Thanks for the Memory

Spencers Support Comprehensive Neuroscience Center

“Bill and Virginia Spencer are longtime friends and supporters of UAB,” says Ray Watts, M.D., chair of the Department of Neurology. “Their vision for progress and success has greatly impacted the arts and medical sciences as well as numerous UAB students. The Department of Neurology is grateful to be a beneficiary of this generosity through the creation of the Virginia B. Spencer Research Fund in Neuroscience (a portion of which is endowed) and the Virginia B. Spencer Scholar in Neuroscience.”

The Spencers’ gift already has been used to recruit Erik Roberson, M.D., Ph.D., to the UAB Department of Neurology and the UAB Comprehensive Neuroscience Center as the first Virginia B. Spencer Scholar in Neuroscience, and the research fund will be used to support Roberson’s ongoing endeavors in the field of age-related memory disorders. Watts adds, “The Spencers’ generous support has allowed us to recruit Dr. Roberson, one of the best and brightest young researchers working in his field, from the University of California, San Francisco. I am extremely grateful to the Spencers for their support of UAB and the Department of Neurology.”

In recognition of the Spencers’ history of philanthropic support, the Alabama Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals named the organization’s award recognizing outstanding philanthropy the William M. and Virginia B. Spencer Outstanding Philanthropist Award. At UAB, the William M. and Virginia B. Spencer Honors House was named for Mr. and Mrs. Spencer’s gift to restore the historic church that is home to the University Honors Program. They also have supported the Evalina B. Spencer Endowed Chair in Oncology and the Spencer Chair of Medical Science Leadership.

Mr. Spencer is enthusiastic about the Comprehensive Neuroscience Center and the fund. “I’m so impressed with the whole program that Dr. Watts has put together and wanted to help in any way I could,” he says. “I liked the idea of giving to support research on age-related issues. It’s so important to all of us as human beings, because when we get older, we all face the same issues. This is a fantastic program, and I’m happy to support it.”