Westmont Magazine Eaton Family Helps Establish Faculty Chair
The Eaton Family Professor in Economics and Business will strengthen Westmont’s economics and business program and expand its global focus
A leadership gift from Trustee Emeritus David Eaton and his wife, Carol, will help establish a new endowed fund, the Eaton Family Chair in Economics and Business. A significant contribution from the Board of Advisors and gifts from alumni and friends put Westmont close to completing the $1 million needed for the position.
“We feel privileged to be a part of this exciting effort to support the economics and business department,” the Eatons say. “All four of our children graduated from Westmont, and two sons were economics and business majors. We’re confident this will benefit the department — and having our family name identified with the endowment gives us great joy.”
The professor holding the Eaton Family Chair will be involved with a new center studying entrepreneurship, the ethics of enterprise, and effective management in an environment of technological change and innovation. Activities will focus on creating new ventures and jobs, exploring social entrepreneurship, and joining Christian principles with a spirit of entrepreneurship.
“We’re recruiting a distinguished, effective leader with business experience and a passion for undergraduate teaching to strengthen our economics and business program and expand its global focus,” says President Gayle D. Beebe.
David Eaton became a Westmont trustee in 1977 and served for 30 years on the board, including six years (2001-2007) as chairman. He graduated from Wheaton College in Illinois and received his law degree from Stanford University. After working in corporate business law, he began a career developing and managing extensive properties in Colorado and Arizona. He is a partner in Douglas Ranch El Dorado LLC and in JDM Partners LLC.
Carol Eaton attended Westmont, graduated from Wheaton College in Illinois and earned a master’s degree in theology at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, Calif. She is the past CEO of Eaton Designs, a high-end, handmade rug manufacturing company that operated a production facility in Haiti, and she serves on the National Trustee Board of Young Life.
Formed in 1995, Westmont’s Board of Advisors includes Westmont alumni and other seasoned business executives who volunteer to advise the president.