For many students, deciding to pursue a college education provides opportunities to discover, explore and evolve their passions.
Paige Kram, a supply chain management student at the Jerry S. Rawls College of Business, was not sure what she wanted to do her first year at Texas Tech University.
After a few different paths, she connected to supply chain management through advice from friends and family and has not looked back.
Kram was drawn to the diverse career opportunities supply chain management could provide and quickly began building relationships with professors who saw she had a natural grasp of the concepts.
“I felt like it would kind of give me a variety of options if I wanted to be at a desk or walking around doing stuff,” Kram said. “But so far what I've liked most about the supply chain program is definitely my teachers.”
Kram's fondness for her professors is a sentiment shared by many students at Texas Tech. Additionally, hiring and retaining dedicated and highly qualified faculty members is a core priority for Rawls College and those who support it.
Hank Dorris, a 1985 graduate of Rawls College, had the opportunity to see the importance of strong faculty members through his own college experience and while serving on the Rawls College Advisory Council.
“I'm so grateful for the tremendous experience at Texas Tech that I wanted to give back,” Dorris said.
Dorris spent his career working in supply chain management. After graduating from Texas Tech, Dorris and his father purchased Specialty Packaging, a company which manufactures packaging for fast food, convenience stores and casual dining. You might have come across some of his work if you ever unwrapped a food item that comes in the classic foil wrapper from Sonic, Wendy's, Dunkin' Donuts and more.
As Dorris prepared to give back to Texas Tech, he combined his time in an advisory capacity for Rawls College with his firsthand experience in supply chain management through Specialty Packaging. These factors led Dorris and his wife, Meredith, to establish the HB and ML Dorris Family Supply Chain Management Fund.
The gift from the Dorris family will allow for new faculty hires in supply chain management at a time where the program is experiencing rapid growth. From the fall of 2022 to the fall of 2023, enrollment in the department more than tripled from 86 to nearly 300 students.
With more faculty, the department will not only provide students with the highest-quality education but also will allow for those professional connections that help students like Kram find their niche in the industry.
“Texas Tech is now offering classes that are very specific to sales, supply chain and interpreting data,” Dorris said. “These classes prepare the kids for what's really expected of them.”