Honoring Business and Entrepreneurship Changemakers

Thanks to a generous gift from Gary Veloric (Kogod/BSBA ’82) and the Veloric Family, the Kogod School of Business will now celebrate American University alumni who have made significant contributions to the worlds of business and entrepreneurship. Gary Veloric created the idea of establishing the new Kogod School of Business Hall of Fame. 

From Fortune 500 CEOs to serial entrepreneurs, American University has been the launching pad for some of the most successful, brilliant minds in business today. The Hall of Fame serves to recognize these esteemed alumni for their outstanding achievements, innovative spirit, and lasting imprint on the global business landscape. 

Who We Honor

Each year, the Kogod School of Business will recognize true changemakers—an exclusive group of AU alumni who epitomize the entrepreneurial mindset and who have made significant contributions to the field of business. 

Upon the launch of the Hall of Fame in January 2024, the Kogod School of Business chose to honor its namesake, Robert P. Kogod, as its inaugural inductee. Bob Kogod is not only a successful entrepreneur and unmatched business leader; he is also—and always has been—a stalwart champion for good. 

Read more about why Bob Kogod was honored as the inaugural inductee to the Hall of Fame. 

How Honorees are Selected

Honorees will be considered for distinction within the Hall of Fame either as a Business honoree or as an Entrepreneurship honoree. It is by design that our inaugural inductee, Robert Kogod, transcends both of these categorizations; he represents the highest degree of achievement for both.  

Inductees into the Hall of Fame will be selected by a committee consisting of AU/Kogod alumni, faculty, and AU leadership—including Gary Veloric, Michael Chivara, Lisa Rosenthal, and Jason Kra. The committee will seek and consider honorees who have made deeply meaningful contributions to business and entrepreneurship as evidenced by their innovation, leadership, resilience, and impact. Hereinafter, nominations will come from the full AU community with a committee preparing a shortlist of nominations and deciding upon final inductees each year.