The Florida State University Herbert Wertheim College of Business honored two former faculty members on April 6 by inducting them into its Charles A. Rovetta Faculty Hall of Fame during its annual faculty and staff awards ceremony.
The event recognized the lasting contributions of Richard Corbett and William Jordan, who were celebrated for their decades of dedication to students, their academic disciplines, and colleagues. The ceremony also marked the first major gathering at the new Herbert Wertheim Center for Business Excellence since its ribbon-cutting in January.
Dean Michael D. Hartline said the occasion allowed the college “to celebrate the outstanding work and achievements of each other and the groundbreaking accomplishments of those who came before us.” Corbett and Jordan joined 23 previous inductees in a hall named after the college’s second dean. “They set themselves apart through their enduring dedication to the college, their fields and, most of all, their students,” Hartline said. “They helped give us our global distinction, and tonight we give them forever fame.”
Corbett retired in 2012 after more than twenty years at FSU as a professor in risk management and insurance. He was recognized nationally for his impact on insurance education and policy. In his acceptance speech, Corbett said: “It doesn’t cost you anything to be nice or to be kind or to be understanding.” He added that sometimes all students want is someone to listen: “The great charm of what we do as faculty members is the things that (students) do once they leave us,” he said.
Jordan served on FSU’s accounting faculty from 1974 to 1998 as a teacher, researcher, and expert on U.S. taxation who advised government agencies at various levels. Known for bringing real-world applications into teaching tax law, Jordan received several teaching awards during his career. In his remarks he said: “This award has really humbled me. My wife, of course, says that she’d be more impressed if I learned how to dance.” He credited his students with giving him “the important and worthwhile thrill of influencing future generations.”
Sixteen additional faculty and staff were recognized with core values awards across categories such as teaching excellence, research achievement, leadership potential, ingenuity in administration support roles, technical support coordination, program management—and more—highlighting continued commitment among staff members.
Dean Hartline concluded by emphasizing ongoing recognition efforts: “The preeminence of the college is simply not possible without our people – the faculty, staff and students that are the heart and soul of everything we do.”
