Johnson Academic Challenge Will Create $60M Investment in Faculty Through Dollar-for-Dollar Match
Retired HCA Healthcare Chairman and CEO Milton Johnson and his wife Denice, a former educator who together believe deeply in education’s power to transform lives and communities, have made a historic $30 million gift to Belmont University to establish the Johnson Academic Challenge. The innovative matching fund program will match donor commitments of $1.5 million to $3 million to create up to 20 endowed professorships across Belmont’s academic programs, deepening the University’s academic excellence and enhancing student learning and formation.
With this landmark gift, the Johnsons’ support of Belmont now totals more than $50 million, building upon previous investments to launch the Bridges to Belmont program and the Bell Tower Scholars, and support the Thomas F. Frist, Jr. College of Medicine.
Denice and Milton Johnson
"This Challenge represents our belief in Belmont's vision to reimagine higher education," said Milton Johnson, chairman of Belmont’s Board of Trustees and Belmont alumnus. "By creating this matching fund, we hope to attract and retain innovative leaders of deep character from diverse backgrounds and industries who bring forward-thinking perspectives to our academic programs. These endowed positions will be catalysts for transformation in how we prepare students for the future."
This historic investment will strengthen Belmont's ability to prepare the next generation of leaders and innovators across all disciplines. Through these new endowed professorships, the Johnson Academic Challenge will enhance academic excellence, deepen student learning and formation experiences and advance Belmont's commitment to developing diverse leaders of character. When fully realized, this donor matching initiative will create a $60 million investment in Belmont’s future, accelerating the University’s momentum in preparing graduates who are ready to solve complex global challenges through creativity, collaboration and innovation.
"Milton and Denice Johnson are exceptional people, remarkably generous and amazing leaders. Through their extraordinary vision, the Johnsons have created an unprecedented opportunity that will transform Belmont's future,” said Belmont President Dr. Greg Jones. “As donors step forward, their gifts will be doubled through this Challenge, allowing us to bring together diverse perspectives and innovative approaches that will shape how we prepare students for an ever-changing world."
The Johnson Academic Challenge stands apart in both its scale and structure and represents a strategic investment across Belmont's 12 colleges. These endowed positions will attract industry innovators who are passionate about training future leaders in their fields, emphasizing interdisciplinary collaboration to tackle complex challenges facing society.
The Johnsons' commitment to Belmont spans decades, with Milton Johnson's journey beginning as a Belmont College scholarship recipient. A Nashville native, Johnson went on to become chairman and CEO of HCA Healthcare which he led for many years. Together with his wife Denice, whose career in education has given her firsthand insight into the power of transformative learning, the Johnsons remain deeply committed to creating opportunities that will shape generations of future leaders.