Susan Pendleton and L. Gregory Jones Chair in Formative Education established at Belmont University

Belmont University President Dr. Greg Jones and his wife Rev. Susan Pendleton Jones have given the university a $1.5 million gift to establish the Susan Pendleton and L. Gregory Jones Chair in Formative Education. The gift was matched through the Johnson Academic Challenge, which was established by the former HCA Healthcare Chairman and CEO Milton Johnson and his wife Denice, an investment that will fund at least 20 endowed professorships across academic departments at the university. This specific endowment, the Susan Pendleton and L. Gregory Jones Chair in Formative Education, is an interdisciplinary position within the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences and the College of Education.

According to an article on Belmont University’s website, Dr. Jones is quoted as saying, "The most important question in education isn't just 'What do students learn?' but 'Who do they become?' Character is at the heart of a Belmont education, and this endowed chair will ensure we continue to develop students who lead with wisdom, integrity and purpose. Susan and I believe that academic excellence and character formation go hand in hand — that's the kind of education that transforms lives and communities."

Rev. Pendleton Jones echoed her husband’s sentiments, saying, "Forming students as people of character and purpose is sacred work. Belmont faculty do this beautifully, helping students discover not just what they can do, but who they're called to be. This chair strengthens that commitment and to our Christ-centered mission, and we're proud to invest in sustaining this mission for generations to come."

The new endowed chair position will give a faculty member the opportunity to develop new initiatives and approaches that will help students form character, integrity, and wisdom they can use in their future careers as educators themselves.

Milton Johnson, the chairman of Belmont University’s Board of Trustees, said, “Greg and Susan are leading by example in the most powerful way –– investing in faculty excellence that directly serves our students. Their gift, matched through the Johnson Academic Challenge, creates a $3 million investment in the kind of teaching and mentoring that will strengthen Belmont's mission for generations to come.”

The Johnson Academic Challenge is a $30 million initiative that will match donations between $1.5 million and $3 million, providing the university with a total potential impact of $60 million.

For more information about Belmont University, visit the school’s website.