Grace College’s School of Business recently raised $1.5 million from alumni, donors and friends of the institution to fund the Dr. Roger Stichter Endowed Chair of Accounting. The chair is the second of its kind at Grace and is designed to help the college recruit and retain high-quality accounting faculty.
“The endowed chair allows us to fully fund a professor’s salary outside of our annual budget,” said Dr. Nathan Harris, vice president of advancement at Grace. “This means that we can fund the accounting faculty position in perpetuity, advancing the ethos and ministry of Dr. Roger Stichter for many years to come.”
Stichter has served as the only full-time accounting faculty at Grace for 25 years. During that time, the accounting program has grown from 13 students to more than 75 students majoring in accounting today. The $1.5 million endowed chair allowed the program to hire a second instructor of accounting, Danielle Deal, who was instructed by Stichter during her time at Grace.
“I hope that as a result of the generous gifts that made this second position possible, many students and graduates, as well as their employers, spouses, children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and future generations will give thanksgiving to God for how this position influenced them spiritually, personally and professionally,” said Stichter.
Stichter, who was raised on a farm, never imagined himself as a professor. Yet, his jobs on the farm taught him the value of hard work, grit and perseverance – characteristics that serve an accountant well. As the Lord led him to Grace College, he found these attributes to be a great help, and these are the same traits he instills in his students today.
