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Lift and Lead With The James & Gail Ellis School of Business Leadership

UNM Anderson students win sales competitions
Grad student Kiana Alvarez celebrates top honors at the 2025 National Collegiate Sales Competition, with teammates Kaitlin Rasmusen and Than Ngo advancing to the Sweet 16.

The Ellis School of Business Leadership is at the forefront of business education in New Mexico—preparing students not only to thrive in today’s competitive workforce, but to lead with integrity, innovation, and impact. Recognized among the top 6% of business schools worldwide with dual AACSB accreditation in business and accounting, The Ellis School is fueling New Mexico’s economic future by educating diverse, driven, and capable leaders.

With the completion of a bold new five-year strategic plan, The Ellis School is accelerating its mission through five core priorities:

  • Expanding transformative experiential learning opportunities
  • Strengthening career readiness and job connections
  • Driving innovation in education and curriculum
  • Supporting research that serves regional growth
  • Making education more accessible through scholarships

In 2024-2025 alone, more than 2,100 students participated in Innovation Academy initiatives, nearly 280 students received donor-funded scholarships, and Ellis students earned top rankings in national business competitions. Experiential programs like the Student-Led Regents Portfolio, which manages over $5.3 million in assets, and the Behavioral Lab, which serves more than 400 students each semester, continue to define our hands-on, student-centered approach.

Your gift helps grow and sustain this momentum. Philanthropic support plays a vital role in delivering high-impact learning, attracting world-class faculty, supporting student achievement, and strengthening industry and community partnerships.

 

 

Learn more about how your support makes an immediate impact on students like Jennifer and Matias.

 

 

 

The Ellis School of Business Leadership's Current Giving Priorities

 

Students excited about internships

The Ellis School Student Success Fund

The Student Success Fund empowers students to apply classroom learning in real-world settings. Your support helps provide paid internships, industry-sponsored projects, national competition travel, and leadership development experiences. These opportunities build critical professional skills and give students a competitive edge after graduation.

Donations help Ellis students compete

The Ellis School's Dean's Fund for Excellence

As The Ellis School for Business Leadership evolves to meet the needs of a dynamic economy, flexible funding is essential. The Dean’s Fund allows leadership to respond quickly to emerging opportunities and invest in strategic priorities that improve student outcomes and strengthen the school’s position regionally and nationally.

The Ellis School's Faculty Excellence Fund

World-class teaching and mentorship are the foundation of our success. This fund supports faculty with resources for innovative teaching, research, and special initiatives that enhance student learning and extend the impact of The Ellis School across communities and industries.

Donations to The Ellis School scholarship fund help students graduate

General Scholarship Fund

With nearly 40% of students at The Ellis School for Business Leadership facing significant financial challenges, scholarships can be the key to academic persistence and graduation. Your gift helps make education more affordable, supports a diverse student body, and ensures that talented students from all backgrounds can succeed and lead.

 

When you invest in The Ellis School, you're not just supporting a school—you’re shaping the future of New Mexico’s business leadership and opening doors for the next generation of changemakers.

To learn more or discuss how your gift can make a difference, please contact:

Melanie Hitchcock
Janice Ruggiero