Retired UF Professor Gupta Generously Donates to Center for Student Life and College of Business Construction

The University of Findlay is pleased to announce that Shiv Gupta, D.B.A., a retired University of Findlay economics and marketing professor, has made a major donation toward construction of the Center for Student Life and College of Business building.
Space in the soon-to-be-constructed building will be named the Shiv K. and Elizabeth Gupta Grand Auditorium in his and his late wife’s honor. It will be one of two auditoriums that are planned for the building.
Gupta retired in 2015 after 45 years with the University. During that time, he was instrumental in developing the College of Business into a well-recognized asset that has benefited students, and consequently the business world, for generations.
At a Friday, Jan. 22 faculty and staff meeting announcing the gift and recognizing Gupta’s generosity, University President Katherine Fell, Ph.D., referred to him as someone “who has had a tremendous impact on the history of our great institution.” She noted that Gupta contributed to the integration of what are now many of the College of Business’ signature programs, such as marketing, finance and the Master of Business Administration. He was also the campus founder and advisor of UF’s former Students in Free Enterprise team, which won 14 regional championships and six national championships.
Fell added that Gupta has been “incredibly generous” to the University in other ways, particularly in creating several endowments.
A native of India, Gupta is also credited with assisting Findlay city government and local business to improve their services and operations. He helped establish Findlay’s Free Enterprise Zone, something he characterizes as the “backbone” of the city’s success. He also led a research project on the quality of life in Findlay, which ultimately helped lure the first Japanese joint-venture company to the area.
But it is his interaction with students that many will recall for years to come. Fell said Gupta “has had a transformational impact upon the lives of countless students at Findlay College/The University of Findlay,” and to illustrate that, one of his former students, Nicole Busey, also praised him at the Friday assembly.
Busey ’99, a tax, legal and audit manager for Marathon Petroleum Corporation, said Gupta was instrumental in encouraging her to expand her business interests, and strongly supported her with sound guidance.
“His career advice and mentoring at UF played a key role in and contributed to my successes and helped solidify my career as a corporate tax attorney which combines my business and accounting education with my law degree,” Busey explained. “Where I am today and the experiences I have had were influenced by Dr. Gupta and I thank him for his encouragement and support.”
“My story is just one of hundreds of similar stories of students that Dr. Gupta has impacted in various ways throughout his teaching career here at UF and which continues as he is still teaching some classes,” Busey continued.
Gupta said his gift was inspired by the University’s generosity toward him over the years.
“I worked at the University for 45 years. The University has given me so much that I cannot repay, and that forces me to do something for my school. Since the new building is coming, I said that is the best way to give something…” he said.
The Center for Student Life and College of Business building, Gupta said, will be a valuable campus resource. “I think it will provide more status, not only to the College of Business, but to the whole University. I think the students deserve a very productive environment,” he maintained.

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