The University of Arizona’s W.A. Franke Honors College is set to benefit from a generous $2 million donation by Bob and Sue Vaughan, leading to the establishment of the SueBob Vaughan Leaders Endowed Chair. This new position aims to enhance student wellness and leadership across various health disciplines.
The Vaughans have been long-time advocates for education, previously supporting multiple University of Arizona colleges, including the College of Science, Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine, College of Nursing, and Franke Honors College.
Bob and Sue Vaughan with Franke Honors College Dean John Pollard.
Johanne Jensen-Ives/W.A. Franke Honors College
Franke Dean John Pollard emphasized the impact of the Vaughans’ contribution, stating, “Bob and Sue Vaughan, or SueBob as we like to call them, have made things possible that wouldn’t have been without this gift. Our students are going to have the opportunity to deepen their sense of holistic wellness, thinking about what it takes to be a human who is not only striving and achieving professionally and academically, but who is also developing the mental and physical health that supports their goals.”
The endowed chair is envisioned to nurture the next generation of leaders, particularly in health care disciplines, while promoting wellness and genuine leadership. Situated in the Franke Honors College, it will foster collaboration across campus initiatives, enabling students and faculty to enhance their leadership capabilities and utilize the university’s extensive resources.
Sue Vaughan remarked, “In our goals together, we have this thread that goes through, and it is called caring for people. We have always tried to do that in our own clinical care, research and publications. We are always caring for people and when we do that, we want to reinforce the power of authentic leadership. We see this endowed chair as an opportunity to help put forward a vision of wellness for students as they enter the Franke Honors College.”
Recognized as the 2026 Honors Legacy Award winners by the W.A. Franke Honors College, the Vaughans’ dedication to the University of Arizona stems from their own educational and professional journeys. Bob Vaughan, a founding faculty member of the College of Medicine – Tucson, has played an influential role in health care, including serving 15 years as chairman of the department of anesthesiology at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Sue Vaughan, who earned her Ph.D. from the U of A College of Nursing in 1980, contributed as a research associate in the departments of anesthesiology and pharmacology at the U of A.
John-Paul Roczniak, president and CEO of the University of Arizona Foundation, highlighted, “Sue and Bob recognize the critical role that faculty play in shaping students’ current and future success. Because of them, honors students will have a new champion in their corner. That the U of A played a role in both their careers makes this legacy all the more meaningful.”
The endowed chair will also benefit from the U of A’s Eminent Scholars Program, designed to attract and retain distinguished faculty. This program adds additional funding to the donation, enhancing the support for the endowed chair. The SueBob Vaughan Leaders Endowed Chair is a key part of the university’s $3 billion Fuel Wonder campaign, which emphasizes pioneering research, student success, and community engagement.
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