Brian McAuley ’61, ’06 (Hon.)

Brian McAuley, a CPA, is an American businessman who often has been called a “serial entrepreneur.” After a career in public accounting and as a financial executive of two publicly traded companies, he entered the private equity arena where he was CEO/president of several start-up companies, most notably: Nextel Communications Inc., which revolutionized the wireless telecommunications industry, and Anterix Inc., which is bringing broadband wireless communications to many of the nation’s largest electric utilities. In recognition of his more than 30 years of leadership in the industry, McAuley was inducted into the Wireless Hall of Fame in 2015.

McAuley continues to make a significant commitment of both time and resources to philanthropic activities. He has been chairman of the board of directors of Covenant House, a national adolescent-care agency, helping homeless, runaway and at-risk youth. He serves on the Finance Council of the Archdiocese of Newark, is vice chairman of Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Newark and is trustee of the Scholarship Fund for Inner-City Children.

McAuley received a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Adelphi in 1961. Nearly 45 years to the day later, he received an honorary degree at the University’s 110th Commencement in recognition of his extraordinary leadership and philanthropy.