After Historic Gift, Tulane University Names School of Public Health for Donor

Tulane University announced today that it is naming its School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine after alumna Celia Scott Weatherhead in recognition of her lifetime giving of more than $160 million to the university.

Weatherhead’s combined philanthropy record is the largest ever for Tulane and represents his legacy of support for an outstanding academic community and outstanding students. She and her late husband Albert previously established the Weatherhead Presidential Chairs, allowing the university to recruit outstanding faculty in emerging fields. In addition, Weatherheads sponsored the Weather Scholars Program, which provides scholarships for students who are committed to community service.

Included in Celia Weatherhead’s support is a new donation, which the attorney described as the largest gift in Tulane’s history, which will strengthen the School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine “with the goal of establishing as the first school of its kind in the United States and one of the top such schools in the world,” according to the university.

“Today, we are making history with one of the most significant events ever announced at Tulane,” President Michael A. Fitts said in the release. “Improving the health of all members of our community – regardless of their economic status – has always been Celia’s passion. Now her generosity and inspiration will continue to excel in education, research and innovation while maintaining the Celia Scott Weatherhead School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine as a leading institution focused on saving lives locally and globally.”

The new grant, which Tulane did not disclose, will provide seed funding to develop research groups in areas such as cancer control, climate change and health, health equity, health policy, infectious diseases, public health workforce development and processes. of artificial intelligence in population health studies.

It will also be used to strengthen the teaching faculty and strengthen student support, particularly in the form of scholarships. And part of the gift will help advance Tulane’s plan to expand its downtown campus.

“President Fitts’ mission to use research and discovery as economic drivers for the New Orleans region, and Dean Thomas LaVeist’s strong determination to confront and redress health inequities have ts’ a great example of bringing about positive change,” Weatherhead said in a statement. “I am excited to support the university’s goals and long-term strategy to educate public health professionals, strengthen basic research and build a healthier world, starting with the city of New Orleans, but we determined to obtain the fruits of the world.”

Weatherhead, who earned a bachelor’s degree in theater in 1965 from Tulane’s Newcomb College, currently serves on the Dean’s Advisory Council for Public Health, the school’s top advisory board and is a continuing member of the Board of Tulane, the university’s main governing body. In 2023, he was awarded the Dermot McGlinchey Lifetime Achievement Award, which honors alumni who have demonstrated service, involvement and commitment to Tulane and their communities.

The Celia Scott Weatherhead School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine will become only the second of Tulane’s 10 schools and colleges to be named, joining the AB Freeman School of Business.