Tony Thomas Jr. on LinkedIn: Western Kentucky University
Tony Thomas Jr
This is remarkable. Professor Meggers impacted so many students and people’s life. By far one of the best professors I had throughout my college career! Mr…
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Donations to university endowments have always been controversial due to donors’ potential sway over student applications and school policies. The prevalence of donations in the form of private-company shares has added more complications: · The CEO of a Texas hemp farming company donated $237 million worth of shares in a private company to Florida A&M at a recent graduation ceremony, at which the donor was also a commencement speaker. As it turns out, there had been no independent valuations of the shares, which may very well be worth … nothing? (Miami Herald: https://lnkd.in/gzffQWFe) · But relationships could also sour even if valuations go up. Bill Ackman donated $10 million of shares in then-private Coupang to Harvard in 2017. The company went public in 2021 and the shares were worth $85 million. Ackman later found out that the endowment had already sold the shares prior to the company’s IPO. · What’s more, Ackman’s donation was structured such that if the shares fell below $10 million, he would make up for the difference, whereas if they rose to above $15 million, he would have the right to allocate the excess to any “Harvard-related initiative of his choice.” (WSJ: https://lnkd.in/gXAyDTkv) Speaking of private investments, Princeton’s allocation to PE and VC has grown to 40% (FT: https://lnkd.in/grBec_2e). There’s a case to be made that endowments could afford to go down the liquidity curve, and the Princeton model has been the envy to many. But periodic performance benchmarking does matter, not the least because external managers charge hefty fees as they would any asset owner (CEPR: https://lnkd.in/g_JgGKeR). #privateequity #privatecredit #endowment #collegeendowment #universityendowment #hedgefund

I previously discussed my disdain that Bradley University (my alma mater) was planning to cut the school's entrepreneurship program. They're also ceasing majors and concentrations in economics and math. This is based on low enrollment representing <3% of the student body. The alumni association letter also stated "While we recognize that these changes may create concerns among the broader Bradley community, we remain confident that this approach will ultimately bring our university to a secure future of renewed relevance and reach.". I remain confident that this is a short-sighted strategy that firmly roots Bradley in tradition instead of growth. Universities need to run programs encouraging innovation instead of "business as usual". While my confidence in the university has diminished, I do have extreme confidence in one thing: I will not be donating to the university.

Meet the Leaders Behind the Movement: PLAN4SUCCESS College Advisory Board! LEADERSHIP~ VOICE~ EMPOWERMENT As the driving force of a transformative initiative that seeks to empower college students across the nation, our College Advisory Board plays a pivotal role. Each member brings their unique talents and dedication to the table, guiding their peers towards a future where success is not just a goal but a shared journey. Let's celebrate our inaugural board members: President - Williams: At the helm of our College Advisory Board is Williams, a Political Science major from Tulane University. With her leadership, she helps to set the strategic direction, ensuring that our mission aligns with the needs and aspirations of students everywhere. Williams embodies the spirit of PLAN4SUCCESS, leading with integrity and a vision for a brighter future. These leaders are not just board members; they are the architects of a movement that champions academic and personal growth through collaboration and community engagement. Their dedication and vision pave the way for a future where every student can thrive. 📣 Call to Action 📣 Join the Movement: If you're from the Chicagoland area and aspire to transform your college experience, the PLAN4SUCCESS College Cohort is for you. Embark on this journey with us and unlock your full potential. Together, we can achieve greatness. Support Our Cause: Your contributions fuel our initiatives, partnerships, and scholarship drives. Every donation brings us closer to our goal of empowering every student to reach their highest aspirations. Donate now at https://lnkd.in/gWzRbiW5 and be a part of a lasting impact. Let’s embrace this journey together. Join (https://lnkd.in/gH6hXNNA). Support. Thrive. With PLAN4SUCCESS, the future is bright and full of possibilities. PPLAN4Success#CollegeSuccess #Empowerment

