transformed the UW College of Business and our advisory board, Kany said. "He has done it quickly and in a collaborative way.  Tammy and Brent are a team whose friendship we all value."

Another board member also praised Hathaway's leadership.

"Brent sets high expectations for himself as well as his faculty, staff and students. We are recognizing and rewarding the results achieved from those expectations. His accomplishments are a testimony to the support he enjoys from his family and the university community," said Rita Meyer, former Wyoming State Auditor and current managing member of U-235 LLC. "We are fortunate that Brent chose to share his time, his talent and his family with Wyoming."

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