$35 million gift from J. Frank Barefield renames college of arts and sciences
In one of the most significant individual gifts in the University of Alabama’s history, alumnus J. Frank Barefield Jr. has donated $35 million to the College of Arts and Sciences, which will now bear his name, university officials announced.
The transformative gift from Barefield — a Birmingham-based businessman, CPA, and financial analyst — will establish the J. Frank Barefield Jr. College of Arts and Sciences, ensuring enduring support for student success, faculty excellence, and strategic research priorities.
“This extraordinary act of generosity by Mr. Barefield reflects the very spirit of giving that defines The University of Alabama,” said UA President Stuart R. Bell. “His commitment strengthens our flagship college and empowers us to invest in the people and programs that will shape Alabama’s future.”
A Vestavia Hills resident, Barefield owns Abbey Residential, a real estate investment and management firm overseeing more than $2.5 billion in assets. A graduate of UA with an MBA from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, Barefield’s success extends far beyond the business world. He is also a U.S. Air Force veteran who achieved the rank of captain and was the silver medalist in the 1974 World Powerlifting Championships.
The $35 million endowment will fund initiatives that support cutting-edge research, student aid, faculty recruitment, and the advancement of academic programs with direct relevance to Alabama and the broader region.
“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 College of Arts and Sciences is the largest academic division at the university, accounting for nearly half of all student credit hours and comprising 22 departments. It is home to some of the university’s most prominent pre-professional tracks, including pre-med and pre-law.
“This gift ensures we can think boldly, recruit strategically, and respond to opportunities that align with our mission,” said Dr. Joseph Messina, Dean of the newly renamed college.
“Mr. Barefield’s name will now be inseparable from our legacy of academic leadership and innovation.”
The gift follows a growing trend of philanthropic investments in public higher education, underscoring the pivotal role of private support in shaping 21st-century academic institutions.