Officials Offer More Details on UTT Pharmacy School

TYLER — Officials are shedding more light on a gift from the Fisch Foundation to name the new UT Tyler College of Pharmacy for Ben and Maytee Fisch. According to a news release, the trustees of the Fisch Foundation, made up primarily of the children and grandchildren of Ben and Maytee Fisch, decided to break with tradition and name the new college because they wanted to honor their parents and grandparents. UTT announced August 23 that UT Regents had given the final go-ahead for the college, also announcing at that time that it would be called the Ben and Maytee Fisch College of Pharmacy.

According to a UTT news release, the fact that Ben and Maytee first met when they were both pharmacy students together, even though Ben later went on to be a physician, made the trustees feel connected in a special way to this new pharmacy college being developed in Ben and Maytee’s own back yard. “We are so pleased to have this gift, which will not only significantly contribute to the creation of this fine program, but also honor two of the most kind, loving and selfless people I’ve known,” said UTT President Dr. Rodney Mabry.

The funds will serve, in part, as a pool to cover start-up costs early on —- to be replenished by year five. Then, officials say, the full amount will serve as a permanent endowment to provide student scholarships in perpetuity as well as a faculty endowed chair and at least two endowed professorships to attract nationally known faculty. “What a miracle it is to have these funds to put the new Ben and Maytee Fisch College of Pharmacy on such a high footing. It is very rare to be able to give a college a venerable family name at its inception, and this naming will help catapult the Fisch College into the national limelight very early on. We are truly grateful,” Mabry said.