Kovac Endowment Will Bring Visiting Scholars, New Perspectives
Kovac Endowment Will Bring Visiting Scholars, New Perspectives
By Jane S. Gulley
As a parting gift to College Scholars, retiring director Jeffrey Kovac and his wife Susan decided in 2019 to establish the Jeffrey and Susan Kovac Visiting Scholars Endowment. The endowment’s income will underwrite an annual visit by a scholar whose research or creative activity epitomizes the interdisciplinary nature of the program. Visiting scholars will deliver a public lecture, speak to the weekly seminar, and meet with UT faculty to discuss research and pedagogy.
A UT professor of chemistry since 1976, Kovac assumed the director’s role in 2011. His wife Susan had a distinguished career as a law school instructor and child advocacy attorney with the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services. Additionally, she mentored College Scholars and hosted regular gatherings at the couple’s home.
“Dr. Kovac acted as an advocate for both his students and their goals. He knew us not only by name, but also by the futures we were pursuing,” said Kimberly Bress (’18), who is now training to become a physician-scientist. “College Scholars was the driving force which both pushed and steered me forward.”
Alumni and friends may give to the endowment with a check payable to: UT Foundation, memo line: KOVAC IHO Dr. Jeff Kovac. A notification of your gift (not the amount) will be sent to him.
Mailing address:
UT Foundation
1525 University Avenue
Knoxville, TN 37921
UT Foundation Telephone: 865-974-2115
Give securely online: giving.utk.edu/Kovac
Support other College Scholars funds: scholars.utk.edu/giving