Real Estate Leader Bob Lee and UBC Announce a $15 Million Boost to Graduate Programs at the Sauder School of Business

The University of British Columbia today announces a major gift of $15 million in support of graduate education at the Sauder School of Business.

The commitment is led by an initial gift of $5 million from real estate leader and former UBC Board member and Chancellor, Dr. Robert H. Lee. In recognition of his long-term dedication to the university, UBC will endow $5 million to match his gift. Dr. Lee and UBC have also established a joint commitment to secure an additional $5 million in support of graduate programs at the Sauder School of Business.

“My experiences as a student in the Faculty of Commerce laid the foundation for my business career,” says Lee. “I hope this gift will provide graduate students in business with the tools they need to contribute to society and the economic prosperity of British Columbia and Canada.”

Dr. Lee’s gift and commitment to the school will significantly enhance graduate programs at the Sauder School of Business, through the development of educational facilities, technological improvements, creation of curriculum in emerging areas of business education, and marketing initiatives in Canada and abroad.

“Bob Lee’s generous support reflects his long commitment to the growth and success of UBC and British Columbia,” says UBC President Martha Piper. “His gift will increase the growth of business education excellence at this university, and provide future graduates with the tools they need to foster meaningful advances in all areas of society.”

“Bob Lee’s gift to the graduate programs will propel the Sauder School of Business to a new level of global leadership in business education,” says Daniel Muzyka, Dean of the Sauder School of Business. “It will enhance our capacity to deliver the innovative management education that inspires our graduates to think entrepreneurially, connect globally and conduct business with integrity as they contribute to economic development in B.C., Canada and around the world.”

Lee is founder and Chairman of the Prospero Group, and is known for his leadership in west coast real estate investment. A long-time patron of UBC, Lee has served as member of the UBC Board of Governors, as Chancellor of UBC, and Chair of the UBC Foundation. He was a key founder of UBC Properties Trust.

The Sauder School of Business at UBC is Canada’s leading academic business school, recognized globally for its contributions to the transformation of business practices, innovative research and teaching. Sauder graduate programs include the MBA (full and part-time), International MBA, PhD, MSc, MM (Master of Management) and MHA (Master of Health Administration in conjunction with the Faculty of Medicine).

For more information, please contact:

Leanna Yip 
Director, Marketing and Communications
Tel: (604)822.0229
Cell: (604)616.0400
leanna.yip@sauder.ubc.ca