Celebrating the future

Joy, pride, hope, anticipation and awe were among the emotions evoked by the grand opening celebration of Steven D. Bell Hall at UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School on Nov. 7.

For the first time, the UNC Kenan-Flagler community experienced what Bell Hall means for the future, a dream realized after years of planning, fundraising and building.

“As we celebrate this remarkable achievement, let’s remember that Bell Hall is more than a physical space – It is a shared accomplishment, a testament to what we can achieve together,” said Dean Mary Margaret Frank (BSBA ’92, MAC ’92, PhD ’99). “Steven D. Bell Hall stands as a place where ideas ignite, leaders emerge, and the future of business education is boldly shaped. Together, we carry forward a legacy that will inspire generations of business leaders to lead the way.”

Bell Hall doubles the space for teaching and student life, solving a chronic space shortage and enabling UNC Kenan-Flagler to admit more students to study business.

It is a “bold response to the increasing demand for a Carolina business education, a demand that has outpaced our capacity for many years,” said Frank. “It is the answer to that call, enabling every program at UNC Kenan-Flagler to create more opportunities through expansion and innovation.”

Bell Hall reflects “the incredible spirit of our community,” says Andy Scott (BSBA ’01). “Walking through the brand-new Bell Hall, I was reminded of what makes Kenan-Flagler so special. It’s not just the buildings or classrooms — it’s the people, the ideas, and the shared belief that business can be a force for good.”

The new building is named in honor of Steve Bell (BA ’67), who with his wife, Jackie Bell, pledged $26 million so UNC Kenan-Flagler could enroll more Carolina students who want to study business. He called his gift the greatest investment in real estate and in people he has ever made. Since it was approved and funding secured, the Undergraduate Business Program steadily grew its enrollment and will reach its goal to admit 50% more Carolina students – over 500 majors per year – for the 2026-2027 academic year.

Bell Hall is built for business education. “Learning will take on a new shape in the modern facilities designed to foster collaboration and spark creativity in spaces filled with light, connections to nature and art,” said Frank.

“This new home means opportunities to collaborate with the brightest minds, access cutting-edge technology that prepares us for real business challenges, and belong to a community that values not just success but connection and purpose,” said Matthew Mundorf (MBA ’27). “Bell Hall is a testament to what can happen when people come together to create opportunities for others.”

“Our students — undergraduate and graduate alike — come here because they believe business is not just about balance sheets, but also about people and possibility,” said Professor Shimul Melwani, associate dean of the Undergraduate Business Program. “They care about the lives their work will touch. They want to improve communities, strengthen organizations and make a meaningful difference. Together with our faculty and staff, they form a community built on curiosity, collaboration and care, and embody what Carolina and UNC Kenan-Flagler stand for.”

Bell Hall was built for “the conversations that start between classes, the brainstorming sessions that run late into the night, and the teamwork that turns ideas into real change,” said Freeda Alvarez (BSBA ’26).

And it’s about possibility, she said. “The light-filled classrooms, open study spaces and shared gathering spaces remind us that learning doesn’t stop when class ends. It continues in every connection we make. This building reflects who we are as UNC Kenan-Flagler students, driven and ready to lead.”

A public-private partnership

“I got my education in a building,” said William G. Seymour (BSBA ’64). “These students are going to get their education in a community; that was really inspiring and worthwhile to me.”

Chancellor Lee Roberts said “Bell Hall will be a place where ideas are tested, partnerships are built, and the next generation of global business leaders takes shape. It is a bold investment in the shared future of our students and the people of North Carolina.

“The future is bright and our best days are yet to come,” he said, wishing “Godspeed to the generations of students, faculty and staff who are going to learn and work and grow and thrive in this magnificent building” in a new chapter of excellence for UNC Kenan-Flagler.

“This milestone would not be possible without the generosity, vision and leadership of our donors, state partners and individual champions,” said Frank. “To all who have brought Bell Hall to life, we extend our heartfelt gratitude. From the $105 million funded by the State of North Carolina to over $90 million provided by private donors, this public-private partnership exemplifies the shared commitment to empowering future generations.”

“You’ve given us a gift that will shape our futures and empower us to make a meaningful difference in the world,” said Alvarez. “As we look to the future, Bell Hall will be a place where ideas grow, where friendships form and where we’ll continue building the legacy of UNC Kenan-Flagler.”

What’s next

The power of Bell Hall will be fully realized when classes start there in spring semester 2026, and students’ energy and voices fill the building.

They will gather in the Tom Kenan Café, where a large painting donated by John Townsend (BSBA ’77, MBA ’82) overlooks the dining area from above. They’ll head outside for a class in the wooded area and study in spaces featuring North Carolina art from The Johnson Collection. They’ll visit offices that house academic programs and centers, and meet with recruiters in newly designed career spaces.

Bell Hall makes possible the “kind of learning that changes people,” said Melwani.

Faculty will teach in “classrooms that aren’t just modern or beautiful” but also provide flexibility that invites teamwork and technology that inspires experimentation.

And it’s all made possible, said Frank, by a shared belief in the transformative, positive power of business education.

Read more about Steven D. Bell Hall here, including its sustainable design and building practices; its setting which takes advantage of the wooded area and green spaces; and curated art.