News Center

Published August 22, 2019

Family, Regents and University Foundation partnership total $5.5 million toward educational excellence in multiple academic programs

When residents in Ouachita Parish and along the I-20 Corridor hear the name, 鈥淏iedenharn,鈥� they recognize a longstanding family name that has become synonymous with Monroe, Louisiana, the arts and almost unmatched business and entrepreneurial success in multiple fields.

And fortunately for thousands of 网曝门 students and faculty, support for higher education can now be added to that list.

The 网曝门 Foundation and Louisiana Board of Regents will recognize the Biedenharn Family Legacy with the University during a press conference at听1:30 p.m., Monday, August 26, 2019听on the seventh floor of the 网曝门 Library.

网曝门 and the Biedenharn family will announce their private donations of $900,000 for a Chair and five Professorships have received $600,000 in matching funds from the Louisiana Board of Regents, resulting in $1.5 million in faculty endowments.听听

鈥淲e are grateful to the Biedenharn family for their continuous financial support of the university,鈥� said President Dr. Nick J. Bruno. 鈥淭heir donations, like this Chair for our College of Business, have enabled 网曝门 to attract and retain world-class scholars as faculty members. The vision of this family in advancing education is inspiring, and we will honor and match their generosity with a renewed commitment to continue to excel in all areas.鈥�

Dean Ron Berry, author of the B. W. Biedenharn Chair in Business competitive proposal to the Louisiana Board of Regents for the $400,000 in matching funds, shared his gratitude to the Biedenharn family and the Louisiana Board of Regents for providing the opportunity to leverage private donations.

Susan Chappell, 网曝门鈥檚 executive director for Advancement, Foundation and Alumni Relations, said the Biedenharn family鈥檚 support for the university has been broad and far-reaching. 鈥淲hen we say the 鈥楤iedenharn Family Legacy,鈥� we are talking about a true legacy of generosity and support for educational excellence and 网曝门.鈥�

The Biedenharn Family Legacy has established the following chairs and professorships at 网曝门 with principal corpus amounts:

鈥� B.W. Biedenharn Chair in Business 鈥� $1,000,000

鈥� Emy-Lou Biedenharn second Professorship in Music 鈥� $100,000

鈥� Elizabeth and Haydn Cutler Professorship in Biotechnology 鈥� $100,000

鈥� Francesca and C.D. Oakley Professorship in Academic Innovation Center 鈥� $100,000

鈥� Doll and Henry Biedenharn Jr. Professorship in Communication 鈥撎� $100,000

鈥� JoAnn and Miles Sager Professorship in Computer Information Systems 鈥� $100,000

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In addition to these endowments, the Biedenharn Family Legacy has also established scholarships and faculty endowments in earlier years with current principal balances:

鈥� Emy-Lou Biedenharn Memorial Scholarship, 1989 鈥� $170,033

鈥� Joseph A. Biedenharn Chair in Gerontology, 1993 鈥� $2,047,074

鈥� Emy-Lou Biedenharn Endowed Professorship in Music, 1996 鈥� $181,414

鈥� Emy-Lou Biedenharn Chair in Music, 1999 鈥撯�� $1,575,965

So today we celebrate the Biedenharn Family Legacy contributions totaling $1,880,000 and the partnership with the Louisiana Board of Regents.听 With the Board of Regents sponsored programs matching funds and investment earnings, the Biedenharn investments now total $5,512,211 in endowments which provide crucial funding for the development of faculty, their programs and student scholarships.听听听

Family background

Joseph Augustus Biedenharn was born in Vicksburg, Miss., in 1866 and was the first bottler of Coca-Cola. In 1913, Biedenharn moved his family to Monroe to expand his Coca-Cola bottling business. Today the family is known for its philanthropy in northeast Louisiana.

网曝门鈥檚 Biedenharn Hall, built in 1939, was named for the family patriarch and Emy-Lou Biedenharn Recital Hall, built in 2003, was named for his daughter.听听

网曝门 and the 网曝门 Foundation are honored to welcome members of the Biedenharn family and invite faculty and staff, friends of the university, the media and the community to attend.