The Reilly Center for Media and Public Affairs at the Manship School of Mass Communication received a gift of $1.2 million from Charles and Carole Lamar, according to Ralph Izard, interim dean of the Manship School.
The money will be used to set up the Lamar Family Visiting Scholars Endowment, which will annually allow recent Ph.D. graduates deemed “Lamar Scholars” to visit campus for a full academic year, according to a news release.
Lamar Scholars will be selected by the dean of the Manship School, and the visiting scholars will teach at the University and work on projects meant to improve the school, according to the release.
Each visitor will be expected to produce an original piece of research to garner national attention for the University.
This is the latest in a long line of gifts and donations the University has recently received.
The Forever LSU campaign has raised $787 million since it was launched in June 2006, exceeding its goal of $750 million.
Izard said he is proud of the Reilly Center’s gift.
“Any time you get $1.2 million, it’s a major accomplishment for the program,” he said. “For the Lamars to give us that kind of gift, it demonstrates a confidence that we really appreciate.”
Izard said the endowment will allow the Reilly Center and the Manship School to develop programs that focus on media literacy, something he said all students need to be familiar with.
“We see that as a necessity,” he said.
Izard also said the Manship School submitted a request to the Board of Regents for $800,000 in matching funds, but he didn’t know if the school would receive the money.
“The Board of Regents has provided this kind of support in the past,” he said.
 
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Contact Rachel Warren at [email protected]