Trinity University announced a landmark $25 million gift from the Malú and Carlos Alvarez Family to establish the  Carlos Alvarez School of Arts and Humanities . Among the largest gifts in Trinity’s history, this investment secures the future of disciplines at the core of a liberal arts education and ensures that generations of students will continue to think critically, create boldly, and lead with purpose.

“The Alvarez family’s extraordinary generosity affirms the timeless value of the arts and humanities at the heart of a Trinity education,” said Trinity President  Vanessa B. Beasley, Ph.D.  “This transformational gift ensures that generations of Trinity students will be inspired by disciplines that center culture, creativity, and the human experience to expand our understanding of the world and our place in it.”

The gift endows the dean’s position, establishes new scholarships, and funds opportunities for undergraduate research, internships, and global study. It also supports faculty through endowed professorships, professional development, and recruitment, while creating a flexible excellence fund to spark innovation, interdisciplinary collaboration, and community partnerships.

“With this extraordinary gift from the Alvarez family, we not only honor Carlos’s legacy but also strengthen the foundation of the arts and humanities for generations to come,” said  Rubén  Dupertuis, Ph.D. ,  founding dean of the Carlos Alvarez School of Arts and Humanities.

Honoring Carlos Alvarez’s Legacy

Carlos Alvarez, founder of The Gambrinus Company and a longtime civic leader in San Antonio, passed away in April 2024. Born in Mexico City, Alvarez built his success in the U.S. beer industry while dedicating his life to expanding opportunities for others. Alongside his wife, Malú, and their family, Alvarez supported causes ranging from education and health care to the arts and disaster relief.

“Carlos believed that education and the arts open doors to understanding ourselves and one another,” said  John Brozovich , Alvarez’s son-in-law, president and CEO of The Gambrinus Company, and Trinity trustee. “This commitment to Trinity University reflects who he was as a husband, father, and leader. Our family is honored to see his values live on through the Carlos Alvarez School of Arts and Humanities.”

A History of Transformational Support

The Alvarez family has been a driving force at Trinity for nearly two decades. In 2005, their support launched the Mexico, the Americas, and Spain (MAS) Program, which has expanded students’ global perspectives through study abroad, internships, research, and cultural programming. Their latest investment builds upon this legacy, ensuring that Trinity continues to prepare students for a globally interconnected future.

Together with the University’s recent investments, including the opening of Dicke Hall in 2022, the Carlos Alvarez School of Arts and Humanities represents a bold step forward, strengthening Trinity’s position as a national leader in liberal arts education.