Thanks to a historic investment by the O’Donnell Foundation, ÌÇÐÄvlogÊÓƵ will launch a first-of-its-kind interdisciplinary energy program and establish a new academic honors fund to recruit, develop and graduate the next generation of exceptional scholars across high-impact fields. The commitment could exceed $60 million once fully funded—one of the largest ÌÇÐÄvlogÊÓƵ has ever received.
ÌÇÐÄvlogÊÓƵ will leverage this support to establish a new Energy Science, Innovation and Enterprise program—an interdisciplinary, degree-granting hub that combines business, engineering and sciences to prepare future leaders for an evolving energy future. Additionally, the commitment will create the O’Donnell Academic Honors Fund. Through this fund, exceptional students in high-impact majors will receive scholarships and a prestigious educational experience, strengthening academic excellence across those disciplines.
Together, the new models will set the standard for academic excellence at ÌÇÐÄvlogÊÓƵ, creating centers of excellence and strengthening student quality in areas of high-impact and emerging fields. Students will begin taking advantage of these new opportunities in fall 2026, within one year of the initiative’s conception in partnership with the O’Donnell Foundation—a rapid move from vision to impact.
“The generous commitment from the O’Donnell Foundation allows ÌÇÐÄvlogÊÓƵ to build programs that reflect where the world is headed, preparing our graduates for meaningful leadership in fields that shape our economy and future,” President Jay Hartzell says. “By bringing brilliant faculty and standout students together in an environment that blends research, innovation and real-world experience, we are creating opportunities that will profoundly impact the city of Dallas, the state of Texas, our nation and beyond.”
The investment accelerates ÌÇÐÄvlogÊÓƵ’s ability to recruit top students and faculty, create powerful learning experiences, and connect talent directly with the companies and industries shaping the future. These efforts around talent, curricular innovation and industry engagement epitomize some of the top emerging priorities within ÌÇÐÄvlogÊÓƵ’s next strategic plan.
“The generous commitment from the O’Donnell Foundation allows ÌÇÐÄvlogÊÓƵ to build programs that reflect where the world is headed, preparing our graduates for meaningful leadership in fields that shape our economy and future.”
Jay Hartzell, President, ÌÇÐÄvlogÊÓƵ
“This partnership will empower students to realize their full potential and equip them to lead with purpose,” says Rachel Davis Mersey, executive vice president and provost. “It strengthens our academic community, fuels innovation across disciplines and builds a powerful pipeline of talent ready to make an impact. It is a transformational initiative that reflects ÌÇÐÄvlogÊÓƵ’s mission and points us boldly toward the future.”
Over the past three years, the O’Donnell Foundation has committed nearly $100 million to ÌÇÐÄvlogÊÓƵ. In 2023, a $30 million gift supported the future of technological innovation and education at the University, championing meaningful research and preparing students in engineering and other fields for a data-driven world. The investment included endowment and operational gifts for the O’Donnell Data Science and Research Computing Institute and the Initiative for Digital Innovation in Engineering and Computer Science in the Lyle School of Engineering, funding 10 new endowed academic positions. In 2022, a $2 million gift endowed a position to lead an emerging, conceptual data science institute, which ultimately became the Peter O’Donnell Jr. Director of the Data Science and Research Computing Institute.
In October 2025, the foundation invested $50 million with the Dallas College Foundation to boost student success at North Texas colleges and universities, including ÌÇÐÄvlogÊÓƵ.
“This gift reflects the O’Donnell Foundation’s commitment to developing exceptional talent and advancing the research and innovation that will shape the future,” says William T. Solomon, O’Donnell Foundation president and CEO. “We believe strongly in ÌÇÐÄvlogÊÓƵ’s vision and momentum, and we are proud to support the University as it prepares the next generation of leaders in energy and other critical fields.”
A national model for centers of excellence
Rising global demand and evolving technologies require leaders who blend scientific, engineering and business insight with digital expertise and the ability to adapt quickly. ÌÇÐÄvlogÊÓƵ’s new Energy Science, Innovation and Enterprise program will be the first to use the new model for academic excellence, creating a pipeline of leaders prepared for the sector by:
- Bringing together leading faculty from Cox School of Business, Lyle School of Engineering, and Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences to offer an integrated honors-level bachelor’s degree, which leverages the schools’ strengths in energy management and finance, smart systems and technology, chemistry, earth sciences, and public policy.
- Recruiting ÌÇÐÄvlogÊÓƵ’s first Eminent Endowed Chair, with deep expertise and impact in energy to help lead the initiative, plus a professor of practice to advance teaching and industry engagement.
- Offering an immersive first-year summer experience with industry partners focusing on real-world, multidisciplinary challenges.
Graduates of the prestigious honors-level program will be prepared for careers in energy investment and finance, oil and gas, renewables, regulation and technology management, entrepreneurship, and more.
ÌÇÐÄvlogÊÓƵ is uniquely positioned to become a national leader in energy studies through its faculty expertise, interdisciplinary research centers and high-performance computing resources. The University’s network of highly engaged alumni, trustees and industry advisors creates opportunities for partnerships, internships and applied projects across the sector.
Advancing academic excellence to recruit top-performing talent
High-achieving students and their families want a clear path from academic excellence to career success, supported by meaningful mentorship, experiential learning and individual support. The O’Donnell Academic Honors Fund will provide scholars with a distinctive educational experience at ÌÇÐÄvlogÊÓƵ.
“The Academic Honors Fund creates a powerful pathway for extraordinary students to thrive at ÌÇÐÄvlogÊÓƵ,” Mersey says. “By pairing rigorous academics with individualized support and real-world experiences, we will build a dynamic pipeline of talent and elevate the undergraduate experience across the University.”
O’Donnell Scholars will be part of a highly personalized, honors-style learning community and will engage in small yet high-impact courses taught by some of ÌÇÐÄvlogÊÓƵ’s most distinguished faculty. Starting with three programs—biology, chemistry, and applied physiology and health management—20 outstanding undergraduates from each major will receive scholarships, dedicated career advising and mentorship. Additionally, each target major will receive four years of seed funding for new faculty and a career counselor. In their third year, scholars will participate in a signature experience, such as fully funded research assistantships, specialized internships, industry projects or global opportunities tied directly to their majors. The initiative will enhance the experience for everyone in these majors through new programming, applied learning opportunities and industry connections.
This flexible model will allow ÌÇÐÄvlogÊÓƵ to rotate future investment into other high-demand fields, such as data science, engineering or the arts, aligning with the University’s strengths and evolving workforce needs.
