$30 million gift from the Briscoe and Marmion families earmarked for public health education, research, and community care
The University of Texas at San Antonio has announced a transformative $30 million gift from the Kate Marmion Charitable Foundation, a contribution that will significantly expand the reach and impact of public health education, research, and community care across South Texas. In recognition of the gift, UTSA’s School of Public Health will now bear the name Kate Marmion School of Public Health, cementing a legacy that is deeply intertwined with Texas public service, philanthropy, and a long-standing commitment to the wellbeing of underserved communities.
The funding will be directed toward scholarships and fellowships for students, expanded community outreach, and evidence-based health interventions focused on chronic conditions that disproportionately affect South Texans, including diabetes, obesity, and heart disease. With a particular emphasis on rural and medically underserved areas, the investment is designed not only to educate future public health leaders but to deliver measurable improvements in health outcomes where access to care has historically been limited.
Founded in 2022, UTSA’s School of Public Health has quickly emerged as a regional hub for public health education and applied research, working at the intersection of academia, healthcare systems, and community organizations. The Marmion gift dramatically accelerates that mission, providing the scale and stability needed to build long-term programs that address entrenched health disparities rather than short-term interventions.
UTSA President Taylor Eighmy described the donation as transformational, noting that it will change lives for generations by strengthening the university’s capacity to train professionals, conduct research, and partner with communities across South Texas. Dean Dr. Vasan Ramachandran echoed that sentiment, emphasizing that the funding will allow the school to deepen its engagement with local partners and move faster on initiatives that translate research into real-world health improvements.
Beyond its immediate impact, the gift carries deep historical and familial significance. The Kate Marmion Charitable Foundation honors Kate Marmion, the granddaughter of former Texas Governor Dolph Briscoe Jr., whose name remains synonymous with public service, education, and healthcare access throughout the state.
Dolph Briscoe’s tenure as governor in the 1970s was marked by landmark investments in public higher education and a belief that government and institutions have a responsibility to serve all Texans, particularly those outside major urban centers. That philosophy has continued through generations of the Briscoe and Marmion families, expressed today through targeted philanthropy rather than public office.
By focusing on public health — a field that blends policy, science, and community engagement — the foundation’s gift reflects a modern extension of D.B. Briscoe’s vision: improving lives not through symbolism, but through durable systems that expand opportunity and care. Naming the school after Kate Marmion underscores a family commitment that is both personal and forward-looking, linking legacy to impact rather than nostalgia.
As South Texas continues to grapple with rising rates of chronic disease and uneven access to healthcare resources, the Kate Marmion School of Public Health stands poised to play a central role in shaping solutions. With this gift, UTSA gains not only critical funding, but a renewed mandate — rooted in the Briscoe/Marmion tradition — to serve the public good with rigor, compassion, and long-term purpose