Le Moyne’s business school moves ahead with new name

(PHOTO CREDIT: LE MOYNE COLLEGE)

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — The Madden School of Business at Le Moyne College is going forward as the Madden College of Business & Economics.  The college says that adding economics — which was originally part of Le Moyne’s business program — “represents a strategic realignment that will allow for more collaboration and exchange” between students and […]

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SYRACUSE, N.Y. — The Madden School of Business at Le Moyne College is going forward as the Madden College of Business & Economics. 

The college says that adding economics — which was originally part of Le Moyne’s business program — “represents a strategic realignment that will allow for more collaboration and exchange” between students and faculty in economics, other business fields, and the College of Arts and Sciences. 

The school held an Oct. 4 formal-opening event at Mitchell Hall that included the unveiling of new signage on the building and a redesigned lobby, per the Le Moyne announcement.

Le Moyne’s Mitchell Hall is home to the Madden College of Business & Economics. 

The event also included the announcement of a new endowed professorship in economics. The Madden School became the first named school in Le Moyne’s history 11 years ago.

Le Moyne will continue offering the current bachelor’s degrees in economics, but it’s also adding a new major for a bachelor’s degree in business administration: economics.

The school cited state and federal labor statistics as indicating positions for economists will continue to grow 6 percent through the current decade. Renaming the business school will “raise the profile” of economics for prospective and current students; alumni and benefactors who support the discipline; and also “elevate” economics for the purpose of recruiting faculty. 

It will also allow Madden students to major in economics or pursue dual majors in economics and finance or other combinations, Le Moyne said.

To better support the major, the Le Moyne College recently added two tenure-track faculty members: Elahe Boskabadi and Zichu Zhao, both assistant professors. 

New business and economics chair

In addition to announcing the new name, the Madden College also announced the creation of the Dr. John T. (Jack) Boorman ‘63 Endowed Chair in Business & Economics. 

Boorman spent nearly 30 years in various positions at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and also served on Le Moyne’s board of trustees for 19 years, where he served as the chair of the investment committee for many years. 

The college has named economic professor Wayne Grove as the inaugural recipient of the Boorman Endowed Chair.

Madden College history

Since becoming a named school in 2012 following Mike Madden’s $7.5 million donation, Le Moyne says the Madden School has had “significant growth and advancement” during the past 11 years. 

Madden, a member of the Le Moyne College class of 1971, is managing partner of Bloomfield Hills, Mich.–based BlackEagle Partners, LLC. He attended the Oct. 4 event and delivered remarks.

The Madden College of Business & Economics lists past highlights that include the establishment of the McNeil Academy of Risk Management and Insurance in 2018, the launching of the Dolphin Green and Gold Fund LLC in 2019, and the founding of four centers of excellence that are an “integral part” of the school. They are the Keenan Center for Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Creativity (2013); the Savage-McGill Center for Reflective Leadership (2015); the Hetterich Center for Global Engagement and Societal Impact (2016); and the Walter & MaryAnne Poland Jesuit Center for Research and Teaching Innovation (2021).                   

Eric Reinhardt: