At a special luncheon on Monday, Feb. 5, Allen Stembridge, dean of the School of Business Administration (SBA) at Andrews University, announced that Annetta Gibson, professor of accounting and former SBA dean, will receive the Bashir Hasso Endowed Chair of Teaching Excellence in Business Ethics. 

The endowed chair was established by Bashir Hasso, whose philanthropy has helped establish Seventh-day Adventist churches, schools, and hospitals in the Middle East, as well as education endeavors in the United States. The Bashir Hasso Endowed Chair is one of seven endowed chairs at Andrews University and one of three endowed chairs in the School of Business Administration. 

An endowed professorial chair assists the designated department by supporting the recipient's salary, research opportunities, administrative services, and other special projects as set in the endowment agreement. This funding comes from the annual income generated by the principal gift. It is an honor to hold the named chair.

"The School of Business Administration is profoundly grateful for such generosity," stated Stembridge. "This endowed chair enables us to attract and maintain the highly qualified faculty essential for future growth."

Gibson has been a member of the SBA faculty since 1992, when she returned to her alma mater to teach in the Department of Accounting, Economics and Finance. Gibson had received her MBA from Andrews before going on for her PhD at Washington State University. She has since served the SBA in many capacities: as a professor, department chair, SBA dean, director of SBA off-campus programs, and director of its internship program. Gibson began her work in business ethics with Daniel Augsburger, who was a professor at Andrews University for over 60 years. She team-taught a Christian business ethics class with Augsburger and has continued to teach that class since his death. Gibson is also completing a textbook on business ethics that she and Augsburger had initially begun together.

"I will work hard to keep the Hasso name in high regard through the business ethics we teach our students," commented Gibson. "The Hasso family has been generous with Andrews University, and we are grateful for their support."