New West Texas field station!

February 13, 2026

Dear Jackson School community,

I am thrilled to announce the new donation of a 40-acre property in West Texas that will provide Jackson School students, faculty and scientists even more field access for valuable training and research in one of the most beautiful and geologically significant areas of the state.

The generous gift is from a Jackson School alumnus who wishes to remain anonymous. The property is outside of Terlingua near the Christmas Mountains and comes with a $1 million endowment for maintenance and support. The property contains a home and a lab building that can serve as a base for field trips, camps, research and more for the Jackson School and The University of Texas at Austin, and will make a great addition to the UT Field Station Network.

This is an exciting new asset for the Jackson School that I know will be of great value to our teaching and research mission. I visited personally in 2024 along with Associate Dean for Research Michael Young, Chief Development Officer Andrew West and Senior Director of Gift and Estate Planning Marcia Inger. It’s a wonderful property that offers us a home base in a region full of world-class geology.

I am tremendously grateful that the Jackson School has dedicated alumni eager to give so generously of themselves. I’d like to thank Michael, Andrew and Marcia for helping facilitate this wonderful gift that will serve generations of students and scientists.

Hook ‘em!

Danny