Cornell to use $10M donation to endow deanship of School of Hotel Administration

ITHACA, N.Y. — Cornell University will use a $10 million donation from an alumnus to endow and name the deanship of its School of Hotel Administration (SHA).

Bradley (Brad) Stone, president and partner in Las Vegas, Nev.–based Global Gaming Asset Management, LLC, has committed a $10 million gift for the deanship endowment.

Stone is a 1977 graduate of Cornell’s SHA.

Brad Stone is the “ideal” person for whom the deanship could be named, Michael Johnson, dean and E.M. Statler professor in School of Hotel Administration, contended in a Cornell news release.

“Brad is a committed alumnus with an inspiring career in the hospitality industry, and his name will honor the School of Hotel Administration and the position of dean,” Johnson said.

Endowments to name the school’s senior-leadership posts are among the “most important” gifts any university can receive, David Skorton, president of Cornell University, said in the news release.

“These investments allow us to attract the very best leaders to guide the future of our institution, and they provide critical funds for deans to address foremost priorities,” Skorton said. “Knowing we have the resources to recruit individuals who are singularly qualified to shape the school’s teaching and research enterprise will be of enormous benefit to me, to my successor Elizabeth Garrett, and to future presidents of Cornell.”

Stone had previously provided financial support to establish the Stone Family Faculty Renewal Fellowship and the Bradley Stone ‘77 Scholarship, the school said.

Additionally, Stone has served as a two-term member of the dean’s advisory board, and on the Cornell University Council since 2013.

Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com