Support the Dean’s Transformational Excellence Fund

Vickie Perla and Paul Guyardo, parents of Julia Guagliardo, BSBA 2024, have established a $160,000 challenge to encourage increased support for the Dean’s Transformational Excellence Fund at WashU Olin Business School.

Entering his second year as dean, Mike Mazzeo is focused on building a strong future for Olin. He’s engaging students, faculty, staff, alumni and business leaders to collaboratively create Olin’s new strategic plan. His vision places emphasis on emerging spheres such as family business, the intersection of business and health, and experiential learning.

Your support of the Dean’s Transformational Excellence Fund will be the catalyst to propel Olin’s strategic plan forward. Dean Mazzeo will have the ability to invest these flexible dollars in scholarship, experiential learning, student programs, faculty research and so much more.

How it works

The Vickie Perla and Paul Guyardo Dean’s Fund for Excellence Challenge will match renewed Eliot Society memberships for gifts of $1,000 or more to the Dean’s Transformational Excellence Fund.

The challenge will also provide a 2-to-1 match for all new, increased or multiyear commitments at the Eliot level to the Dean’s Fund.

Participate in the Vickie Perla and Paul Guyardo challenge 

 In a statement, Vickie Perla and Paul Guyardo said their commitment to the fund is about “giving back and also paying it forward.”

“During our daughter’s undergrad years, it was our way to show appreciation and support for the exceptional academic experience we witnessed firsthand. Today, our continued support helps share Olin’s excellence with new students and allows its leadership to foster innovation.

“Our hope is that this challenge elicits broad-based participation in the Dean’s Fund. Please join us!”