Michigan Ross Receives $20M Gift to Launch Leadership Center

Last week, Michigan Ross received a $20 million gift from former General Mills CEO Stephen W. Sanger and his wife, Karen Sanger. The money will go towards the construction of the Sanger Leadership Center. According to the Ross press release, “The Sanger Leadership Center will incorporate and expand on the current activities of the Ross Leadership Initiative – including the annual Impact Challenge and Crisis Challenge, Legacy Lab, Story Lab, skills-based workshops, and a variety of learning communities — as well as the Leaders Academy, where students create, launch and lead actual businesses.”

Stephen W. Sanger received his MBA from Michigan in 1970, joined General Mills in 1974, and then later became CEO of the giant food company. During his tenure, GM sales more than doubled; earnings and market capitalization tripled.

Ross associate dean and faculty director of the Sanger Leadership Center, Scott DeRue, says of the gift: “It will help us create even more high-impact, high-touch leadership development experiences that students can't get anywhere else but Ross. I envision a future where 50,000 Michigan Ross students – past, present, and future – lead positive change in themselves and around the world. The creation of the Sanger Leadership Center and the generous gift from the Sangers mark a major leap forward in achieving this important vision. It's an incredible addition to our leadership initiatives, and I am proud to be a part of this school and university at such an exciting time.”