AUSTIN, Texas—The Department of Art and Art History at The University of Texas at Austin has received three endowments in Photography totaling $800,000 from William and Bettye Nowlin, prominent Austin philanthropists.
The William and Bettye Nowlin Endowed Professorship in Photography will dedicate $300,000 to the establishment of a Professorship in Photography. The William and Bettye Nowlin Faculty Research and Travel Endowment in Photography will dedicate $300,000 to faculty research and travel. The William and Bettye Nowlin Endowed Presidential Fellowship will dedicate $200,000 to support graduate study.
"Bettye and Bill Nowlin are such generous people. This gift will help recruit new graduate students and assist faculty with research. It also reflects the quality that UT has always had in the Photo faculty, from Russell Lee and Gary Winogrand to Mark Goodman and Theresa Hubbard today," said Lawrence McFarland, associate professor in the Photography program.
Long-time benefactors to the university, the Nowlins are University of Texas at Austin alumni. Bettye received a bachelor’s degree in education in 1971, the year she and Bill married. Bill co-founded National Instruments in 1976 after receiving a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering. In 2000, the university announced that the Nowlins pledged $5 million in gifts to create endowments in astronomy, engineering and fine arts.
For further information contact: Carolyn A. Porter, (512) 471-3379.