Gateway to Business Leadership Expands Student Development Opportunities at Culverhouse

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Thanks to a major gift from University of Alabama alumnus D. Stephen Menzies and his wife, Joanne, students in the Culverhouse College of Business now have a dedicated space to build the professional skills needed to succeed in their careers.

The gift made possible the Gateway to Business Leadership, a renovated entry to Bidgood Hall designed to welcome new generations to the business school experience at The University of Alabama and to help students turn what they learn in the classroom into the skills they need in the professional world.

The Gateway has two primary functions. One is to serve as a gathering point for prospective students and parents before they tour the four-building Culverhouse business campus with the College’s recruiting team and student ambassadors.

The other primary function is to serve as a dedicated space for student professional development and coaching through the College’s Kelly LEAD program, where staff and student coaches lead dozens of small-group workshops each week focused on professional skills such as collaboration, conflict resolution and time management. The Kelly LEAD program provides students with opportunities to practice interviewing, receive feedback on their elevator pitches, and develop the confidence to navigate the professional world.

"The Gateway to Business Leadership embodies what makes The University of Alabama special," UA President Peter Mohler said. "Through the generosity of Joanne and Steve Menzies, our students will have greater access to the mentorship, coaching and professional experiences that help transform academic achievement into lifelong success."

While the Gateway has been in use since the beginning of the 2026 academic year, a dedication ceremony was held in the afternoon of Friday, Sept. 25, attended by the Menzies, their friends and family, as well as UA leadership, faculty, staff, students and alumni.

The Gateway reflects Menzies’ belief that education should open doors for young people while giving them the tools and encouragement to take advantage of those opportunities.

“Joanne and I have been very focused in our philanthropy to support programs and investments and creating opportunities for development of young people,” Stephen Menzies said.

“Let's make sure the doors are open. Let's make sure young people have opportunities to go through those doors, to grow, develop, lead and contribute to our community. Once you're through those doors, it's up to you to be intentional about your development and about what you do.”

Stephen Menzies earned a graduate degree from The University of Alabama after receiving his undergraduate degree from Tulane University. He came to Alabama wanting to specialize in finance and found the program, curriculum and access to faculty he desired at Culverhouse.

The philosophy has continued to guide Stephen and Joanne in their philanthropy, which has focused on creating opportunities for young people through scholarships, athletics, development programs, and other initiatives.

The Gateway to Business Leadership extends that philosophy to Culverhouse students by providing a dedicated place to develop the skills that complement their academic preparation.

For generations of future Culverhouse students, the Gateway to Business Leadership will serve as both a welcome point and a launching point, connecting students with the guidance, mentoring and experiences needed to thrive as leaders in their professions and communities.

Dr. Kay Palan, Dean of the Culverhouse College of Business, said, “Joanne and Steve have done far more than renovate a space within a historic building. They have invested in people. They have created a place where students will be welcomed, challenged, coached and prepared to lead.”

“For years to come, students who walk through these doors will benefit from their vision and generosity, many never realizing just how much their lives were shaped by the opportunities that began here. Joanne and Steve, thank you for believing in Culverhouse, in our students and in the power of opportunity.”