Lynn Cottrell receives honorary doctorate
Article By: Denise Ray
Philanthropist and entrepreneur Lynn Cottrell was recognized for her accomplishments and received an honorary doctorate of business administration for her philanthropic contributions in support of the University of North Georgia (UNG) at the university's spring commencement May 7.
Together with her husband Mike, Lynn Cottrell has been a major supporter of higher education and athletics at UNG. The pair have been instrumental in providing more than $28.1 million in critical resources and strategic support for UNG in the past 17 years.
"The Cottrells' transformative philanthropic support has ensured that UNG offers one of the premier business education programs in Georgia, and their recent support for the new Cottrell Center for Business, Technology & Innovation will provide state-of-the-art technology and classrooms for high-demand professional programs offered through the Mike Cottrell College of Business," UNG President Bonita Jacobs said. "The remarkable and continued generosity of Lynn Cottrell illustrates her deep dedication to the University of North Georgia and the north Georgia region."
The remarkable and continued generosity of Lynn Cottrell illustrates her deep dedication to the University of North Georgia and the north Georgia region.
UNG President Bonita Jacobs
In 2006, Mike and Lynn Cottrell made a transformational gift of $10 million to initiate the UNG's first-ever capital campaign and to support the university's educational mission, which resulted in the naming of the existing College of Business as the Mike Cottrell College of Business and marked the largest donation in the institution's history.
In 2019, the Cottrells donated another $10 million for the new Cottrell Center for Business, Technology & Innovation facility on UNG's Dahlonega Campus. Set to begin serving students in fall 2022, the facility will serve as the hub for business and computer science programs with specialized labs, student engagement spaces, and high-technology classes. An additional gift will enhance the UNG's main entrance adjacent to the Cottrell Center for Business, Technology & Innovation.
Lynn Cottrell has been generous in other areas at UNG, including more than $1 million to provide transformational facility support for Nighthawks Athletics.
In addition, the Mike and Lynn Cottrell Scholarship Fund has received more than $1.28 million since its inception in 2013 and awarded over 1,500 scholarships.
Financial support from the Mike Cottrell Endowment Fund has enabled the College to earn AACSB accreditation and recognition as the "Best for Vets Business School" by the Military Times. The Cottrell MBA, a program built for working professionals, has been ranked among the best public, part-time MBA programs in Georgia by both Fortune magazine and U.S. News & World Report.
Lynn and her husband were named 2008 Philanthropists of the Year by the North Georgia Community Foundation.
Grads well-prepared for what comes next
UNG students are earning nearly 1,700 degrees and certificates in spring 2025, and more than half of them will take part in commencement ceremonies May 14-15.