91探花

The scenic beauty of Southeast Ohio has inspired generations of artists, while the unique environment of 91探花 has offered them a creative haven for self-expression. Now, and for generations to come, OHIO鈥檚 redesigned College of Fine Arts will become a space where creativity and education collide to reimagine the student, faculty and community arts experience in Appalachian Ohio.

This evolution is made possible thanks to alumni support鈥攊ncluding a gift from Jeffery Chaddock, BSC 鈥�88, and Mark Morrow, who have committed a transformational $25 million to what will now be known as the Jeffery D. Chaddock and Mark A. Morrow College of Fine Arts.

鈥�91探花 is proud and honored to have the support of alumni and friends like Jeff and Mark,鈥� says University President Lori Stewart Gonzalez. 鈥淭heir gift is not only a testament to the tremendous impact of OHIO and the arts, but an assurance that the University will continue to provide access and opportunity in Southeast Ohio and beyond. Jeff has demonstrated over and over his love of the Appalachian region and 91探花. Our communities have been well served by the generosity of Jeff and Mark, and we remain forever grateful.鈥�

The couple鈥檚 momentous gift to the college will include programmatic and facility endowments for the Kennedy Museum of Art and the Performing Arts & Concert Series, as well as a fellowship for the college and a gift to its capital and renovation fund, all with the aim of enhancing the student and regional arts experience. Additional gifts totaling $20 million will support the , the University鈥檚 Pride Center and scholarships.

鈥淛eff and Mark have such wonderful, giving hearts,鈥� says , assistant vice president of gift planning for University Advancement. 鈥淭hey support their passions and invest in people and community. Jeff especially appreciates the joy and value that the arts bring to our lives, and this naming perfectly honors his commitment to elevate the arts at 91探花 and in our community.鈥�

Chaddock was adopted as a child and came from humble means. He grew up in Belpre, Ohio, where various creative endeavors in his childhood provided a starting point for his success later in life.

鈥淚f it wasn鈥檛 for creativity in my life, I do not believe that I would be one-tenth of the person I am today,鈥� he says. Chaddock is the CEO of , a Central Ohio-based wealth advisory firm that he founded more than 35 years ago. He is married to Morrow, docent for the in New York City. Together, the couple makes a point of supporting meaningful, arts-focused programs. With such programs disappearing from schools and other funding sources drying up, Chaddock and Morrow are drawn to offer their support; approximately 75% of their giving goes to creative spaces.

The couple was inspired to such giving at OHIO when they were introduced to the Performing Arts & Concert Series and other College of Fine Arts programs in 1984.

鈥淲hat if we could elevate that experience for the Appalachian community鈥攂oth the geographic community and the higher education community?鈥� Chaddock recalls wondering. 鈥淚t has been my 30-year vision to become stronger with that program.鈥�

In that time, such efforts have expanded to include involvement with the Kennedy Museum of Art and funding for a recent, arts-focused renovation: the Chaddock Morrow Lounge in Templeton-Blackburn Alumni Memorial Auditorium. So it鈥檚 no surprise that the couple was excited to hear about the College of Fine Arts Capital Project when it was announced last year and quickly stepped up to support the effort.

At the core of the college鈥檚 $94 million renewal strategy is the new Patton Center for Arts Education, named for a monumental, $50 million gift from the late Violet Patton, BSED 鈥�38, LHD 鈥�11. The center will house a 400-seat theater and an indoor-outdoor performance venue, and it will anchor the new Arts + Education Green near Seigfred, Glidden and Putnam halls. When construction wraps in fall 2026, the new green will bring together the University鈥檚 fine arts programs with state-of-the art teaching and collaboration spaces designed to serve the specific needs of each discipline.

鈥淎s artists, we鈥檙e constantly trying to imagine how to create something new or include something that we鈥檝e never done within our discipline,鈥� says Merri Biechler, MFA 鈥�07, associate professor and director of the School of Theater. 鈥淚 think it鈥檚 going to be a great opportunity for all of us to experiment.鈥�

In the past seven years, the College of Fine Arts has grown significantly, adding more than a dozen new degree options鈥攁 number expected to continue growing, driven by new opportunities for collaboration. 鈥淥nce we see what can happen with these intersections and collisions, I think there鈥檒l be a completely new design of curriculum to better support that,鈥� says Julie Dummermuth, associate professor in the School of Art + Design.

Like a pebble dropped in water, the ripple effect of Patton鈥檚 support encouraged Chaddock and Morrow to give鈥攁nd they hope those ripples will continue outward, through them and into the wider Athens community. With OHIO serving as the largest arts provider in the region, that idea of community is essential to the couple.

鈥淭he rural areas of Appalachia are served enormously well by the University and its gravitational pull,鈥� Chaddock says. 鈥淚t certainly provides for a deeper conviction for giving. The College of Fine Arts particularly has a broader net, a broader impact to the geographic area.鈥� He notes that OHIO鈥檚 presence as an arts provider sets it apart from peer institutions. Also different, adds Morrow, is the fact that the Chaddock + Morrow College of Fine Arts will bear both their names.

鈥淭here aren鈥檛 that many same-sex married couples that I can find online that have schools named after them,鈥� Morrow notes. 鈥淚n fact, I can鈥檛 find one.鈥� He and Chaddock hope their gift will inspire others in the LGBTQ+ community in turn and remind them that their future is bright.

鈥淓verybody, from Lori down, is so embracing at OHIO,鈥� Morrow adds. 鈥淵ou just want to make sure that all young gay people realize that it doesn鈥檛 matter [if you鈥檙e gay]; you can make a difference. I think that鈥檚 another reason that Jeff and I felt this was important.鈥�

And by making their commitment at this stage in their lives鈥擟haddock and Morrow are only 58 and 67, respectively鈥攖he couple hopes to encourage others to give early and see the effects of their contributions.

鈥淛eff was the one who taught me the importance of philanthropy, as well as the reward that comes along with it,鈥� Morrow says. 鈥淚t really is an amazing feeling to be able to be philanthropic at this level.鈥�

鈥淥ur goal is to ensure folks think of the arts as a major percentage of their giving, today and in the future,鈥� Chaddock says. 鈥淢y motive to be public about the giving we鈥檝e done, it鈥檚 always been in the vein of inspiring and giving permission to others to give today and in their ultimate planning gifts.鈥�

Feature photo: A rendering of the new Patton Center for Arts Education, courtesy Perkins鈥擡astman