1973–1987 REGINALD H. JONES, W’39, HON’80
During Jones’ tenure as chair, the School underwent a period of rapid innovation and expansion. Wharton raised the profile of its academic programs, especially the PhD.
Programmatic firsts included the opening of the Wharton Entrepreneurial Center (1973), the beginning of the Wharton Executive MBA (1975), the launch of the undergraduate program in Management & Technology (1979), the expansion of Steinberg Hall-Dietrich Hall (1983), and the founding of the Lauder Institute of Management and International Studies (1987).
1987–1999 SAUL P. STEINBERG, W’59
Now chairman emeritus, Steinberg helped shape the international and technological focus of the School. In 1987, the campus was expanded with the opening of Steinberg Conference Center (named to honor Steinberg, as was Steinberg Hall-Dietrich Hall).
Wharton built on the success of the Overseers in 1988 by becoming the first U.S. business school to establish boards in Asia and Europe (and later Latin America). Wharton’s aggressive focus on globalization included the creation of new international immersion programs for students and faculty. In 1998, Steinberg helped kick off the Campaign for Sustained Leadership, an ambitious effort to transform the School through the largest business school campaign ever.
1999–PRESENT JON M. HUNTSMAN SR., W’59, HON’96
During Huntsman’s tenure, he has worked to further transform Wharton’s place in the world, opening Wharton West in San Francisco in 2000, and forging an alliance with INSEAD in 2001.
In 2002, Jon M. Huntsman Hall opened, a fitting tribute to its namesake, the largest donor in Wharton’s history. The state-of-the-art educational facility focused on learning while providing a new home for Wharton. The School’s global expansion was made possible through the Campaign for Sustained Leadership, which was completed in 2003 and surpassed campaign goals by raising over $445 million from more than 24,000 donors.
