Published on April 21, 2021 by Randy Pittman  

In the 15 years he has served as Samford’s president, Westmoreland has successfully ‘’enabled” thousands of alumni, staff, faculty, parents, friends, corporations, churches and charitable foundations to join him in generously supporting Samford and its mission.

Samford has had two comprehensive capital campaigns during the Westmoreland years. From 2006 to 2014, a period that included the most severe recession in our country since the 1930s, A Campaign for Samford raised $202.5 million in cash and pledges for the university. Prior to that time, the most successful campaign Samford had ever undertaken raised $89 million, so this effort was more than twice as beneficial. The record set in that campaign has now been exceeded in the current Forever Samford campaign, which, at the time of this writing, has raised $207.5 million and is still going.

Westmoreland, a first- generation college graduate who benefited from financial support to attend college himself, is most passionate about raising funds for scholarships. He and his wife Jeanna have personally funded 10 endowed scholarships at Samford, one in each of the academic schools; and more money has been raised and pledged for scholarships ($166.8 million) than for all other purposes during the years of his leadership.

Challenging Samford supporters to pledge a portion of their estates to the university is another area Westmoreland has emphasized. The decision about what to do with the proceeds of one’s estate is the most important stewardship decision a Christian will make, and Westmoreland has encouraged many Samford friends to “plant trees for future generations” in this manner.

Approximately 35% of all the funds coming in to the two capital campaigns have come in the form of estate pledges and gifts.

While the day-to-day work of raising funds is done by staff in the Division of University Advancement, other employees and scores of volunteers, Westmoreland has provided strong leadership every step of the way.

Winston Churchill once said, “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.” Andrew Westmoreland has spent most of his life giving and leading others to give, and everyone associated with Samford University is better for it.

To Further Their Commitment...

...of expanding scholarship opportunities for Samford students, Andrew and Jeanna Westmoreland have endowed scholarships in each of the university’s 10 schools, naming them in honor of loved ones and friends.

School of the Arts
R.B. and Sue King Scholarship
Howard College Arts and Sciences
Riley E. Westmoreland Endowed Scholarship
Brock School of Business
Ben M. Elrod Endowed Scholarship
Beeson Divinity School
T. Andrew Westmoreland Scholarship
Orlean Beeson School of Education
Jeanna King Westmoreland Endowed Scholarship
School of Health Professions
Shelley Stewart Endowed Scholarship
Cumberland School of Law
Brewer/Grooms Scholarship
Moffett & Sanders School of Nursing
Terri and Taylor King Endowed Scholarship
McWhorter School of Pharmacy
Fred and Elda Westmoreland Scholarship
School of Public Health
Buck and Nancy Brock Scholarship
 
Samford is a leading Christian university offering undergraduate programs grounded in the liberal arts with an array of nationally recognized graduate and professional schools. Founded in 1841, Samford is the 87th-oldest institution of higher learning in the United States. Samford enrolls 5,791 students from 49 states, Puerto Rico and 16 countries in its 10 academic schools: arts, arts and sciences, business, divinity, education, health professions, law, nursing, pharmacy and public health. Samford fields 17 athletic teams that compete in the tradition-rich Southern Conference and ranks 6th nationally for its Graduation Success Rate among all NCAA Division I schools.