Gratitude in Action: Putting His Money Where His Mission Is How Dr. Brian Bolton Is Investing in the Future He's Building at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette

Ask Dr. Brian Bolton about why he gives to the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, and he’ll confidently sum it up with one-word answers. Students. Innovation. Progress. Integrity. Trust. Each answer is a glimpse into a man who has decided that the best way to lead is to put something on the line himself.

Bolton arrived at UL Lafayette in 2019, drawn by the opportunity to build something. Since then, he has founded the Louisiana Impact Research Awards Program, earned UL Lafayette's inaugural Lagniappe Award for Leadership and Collaboration, and currently holds the Dwight W. Andrus Jr. / BoRSF Eminent Scholar Endowed Chair in Finance. When he was appointed Interim Dean of the B.I. Moody III College of Business Administration in October 2025, he readily accepted the new challenge of shaping the College's academic identity and future.

Now, he’s not only asking others to invest in that identity and future, he’s also leading by example with a major gift to the College of Business Engagement & Outreach Fund; putting more resources into the hands of students and enhancing the College’s ability to help them meet their goals. The Fund provides support for conference and competition travel, study abroad opportunities, student awards, and student-led organization activities. Bolton is thrilled to put more resources behind the kinds of experiences he believes will broaden students' exposure to new ideas.

“I have imagined all sorts of programs and ideas I think can help us create the future we want, from student research programs and ethics case competitions, to an emerging alumni advisory board. The best way for me to create trust, momentum and shared vision in these ideas is to invest in them myself, just as I am asking others to invest in them.”

Bolton also says he’s clear-eyed about the pressures facing higher education, and he isn't interested in doing business as usual, which is why he’s laser-focused on placing innovation and entrepreneurship at the center of everything the College does.

“Economic and social disruption is rapidly changing the world we live in and it’s challenging higher education in extreme ways. This disruption doesn’t mean we are incompetent, but it can make us irrelevant. We have to avoid that,” he said. “I’ve chosen to invest in the College of Business’ Engagement & Outreach Fund because I see it as one of the best ways to seed innovation and create positive disruption that will benefit our students and change their lives.”

Having spent years working in private equity, consulting and academia, and possessing advanced degrees including a PhD in finance and economics from the University of Colorado at Boulder, Bolton is no stranger to disruption and exploring multiple potential solutions. He believes it is okay and sometimes necessary to deviate from traditional paths to achieve an objective, sharing that he has left well-paying jobs and given up tenured positions to pursue fulfillment, further his education and seek new challenges. "We may not always know where we are going, but we should always be trying to move forward,” he reflected.

In his current role as interim dean, Bolton devotes a significant portion of his time to envisioning the future of the College of Business, conversing with donors, alumni, and University partners to understand their goals and interests, and strategizing on how best to align the College's vision with their priorities. He says he can spend hours sharing stories about students, faculty, research, and experiential programs, but he is adamant that donors ultimately want to know that their gift will be honored and stewarded in the way they intended. 

Bolton makes it clear that he didn’t give to the College to inspire others to give, but he does hope it sends an unequivocal message that he will steward the investments of others with the same care as he would his own. “It would be very difficult for me to ask donors to invest in the future of the College if I were not willing to do so myself,” he says. “My gift is primarily about me putting my money where I invest my time, energy, love, and life; and I do believe that if my efforts lead to meaningful impact and change lives, it will eventually inspire others to do the same. That would be the ultimate fulfillment of our shared purpose!”