Dean's Leadership Circle Demonstrates Fundraising Prowess

The Dean's Leadership Circle (DLC), the leading business network at the Merage School, continues to prove their ability to raise important funding in the name of education. Last year they successfully completed a $1 million campaign to fund the Dean's Leadership Circle Endowed Professorship. This year a new $3 million campaign is underway to support the auditorium proposed for the new business school building on UC Irvine's campus.

"The DLC has become a powerhouse in fundraising. Even in this weakened economy, our organization has shown 'where there's a will, there's a way.' If you value something enough, you're willing to go the extra mile to ensure success. That's exactly what the DLC is doing in its efforts to support higher education and The Paul Merage School of Business," said Gregory R. Lai, MBA '88, CFA, Managing Director of Affinity Investment Advisors, LLC.

Andy Policano, dean of The Paul Merage School of Business, was selected as the recipient of the inaugural Dean's Leadership Circle Endowed Professorship as an acknowledgement of his exceptional scholarship. His selection was made through a formal University process by a faculty committee tasked with identifying senior faculty members for recognition with a Professorship for their contributions. Policano is a renowned macro economist and faculty member of the Merage School. He joined the school in 2005 and shortly thereafter secured the largest donation in the school's history through a generous donation by entrepreneur Paul Merage. Policano was also responsible, with a group of alumni, for establishing the Dean's Leadership Circle in a move to build a premier business network for executives in southern California and beyond. Since its inception, the DLC has raised over $2.8 million in pledges from more than 400 dedicated members.

"It's a wonderful testament that the very person who was instrumental in founding our organization would be the first to be honored by its success. I'm grateful that the faculty committee selected Andy for this award. What better way to honor someone who has mentored so many of us and served as an example to so many more," said Pamela M. Adams, MBA'98, CFP®, Irvine Financial Advisor.