An anonymous $1 million gift to the Center for Communication Research in the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences’ Department of Communication will dramatically expand research, professional development and experiential learning opportunities for the next generation of communication scholars and professionals.

The planned endowment, facilitated through estate funding, will continue to provide early-stage funding for faculty- and student-led research projects, create student assistantships and expand the center’s public engagement through conferences, panel discussions and forums.

These initiatives strengthen the mission of the Center for Communication Research to foster collaborative, interdisciplinary social research at the University of Arkansas, throughout Arkansas and globally.

“As a young person growing up in Northwest Arkansas, being able to provide this sort of gift to the University of Arkansas would have been beyond my most enthusiastic dreams,” the donor said. “I am enormously grateful to my family and the University of Arkansas for providing a foundation for a future life and career that still surprises me.”

“My greatest hope is that this gift will enable students and scholars of communication to discover ways to understand and promote the very best of human — and perhaps virtual — communication, relationships and networks,” the donor added.

The Center for Communication Research manages a 1,400-square-foot research lab that includes state-of-the-art technology, providing physical space where the creative arts, humanities, social sciences and hard sciences collide. It has supported projects with topics ranging from compassion in the workplace and natural history to virtual reality and the history of agitation and containment.

“Student success and research excellence are at the heart of our land-grant mission, and this endowment will strengthen both,” said Chancellor Charles Robinson. “It will create new opportunities for students to learn through discovery and empower faculty to conduct innovative research that improves lives and benefits society. We are deeply grateful for this extraordinary gift and the lasting impact it will have on our campus and beyond.”

Brian E. Raines, dean of Fulbright College, believes this gift will shape the future of humanities and social sciences education in perpetuity, helping students obtain skills that are invaluable in any profession and fundamental to a thriving democracy.

“The generosity of this donor and their gift will directly increase research activity in Fulbright College, especially in the humanities and social sciences — disciplines that are critical to the college’s mission as a vital public good,” Raines said. “This investment doubles down on our investment in crucial research that builds critical thinking, analytical reasoning and communication skills that prepare students to lead and thrive in a rapidly changing world.”

The Department of Communication, led by department chair and associate professor Matthew Spialek, consists of 33 faculty and more than 900 graduate and undergraduate students. In the last decade, departmental faculty and graduate students have won numerous national awards for research excellence, including the National Communication Association’s Outstanding Master’s Degree Program Award as well as its Golden Anniversary Monograph Award, the Diamond Anniversary Book Award and six Outstanding Master’s Thesis Awards. Additionally, Lambda Pi Eta, the national honors society in communication, was founded at the U of A in 1985.

“This extraordinary act of generosity will advance research that connects people and ideas across disciplines, enriching both scholarship and community,” said Scott Varady, vice chancellor for advancement. “We are truly grateful for the opportunities it will make possible for the students and faculty the center serves.”

Spialek said the funding will allow the Department of Communication, an academic leader in communication scholarship and practice, to continue shaping the future of humanities and social sciences education and reinforce its national reputation of research excellence.

“This gift will further enhance that reputation and will be transformative for our students, faculty and the community partnerships that are fostered through our research,” he said. “We appreciate the donor’s generous support and believe that this gift will help us continue to lead the region and discipline in cultivating communication scholarship that makes a meaningful social impact and enhances civic health.”

About the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences: The Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences is the academic heart and soul of the University of Arkansas — where discovery, creativity, and curiosity meet to create transformational educational experiences. Encompassing three schools, 16 departments, and numerous programs and research centers, Fulbright College connects the arts, humanities, natural sciences, and social sciences to advance knowledge, discovery, and serve Arkansas and the world. Discover more at fulbright.uark.edu.

About the University of Arkansas: As Arkansas' flagship institution, the U of A provides an internationally competitive education in more than 200 academic programs. Founded in 1871, the U of A contributes more than $3 billion to Arkansas’ economy  through the teaching of new knowledge and skills, entrepreneurship and job development, discovery through research and creative activity while also providing training for professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the U of A among the few U.S. colleges and universities with the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the U of A among the top public universities in the nation. See how the U of A works to build a better world at Arkansas Research and Economic Development News.