Peyton Manning, a Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinee and former University of Tennessee at Knoxville quarterback, has donated more than $4 million to his alma mater’s College of Communication and Information. The funds will create two endowments honoring Manning’s academic mentors, John Haas and Faye Julian.
According to a statement from the University of Tennessee, the endowments will support initiatives related to student success, faculty research, and other activities that contribute to both the college and its school. The announcement comes shortly after the opening of the new UT Medical Nursing Building.
UT Chancellor Donde Plowman said in the release, “This gift will help ensure that generations of future Volunteers in the College of Communication and Information will have access to resources and programs that help them thrive. We are so grateful to Peyton, who has always been an incredible ambassador for UT and who has generously given back with his time, his gifts and his advocacy for decades.”
Manning graduated from UT in 1997 before beginning an NFL career that lasted 18 seasons. In 1998, he established the Peyton Manning Scholarship at UT; since then it has supported 65 students. He received the Donald G. Hileman Distinguished Alumni Award in 2007—considered the highest honor for alumni in communication—and returned as a professor of practice in 2023. Additionally, he offers internships at Omaha Productions, which he launched in 2020.
The Faye Julian Dean’s Chair Endowment is named after Julian—the first person awarded a doctorate by the college in 1977—who served UT for more than four decades before retiring in 2005. In 2002 she became founding dean when several schools merged under one college banner. During Manning’s undergraduate years as a speech communication major, Julian mentored him and connected him with high-achieving peers.
“One of the best parts of my college experience was the community of high-achieving students she helped introduce me to, students who challenged each other and constantly raised the bar,” Manning said in a news release. “Being part of that group pushed me to grow not just as a student but as a person (…) I’m proud to honor her legacy and help ensure future students have the same kind of meaningful experience.”
Julian passed away in 2018; on Aug. 26 university officials commemorated her legacy with Manning and members of her family present.
The second fund—the John Haas Director’s Chair Endowment—recognizes John Haas’ long service as director for twenty-seven years before stepping down in 2022 (he continues teaching various communication courses). Previously inspired by Haas’ founding of the Public Speaking Center in 2018, Manning gave $1 million then for experiential learning purposes tied to public speaking.
Haas taught Manning during his undergraduate studies; recently, Manning surprised him with news about this latest endowment while visiting as guest lecturer.
