Rowan University hosts investiture for William G. Rohrer Professorial Chair
Rowan University hosts investiture for William G. Rohrer Professorial Chair
October 26, 2011
There were, of course, speeches and professors in regalia, formalities and pageantry when Rowan University on Oct. 13 held the investiture of Dr. Steven Phelan as the William G. Rohrer Professorial Chair in the Rohrer College of Business.
But the event was so much more than a ceremony honoring a respected professor holding an important role on campus. It also was a living tribute to a man who impacted South Jersey for decades, the late William G. Rohrer.
About 200 people attended the investiture — an academic event that recognizes the holder of an endowed chair as well as those who funded the position — in the Student Center ballroom. Attendees included Rowan faculty and staff, board members, Phelan’s family and friends, Mr. Rohrer’s family and friends, and others.
The evening, which included a reception and dinner, started with the formal investiture ceremony of Phelan, the third person to hold the position. He earned his Ph.D. in economics from La Trobe University, Australia; his M.B.A. in marketing from Monash University, Australia; and his B.S. in psychology from the University of Melbourne. He worked for universities in Australia, Europe and the United States, as well as in industry, before coming to Rowan.
Phelan reflected on why he decided to move from a research institution to Rowan, a public school that primarily offers bachelor’s and master’s degrees. During brief comments, he recounted what he told a high school student when the student asked Phelan, “Why Rowan?”
“If you come to Rowan, you’re going to get a liberal arts experience . . . in a public university. That experience is undergirded by the support of the community,” noted Phelan, explaining that he was attracted by that atmosphere himself.
In addition to honoring Phelan, the gathering also honored William G. Rohrer, who died in 1989 at age 79, and the foundation named for him, which has been supportive of Rowan for more than a decade.
Among his many roles, Mr. Rohrer was mayor of Haddon Township for 36 years; operator of Rohrer Chevrolet Agency for 50 years; and founder of First People's Bank of New Jersey, which he served as president and chief executive officer until 1982 and later as chairman emeritus of the board of directors.
The William G. Rohrer Charitable Foundation, funded by his estate, has made a substantial investment in Rowan that has benefitted the College of Business in particular for more than a decade. (Foundation trustees are daughter Linda Rohrer, Thomas Bantivoglio, Daniel Ragone and PNC Bank — represented by Ronald Caputo.)
In 1995, the foundation funded the William G. Rohrer Professorial Chair position with a $1-million gift. The endowed chair was a Rowan University first and the first $1 million+ endowed chair among New Jersey’s nine state colleges. In 1999, the Rohrer Charitable Foundation awarded Rowan $1 million to fund scholarships in the College of Business. In 2005, the foundation contributed $10 million to the College, which the University named the William G. Rohrer College of Business. That gift was the largest the University had received since Henry Rowan donated $100 million to the school in 1992. Today, the Rohrer gift is used to support the College of Business’ entrepreneurial curriculum.
During the investiture, Rowan presented a video on Mr. Rohrer’s life, and at the ceremony — and later the dinner — guests shared anecdotes about the late businessman, philanthropist and government and community leader.
“Bill Rohrer was a true leader and a true humanitarian. I assure you we will do what we can to honor his memory,” said Dr. Ali Houshmand, interim president of Rowan, to an audience that included Linda Rohrer and her daughter, Stacey.
Linda Rohrer applauded her father for his vision and his generosity. “Education has always been very important to us,” she noted, adding that her family and the foundation recognize Rowan provides excellent programs for South Jersey residents and those outside the region.
She said the endowment reflects her father’s love of education and desire to help youth, supports what she sees as the “university of South Jersey” and promises an excellent return on investment based on the number of people it will help.
But the event was so much more than a ceremony honoring a respected professor holding an important role on campus. It also was a living tribute to a man who impacted South Jersey for decades, the late William G. Rohrer.
About 200 people attended the investiture — an academic event that recognizes the holder of an endowed chair as well as those who funded the position — in the Student Center ballroom. Attendees included Rowan faculty and staff, board members, Phelan’s family and friends, Mr. Rohrer’s family and friends, and others.
The evening, which included a reception and dinner, started with the formal investiture ceremony of Phelan, the third person to hold the position. He earned his Ph.D. in economics from La Trobe University, Australia; his M.B.A. in marketing from Monash University, Australia; and his B.S. in psychology from the University of Melbourne. He worked for universities in Australia, Europe and the United States, as well as in industry, before coming to Rowan.
Phelan reflected on why he decided to move from a research institution to Rowan, a public school that primarily offers bachelor’s and master’s degrees. During brief comments, he recounted what he told a high school student when the student asked Phelan, “Why Rowan?”
“If you come to Rowan, you’re going to get a liberal arts experience . . . in a public university. That experience is undergirded by the support of the community,” noted Phelan, explaining that he was attracted by that atmosphere himself.
In addition to honoring Phelan, the gathering also honored William G. Rohrer, who died in 1989 at age 79, and the foundation named for him, which has been supportive of Rowan for more than a decade.
Among his many roles, Mr. Rohrer was mayor of Haddon Township for 36 years; operator of Rohrer Chevrolet Agency for 50 years; and founder of First People's Bank of New Jersey, which he served as president and chief executive officer until 1982 and later as chairman emeritus of the board of directors.
The William G. Rohrer Charitable Foundation, funded by his estate, has made a substantial investment in Rowan that has benefitted the College of Business in particular for more than a decade. (Foundation trustees are daughter Linda Rohrer, Thomas Bantivoglio, Daniel Ragone and PNC Bank — represented by Ronald Caputo.)
In 1995, the foundation funded the William G. Rohrer Professorial Chair position with a $1-million gift. The endowed chair was a Rowan University first and the first $1 million+ endowed chair among New Jersey’s nine state colleges. In 1999, the Rohrer Charitable Foundation awarded Rowan $1 million to fund scholarships in the College of Business. In 2005, the foundation contributed $10 million to the College, which the University named the William G. Rohrer College of Business. That gift was the largest the University had received since Henry Rowan donated $100 million to the school in 1992. Today, the Rohrer gift is used to support the College of Business’ entrepreneurial curriculum.
During the investiture, Rowan presented a video on Mr. Rohrer’s life, and at the ceremony — and later the dinner — guests shared anecdotes about the late businessman, philanthropist and government and community leader.
“Bill Rohrer was a true leader and a true humanitarian. I assure you we will do what we can to honor his memory,” said Dr. Ali Houshmand, interim president of Rowan, to an audience that included Linda Rohrer and her daughter, Stacey.
Linda Rohrer applauded her father for his vision and his generosity. “Education has always been very important to us,” she noted, adding that her family and the foundation recognize Rowan provides excellent programs for South Jersey residents and those outside the region.
She said the endowment reflects her father’s love of education and desire to help youth, supports what she sees as the “university of South Jersey” and promises an excellent return on investment based on the number of people it will help.