It was an evening of sweet indulgences for 50 guests at the recent donor appreciation event recognizing supporters of the Naveen Jindal School of Management. Attendees were treated to a tour of the unique Sweet Tooth Hotel Flagship in downtown Dallas, an eclectic and colorful art museum that is the brainchild of JSOM alumna Jencey Keeton, BS’04.
The March 30 event was hosted by members of the Jindal School’s Development and Alumni Relations department.
Alumnus Keith Fluellen, BS’96, treated attendees to an array of cupcakes, the hallmark of his company, Fluellen Cupcakes. The shop is across the street from the Sweet Tooth Hotel on Elm Street.
Members of JSOM’s Advisory Board and other supporters gathered in the hotel’s Calirosa Cocktail Lounge, where they had the option of sampling a signature cocktail created for the event in an atmosphere of disco balls, brightly colored neon lights, and music.
The Sweet Tooth Hotel opened in 2018 and features emerging experiential artists from Texas and nationwide. The exhibit, dubbed Dreamland, occupies separate rooms, covering 6,000 square feet. In addition, curated products are for sale in a gift shop. The venue is available to book events.
Keeton and her husband Cole also have a pop-up art exhibit, Rewind, at Watters Creek in Allen. She majored in fine arts and business at JSOM.
“The Jindal School is really important to me,” Keeton said. “I was on a full scholarship and would not have been able to go to school without it.”
Keeton’s father was an entrepreneur and she is following in his footsteps. While her father did not attend college, he recognized the value of education.
“I got a world-class education,” said Keeton, who earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration. “The business school is so well-rounded. I was able to pursue art and business. Going to school there was a personal experience. If I missed a class, my professor would check on me. I never felt alone at JSOM, even after I graduated.”
Fluellen was a member of one the first freshman classes at the Jindal School, which began accepting freshmen and sophomores in 1992. He enrolled in 1993. Between 1975, when the School of Management was established, and 1992, only juniors, seniors and graduate students were admitted to UT Dallas.
“It was tough because they didn’t change the curriculum, but business is also tough,” he said. “I give credit to the school for preparing me for what I’m doing today. My time there was invaluable.”
After graduating, Fluellen worked for Bank of America and later in real estate, where he met the man from whom he ultimately purchased the cupcake business. It opened in 2011.
Anchi Ku, BS’81, who has served on the executive board of UT Dallas since 2000, was in attendance and won a chess set that was raffled to all potential donors at the event. She echoed Keeton’s belief that the school graduates well-rounded students.
“UTD provides an environment for students to have an education, but the school does produce well-rounded students,” said Ku, who earned a bachelor’s degree in business and public administration. “I think that we are unique in that.”
Deanna and Brewster Waddell were also among the guests. Their son attends JSOM and the couple have been donors for the past four years. He serves as a member of JSOM’s Advisory Board and the advisory board for the Center for Global Business.
For Kevin Ryan, MBA’95, a member of the executive board and the JSOM Advisory Council, UT Dallas and the Jindal School are a family affair. Not only is he an alumnus, but his father, son and brother-in-law are as well.
“I love the school,” he said, “and the fact that its rankings are so high makes my degree even more valuable.”
Ryan is also the chairman of the JSOM New Dimensions Campaign Council. The goal of the campaign is to raise $750 million to support the future growth and success of UT Dallas.
Dr. Hasan Pirkul, Caruth Chair and Jindal School dean, made attending the event a priority. He welcomed the audience and thanked the donors in attendance.
“Whatever we have done over the last decade, it is because of you,” he said. “To have people support us, to write a check to us—no matter the size—is so important.”
Afterward, when describing the event, he said that it is always good to see Jindal School alumni flourish as entrepreneurs and innovators.
“It was a fun event,” he said. “I had a chance to visit with and thank our friends and alumni. Throughout the years, their support has been instrumental in the development of our School.”
Melissa Bettis, assistant dean of development and alumni relations at the Jindal School, said that her team received positive feedback about the event.
“The event did exactly what we wanted it to do,” she said. “We wanted to bring donors together so they could share their stories and encourage them to share with others.”
