Beverly and James Hance have established a professorship in the Olin School of Business, Chancellor Mark S. Wrighton announced. The gift of $1.2 million will be combined with $300,000 from the University’s Sesquicentennial Endowed Professorship Challenge to create the James and Beverly Hance Professorship in Business.
“Jim and Beverly Hance are two great alumni who, through their generosity and support, have contributed in many important ways to the University’s ascent as a world-class teaching and research institution,” Wrighton said. “We are very thankful for their continued interest and support.”
Stuart I. Greenbaum, Ph.D., Bank of America professor and dean of the Olin School, agreed: “This professorship strengthens the academic and research endeavors at the Olin School of Business, and will be greatly appreciated by our faculty and students for generations to come.”
In addition to the professorship, the Hances made an earlier gift for two scholarships — one endowed — for the Olin School.
Since graduating from the University, Jim Hance has kept close ties here.
“As national chair for the regional campaigns for the Campaign for Washington University, Jim has attended over a dozen kickoff galas around the country and hosted the Annual Regional Leadership Conference with key volunteers,” Wrighton said. “He has been a tremendous help to the University in this role, assisting the regional campaigns with raising more than $302 million.”
Jim Hance has had a distinguished career in the fields of banking and accounting. After earning a master’s degree in business administration in 1968, he joined Price Waterhouse as a certified public accountant. After 17 years in that position, he became chairman and co-owner of Consolidated Coin Caterers Corp.
In 1987, he entered the banking business, joining NCNB Corp. as executive vice president and chief accounting officer. He quickly rose to chief financial officer and vice chairman, and he played a significant role in growing it into Bank of America, one of the largest bank holding companies in the country.
Today, he serves as a director and vice chairman of Bank of America Corp., overseeing the areas of finance, treasury, investor relations, legal, and corporate strategy and planning.
“Jim is a leader in the banking industry, and it is an honor to have his name associated with the Olin School of Business,” Greenbaum said.
Beverly and Jim Hance met as graduate students at the University and graduated in the same year. She holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Maine and a master’s degree in education. They have four daughters.
Jim Hance also provides leadership for Washington University as a member of the Board of Trustees and as a member of the Olin School’s national council. In addition, he is a trustee of The College Fund/UNCF.
Beverly Hance is a trustee of Davidson College in Davidson, N.C.
The professorship may be awarded to a faculty member in the field of either finance or accounting. Greenbaum will announce the professorship’s first holder at a later date.