Why We Give: Hubbard's Gift “Huge” For Psychology Department

January 22, 2009

Dr. John W. Hubbard knows the life of a University of Tennessee graduate student to a “T.”

Hubbard, the global president of ICON Clinical Research, received his Ph.D. in cardiovascular physiology from UT in 1983 and has more than 22 years of experience in pharmaceutical research and development. The years he spent at UT, working with Department of Psychology Professor and Head James (Jim) Lawler, helped shape his fundamentals and research passions.

In December 2007, Hubbard and his wife Jeanne made a gift to the psychology department’s graduate program. More than one year later, the gift continues to make an impact on its graduate students.

“The Hubbard’s gift directly impacted 50 students in our department,” said Lawler. “John desired that the funds go directly to the graduate students’ travel expenses. His experience traveling to conferences to present his own research as a graduate student made a significant impact on his career, and he wanted to give our current students enhanced opportunities to do the same.”

The funds allowed for 50 graduate students in the department to receive an additional stipend to be used for travel expenses to national and international conferences. Erin O’Mara, former president of the psychology graduate student association, said the impact of Hubbard’s gift was “huge.”

“It’s one of the largest gifts our department has ever received,” said O’Mara. “Through various grants, our department provides some funding for travel, but for each of us to have additional funding to help defray the cost was extremely beneficial.”

Hubbard was honored to help the students who are following in his footsteps.

“At UT, Dr. Lawler always encouraged us to present our research at conferences and meetings, but there wasn’t much budget for travel, said Hubbard. We drove many hours and slept on many hotel room floors on our trips, but attending these conferences was crucial for each of us to further our development as researchers and professionals.”

“Conference travel is a professional necessity for graduate students,” said Laura Widman, a fifth-year doctoral student in Clinical Psychology. “It allows us to present our research, receive feedback and establish important connections with top colleagues in our field. Without support from generous donors like Dr. Hubbard, this would be extremely burdensome or not possible for many of us.”

Katie Little, a fourth-year graduate student in Clinical Psychology said Hubbard’s gift boosted graduate student morale. “In a time of budget cuts and tuition hikes, it’s a bright spot to receive such a gift from a former student, someone who once walked in our shoes, who cares enough to invest in our future.”

Nearly 26 years after graduating from UT, Hubbard continues to put into practice what he learned under Dr. Lawler. “He always encouraged us to try new things and taught us how to express ourselves clearly and scientifically through our research,” said Hubbard. “I am constantly applying the knowledge I gained at UT. I’m glad that I was able to give back to this wonderful program, because I know the great things that Dr. Lawler and his students are accomplishing.”