visit Auburn.edu
New Fund for Excellence to enrich graduate student experience
The Harbert College of Business’ passionate faculty members who offer mentorship and sincere interest in their students is what won the admiration of donors John Lee and Lynne Lummel. Lee and Lummel are loyal supporters of Harbert Business whose gifts have helped advance exceptional faculty members and enhance undergraduate education.
Meaningful mentorship
Auburn University entered their lives several years ago when their son, Jonathan, enrolled as a doctoral student in the Department of Business Analytics and Information Systems. Doctoral work is not for the faint of heart. It requires stamina, curiosity and the kind of mentorship that keeps a student inspired to keep advancing.
 |
|
The new Gupta Excellence Fund, which recognizes Business Analytics Professor Ashish Gupta, will enhance student learning opportunities. |
For Jonathan, that mentor was Ashish Gupta, Globe Life Professor of Business Analytics.
“Dr. Gupta did a wonderful job of guiding Jonathan to move forward and successfully complete his dissertation… and we felt strongly that Dr. Gupta should be recognized not only for his dissertation advising work, but his incredible record of academic achievement,” Lee said.
Although Auburn’s Department of Business Analytics had impressed them from the beginning, Lee and Lummel wanted to provide a gift that would enable the department to build on its ability to move quickly, seize opportunities, build partnerships and give students the hands‑on experiences that turn knowledge into capability.
Sustained support
Their initial gift to the department in 2023 had already shown results. Uzma Raja, chair of the Department of Business Analytics and Information Systems, used the funds to create meaningful experiences for students — internships, projects, competitions and industry collaborations.
And when the opportunity arose to create a new fund honoring their son’s mentor, they didn’t hesitate and established the Ashish Gupta Excellence Fund.
The Ashish Gupta Fund for Excellence is a commitment to empowering faculty innovation and building bridges between academia and industry. Most of all, it is a promise to students that their ideas matter, their potential is vast and their journey is just beginning.
For Gupta, he is especially grateful for the learning opportunities this gift will provide for Business Analytics and Information Systems students.
“This gift will help provide experiential learning opportunities, enable students to participate in international competitions and provide greater exposure for our students with industry partners,” Gupta said.
Philanthropy not based on fandom
Lee and Lummel want others to know that you do not have to “bleed orange and blue” to give back.
“You don’t have to be Auburn alumni to recognize the value and impact of a great university,” they said. “Supporting Auburn wasn’t about loyalty to a mascot or a campus. It was about creating opportunity — access to education, emerging technologies and experiences that change lives.”
###