Brinkley Gift To Name the Brinkley Commons in Miller Hall

The Mason School of Business at The College of William and Mary announced a $5 million gift from alumnus James Brinkley (BA '59, LHD '03) at a November 3 celebration at the Sir Christopher Wren Building. The gift will support the business school's new building, Alan B. Miller Hall, scheduled for opening in Fall 2009.

Dean Lawrence B. Pulley unveiled plans for what will be known as the Brinkley Commons of Alan B. Miller Hall and its impressive atrium, which will serve as one of the main gathering places for students, faculty, and staff in the new building.

"Jim Brinkley is a beacon who lights the future of the Mason School with his generosity, support, and partnership. We are eternally grateful." said Dean Pulley.

Currently, Brinkley is Vice Chairman of Smith Barney's Global Private Client Group. He was previously Vice Chairman of Legg Mason Wood Walker, Inc. and a director of Legg Mason, Inc., the firm that he helped to build with his friend, fraternity brother, and business partner, Raymond A. "Chip" Mason ('59).

In 1962, he was the first employee hired by Chip Mason for Mason and Company; together, they jointly funded the Brinkley-Mason Professorship in Business. As a student, Brinkley received the Algernon-Sydney Sullivan Award. He was a former Rector of the Board of Visitors and received the Alumni Medallion in 1987 and an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters degree (LHD) in 2003. He is an active trustee for the Business School Foundation Board, delivered the inaugural address to the College's Finance Academy (an organization for undergraduate students interested in finance careers) in 2004, and chaired a reunion gift committee for his class in 2003/2004. Active in his local community of Baltimore, Brinkley was honored as the Alex de Tocqueville Society Philanthropist of the Year and has served as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Business Volunteers Unlimited in Maryland.