Multi-Million Dollar Gift Establishes Hans A. Nielsen College of Business to CSU

Through
Jenna Johnson |
January 20, 2022

Charleston Southern University’s Board of Trustees approved the naming of its business school after receiving a $2 million dollar pledge from the Nielsen family. The gift, from alumnus Roger Nielsen and his wife, Joyce, and their children, Brian and Kristen, is in honor of Roger’s father, Hans A. Nielsen.

Roger and his family have expanded their legacy as difference makers by investing their resources to support generations of CSU students who follow in Rogers’ footsteps, President Dondi Costin said. Nielsen’s pioneering gift will reap everlasting rewards as it enables the Hans A. Nielsen College of Business to recruit, develop and graduate smart servant leaders who lead important lives, just like the family to which the business school is named.

The Nielsen family has long supported the university, including CSU Athletics and the College of Business. In 2018, Roger Nielsen, a 1974 Baptist College in Charleston grad and former Buccaneer catcher, committed $500,000 to CSU’s baseball program. The ballpark was named Nielsen Field to honor the family’s altruism.

dr. David Palmer, Dean of the Hans A. Nielsen College of Business, said this gift will enable the business school to significantly improve its external relevance and internal excellence.

The Nielsen’s generosity and vision will help us build on our brand in the global education community, Palmer said. Improved presence and visibility require more faculty research, conference presentations, publications and service in the business learning community. The gift will also enhance excellence through better teaching, online learning and physical assets. Ultimately, it creates a differentiated brand for our corporate alumni in years to come.

The Nielsens have never sought credit for past support for CSU. The construction of the Singleton Baseball Complex changed that. The baseball alum felt inspired by Buccaneer baseball player Chris Singleton’s Love is stronger than hate message spread worldwide just one day after the tragedy of Emanuel 9. Roger looked in amazement at Singleton, then a sophomore. It was that moment that prompted him to contribute more widely to the athletics program and CSU.

Roger, who earned an accounting degree from business school, credits his time at CSU for the life he now has. He built a successful business career as the owner of Abbey Color Incorporated, based in Philadelphia, and most recently passed the torch to his children, Brian Nielsen, CEO, and Dr. Kristen Nielsen Donnelly, COO.

Through trials and tribulations, we have always come out on top, Roger said of his and his family’s success in business. We have learned to create wealth, not to accumulate it. It is our family prayer that this naming of the College of Business will help create opportunities for the university that will provide an income stream for not only the university but also staff, faculty and students. Our family is committed to not only giving money to this effort, but also promoting the Nielsen College of Business at CSU locally, within the state, nationally and ultimately worldwide as a prime place to experience the tangible efforts and subsequent rewards of participation in God’s Kingdom.

Anonymous gifts and past contributions from Nielsens have enabled the business school to grow its Center for Personal Financial Management (CPFM) and open up new opportunities for students. Donnelly, through the company’s newest division, Abbey Research, partnered with the business school in 2020 to establish the Community Research Institute. Its goal is to provide evidence-based solutions to the community through projects led by Abbey Research and conducted by Charleston Southern students and educators.

Donnelly’s involvement with the education sector and with CSU students and educators has given her a glimpse into the importance of philanthropy at this level. There’s something special going on in North Charleston, South Carolina, and the bottom line is that we like to be a part of good things that happen. [The College of Business] is something special, and we are proud to put our name on it.

Palmer added: We are extremely excited about Nielsen’s confidence in and support for the mission of CSU and the College of Business. Thanks to the Nielsen family, we can better accomplish our mission to prepare our Buccaneer business graduates for meaningful lives.

The Hans A. Nielsen College of Business is hosting a celebration later this spring to honor the Nielsen family and the college’s naming. Nielsen’s commitment supports CSUs limitless Campaign. For more information about limitless, or if you would like to find out how you can support the Nielsen College of Business and CSU, please contact the Office of Development at [email protected].