Brenda McDowell creates endowment to support UR's Gary L. McDowell Institute
The generous gift was made in memory of Brenda's late husband and former Jepson School professor, Gary L. McDowell.
In the popular HBO series The Gilded Age, a pivotal scene depicts the unveiling of Thomas Edison’s electric light bulbs as the New York Times building is illuminated for the first time.
To Brenda McDowell, the scene is reminiscent of the impact of education on University of Richmond students participating in the Gary L. McDowell Institute, named in honor of her late husband and a beloved faculty member of the Jepson School of Leadership Studies.
“I see light bulbs turning on in their minds – they remind me of a young Gary,” she said. “These students are on fire soaking up the wisdom of ancient and modern thinkers and historians.”
This year, Brenda generously established an endowed fund to help support the McDowell Institute’s mission in perpetuity. Housed in the Jepson School, the Institute is dedicated to its namesake’s values and principles: free inquiry, thoughtful deliberation, and rigorous discussion of classical and modern texts and issues in political economy. Its programs – including guest speakers, seminars, and conferences – draw on the history of ideas and embracing diverse viewpoints to answer key questions in ethics, law, and politics.
The Institute honors Gary’s career as a renowned constitutional scholar. Among his more notable roles were serving as director of the Institute of United States Studies at the University of London, chief speech writer for U.S. Attorney General Edwin Meese during the Reagan Administration, and director of the Office of the Bicentennial of the Constitution at the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Gary joined the Jepson School’s faculty in 2003, where he held the Tyler Haynes Interdisciplinary Chair in Leadership Studies, Political Science, and Law. When he retired in 2018, he had left a lasting impression on countless colleagues and students. The Institute was named in 2020, and Gary passed away in 2021.
“Gary devoted himself to his students,” Brenda said. “He was inspired by great teachers throughout his life and knew the importance of being challenged to grapple with perplexing yet fundamental questions, develop one’s own opinions, and seek common ground. He was able to convey complex lessons to his students but also captivate them.“
As a tribute to Gary’s legacy, Brenda hopes her gift will enrich the academic experience for McDowell Institute students so they can use their knowledge to positively impact the world around them.
“The things that these students are learning will remain with them always and be passed on again and again,” she said. “They will become honorable citizens, parents, leaders, and friends as a result. I’m thrilled to strengthen this good cause so that this work continues long into the future.”
“We are deeply grateful for Brenda’s support,” said Dr. Daniel Palazzolo, co-director of the McDowell Institute. “We miss Gary every day, and we are honored to carry on his legacy as a teacher, scholar, and colleague. This is made even more special by Brenda’s generosity and the enthusiasm, perspective, and dedication she brings to Institute events.”
A Student Perspective
The Gary L. McDowell Institute’s Student Fellows Program enriches the intellectual experience of students interested in political, social, and economic thought. Through participation in a co-curricular reading group and attendance at the Institute’s Lecture Series events, students engage with leading scholars and influential thinkers from around the country in an intimate, thought-provoking setting.
“Being a Student Fellow has enhanced my education by empowering me to bring the McDowell Institute’s values into the classroom setting," said Katie Sinclair, ’26, a political science and philosophy double major. "I’m more open to different perspectives and aim to create an open environment where students can learn from each other. Thanks to Brenda’s gift, more students will benefit by getting to learn and practice these important principles. Fellows will carry what they learn through their academic and extracurricular involvement at Richmond and beyond.”
Learn more about the Gary L. McDowell Institute and the ways in which you can support its mission. Learn more about creating an endowed fund at the University of Richmond.