McMahon Foundation gives Cameron University $3 million gift to establish new business school

The McMahon Foundation has awarded Cameron University $3 million to enhance its business program. The Board of Regents for the University of Oklahoma, Cameron University and Rogers State University formally accepted the gift and approved the naming of the school earlier this week. The McMahon School of Business is the first "named" school in Cameron University history.

"The McMahon School of Business will have a transformational impact on our students, our regional workforce and the economic development of southwest Oklahoma," said Cameron University president Dr. Shane Hunt. "Thank you to the McMahon Foundation for this gift, which will help ensure that faculty excellence, student support and innovative programming are sustained for decades to come."

"The McMahon Foundation is honored to continue our legacy of investing in the growth and vitality of southwest Oklahoma through this $3 million gift to establish the McMahon School of Business at Cameron University," said board chair Mark Henry. "This partnership reflects our belief in the power of education to transform lives and strengthen communities. We are proud to help create opportunities for students to lead, innovate, and give back - values that have guided the McMahon family's philanthropy for generations."

The McMahon School of Business will be part of Cameron's College of Graduate and Professional Studies and report to the dean of that college.

Key elements of the gift include the creation of two endowed chairs that will enable CU to attract and retain top business faculty; two endowed professorships supporting faculty who advance innovative teaching and research; and an executive-in-residence program that will bring accomplished industry leaders to campus and emphasize mentorship, applied learning and career development opportunities.

The McMahon gift will also provide comprehensive student support for tuition and books, housing, internships and stipends. It will fund collaborative faculty-student research, professional conference participation and presentations on regional, national and international stages. Business and entrepreneurship summer camps will be established for middle school, high school and college students to spark interest in business careers through hands-on projects and faculty mentorship.

The infrastructure portion of the gift will create an "innovation lab" - a collaborative space for research that provides students with real-world learning opportunities. A $500,000 building endowment will ensure that the new school remains modern and functional to meet evolving workforce and curricular needs, and an additional $500,000 will support upgrades to technology and facilities.

"Together, these create a powerful ecosystem for business education - one that expands student opportunities, enhances faculty excellence and ensures that facilities meet the demands of a dynamic economy," Hunt noted. "By naming the School of Business, the McMahon Foundation has further secured a visible and permanent legacy, directly tied to the prosperity and vitality of southwest Oklahoma."

This week's gift is the second largest ever received by Cameron, exceeded only by $4 million given by the McMahon Foundation in 2006. In all, the foundation has given Cameron more than $24 million since its first gift in 1947, when Louise McMahon wrote a check for $59 to provide assistance to students hoping to attend Cameron State Agricultural College, as the university was known at the time.

The McMahon Foundation is the leading donor in Cameron's 117-year history. Its support has funded countless scholarships, provided support for academic programs, and funded campus improvements that include the Louise D. McMahon Fine Arts Complex, the Academic Commons, the McMahon Centennial Complex and various athletic facilities.

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