Honoring a Legacy

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 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.”
 
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.