Kathleen Gibson of Dallas, a 1981 Texas A&M University graduate and the President and CEO of Southwestern Medical Foundation, joined the Texas A&M Foundation Board of Trustees on July 1.
Kathleen Gibson '81
Gibson, a native Texan, holds a bachelor’s of science degree in agricultural economics, and also attended school at Southern Methodist University (SMU) in Oxford, England, and in Russia. Prior to joining Southwestern Medical Foundation—a leading charitable corporation supporting advancement in medical education, research and care—Gibson spent 30 years in financial services, holding a number of leadership positions in corporate banking, asset management, and commercial banking at Citibank and Bank of America.
“The Texas A&M Foundation is a leading model in philanthropy today, and through the generosity of Aggies, it is helping to build the means to be one of America’s greatest universities,” said Gibson. “What a privilege it is to be a small part of a team making such significant impact.”
Gibson and her husband Robert are generous benefactors to Texas A&M. In addition to Endowed Century Club gifts through The Association of Former Students, the couple established the Jarvis E. Miller ’50 Excellence Fund for International Education in 2002 to support programs and activities within the Center for International Business Studies at Mays Business School. The gift honors Gibson’s father, who served as the university’s president from 1977 to 1980. He also worked with US AID in Argentina and the Dominican Republic. Living overseas as a child, Gibson learned the impact that international exposure has in preparing students for living and working in a global society.
“Giving to benefit Texas A&M is a great joy,” Gibson said. “Seeing firsthand the impact that private support can have in building programs for students has been even greater.”
Gibson has also given much of her time and service to the university: She previously served as chair of the board for The Association of Former Students, and she currently serves on the Center for International Business Studies Advisory Council and the Mays Business School Development Council.
“It’s a privilege to welcome Kathleen Gibson to our Foundation team,” said Texas A&M Foundation President Tyson Voelkel ’96. “Kathleen has an exceptional history of innovation and leadership, and we are happy she has accepted the role. We look forward to her perspective as we continue to evolve and grow our endowment and assist Texas A&M in solving global challenges.”
Outside of Texas A&M, Gibson has played an active role in community groups and civic engagement. She serves on the boards of the Dallas Committee on Foreign Relations, the SMU Tate Lecture Series, the YMCA of Metropolitan Dallas, and Charter 100. She is also a member of the advisory boards of the Institute for Excellence in Corporate Governance at The University of Texas at Dallas and the Dallas-Fort Worth Albert Schweitzer Fellowship Program.
In 2010, Gibson was recognized in the Dallas Business Journal as a Top 25 Industry Leader in the Women in Business Awards. She was also featured in the 10th annual Women Worth Watching edition of the Profiles in Diversity Journal and has received Texas A&M’s Tyrus R. Timm Honor Registry Award, a Women’s Legacy Award, and the honor of being selected as a 2014 Fish Camp namesake.
She and her husband are proud of their two daughters: Catherine is a 2011 and 2013 graduate of Vanderbilt University, and Sarah ’15 graduated from Texas A&M with a master’s degree in public service and administration from The Bush School of Government and Public Service.
Texas A&M Foundation
The Texas A&M Foundation is a nonprofit organization that solicits and manages investments in academics and leadership programs to enhance Texas A&M’s capability to be among the best universities. For additional information, please contact Monika Blackwell with the Foundation at mblackwell@txamfoundation.com or (979) 845-7468.
