Gift establishes UTA’s first hospitality professorship
A $500,000 gift from entrepreneur and philanthropist Roland G. Parrish will establish the Roland G. Parrish Endowed Professorship in Hospitality Management at The University of Texas at Arlington, advancing hospitality education in North Texas.
It marks the first endowed academic position for UTA’s new Hospitality Management Program, launched in fall 2025 in the College of Business to prepare future leaders in restaurants, hotels, event planning and tourism.
“This gift will strengthen the foundation of the hospitality industry,” said Parrish, CEO of Parrish Restaurants Ltd. "By investing in outstanding faculty, we are helping UTA shape a program that can define the future of a global field that touches millions of lives.”
The professorship will enable the College of Business to recruit and retain an expert who can guide curriculum, mentor students and cultivate industry connections—accelerating academic excellence and professional impact.
“Roland Parrish’s visionary philanthropic investment will elevate UTA’s leadership in hospitality management,” UTA President Jennifer Cowley said. “This professorship empowers us to bring in top talent, forge partnerships and drive innovation in a sector vital to our region’s economic growth.”
UTA’s Hospitality Management Program delivers a specialized business education tailored to the industry. The curriculum blends theory and practical application across areas such as guest experience, tourism strategy, operations, analytics, finance, human resources, marketing and revenue management.
“The Roland G. Parrish Endowed Professorship in Hospitality Management will help us attract an accomplished faculty member and build a program that prepares students to thrive in one of the world’s most dynamic industries,” College of Business Dean Harry Dombroski said. “We are deeply grateful to Mr. Parrish for his generous and thoughtful support.”
Parrish is the founder of the Parrish Charitable Foundation, which creates opportunities for children in underserved communities through investments in education, health care and the arts. He has previously supported UTA through gifts to University Crossroads, the Roland Parrish Scholarship Fund and other student success initiatives.
About The University of Texas at Arlington (UTA)
The University of Texas at Arlington is a growing public research university in the heart of Dallas-Fort Worth. With a student body of over 42,700, UTA is the second-largest institution in the University of Texas System, offering more than 180 undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Recognized as a Carnegie R-1 university, UTA stands among the nation’s top 5% of institutions for research activity. UTA and its 280,000 alumni generate an annual economic impact of $28.8 billion for the state. The University has received the Innovation and Economic Prosperity designation from the Association of Public and Land Grant Universities and has earned recognition for its focus on student access and success, considered key drivers to economic growth and social progress for North Texas and beyond.