A Conversation with Ross Chief Advancement Officer Matt Young
Edward J. Frey Dean of Business Sharon F. Matusik sat down for a conversation with Matthew (“Matt”) Young, who joined the Ross School of Business as Chief Advancement Officer (CAO) in July. Here, she asks Matt various questions to help us get acquainted with him — and his aspirations for the Ross Office of Advancement. Enjoy reading their Q&A dialog below.
- Sharon: Just for fun, let’s start with an icebreaker. Please tell me who one of your favorite musicians or musical groups is and why you appreciate them. Is there a specific song that particularly resonates with you?
Matt: I spent many hours listening to Frank Sinatra with my grandfather as a kid. Sinatra’s Italian heritage and the Rat Pack appeal of that generation made him a favorite. “My Way” is one specific tune that resonates with me — both because I could see my grandfather reflecting on his own fulfilling life through the lyrics but also because I often think about how my children will regard my legacy and hope they can say that in the challenging times, “I faced it all, and I stood tall and did it my way.”
- Sharon: I understand that your wife is from Michigan, but you are new to the state. Can you share a little about your family and what you most appreciate about being in the Great Lakes State?
Matt: I’ve spent much of my life in the Midwest, so Michigan feels like home. We didn't get to enjoy having so many relatives close by during our decade in Colorado, and with young children, the proximity to grandparents benefits everyone. While we love and miss the mountains of Colorado, it is great to be near so much water again. Nothing beats summer visits Up North in Michigan, so we’re thrilled to have those back.
- Sharon: What most excites you about being at Ross?
Matt: Ross is a world-class institution with the potential to be even more impactful, respected, and highly ranked than it is today. That’s appealing — especially for someone responsible for philanthropy that enables impact to be realized. Additionally and relatedly, Ross has brilliant faculty, staff, students, alumni, and donors. Being surrounded by such talent makes my work more enjoyable and fulfilling.
- Sharon: As you know, we like to go big at Ross, so our yet-to-be-announced goal for the Look to Michigan Ross campaign promises to be tremendously ambitious. In your expert opinion, what will it take for the school to succeed in our next capital campaign? How important is this campaign for Ross' future?
Matt: As we celebrate 100 years of Ross, this campaign is critically important in charting the course for the next 100 years. If Ross is to continue to lead as a place where we build a better world through business, we need to infuse the school with the resources necessary to dream big and look to the future. That’s where the power of philanthropy comes into play. We need all Ross alumni and donors to embrace their role as partners in the school’s ongoing success and impact.
- Sharon: Most people understand that your role focuses on helping the school raise the capital needed to meet our strategic funding priorities. But your position overseeing the Ross Office of Advancement comes with myriad responsibilities. Is there a more nuanced aspect of your CAO position that you are particularly enthusiastic about? Or what unique goals or objectives do you have in mind for the Advancement team that could inspire us all?
Matt: While our Advancement team is responsible for equipping Ross with the funds needed to be exceptional, we are always cognisant that we also work for our alumni and donors. We are tasked with forging a symbiotic relationship with our alumni community, helping individuals build and maintain lifelong connections with the school. At the same time, we help donors and prospective donors strategize and realize the impact they’d like to make at Ross through their philanthropy. In a nutshell, our work is two-fold: we build relationships, and we advance the school. I’m excited about finding and implementing new and improved ways of doing both.
- Sharon: Is there anything you’d like readers to know about you, the Office of Advancement, or the soon-to-launch Look to Michigan Ross campaign?
- Matt: We want Ross to be worthy of our alumni’s continued pride and the school to be the primary recipient of their philanthropic giving. As part of this, I want our alumni, parents, donors, students, staff members, and other stakeholders to know I am accessible. If someone has a question, idea, or feedback about Ross Advancement or the Look to Michigan Ross campaign, I invite them to please feel free to email me at [email protected] or call our office at (734) 763-5775. Michigan Ross still has a significant capacity for growth, supporting our mission, and I am excited to help foster and facilitate that growth through our work.