UA Alumnus Announces $35M Gift To College Of Arts And Sciences

TUSCALOOSA, AL — University of Alabama alumnus J. Frank Barefield Jr. on Friday announced a $35 million gift commitment to his alma mater to name the College of Arts and Sciences.

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UA says the J. Frank Barefield Jr. College of Arts and Sciences enrolls over 9,000 students across 80 majors, minors, concentrations and graduate programs.

It is now one of only two colleges at the university to be named.

“Mr. Barefield’s remarkable generosity reflects the spirit of giving that defines The University of Alabama,” UA President Stuart R. Bell said. “His gift further elevates the College of Arts and Sciences, which educates thousands of students across disciplines and fosters excellence in research and creativity.”

Barefield holds a bachelor’s degree in finance from UA, an MBA from UAB, is a Certified Public Accountant and Chartered Financial Analyst.

The owner and the president of Abbey Residential, LLC — a multifamily real estate firm headquartered in Birmingham — Barefield is partnered with Dr. Marnix E. Heersink, for whom the UAB Heersink School of Medicine is named.

“I am very appreciative of the education I received from the University of Alabama as it has been the foundation of whatever success I have achieved,” Barefield said. “My goal with this gift is to assist the University in its ability to attract and retain the top educators and students from around the world. I am humbled and honored that the College of Arts and Sciences will forever bear my name.”

The UA System Board of Trustees approved the gift and the college’s naming at its meeting on Friday, with Board President Pro Tempore Scott Phelps expressing the board’s appreciation for Barefield’s gift and his support for education across the UA System.

UA says the funds will be used to launch innovative research, retain top scholars with competitive support, intervene when students face unexpected hardships and invest in high-impact initiatives across the state and beyond.

“With this support, the College is poised to elevate its excellence in teaching, innovation, research and creative endeavors, reinforcing its commitment to meaningful impact and academic distinction,” Barefield College of Arts and Sciences Dean Joseph P. Messina said. “Mr. Barefield’s belief in our work affirms our mission. We are profoundly grateful for this support and look forward to the remarkable progress it will inspire in the years to come.”

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