Donald McKenna

Donald Carnegie McKenna (10 October 1907 – 26 November 1997) was an American businessperson and philanthropist. He is best remembered as a founder of and major donor to the Claremont McKenna College, a liberal arts college and member of the Claremont Colleges, located in Claremont, California.

History McKenna was born in Washington, DC in 1907 to Eliza and Alexander G. McKenna. His father was a Pennsylvania steel metallurgist. His grandmother, Anna Hogan McKenna, was a cousin of Andrew Carnegie, and the families were close. He became chairman of the board in 1969 and retired in 1978.

With cousin Charles McKenna, he bred Arabian horses, winning numerous medals at the Los Angeles County Fairgrounds in Pomona. McKenna was a collector of Native American art, especially Hopi kachina dolls. He died at age 90, on 26 November 1997 at his home in Laguna Beach. He continued to contribute to the development of it as a member of the board of directors for the rest of his life.

Becoming coeducational in 1976, Claremont Men's College changed its name to Claremont McKenna College in 1981, in honor of its founding trustee.

McKenna also established the McKenna Merit Scholarship program, the McKenna Professorship in Asian Economics, and the McKenna International Summer Internship Program for students pursuing summer internships abroad in their sophomore and junior years.