Staff
News and information for and about UT Dallas staff and their departments.
University Honors Employee Service Milestones
The University recognized last week 186 faculty and staff members who have devoted years—and sometimes decades--of service to UT Dallas. The 26th annual Service Awards saluted faculty and staff members who reached employment milestones of five, 10, 20, 30 and 40 years of service between September 2011 and August 2012. “Each and every one of you contributes to making this a great University,” President David E. Daniel told the honorees.
read moreFire Survivor Inspires Others by Refusing Obstacles
Doctors told UT Dallas instructor Gina Patterson she’d never play sports again after suffering extensive burn injuries during a home fire in Arkansas. Nineteen years later, Patterson teaches physical fitness, sports and conditioning classes offered through the School of Interdisciplinary Studies at UT Dallas.
read moreVice Provost Named CIO and VP for Information Resources
Vice Provost Andrew Blanchard has been appointed UT Dallas’ vice president for Information Resources and chief information officer. Blanchard’s appointment became effective Sept. 1, ending his service as IR’s interim vice president, which began in May. “I am pleased to announce that Dr. Blanchard has accepted my offer to become the permanent vice president,” said UT Dallas President David E. Daniel. “Please join me in thanking and congratulating him for his dedicated service in this key leadership position.” read more
New Campus Program to Help Balance Daily Needs
UT Dallas students, staff and faculty members looking for pet sitters, searching for summer camps for their children or seeking community volunteer opportunities are the target users of a new UT Dallas initiative. The program, called Workplace Options, addresses daily living needs such as childcare, education, elder care, wellness, and legal and financial issues. Its website offers monthly webinars and more than 5,000 articles, tips, resources, self-assessments and tools. Free and confidential round-the-clock telephone support is also offered. read more
Staff Awards Recognize Outstanding Service to UT Dallas
UT Dallas President David E. Daniel has presented the CARE Award, which stands for “Celebrate Achievement – Reward Excellence,” to six staff members who have demonstrated superior performance, offered outstanding customer service and enhanced the University’s image with their work. Fellow staff members, faculty members, visitors and patrons of the University nominated them. read more
UT Dallas, Corporate Challenge Share More Than Fun and Games
UT Dallas helped raise more than $162,500 for Special Olympics of Texas through its participation in the city of Richardson’s Corporate Challenge 2011. Corporate Challenge gathers Richardson-area businesses each fall to compete in 10 weeks of competition for fun and fitness while raising money for Special Olympics. UT Dallas has been involved in Corporate Challenge throughout the event’s 14-year history. read more
Badge of Distinction: UT System Lauds Police Chief
UT Dallas Police Chief Larry Zacharias believes the right attitude, a willingness to work with the community, accessibility and a service mindset are key ingredients in the making of a good university police chief. UT System Director of Police Michael J. Heidingsfield sees those qualities in Zacharias and more. Heidingsfield presented Zacharias with one of two inaugural Chief of Police of the Year awards during the annual system-wide police chiefs’ meeting in mid-October. Chief Tom Engells of UT Medical Branch-Galveston, also was honored. read more
UT Dallas Staffer to Head Sickle Cell Group Board
Rosie Peterson, director of Institutional Diversity Initiatives at UT Dallas, has been named chair of the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America board. Ms. Peterson started at UT Dallas in 2004 after nearly 22 years of professional experience serving individuals with special needs or those in medically underserved areas. She was the assistant director of the Sickle Cell Research Center from 2004 to 2008.
