North Central College Establishes Endowed Deanship for School of Business and Entrepreneurship

North Central College has announced the establishment of the Thomas J. Paleka ’83 and David E. Thomson Deanship in Business and Entrepreneurship. The endowed deanship – which is the first of its kind at the College – will expand funding for the academic leadership position in North Central’s School of Business and Entrepreneurship. The position was made possible by a generous gift from two prominent supporters of the College: Thomas J. Paleka, a 1983 graduate of North Central and Vice President of Global Total Rewards at Gallagher; and David E. Thomson, former President and CEO Emeritus of Dixline Corporation.

“Deans are the visionary leaders responsible for executing our academic strategies and priorities,” said North Central College President Abiodun Goke-Pariola. “This endowed deanship provides stable, long-term funding that elevates the prestige of our business school and enables the dean of the school to advance new initiatives and expand opportunities for our students and faculty. I am incredibly grateful to Tom and David for their extraordinary generosity and commitment to North Central College.”

Dr. David Green, who joined North Central College in July 2024 as Dean of the School of Business and Entrepreneurship, is the inaugural recipient of the endowed deanship.

“This endowed deanship reflects the vision and generosity of two wonderful people – Tom and David – whose investment in North Central College will strengthen our ability to innovate and deepen our impact for years to come,” said Green. “I am grateful for the trust placed in me to hold this distinctive title, and I’m more inspired than ever to work alongside our outstanding faculty, staff, students, alumni, and community partners to advance our school mission to develop principled leaders through exceptional academic programs and experiential opportunities.”

Paleka serves as a member of the North Central College Board of Trustees. He has spent more than two decades in human resources and sales leadership roles at companies including AT&T, Ameritech and Tellabs, prior to joining Gallagher in 2008. Thomson serves as a member of North Central’s School of Business and Entrepreneurship Advisory Board. In addition to his longtime role at Dixline Corporation, he is a founding partner of Thomson Landwehr, LLC, and served as mayor of his hometown of Galva, Illinois.

“David and I are thrilled to be able to contribute back to North Central by establishing an endowed deanship for the School of Business and Entrepreneurship,” said Paleka. “My college experience at North Central laid the foundation for my career, equipping me with the skills and knowledge to succeed while fostering relationships that continue to inspire and support me to this day. We have confidence that Dr. Green will carry on the mission to do the same for many future students and alumni.”

North Central’s School of Business and Entrepreneurship delivers a dynamic, hands-on business education grounded in the liberal arts. Students engage in a curriculum designed to promote analytical skills and ethical practices, working closely with faculty who are experts in their fields. The school offers programs in accounting, economics, finance, management, and marketing. The School of Business and Entrepreneurship houses the state-of-the-art Bloomberg Finance Lab, featuring workstations equipped with Bloomberg Terminal software used worldwide by leading business and financial professionals. All North Central business students complete at least one course of study in the Bloomberg Finance Lab, and students have the opportunity to complete a series of modules to earn their Bloomberg certification.

To learn more about North Central’s School of Business and Entrepreneurship, go to northcentralcollege.edu/colleges-schools-departments/school-business-entrepreneurship.