Alumni Give $100,000 to MU Department of Textile and Apparel Management
July 10, 2008
Story Contact: Emily Smith, (573) 882-3346, SmithEA@missouri.edu
COLUMBIA, Mo. – In the midst of their successful careers in retail, two University of Missouri alumni are giving back to their alma mater to help students reach their career goals. Alan and Sandra Steinberg donated $100,000 to provide scholarships for students studying textile and apparel management (TAM) in the MU College of Human Environmental Sciences. The couple hopes the money will benefit students who are pursuing careers in retailing and need help funding their Mizzou educations.
“Both graduates of MU, the Steinbergs have fond memories of their experiences here and realize that many students need assistance in covering the costs of their educations,” said Kitty Dickerson, professor and TAM department chair. “The Steinbergs’ MU education helped them achieve high-level careers in retailing, more recently with Dillard’s Southeast Division. Sandra received several scholarships from MU and is one of the department’s most outstanding graduates. The Steinbergs want to help future students in the department, particularly those with financial need. Our faculty, staff and students are indeed grateful to the Steinbergs for their generosity.”
Born in Columbia, Alan graduated from MU in 1961 with a degree in business administration. Sandra grew up in Sedalia and graduated from MU in 1966 with a degree in Textile and Apparel Management. After learning the retail business at Macy’s in Kansas City, the couple spent time with several other retailers before joining Dillard’s Little Rock Division. The Steinbergs have spent almost 30 years with Dillard’s, the past 17 in the Southeast Division located in St. Petersburg, Fla. Sandra serves as vice president and general merchandise manager of the division’s 67 stores, while Alan is a vice president and district manager for 19 stores on Florida’s west coast.
The TAM department at MU is ranked as one of the top programs of its kind in the country. Students are prepared for a wide variety of career options in merchandising, buying, technical design, retail management, global sourcing and e-retailing.
The Alan and Sandra Steinberg Endowed Scholarship Fund supports the For All We Call Mizzou campaign, which will celebrate raising $1 billion in the spring of 2009. Reaching this goal will enhance MU’s ability to compete nationally and internationally for the best students and faculty and will provide broad access for students of all economic backgrounds to Missouri’s flagship university. The campaign has raised $952.54 million, 95 percent of the goal.
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