Posted on October 13, 2025 by Jordan Allen
The University of Texas at San Antonio unveiled a bronze statue Friday in memory of Carlos Alvarez, one of the university's most transformative philanthropic supporters.
Carlos Alvarez statue dedication participants
The statue is the first to honor a donor across UT San Antonio’s campuses.
It was unveiled during a ceremony attended by members of the Alvarez family, university leadership, donors, Carlos Alvarez College of Business students and the campus community.
“Today we gather to celebrate the legacy of our college’s benefactor and namesake, Carlos Alvarez, with a lasting tribute that will forever stand at the heart of our campus," said Jonathon Halbesleben, dean of the Alvarez College of Business. "This beautiful statue will serve as an enduring symbol of Carlos’ inspiration, value and impact for our students and as a visual reminder of someone they can aspire to emulate.”
The life-size statue was created by renowned Laredo-based artist Armando Hinojosa, known for numerous major pieces of sculpture, including the Tejano Monument on the south lawn of the Texas State Capitol in Austin, unveiled in 2012.
The Alvarez statue was funded by longtime UT San Antonio supporter Harvey Najim, a dedicated champion of student success. Like Alvarez, Najim has said that he believes deeply in the power of education to change lives.
The Malú and Carlos Alvarez family collaborated with Hinojosa throughout the design process, providing input to ensure the finished work honored Alvarez’s impact and legacy on the entire university community.
“Carlos Alvarez’s legacy continues to inspire all of us at UT San Antonio,” said Karl Miller-Lugo, senior vice president for advancement and alumni engagement.
“He cared deeply for this university and especially for its students,” Miller-Lugo added. “His belief in opportunity through education has changed countless lives and continues to do so every day. We are also deeply grateful to Harvey Najim, whose generosity and shared commitment to student success ensure that Carlos’s impact will be remembered through this meaningful tribute.”
Through decades of generosity alongside his wife Malú Alvarez, Carlos Alvarez transformed UT San Antonio through landmark gifts that have advanced student success, faculty excellence, groundbreaking research and institutional growth.
The Alvarez family’s philanthropic impact includes the naming of the Carlos Alvarez College of Business in 2021, the establishment of endowed faculty positions, and support for key student success initiatives that have strengthened the university’s national profile.
"When Carlos made the transformative gift that led to the naming of the college, he envisioned it as an impetus for continued investment in the college," said Halbesleben. "That vision led to the Alvarez Research Challenge--a program that enabled others to multiply their impact by supporting research efforts across the college."
Combining the Alvarez gift, the contributions inspired by his match and state matching funds, the total impact of his invstment in the Alvarez College of Business now stands at nearly $50 million--providing support for students, research and faculty.
Most recently, as the culminating gift of the Be Bold Campaign, the family established the Carlos Alvarez Distinguished Presidential Chair to support UT San Antonio’s highest level of leadership and ensure strong university governance.
— Jordan Allen
