A world traveler’s planned gift helps students embark on journeys of transformation.
William Doggett III, M.D., had an insatiable desire to travel and to learn. In fact, he believed that traveling was learning, says his brother David Doggett.
“Foreign travel was not just a vacation or adventure to Bill,” David says. “It was a way to explore and understand more of the world and more about himself, and knowing how to speak even a little of another language helped him do that.”
Study abroad was a critical component of William’s education. He spent a semester in France while pursuing his undergraduate degree, and after earning his medical degree from UAB, he attended summer institutes in England and France. William, who passed away in 2012, spent 35 years as an internist and pulmonary specialist in Birmingham. During his career, he took more than 40 courses at UAB on all sorts of topics—German language, Russian literature, piano, art, astronomy, and more. “His learning experiences at UAB were probably his greatest source of delight,” David says.
To share his passions and to thank UAB for the many ways it contributed to his quality of life, William left a bequest to establish the Dr. William E. Doggett III Endowed Support Fund for the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures and to support the existing Grace Lindsley Waits Endowed Scholarship, which he had previously established. “My brother wanted his gift to enable others to expand their experience of the world through the study of language,” David says.
The fund is accomplishing that goal, says Erika Rinker, Ph.D., assistant professor of German at UAB. “Dr. Doggett has given a gift greater than the monetary value of international airfare when he made possible the transformative experience of a summer, a semester, or a year in another country,” she says.
“Students who feel supported in their study of another language, and especially those who enjoy the privilege of enriching their educations abroad, serve as ambassadors and return as advocates voicing their own support for the very initiatives and priorities identified by the College of Arts and Sciences,” Rinker notes. “They become our most genuine global citizen-scholars, and I am grateful to be able to work with the Doggett family to help extend our students’ worldviews.”
Two students who have benefited from William Doggett’s generosity describe experiences abroad that have advanced their education and prepared them for successful careers:
Leah Perz: Study abroad in Paris, France
“My first study abroad experience was a month in Paris on a UAB faculty-led trip. I was awarded the Dr. William E. Doggett III Endowed Study Abroad Scholarship in Foreign Languages and Literatures, and that helped make the trip a reality by offsetting many expenses. My mornings were spent in French classes at a language institute in the heart of the city, and I had the afternoons to explore Paris and immerse myself in the culture.
During my last full day in the city, I explored the area near the Arc de Triomphe. I walked along the Champs-Élysées and located the underground tunnel that gives access to the Arc, which sits on an island surrounded by four lanes of traffic. To get to the top, I climbed the tiniest spiraling staircase, which was full of people—and I can get claustrophobic. But I was rewarded with the most incredible view of the city. A lot of people think the view from the Eiffel Tower is the best, but I loved this panoramic view because I could also enjoy that iconic landmark while taking in the City of Lights.
That month made me realize how much I want to improve my language learning and spend more time in France. In the fall, I’m planning to spend a semester in Lyon, France. I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to afford the trip, but then I was awarded the Dr. William E. Doggett III Endowed Scholarship for Foreign Languages and Literatures. It will be my main source of financial aid during the semester and has allowed me to feel comfortable making this decision. Because of Dr. Doggett’s generosity, I can keep working toward my goal of fluency and a greater understanding of another culture.”
Leah Perz graduated May 2020 with a B.A. degree in international studies and a B.A. in foreign languages with a French concentration. She’s from Moody, Alabama, and plans to pursue a master’s degree and eventually work in transnational anti-human trafficking endeavors.
Meghan Ballard: Study abroad in Salamanca, Spain
“I spent five weeks in Salamanca this past summer, thanks to the Dr. William E. Doggett III Endowed Study Abroad Scholarship in Foreign Languages and Literatures. I had taken about five years of Spanish, but I wasn’t sure how I would do talking with people who didn’t speak any English. I got to live with a host family, and that experience helped me tremendously. I feel a lot more accomplished and able to speak confidently now.
My roommate and I—another UAB student who ended up becoming one of my best friends—would have lunch and dinner with my host family every day. And on the weekends, we occasionally would join them on hikes. One was especially memorable. It was 12 miles long—quite far for us, but for my family who is used to walking everywhere, it was nothing. By the end of the hike, my friend and I were exhausted. We could barely move. But I’ll never forget that day because we got to see parts of the Spanish countryside we’d never seen before. And we got to experience what my host family does for fun.
I had been saving money to make this trip happen, but I wasn’t sure I’d be able to afford it until I received the scholarship. Living abroad gave me an education I never would have had in the classroom. I experienced food, people, culture. Plus I improved in my Spanish-speaking abilities. I would highly recommend studying abroad to anyone studying a foreign language.”
Meghan Ballard graduated in May 2020 with a B.S. in psychology and a B.A. in foreign languages with a Spanish concentration. She's from Arab, Alabama, and plans to pursue a career in federal law enforcement or intelligence.
