DONOR SPOTLIGHT
The Donahue Family Endowed Analytics Fund Supporting the Next Generation of Business Leaders Michael and Lynda Donahue ’91 MS, P ’20 have been generous benefactors to Villanova for many years, choosing to support the University for its commitment to mission, Augustinian heritage, and sense of family and community. Over the past few years, the Donahues made a seven-figure gift to create the Donahue Family Endowed Analytics Fund. The Donahues have different, but equally strong, connections to Villanova. Lynda earned a master’s in Human Organization Science from the University in 1991. Mike’s family has deep ties to the Augustinians. In his youth, Mike attended an Augustinian grammar school in Lawrence, Mass. His father and grandfather, John Donahue Jr. and Sr., had been involved with the founding of Augustinian-run Merrimack College. Mike and Lynda met at KPMG, where Lynda worked in human resources consulting and Mike was a managing partner and global chief operating officer of KPMG Consulting. While at KPMG, Mike was asked by Dean Emeritus Tim Monahan, PhD, to be a member of VSB’s Dean’s Advisory Council, a position Donahue served in from 2002 to 2008. Both Mike and Lynda have also been members of the Provost Board since 2017 and their son Danny ’20 VSB is pursuing a career in sports analytics.
As the Donahues met with VSB leadership to discuss development needs and strategic goals, they identified analytics as one of the key areas where Villanova could differentiate itself. “We really wanted to support initiatives that would promote student involvement and assist faculty with resources for new programs and research,” explains Mike. The Donahue Family Endowed Analytics Fund provides faculty and program support for research and program development through lecture series, conferences and workshops offered by the Center for Business Analytics. It also creates opportunities for students to engage in real-world practice with analytics through software as well as national case competitions with other analytics programs. In addition, the Fund offers support for student career exploration through corporate treks and roundtable events. “There are so many career opportunities for new graduates in the analytics field. Business majors who have coursework in analytics are able to jumpstart their careers and get a leg up on their peers as these skills are in high demand from employers,” says Mike. “VSB was among the first business schools to offer analytics and we are honored to help the program remain a leader in the field.”
They also had a personal connection with the Rev. George F. Riley, OSA, former special assistant to the president for Alumni and External Relations. Father Riley had grown up six houses from the Donahue family in Massachusetts. When Father Riley moved to Villanova, the Donahue family continued their patronage of various causes he championed at the University.
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Villanova Business Fall 2022
