Western Engineering students will soon be exposed to Ivey’s renowned case-method of learning and entrepreneurial expertise thanks to a $3-million gift from Western Chancellor Emeritus John M. Thompson and his wife, Melinda.
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The Thompsons’ investment will create a new Leadership and Innovation Certificate Program, taught by both Ivey and Western Engineering faculty, that combines business leadership and innovation skills with the technical components of engineering. It will be offered to students in Western’s Integrated Engineering Program and include new business and entrepreneurial courses and cases.
The donation will also support a new endowed Chair, the John M. Thompson Chair in Engineering Leadership and Innovation, that will be jointly appointed by Ivey and Western Engineering and housed at Ivey’s Pierre L. Morrissette Institute for Entrepreneurship. The Chair will oversee the creation of new courses and cases for the program, lead the development of a new Centre for Engineering Leadership and Innovation and head related academic activity.
Additionally, the gift will create seven new student awards, including scholarships for students in the HBA/BESc dual-degree program.
A graduate of both Western Engineering and Ivey’s Executive Management programs, John Thompson went on to become a notable leader at organizations such as TD Bank Financial Group and IBM and was awarded the inaugural Ivey Business Leader Award in 1991.
At a ceremony to announce the gift, he spoke about the impact that engineering and business skills have together.
“This gift makes the sum bigger than the individual parts,” said Thompson of the new program. “I have personally experienced the benefits of combining a Western Engineering degree with the business education offered by Ivey Business School. My message in all of this is that this diversity contributes to a stronger leadership capability.”
Eric Morse, Ivey’s Associate Dean of Programs, said the gift will build on the success of Ivey’s programs and reinforce Western as the foremost school to study leadership and innovation.
“At Ivey, we believe the components of engineering and business are great complements and individuals with both have a competitive edge and the skills needed to develop into the business leaders of tomorrow,” said Morse. “This program is unique in Canada because it goes beyond just developing strong technical skills in students, and instead prepares them for the realities of leadership.”
Including this gift, the Thompsons have contributed more than $4.7 million to Western University, supporting such initiatives as the Thompson Engineering Building and Thompson Recreation and Athletic Centre.
John Thompson has also supported the University as Chancellor (2008-12), serving on the President’s Council, chairing Western Engineering’s advisory board and co-chairing Western’s Renaissance Campaign from 1989 to 1994.