Office of Communication and Public Affairs

Dr. Stephen A. Stumpf Appointed to Fred J. Springer Chair in Business Leadership
Tom Wirth

On Thursday, Nov. 14 in the Connelly Center, Villanova University inaugurated the Fred J. Springer Endowed Chair in Business Leadership, appointing Dr. Stephen A. Stumpf, professor and chair of the Department of Management, as chair holder.

The Fred J. Springer Chair in Business Leadership has been established to reflect the values of a Villanova education through leadership contributions to instruction, research, public service, and business organizations. Mr. Springer's commitment to these values exemplify his dedication to the future of the University and to the continued progress of the College of Commerce and Finance. The Springer Chair is the eleventh endowed chair to be inaugurated at Villanova.

"Three generations of my family have been educated at Villanova, and I hope that many more will be. Each generation of my family has received a better education than the last, and I believe the trend toward excellence is accelerating," said Mr. Springer, a graduate of the class of 1963. Indeed, the appointment of Dr. Stumpf to the Fred J. Springer Chair in Business Leadership is a reflection of Villanova's pledge to continue providing high-caliber faculty to its student body.

Dr. Stumpf's credentials are impressive. Before joining the faculty at Villanova's College of Commerce and Finance in 2000, he was dean of professional development at Booz|Allen|Hamilton, where he designed and delivered leadership programs for principals and partners. Dr. Stumpf has also authored nine books and over a 100 journal articles, served as a professor of management at the University of Tampa, Fla., where he founded its Center for Leadership, and taught at the Leonard N. Stern School of Business at New York University for 16 years.

The inauguration of the Springer Chair symbolizes the critical emphasis that Villanova places on leadership development within the context of the University's Augustinian heritage. "Leadership is vital to the success of any endeavor," said Mr. Springer. "In the twenty-first century, with all of the challenges that we face, leadership development is an essential component of any university curriculum."

Dr. Stumpf echoed this theme of leadership in his inaugural lecture, invoking the leadership strategies used by Mahatma Gandhi under British imperial rule in India. He underscored five essential points to Gandhi's success as a leader, all of which were crucial to gaining the people's trust and inciting the people to action against an oppressive regime:

r. Stumpf will utilize many of these leadership values in his duties as the Springer Chair in Business Leadership: he will conduct applied research leading to publication in prestigious journals; actively engage key business and civic leaders; create executive education programs; and develop pedagogical materials, cases, and exercises for use in many undergraduate and M.BA. programs worldwide.

However, the set of leadership principles offered by Dr. Stumpf in his lecture are universal and can be applied to any setting no matter how large or small. In the university environment leadership also plays an important function, and the creation of the Fred J. Springer Chair clearly illustrates that the College of Commerce and Finance is advancing beyond conventional definitions of scholarly roles to embrace not just educators, but also well-rounded leaders that have the ability to develop relationships both inside and outside the classroom.

Villanova University president Rev. Edmund J. Dobbin, O.S.A. reiterated the enduring impact that this type of leadership has on the Villanova community, both from a financial and academic standpoint: "Right from day one Fred Springer was focused on endowing a chair here without the University having to encourage him. This selfless attitude is a valued quality here at Villanova, and we are delighted to see leaders of the Villanova community like Fred Springer so committed to our future. I have no doubt that the appointment of the esteemed Professor Stumpf will fulfill the vision that Fred has in mind for this chair," said Fr. Dobbin.

	Villanova Magazine - Winter 2003 Edition
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Homepage Back Summer 2003 Archives		Dr. Stephen A. Stumpf Appointed to Fred J. Springer Chair in Business Leadership Tom Wirth On Thursday, Nov. 14 in the Connelly Center, Villanova University inaugurated the Fred J. Springer Endowed Chair in Business Leadership, appointing Dr. Stephen A. Stumpf, professor and chair of the Department of Management, as chair holder. The Fred J. Springer Chair in Business Leadership has been established to reflect the values of a Villanova education through leadership contributions to instruction, research, public service, and business organizations. Mr. Springer's commitment to these values exemplify his dedication to the future of the University and to the continued progress of the College of Commerce and Finance. The Springer Chair is the eleventh endowed chair to be inaugurated at Villanova. "Three generations of my family have been educated at Villanova, and I hope that many more will be. Each generation of my family has received a better education than the last, and I believe the trend toward excellence is accelerating," said Mr. Springer, a graduate of the class of 1963. Indeed, the appointment of Dr. Stumpf to the Fred J. Springer Chair in Business Leadership is a reflection of Villanova's pledge to continue providing high-caliber faculty to its student body. Dr. Stumpf's credentials are impressive. Before joining the faculty at Villanova's College of Commerce and Finance in 2000, he was dean of professional development at Booz\|Allen\|Hamilton, where he designed and delivered leadership programs for principals and partners. Dr. Stumpf has also authored nine books and over a 100 journal articles, served as a professor of management at the University of Tampa, Fla., where he founded its Center for Leadership, and taught at the Leonard N. Stern School of Business at New York University for 16 years. The inauguration of the Springer Chair symbolizes the critical emphasis that Villanova places on leadership development within the context of the University's Augustinian heritage. "Leadership is vital to the success of any endeavor," said Mr. Springer. "In the twenty-first century, with all of the challenges that we face, leadership development is an essential component of any university curriculum." Dr. Stumpf echoed this theme of leadership in his inaugural lecture, invoking the leadership strategies used by Mahatma Gandhi under British imperial rule in India. He underscored five essential points to Gandhi's success as a leader, all of which were crucial to gaining the people's trust and inciting the people to action against an oppressive regime: · Leaders must have the capacity to influence others by staying within their objectives, within ethical boundaries, and within a particular time frame. · A leader have a reason for change and a platform to build that change upon. · A leader must be willing to put his values on the line, as well as to relinquish some organizational control. · A leader must not lose sight if his or her goal. · Planning is essential to good leadership; a leader must know his audience and be willing to make concessions. r. Stumpf will utilize many of these leadership values in his duties as the Springer Chair in Business Leadership: he will conduct applied research leading to publication in prestigious journals; actively engage key business and civic leaders; create executive education programs; and develop pedagogical materials, cases, and exercises for use in many undergraduate and M.BA. programs worldwide. However, the set of leadership principles offered by Dr. Stumpf in his lecture are universal and can be applied to any setting no matter how large or small. In the university environment leadership also plays an important function, and the creation of the Fred J. Springer Chair clearly illustrates that the College of Commerce and Finance is advancing beyond conventional definitions of scholarly roles to embrace not just educators, but also well-rounded leaders that have the ability to develop relationships both inside and outside the classroom. Villanova University president Rev. Edmund J. Dobbin, O.S.A. reiterated the enduring impact that this type of leadership has on the Villanova community, both from a financial and academic standpoint: "Right from day one Fred Springer was focused on endowing a chair here without the University having to encourage him. This selfless attitude is a valued quality here at Villanova, and we are delighted to see leaders of the Villanova community like Fred Springer so committed to our future. I have no doubt that the appointment of the esteemed Professor Stumpf will fulfill the vision that Fred has in mind for this chair," said Fr. Dobbin.