EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) -- UTEP has received a $2 million gift to establish an endowed deanship at the Woody L. Hunt College of Business. The donation came from the Ginger G. and L. Frederick Francis Foundation. Ginger and Rick Francis are lifelong El Pasoans who are also noted philanthropists. "The Francis endowed deanship will ensure that permanent resources are available to retain and recruit talented leadership for the Hunt College of Business. The deanship will support leadership that advances UTEP’s mission and the college’s goal of becoming the country’s top college for the study of US-Mexico trade and business," UTEP said in a news release. “The Hunt College of Business has tremendous potential to impact the El Paso community over the long term with quality leadership,” said Rick Francis, chairman and CEO of WestStar Bank. “Ginger and I are pleased to support excellence in leadership at UTEP in perpetuity with this endowed deanship for the College of Business.” “We want the best talent for El Paso, and I am grateful to Rick and Ginger for their generosity and vision to endow this deanship,” said UTEP President Heather Wilson. “We are making the Woody L. Hunt College of Business even better and ensuring that it will be the leader in U.S.-Mexico business for the long term.” John Hadjimarcou, Ph.D., will be the first person to hold the Francis endowed deanship. Hadjimarcou was named the dean of the Hunt College of Business in March after serving as interim dean since August 2023. He has worked as an assistant professor of marketing at UTEP since 1994 and is a past recipient of the University of Texas System Regents’ Outstanding Teaching Award. The endowment will fund research, salary support and strategic initiatives that advance the mission of the college, UTEP said. “This generous gift is not just an investment in the Hunt College of Business but also a commitment to the entire Paso del Norte Region,” Hadjimarcou said. “Our goal is to use this investment to provide innovative programs and a high-quality educational experience to support our students to become successful, ethical leaders who contribute to the economic development of our community.” Here is what UTEP said about Rick and Ginger Francis and their charitable efforts: "Rick and Ginger Francis are lifelong El Pasoans and noted philanthropists who support a wide range of health, culture, and educational initiatives throughout the community with their time, talent and resources. They established the Ginger G. and L. Frederick Francis Foundation in 2017 as part of the Paso del Norte Community Foundation to support nonprofit organizations and endeavors in the El Paso area. Rick Francis is chairman and CEO of West Star Bank Holding Company, Inc. and executive chairman of West Star Bank. He has been a board member on several local business and hospital boards as well as the board of the Texas Tech University System. "Ginger Francis is a chairwoman of the Paul L. Foster School of Medicine’s Public Art Committee and past chairwoman of the Board of the El Paso Museum of Art. In recognition of her charitable and community work, she was the recipient of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s 2012 Director’s Community Leadership Awards."