ability and commitment to impart critical information and insights to business students. It’s named in honor of Speth, who instilled that same knowledge in Whorley so that, years later, he could use that knowledge to advocate for the future of a project that looked shaky in the near term. “I’ve had a very fulfilling business career, and it would not have happened without my MBA from the University of Indianapolis,” said Whorley. “I’m thankful for the leadership at my employer who said I needed to get my MBA. I’m thankful to Dr. Gerald Speth for saying, ‘You can do this, Jeff.’ And I’m thankful that UIndy delivered the goods in terms of a business education.” Whorley was appointed as a new university trustee in June. It’s an opportunity to come full circle and provide leadership and oversight at a place that means so much to him. “It was an easy yes,” he said. Whorley firmly believes that an MBA is just as relevant and useful today as it ever was—especially one like UIndy’s that remains user-friendly and focused on practical, real-world applications. In a world shaped by artificial intelligence and a constantly changing economy, there are just as many conversations happening every day in businesses large and small about whether to continue or terminate a new venture. And you never know—the MBA may just provide the insight to help a company make the right $100 million decision.
But it almost didn’t happen. After a short but successful career on Capitol Hill—he and George Stephanopoulos were the two youngest Congressional chiefs of staff at age 25—Whorley transitioned to the business world. When his new employer urged him to get his MBA, he wasn’t exactly thrilled because of the time commitment involved. But Dr. Gerald Speth, associate professor of business and director of the graduate business programs at the time, encouraged him that he could do it—then laid out an individualized class schedule that fit around Whorley’s demanding job. That was only the beginning of the relationship. As Whorley continued with his studies, he leaned on the expertise of Speth and other faculty members while advancing up the corporate ladder. When he was tasked with creating a new high-performance call center for his company, the entire incentive program was based on his coursework at UIndy and many hours of discussion with Speth. “People at the company would ask, ‘Where do you come up with this stuff?’ I’d reply, ‘Oh, I think about it a lot.’ But what I was really doing was poring over what we had learned in my organizational behavior class and applying what worked. Dr. Speth was a great resource—not just for me, but really for our whole team.” Wanting to give back to the university that played a major role in his success, Whorley established the Dr. Gerald Speth Business Knowledge Award with a $100,000 gift in 2022. The award recognizes faculty who demonstrate the
“I’ve had a very fulfilling business career, and it would not have happened without my MBA from the University of Indianapolis. I’m thankful for the leadership at my employer who said I needed to get my MBA. I’m thankful to Dr. Gerald Speth for saying, ‘You can do this, Jeff.’ And I’m thankful that UIndy delivered the goods in terms of a business education.” —Jeff Whorley ’01 (MBA)
Dr. Gerald Speth (left) and Jeff Whorley
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MAGAZINE // WINTER 2025
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