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Services Tuesday for Senior Guard Jesse DeGuzman
The UT Dallas Police Department and University community are mourning the loss of Senior Guard Jesus “Jesse” M. DeGuzman, who died Friday. He was 70. DeGuzman served the Police Department for more than eight years and was named Guard of the Year in 2007. read more
Library Awards Go to Curator, Multimedia Manager
McDermott Library's chief curator and a multimedia service manager were honored as the recipients of the 2011 Ethel Ward-McLemore Awards for Library Excellence. Paul Oelkrug, C.A., of Carrollton and Michelle Sancen of Dallas accepted their awards from Dr. Ellen Safley, director of UT Dallas Libraries at a recent banquet. read more
Defense Grant Aids Post-Traumatic Stress Study
The Center for BrainHealth at The University of Texas at Dallas has been awarded a $3 million grant from the Department of Defense to further test a cutting-edge treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Up to 8 percent of the population will have PTSD at some point in life, according to the Department of Veterans Affairs, and up to 20 percent of veterans returning from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are diagnosed with PTSD. read more
President's Award Recognizes Student Advisor
Carol Johnson knows college students face a host of challenges, but she believes she’s in a good position to help. Johnson’s approach helped earn her the President’s Undergraduate Advisor of the Year Award. She was selected from among advisors nominated by UT Dallas students, who praised her knowledge of the School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences and concern for the students she advises there. read more
Awards Honor Communications Staff for Design Excellence
For the third year in a row, the UT Dallas Office of Communications has earned multiple awards for innovative print design projects in a contest judged by peers in higher education. The Council for the Advancement and Support of Education Southwest District IV awards were announced at the annual district conference, held in New Orleans earlier this year. UT Dallas won three awards for design and one honorable mention. read more
UT Dallas Rises in Kiplinger’s Public University Rankings
The University of Texas at Dallas is one of the 100 best values among public colleges in the United States, according to Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine. The annual public school rankings appear in Kiplinger’s February 2011 issue, available today online and on newsstands. read more
Police Dispatch Supervisor Lisa Alexander Mourned
The UT Dallas Police Department and colleagues across campus are mourning the loss of Police Communications Supervisor Lisa Alexander, who died Thursday of natural causes. She was 48. Alexander was instrumental in setting up the Police Department’s new dispatch center in 2008. Her dedication earned her a 2009 CARE Award, presented to UT Dallas staff members whose outstanding work advances the goals of the University. read more
University Appoints Associate VP for Communications
The University of Texas at Dallas has appointed John Walls associate vice president for communications, overseeing all of the University’s media relations activities. Walls has worked with major energy and health care corporations and with academic and research nonprofit institutions. He and his teams have received numerous peer honors for marketing, advertising, public relations, and government and community affairs programs. read more
Retiring Dean of Students Leaves Lasting Imprint
Colleagues, family and friends gathered recently to honor Donna S. Rogers, the retiring assistant vice president of Student Affairs and dean of students who in her 31 years at the University influenced virtually every aspect of the UT Dallas student experience. Rogers, who began her employment at UT Dallas in 1979, has helped develop such programs as the student athletics program, recreational sports, cheerleading, the Greek system, student media and international student services. read more
Staffers Honored for Making Excellence a Priority
A foreman who built a removable desk top to fit over the wheelchair of a disabled international student and a key organizer behind the Diversity Dinner Dialogues were among the 11 UT Dallas employees honored recently with CARE Awards. The award, short for “Celebrate Achievement – Reward Excellence,” honors staff members who have demonstrated superior performance and offered outstanding customer service. read more
Awards Speak Volumes About 2 Library Staffers
McDermott Library staff members Jennifer Gordon and Abdullah Daud have won the Ethel Ward-McLemore Awards for Library Excellence.Gordon, a senior librarian and head of the Electronic Resources team, oversees 45,000 e-journals and more than 200 databases. A committee of her peers praised her creation of custom electronic models that have been effective in uses beyond her home department. read more
Award Recognizes Undergrad Adviser
Valerie Brunell, an academic adviser in the School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, has received the President’s Undergraduate Adviser of the Year award. She was selected from among 26 advisers nominated by undergraduate students. read more
UT Dallas Communications Projects Win 14 Awards
The University of Texas at Dallas won 14 awards recently for its communications products from the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) Southwest District IV and The University of Texas System. CASE awards were announced at the annual district conference, held in Austin in late March. UT Dallas won 11 awards for writing, design, student programming and a development campaign. read more
Annual Compliance Training Begins for UT Dallas Employees
UT Dallas President David E. Daniel has asked that all eligible faculty and staff members complete annual ethics compliance training by March 31. The program is designed to make sure all personnel have up-to-date information about required procedures and standards of conduct, and to ensure that the University meets the requirements of state and federal agencies in terms of employee training. read more
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