DeSales Dedicates the Kathleen Waterbury and J.B. Reilly School of Business
On Thursday, Oct. 3, members of the DeSales University Board of Trustees, administration, faculty, and students helped dedicate the Kathleen Waterbury and J.B. Reilly School of Business at the Gambet Center for Business and Healthcare.
The University community, including Kathleen Kund-Nolan, chair of the Board of Trustees (pictured above, left), along with the Reillys and their guests, gathered at the newly created sign at the entrance to the Gambet Center for the blessing and dedication.
Father James Greenfield, OSFS ’84, Ed.D., president, welcomed the crowd and remarked how “wonderful a moment it was for DeSales and look at how far we’ve come” from when he graduated from the school in 1984.
Christopher Cocozza, J.D., LLM, dean of the Waterbury Reilly School of Business (pictured above, second from left), described how the business faculty were offering students unique experiential learning opportunities, including the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program, for hands-on experience before graduation. “The goal,” he said, “is to eventually become a nationally recognized business school.”
Hannah McDonnell ’25, a senior accounting and finance major (pictured above, third from left), spoke about the opportunities she’s had in the program, including experiential learning field trips as well as the chance to study abroad for a semester. She expressed her gratitude to the Reillys for the continued opportunities the school will have.
When Kathleen Reilly spoke, she thanked Hannah and reiterated those opportunities would continue as well as anything else the business school would need “to launch its graduates into stable and fruitful careers that will help their communities thrive.”
J.B. Reilly emphasized how important the relationships were between DeSales and local companies and that was one of the reasons the business program is so successful. He cited forward-thinking programs in the school, including supply chain management and data analytics, and said he looked forward to DeSales embracing the challenge of artificial intelligence.
The event concluded with a prayerful blessing and a ribbon cutting. In addition to the DeSales community, present were State Senator Nick Miller (D-District 14) and Lehigh County Executive Phillips Armstrong.
Kathleen Reilly is a current member of the University’s Board of Trustees, a position she has held since 2020. Her husband previously served as a Board member from 2002 to 2012. J.B. is also president and co-founder of City Center Group, a real estate development and management company based in Allentown.
About the Kathleen Waterbury and J.B. Reilly School of Business
Located in the Gambet Center for Business and Healthcare, the Kathleen Waterbury and J.B. Reilly School of Business is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP), demonstrating its commitment to excellence in business education. The school offers 11 bachelor’s degrees, two master’s programs with multiple specializations, and a variety of graduate-level certificates.
Led by Cocozza, the WRSB is home to 16 full-time faculty members dedicated to providing a student-focused, experiential learning environment. The school also houses the Center for Data Analytics, equipping students with the skills to succeed in today’s data-driven economy. With a focus on experiential learning, students benefit from a robust internship program and active student clubs that enhance their practical skills and professional development.
