MBA scholarships for military veterans championed by Duchossois Gift
The Kellogg School of Management has received a $4 million gift to establish the Janet and Craig Duchossois Veteran Scholarship Fund. The gift will provide scholarships for U.S. Marines and other military veterans enabling Kellogg to enroll more veterans who desire a top-tier business education.
These scholarships will promote the distinctive Kellogg experience among veterans considering business school, expand the existing veteran community at Kellogg and engage more alumni veterans in the life of the school. Anticipated to become available for the fall 2023 school year, the Janet and Craig Duchossois Veteran Scholarship Fund will eventually support two first-year and two second-year full-time MBA students.
“We are grateful for Craig and Janet’s vision and generosity, and that they share our mission to make a Kellogg MBA education attainable for more veterans,” said Francesca Cornelli, dean and Donald P. Jacobs Chair of Finance at Kellogg. “Kellogg’s focus on leadership, teamwork and the ability to thrive in an uncertain environment makes it the perfect place for veterans. They are a great fit because they bring valuable insight and experience, plus a desire to learn and lead.”
“Through our scholarships, we can help ensure that Kellogg is the clear choice for top applicants from the Marines and other branches of the military seeking an elite business education and student experience,” said Craig Duchossois, who has been a generous supporter of Kellogg together with his wife, Janet.
Craig, a member of Kellogg’s Global Advisory Board since 1997, is chairman and CEO of the Duchossois Group, Inc. He served as an officer in the U.S. Marine Corps and sits on the board of the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation. He is a past chairman of the Board of Visitors for the United States Naval Academy. His late father, Dick Duchossois, served in the U.S. Army during World War II under General George S. Patton earning a Purple Heart and a Bronze star.
“Kellogg offers an exceptional culture for veteran students to thrive, and the Duchossois gift solidifies that legacy,” said Bernie Banks, associate dean for leadership development and inclusion and clinical professor of management and organizations at Kellogg. Banks retired from the Army as a Brigadier General in 2016 after leading West Point’s Department of Behavioral Sciences and Leadership. “Military veterans benefit from the strength of our curriculum and community, including our focus on leadership and empathy. These values create a strong culture as veterans transition into civilian life and explore new career opportunities. In fact, our cohort model of learning and team-oriented environment closely reflects military models,” he explained.
Veterans at Kellogg
Kellogg supports veterans and their families through specialized programs and organizations for prospective students, current students and alumni. When a veteran expresses interest in Kellogg, members of the Kellogg Veterans Association (KVA) assist them in navigating the path that leads from application to admission to embarking on the Kellogg journey. The KVA also supports veteran-specific extracurricular activities and career development, including hosting veteran alumni to speak to students. In addition, the Joint Ventures club brings spouses and partners of Kellogg students together to help with the transition to life at Kellogg and provide mutual support throughout their time at the school.
Kellogg is home to multiple faculty members, including Banks, who have served in the military.
Mike Rogers, senior fellow and adjunct professor with the Kellogg Executive Leadership Institute, joined Kellogg in 2019 after spending nearly 37 years in the Navy and rising to the rank of four-star admiral. His career includes a four-year tour as commander of U.S. Cyber Command and service as director of the National Security Agency. Army Colonel Fred Maddox joined Kellogg in August 2022 as the school’s 10th Chief of Staff of the Army Senior Fellow. The Army assigns a few such fellows to premier academic institutions like Kellogg each year to serve as strategic ambassadors. During his 26-year tenure as an Army officer, Maddox served as a leader, adviser to Army executives, strategic planner and operational manager.