James Anger via TCU
Louise Dilworth Davis' gift will enable more students to conduct chemistry experiments in the Sid W. Richardson Building for many years to come.
TCU announced Wednesday that the College of Science & Engineering will be named the Louise Dilworth Davis College of Science & Engineering in recognition of alumna Louise Dilworth Davis.
Davis, of San Antonio, has given $40 million, the largest philanthropic investment in the college’s 25-year history, to support its strategic plan and operations in perpetuity, according to a press release. The gift also endows the deanship, which will now be known as the Louise Dilworth Davis Dean.
“It gives me immense joy to support TCU’s next chapter of growth and serving students,” said Davis, TCU class of 1977. “As an alum and mother of a Horned Frog who works as a scientist today, I want to ensure future generations of support for the university while celebrating Chancellor Pullin’s leadership, his Values in Action strategic plan, and Dean Dwayne McCay’s strategic priorities for the TCU College of Science & Engineering. Together, we are shaping an exciting future for TCU and enhancing research excellence for students, faculty, and staff."
LEAD ON: Values in Action is built around four strategic pillars for the next decade, including a goal to position the school as a premier research institution by increasing research expenditures by at least 10% annually.
Davis has previously donated more than $5 million to support scholarships, endowed faculty, and programs within the college. Provost Floyd L. Wormley Jr. said her newest gift “sends a powerful message to the TCU community that our academic experience, the quality of our students, and the excellence of our teaching and scholarly pursuits are second to none.”
“The impact of Mrs. Davis’ generosity supports Horned Frogs today and for generations to come,” Daniel Pullin said. “Because of her transformational gift to the new Louise Dilworth Davis College of Science & Engineering at TCU, there will be more values-driven and qualified scientists, engineers, researchers, astronauts, and doctors ready to lead in a rapidly changing world.”
A fifth-generation Texan, Davis is deeply rooted in the South Texas community, with family ties to banking, ranching, and oil and gas. She graduated from TCU in 1977, and her son, Dr. Eric Davis ’14, and daughter-in-law, Dr. Anastasiia Davis (Ph.D. ’14), are both scientists and alumni.
“Seldom does one individual have the opportunity to transform thousands of lives through a single act of generosity and vision, yet Louise Davis has done precisely that,” said T. Dwayne McCay, interim dean of the college. “Her extraordinary gift will propel the college from good to great, enriching the education of our graduates and yielding benefits for Texas, the United States and the world for generations to come.”
The newly named Davis College of Science & Engineering is TCU’s second-largest college, serving more than 2,300 undergraduates and 130 graduate students across 39 programs. It boasts a 96% medical school acceptance rate — twice the national average — and a legacy of research, innovation, and hands-on learning that continues to define TCU’s excellence in science and technology.
“Her inspired gift is a legacy that will power real change in the world as well as TCU’s community and ambitious strategic plan,” said Pullin.