Gift to endow Notre Dame business program
NOTRE DAME, Ind. (Inside INdiana Business) – The University of Notre Dame has received a $15 million gift from Ken and Susan Meyer. The gift will name and endow the Meyer Business on the Frontlines Program through the university’s Mendoza College of Business.
Student in the program work with international humanitarian groups, multinational corporations and other organizations to create sustainable business solutions in communities around the world. Notre Dame says Mendoza will be able to expand the program’s global and domestic reach and increase the number of MBA students who participate each year.
“Ken and Susan have been longtime and extraordinarily generous supporters of Notre Dame in many ways,” said Notre Dame President John Jenkins. “We are deeply appreciative of a gift to enhance MBA courses that are among the most innovative in the country, and that reflect the mission of Notre Dame.”
Led by Viva Bartkus, associate professor of management at the Mendoza College of Business, the university says students and faculty have worked on more than 50 projects in 30 countries through an approach that combines business practices, academia, and faith.
According to the university, the program sends students across the globe, focusing on agriculture, infrastructure, and mining projects. The students have also worked on issues such as unemployment, health and sanitation, and human trafficking.
“Our world order is particularly vulnerable right now, mid-year 2020,” said Ken Meyer. “The pandemic’s impact has been particularly harsh on the less fortunate among us worldwide. The Meyer Business on the Frontlines Program will provide our students an opportunity to confront these issues first hand, work directly with the people impacted, and provide practical, affordable business solutions. What a wonderful opportunity for all of us to actually improve less fortunate peoples’ lives!”
Through the program, Mendoza aims to offer the opportunity to more than 100 MBA students annually.