The University of Southern California has announced a $15 million gift from trustee and alumnus Thomas J. Barrack, Jr. ('69) to advance international business education at its Marshall School of Business.

The gift will be used to renovate Bridge Hall, which was built in 1928 and, post-renovation, will house fifteen graduate and undergraduate programs in international business. To be renamed Barrack Hall, the renovated building will feature cutting-edge digital technology to help support distance learning and global communication and will serve as a hub for international business thought leadership at the university.

Barrack is the founder, chairman, and CEO of Los Angeles-based Colony Capital, one of the world's largest private equity real estate firms. His gift will count toward a $400 million campaign in support of endowments for scholarships, academic programming, faculty research and teaching, capital projects, and other needs at the school — which, in turn, is part of a multiyear university-wide effort to raise $6 billion.

"Education and the development of a cultural sixth sense are the keys to commerce, and commerce is the key to tolerance and understanding," said Barrack, the son of Lebanese immigrants. "As an alumnus, I feel privileged to supply stewardship for the bricks, while Marshall, its dean, administration and faculty supply the intellectual mortar....I am thrilled to be part of this exciting venture at Marshall and hope that the resources provided by the enhanced facility will help nurture the next generations of international business leaders."