September 10, 2003

Professorship Honors Retired International Paper Executive

International Paper has established a distinguished professorship in the College of Business honoring its retired CEO and chairman. John Georges, a 1951 alumnus of the campus, was honored by IP for his leadership and contributions to the American paper industry.

Saying he was "extremely excited and gratified," College of Business Dean Avijit Ghosh made the announcement of the gift on September 9, 2003. The John Georges Distinguished Professor in the College of Business will be named following a national search. The holder of the professorship will provide leadership to degree and non-degree programs and research in the area of technology management. The faculty member will work closely with departments in the College of Business and the College of Engineering.

John Georges left an indelible mark on International Paper Company, which he served as President and COO, CEO, and Chairman. Under his leadership, IP became a world leader in forest and paper products. Mr. Georges was a member of the Board of the Business Council of New York and a Trustee of its Public Policy Institute, a director of the New York Stock Exchange, a Director of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, and Chairman of the American Paper Institute. In 1992, he was appointed by President George Bush to the President's Council on Environmental Quality and in 1993 to the Advisory Committee on Trade Policy and Negotiations.

John Georges earned a BS in chemical engineering from the University of Illinois and also holds a MBA from Drexel University. He is a member of the Board of Overseers of the College of Business and on the Board of Directors of the University of Illinois Foundation.