Olin Business School at Washington University in St. Louis has been awarded a significant $10 million dual-purpose donation from long-time university supporters Jerry Kent, BSBA ’78, MBA ’79, along with his spouse, Judy Kent. This funding will establish an endowed deanship and advance the school’s Business of Health initiative, marking the largest donation to Olin in the last ten years.

The donated funds, made through With You: The WashU Campaign, comprise $5 million allocated to form the Judy and Jerry Kent Deanship at Olin, to be overseen by the current dean, Mike Mazzeo, along with all succeeding deans. This deanship acknowledges Mazzeo’s strategic leadership while ensuring that Olin’s leaders have the necessary resources to pursue opportunities, tackle challenges, and further the school’s mission.

The Kents have also committed $5 million to establish the Judy and Jerry Kent Business of Health Catalyst Fund, which will deliver accessible resources to swiftly enhance Olin’s Business of Health initiative—a key strategic focus aimed at positioning Olin as the foremost institution in the business of health and a hub for innovation at WashU.

Chancellor Andrew D. Martin commended the Kents for their vision and unwavering dedication to Olin.

“Jerry and Judy have significantly influenced Olin’s path through their decades of collaboration and support,” Martin remarked. “This donation is not merely generous; it is also strategic. It enables Olin leaders to act quickly and decisively, ensuring Olin’s future as a pioneer in business education.”

“Thanks to the Kents’ generous backing, Olin will possess the tools to create an even more substantial impact within WashU, throughout the St. Louis area, and globally.”

Judy and Jerry Kent Deanship

As a close advisor to Mazzeo, Jerry Kent has closely witnessed the dean’s leadership and vision for the institution, along with the challenges it encounters. Kent has been on the school’s national council for over 25 years and was appointed its chair in fall 2023, concurrently with Mazzeo’s appointment as dean.

“Mike has assumed leadership during a pivotal moment in Olin’s history,” Kent said. “Critiques are emerging regarding the value of higher education, while institutions face uncertainty in future funding as well.

“Fortunately, Mike is more than capable of confronting this challenge. I admire his five-year strategic plan. It tackles existing issues in higher education and advocates for customizing instruction to optimize each student’s education and skills. Judy and I aimed to provide financial support to aid the school in implementing the strategic plan and navigating the distinct challenges of higher education,” he stated.

Annual returns from the deanship endowment will create a continuous revenue flow for Olin’s leaders to recruit top talent, react to new opportunities, and push the limits of excellence in business education.

“This donation guarantees that Olin’s deans—now and in the future—possess the autonomy and adaptability to invest in what is most crucial,” Mazzeo remarked. “That’s a significant legacy.”

Judy and Jerry Kent Business of Health Catalyst Fund

A central aspect of Olin’s strategic plan, initiated in November, is the Business of Health initiative. As one of the most sought-after and swiftly expanding sectors in the U.S. economy, the health industry is teeming with opportunities for impactful contributions, according to Mazzeo.

Olin’s goal is to become the leading institution in the business of health, enhancing its programs with a distinctive array of offerings for professionals involved in a wide range of health organizations.

‘We aspire for our donation to be a catalyst that accelerates Olin’s ability to establish this (business of health) program as a true leader among its counterparts.’

Jerry Kent

In the past year, Olin’s leaders have introduced a new specialization in health-care management within the master of business administration program, attracted distinguished faculty, strengthened ties with WashU Medicine and the School of Public Health, and forged collaborations with the vibrant health business community in St. Louis.

The Judy and Jerry Kent Business of Health Catalyst Fund will support Olin in building upon this momentum and expanding the program rapidly. It will provide financial assistance for curriculum production, promote thought leadership, and enhance commercialization efforts through program development, faculty recruitment, and other vital investments.

“We believe the health initiative offers tremendous promise for Olin,” Jerry Kent mentioned. “We want our gift to act as a catalyst that propels Olin’s ability to establish this program as a definitive leader among its peers. Our donation can help leverage WashU’s premier medical school and the initiation of the School of Public Health to enhance health care.”

Kent expressed that the initiative also provides an opportunity to illustrate the genuine value and influence a university can have on individuals’ lives.

“Success in health care, like any profession, demands business insight. We need individuals in health care with sharp business acumen who can enhance the quality of life for future generations. Olin can facilitate that,” Kent stated.

A Lasting Influence

Since 1998, the Kents have been unwavering advocates of Olin, particularly through their contributions to scholarships. The Kent Scholars Program, founded in 2008, awards substantial four-year scholarships to undergraduate business students. To date, 95 WashU undergraduates have benefited from scholarships through the Kent Scholars Program. The couple frequently hosts dinners and special events to engage with their scholarship recipients.

Judy Kent affirmed that choosing to support Olin was a straightforward decision.

“When you are as fortunate as we have been, there is a responsibility to give back and support institutions that are fundamental to your community,” she reflected. “Having been involved with Olin for such an extended period, I feel it’s part of our family. When family has a need or faces a significant opportunity, you naturally want to help.

“We believed the deanship and the business of health initiative were pivotal factors that would continue to influence the future of the business school, its faculty, and graduates for many years to come. That was highly compelling for us,” she added.

About the Kents

Jerry Kent is a recognized entrepreneur and pioneer in the telecommunications and technology sectors. He serves as chairman and CEO of Cequel III, a technology management firm he co-founded, and TierPoint, a provider of information technology and data center services, both headquartered in St. Louis.

A native of Granite City, Ill., Kent holds both bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Olin. In 1993, he co-founded Charter Communications and successfully led the company to what was then the third-largest initial public offering in U.S. history.

He has been a member of WashU’s Board of Trustees for numerous years and is part of the board’s executive committee. He received a Distinguished Alumni Award from Olin in 1999 and from the university in 2002. Together with Judy, he was honored with Olin’s Dean’s Medal in 2009.

Judy Kent is a dedicated volunteer and philanthropist within the St. Louis community. She serves on the Stages St. Louis board of trustees and is an emerita director of Easterseals Midwest, an organization that supports individuals with disabilities and their families. She was recognized as the Easterseals Midwest philanthropist of the year in both 2015 and 2018 and, along with Jerry, received the Saint Louis Zoo Individual Award in 2018. They were also awarded the Jane and Whitney Harris St. Louis Community Service Award in 2021.

Judy has produced numerous theater productions, including “Of Mice and Men” on Broadway in 2014; “Dear Evan Hansen,” which garnered six Tony Awards, including best musical, in 2017; and “The Drowsy Chaperone” at Stages St. Louis in 2016. She won a Tony in 2025 for her role as a producer of “Maybe Happy Ending,” which also won six Tony Awards, including best musical. The couple has two children, Mathew Kent and Rachel Shlien, an alumna of WashU Law (JD ’19, LLM ’19), along with four grandchildren.

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