07/30/2026
The School of Business and Economics is deeply saddened to share news of the passing of Mike McKay, a beloved member of the Brandeis family.
As a Senior Lecturer, Mike was a key teacher and mentor for a generation of Brandeis University students. Between 2010 and 2022, he taught Introduction to Finance (BUS 71a), Private Equity (FIN 231f), and Security Analysis (FIN 237f). He received our Excellence in Teaching Award in 2011, 2015 and 2019, for his outstanding contributions to our community.
He continued to engage with students outside the classroom, advising several successful student teams for the CFA Challenge, and serving as a guest speaker whenever he could. As recently as last year, Mike met with the Brandeis Consulting Association and the Private Equity and Venture Capital Club to share his expertise and answer student questions.
Mike had a rewarding multi-decade career at Bain, where he was a founding partner of Bain Private Equity.
A former student shared, "He had a remarkable gift for making finance come alive. Whether it was through a catchy song, a memorable video, or a story drawn from his own experiences, he transformed concepts that seemed intimidating into lessons that were engaging, memorable, and fun. His classroom was filled with curiosity, laughter, and an infectious enthusiasm for learning. He inspired us to think differently and to believe in ourselves."
To quote our Interim Academic Dean, George Hall, "Mike was adored by his colleagues. To be in Mike's presence was to feel his warmth, his curiosity, and his spirit of fun. He will be missed"