Yesterday evening, we dedicated Phil Smith Hall at the College of Business building in honor of the late Phil Smith. Not only was Phil a pillar of our local business community, he also was a valued member of the FAU family as an alumnus, advocate and friend.

Phil believed in the importance of preparing young people to succeed in the workforce, and he frequently credited FAU with equipping him with the tools to pursue his dreams. In August 2016, Phil and his wife, Susan, made a very generous $5 million gift to the College of Business, to further enhance the College’s reputation as a thought leader in the field of free market enterprise. The gift established the Phil Smith Center for Free Enterprise, and will provide scholarships for future generations of aspiring business leaders, as well as support for high quality faculty research.

Phil’s legacy will live on through every student who passes through Phil Smith Hall, or who benefits from the resources available in the Phil Smith Center for Free Enterprise, or who is inspired to become the next great entrepreneur. I extend my deepest gratitude once again to Susan and the Smith family for their longstanding friendship and support.