The Kogod School of Business at American University announced today the launch of its new Hall of Fame, which highlights influential business and entrepreneurship leaders with strong ties to American University. The Hall of Fame 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. The Hall of Fame honors the entrepreneurial spirit and strategic innovation that the school has fostered for decades. Many of AU’s most successful graduates are business leaders and entrepreneurs.
The Hall of Fame’s first inductee is Robert P. Kogod. Mr. Kogod graduated in 1962 from what was then known as American University’s School of Business Administration, which became the Robert P. and Arlene R. Kogod College of Business Administration in 1979. In 1999, the school was renamed the Kogod School of Business.
Mr. Kogod’s work in real estate development and management with the Charles E. Smith Companies began in 1959, growing it to a company of several thousand employees that provided housing for more than 35,000 families, and office and retail space for more than 100,000 workers in the DC metro region and the Midwest. His work has left an indelible imprint on the DC landscape and community, notably the development of Crystal City in Arlington, VA.
Beyond business success, Mr. Kogod and his wife, Arlene, are notable philanthropists—helping thousands of young people access education and supporting museums, fine and performing arts, healthcare, and numerous other causes. The Kogods established a research center on aging at the Mayo Clinic; the Smithsonian’s Kogod Courtyard; various theater spaces; and they continue to play an active role in the Jewish community—supporting institutions like the Shalom Hartman Institute in Israel, the Jewish Federation, Sixth & I Historic Synagogue and the US Holocaust Memorial Museum.
“With his partner Bob Smith, Bob Kogod built one of the largest and most important businesses ever to be created in Washington, DC. He is an inspiration,” said Kogod School of Business Dean David Marchick.