Thank a Donor Day is an annual celebration dedicated to expressing gratitude to UA's alumni and friends whose generous contributions enhance the student experience at the Capstone. This tour highlights some of the many endowments established at UA and details their impact on the success of both students and faculty. Thanks, and Roll Tide!
The Gordon and Ann Rosen Endowed Nursing Scholarship was established in 2011 through a $100,000 gift from Gordon and Ann Rosen of Tuscaloosa. Their legacy continues through an estate commitment that increased the scholarship by more than $1 million. To date, more than 70 Gordon and Ann Rosen Endowed Nursing Scholarship awards have benefited students in the College.
Made possible through the generosity of donors, the playground at the RISE Center is currently being transformed into a playscape — which incorporates natural features and play, making the outside space 99% accessible to all the children served at RISE. The Infant and Toddler Yards (phase 1) have been completed and the Preschool Yard (phase 2) is in the construction planning phase with a goal of completion in early 2027.
https://buildingbama.ua.edu/projects/rise-center-playscape-renovations-enhancements/#capitalprojectinformation
The $1.2 million Parker-Haun Tennis Facility was built in 2021 and is the largest facility dedicated to wheelchair tennis in the world. The 3,835-square-foot facility, named for lead donors Tim and Cathy Parker and Charlie and Alice Haun, includes locker rooms for both teams, an athletic training room, offices for the coaching staff and conference rooms.
https://bamaadapted.com/sports/2021/12/29/parker-haun-tennis-facility
The Stran-Hardin Arena for Alabama Adapted Athletics, named for Drs. Brent Hardin and Margaret Stran is the largest facility dedicated to adapted athletes in the world. The facility was made a reality through a gift commitment by UA alumni Mike and Kathy Mouron.
https://news.ua.edu/2018/01/ua-adapted-athletics-opens-stran-hardin-arena/
Through a $500,000 gift to support the UA Counseling Center, the Joe A. and Gerrie M. Chambliss Family Foundation named one of two lobbies at the UA Student Well-Being Hub, a facility designed to centralize resources and elevate student wellness services across the University. The Student Well-Being Hub will open in 2027.
https://studentwellness.sl.ua.edu/student-well-being-hub/
In 2022, UA alumni Clay Smith and his wife, Cameron, along with his mother, Linda, made a $20 million gift toward the project in memory of his father, Mark Smith, cofounder of the global telecommunications company ADTRAN. The Smith Family Center opens in spring 2027 and will meet the performance, design and production needs of our theatre and dance department.
https://news.ua.edu/2023/10/ua-sets-the-stage-with-industry-leading-performing-arts-center-groundbreaking/
The Randall Welcome Center is the new home of UA’s undergraduate admissions and is named in honor of the late Pettus Randall and his wife, Dr. Catherine J. Randall.
https://news.ua.edu/2024/01/new-randall-welcome-center-showcases-alabama-experience/
The University of Alabama named the College of Engineering in honor of late Altec Inc. founder Lee J. Styslinger Jr., following a $25 million gift commitment from his wife, Catherine Styslinger. The support from the Styslinger family provides the Styslinger College of Engineering with a fully discretionary endowment that will position UA at the forefront of engineering and computer science.
https://news.ua.edu/2025/10/styslinger-gift-to-name-uas-college-of-engineering/
Dr. Michael Kreger is the Garry Neil Drummond Endowed Chair; with this position, he is able to advance his research and further advance his knowledge.
https://risingtide.ua.edu/engineering/michael-kreger/
The closet was created to house professional clothing that students could borrow for no cost for interviews, career fairs and presentations. It is named after Denise and Chandler Root, who made a significant gift to the closet.
https://news.ua.edu/2022/09/crimson-closet-offers-students-professional-attire/
A $35 million gift commitment from alumnus J. Frank Barefield Jr. names the College of Arts and Sciences. This tremendous gift will support the entire college and elevate their mission of excellence in teaching, innovation and research.
