The University of North Texas announced Monday that the largest gift in its history—a $30 million commitment from alumnus G. Brint Ryan and his wife, Amanda—will enable creation of the G. Brint Ryan College of Business and support efforts to make it one of the top business schools in the nation.
G. Brint Ryan
G. Brint Ryan, the chairman of the UNT System board of regents, is the founder, chairman of the board, and CEO, of Ryan LLC, the Dallas-based global tax services and software provider.
In a release, UNT said the gift will provide ongoing support for business research through academic endowments, as well as money to back strategic program initiatives to ensure the college is one of the top business higher education providers in the nation.
“The impact of this generous gift will be transformational for today’s students and the generations to come,” UNT President Neal Smatresk said. “It will further UNT’s ability to drive progress and enable our continued success as a top-tier university, especially at a critical time when we are gaining momentum in many areas.”
Ryan gift will have a long-term impact on business education
The gift will have a lasting impact on the university by creating at least six endowed chairs and providing funds for academic program initiatives over seven years, UNT said.
Among the areas of focus will include entrepreneurship, finance, logistics, information technology, cybersecurity, taxation and tax research, and behavioral accounting.
The university said the initiatives will be focused on increasing the reputation, prestige, and ranking of UNT’s College of Business.
“The skills and lessons I learned at UNT enabled me to build and lead a fantastic team of people to the top of the global tax services and software business.”
G. Brint Ryan
“My experience at UNT transformed me. It opened my eyes to a world of incredible possibility. The skills and lessons I learned at UNT enabled me to build and lead a fantastic team of people to the top of the global tax services and software business,” Ryan said. “I’m thrilled to be able to share some of that success with UNT business students and faculty.”
He said, “This gift will help the College of Business attract and retain some of the best minds in the field enabling us to be more competitive and more effective in our mission at UNT.”
Ryan earned a combined Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degree in accounting from UNT in 1988.
In addition to serving as the chair of the board of regents and the UNT Kuehne Speaker Series Board, Ryan also serves on the board of trustees for Pi Kappa Alpha, and has previously held seats on the UNT Accounting Advisory Board and the UNT College of Business Advisory Board.
“Mr. and Mrs. Ryan’s exceptional gift is a foundational investment in UNT’s College of Business — one that will propel continued growth,” College of Business Dean Marilyn Wiley said. “Brint Ryan’s business leadership is a powerful and fitting example for our students, who will be the business leaders of tomorrow.”
University of North Texas alum and chair of the UNT Board of Regents G. Brint Ryan donated $30 million to create the G. Brint Ryan College of Business. (Michael Clements/UNT Photo)
Ryan College of Business will become official with board vote
One the largest business schools in the nation, the UNT College of Business serves roughly 5,800 students. Since 1961, it has been continuously accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.
UNT said that the naming of the G. Brint Ryan College of Business will become official in February after final approval from the UNT System Board of Regents at its upcoming quarterly meeting.
Ryan LLC was founded in 1991, and it offers an integrated suite of federal, state, local, and international tax services.
In October, Ryan reported that Toronto-based Onex Corp. acquired a 42-percent interest in the company, putting Ryan’s value at $1.1 billion.
Audience members watch a banner being unveiled during the announcement of University of North Texas alum and chair of the UNT Board of Regents G. Brint Ryan’s donation of $30 million to create the G. Brint Ryan College of Business. Photographed on Monday, Feb. 4, 2019 in Denton. [Photo: Ranjani Groth/UNT]
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