(PDF) (DOC) (JPG)April 28, 2008

(Mahwah) – At a dedication ceremony Monday, April 28, 2008 for the Anisfield School of Business on the campus of Ramapo College of New Jersey, Richard and Millicent Anisfield of Saddle River announced a $3 million gift to the school that bears their name.   In 2006, the Anisfields made a $2.5 gift to facilitate construction of the new academic building.  At the time, it was the largest single gift in the history of Ramapo College.  This second significant gift brings the total of the Anisfields’ donation to the college to more than $6 million.

“Millicent and I are proud of Ramapo College and its fine faculty, students, staff and administrators who are responsible for the institution’s high stature in the academic world,” said Richard Anisfield.  “We are delighted to contribute to the continuing growth of Ramapo and its college community.”

The gift will be used to complete the fifth floor of the building and to support future programs of the business school.  Features will include a state-of-the-art Trading Floor Simulation Room, four classrooms, a seminar room, a board room, a director’s office and placement services offices.  The Trading Floor Simulation Room will be a highly technical specialty space with ample wall space for screens and scrolling tickers.  It also will be an attractive space for student clubs that manage portfolios and for on-going contests that use virtual portfolios to compete.

Among those present at the dedication were Congressman Scott Garrett; Bergen County Executive Dennis McNerney; Dr. Peter P. Mercer, president of the college; and The Reverend Dr. Vernon C. Walton, chairman of the college’s Board of Trustees.

“The completion of the Anisfield School of Business underscores the importance of long-term relationships with business and philanthropic leaders in the community,” said Walton.  “Truly, without the support of Richard and Millicent Anisfield, there would not be a newly constructed business school.”

The Anisfields’ initial gift of $2.5 million provided $1 million toward construction of the building, $1 million to endow the deanship, $250,000 for endowed student scholarships and $250,000 for faculty research.  Previously they contributed more than $500,000 in various annual and restricted endowments.
Sleek, modern and a central focus to the main entrance to Ramapo College, the Anisfield School of Business is the culmination of an exciting transition in the business school’s history.

The 86,000 GSF facility meets current and projected classroom and other academically related space needs.  Nearly $10 million has been pledged to date in private support for construction and programs of the business school, which cost $32 million and opened Fall 2007.

“The dedication of the Anisfield School of Business represents the fulfillment of a goal to augment our rigorous business program grounded in the liberal arts with a state-of-the-art facility,” said Dr. Peter P. Mercer, president of Ramapo College.  “We are exceedingly grateful to Millicent and Dick Anisfield for their ongoing support.”
The current enrollment of the Anisfield School of Business is more than 1,200 students.  The school offers majors or concentrations in Accounting, Economics, Finance, Information Systems, International Business, Marketing and Management.  Students may also pursue minors in Economics, Information Systems and International Business.  There are 34 full-time faculty, all of whom hold advanced degrees in their teaching and research areas.  In addition, many faculty members are seasoned practitioners who bring a wealth of business insight and experience to the classroom.

“The Anisfield School of Business is an organization on the move,” said Dr. Lewis Chakrin, dean of the school.  “We are committed to the mission of producing
future generations of responsible, effective business leaders, and we believe that in order to succeed in this mission we must continually improve and evolve to meet the ever changing needs of the global economy.”

“The Anisfields’ additional, incredibly generous gift will be used toward the completion of the fifth floor, originally designed for expansion, and to support future programs of the business school,” said Cathleen Davey, vice president of institutional advancement and executive director of the Ramapo College Foundation.

The Anisfield School of Business will be housed on the lower level and the first three floors of the facility, comprising 14 “smart” classrooms, two of which will be high-tech lecture halls, study lounges, an E-mail lounge, faculty and adjunct offices, break-out rooms for seminars and a dean’s suite.  This will make it possible to locate all business classrooms and faculty offices in one facility.  In addition, the school will contain the Sabrin Center for Free Enterprise, named in honor of Murray and Florence Sabrin; the Roukema Center for International Education, named in honor of Congresswoman Marge Roukema; and nursing teaching facilities.

“Dedicating the Anisfield School of Business is a magnificent moment in the history of Ramapo College,” said Robert Tillsley, chairman of the Ramapo College Foundation’s Board of Governors.  “The building is a testament to the support of the Anisfields and their commitment to an outstanding academic business program in a liberal arts college.”

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About Ramapo College

Ramapo College of New Jersey is the state’s premier public liberal arts college and is committed to academic excellence through interdisciplinary and experiential learning, and international and intercultural understanding. The comprehensive college is situated among the beautiful Ramapo Mountains, is within commuting distance to New York City, was named one of the 50 Most Beautiful College Campuses in America by CondeNast Traveler, and boasts the best on-campus housing in New Jersey per Niche.com. Established in 1969, Ramapo College offers bachelor’s degrees in the arts, business, data science, humanities, social sciences and the sciences, as well as in professional studies, which include business, education, nursing and social work. In addition, the College offers courses leading to teacher certification at the elementary and secondary levels, and offers graduate programs leading to master’s degrees in Accounting, Applied Mathematics, Business Administration, Contemporary Instructional Design, Computer Science, Creative Music Technology, Data Science, Educational Leadership, Nursing, Social Work and Special Education, as well as a Doctor of Nursing Practice.

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