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McMullen’s Gatton Gift Has Global Effect on Students
“I was the first in my family to go to college,” explains Rodney McMullen. “It opened literally thousands of doors for me.”
Mr. McMullen and his wife, Kathy, recently donated $250,000 to the Gatton College of Business and Economics Global Scholars Program.
The Global Scholars program is a selective, structured degree tract with a focus on international relations and perspectives in today’s business world. Global Scholars enroll in courses focused on leadership and world political and social issues throughout the four–year program. In the junior year of the program, students spend a semester abroad at one of UK’s many international partner universities. During this year, students also complete their minor in International Business.
The McMullens’ gift funds all Global Scholars’ abroad semester for the next five years. In sum, upwards of fifty students will benefit from the gift.
Rodney explains that the idea for the gift came about when he and Kathy approached Gatton School Dean Devanathan Sudharshan. The McMullens asked what Dean Sudharshan felt would help most. He suggested the Global Scholars program, and the McMullens agreed.
The McMullens, who currently live in Cincinnati, Ohio, both have long had a great deal of interest in providing scholarships, and the Global Scholars Program appealed to both their personal experiences. Kathy’s undergraduate major at the University of Louisville was International Studies. Rodney has worked full–time for The Kroger Co. since 1982, where he is now Vice Chairman and a member of the Board of Directors.
Both Kathy and Rodney credit UK with fostering the skills they need today, along with being the place where they first met.
“UK gave me the education and experience I needed to get a job that paid very well...and it’s also where I met Rodney,” Kathy proudly stated.
Rodney echoed her sentiment, expressing that his parents, company, Kathy, and UK comprise, “ninety percent of who I am.”
Along with their personal reasons for supporting the University, the McMullens emphasized that those international programs such as the Gatton School’s can assist in UK’s Top–20 goal. The extensions of these programs can help the University in attracting higher caliber students who may not otherwise consider UK, they feel.
Rodney added that curriculums of this sort, “must be normal” if UK wishes to compete on the national stage.
Though international programs present great opportunities for UK’s improvement, the McMullens see a number of challenges ahead. Kathy stressed the importance of keeping the University focused on improving the state of Kentucky as a whole and maintaining affordable tuition for the state’s students. Rodney emphasized a great need for all members of the UK family to join in support, as the state becomes less and less willing to finance education.
Personally, I applaud the McMullens for their donation. As a Gatton School student blessed with the opportunity to study abroad this summer, I was able to enjoy some of the incredible experiences their contribution will undoubtedly facilitate for future scholars.
I cannot speak highly enough of the weeks I spent at the Vienna University of Economics and Business Administration’s International Summer University.
In the classroom, students from dozens of nations shared norms, perspectives, and ideas. Outside of the classroom, I made unexpected connections. Be it late nights discussing politics with my roommate from Poland or kitchen debates with my Italian friend over whether corn on pizza is strange, the most incredible phenomenon continued to develop. Our differences became our similarities. The fact that we didn’t fully understand one another was fascinating and continually thrilling.
What made my experience most rewarding was the extension of those differences into the classroom. No matter the subject matter discussed, I heard perspectives significantly different from the ones I would hear in the States. That was the true education.
Just as Rodney McMullen notes, “The U.S. doesn’t have all the answers.” Understanding that fact is what will truly open the thousands of doors for UK graduates in today’s world.
Ryan Sims is a Senior in Marketing and Finance. He is a member of Student Government, and works in the Office of Development.