The largest academic programming gift in Dickinson College history has led to the creation of a pathway for students to launch careers in business.
Alumnus Mark Burgess’s gift allows the Carlisle-based college to launch this fall the Burgess Institute for the Global Economy. Burgess is CEO of Mauser Packaging Solutions, a sustainable container company with over 11,000 employees.
“At Dickinson, I gained the ability to look into things deeply, to be curious and to solve problems—all things that helped me in my career,” Burgess said in a statement. “But I thought, if we could add leadership development, hands-on experience, a grounding in how global economies work, industry-specific career support and connections with our strong network of alumni business leaders, then our students interested in business could graduate with a real advantage in the marketplace.”
Dickinson President John E. Jones III said the Burgess Institute “will make Dickinson the go-to liberal-arts college for students who want to become tomorrow’s CEOs, leaders and difference-makers.”
According to a release, the Burgess Institute will offer a variety of initiatives, including new courses in business, finance and economic systems, industry-specific career support and co-curricular programs. It will also launch an executive in-residence program featuring Dickinson alumni from various fields.
The inaugural executives-in-residence will be Oculus VR co-founder Nate Mitchell, CEO and co-founder of Mountaintop Studios, an independent gaming studio; and Amy Nauiokas, founder and CEO of Anthemis Group, a digital financial services investment firm, and founder and CEO of Archer Gray, a media production company.
“The hope is not just to help our students get that first job after college but to prepare them for leadership roles in which they can make an impact on the wider world for years to come,” said Senior Lecturer in International Business & Management Steve Riccio, the institute’s executive director. “It’s been exciting to see professors from across the disciplines get involved with this truly interdisciplinary initiative.”
The Burgess Institute will work with Dickinson’s Career Center to provide industry-specific support in business and finance and networking events with the college’s Finance & Business Network.
“I think of education as a business, and for any business to be successful, you need something that really differentiates you from your competitors,” said Burgess. “With this institute, Dickinson can truly stand out by offering a unique combination of a liberal arts education with business preparation.”
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