Longtime Purdue benefactor Parrish commits $42M to name new Daniels School building

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Purdue University has received a $42 million commitment from longtime benefactor and alumnus Roland G. Parrish to name the new flagship facility within the Mitch Daniels School of Business. The building, which is set to open in fall 2027, will be called the Roland G. Parrish Hall of Business.

This gift represents the largest contribution from an individual for a facility in university history.

“Roland Parrish exemplifies what is possible when talent, determination and a Purdue education come together,” Purdue interim President Mitch Daniels said. “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.”

Born in Hammond, Indiana, Parrish (BS industrial management ’75, MS management ’76) is a successful entrepreneur and philanthropist.

Parrish attended Purdue on athletic and academic scholarships, earning four varsity letters and two MVP awards as a member of the track and field team while also serving as a team captain during his senior year. A dean’s list student, he was actively involved in campus life through the Business Opportunity Program (BOP) and Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity. He also served as a residence hall counselor for two years and worked as a teaching assistant during graduate school, reflecting an early commitment to education, mentorship and student success.

After graduation, Parrish spent 13 years with Exxon before pursuing entrepreneurship. Initially rejected in his effort to become a McDonald’s franchise owner, he opened his first restaurant in Dallas in 1989 and ultimately built one of the nation’s largest minority-owned McDonald’s franchise organizations.

“Everything I have accomplished professionally began with the foundation I received at Purdue,” Parrish said. “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.”

Parrish has remained heavily involved with the university over the years. 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 philanthropic commitments include support for each of these organizations as well as the establishment of the Roland G. Parrish Library of Management & Economics, scholarship support, and funding for BOP summer session.

In recognition of his professional accomplishments and service to Purdue, Parrish received the Krannert Business Leadership Award in 2011 and was honored as an Old Master in 2012.

“One of the greatest honors in my life has been the opportunity to give back to Purdue,” Parrish said. “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 164,000-square-foot Parrish Hall of Business will become Purdue’s second-largest classroom building in West Lafayette, behind only the Wilmeth Active Learning Center. The new facility will serve as the centerpiece of the rapidly growing business school and support the university’s mission to develop the next generation of principled, innovative and globally minded business leaders. In addition to flexible space for academic instruction and conferences, the building will also feature modern teaching and research labs for financial trading, data visualization, behavioral research and experiential learning.

“Roland has been an extraordinary partner, advisor and champion for our students,” said Jim Bullard, the Dr. Samuel R. Allen Dean of the Mitch Daniels School of Business. “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.”

About Purdue University

Purdue University is a research institution ranked among the top 10 public universities in the United States. More than 111,000 students study at Purdue across multiple campuses, including more than 57,000 at our main campus locations in West Lafayette and Indianapolis. As a land-grant university committed to affordability and accessibility, Purdue’s main campus has frozen tuition 14 years in a row, enabling more students than ever to graduate debt-free.

About the Purdue for Life Foundation

The Purdue for Life Foundation helps people who love Purdue stay connected, get involved and give back. Created in March 2020, the foundation deepens alumni ties to Purdue, drives and coordinates all alumni-related activities across the Purdue family’s postgraduation lives, and works with alumni and friends to garner support for the university. Learn more at https://www.purdueforlife.org/.