Professor Emeritus Strengthens UNI's Future

Steve Corbin, '70, UNI professor emeritus

"Build good relationships and profitable transactions will follow."

— Steve Corbin, '70, UNI professor emeritus, advised his students

As an undergraduate, Steve's relationship with his marketing professor, Leonard Keefe, led him to strive for excellence in his career and life. "Professor Keefe took me aside and gave me instructions as to how to mature and make something of myself," Steve says.

Keefe's instructions were well-received and led Steve to a distinguished career as a professor and head of the marketing department at UNI. While interacting with his marketing advisory board, Steve learned the importance of designating gifts to support the university. Upon his retirement, two financial advisors and an attorney recommended that Steve work with the UNI Foundation to establish an estate gift.

Steve and his wife, Doris Kelly (a former state representative), contacted staff at the UNI Foundation to help create his vision—the Center for Professional Sales Excellence. As a sales professor, Steve had discovered there were few centers like this in America, none in Iowa. He thought establishing such a center through his estate would not only be fitting for UNI, it would honor his students and Leonard Keefe. It would also properly prepare sales professionals.

"This endowment ensured my intended gift would be carried out with little to no fuss upon my demise," Steve says.

A persistent builder of relationships, Steve volunteers as a mathematics and reading tutor at four elementary schools in Waterloo and Cedar Falls. He is also a non-paid freelance writer for 79 newspapers in six states.

Build a Strong Foundation

Like Steve, you can leave a lasting legacy when you make a future gift to support UNI. Contact Jane Halverson at jane.halverson@uni.edu or (319) 273-4665 to learn about your giving options.