The Mason Spirit

Shari Arison

George Mason University recently announced the creation of the Arison Group Endowed Professor of Doing Good Values. The professorship was created with a generous donation from Shari Arison, an American-Israeli businesswoman and philanthropist.

Arison has been listed by Forbes as one of the World’s Greenest Billionaires and repeatedly ranked as one of Forbes Most Powerful Women. Also a member of The B Team global initiative, a nonprofit group working to make businesses more socially responsible, Arison explains: “The Doing Good Model is all about making the circles of good grow in the world. It captures the approach of making a positive difference, bringing fundamental values into the hearts of people, communities, businesses, and organizations. This model, and the academic research involved, practically bridge between values and organizational structures to enable decision-making processes to be foremost values-based, for the benefit of society, the economy, and the environment.”

The Arison professor will be located in George Mason’s New Century College and will be dedicated to research and education that focuses on the application of fundamental human values to global business and a strong global “moral economy.”

“Mason is committed to making a positive difference in the global economy, and this professorship melds perfectly with the university’s mission to create a more just, free, and prosperous world,” says Mason President Ángel Cabrera.

Arison is the owner of the Arison Group, a global conglomerate of businesses and philanthropic organizations that operate to improve lives worldwide through values-based investments. Its business arm, Arison Investments, includes companies in the fields of finance, infrastructure, real estate, renewable energy, salt, and water, which create long-term business investments combining substantial financial results with sustainable moral responsibility. The Ted Arison Family Foundation, its philanthropic arm, comprises philanthropic organizations and vision ventures that are committed to making impactful social investments and strategic philanthropy. Arison directs her businesses to maintain a diversified portfolio of ventures that have moral responsibility at their core.