Parents make a difference to the Undergraduate Business Program

Note to parents: your children don’t have to be the only ones who experience all that UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School has to offer.

The UNC Kenan-Flagler Parents Council provides a way for parents to uniquely engage with the UNC Kenan-Flagler community and share their time, expertise and financial contributions with the School.

“We’re changing the culture to include parents,” says Jason Sabow, assistant director of parent and leadership annual giving. “They’re so important and we want them to have great experiences at Carolina while their children are students here.”

UNC Kenan-Flagler inaugurated the Parents Council in 2016 with 25 couples. Now under the leadership of co-presidents John and Charlotte Wickham, it consists of more than 60 couples who engage with the School in a variety of ways.

The UNC Kenan-Flagler Parents Council seeks to welcome more parents as members. Selected members will be able to learn, engage and invest in UNC Kenan-Flagler in unique ways.

They learn by gaining exclusive news and updates from the dean and Undergraduate Business Program leadership. They provide valuable feedback on a wide array of issues, give guidance to students through internship placements and career networking opportunities, and strengthen ties between corporations and the School.

Members also make annual gifts and provide expertise and guidance to UNC Kenan-Flagler to retain its renowned status as an elite business program. Since its inauguration, council members have donated more than $240,000 to the Business School.

“In addition to the important work conducted at UNC Kenan-Flagler Parents Council meetings, we also enjoy interacting with each other and networking,” says Kendall Pace of Austin, Texas. “Every fall and spring, we are invited to campus to engage in programs during which we witness first-hand how our investments and efforts benefit not only our children, but all students, alumni, and faculty at UNC Kenan-Flagler.”

Based on the parent feedback, future plans include regional parent events, increased communication between the School and parents, and investment opportunities.

The next UNC Kenan-Flagler Parents Council meeting is March 23, 2018. Members are invited to the experiential education themed conference where they will hear from School leaders. For more information, please contact Jason Sabow at Jason_Sabow@kenan-flagler.unc.edu.

By Halle Frain (BA ’18)