Barefield Gift to Name UA’s College of Arts and Sciences - University of Alabama News
Since 2010, the A.S. Williams collection has showcased more than 20,000 volumes and pamphlets of American history published between the late 17th century through 2009. Late UA alumnus A.S. Williams III assembled the collection over a 40-year span and gifted it to UA in 2010.
https://www.lib.ua.edu/collections/williams/#/About_the_Collection
The C.T. and Kelley Fitzpatrick Center for Value Investing was established through a generous gift commitment from C.T. and Kelley Fitzpatrick. The Center aims to educate students on the importance of value investing while being a leading resource for investors and students.
https://fitzpatrick.culverhouse.ua.edu/
In 2025, late UA alumnus Jim Kelly was honored with the naming of the Culverhouse College of Business’ top career readiness and professional development program following a $5 million gift from his wife, Ginger. The Kelly LEAD Program engages more than 10,000 students throughout the College.
https://news.ua.edu/2025/11/culverhouse-lead-program-named-for-late-alumnus/
This faculty endowed chair in the College of Education was created by Gary and Nancy Fayard to help improve childhood literacy across the state. The position is currently held by Dr. Amy Hutchison.
https://giving.ua.edu/2024/01/16/digital-literacy-for-all-hutchison-leading-community-research-in-west-alabama/
The Rance M. Sanders Real Estate Program was named in recognition of a discretionary $5 million gift from UA alumni Rance M. Sanders and Angie L. Sanders in 2025. The gift will expand experiential learning opportunities to help real estate majors learn to develop, purchase, sell, lease, appraise and manage real estate.
https://news.ua.edu/2025/09/ua-real-estate-program-named-for-birmingham-area-developer/
Hewson Hall supports students, faculty and staff in the Culverhouse College of Business. The 108,000-square-foot building is named after UA alumni James and Marillyn Hewson, who contributed $15 million to the building campaign.
https://culverhouse.ua.edu/hewson/
The Holle Center for Communication Arts was made possible by the Holle Family Foundation and the late Brigadier General Everett Hughes Holle. The center serves as an international and interdisciplinary hub for storytelling in the College of Communication and Information Sciences.
https://news.ua.edu/2024/09/ua-cuts-ribbon-on-holle-center-for-communication-arts/
A new fashion and design facility in the College of Human Environmental Sciences was made possible through a gift commitment from alumna Terri Drummond Lyon. The building also houses the Fashion Archive, a historical garment and textiles collection.
https://news.ua.edu/2022/02/ua-to-construct-cutting-edge-facility-for-fashion-and-design/
Established as part of a $4 million gift commitment from Coy A. Stout II and Jeffrey S. Falk, this endowed professorship will attract and retain nationally recognized scholars and experts in the field of social work who will make a difference in the quality of teaching and research in the School of Social Work.
Through a $500,000 commitment, Alejandro Perez, an alumnus of the Styslinger College of Engineering, and wife, Michelle, provided a critical gift to help launch the UA School of Leadership and Policy in 2027. The Alejandro and Michelle Perez Endowed Professorship in Leadership and Policy will help attract and retain nationally recognized experts in public policy and leadership.
The Dr. Robert E. Witt University Fellows Program is a cohort-based Honors program specializing in community engagement and social impact. The program is supported by a gift from the late UA alumna Reta Mudd, and is named in honor of the previous UA president, Dr. Robert Witt.
https://honors.ua.edu/apply/witt-university-fellows-program/
UA alumnus James “Jim” Kennemer’s $2 million gift to the Honors College established the James C. Kennemer Center for Innovation, providing support for the Bama innovation gateway program including the BIG Ideas contest and funding for undergraduate research, speakers, forums and outreach programs.
https://news.ua.edu/2023/03/ua-honors-college-launches-james-c-kennemer-center-for-innovation-and-social-impact/
Endowed by Dr. Gaylon and Mrs. Susan McCollough, The McCollough Institute prepares future medical leaders with unique, interdisciplinary studies in medicine that will aid in the development of complex skills involved in the practice of medicine.
https://mccolloughscholars.as.ua.edu/
Since 2006, the Moore Scholars Program at UA has supported students who could not otherwise afford to attend the University. The Moores made a significant contribution to the program during the Rising Tide 2.0 Capital Campaign and now always support eight students per academic year.
https://giving.ua.edu/about-us/1831-society/a-personal-touch/
Sponsored by Ms. Camilla Huxford, the Huxford Symphony Orchestra is The University of Alabama’s top orchestral ensemble and is directed by Camilla Huxford Endowed Chair and Tuscaloosa’s own Ransom Wilson.
https://orchestra.music.ua.edu/