David Gardner Frey (AB ’64, JD ’67) has received a 2015 Dean’s Award for Distinguished Service to the College of Arts and Sciences.
The award, established in 2010 by the Arts and Sciences Foundation, recognizes volunteers who have served the College with “exceptional vision and leadership.”
Frey was honored by Dean Karen Gil and Board Chair Vicki Craver at the April 16 meeting of the Arts and Sciences Foundation Board of Directors for being a long-time champion of the arts and humanities at Carolina.
Frey serves as chairman of the Frey Foundation, established in 1974 by his parents, Edward J. and Frances T. Frey. A gift from the foundation to establish the Frey Foundation Distinguished Visiting Professorship in the College has brought more than 30 of the nation’s most renowned leaders and scholars to Carolina for lectures, classes and more. Previous speakers have included James Fallows, E.L. Doctorow, Ted Turner, Harry Belafonte, Christine Todd Whitman and Alice Walker.
Frey’s support of the visual and performing arts includes three endowed distinguished professorships in dramatic art, music and American art, which has elevated the instruction of and access to the performing and fine arts for generations of students and faculty at Carolina.
Gil said Frey has also provided thoughtful and creative leadership to the College as a member of the Arts and Sciences Foundation Board of Directors, and to the University as a member of the Board of Visitors. He served on steering committees for the Bicentennial and Carolina First fundraising campaigns.
“It’s a special honor to recognize the contributions of David Frey. He has done so much to advance the arts and humanities at Carolina,” Gil said. “He is truly one of the College’s most generous and loyal alumni.”
Carolina Performing Arts, the Ackland Art Museum, the Educational Foundation and other UNC-Chapel Hill entities have also benefited from his generosity.
Frey has received major UNC honors for his leadership and service. In 2013, he was awarded the University’s highest honor, the William Richardson Davie Award. In 2004, he received the UNC General Alumni Association Distinguished Service Medal.
