A major donation introduced at an altitude of 34,000 feet is helping to keep the Florida State University College of Business soaring on behalf of its students.  

The $525,000 gift from alumnus Christopher Iansiti, chair of the FSU Foundation Board of Trustees, and his partner, Michael A. Fornaro, establishes the Christopher E. Iansiti Endowed Directorship in the college’s Center for Professional Success. Iansiti initiated discussion about the gift last fall via text message with Michael Hartline, dean of the college, who was on a flight above Florida at the time.

The investment funds the Christopher E. Iansiti Director of the Center for Professional Success, a position held by Luke Hopkins, and allows the college to support programs that will turbocharge the center’s efforts to help students launch their careers, officials say.

The center already has added Mark Zeigler, a longtime and highly respected FSU faculty member, as senior lecturer and director of the college’s First-Year Experience Programs, which next year will include the launch of a Living-Learning Community for freshmen interested in business majors. This fall, Zeigler is overseeing the expansion of Engage 100, part of a university-wide initiative that college officials say helps new students become more familiar and engaged with the college and its programs and resources.