Our Namesake
On April 8, 1991, the last surviving child of David Eccles, Emma Eccles Jones, made a spectacular gift to the University of Utah’s College of Business in her father’s memory. In recognition of her father’s monumental achievements in pioneering economic development of the Intermountain West, the school was proudly renamed the David Eccles School of Business. Today, his entrepreneurial spirit, ambition, business acumen, and incredible work ethic are embodied in the school’s mission and values. Learn more about David Eccles.
The annual Spencer Fox Eccles Convocation, now in its 35th year, launches each academic year at the David Eccles School of Business. This event features a nationally acclaimed speaker to connect, educate, and inspire our Eccles School community. Convocation caps off Eccles Week – a celebration in honor of our namesake. View Eccles Week schedule of events.
This year, we are excited to partner with the National Association of Corporate Directors Utah Chapter to present Mary C. Daly as the keynote speaker.
2025 Spencer Fox Eccles Convocation
We are thrilled to welcome Mary C. Daly, President and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, as the keynote speaker for a discussion on the economic outlook.
Wednesday, Sept. 24
George S. Eccles Auditorium, Spencer Fox Eccles Business Building
Exclusive Student Discussion
1:10 p.m. | SFEBB 1180 | Register here
Community Keynote
2 p.m. | SFEBB 1110 | Register here
Presented by
Mary C. Daly
Mary C. Daly is President and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, serving the Twelfth Federal Reserve District in setting monetary policy. Her research focuses on employment and wage trends, economic growth, and economic shocks—and has advanced understanding of the Federal Reserve’s maximum employment and inflation mandate. Her perspective is informed by her travels through the District to hear first-hand how businesses and households are experiencing the economy.
Ms. Daly has served as a visiting professor at Cornell University and UC Davis, and has been an advisor to the Congressional Budget Office, the Library of Congress, and the Social Security Administration. She holds a Ph.D. in economics from Syracuse University, an M.S. degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and a B.A. from the University of Missouri-Kansas City.
Growing up in Missouri, Ms. Daly dropped out of high school at 15 and started working several jobs to help support her family. She went on to earn a GED and begin her career in economics. She brings her life experience to her work, remembering how critical economic opportunity is for all Americans.
National Association of Corporate Directors Utah Chapter
NACD Utah is the local chapter of the National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD), the leading member organization for corporate directors who want to expand their knowledge, grow their network, and maximize their potential. For more than 47 years, NACD has helped boards and the business community elevate their performance and create long-term value. Our leadership continues to raise standards of excellence and advance board effectiveness at thousands of member companies.
David Eccles was born into an impoverished Scottish family and rose to become one of America’s leading industrialists. In his 63 years, he founded 54 businesses throughout Utah, Idaho, Wyoming, and Oregon, traveling more than an estimated 44,000 miles to do so.
At the time of his death, he was president of 17 corporations and seven banks and served as acting director of 24 businesses in various industries. On Dec. 5, 1912, the day David Eccles passed away, flags across five Western states flew at half-staff. On the day of his funeral, factories, railroads, and coal mines halted operations to pay respect to the man who had created thousands of jobs in virtually every sector of the economy.
That was the far-reaching effect that this pioneering entrepreneur had on what was at the time the Wild, Wild West.
The same year that Utah was admitted as the 45th U.S. state (1896), the University of Utah began formally educating students in the ways of business. Utah is the Beehive State after all, and Utahns are known being industrious and self-reliant.
Originally, business students took classes through the University of Utah’s Economics & Sociology Department. But it soon became clear that the study of business deserved a school all its own. The School of Commerce & Finance was founded in 1917, and in that first year, 126 students enrolled. It’s no surprise that 100 years later, the number of enrolled students has increased more than 25-fold. Today, the David Eccles School of Business has risen to the forefront of business excellence and each year educates nearly 4,500 graduate and undergraduate students in seven academic departments.
