UA Announces Major Initiatives To Honor Sen. Richard Shelby

TUSCALOOSA, AL — The University of Alabama System Board of Trustees on Friday announced two initiatives to honor the impact of recently retired U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby.

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The UA System Board of Trustees approved The Shelby Endowment for Distinguished Faculty, which will leverage $100 million in Congressionally directed funding to create a permanent endowment that will support the recruitment and retention of exceptional faculty members in science, technology, engineering and math, also referred to as STEM.

UA says participating faculty will have demonstrated leadership in transformation, innovation and entrepreneurship with prestigious achievements in their field of study.

“The Shelby Endowment will strengthen the University’s ability to attract and keep premier faculty and students in areas critical to our state’s economic growth and will allow for more opportunities for student engagement in research and scholarship,” UA Executive Vice President and Provost Jim Dalton said.

The funding marks the single largest contribution to the endowment in the history of UA System.

Separately, UA announced the creation of the Shelby Institute for Policy and Leadership, which will focus on providing "premier educational programs for students interested in policy."

The Shelby Institute will also include the official Senate papers, records and materials donated by Shelby following his retirement from the Senate.

“Education is key to unlocking opportunity, which is why I believe one of the most important investments we can make is in our classrooms and is why I dedicated several years to securing a permanent endowment that will allow The University of Alabama to multiply its impact in STEM,” Shelby said. “This will be critical to innovation that advances success and security across Alabama and the nation. My wife Annette and I are also honored by the University’s establishment of the Shelby Institute for Policy and Leadership, which will train generations of future leaders with a shared passion for policy and public service.”

UA President Stuart Bell said these two initiatives will boost the experience of UA students in and out of the classroom, while helping them prepare for careers of impact in their communities.

"Sen. Shelby’s long support and advocacy of the University and higher education will continue through these initiatives and in the lives of the faculty, staff and students impacted," Bell said.

UA intends for the Shelby Institute to be a student-focused academic and service program concentrated on the education and training of students interested in policy.

Approximately 20 undergraduate students are anticipated for selection annually into the two-year Shelby Scholars Program, where they complete a minor in public policy and will receive a scholarship for $1,000 for each year in the program.

“The Shelby Institute will be a premier program for students interested in pursuing policy and public service and will be a valuable addition to our academic programs,” Dalton said. “Our state and nation will benefit greatly from the experience and knowledge these students gain through this unique opportunity.”

UA says the cohort of 40 students will participate in specialized coursework in policy and unique experiences outside of the classroom, including internship and professional development experiences, national conferences, a speaker series, and interactions with prominent political leaders and policy analysts on a local, state and national level.

An advisory board will be appointed by The UA System Board of Trustees to assist the Shelby Institute with programmatic implementation and strategic planning, with the first scholars expected to be selected for the Fall Semester 2024.

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