Chuck and Nancy Davidson: Inspiring Couple Step Forward Again

Partners in life since they met during their UT Dallas student days three decades ago, Charles (Chuck) and Nancy Davidson are also partners in giving.

Initially, their teamwork enabled Mr. Davidson’s career to thrive as the two relocated around Texas and to Alaska and home again. In time, his advancement in the energy industry allowed them to give back from a life he has described as “richly rewarded.”

Longtime supporters of the newly named Naveen Jindal School of Management, the couple in 2001 made the first major alumni gift toward construction of the building that now houses the school. In 2006, another gift established four endowed faculty research positions. Most recently, the Davidsons joined in making a joint, $30 million gift with Naveen Jindal MBA’92. The Management Honors Program has been named in honor of the Davidsons.

Their generosity is driven in part by the fact, Mr. Davidson says, that “both Nancy and I greatly benefited from our education at UT Dallas. We are fortunate to be in a position now where we can contribute back so that future students may also benefit from this outstanding institution.”

“We also understand the need,” Mrs. Davidson says, “for alumni to come forward with gifts in order to attract the support of other donors, as well as from the Legislature.”

Chuck Davidson met Nancy Gundy through friends. Both graduated from the School of Management in 1980, he with an MS in management and administrative sciences and she with a BS in business and public administration. Their relocations for work began after they married in 1981. He held various engineering, operations and executive positions at Atlantic Richfield Company (ARCO). Part of an executive team that started Vastar Resources in 1994, Mr. Davidson served as chairman, president and CEO of that Houston-based concern. In 2000, he joined Noble Energy Inc., an independent crude oil and natural gas exploration and production company also headquartered in Houston. He serves as chairman and CEO.

An industry activist, Mr. Davidson is chairman of the Independent Petroleum Association of America’s Offshore Committee and sits on the boards of the Gas Technology Institute and the Offshore Energy Center. He also sits on the UT Dallas Development Board. Along with his wife, Mr. Davidson also backs diverse civic causes.

Mrs. Davidson turned to family, community and volunteerism after one move that coincided with the adoption of their son. Prior to that, she had worked as a CPA and taught accounting at The University of Texas at Tyler.

Named School of Management Distinguished Alumni in 2002 and UT Dallas Distinguished Alumni in 2008, the two are consummate boosters among their fellow graduates. “We are always excited to see alumni support flowing to UT Dallas,” Mr. Davidson says, “and we were delighted to know that UT Dallas was seeking to recognize Mr. Jindal for his generosity…by naming the SOM in his honor.”

— Story by Kris Imherr