The University of Utah has received a $25 million donation from the J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation to launch the J.W. Marriott Jr. Institute. This new initiative aims to integrate hospitality leadership principles across multiple academic disciplines.
The gift will support the development of a student-focused institute that blends hospitality values into business, healthcare, engineering, technology, design, and other fields. Rather than offering a traditional hospitality degree, the institute will emphasize customer experience and service leadership as core career skills.
The institute plans to offer global internships, leadership development, hospitality training, and industry-sponsored projects. These programs will equip students with practical skills and leadership experience, including access to resources like The Ritz-Carlton Leadership Center. Marc Brown has been appointed the inaugural executive director of the J.W. Marriott Jr. Institute. He will oversee efforts to embed hospitality concepts into real-world campus operations, giving students hands-on experience in service-based problem solving.
“We are redefining hospitality not simply as an industry but as a mindset that empowers leaders in every field to create exceptional experiences and drive meaningful impact by honoring the values that have long defined the Marriott name—excellence, integrity, and service to others,” said Taylor Randall, president of the University of Utah. “The Marriott family’s deep connection to the University of Utah, with J.W. ‘Bill’ Marriott Jr. as a proud alumnus and long-time supporter, is a testament to their enduring commitment to expanding opportunities for all people.”
“The J.W. Marriott Jr. Institute represents our commitment to attracting and developing the next generation of hospitality leaders,” said Mieka Wick, CEO of the J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation. “Through this institute, we aim to inspire students to carry forward Bill’s legacy of visionary leadership, integrity, and service.”
David S. Marriott, trustee of the foundation and chairman of Marriott International, emphasized the personal significance of the project. “My dad is proud to be a University of Utah alum, and to have a hospitality institute established in his name is a source of pride for him and our entire family,” he said. “We know every student who walks through the doors will develop the mindset and the skill set to be the next generation of leaders.”
The initiative adds to the university’s existing co-curricular offerings, such as the Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute, and comes as the campus prepares for the 2034 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.
