Richard Adkerson - “Furthering a Vision”
Richard Adkerson
Richard C. Adkerson of Phoenix, Ariz., established an endowment for Mississippi State University's School of Accountancy in support of the school, its faculty and its students because of his love for Mississippi State and its accounting program, which provided the start of his career in business. His goal is to bolster the program's stature and to create opportunities for its students.
In recognition of his generosity, the school will now be known as the Richard C. Adkerson School of Accountancy in the College of Business and Industry. The endowment will enable Mississippi State to join the ranks of five other Southeastern Conference universities with named schools of accountancy.
Slightly fewer than 400 undergraduate and graduate accountancy students, part of the approximately 2,500 students in MSU's College of Business and Industry, will immediately benefit by the generous gifts from Mr. Adkerson, his family's charitable foundation and Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc., where Mr. Adkerson serves as chief executive. The University's accounting program is one of 170 accounting programs accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, and its reputation is known throughout the Southeast.
A native of Mississippi, Adkerson is a graduate of Kosciusko High School. He earned a bachelor's degree with highest honors in accountancy from Mississippi State in 1969, and a master of business administration the following year. Subsequently, he completed the Advanced Management Program at Harvard University. Today, in addition to serving as chief executive officer of Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold, the world's largest publicly traded copper producer, Adkerson is co-chairman of McMoRan Exploration Co., a NYSE oil and gas exploration and production company.
The Adkerson endowment of the School of Accountancy will enable Mississippi State to vie effectively for top students and offer undergraduate and master's degrees in accounting and taxation to a wider array of students than is currently possible. A portion of the Adkerson gift is designated for an endowed chair and professorship, which will allow MSU to compete internationally for top faculty members.
Mr. Adkerson understands the importance of private support in moving Mississippi State forward. He serves as chair of the State of the Future capital campaign and as president of the MSU Foundation Board of Directors. He is also a proud and ardent supporter of MSU Athletics.
Adkerson's gift is the third for a named academic unit thus far in the State of the Future campaign, and the fourth in Mississippi State's 129-year history.
Individuals wishing to learn more about contributing to the College of Business and Industry and the Adkerson School of Accountancy at Mississippi State may contact Bo Hemphill, executive director of development, at 662-325-3686 or e-mail bhemphill@foundation.msstate.edu.
