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Kogod School of Business Hall of Fame Honors Excellence in Business and Entrepreneurship

Robert P. Kogod—a visionary leader, philanthropist, and catalyst for change—is the inaugural inductee into the Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame.

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Business and entrepreneurship are at the heart of the Kogod School of Business—from a world-class curriculum that prepares students for impactful careers to a culture of innovation that inspires the next generation of entrepreneurs.

It is therefore fitting that the first-ever name enshrined in the school’s new Hall of Fame would embody both pillars: someone who spent decades developing one of the most successful businesses in the Washington, DC region, while never losing the sparks of innovation that makes a change-driven entrepreneur tick … a man whose place has long been cemented in the school’s history as its namesake.

On Saturday, January 20, distinguished alumni and guests joined Kogod Dean David Marchick, AU President Sylvia Burwell, and faculty leaders at a ceremony inducting Robert P. Kogod as the inaugural member of the Kogod School of Business Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame.

The Hall of Fame, which honors the entrepreneurial spirit and strategic innovation that the school has fostered for decades, was established by Kogod alumnus Gary Veloric and his family, whose recent gift renamed the Veloric Center for Entrepreneurship, an on-campus center fostering innovation and entrepreneurship at AU. TThe Hall of Fame will recognize alumni with profound ties to the university whose achievements in the fields of business and entrepreneurship stand as examples for future generations. 

That Mr. Kogod so clearly fit the mold to be the first-ever inductee was, in a word, “overwhelming,” he said, speaking to the audience at the induction ceremony at AU’s Cyrus and Myrtle Katzen Arts Center on campus.

Working with American University has been one of the high points of my career and life."

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Robert P. Kogod

Business Executive and Philanthropist

A 1962 graduate of what was then known as the American University School of Business Administration, Kogod’s career spanned decades in real estate development and management at the Charles E. Smith Companies, where he provided housing for tens of thousands of families, and office and retail space for at least 100,000 workers.

Robert Kogod was an integral part of the development of Crystal City, just across the river from DC in Arlington, VA.

But it is his philanthropic work, alongside that of his wife, Arlene, that has perhaps left the most enduring mark in communities the pair has touched—from tireless work to help young people access education, to their support for museums and the arts.

Today, for instance, visitors to the Smithsonian’s American Art Museum and National Portrait Gallery will find the family’s name adorned on the Kogod Courtyard, visited by millions of guests since opening in 2007.

While the Kogods’ impact has been far-reaching, their support  of Bob’s alma mater has been unwavering—a fact not lost on guests at his induction.

“There’s no greater gift than to give your time and your treasure to an institution that you love. And you have given both to us,” said Janice Abraham, a member of AU’s Board of Trustees, during a toast at the celebration. 

For all of Kogod’s professional and philanthropic achievements, though, it was a more personal attribute that Dean Marchick chose to highlight.

Bob’s focus on excellence—his relentless pursuit of excellence—is matched by one trait: humility."

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David Marchick

Dean, Kogod School of Business

“I’m really overwhelmed by your words and really moved by this honor,” Kogod said, with a nod to his wife, Arlene: “We’re proudly part of the American University community and deeply appreciate this honor.”

In a fitting tribute, it was Veloric—the original force behind the Hall of Fame itself—who officially bestowed the Hall of Fame honors upon Kogod during the induction ceremony. 

A committee of faculty, school leadership, and alumni will select future honorees, with nominations based on achievements in either business or entrepreneurship.

But, in a unique tribute to the inaugural member, it was only fitting for a titan of Robert P. Kogod’s stature to be nominated for excellence in both fields—setting the standard high for future honorees.