The NEXT IS NOW campaign made major contributions to academics at TXST, from classroom learning to research in the laboratory and the field.
Thanks to donor generosity, TXST has grown its number of graduate and doctoral programs and students, and it has attracted expert faculty who are conducting impactful research.
Jim Gann and his late wife, Ann Nell Gann, donated $1 million to support water research and endowed student scholarships.
Of the gift, $500,000 established the James and Ann Nell Gann Endowment for Water Research in Texas to support students who pursue enhanced research and careers related to the future of the state’s water supply and the environment. The other $500,000 established the James and Ann Nell Gann Endowed Scholarship in Chemistry. This scholarship will support undergraduate chemistry majors attending TXST.
The Ganns are Bobcat alums, and Jim, a chemistry major, worked as a chemical plant manager for 28 years. He became involved in wastewater treatment and water issues in the Matagorda Bay area as a rice farm owner and recreational fisherman. Through this experience, he realized the pressure on the state’s water resources, including the resulting economic and environmental consequences.
“I’m proud to support Texas State because it gave me my start in life,” Jim Gann said.
The Edwards Aquifer charges 200 springs that feed Spring Lake and the San Marcos River. The lake is home to TXST’s Meadows Center for Water and the Environment, which focuses on research, education, and stewardship to ensure clean and abundant water resources.
With endowed professorships supported by the NEXT IS NOW campaign, TXST can attract and retain world-class professors, which in turn attracts more leading professors and students.
