Integrating Principles
Prominent graduates support redesign of management curriculum
On top of Marcel Desautels’ landmark gift, a number of prominent business graduates are championing management education in Canada by giving back to their alma mater. They have directed generous support toward the Faculty Innovation Fund, the Faculty Scholar Awards and the refurbishment of the lobby in the Bronfman Building.
Lennox Black, BCom’52, made a $1-million donation to the Faculty Innovation Fund, which supports a number of key initiatives, including a major redesign of the MBA program curriculum, a new joint Executive MBA program with HEC Montréal, new staff and services for the Career Centre, faculty development, and student participation in conferences, competitions and workshops. This is the second major gift that Mr. Black, chairman of Teleflex Inc, has made to his alma mater. In 1999, he donated $200,000 to establish the Lennox Black Venture Development Program.
Former chairman and CEO of the Royal Bank of Canada John Cleghorn, BCom’62, LLD’04, and his wife Pattie — who, over the years, have donated to projects ranging from the Medical Simulation Centre to the Cleghorn Football Award — gave a further $1-million to the Faculty of Management. Half of this gift will be directed to the Faculty Innovation Fund, while the remaining $500,000 will support Faculty Scholar Awards that help ensure the Faculty attracts and retains the best and brightest professors from around the world.
Entrepreneur Don Greer, BCom’57, whose generous gifts in the past have supported the Dean’s Fund in Management and the McGill Institute for the Study of Canada, chose recently to contribute another $500,000 to the Faculty Innovation Fund.
As well, the main lobby in the Bronfman Building has received a major facelift, thanks to a generous donation of more than $1-million from Herschel Victor, BCom’44, chairman and CEO of the men’s clothing manufacturer Jack Victor Ltd. His donation was used for the design and renovation of the lobby and neighbouring bistro. Also included in the remodelling was the relocation and enlargement of the BCom office, additions to the Management Career Centre and the creation of a patio outside the bistro