Q & A—$25 million contribution to Northern
Arizona University
QUESTION: Who is the donor?
ANSWER: William A. Franke. Bill is the managing
partner of Indigo Partners and Newbridge Latin
America, private equity funds focused on worldwide
investments in air transportation and Latin America,
respectively. He was the chief executive officer of
America West Airlines from 1993-2001. Bill has
strong ties to Arizona and the Flagstaff area as
former CEO of the Fortune 500 forest products
company, Southwest Forest Industries, and as the
former owner of Flagstaff’s KNAZ-TV Channel 2.
Q: What is the amount of the commitment?
A: $25 million.
Q: How does this contribution compare to
other contributions made to the university?
A: This is the largest contribution in
Northern Arizona University history, more than 12
times NAU’s previous largest contribution.
Q: How will the contribution be used?
A: The College of Business will invest the
contribution in programs that inspire, challenge and
prepare students for the future. Specifically, the
funds will be used for scholarships, faculty
development and program development within the NAU
College of Business. Bill is especially interested
in recruiting and retaining Native American,
Hispanic and first-generation students into the
business college. The contribution will allow the
college to strengthen its focus on an undergraduate
core centering on strategic business planning.
Q: Why is he making this contribution?
A: Bill is dedicated to investing in the
economic future of Arizona. Through the many
successes of his own business career, he knows that
higher education is the way to influence that future
in the broadest sense. In particular, Bill
recognizes business education as a force for
economic development and social change.
Q: What does he want to accomplish with
this contribution?
A: Bill believes in the power of an
undergraduate education. He intends this
contribution to be transformational to Northern
Arizona University, the College of Business, and
subsequently business in the state of Arizona. He
understands that Arizona faces many important
challenges inherent with managing growth: land use,
resource distribution and immigration issues.
Educating future Arizona business leaders with the
appropriate skills and knowledge to address these
challenges will strengthen the state. Following his
own formula for success, Bill is investing in a
curriculum that focuses on oral and written
communication, problem solving and strategic
business planning. The contribution will be used to
prepare students to enter the workforce with a
stronger foundation in order to achieve success.
Q: Why the Northern Arizona University
College of Business?
A: NAU’s College of Business possesses
attributes and distinctive features that align with
Bill’s vision. NAU’s mission focuses on
undergraduate education and service to minority and
first-generation students, and 86 percent of NAU
business students are from Arizona with roughly that
same percentage staying in the state upon
graduation. He made his choice knowing that NAU
provides a means to deliver an impact where he most
intends.
Q: How did this gift come about?
A: Scott Coor, a 1976 graduate of the College
of Business, coordinated the initial meeting with
Bill. While a student at NAU, Scott hosted Bill,
then CEO of Southwest Forest Industries, as a guest
lecturer. Bill told Scott to call him after
graduation, and he subsequently was hired by
Southwest. Having remained in touch through the
years, Scott suggested approaching Bill for a
transformational gift to the College of Business.
Q: How does this benefit NAU as a whole?
A: An investment of this magnitude in
Northern Arizona University will truly transform the
university as a whole, drawing attention to the
institution’s premier undergraduate and graduate
programs and its solid reputation for providing
higher education with a personal touch. The gift
also can have a considerable ripple effect as well.
It is a third-party endorsement of the direction of
the university, providing a powerful validation of
the university’s undergraduate focus, specifically
at the College of Business.
Q: Does the donor have a message for
prospective and current students and alumni?
A: Although he has no formal ties to Northern
Arizona University, Bill made this investment in NAU
demonstrating his commitment to providing
educational opportunity. This contribution will
instill a sense of pride in students, faculty, staff
and alumni and will challenge other Arizona business
leaders to support higher education, especially to
Northern Arizona University.
Q: Will the College of Business get a new
name?
A: Yes, at the university’s request, it will
be named The W. A. Franke College of Business.