Hollins University will receive a $5 million gift to establish what will be known as the Jackson Center for Creative Writing.

The university announced Monday that alumna Susan Gager Jackson and her husband, John Jackson, have pledged the $5 million to create the center.

Hollins President Nancy Gray said the university is excited about the endowment, which she said will enhance one of the university's most popular academic disciplines. The university's total endowment now stands at $122 million, and the Jacksons' gift comes just months after a $15.6 million fundraising campaign announced last year, which was the school's most successful.

"This incredible gift will allow us to enhance that distinction by retaining and recruiting the very finest students and faculty, and raising the visibility of our program to a new level," Gray said.

A new building will not be constructed for the center, said university spokesman Jeff Hodges in an e-mail.

The university's creative writing programs will remain in their present home, Swannanoa Hall, which underwent a major restoration two years ago, Hodges said.

"The name 'Jackson Center for Creative Writing' is intended to represent our undergraduate and graduate programs in creative writing," he said. The Jacksons' gift will be used for the following:

n The Susan Gager Jackson endowed chair in creative writing. This will recognize the accomplishments of scholars and writers on the Hollins faculty.

n The Jackson Fellowship in creative writing, for students completing the Master of Fine Arts program. The fellowship will provide full or partial tuition assistance and could also help with other scholarly activities.

n The Susan Gager Jackson scholarship, for outstanding undergraduate students pursuing a degree in English and creative writing.

n The Jackson Fund for Creative Writing, a permanent endowment supporting publicity and other activities to heighten visibility of the undergraduate and graduate programs making up the Jackson Center for Creative Writing.

Susan Jackson, who could not be immediately be reached for comment Monday, is a member of the Hollins class of 1968. She and her husband live in Far Hills, N.J., and they encourage writers and writing careers through their philanthropic Liana Foundation.

Susan Jackson also established the Jackson Poetry Endowment a couple of years ago, Gray said. The university used the program to bring Pulitzer Prize winning poets to the campus for each of the past three years, she said.

A poet herself, Jackson understands the importance of having talented faculty, scholarship and fellowship opportunities for students, and the importance of raising the university's visibility, Gray said.

English and creative writing are the university's most popular academic disciplines, according to a news release. There are more than 100 majors, and more than half of the student body is enrolled in English or creative writing classes at any time, according to the release. Also, U.S. News & World Report frequently ranks Hollins among the nation's top 20 creative writing programs.

Hollins' programs in English and creative writing have produced three Pulitzer Prize winners: Natasha Trethewey, Annie Dillard and Henry Taylor.

Gray said Jackson made sure that Hollins undergraduate and graduate students who attend the Jackson Endowment poetry reading will receive an autographed copy of a book written by that year's Pulitzer winner, Gray said.