Bill and Ellen Rydell name Augustana School of Business, bear mother’s philanthropic torch

Oct. 3, 2024

This paid piece is sponsored by Augustana University.

This year’s Viking Days festivities included a special dedication ceremony for Augustana’s School of Business — now the Rydell School of Business, supported by Bill and Ellen Rydell. The Augustana community celebrated this afternoon with a gathering in the Madsen Social Science Center, home of the newly named school.

The Rydell School of Business — home to eight undergraduate and three graduate programs — is a way for the couple to carry on the torch lit by Ellen’s mother, the late Edith Mortenson Delman, a member of the class of 1941. Mortenson Delman, known as “Edie,” was a proud alumna and following graduation, managed Augustana’s business office from 1941-45. She later served on the Augustana Board of Regents — now Trustees — for six years.

“Augustana nurtured her and took care of her, and she always wanted to give back,” Ellen said of her mother. “Then, my dad got on board, and they said, ‘We’re going to support this college.’”

The Mortenson Delman family’s major support came in the form of a theater. Mortenson Delman and her husband, Ed, donated more than $1 million to Augustana in the late 1990s toward the renovation of the “Old Gym.” In 1998, the building was rededicated as the Edith Mortenson Center, featuring a thrust-stage theater, scene and costume shops, faculty offices, as well as the Mary Harum Hart Actor’s Studio — a black-box rehearsal and performance space.

Now, the Rydells are carrying on the Mortenson Delman legacy with a dedication of their own — choosing to name the School of Business because Mortenson Delman was a proud economics major.

“The Rydell School of Business stands as a testament to the enduring legacy of family, friendship and a deep commitment to honoring Edith and her profound love for Augustana University,” president Stephanie Herseth Sandlin said. “Through their passion and generosity, the Rydell family will empower generations of students and business leaders to pursue excellence, embrace lifelong learning and make meaningful contributions to the world. We are extraordinarily grateful for their lasting impact.”

Dr. Roxanne Stevens, dean of the Rydell School of Business, is excited about all that the family’s gift will make possible.

“The Rydells’ gift will allow the School of Business to launch numerous student clubs such as the Student Investment Club,” Stevens said. “The gift will also provide opportunities for hands-on applied projects for our students that support the community, like the Volunteer Tax Assistance Program. VITA provides our accounting students with hands-on experience while serving low-income individuals and families throughout the community by providing free income tax preparation.”

Stevens said the Rydells’ gift also will allow the School of Business to offer certificates, credentials and micro-credentials to students, as well as local professionals.

“Earning a credential or micro-credential validates students’ knowledge and skills, enhances their credibility and adds value in resumes, portfolios and job interviews,” Stevens said “For working professionals, certificates provide validation of current standards, which is especially important in today’s fast-paced business world. Certificates — designed to provide specific skill sets, areas of competency or expertise — provide individuals with a competitive edge.”

For the Rydells, these learning experiences, from student organizations to certificates, are invaluable.

“Higher education opens up a tremendous amount of potential and opportunities for people, and we’ve seen the level of graduates Augustana has produced,” Bill added.

The Rydells, who live in Alexandria, Virginia, both have had successful careers following their own higher education opportunities.

After graduating from Virginia Tech, Ellen joined the family business, Alexandria Lighting & Supply, where she managed day-to-day operations and bookkeeping until the business was sold in 2019. 

Bill earned a Bachelor of Science in management information systems and decision sciences and Master of Science in computer forensics/cyber security from George Mason University. He served as communications officer to former Secretary of Defense William Cohen during the late 1990s, and from 2001-09, he served under the Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisitions, Technology and Logistics. Since then, Bill has served as a cybersecurity architect at JPMorgan Chase & Co. 

Together, Ellen and Bill run the Rydell-Mortenson Foundation. For them, philanthropy — especially toward Augustana — is a familial value. Ellen’s brother and sister-in-law, Eric and Danae (Smith) Delman, are Augustana alumni from the class of 1977 and long-time supporters of the institution, most recently supporting the Delman Family Student Section in Midco Arena.

“The whole emphasis we have in our family, and my brother’s family as well, is to support this university wherever they have a need,” Ellen said. 

This mindset, Ellen said, began with her parents when the Edith Mortenson Center theater was built.

“My dad worked very closely with Ivan (Fuller, former professor of theater and chair of the performing and visual arts department),” Ellen said. “He and Ivan would talk at length, see what the theater needed and say, ‘We can work toward that.’ We’re hoping with the School of Business that we can do a very similar thing, which is, wherever the need is, that’s where we will try to put our emphasis.”

The Rydells noted that the naming of the School of Business is something they do humbly and with two goals: to give students the tools they need to become successful in the business world and honor the legacy of Ellen’s mother.

“I think she’d be extremely proud of us for doing it and proud of Augie — very proud of Augie for sure,” Bill said.

Learn more about the Rydell School of Business at augie.edu/RSOB.