Success measured in degrees: Dennis Keller '63 and DeVry Institute

With the computer's increasing importance in today's workplace, technology institutes such as DeVry are attracting more students than ever.

This trend is no surprise. What may or may not be is who is behind the successful national chain.

One of the two founders of what is now DeVry is none other than Dennis Keller '63 — more popularly known in the Princeton community as a University trustee and primary donor of the new Friend Center for Engineering Education.

For Keller, the journey to the founding of DeVry started at Princeton. After receiving his degree in economics, the young Keller ambitiously entered the workforce. Though acquiring work experience prior to graduate school is now common practice, Keller's decision defied the convention of the day — which was to enroll in graduate or professional school immediately upon completion of undergraduate work. Nevertheless, Keller gained five years' worth of valuable work experience at Motorola before entering the University of Chicago Business School.

Equipped with his MBA, Keller held several estimable positions, including the Vice President for Marketing of Bell and Howell, a firm based in Chicago that manufactures, markets and provides financing for high-speed mail and scanning equipment. This job is what Keller claimed taught him "the importance of business education," which would later inspire DeVry.

The Bell and Howell position also introduced Keller to his partner and friend of the past 30 years, Ronald Taylor.

In 1973, Keller and Taylor left Bell and Howell to test their potential as a business team. Attracted to the idea of making business education accessible to middleto lowincome adults, they first founded the C.B.A. Institute for Postgraduate Education and Business.

The endeavor struggled at first, but because of the pair's flexibility and ingenuity, they made the changes necessary to achieve ultimate success. Operating under a new name and convenient night schedule, The Keller Graduate School of Business paved the way for the DeVry educational empire — with Keller at the reins.

In his next big step, in 1986, Keller purchased a technology learning institute of 11 campuses and built it into the sprawling enterprise DeVry is today.

From the beginning, Keller had a very clear concept of the company's goals. "We thought that there ought to be an alternative for people who wanted a practitioner-based program," he said.

With now 21 campuses nationwide, more than 100,000 graduates last year and a stock price that has steadily grown at least 20 percent annually since its founding, the specialized program of which Keller speaks is reaching more people than ever at a surprisingly low tuition. Few can deny the appeal of a ninesemester program during which students usually earn back the bulk of the average $35,000 total tuition.

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Despite the considerable financial success of the DeVry Institutes, when asked what aspect of DeVry makes him most proud Keller offered a response truly indicative of his character. "That is very easy. The answer is the success of our students," he said.

To assure DeVry students of his genuine commitment to their successes, he conducts a campus tour every year, during which he makes a concerted effort to speak with individual students, listen to their concerns and inspire them to continue working hard.

The results speak for themselves: Ninety-three percent of DeVry graduates launch a career in their field of study within six months of graduating, and most of these graduates are the first in their families to obtain a bachelor's degree.

While his management of DeVry constitutes an impressive career in itself, Keller's accomplishments range far beyond the realm of this education giant. Ever devoted to the growth and improvement of his alma mater, Keller has served for the last several years as chairman of the engineering school's leadership council.

This role has earned Keller considerable respect among the Princeton community. Former President Shapiro calls him "the trustee that every university hopes for." Engineering school dean James Wei echoed such praise, "He is the leader who can articulate the vision of the school to the [Leadership] Council and to the trustees."

Through annual two-day meetings dedicated to the progress of the engineering department, Keller sensed the need for an improved technology building on campus. "It was pretty natural for me to learn about the need for a new center," he explained.

Hence, Keller made the lead gift of $10 million for the building of the Friend Center for Engineering Education three years ago. Though an additional $10 million came in from outside sources over the two-year building period, construction surely could not have commenced without Keller's substantial donation.

Named for Keller's childhood friend and Princeton classmate, Peter Friend '63, the center is quickly becoming an integral part of Princeton life. Wei said he hopes that "it will be a crossroad for the A.B. [student] to meet the B.S.E., to learn together, and to make friends for life."

Keller shares this hope that "more and more non-engineering students will work science and technology courses into their curriculum." Calling a background in technology a "tool for increased productivity," he went on to note, "as time goes by, it becomes an advantage for all students, the A.B.s — the students in the humanities — to have more of an understanding of science and technology."

Keller's genuine concern for the Princeton community springs from his own positive undergraduate experience nearly 40 years ago. Quite the active student, Keller played varsity football, joined Cap & Gown Club and organized the pizza delivery student agency with Friend.

The delivery service consumed most of Keller's time and efforts outside of the classroom, but nurtured his passion for the business world. "I loved business. As I was growing up I founded a lot of little businesses," he said.

The idea was an instant hit. "Many undergraduate students found themselves ready and willing to eat some pizza at 10, 11, 12 at night," he remembered fondly. The business certainly has stood the test of time. Now known as Tiger Pizza, it continues to bring sustenance to late-night studiers.

Of course, while Keller enjoyed entrepreneurship, he considers the friendships he formed at Princeton the most valuable part of his undergraduate education. Still close with many Class of '63ers as they turn 60 this year, Keller said that these friendships are "most important to me at this point in my life.

"Most of us have experienced together the seen and unseen parts of the University — the tradition, the loyalty, the moral support — just the niceness and the good feeling of being a part of all that," he continued.

Keller also attributes his success to the qualities instilled in him by Princeton's motivated students and faculty. "Your life is changed and inspired by the examples that you see at Princeton," he explained. "The examples of people who have worked very hard to serve and make the world a better place."

Service has been a prominent theme in the life of Dennis Keller. In addition to donations to Princeton and the University of Chicago, he also offers an annual $20,000 scholarship to a graduate of the Hinsdale High School in Hinsdale, Illinois.

A candidate for last year's scholarship, Sarah Washabaugh '05 spoke highly of Keller's admirable gesture to his hometown. "The scholarship helps acknowledge the leadership and community service ideals that Mr. Keller stands for," she said.

Surprisingly, his extensive involvement in the spheres of business and community does not hinder Keller's personal life.

At 60, he still indulges in his favorite hobbies of skiing, windsurfing, golfing and scuba diving. He also keeps in touch with his three children and two grandchildren, each "a very rich and wonderful part of life."