The University of New Mexico celebrates the groundbreaking of the new McKinnon Center for Management on Monday, Jan. 30 at 11 a.m.
Acting Provost Craig White and acting Anderson School of Management (ASM) Dean Shawn Berman welcome Ian McKinnon to celebrate the groundbreaking of the new McKinnon Center for Management.
Demolition of the west wing of the old Anderson School building is underway allowing construction to begin on the new facility. McKinnon, and his wife, Sonnet, an alumna of UNM ASM, are long-time supporters of the school, and the lead donors of the new Anderson building. Once completed, it will be a place where students will learn the skills they need to become the business leaders of the future.
White says the McKinnon's investment will have a significant impact on Anderson students for years to come.
"The construction of the McKinnon Center for Management is a major milestone in the history of the Anderson School,” said White. “It will provide Anderson students a facility enabling world-class management education. We are extremely grateful to the McKinnon family for their generosity and foresight."
Berman echoed those thoughts.
"I'm especially excited for our students who will benefit from the new state-of-the-art building with larger classrooms and the most up–to–date IT services," said Berman. "It will be beneficial in helping us attract top quality faculty to Anderson, furthering the research and teaching mission of the school."
The McKinnons both grew up in Albuquerque. Sonnet is an Anderson alumna who graduated with a BBA in finance in 1993, while Ian is a graduate of the Albuquerque Academy and serves on its Board of Trustees. He earned a BA from Occidental College, an MBA from Harvard Business School, and was a finalist for both the Rhodes and Marshall Scholarships.
The McKinnon's generous gift of $7.5 million is the largest single gift to UNM by living individuals. It was earmarked to benefit the Anderson School, WisePies Arena ("The Pit"), and the UNM Tennis Complex. The construction of the McKinnon Center for Management will complete the use of these funds for the long-term benefit of the university. The 18-month project is scheduled to be completed in May 2018.
In 2010, with a prior gift, Ian and Sonnet created the endowed McKinnon Distinguished CEO Lecture Series at the Anderson School to show students what opportunities are possible in the business world.
The ceremony, open to the public, begins at 11 a.m. at the site of the old Anderson School building located at 1924 Las Lomas NE. It will be followed by a reception in the Jackson Student Center with light refreshments. Hourly parking is available via credit/debit card at the structure located at Lomas and Yale on the north side of the UNM campus.
The Anderson community can follow the construction process on the school’s website. Updates will be posted at MCM building.