Donor, retired colonel give $1.25 million to UA
by January 6, 2026 4:35 pm 422 views
An anonymous donor and a military veteran has contributed $1.25 million to the University of Arkansas to create endowments for speakers and communication research.
The anonymous $1 million gift to the Center for Communication Research in the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences’ Department of Communication will expand research, professional development, and learning opportunities for communication scholars and professionals.
The planned endowment, supported by estate funding, will provide early-stage money for faculty- and student-led research projects, create student assistantships, and expand the center’s public engagement through conferences, panel discussions and forums.
“The generosity of this donor and their gift will directly increase research activity in Fulbright College, especially in the humanities and social sciences — disciplines that are critical to the college’s mission as a vital public good,” said Brian Raines, dean of Fulbright College. “This investment doubles down on our investment in crucial research that builds critical thinking, analytical reasoning and communication skills that prepare students to lead and thrive in a rapidly changing world.”
In a separate gift, retired Col. Gary Tidwell, a UA alumnus, gave $250,000 to establish two endowed speaker series supporting leadership development for Army ROTC cadets and residence hall assistants at the UA. The Colonel Gary L. Tidwell, USA Retired, Military Science and Aerospace Studies Leadership Speaker Series Endowed Fund and the Colonel Gary L. Tidwell, USA Retired, Leadership Speaker Series Endowed Fund for Resident Assistants will bring speakers to campus to share lessons in leadership, resilience and integrity.
Tidwell, who resides and works in New York City, was commissioned through the ROTC and served nine years in active duty and more than 20 years in the U.S. Army Reserve. He taught and worked in administrative leadership at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.
After his military career, he worked in legal education and securities regulation, including at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in Washington, D.C., the International Organization of Securities Commissions in Madrid and the College of Charleston in South Carolina.