One of my favorite weeks of the year is when we return to Charlottesville for Bank School. This year is especially meaningful – not only because we are “bringing the band back together” and creating a whole new experience for bankers going forward – but also because we will celebrate the remarkable legacy of the one person who has been part of the different iterations of the school. From the days when bankers from Virginia and Maryland learned together in a joint program, followed by five decades of separate schools, and ultimately to the reunification that created the Mid-Atlantic School of Banking.  If you are one of the 4,000+ students he has taught, you already know I am talking about Dr. Ed Seifried.

In 1972, and by unexpected circumstances, Dr. Ed joined the faculty of the Virginia-Maryland Bankers School, which at that time served both Virginia and Maryland bankers. Little did anyone know, the faculty were being joined by a man who would become so much more than a teacher. Over the past 55 years, Dr. Ed has mentored countless students and faculty members while inspiring a genuine curiosity about one of the school’s most challenging subjects—economics.

Armed with an insatiable curiosity, boundless energy, and a passion for helping others learn, Dr. Ed has spent more than half a century translating the complexities of our country’s economy into language that is understandable and has challenged bank school students to think beyond the numbers, helping them understand the interconnected forces that shape financial markets, communities, and institutions. Students have left his classroom with a deeper understanding of the economic landscape and a greater ability to serve their customers, communities, and organizations.

In an industry focused on results and performance, Dr. Ed demonstrated the enduring value of relationships. Those who know Dr. Ed best often speak first not of his expertise, but of his character. They describe his humility, generosity, and sense of humor and share stories of spirited classroom debates, invaluable mentoring moments, and friendships that began at the school and lasted for decades. Students remember not just what he taught but how he made them feel.

As I reflect on the past decade of working alongside Dr. Ed and the stories of those who have known him far longer, I am both filled with gratitude for his years of service and reminded that the true measure of a legacy is not found in titles held, classes taught, or years served. It is found in the lives touched, the careers shaped, and the people inspired along the way. By that measure, Dr. Ed’s legacy is not merely impressive, it is immeasurable.