UA Real Estate Program Named for Birmingham-Area Developer

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The real estate program at The University of Alabama Culverhouse College of Business has a new name thanks to one family's generosity.

The Rance M. Sanders Real Estate Program, which includes an all-new undergraduate major and an existing minor, has been named in recognition of a discretionary $5 million gift from UA alumni Rance M. Sanders and Angie L. Sanders of Vestavia Hills.

Sanders is president and CEO of The Sanders Trust, LLC, a health care real estate firm with properties across 30 states. He has been a fixture in the Birmingham real estate community for more than 40 years and is a pioneer in the national health care real estate industry.

"I want to give students two things: one is access to a good education, and number two, we want them to get the very best professors and experience hands-on learning to hone real-world skills, within the real estate program," Sanders said. "We just see so many students who are promising, who are capable, but are struggling financially. To be able to give them a hand and make a difference in whether they can stay in school or not - that really means a lot."

Over the last five years, Culverhouse has experienced a 300% increase in students pursuing a real estate minor. Students in the new major will learn to develop, purchase, sell, lease, appraise and manage real estate. The Sanders' gift will expand experiential learning opportunities that enhance their skill sets through real-world applications, creating funding allocations for:

• Students and advisors to participate in real estate-focused case competitions annually

• Students to participate in Live-Work-Play opportunities annually

• Students and an advisor to attend conferences annually

"Rance often shares that it was here at Alabama where he learned the value of preparation, perseverance and showing up, even when it wasn't easy," Culverhouse College of Business Dean Kay Palan said. "That credo carried him through law school, into business, and into a life of purpose. And today, he and his wife Angie are giving back in a way that reflects their belief in the power of education."

Sanders is a longtime supporter of Culverhouse, where the Rance M. Sanders Endowed Real Estate Scholarship, established in 2007, currently awards approximately $7,500 to as many as six students each academic year.

Sanders has developed advanced health care facilities focused on creating environments that promote compassionate care, improved patient experiences and better outcomes. He also launched Sanders Capital Partners, expanding into retail, office and light industrial real estate investments. Through Tusk Asset Management, his family office, he manages a diverse portfolio that includes public and private equity, debt, venture capital, commodities and alternative assets.

Deeply committed to philanthropy, he founded the Sanders Family Foundation, which supports students with financial need by providing scholarships and grants that open doors to transformative educational opportunities.

Sanders is a member of The University of Alabama's President's Cabinet and is a board member of the 1831 Foundation.