Drury’s Promise in Developing Effective Leadership
Founded in 1873, Drury University is Springfield’s oldest institution and has a committed history of serving its community and the greater Ozarks region. Throughout its 150-year history, Drury’s approach to higher education has cultivated strong industry thought leaders and innovators.
That legacy continues with its transformative academic program, Drury Fusion which promises powerful advantages and exceptional outcomes, setting students apart by fusing professional credentials and life aspirations and giving them a competitive edge in the workforce. The Breech School of Business Administration has been a testament to the power of Fusion since its inception.
In 1960, Ernest Breech, Ford Motor’s Chairman, realized students need to understand more than business to become effective and strategic leaders for any enterprise, company, or organization. His insight led to the development and founding of the Breech School of Business Administration, now located in the O’Reilly Enterprise Center. That is why he supported the pioneering decision of fusing a business education with a liberal arts institution. The founder of O’Reilly Auto Parts, C.H. “Chub” O’Reilly also supported those ideals, coming to Drury soon after the business school opened, earning his certificate in Business Administration in 1966. By choosing Drury then, it is clear that he understood the value of a cutting-edge, enterprising education. And through his work in Springfield and beyond, he set the bar for excellence, forward vision, and leadership.
Today, Drury and the Breech School of Business Administration continue to provide space for intellectual engagement and leadership development for students, cultivating powerful visionaries who go on to lead organizations, businesses and industries. The most recent example of this is the placement of John P. (Jack) Stack, president and CEO of SRC Holdings Corporation, as interim dean of the Breech School of Business Administration.
“Jack Stack is a strategic thinker with proven business acumen and an authentic leadership style,” says Beth Harville, Drury University’s Senior Executive Vice President and Provost. “These are attributes we wish to impart to students at Drury, and we are excited to have Jack and our outstanding faculty in the Breech School of Business work together to provide unparalleled experiences for our students.”
Stack has a long-standing relationship with Drury, receiving the first W. Curtis Strube Ethics in Business Award in 1998, serving on the Board of Trustees from 2004 to 2013, and currently sitting on the search committee for the next president of Drury.
“This is an opportunity for us to better understand the relationship between learning, decision-making and outcomes,” said Stack. “We are always looking for the possibilities of finding learning opportunities in uncertain environments. We believe there is a treasure chest of these opportunities in Drury, and we want to learn more about them.”
Stack’s leadership will offer new and dynamic insight, providing exciting opportunities for both future business leaders seeking an undergraduate degree and those within Drury’s MBA program. Applications are now open at Drury.edu/apply.
