UCLA Extension receives $6 million gift from author Scott Galloway

The money will fund a new program that gives non-traditional students access to the skills and resources needed to launch their careers.

UCLA Extension has received a $6 million gift from professor, author and entrepreneur Scott Galloway to fund a new program that gives non-traditional students access to the skills and resources needed to launch their careers, it was announced Tuesday.

Galloway also gifted $6 million to the Extension program at UC Berkeley, making the combined $12 million award one of the largest gifts focused on University of California continuing and professional education, UC Extension officials said.

“The accessibility and affordability of UCLA and UC Berkeley changed my life,” Galloway, an alumnus of both universities, said in a statement.

“I’m hoping this gift puts the educational resources of both universities within reach for more people and provides skills that lead to the growth of good jobs in the Main Street economy.”

The new UC Excelerator program, scheduled to begin this fall, is aimed primarily at community college graduates and those with limited college experience. The program will provide students with career-focused coursework, networking opportunities and access to industry leaders, all free of cost, according to UC.

“Scott Galloway’s generous gift will help us continue to widen the doors of opportunity and provide our students with the tools and connections needed to thrive in today’s economy,” UCLA Chancellor Gene Block said. “Galloway has been outspoken about the immense impact that UCLA and UC Berkeley had on his life and career, and we are extraordinarily appreciative that he is helping to extend the promise of public higher education to so many others.”

Galloway received a bachelor’s degree in economics from UCLA in 1987 and a master’s in business administration from UC Berkeley in 1992. A member of the faculty of New York University’s Stern School of Business since 2002, Galloway has started multiple companies focused on business intelligence and e-commerce, has written several New York Times bestsellers and is a host of the podcasts “Pivot” and “ProfG.”

Fall 2024 UC Excelerator offerings at UCLA will focus on business and entrepreneurship. UC Berkeley’s program will concentrate on data analytics, facilities management and project management.