As a New Year begins in all of our homes and places of business, thoughts move toward new challenges, goals and plans for the near and distant future. At UT Dallas, we are enthusiastically continuing our move toward becoming a top-tier public research university.  The year ahead looks very promising. 

As with any dynamic, growing organization we will have a few changes as we proceed. I wanted to make you aware of a couple of big changes in the Development and Alumni Relations Office. Vice President Marjie French has accepted the position of vice president of advancement at UT San Antonio and will be leaving us soon. Many of you have met Marjie over the past few years and, if you have, you know she will be missed tremendously. In addition in December Director of Alumni Relations and Annual Giving, Kristin Ludwig, accepted a position with Blackbaud Analytics as their consultant manager, and relocated over the holidays to the East Coast. 

Turnover is inevitable in the competitive, talented development and alumni relations market, and one sign of maturity in our UT Dallas operation is our ability to maintain programs and activities at a high level while transitions occur. Assistant Director of Alumni Relations and Annual Giving Erin Dougherty (B.A. ’03 and M.P.A. ’07) will continue to manage these areas under my oversight. Erin and I have worked together for about two years now, and we are a strong interim team for Alumni Relations. UT Dallas is an attractive place to work, and we have already had inquiries from strong candidates for both of these positions. We expect to be able to introduce you soon to new colleagues who will be leading these areas to the next step.

In the meantime, I hope you will:

• keep in contact with Erin and me.
• continue to interact with each other via the NetCommunity.
• continue supporting the Loyalty Fund.
• attend Thirsty Thursdays, athletic events, performing arts and other UT Dallas events.

We have a busy spring semester ahead with the Alumni Awards Dinner, the Ring Presentation Ceremony, monthly networking events and the spring Loyalty Fund drive.   Don’t miss out on any of the news or details on these important offerings. UT Dallas is on the move and our alumni are an essential part of the nexus of our university and the community. Stay tuned to www.utdallas.edu for more information as the semester progresses.