Spotlight: Claflin University Presidential Tour in Philly! What an incredible honor it was to join the President of Claflin University on his presidential alumni tour in Philadelphia as a representative of the Trustee Board. This event was more than just a gathering; it was a powerful testament to our alumni community's enduring pride and commitment. Capital Campaign Launch We are thrilled to share that Claflin University has embarked on an ambitious Capital Campaign intending to raise $100 million over the next three years. This monumental effort includes a target of $10 million coming directly from our dedicated alumni. Your support is crucial as we strive to elevate our beloved university to new heights. Philadelphia Chapter Reception The reception by the Philly chapter was nothing short of inspiring. The energy, enthusiasm, and unwavering support from our alumni were palpable. It was clear that being a Panther of this illustrious university is a source of immense pride for everyone in attendance. Focus: Need-Based Scholarships A significant portion of the funds raised will be dedicated to need-based scholarships. These scholarships are essential to ensure that students can complete their matriculation without the burden of financial concerns. We believe that every deserving student should have the opportunity to pursue their education and achieve their dreams. Why This Matters: Your contributions to the Capital Campaign will enable us to: Enhance Academic Programs: Providing top-tier education and resources for our students. Improve Campus Facilities: Creating an environment that fosters learning and growth. Support Need-Based Scholarships: Ensuring students can focus on their studies and graduate without financial worries. Expand Research Initiatives: Leading innovation and discovery across various fields. How You Can Help: Donate: Regardless of size, every contribution brings us closer to our goal. Engage: Participate in alumni events and stay connected with Claflin University. Share: Spread the word about our campaign and encourage fellow alumni to join the cause. Text CUGIVING to 444999, follow the prompts, and participate in this historic journey. Let’s continue to show the world the strength and spirit of Claflin University. Together, we can make a profound difference! Thank you for your unwavering support and dedication. Go Panthers! #ClaflinUniversity #CapitalCampaign #PantherPride #AlumniSupport #HigherEducation #NeedBasedScholarships

As a first-generation college graduate with three degrees from the University of Colorado Boulder, I've experienced firsthand the transformative power of an education at the College of Engineering and Applied Science (CEAS). This Buffs All In Giving Day, I invite you to join me in creating a future where every student can thrive, innovate and lead. CEAS giving opportunities (bit.ly/3I1EE0D) are centered around empowering the next generation: Fostering Excellence and Innovation: With funds like the CEAS Dean's Fund and various department excellence funds, we aim to elevate our academic and research capabilities to new heights. Breaking Barriers: Through scholarships such as the Lattice Scholarship Fund for first-generation students and the Society of Women Engineers, we're committed to making engineering accessible to all. Cultivating Leadership and Diversity: The BOLD Center Excellence Fund embodies our mission to create a diverse, inclusive community where every student has a sense of belonging. Each contribution, big or small, fuels our journey towards a more inclusive, innovative and impactful future in engineering. Together, we can build a legacy of opportunity and success for Buffs yet to come. Let’s be all in, together. Your gift today is an investment in tomorrow’s leaders. #SkoBuffs #BuffsAllIn #CUEngineering #FutureLeaders #Innovation #DiversityInSTEM #CUBoulderAlumni #ForeverBuffs

🏀 A team in March Madness is also a publicly traded company? It was a surprisingly “chalky” first week of March Madness. The favorites mostly took care of business in the first two rounds: - All 1 and 2 seeds made it to the Sweet 16 for just the fifth time in the tournament’s history - The average margin of victory in the first weekend was 15.8 points — second highest since 1985 That being said, we did see a few upsets in the opening slate of games. - 14-seed Oakland shocked Kentucky - 13-seed Yale took down Auburn - 12-seed James Madison ousted Wisconsin People know these Cinderella’s, but what is this Grand Canyon University that took down dark horse favorite Saint Mary's? Answer: GCU is the biggest school you’ve never heard of. The private institution, located in Phoenix, Arizona, is the largest Christian university in the country, with a sizeable on-campus population (25,000) and a total enrollment of roughly 118,000 students due to the 92,000 online students. This is significant and somewhat different from the usual online student presence at universities that is predominantly focused on grad programs. But what makes GCU most unique is that they’re the only former for-profit, publicly traded entity in the March Madness field. In fact, their former holding company is still trading -- $LOPE. The school has drawn the ire of the Department of Education and the FTC for its questionable non-profit status and from opposing schools for their outsized spending, but it's pressing on -- using athletics as a means to grow their revenues and name recognition (the school has a goal to grow to 50,000 on-campus students by the end of the decade). The stranger than fiction story is both unsettling and somewhat appropriate for the uncertain times college athletics finds itself in. In this week’s SBP, you’ll learn: - Grand Canyon University’s checkered past as a non-profit and for-profit, and their hybrid(?) profit model that has drawn the ire of other schools and government entities - Why a strong athletics program helps a school like GCU - How the GCU model could become a playbook for other investors interested in breaking into college athletics Check it out below 👇 https://lnkd.in/gd2sAm-e

