Created for the University of Alabama, Athena presents the goddess of wisdom through a combination of portraiture and classical symbolism. A globe and compass connect the figure to knowledge and inquiry, while an olive branch introduces the theme of peace. Her gaze toward the globe gives the composition a clear center of attention.

The treatment of the face, hands, and drapery grounds the allegory in a believable human presence. Wind moves through the hair and clothing, giving the figure an active relationship with the space around her. The sculpture brings an ancient subject into the setting of a modern university.