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A case competition professor is remembered

Professor Richard Donovan’s impact at Desautels is honoured with new award for excellence in case competition.

Professor Richard (Dono) George Donovanpassed away suddenly on August 3, 2019,but his influence is still felt by countlesscolleagues, alumni and students, particularly those who participated in his Case Class.

According to Jaclyn Leebosh (BCom’11), Case Class was one of the most practical courses that she and her peers took during their time at 69Ƶ. “Case Class alumni are able to use thestrategic framework and presentation techniques we learned fromDono to structure how we deliver information in the boardroom,” she affirmed. Leebosh calls Donovan a “true trailblazer forexperiential learning” who demonstrated an immense passion forhelping students reach their full potential. Thanks to the training she received in Case Class, Leebosh won first prize in a casecompetition during 69Ƶ Marketing Week, which awarded her an internship that launched her career.

Melissa Sonberg, Professor of Practice, Organizational Behaviour, who teaches Case Class today, emphasizes that no one can fill Professor Donovan’s shoes, but they can honour him for theimpact he made. Recently established in his honour, the RichardG. Donovan Award in Case Excellence will recognize graduating students who have excelled in case competitions during their time at Desautels.

Leebosh and 139 other donors have already contributed a total of $45,000 to the fund. “Contributing to the Richard G. Donovan Fund presents an incredibly meaningful opportunity for us all to carry Dono’s legacy forward and ensure the continuity of his vision to develop and showcase 69Ƶ’s talent on the world stage,” she said. The inaugural recipients of the award are BCom students Anne Sophie Levee and Sara Duklas.

A Tribute to Richard Donovan


To honour the memory of Professor Donovan by helping the Richard G. Donovan Prize in Case Excellence Fund reach its $50,000 goal, contact theAlumni.mgmt [at] mcgill.ca (subject: Supporting%20Desautels) (Desautels Alumni Advancement team).

Article written byAshley Rabinovitch


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