Warehime Gift Launches Business School
Washington College received the largest donation from an individual in the College’s 242-year history: a $15 million gift from Elizabeth “Beth” Warehime ’13, which will underwrite the launch of The Warehime School of Global Business, Economics, and Social Impact.
This new school will provide a unique business education by leveraging expertise and research in interdisciplinary partnerships, the liberal arts, the global nature of business, and social impacts. The school will foster collaborations between the College’s business management, economics, world languages and cultures, and international studies programs.
“This generous gift from Beth Warehime showcases the lasting impact Washington College has on its graduates,” said President Mike Sosulski. “This new school will serve our students well as they embark on a true liberal arts education that encourages a global approach to business. I’m hopeful and excited for the great work that will certainly come from The Warehime School of Global Business, Economics, and Social Impact.”
The idea for a business school with real-world applications has been in the works for some time. Michael Harvey, special assistant to the president for strategic initiatives and a business professor, has worked closely with Caddie Putnam Rankin, business management department chair, and business department faculty in laying the groundwork for this initiative.
"The support of Beth Warehime and her family has transformed our vision for business education at Washington College,” said Putnam Rankin. “Her continued support allows us to envision a future where we will activate the liberal arts to transform business education through interdisciplinary partnerships and global contexts.”
“I am so excited to bring this idea to life for the College. After hearing the thoughts and plans from Caddie and Michael, I knew this absolutely had to happen,” said Warehime of her generous gift. “This business school will give Washington College a ‘big school’ offering while maintaining the interdisciplinary theme and experience that comes with a small liberal arts institution. My own experience at Washington College was incredibly interdisciplinary, and I can’t wait for others to have an even better experience within the Warehime School.”
Warehime has a long history of support and innovation with her alma mater. In 2019, she directed a $1 million grant to Washington College from the JHC Foundation, a Warehime family foundation. The gift established the Warehime Fund for Student Excellence in Business, which provides the department with $50,000 a year to support student research, entrepreneurship, professional networking, and other initiatives. That support includes funding student participation in professional conferences and other experiential learning activities, start-up funds for student entrepreneurial projects, and a Warehime Fellows program where students, mentored by faculty, do original research, publish in peer-reviewed journals, and attend conferences. Warehime became a member of the Washington College Board of Visitors and Governors in 2020.
— Dominique Ellis Falcon