Dr. Alan Middleton: a Schulich champion
As a young UK immigrant looking to expand his skills while running a marketing consultancy, Alan Middleton was intrigued by the idea of pursuing an MBA at the Schulich School of Business – then known as the Faculty of Administrative Studies.
“It was clear to me that Schulich was the place to be, and Dean Emeritus Horváth saw what was coming in management education.” This realization led Alan Middleton to begin what would eventually turn into decades of engagement as a student, alumnus, instructor and administrator at the Schulich School of Business.
Completing his MBA in Marketing in 1977 was everything he expected and more as he moved onto new challenges in his career. Following his MBA, Alan had a successful career in marketing in Canada and Japan before doing his PhD and starting his academic career. In 1997, he also completed his PhD at Schulich.
In 1991, Middleton received a call from his alma mater to lead the Executive Education portfolio – a challenge he couldn’t resist. Over his 19-year tenure as a highly regarded Schulich faculty member, he became an inspiration to our community and played an important role in enhancing Schulich’s reputation both nationally and internationally.
Today, as Dean Zwick leads Schulich into a renewed era of innovation and growth, Middleton wants to ensure students have the same advantages he had. He worries about the cost of education and seeks to ensure that a lack of finances never becomes an obstacle to skill development throughout one’s career. He believes in the transformational power of education and its ability to launch successful careers.
While in his 50s, Middleton began contemplating how he might support the causes that matter most to him – and one of those was education. “I’m leaving a bequest to the Schulich School of Business since it was important to me. Education is one of the major areas I’ve selected for bequest gifts when I’m gone.”
“A legacy gift is not just a donation – it’s a timeless investment in the future of our School and our students,” says Dean Detlev Zwick. “It helps fuel program expansion, nurture innovation, and empower our students. Middleton’s inspirational leadership and vision is helping ensure that Schulich provides the same sort of life-changing opportunities that it did when he was a student.”
To join Alan Middleton as a legacy donor or to learn more about how you can include Schulich in your estate plans, contact Ana Santos, Advancement Officer, Major Gifts at advancement@schulich.yorku.ca or visit our Legacy Giving website to learn more.