Texas Christian University in Fort Worth has announced a $5 million gift from Marilyn and Morgan Davies to endow a dean position at the Harris College of Nursing & Health Sciences.

The Marilyn and Morgan Davies Dean of Harris College of Nursing & Health Sciences will fund the recruitment and retention of renowned thought leaders and support new initiatives that elevate the visibility of people and programs in the college. In addition, the gift will support undergraduate and graduate research.

A TCU trustee and longtime supporter, Marilyn Davies has previously provided funding for the Davies School of Communication Sciences & Disorders and research in hearing loss, deafness, and speech-language pathology. Her daughter, Morgan, is an alumna of Harris College ('12).

"It is an honor to be the recipient of this significant gift for Harris College, which will further support our students and faculty as we seek to prevent, identify, treat, and heal adverse health conditions and help people cope with challenges in different stages of their lives," said Christopher Watts, the inaugural Marilyn and Morgan Davies Dean of Harris College. "Now is an especially critical time to invest in the future of health care; supporting the health and well-being of our communities is continuously at the forefront of our daily lives."

"I believe Dean Watts has an exceptional vision of Harris College for the future, and now he will have additional resources to move the entire college to the next step in its national position," said Marilyn Davies. "Our family hopes that this endowment for Harris College will allow the individual academic units to enhance programs by providing additional services and equipment to strengthen our impact."