CHANGING THE WORLD What your investment in UT makes possible
GETTING TO THE TOP A major contribution aims to take a college from the top 10 to No. 1.
Above: The Moody Founda-
tion’s commitment benefits the School of Journalism’s acclaimed Texas Newswatch initiative and many others that develop student talents. Opposite: In and out of the
classroom, learning opportunities gaining support include student media projects, undergraduate research, and leadership organizations. CREDITS: From left, Texas News-
watch; Moody College; © René Burri/Magnum Photos
58 |The
C
ommunication majors at
UT
are feeling
M oody
these days , and
that’s a good thing. The Moody Foundation has made a $50 million commitment to the college, and in recognition there is a proud new name on campus: the Moody College of Communication.
With 4,700 students, Moody College has national top 10 programs in areas ranging from advertising to public speaking and film production. The gift affects every aspect of the college, not least its ability to recruit high-caliber professors and students. Moody Foundation trustee Ross Moody, BBA ’84, says the University started him on a lifelong path of discovery, and he wants to help UT do the same for others. The Galveston-based foundation elected to support the College of Communication because of its reputation, he
says, “not only among its Texas peers, but among its national and international peers as well. It’s a huge honor to have the Moody name attached to a college that is so well known.” Moody and his fellow foundation trustees— sister Frances Moody-Dahlberg and their father, Robert L. Moody, Sr.—want to see the college go even further and achieve No. 1 rankings in areas it does not already lead. Thus $10 million will be invested in an “idea fund” for developing new curricula and courses, including online education, research, and student activities.