Wilson School of Hospitality tapped to help develop college program at Rwandan university

By Michael Sheffield
Memphis Business Journal
September 25, 2009

The University of Memphis is working with Little Rock-based Bridge2Rwanda on the creation of a hospitality and resort management program at Muhabura University in Rwanda that will send some University of Memphis professors overseas to help the school’s program get off the ground.

Bridge2Rwanda was founded by Dale Dawson, former head of investment banking at Stephens, Inc., and founder of TruckPro, a heavy duty truck parts distributor that he later sold to AutoZone, Inc.

Dawson founded Bridge2Rwanda after establishing Sonrise School, a 1,000-student boarding school in 2006. Half of Sonrise’s student body are orphans from the wars of the late ’90s. Muhabura University will begin classes next fall with 100 students, eventually growing to 1,500 students and 120 faculty members. Bridge2Rwanda is working with private donors to raise $1.6 million to get the school open, with a master plan to completely build out the school budgeted at $15 million, which will also be raised through donors. The students will get student loans from the government and scholarships will be provided to the best students. Dawson says Bridge2Rwanda is also looking to create its own student loan fund.

The university will be located on a 26-acre Rwandan air force base donated by the Rwandan government. Dawson says he became involved with Kemmons Wilson School of Hospitality and Resort Management through Kemmons Wilson Jr. of the Kemmons Wilson Cos. who works with him on an organization called Halftime.

About Dale Dawson:
Dale Dawson is Founder & CEO of Bridge2Rwanda, an organization committed to creating tomorrow’s leaders by building schools and businesses in Rwanda.
He serves on Rwanda President Paul Kagame’s Presidential Advisory Council as well as the Boards of Urwego Opportunity Bank of Rwanda and the Sonrise Primary/High School in Musanze, Rwanda.