The brouhaha on US universities, with rich folks pulling donations, proves clearly that colleges and universities have sold out to rich folk (read #Nobel #AngusDeaton's new book). Here are some points to consider: 1. The University of Chicago (where I desperately wanted to go as my 1st econ book was #FreetoChoose), instead of naming their business school after #Nobels #MiltonFriedman or #GeorgeStigler, name the school after an alum who donated money made from creating basic indices for investors to buy. In other words, send the message to current and future students, that it is money that matters, not exactly education or changing the world. 2. Members of the #Boards or #investmentcommittee of #colleges and #universities are stacked with biggest donors, not folks who know the most about #education or #investments. If you want to be on the Board, you have to commit a certain level of donations; a friend at an endowment jokes about a "value" investor on his Board who will reject anything with an equation or "quant". Money talks! 3. The connection with dubious folks - #SBF and #Stanford; #Epstein and my alma mater; and so many more. Money talks.. 4. #Finance faculty writing papers with no practical relevance based on "Epstein-Zin" utility functions and charging $50K - $100K for speeches (and running cabals at the journals they control), while adjuncts teach classes and students are pushed into debt. The great #Nobel #FrancoModigliani taught into his 80s, read student papers and was always available and never took consulting money. He must be rolling in his grave. Money talks. This quote cracks me up - “I do not like making something like this about money – but it appears to be one of the only paths that has any hope of mattering, and it has become clear that it is the only voice some of us have,” said hedge fund billionaire Cliff Asness, who just finished a five-year pledge to UPenn. PUH-LEASE! https://lnkd.in/e98vDrvX

One of my favorite articles, written as the pandemic was raging and financial concerns were mounting for many colleges and universities, continues to offer insights into the what's, how’s, and why’s (and why-not's) of university endowments. "University endowments are vehicles to create and ensure perpetual, intergenerational wealth transfer. Ensuring intergenerational equity, while certainly a goal, is becoming increasingly difficult as university expenses are outpacing revenues. The costs of delivering a university education are increasing beyond many families’ ability to pay." "Endowments are established to provide guaranteed sources of funding to support students, faculty, programs, and facilities. They are not meant to be savings accounts that can be accessed without bound during times of need or even crisis. Doing anything to permanently reduce the power of these precious and generous gift instruments, entered into in good faith with donors over generations, would hurt the university in future generations and likely severely impact the trust and relationships that have been stewarded for many years and upon which universities depend (and will increasingly depend) for philanthropy." #highered #collegesanduniversities #endowments #philanthropy #postpandemic #intergenerationalwealthtransfer #intergenerationalequity #donors #donorintent #stewardship #foundations #development #cultivation

𝐓𝐨 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐞. 𝐓𝐨 𝐒𝐞𝐞𝐤. 𝐓𝐨 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐝. Our #DNA is encompassed in those words. We believe that to find excellence, we must consistently strive to improve our understanding of the world and continuously seek knowledge. However, when striving to achieve excellence and especially academic excellence, one should not strive to make ends meet. This is why we decided to make a donation to the Bradford Futures Fund and support a University of Bradford student throughout the duration of their studies. The Bradford Futures #Fund was established to provide support to University of Bradford undergraduate students who come from traditionally non-privileged backgrounds struggling to cover living expenses. This support helps alleviate some of the #financialburdens students face and allows them to focus on their studies. Two thirds of students at the University of Bradford are the first in their families to pursue higher education. The decision to obtain a #bachelorsdegre is not only a gateway to a better future for themselves, but also their families and their communities. Since the first scholarships were awarded in the academic year 2021-2022, the demand for support has increased as has the cost of living. Our very own CEO, Dr Efstathios Vassiliadis, is a University of Bradford MBA graduate. We know firsthand about the quality of education the university offers and we feel honoured to be one of the scholarship donors that makes it possible for students at Bradford to continue to strive, seek and find knowledge. “𝘗𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘴𝘵𝘶𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘴𝘤𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘧𝘪𝘤 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸𝘭𝘦𝘥𝘨𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘬 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘣𝘶𝘵𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘰𝘤𝘪𝘦𝘵𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘥𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘱𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘧𝘰𝘳 Evnia. 𝘞𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘬 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘦𝘧𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘱𝘪𝘳𝘪𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘣𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘴𝘰 𝘱𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘯𝘦𝘹𝘵 𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸𝘭𝘦𝘥𝘨𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘬𝘦𝘳𝘴.” Dr Efstathios Vassiliadis, Evnia Group CEO #Evnia_CSR #ToStriveToSeekToFind #Evnia_Filotimo #fundingopportunity #fundingnews #education #educationforall #educationequity #educationaljourney #scholarships #scholarshipopportunity