Purdue University receives $42 million commitment for Roland G. Parrish Hall of Business

Purdue University has received a $42 million commitment from longtime university benefactor and alumnus Roland G. Parrish to support the development and construction of a new business facility, the Roland G. Parrish Hall of Business, within the Mitch Daniels School of Business. The Roland G. Parrish Hall of Business is set to open in 2027 and will help the School of Business grow and prepare its students for careers.

According to an article on Purdue University’s website, interim President Mitch Daniels was quoted as saying of Parrish, his accomplishments, and his contributions to the university, “Roland Parrish exemplifies what is possible when talent, determination and a Purdue education come together. His remarkable success as an entrepreneur and business leader, coupled with his lifelong commitment to investing in students and strengthening Purdue, has made an enduring impact on our university. We are honored that his name will be associated with the home of the Daniels School of Business and the students whose futures will be shaped there.”

Jim Bullard, the Dr. Samuel R. Allen Dean of the Mitch Daniels School of Business, also spoke highly of Parrish, saying, “Roland has been an extraordinary partner, advisor and champion for our students. His achievements as an entrepreneur demonstrate the power of persistence and principled leadership. Just as importantly, he has dedicated himself to helping others succeed. This transformational investment will help ensure that future generations of business leaders have access to a world-class learning environment and the opportunities they need to thrive.”

Parrish graduated from Purdue University with a bachelor degree in industrial management in 1975 and a master’s degree in management in 1976. He attended the university on both athletic and academic scholarships. He was on the track and field team and served as the team captain his senior year. Following his graduation, he spent 13 years with Exxon before making the move to entrepreneurship. He opened his first McDonald’s franchise restaurant in Dallas in 1989 and now has one of the country’s largest minority-owned McDonald’s franchise organizations.

Even after graduating, Parrish remained involved with the university. He has served on the Purdue Libraries Dean’s Advisory Council, the Daniels School Dean’s Advisory Council, the Black Cultural Center Advisory Council, and the John Purdue Club’s National Leadership Circle General Committee. His philanthropy has supported these organizations, as well, and the Roland G. Parrish Library of Management & Economics, scholarship support, and funding for BOP summer session. He received the Krannert Business Leadership Award in 2011 and was honored as an Old Master in 2012. 

Parrish said, “Everything I have accomplished professionally began with the foundation I received at Purdue. The Daniels School helped develop my business acumen, while the relationships and mentorship I experienced here challenged me to dream bigger and pursue opportunities others might not see. Supporting Purdue has always been deeply personal because I know firsthand the difference this institution can make in a student’s life. One of the greatest honors in my life has been the opportunity to give back to Purdue. I hope this investment inspires students to pursue their goals with confidence, resilience and integrity and to recognize that success carries with it a responsibility to create opportunities for others.”

The Parrish Hall of Business will be 164,000 square feet and will become the university’s second-largest classroom building. It will house flexible academic instruction spaces, teaching and research labs for financial trading, data visualization, behavioral research, and experiential learning.

For more information about Purdue University, visit the school’s website.