Robert M. McMahon '87, P’20 Named Alumni Service Award Recipient
At this year’s Fairfield Awards Dinner, Robert M. McMahon ’87, P’20 is being recognized with the Alumni Service Award.
“I’m blown away and humbled by it,” McMahon said. “Based on the other award recipients and past award recipients, it’s really an incredible honor.”
McMahon is being honored for his many years of volunteer leadership and effort on behalf of Fairfield, including: Friends of Soccer, Parent Leadership Council, Reunion Volunteer, Dolan School of Business (DSB) career mentor, former member of the Trustee Advisory Council and the DSB Advisory board.
“I do what I do because of the gratitude that I have for the University and for all the things it has provided me over the years,” McMahon continued, explaining that he credits his Fairfield education for the critical thinking and writing skills that have served him well in both graduate studies and his career in finance.
McMahon also said that he’s grateful for his Fairfield relationships. His wife of more than 26 years is Kristin (Dodge) '87, who serves on the Alumni Association Board of Directors. Residents of the town of Fairfield, they have two daughters and one, Elisabeth, is a first-year student at Fairfield.
“Although Kristin and I were the first in our families to go to Fairfield — I’ve lost count now — but we’re up to 12 or 13 family members that have attended or are currently attending Fairfield, and that number is still growing.”
McMahon is also thankful for the friendships he made while at Fairfield. He still keeps in touch with his soccer teammates and takes his role as Friends of Soccer president seriously.
Since about 2000, McMahon has mentored scores of student-athletes, helped connect them to industries, internships or jobs and assisted in honing their interview and resume-writing skills. Now, those alumni continue to come back to mentor the current student-athletes.
“In a very Kevin Bacon kind of way, you touch people, who touch people, who touch people, which is an amazing reward in and of itself,” McMahon said. “The people who come out of [Fairfield] have a bond that lasts a lifetime.”
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This year marks the 75th anniversary of Fairfield, a Catholic, Jesuit university with a proud past and an amazing future. We’re recognizing this milestone at the 2017 Fairfield Awards Dinner where we raise funds for student scholarships and celebrate our most accomplished alumni, faculty, staff and parents.
Join us on Thursday, Mar. 30, 2017, at the Grand Hyatt NYC. Learn more and register now at fairfield.edu/awardsdinner
