The Memphis Institute of Leadership Education (MILE) Program, has received a Community Outreach Award by the Society for Information (SIM) Memphis chapter for outstanding service to the community by helping university students develop into business leaders.
 
MILE is a structured, six-month mentoring program that works to prepare students to become future leaders in Memphis and the Mid-South through additional leadership development programs and mentoring.
 
The award was accepted by Dr. Robert Taylor, associate professor with the Department of Management, and director of MILE, at a recent Memphis Strategies Series hosted by SIM. The accompanying check for $5,000 will be used “as a kick start to some serious fundraising efforts for the MILE program this year,” Taylor said, adding that other avenues might include “sponsoring a lecture series, paying for guest speakers and for everyday expenses.”
 
In 20ll, the MILE program was pledged $100,000 for an endowment from Jim Baker, owner of Owen Brennan’s restaurant, and named for his son, FCBE alumnus J. Austin Baker III (BBA ’04), who is co-founder and president of the executive advisory board.