Fairfield University Names New Residence Hall After Distinguished Alum

FAIRFIELD, CT — Fairfield University will name a new residence hall after the late E. Gerald Corrigan, a 1963 alumnus, former trustee, and longtime supporter of the institution, the school announced.

Corrigan Hall is scheduled to open this fall and will house 186 sophomore students. The two-story facility will include three-person bedrooms with private bathrooms, along with shared spaces for studying, socializing, and community programming.

Corrigan, who died in 2022 at age 80, was a prominent figure in U.S. finance, serving in senior roles in both the public and private sectors. He was president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis from 1980 to 1984, and he later led the Federal Reserve Bank of New York from 1985 to 1993. After leaving the Federal Reserve, he joined Goldman Sachs, where he served as a managing director and partner, and later as the first non-executive chairman of Goldman Sachs Bank USA.

He is widely recognized for his role during the 1987 stock market crash, when he supported efforts by the Federal Reserve to provide liquidity to stabilize financial markets.

A native of Connecticut, Corrigan earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from Fairfield University in 1963 and went on to receive master’s and doctoral degrees in economics from Fordham University.

In addition to his professional career, Corrigan maintained close ties to Fairfield University. He served on the board of trustees for 14 years between 1986 and 2008 and was named trustee emeritus in 2009. He received the university’s Alumni Professional Achievement Award in 1981.

His philanthropic contributions to the university included the establishment of the Zedillo Scholarship in 2004, named for former Mexican President Ernesto Zedillo, and the creation of the E. Gerald Corrigan Chair in the Humanities and Social Sciences and Scholarship Fund in 2007, which supports faculty research and student scholars.

The site of the new residence hall has historical ties to Corrigan’s professional background. The building originally opened in 1979 as the Center for Financial Studies, a conference facility that later housed academic departments and programs, including those within the Dolan School of Business.

Corrigan’s widow, Cathy Minehan, said the family was pleased with the recognition, adding that he had long admired the Fairfield campus as a place for learning and community.

"My husband’s daughters and I are so pleased and excited about the addition of Corrigan Hall to the beautiful Fairfield campus," Minehan said. "Jerry would have loved it, as he often praised the campus as both a remarkable living and learning space."

University officials said the naming reflects both Corrigan’s contributions to the financial sector and his longstanding relationship with the institution.

University President Mark R. Nemec said in a statement that the dedication recognizes Corrigan’s professional achievements as well as his support for the university’s mission.

"Jerry exemplified the very best of a Jesuit education—marked by intellectual rigor, principled leadership, and a life dedicated to the common good," Nemec said. "Throughout his distinguished career in public service and global finance, he remained deeply connected to Fairfield and its mission.

"Naming Corrigan Hall in his honor recognizes not only his extraordinary professional achievements, but also his steadfast support of Fairfield and belief in the transformative power of Jesuit Catholic higher education. It is especially fitting that this residence hall, where students will live and learn in community, will carry forward his legacy."