The University of Texas at Austin’s School of Architecture has received a $1 million donation honoring John S. Chase, the first Black graduate of the school and the first Black licensed architect in the state of Texas. The donation has been provided by Tony Chase and his wife Dr. Dina Alsowayel. An entrepreneur, law professor, and civic leader based in Houston, Tony Chase is also the son of John S. Chase.

The $1 million donation will create two new permanent endowments. The first, named the John S. Chase Family Endowed Graduate Fellowship, will be used primarily to increase diversity and representation in the profession by recruiting graduates of historically Black colleges and universities. Meanwhile, the John S. Chase Family Endowed Professorship in Architecture will help recruit and retain outstanding faculty and support their research of the built environment.

Chase enrolled at UT in 1950 and graduated in 1952 with a Master's degree in Architecture. A co-founder of the National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA) in 1971, Chase led a practice with studios across Houston, Dallas, and Washington D.C., with projects including churches, single-family residences, and small office buildings for the Black community. He also served as the first Black member of the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts. He passed away in 2012.

“Throughout his life and as reflected in his built works, John Chase was a connector and a community-builder,” said Michelle Addington, dean of the School of Architecture, on the donation’s unveiling. “Not only did Chase design spaces that brought people together, but he used his pioneering position to create opportunities for others. We are extremely grateful for Tony’s incredible gift and honored to continue John Chase’s legacy of creating opportunities for a whole new generation.”

News of the donation to UT Austin comes a week after the Pratt Institute and Clemson University each launched fellowships within their design and architecture schools focused on students from underserved or underrepresented communities.

In 2021, meanwhile, Penn State Architecture appointed Folayemi “Fo” Wilson as their first associate dean for access and equity, while the Architects Foundation awarded four scholarships to support future leaders in equity, diversity, and sustainability in the architecture profession. The Architects Foundation has also recently launched ARE scholarships for aspiring Black architects in light of a NOMA/NCARB report which exposed disparities in architectural licensing examinations for people of color.