Arlene F. Mitchell

Arlene Mitchell is a civic leader and Mobile philanthropist whose family has generously supported the University of South Alabama.

Mitchell, who attended the University of Pennsylvania, has served on various boards, including the Mobile Preschool for the Sensory Impaired, Senior Citizens Services of Mobile, the Boys & Girls Clubs of South Alabama, the Alabama Institute for the Deaf and Blind, the Dauphin Street Synagogue Sisterhood and the Gulf Coast Exploreum Science Center. Mitchell is a past president of the Board of Directors of the Community Foundation of South Alabama.

Mitchell is a previous recipient of the Mobilian of the Year Award. In 1997, the Arlene F. Mitchell Philanthropy Award was established in her honor.

Mitchell was married to the late Mayer Mitchell, brother of Abraham A. “Abe” Mitchell. For their extraordinary contributions, USA’s Mitchell Center, Mitchell Cancer Institute and Mitchell College of Business were named to honor the Mitchell family.

Mitchell was appointed to complete her husband’s term on the USA Board of Trustees following his death in 2007. She has four children.