Ted Rogers School community mourns the loss of Wayne McFarlane

The Ted Rogers School community has lost one of its best friends; Wayne McFarlane (external link, opens in new window)  passed away on Friday, January 31. He was 78.

For 15 years, Wayne served as Executive in Residence at the Ted Rogers School of Management, a role he generously used to help advance the careers of MBA students. Whether it was making himself available for practice job interviews or opening his expansive network of contacts to help students make connections, providing words of encouragement to anyone who faced setbacks or celebrating someone else’s achievements, Wayne was a tireless champion of the Ted Rogers School and the people who learn and work there.

“Wayne brought a jolt of joyous energy every time he entered our building,” said Dean Cynthia Holmes. “His commitment to helping others and his belief in the value of what our graduates have to offer was boundless. He was a vibrant example of how a single person can make a difference for others in ways both great and small.”

Wayne was instrumental in establishing what we now call the Business Career Hub, which supports Ted Rogers School students to be job-ready. He helped create the school’s Top 200 program and helped establish the School of Accounting and Finance and MBA Advisory Councils.

Before he joined the Ted Rogers School family, Wayne spent a 30-year career leading human resources for PriceWaterhouseCoopers. The experiences and insights gained across that career were available to any student who sought Wayne’s help. In September 2021, Wayne was awarded the school’s Honorary Alumnus Award. In recognition of his contributions, Wayne was named Distinguished Professional Advisor Emeritus upon his retirement from his role at the Ted Rogers School.

Wayne’s family has requested that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Wayne McFarlane Scholarship at the Ted Rogers School of Management.