Following a $25 million gift commitment from Catherine Styslinger, the University of Alabama’s College of Engineering has been named in honor of Lee J. Styslinger Jr., a Birmingham CEO who passed in 2021.

UA’s College of Engineering named in honor of Lee J. Styslinger Jr.

On Friday, October 17, the UA System Board of Trustees approved a $25 million gift from Catherine Styslinger, wife of the late Lee J. Styslinger Jr.

Born in Birmingham in 1933, Lee Styslinger Jr. pursued a mechanical engineering degree at UA before leaving at age 19 to take over management of Birmingham-based Alabama Truck Equipment Company after the passing of his father, the company’s founder. Under Styslinger Jr.’s leadership, the company—now known as Altec, Inc.—became a worldwide leader in providing equipment and services to the electric utility, telecommunications and tree care industries.

“Lee was a humble man, but he would be so proud to know the college was being honored in his name. He would have wanted other students to have the education that he received there.”
Catherine Styslinger

The newly-named Lee J. Styslinger Jr. College of Engineering currently enrolls more than 5,500 students in seven departments, offering 14 undergraduate degree programs and 16 graduate degree programs.

“We are incredibly grateful to the Styslinger family for investing in our students’ future. This transformational gift empowers the College of Engineering to think bigger through education, research and innovation. Our graduates will turn knowledge into impact as they lead solutions to critical challenges in energy, manufacturing, space, mobility, data and AI — and this is only the beginning.”
Peter J. Mohler, President, University of Alabama

Peter J. Mohler — Dr. Peter Mohler, President of the University of Alabama. (University of Alabama)

Thanks to the support from the Styslinger family, the College of Engineering has a fully discretionary endowment that will allow it to:

Respond to emerging opportunities and innovating boldly
Create transformative experiences for UA engineering students
Strengthen the College’s research enterprise and attract preeminent faculty

“The power of this endowment lies in its flexibility. With discretionary resources of this scale, we can respond quickly to opportunities, enhance the student experience, recruit outstanding faculty and so much more. It positions us for immediate impact while giving us the means to invest strategically in the future.”
Dr. Clifford L. Henderson, Dean of the Styslinger College of Engineering

Excited to see the University of Alabama’s College of Engineering receive a naming gift? Tag us @thebamabuzz to let us know!