Bernard J. Milano, president of the PhD project, a program to diversify business school faculty, will retire on January 15, 2020. He will also retire as president of KPMG U.S. Foundation, Inc.
Milano has been with the PhD project since it was founded by KPMG and other organizations in 1994. Under Milano’s leadership, the PhD Project has increased the number of minority students earning a business Ph.D. from 294 in 1994 to 1,550.
Today, 1,327 of those Ph.D. students teach at U.S. colleges and universities. He also served on the President’s Board of Advisors on Historically Black Colleges and Universities under Presidents George W. Bush and Donald J. Trump.
“Through 25 years of service to The PhD Project, Bernie has demonstrated unwavering commitment to ensuring that business schools represent the diversity of our quickly evolving society and business environments,” said Kim Drumgo, director of diversity and inclusion at the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and Board Chair of The PhD Project. “He has ensured a solid foundation for us to grow on.”
Milano will be succeeded by Blane Ruschak – KPMG’s executive director for campus recruiting and university relations – who will transition into the role starting in December. He will also head KPMG U.S. Foundation, Inc.
