Boston Globe: “Harvard’s top earners in 2024 were not the president or an athletic coach but three professors who took voluntary retirement buyouts.

The university said in its annual 990 tax filing, which was released Friday, that three female business professors, including two who study gender, each earned roughly $1.9 million in total compensation in the calendar year of 2024.

Robin Ely, a professor of business who studies race and gender relations in organizations, earned about $1.9 million in total compensation, which included a lump-sum payment of about $1.4 million as part of the Harvard Business School’s voluntary retirement incentive plan, which allows eligible faculty members to choose to retire at a set date in exchange for a lump-sum payment.

Nancy Koehn, a historian at the Business School, also earned about $1.9 million in total compensation in 2024, including a lump-sum payment of about $1.5 million in exchange for her retirement. And Kathleen McGinn, a business professor who studies gender and work, both paid and unpaid, earned $1.9 million in 2024, including a lump-sum of $1.6 million.

The three professors have now retired from their tenured positions, a spokesperson for Harvard said, which means they’re still able to remain on the faculty for a period of time. The spokesperson added it’s typical for faculty at the Business School to take advantage of voluntary retirement incentive plans.”

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DON’T MISS: THE MOST INFLUENTIAL BUSINESS SCHOOL PROFESSORS OF 2025

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UC Irvine’s Merage School of Business Cuts MBA Program Fees

UC Irvine: “ The Paul Merage School of Business at the University of California, Irvine, has announced significant enhancements to its Flex MBA and Executive MBA programs, including program fee reductions of up to 38 percent and a redesigned, AI-integrated curriculum.

Beginning this fall, Flex MBA program fees will decrease by $30,000 and Executive MBA program fees by $48,000. At $99,000, the Flex MBA now falls below the federal loan cap for graduate business degrees, removing a key financial barrier for working professionals in Southern California and beyond.

“This is about access and relevance,” said Ian O. Williamson, dean of the Merage School of Business. “We’ve redesigned these programs to reflect today’s economy, where AI, flexibility and return on investment matter, and made them more attainable for professionals ready to advance their career. A University of California MBA, now priced below the federal loan cap. That combination simply didn’t exist in this market before today.”

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DON’T MISS: 2026 BEST & BRIGHTEST MBA: MANALI CHAVAN, U.C. IRVINE (MERAGE)

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University of New Mexico Receives $30-Million Gift for Business School

University of New Mexico: “The University of New Mexico has received the largest philanthropic gift from an individual or couple in its 135-year history. A $30 million commitment from Gail and Jim Ellis will transform the University’s business school, expand access and opportunity for students, and strengthen New Mexico’s economic future for generations to come.

In recognition of the gift, the Anderson School of Management—which has shaped the business education of New Mexico students since 1947—will be renamed The James and Gail Ellis School of Business Leadership. It is the first time in UNM’s history that a college or school has been named in recognition of a philanthropic investment.

“This gift expands what’s possible for our students and positions UNM to build a nationally recognized business school grounded in excellence, equity, and opportunity,” said UNM President Garnett S. Stokes. “The Business School built a strong reputation over nearly 80 years, producing graduates who went on to lead businesses, nonprofits, and public institutions across New Mexico and beyond. What the Ellis family has made possible is the next chapter of that story.”

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DON’T MISS: UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO: SPOTLIGHT ON MS IN CYBERSECURITY AND BUSINESS ANALYTICS

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Amy Zeng Tapped As Dean For Chapman’s Argyros College of Business & Economics

Chapman University: “Provost Michael Ibba announced Amy Zeng, Ph.D., as the next dean to lead Chapman’s Argyros College of Business & Economics, home of the nationally ranked MBA program, following a nationwide search.

“Amy’s deep experience and leadership as an established dean known for curricular innovation and integration will accelerate the momentum in the Argyros College of Business & Economics,” said Ibba. “I look forward to partnering with her on interdisciplinary programming throughout our schools and colleges.”

With three decades in higher education, Zeng brings eight years of experience leading two Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)-accredited institutions, serving as dean at both Suffolk University’s Sawyer School of Business and the University of Hartford’s Barney School of Business. At Suffolk, she expanded immersive learning opportunities, launching a neuromarketing lab, consulting clinic, and student-run initiatives. Students gained real-world experience through an interdisciplinary sports marketing program featuring a multi-year partnership with an NBA championship team.”

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DON’T MISS: CHAPMAN UNIVERSITY’S ARGYROS SCHOOL OF BUSINESS

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