When Marilyn McCloskey, MA’74, looks back on her time at McGill University, she refers to it as “some of my happiest years.”
“Anthropology was my first love,” says McCloskey, who earned a master’s in the subject at McGill. “I was pursuing my passion.”
An American from California, McCloskey already had a political science degree from Pennsylvania’s Bryn Mawr College. Her parents did not approve of her desire to major in anthropology as an undergrad, but she wanted to pursue it in graduate school.
That’s where McGill came in, offering her not just admission to the program, but a teaching assistant position that would cover her tuition, as well as room and board. “That was just fantastic. I was so thrilled, and really fortunate.”
As a result, she spent two “perfectly wonderful” years in Montreal. She lived in a dorm on campus, fell in love with the city, and made lifelong friends.
“I was so lucky to be able to do that,” says McCloskey. “To live in a beautiful city, and study at a wonderful university, with great professors, just because the subject really interested me. That’s why I feel an obligation, if I can do it, to try and repay the taxpayers of Canada for the wonderful education I had. It was very generous, and truly a great life experience.”
McCloskey would go on to study law at the University of California, Davis, and recently retired as the Senior Staff Counsel of California’s Department of Social Services. “I suspect that my McGill degree helped me get into law school, as well as an externship at the state Supreme Court. My taxes are paying back the University of California for that education, but I want others to have the same wonderful experience that I had at McGill.”
McCloskey has succeeded in doing just that, founding the M. McCloskey Graduate Studies Bursary. It has already helped five graduate students pursuing their academic dreams at McGill.
She’s also left a bequest to McGill in her will, in the form of stocks and other securities, to grow her bursary further. It will support McGill scholars for generations, and “that’s the whole point” of her gift. “Not everyone can afford to contribute toward scholarships, but I’d encourage it if you can. The cost of education has gone up tremendously, and I want to give what I can to help those who want the same opportunity that I had.”
Thank you so much for your generous donation. It has been a great help in relieving some of the stress of financially supporting myself while studying full time. Your donation has helped me focus on my research.”
Katrina Olsen, graduate student in the Faculty of Education and recipient of the M. McCloskey Graduate Studies Bursary.
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