Barry University has received a landmark $2 million gift from a private foundation, the largest cash contribution to the University in the past 20 years, establishing a new undergraduate research endowment within the College of Arts and Sciences and further positioning the University as a research-engaged undergraduate institution.

The gift establishes the Kathleen Anne Stout, B.S., 2000 Undergraduate Research Endowment Initiative Fund, which will support faculty-mentored undergraduate research across the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, and fine and performing arts. The fund will provide faculty stipends and direct student research engagement support, creating opportunities for hands-on scholarship and increasing the frequency and impact of faculty and student research.

“This endowment represents an investment not only in research, but in the intellectual curiosity and potential of the University’s students,” said Mike Allen, PhD, President of Barry University. “It affirms Barry University’s role as a place where undergraduate students actively contribute to knowledge creation alongside dedicated faculty mentors.”

The gift honors educator and University alumna Kathleen Anne Stout and reflects the foundation’s philanthropic vision. University’s philanthropy leaders participated in discussions to understand and honor the foundation’s intent, led by J.J. Myers, Senior Director of Development, and Smilka Melgoza, Vice President for University Advancement.

In November 2025, foundation leadership participated in a campus visit with philanthropy and academic leaders, including Dr. Pablo Ortiz, Provost, and Dr. Karen Callaghan, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. The University and the foundation engaged in collaborative discussions on advancing undergraduate research in ways that reflect the University’s mission of expanding access to high-quality education.

With this historic gift, the University reinforces its academic bedrock, expands undergraduate research opportunities, and supports a future shaped by innovation and scholarship.