Youth financial literacy advocate and finance leader inducted into W. P. Carey Hall of Fame

Barton Faber (BS Finance '69) was honored for his contributions to his field and dedication to supporting financial literacy education in Arizona schools.

With decades of experience in the finance field, Barton Faber (BS Finance '69) knows the key to helping others through business is encouraging economic stability.

"'Doing good while doing well' has been one of the underlying principles of my life," says Faber of W. P. Carey's motto. "In business, the best way to do good over a long period is to have an economically supported model that works and supports itself but continues to do a lot of good for people."

Faber is the chairman and CEO of Metromail Corporation, the president and CEO of Document Sciences Corporation, a partner at Atrium Capital, and serves on the advisory board of Grayhawk Capital and the board of Bluetail Inc. His contributions to financial literacy programs for Arizona high school students underscore his commitment to education, with Faber proposing and supporting the first iteration of W. P. Carey's partnership with the Phoenix Union High School District to boost financial knowledge and outcomes for Valley students and their communities.

Since 1977, the W. P. Carey Alumni Hall of Fame has honored dozens of distinguished business school alums for their impact on education, business, and their communities. During the 2024 induction ceremony, Faber reflected on his career and passion for financial literacy education and shared advice for recent graduates.

Question: What does it mean to be inducted into the W. P. Carey Hall of Fame?
Answer: It's very meaningful and a great recognition. When I went here, I never dreamed I would be in the Hall of Fame. What surprised me is how many people heard about it and congratulated me on it: It's well known as a good thing that people get as a moment of recognition. That was very rewarding for me.

Q: How has your education helped you positively impact your field?
A: Education in particular initially gave me a terrific starting point, a leg up in business. It pushed me ahead of other people more quickly and gave me a foundation to think about business and think about problems.

Q: What business accomplishment are you most proud of?
A: I took over a large database company that was in deep trouble — it had made a bunch of poor decisions regarding managing other people's data. I took the company from being investigated by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to being the model where the FTC sent people to develop guidelines and rules for the management of data. The company did very well. We wound up taking it public on the New York Stock Exchange. That's one of the things I'm most proud of, to have changed that company.