$1M Gift Creates Lifelong Funding for UM Professorship in Finance

In 2003, the University of Montana’s School of Business Administration created its first privately funded professorship thanks to a gift from Carol Jean Byrnes in honor of her late husband, Donald. Now, a second act of generosity ensures the Donald and Carol Jean Byrnes Professorship in Finance will continue for generations to come.

A posthumous gift of $1 million, made through the Community Foundation of Tampa Bay, Carol Jean Byrnes has created an endowment for the professorship. The donation will be invested, and the proceeds will support the position in perpetuity.

“This gift will ensure the University of Montana School of Business Administration carries on a strong tradition of building financial literacy among our students and contributing to the broader field of study,” said Dean Larry Gianchetta.

There have been two Byrnes Professors at SoBA since 2003: Joseph Vinso, who served from 2003 to 2007, and Keith Jakob, who joined the UM faculty in 2000 and has served as Byrnes Professor since 2007.