With the drop of a black drape, the Cameron University Department of Business officially took on new life Thursday as the McMahon School of Business. CU President Shane Hunt and McMahon Foundation chair Mark Henry removed the covering from the new sign in Cynthia Ross Hall as the lobby, packed with McMahon trustees, city officials, faculty and students, looked on.
The event honored the McMahon Foundation for a gift of $3 million to enhance Cameron’s business program. The McMahon School of Business is the first “named” school in the university’s history.
“Today is about more than just naming a school at Cameron University,” said Henry. “It is about a family that had the foresight to form a foundation that would have lasting effects on its community and the people’s lives it touches. It’s about a legacy.”
It’s also about investment, Henry noted, “because when you invest in education – especially in business and leadership – you are investing in students that are the future of a community. The students who learn here will go on to lead organizations and make decisions that shape this region.”
CU accounting major Cadyn Young agreed with Henry’s assessment.
“At Cameron, you have the opportunity to not only build the basic skills that earn your degree, but also learn to be a leader, critically think and learn directly from some of the most passionate experts in any field,” he said. “This is what makes this program stand out, and makes it so valuable for those who have the courage to reach for more …”
Earlier in the ceremony, Dr. Krystal Brue, Dean of CU’s College of Graduate and Professional Studies, noted that Cameron’s business program has “punched above its weight” when it comes to providing the highest quality of education in the community, and it will continue to do so. For proof, she cited such examples as a CU student who made the highest score in Oklahoma on the CPA exam, one who scored perfectly on the MBA major field test, and a CU team that bested Ivy League schools in a national ethics bowl competition.
Hunt’s remarks emphasized key elements that the McMahon gift will make possible: The addition of endowed faculty positions that will bring accomplished industry leaders to campus; comprehensive support for current and future students in business programs; an investment in technology and facilities to keep them functional to meet evolving workforce demands; and ultimately, creation of a pool of talent that will lead to the prosperity and vitality of southwest Oklahoma.
Moments like this one don't happen by accident,” said Jennifer Ellis, acting chair of the new school, “they happen because of people who genuinely believe education changes lives. That when you invest in a student, you invest in a family, a business, a community and a future that none of us can yet fully imagine.”
Ellis later added, “This naming is not simply recognition; it is a declaration. It says, ‘We believe in this place. We believe in these students. We believe in what happens here.’ And this gift from the McMahon Foundation ensures that for generations of students yet to come, that belief will be woven into the very walls of this institution.
In all, the McMahon Foundation has given Cameron more than $39 million since its first gift in 1947, when Louise McMahon wrote a check for $59 to provide assistance to students hoping to attend school.
The 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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