Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business (MSB) announced a new scholarship for Executive MBA (EMBA) students March 20 in memoriam of the program’s former executive in residence.
Vijay Velamoor, who mentored EMBA students through professional development as executive in residence and special advisor to the program, died in Seattle, Wash., March 20, 2024. The merit-based scholarship is the first named, endowed fund supporting the EMBA program.
Paul Almeida, MSB dean, said Velamoor’s commitment to Georgetown students reflected the core tenets of the MSB’s mentorship goals.
“Vijay’s vision and dedication to Georgetown are the force behind the development of our EMBA mentoring program,” Almeida wrote to The Hoya. “He brought structure to the program, both for the mentors and the mentees, and his expertise in this area is what made the program a success.”
Velamoor joined the MSB in his retirement, having previously worked in human resources, telecommunications and financial services in senior leadership roles at various companies.
Almeida said Velamoor contributed to the MSB through his passion for contributing to aspects of the Georgetown mission such as service and mentorship.
“I was fortunate to get to know Vijay,” Almeida wrote. “He was not an alumnus — he was an executive who learned about our school at an event and really connected with our values and purpose. So much so that he volunteered his time to help us achieve our goals. In addition to structuring our mentorship program, he brought his deep expertise in global business to our many programs and truly enriched our overall student experiences.”
Billy Hayes (GRD ’25), a student in the EMBA program, said he quickly became a student and friend of Velamoor and looks forward to seeing how Velamoor’s aspirations will continue to influence students.
“I’m so grateful to know that Vijay’s legacy will continue transforming the lives of future Georgetown students and have a positive impact on the University,” Hayes wrote to The Hoya.
Almeida said Velamoor’s legacy in the EMBA program will encourage people to recognize the positive role business can play in a globalized world.
“We are proud to honor Vijay’s memory in this way,” Almeida said. “He believed in our mission and our view that business can be a force for good anywhere in the world. As a global executive, he felt he could best help us develop our executive-level students, which is how he connected with our EMBA program.”
The Velamoor family wrote in comments provided to The Hoya that their decision to fund the scholarship is rooted in a desire to help students follow Velamoor’s path.
“We make this gift to Georgetown University in memory of Vijay Velamoor, our beloved husband and father,” the family wrote.
“Consistent with his own background as an immigrant to the United States who revolutionized human resources at several major American and international companies, Vijay encouraged McDonough’s graduates to problem solve, develop an organizational vision when leading teams and never to compromise in their pursuit of that vision,” they added.
Fall 2025 EMBA students will be the first recipients of the scholarship, applying through a holistic process.
The family added that Velamoor’s interactions with colleagues, students and the public made him successful in pursuing his goals.
“At every stop, Vijay earned the trust and respect of directors, employees and the public by building teams that supported each other, prioritized community service and relentlessly pursued excellence,” the family wrote. “Many of his former teammates joined him in supporting McDonough’s students.”
“Vijay successfully pursued his dreams and encouraged his mentees at McDonough to do the same. We are thrilled to institutionalize his deep connection to this storied program and we hope that it inspires future generations of business leaders at McDonough,” they wrote.