The BB&T Professorship for the Study of Capitalism was established by a $250,000 contribution from the BB&T Charitable Foundation, based in Winston-Salem, N.C. According to John Allison, chairman and chief executive officer of BB&T Corp., a commercial and retail banking and financial services company, "The primary purpose of this professorship will be to explore the fundamental integration between economic and political freedom and to encourage a serious consideration of the moral foundations of capitalism with special reference to the American experience."
The first contribution was made in April of 2006, and the professorship began in the fall 2006 semester.
Dr. Michelle Vachris, the BB&T Professor, has implemented several initiatives to fulfill the goals of the program, including course offerings, a lecture series and community outreach activities.
