UConn Advance - July 23, 2007 - ING names UConn a priority recruiting partner, makes gift

The financial services company ING has named UConn an official priority-recruitment school, as part of a global effort to partner with higher education institutions around the world.

The ING Foundation also has pledged $450,000 over three years to support initiatives in the School of Business.

The recruiting partnership, the first in ING’s Americas region, will include the creation of internships, mentorships, research projects, and lecture opportunities to benefit UConn students and faculty as well as ING.

“The aim of ING’s university recruitment approach is to attract talented, diverse, and smart future leaders by partnering with selected universities in a focused manner,” says Kathleen Murphy, CEO of ING U.S. Wealth Management.

“The University of Connecticut embodies the characteristics we’re looking for in a leading school: a high-quality institution, a global perspective, and educational programs that fit well with the needs of a world-class financial institution.”

This commitment to the University builds on a robust relationship through the ING Center for Financial Services and the ING Chair in Financial Services, which were established at the UConn School of Business in 2001.

The ING Center specializes in research and development of real-world solutions to marketing challenges such as identifying profitable customers and optimizing customer acquisition and retention.

Corporate clients have included IBM, Bristol-Meyers, and L.L. Bean.

“This effort builds on an already strong partnership between ING and UConn,” said Robert Crispin, chairman and CEO of ING Investment Management Americas, “and is mutually beneficial.

ING gains by focusing our efforts to recruit talented future leaders, and UConn students get access to enhanced learning opportunities and gain an edge at becoming part of a global business leader.”

Provost Peter J. Nicholls, executive vice president for academic affairs at UConn, says, “Expanding UConn’s relationship with ING ties in strategically with the University’s academic plan, which places priority on globalization, curricular diversity, and workforce development.

From left, Mohamed Hussein, interim dean of business, Provost Peter J. Nicholls, Bob Crispin, CEO of ING Investment Management, and Kathleen Murphy, CEO of ING US Wealth Management, during a press conference held at ING in Hartford in June.

Photo by Peter Morenus

The opportunities for experiential learning and mentorship will have tremendous benefit for students.”

ING’s recruitment efforts will target a variety of disciplines, primarily business, accounting, and actuarial science.

The company is developing programs that will support workforce development in these fields, including internships, scholarships, and networking events.

ING is also continuing its support of UConn with a gift of $450,000 to The University of Connecticut Foundation Inc., paid over three years.

“This grant to benefit the University of Connecticut is symbolic of ING’s global commitment to supporting communities in which we live and do business,” says Rhonda Mims, president of the ING Foundation.

“Supporting education is a core component of ING’s philanthropic efforts.”

ING’s gift will support School of Business initiatives in three areas: career services; graduate assistantships, scholarships, and projects; and the ING Center for Financial Services.

“The creation of the ING Center for Financial Services and ING Chair in Financial Services in 2001 has enabled our faculty and students to pursue cutting-edge research in the field of financial services — an industry that is vital to the state of Connecticut,” says Mohamed Hussein, interim dean of the School of Business.

“ING’s latest commitment will help us enhance the breadth and depth of experiential learning opportunities available to UConn business students. These experiences are critical in preparing students for today’s workforce.”