The Boston University Questrom School of Business hosted “Questrom Day” Wednesday to celebrate the first anniversary of Allen and Kelli Questrom’s record-breaking donation to the school that led to the renaming of the previously called School of Management.
Approximately 600 BU community members attended the celebration, Questrom spokesperson Midge Wilcke said. The celebration included a photo session in the Virginia Hughes Chiles Atrium, where students enjoyed cupcakes and took pictures with the Questroms.
As part of Questrom Dean Kenneth Freeman’s Speaker Series in Questrom Auditorium, the Questroms shared their path to success. Allen Questrom, a 1964 BU graduate, and his wife, Kelli, received honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from BU last year.
“Many people were wearing their ‘Questrom Means Business’ T-shirt,” Wilcke said. “There was a big shoutout where everybody just sort of raised their hand and all yelled at once, ‘Questrom!’ That just filled the atrium and there were lots of smiles and it was just really one of those great moments.”
According to Questrom’s website, Allen Questrom is a “retailing industry icon” who has successfully transformed a number of large department and specialty stores in the United States. Wilcke said last year’s $50 million donation from the Questroms was a historic time for the college, which was already moving forward with great momentum.
“Having two people like Allen and Kelli, who were such major players in their world, acknowledge what’s happening here in our school and what’s happening at BU, make that kind of gift and give us their name,” Wilcke said, “it’s an incredible thing.”
Wilcke said the administration used much of the donation to purchase various improvements and updates to the school.
“We’re developing innovative new programs, our graduate students are going to great careers, our applications are increasing,” Wilcke said.
Maria Anderson, the Questrom senior associate dean of finance and administration, wrote in an email that the student reception showed BU’s positive reaction to the business school’s change of name.
“From my vantage point, the reception has been very enthusiastic,” Anderson wrote. “They have had a lot of fun in cleverly working ‘Questrom’ into their communications and activities.”
Several Questrom students said the school has gained more momentum and become more prominent since it was renamed.
Rayvon Dorsett, a sophomore studying business administration, said he has noticed an increasing sense of community among Questrom students.
“After the business school finally had a concrete name, it gave us a brand in which we take great pride in,” he said. “I’ve also noticed that there are new ideas to make the school even better through expansion of the facility and new innovative ways to improve the students’ learning experience in the classroom.”
Ryan Neubauer, a junior studying finance, said though he has not noticed a large change in the school since the donation, he is confident it will be apparent in the future.
“I have not really noticed too much of a change since the name shift, other than the huge marketing campaign that went into making the event so monumental,” he said.
Jinette Disla, a junior studying finance, said after attending the anniversary celebration, she was pleased by the decision to name the school after individuals who have contributed major changes to the industry.
“Mr. Questrom sincerely cares about BU, and that’s obvious even from his participation in the event [Wednesday],” she said. “I actually got a picture with him, and he was really nice and amicable.”
Josie Gitlin, a junior studying finance and marketing, said she believes the impact of the Questroms’ donation will become more evident through the quality of the school and performance of the students.
“In the coming years, the money that was donated will be visible to students in terms of facility upgrades and hiring better professionals,” she said. “If the school retains increases, that only benefits me in the future.”
