Raikes' gift, leadership celebrated during dedication weekend

The generosity and leadership of Jeffrey S. Raikes will be celebrated at the dedication this weekend of the new Jeffrey S. Raikes School of Computer Science and Management at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. The Raikes Foundation, headed by Raikes and his wife Tricia, provided a lead gift of $10 million to launch a campaign to enhance the school and continue support for its students and programs.

Raikes is chief executive of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. A Nebraska native, he previously was president of Microsoft Corp.'s Business Division, retiring after 27 years with the company, and on Sept. 2 he took over as chief officer of the Gates Foundation. Headquartered in Seattle, the foundation is led by co-chairs Bill Gates, Melinda Gates, and William H. Gates Sr., and by Raikes as CEO.

Earlier this year, UNL's J.D. Edwards Honors Program in Computer Science and Management was renamed for Raikes. Activities during the dedication of the new Raikes School include meetings of the board of directors, luncheon and festivities, events with students and a 2 p.m. Sept. 26 public lecture by Raikes, "Business Leadership and Lessons," at the Nebraska Union. Raikes had served on the board of the J.D. Edwards Program since its inception. He initially helped conceptualize the program to be responsive to the demands of the business community, and has mentored many of its students.

The program has for seven years provided a world-class program to develop leadership for the information technology industry by providing a unique blended curriculum of computer science and business management. In addition, through its innovative design studio, students provide information-technology consulting services to both local and national businesses as part of their program. The program is a recognized leader in interdisciplinary computer science and business management education for high-ability students. Graduates create innovative technologies for business, manage technical development, lead and manage technologists, understand technology market opportunities and the strategic uses of technology, and bridge the gap between technology and business perspectives.