The Center for Applied Economics
at the University of the South
Welcome to Sewanee's online home for the Center for Applied Economics (CAE).
Funded by a gift from Nicholas and Mary Babson, of Chicago, in support of the Pre-business program in the College of Arts and Sciences, the CAE provides encouragement and advice to pre-business students, works with the Career Services Center and the Economics faculty to enhance students’ internship opportunities, assists graduating students seeking business-related jobs, arrange and hosts distinguished business visitors on campus, and organizes summer programs that bring students, visitors, and faculty together in conferences or workshops.
Nick Babson
Nick Babson, C'68
Acting Director of the CAE
Nick Babson, a 1968 graduate of the College and immediate past Chairman of the Board of Regents, has been named acting director of the Center. Babson currently serves as chairman and chief executive officer of Babson Holdings, Inc., a private investment management company. Previously, he was chairman and CEO of Babson Bros. Co., a global manufacturer and distributor of dairy equipment and consumable supplies. He has held a variety of leadership positions in the agricultural and manufacturing industries, including serving as chairman of the boards of the Equipment Manufacturer’s Institute and the FFA Foundation. He serves as a director of two publicly traded companies, CenterPoint Properties Trust (NYSE) and the Ghel Company (Nasdzq). He also serves as a director of two privately held companies, RREEF America II, a private equity REIT, and Huron, a supplier to the automotive industries. He is a member of the board of governors of SunTX Capital Management, a private equity fund.
Babson's civic commitments include service as chairman of the boards of directors of the Chicago Shakespeare Theater and the Farm Foundation/Bennett Roundtable. He is involved also as a project partner with the Clark Fork Coalition, a nonprofit organization to restore environmentally sensitive ranch properties along the Clark Fork River in Montana.
