A new destination for global engagement and innovative learning on Northwestern’s Evanston campus will bear the name of a steadfast supporter and distinguished alumna of the Kellogg School of Management: Ann McIlrath Drake ’84 MBA.
The Ann McIlrath Drake Executive Center will be home to Kellogg’s executive MBA and executive education programs while also housing programming for all Kellogg students. Scheduled to open in fall 2027, the center will be named in recognition of Drake’s extensive philanthropy to the school. She is the largest donor in Kellogg history.
A trailblazer in the field of supply chain management, Drake transformed her family’s warehouse and trucking business on Chicago’s South Side into one of the world’s leading supply chain management companies. Today she is president and founder of Lincoln Road Enterprises, a philanthropic organization focused on elevating women’s leadership and creating a future where women are at the forefront of improving the world. Drake also founded AWESOME (Achieving Women’s Excellence in Supply Chain Operations, Management and Education) as well as the Women’s Leadership Center at Williams Bay, scheduled to open this year on the shores of Geneva Lake in Wisconsin.
“Ann Drake embodies the bold leadership we cultivate at Kellogg,” says Francesca Cornelli, the Kellogg School dean. “She has shaped industries, championed the ambitions of many and invested deeply in Kellogg students and programs. This building will inspire generations to lead with the same vision, courage and commitment to others.
The new facility is the centerpiece of Kellogg’s Full Circle Campaign, an ambitious $600 million fundraising initiative by the University designed to transform business education for generations to come. Overlooking Lake Michigan and positioned adjacent to the existing Global Hub, the new center will help create a unified Kellogg campus. The two buildings will be connected via an underground corridor to create “One Kellogg.”
“This state-of-the-art building is a brick-and-mortar commitment to belief in the power of people collaborating with, learning from and supporting others,” says Drake, who earned her executive MBA from Kellogg. “It will bring together students, faculty, alumni, executives and thought leaders in a cutting-edge environment specially designed to encourage innovation and collaboration. That inspires me. That’s a future I want to see.”
Over the years, Drake’s generosity has supported numerous scholarships and faculty development programs as well as the Kellogg Global Women’s Summit. She serves as a member of Kellogg’s Global Advisory Board.
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