Major gift establishes endowed constitutional law chair at the University of Florida
The University of Florida today announced the receipt of a $1 million gift from alumnus Hugh F. Culverhouse Jr. to establish an endowed chair in constitutional law at the Levin College of Law, strengthening one of the nation's leading public law schools while marking one of the first significant gifts of President Stuart R. Bell's administration.
The gift will establish the Hugh F. Culverhouse Jr. Chair in Constitutional Law, an endowed faculty position that will help recruit nationally recognized scholars in constitutional law and further elevate UF Law's national leadership in legal education.
Culverhouse, a Coral Gables attorney and philanthropist, is a longtime supporter of UF Law. During Bell’s decade as president of University of Alabama, Culverhouse donated more than $20 million to the university, becoming one of its more significant philanthropic supporters. He said the gift reflects his confidence in UF's future and his enthusiasm for the arrival of President Bell.
“I am excited for the future of the University of Florida under the leadership of its new President, Stuart Bell, whom I’ve known for many years,” Culverhouse said. “I have seen firsthand the impact of his leadership and am proud to support the vision he brings to the University of Florida.”
The Culverhouse gift represents one of the first major philanthropic investments made since Bell began serving as UF’s 14th president on July 1, underscoring the confidence alumni and donors have in the university's future under new leadership.
“One of the greatest privileges of serving as president is partnering with alumni and friends who believe deeply in the future of this university,” Bell said. “Hugh's generosity reflects the confidence our supporters have in what UF can accomplish together. I’m honored to begin my presidency with a gift that will strengthen UF’s role in shaping the future of legal education.”
This gift builds on UF Law’s momentum over the last decade as one of the nation’s top public law schools and advances the university's commitment to recruiting and retaining world-class faculty. UF Law is among the top 25 law schools in the nation for faculty impact, and the new Culverhouse Chair will ensure the college leads national conversations on issues of critical importance to American democracy.
“We are excited to launch a national search to recruit a leading constitutional law scholar to join our talented faculty,” said Interim Dean Merritt E. McAlister. “We are so grateful to Mr. Culverhouse for his renewed support of UF Law, and this gift will strengthen our reputation in this critically important field.”
“As President Bell begins his tenure, Hugh Culverhouse's generosity sends a powerful message about the role philanthropy will play in advancing UF's bold aspirations,” said Maria Gutierrez Martin, vice president for UF Advancement. “This investment elevates UF Law while helping build the foundation for the university's next era of achievement and impact.”