TCU Announces Major Endowed Gift For The Anne Burnett Marion School of Medicine

FORT WORTH – Ashley and Greg Arnold of Dallas, Texas, have made a major gift to establish The Ashley and Greg Arnold Endowment to provide perpetual support for annual operations of the Anne Burnett Marion School of Medicine at Texas Christian University. This gift also supported Lead On: A Campaign for TCU, the university’s boldest fundraising campaign in its 150-year history.

“On behalf of TCU, I would like to express our deepest appreciation to Ashley and Greg Arnold for this tremendous gift that will bolster the Burnett School of Medicine, including our talented and deserving students, faculty and staff, forever,” Chancellor Victor J. Boschini, Jr. said. “The Arnolds are making a profound difference in the life of this university and the future of medicine.”

The Arnolds have backed TCU for many years and have been especially active as parents. Their children include Horned Frogs Jordan Hendrix ’08, Anthony Arnold ’16, Regan Arnold ’18, and Carsen Kunzman, University of Miami ’20.

A member of the TCU Board of Trustees, Greg Arnold is chairman and CEO of TAC – The Arnold Companies, a privately owned family office investment and holding company with a diversified portfolio of investments featuring private and public companies. The company was built on services in petroleum marketing and private aviation, growing to national coverage in both industries in addition to being involved in real estate, banking and private investment activities. He is actively involved in his community through his leadership with education, underserved families and children and military and first responder support organizations. At TCU, he previously served on the Chancellor’s Advisory Council.

Ashley Arnold, whose professional background includes a leadership role at TAC and experience in pharmaceuticals, biotechnology and marketing, provides volunteer leadership to local and state organizations near her personal and professional interests, including medical research, higher education, under-served families and children, and military and first responder support organizations.

“Ashley and I are thrilled to help support TCU, and we are especially excited for the innovative work of the Burnett School of Medicine,” Greg Arnold said. “It’s important to us to support our community. The faculty, staff and students of the Burnett School are focused on compassionate health care, and having a facility of this caliber to excel in this learning will strengthen our community here in North Texas and beyond.”

This gift will support core operational needs of the school, which offers a novel educational experience tailored to how students learn best, capitalizing on teamwork and active application sessions, always keeping the patient at the center. Unique aspects of the program include communication skills instruction all four years; a curriculum that includes clinical training in a Longitudinal Integrated Clerkship, allowing students to follow a cohort of patients over four years, which is a major factor in the students retaining the significant empathy they have when they start medical school; and a flipped classroom model featuring active learning and no lectures.

All students are required to complete a four-year mentored research project, and they are supported through Academic and Executive coaches who focus on the students’ academic success, personal goals, career planning and well-being throughout medical school and beyond.

In recognition of the Arnolds’ generosity, TCU plans to name the new Burnett School of Medicine building “Arnold Hall,” which will be the permanent home of the Burnett School. Located in the Fort Worth Medical Innovation District, the 96,000-square-foot building will open in late spring of 2024.

“Naming this building for the Arnold family is a perfect fit for our school of medicine,” said Founding Dean Stuart D. Flynn, M.D. “It is an honor to have their name connected to our school and to beautifully grace our building, especially considering their personal interests in innovation and health care, as well as their significant contributions to the community. Their legacy sets a wonderful example for our students and inspires them to go above and beyond as servant leaders. We are incredibly grateful to the Arnold family for this fantastic gift that will support our mission in perpetuity.”

Among other areas at TCU, the Arnolds have supported the Neeley School of Business and the Spencer and Marlene Hays Business Commons. A TCU residence hall in Worth Hills is named for them in recognition of their extraordinary support of TCU through the years.