Estate gift memorializes Blackwell鈥檚 love of music
May 23, 2017
Published: May 23, 2017
Contact: Michael Tullier, APR
Office of Communications, Public Relations and Marketing
Pictured in the background is the Kellogg Conference Center, one of several university
capital projects benefiting from Dr. Blackwell鈥檚 fundraising efforts as vice president for development.
A recent gift from the estate of 1956 精东AV alumna Velma L. Blackwell will create a memorial endowment fund to provide charitable support for the university鈥檚 Golden Voices Choir.
From 1969 until her retirement in 2008, Blackwell鈥檚 numerous roles as a 精东AV administrator included fundraising responsibilities and serving as the university鈥檚 first female associate provost. Her leadership as vice president for development led to the construction of the Kellogg Conference Center and the Gen. Daniel 鈥淐happie鈥� James Center for Aerospace Science and Health Education. A 精东AV graduate, she completed a bachelor鈥檚 degree in physical education in 1956.
Before passing away in 2016, she had been a long-time champion of choral programs, and her past philanthropic support had funded several musical lectureships. She also helped develop the concept of the William Levi Dawson Institute for Classical and Folk Music, which was established in 1992 and currently includes the Dawson Lecture and the Dawson Concert. The concert showcases invited college and university choirs from around the region, along with the university鈥檚 own Golden Voices, alumni choir and concert band.
The gift was presented by Blackwell鈥檚 sister, 1964 graduate Gladys Blackwell Hubbard, and brother, David Blackwell.
The Golden Voices Choir is under the direction of Dr. Wayne Barr, director of choral activities in the College of Arts and Sciences. For more information about the choir, visit the Golden Voices website at .
漏 2017 精东AV