Former City Manager Gives $1.2M to Campaign for SDSU

Long-time San Diegan and former City Manager Jack McGrory has pledged $1.2 million to The Campaign for SDSU, it was announced today. 

The gift from McGrory, who received his master’s degree in public administration from SDSU in 1976 and who has taught part-time at SDSU for 18 years, will be divided among three different university beneficiaries, including a portion that will support a permanent endowment in each area:

• Department of Classics and Humanities
• School of Public Affairs
• Joan and Art Barron Veterans Center

“SDSU has been an important part of my career and these initiatives reflect the highlights of my background,” said Jack McGrory, CEO of La Jolla MJ Management Inc.

As a board member of The Campanile Foundation, SDSU’s philanthropic auxiliary, McGrory’s leadership has been integral to the success of The Campaign for SDSU thus far.

"On behalf of the entire university, I want to acknowledge Jack's extraordinary vision and generosity as his gift will have a profound impact in three critical areas,” said SDSU President Elliot Hirshman.

Classics and humanities

The donation to SDSU’s Department of Classics and Humanities, which teaches ancient Greek and Roman history and languages, will support student scholarships, research and teaching. The Jack McGrory Scholars will support tuition scholarships for high-achieving students and the Jack McGrory Study Abroad Scholarship will encourage travel abroad for students with financial need. 

McGrory’s donation will also create the:

• Jack McGrory Collaborative Research Fellows to enhance student-faculty collaborative research
• Jack McGrory Visiting Fellow to bring distinguished visiting scholars to campus
• Jack McGrory Faculty Innovation Awards to reward faculty innovation in teaching and research

McGrory received his bachelor’s degree in the classics and humanities from Colgate University in 1971.

School of Public Affairs

SDSU’s School of Public Affairs, one of the top 20 accredited programs nationwide, develops future leaders for careers in criminal justice, public administration and city planning. 

The donation will fund a staff position that will help undergraduate and graduate students in the school find internships and full-time positions after graduation. Additional funds will create internships in the School of Public Affairs to be known as the Jack McGrory Interns.

McGrory, who earned his MPA at SDSU, served as the city manager for San Diego from 1991-1997. Afterwards, he served as chairman and CEO of Price Legacy Corporation, chief operating officer of the San Diego Padres, manager of the Price Group and executive vice president and director of Price Charities. McGrory also currently teaches a graduate-level course at SDSU in public administration.

“For nearly two decades, I have had the opportunity to teach and work with SDSU’s talented students and this gift is in recognition of their hard work,” McGrory said.

Joan & Art Barron Veterans Center

A U.S. Marine veteran, McGrory’s gift will also provide for additional staffing at the Joan and Art Barron Veterans Center, which serves as the hub for all student veteran support services at SDSU. 

Additional funds will support scholarships for Marine veterans.

More about The Campaign for SDSU

The Campaign for SDSU is the first university-wide fundraising campaign in SDSU history. It includes all of SDSU’s colleges, SDSU Athletics and KPBS. Funding raised by the university will help attract and retain top faculty, support innovative programs and assist talented students through scholarships, as well as move the university forward with strategic investments in people and programs.

To date, the campaign has raised more than $275 million toward its $500 million goal.