UGA's Terry College Breaks Ground on New Business Complex

University of Georgia students Jamie Chandler and Olivia Mah are both 4th year accounting majors from the North Atlanta suburbs. One is going to work for a campus ministry when she graduates while the other is interning with Turner Broadcasting.

Their career choices may diverge but the two friends agree on one important thing: they've gotten a great education in the Terry College of Business. And they will be supporting it, financially, as soon as they can.

"Terry is awesome," said Mah. "If you want a job and you're in the Terry College, you'll find one you like."

The two, both of whom are Terry Ambassadors, attended the Friday groundbreaking on the $22.5 million Correll Hall, which will house graduate education, MBA offices and offices for the Dean and administrators. Also in the complex, which sits near the new Special Collections Library, will be the Business Learning Community, which will be spread across five acres.

The funds to build and furnish Correll Hall, named for Pete and Ada Lee Correll, UGA alums and civic and business leaders, were all provided by private support. Millions more have been raised for the Business Learning Community.

Terry College Dean Robert Sumichrast won't be on campus when Correll Hall is finished in 2015--he's leaving UGA for a deanship at Virginia Tech. He said the Business Learning Community will provide much needed office space for faculty and room for studying. He said $50 million of the needed $70 million has already been raised for the complex.

Pete Correll told the crowd of alums, faculty, students and supporter that it would be more appropriate to name a parking lot for him instead of an academic building. He said the building has come to pass because President Adams "is a fund-raiser who just doesn't know how to say no."

Professor Dawn Bennett-Alexander, who teachers law in the Terry College, said she "is so excited, especially about the community aspect. We'll all be in one place, and I'm looking forward to what comes from that--the interchanges, mentoring, research, all in one place."