Changing Futures

Thunderbird requires visionary leadership to sustain its role as a global leader in business education while adapting to societal challenges and the digital age’s demands. As Dean Charla Griffy-Brown shapes Thunderbird’s future by fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, advancing research and engaging alumni and donors, a Dean’s Chair will secure philanthropic support, building a sustainable foundation for Thunderbird’s continued impact. Global educational inequity hinders economic growth and stability, as limited access to quality education and brain drain prevent many from obtaining skills necessary for the modern workforce.

The Najafi 100 Million Learners Global Initiative offers flexible pathways to education, accessible in 40 languages at no cost to the learner.

By increasing Thunderbird Global Leaders Scholarships and SHARE Fellowships, we can provide full scholarships and vital learning opportunities to students from underserved communities. This will enable them to pursue unpaid internships and extra academic programs that will fuel their careers and build cultural competency, strengthening their ability to serve their communities. We aim to grow the SHARE cohort and expand the reach of Thunderbird’s flagship student success program, as well as our capacity to provide scholarship support.

In 2025, Thunderbird’s Master of Global Management degree program was ranked as the world’s leading international trade program for the third consecutive year, as declared by Quacquarelli Symonds. Thunderbird’s new Global Trade and Diplomacy Lab will build on this success, leveraging our educational foundations and networks across air, land and sea to foster applied research and thought leadership, supporting ethical and intentional leadership. The Lab will address global challenges in areas like space, agriculture, sustainability and water access, inspiring integrated, peaceful solutions.

As the world undergoes a major energy transition, a widespread lack of understanding about energy systems limits public engagement and informed decision-making, impacting economic and environmental security. The Global Institute for the Future of Energy will expand energy literacy and empower communities and leaders to navigate informed, sustainable transitions that support environmental and human well-being.

The next-level scientific innovations necessary to address challenges like climate change must be matched by the ethical, forward-thinking business leaders who will help bring them to fruition. The Center for Responsible and Purpose-Driven Leadership will unite the Julie Ann Wrigley Global Futures Laboratory with the leaders only Thunderbird can create. Together, we will work to shape the people and policies that will define the next generations of life on Earth.

Thunderbird’s unique alumni network is an asset to students and graduates alike. By creating a virtual alumni center, we will nurture the Thunderbird Mystique and support the lifelong learning and success of T-birds worldwide. The Thunderbird Alumni NextGen Center will bring together alumni initiatives and executive education opportunities, enhancing students’ experiences and fostering a globally connected community.

Many women across the globe are excluded from education and employment and underrepresented in leadership, which sharply limits their rights and opportunities. Thunderbird’s Global Women’s Leadership Lab will address gender bias through research, education and partnerships, fostering dialogue and providing scholarships and resources to empower women leaders worldwide.

Thunderbird’s cutting-edge digital learning technology needs continuous enhancement to support innovative, immersive education. Establishing a Thunderbird Technology Endowment and expanding the “Thunderbird Tech Five” initiative will maintain technological leadership, enrich global collaboration and broaden digital engagement for students on and beyond campus.