Thaddeus H. Spratlen, Emeritus Professor of Marketing, was the founding Faculty Director of the Business and Economic Development Center. He was the first African American professor hired at the Foster School of Business and the first to receive tenure. He was at the Foster School of Business from 1975 until his retirement in 2002. Prior to joining the UW faculty in 1972 he held regular appointments at Western (1961-69) and in the Graduate School of Management, UCLA (1969-72).

As a teacher, he won departmental awards in three different years from undergraduate students in the School of Business Administration. Over the years he has taught courses related to racial and ethnic issues, business and economic development and multicultural marketing. Professor Spratlen’s research and publications have focused on urban, racial, ethnic and social policy aspects of marketing and related business disciplines.

Upon his retirement in 2002, the Foster School of Business established the Thaddeus H. Spratlen Endowment for the Business and Economic Development Center as a way to insure that Professor Spratlen’s contributions and legacy of service to the community would be a permanent part of the Foster School of Business.

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UW Tax ID # - 943079432