$5 Million Gift from Roberta and Malin Burnham Supports UCSD's New Management School

Business Wire, Feb 24, 2003

News Editors

SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 24, 2003

The University of California, San Diego's (UCSD) new Management School received a $5 million gift designated for use at the Dean's discretion from Roberta and Malin Burnham. The gift is the largest to-date for the school.

"UCSD is extremely grateful for this generous gift from Roberta and Malin Burnham, which will greatly enhance the development of the Management School," said UCSD Chancellor Robert C. Dynes. "The Burnhams have played a critical role in the establishment of the school, and believe strongly that its program will help keep San Diego at the forefront of the nation's high-tech and biotech industries."

"The gift from the Burnhams is the first major step toward our goal of redefining business education, and we are fortunate that Malin Burnham has been a driving force in the development of this vision," said Robert S. Sullivan, founding dean of the Management School. Sullivan, whose appointment became effective Jan. 1, 2003, was previously dean of the Kenan-Flagler Business School at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

"We are eager to see the Management School begin its efforts to train future business leaders for San Diego, the nation, and the world -- especially in the high-tech fields," said Malin Burnham, chairman of The Burnham Companies. "It is our belief that the school and its graduates will make strong contributions to the long-term stability and growth of San Diego's economy. Furthermore, we believe that UCSD will attract new talent to our region, and many of the school's graduates will stay and build their careers here."

The University of California Board of Regents approved plans for UCSD's Management School in October 2001, and the charter class of executive MBA students will enroll in fall 2004. The first class of full-time students is slated for fall 2005. The Management School was established in response to the growing need for strong management skills in the technology-driven California economy.

Unlike conventional MBA programs, UCSD's program will target younger students from diverse cultural backgrounds. It is anticipated that at least 60 percent of the student body will have science and engineering backgrounds. The school will offer a variety of full-time and executive MBA programs, executive programs and a Ph.D. program. In addition, joint degree programs will be offered with the Jacobs School of Engineering, the School of Medicine, and the Graduate School of International Relations and Pacific Studies.

Malin Burnham has a long and distinguished record of leadership with UCSD. He is a trustee and chair emeritus of the UC San Diego Foundation; has been a member of the university's Board of Overseers since 1995; was a founding member of Chancellor's Associates, UCSD CONNECT, and San Diego Dialogue; serves on the Director's Cabinet at Scripps Institution of Oceanography and on the Advisory Council at Jacobs School of Engineering; and is the chair of fund-raising efforts for the Management School. In 2002, he was awarded UCSD's Chancellor's Medal in recognition of his long-standing personal commitment to higher education and numerous other leadership roles that have helped the San Diego community grow and prosper.

The gift was made through the Burnham Foundation, which is a private, non-profit, public benefit corporation established by Roberta and Malin Burnham in 1980. During the past 23 years, their gifts have contributed to San Diego's community, education, arts, health and research organizations.

About UCSD:

Since its founding in 1959, the University of California, San Diego has rapidly risen to its status as one of the nation's premier institutions for higher education and research exploration. UCSD is a powerful magnet for those seeking a fresh, next-generation approach to education, research and community service. The campus supports 23,000 undergraduate and graduate students and more than 20,000 employees. The faculty includes six Nobel Laureates, and UCSD has one of the nation's highest percentages of faculty elected to the prestigious national academies.