University of Texas at Dallas: Supporters Strengthen Accessibility, Diversity Initiatives at UTD
Over the past year, local corporations and individual donors donated more than $1 million to increase accessibility and enhance diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs at The University of Texas at Dallas.
Promoting these causes is a pillar of the University’s Strategic Plan announced in 2018. Last year, UT Dallas hired Dr. Yvette E. Pearson as its first vice president for diversity, equity and inclusion. Her office is leading efforts to create a culture of equity across campus while supporting underrepresented and minority students academically, financially and professionally.
“When considering universities our company wanted to partner with, we were drawn to UT Dallas because of its innovative approach to engineering and research. … Together we are proud to elevate UTD scholars and prepare them to be the future generations of professional talent.”
“Our vision is for UT Dallas to be a global leader in eradicating barriers to diversity, equity and inclusion,” Pearson said. “We’re doing the very challenging work of recruiting more diverse students, faculty and staff, while making sure we have an equitable and inclusive climate so that members of our community from all backgrounds are welcomed, treated fairly and encouraged in their pursuit of excellence.”
Pearson said that philanthropic partnerships with community members, employers and donors who share this vision will be key to UTD’s success.
Several corporations based in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex have created new funds for scholarships and programmatic support benefiting DEI initiatives.
A $50,000 gift from Mbroh Engineering has created the first endowment for the Diversity Scholars Program and provided funding for UTD’s chapter of the National Society of Black Engineers. Scholarships for Diversity Scholars provide $5,000 per year for first-time undergraduates and transfer students.
Since 2010 the program has supported over 250 scholars, more than half of whom study in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields. Diversity Scholars who enrolled in fall 2021 had an average 3.42 GPA and a 100% retention rate in the spring semester.
“When considering universities our company wanted to partner with, we were drawn to UT Dallas because of its innovative approach to engineering and research,” said Tony Mbroh, president and CEO of Mbroh Engineering. “We were also impressed with the richness and depth of education and academic experience. Together we are proud to elevate UTD scholars and prepare them to be the future generations of professional talent.”
Goldman Sachs, whose Dallas offices doubled in size to 4,000 employees in the last year, also made a significant investment in UTD students. Goldman Sachs’ Excellence in Computer Science Scholarships are now the largest philanthropically funded awards offered in the Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science and will provide six $10,000 scholarships over the next three years.
Both Mbroh Engineering’s and Goldman Sachs’ gifts were recognized with terrace namings at the Engineering and Computer Science West building.
“Our firm’s founders, Marcus Goldman and Samuel Sachs, were immigrants and first-generation college students, which is a story many students at UT Dallas can relate to. This underscores the importance that education can play in shaping your future and motivating you to take big leaps to accomplish your dreams.”
Stephanie Cohen, global co-head of consumer and wealth management at Goldman Sachs
At the celebration for the Goldman Sachs Terrace, Stephanie Cohen, global co-head of consumer and wealth management at Goldman Sachs, told students why the company’s history inspired its support for UTD.
“Our firm’s founders, Marcus Goldman and Samuel Sachs, were immigrants and first-generation college students, which is a story many students at UT Dallas can relate to,” Cohen said. “This underscores the importance that education can play in shaping your future and motivating you to take big leaps to accomplish your dreams.”
In addition to their financial support, both Mbroh Engineering and Goldman Sachs committed to provide mentoring and networking opportunities.
“We have invested our resources in a number of areas, including the Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, the Women’s Summit, HackUTD, the Naveen Jindal School of Management’s Scholarship Breakfast and UT Dallas’ chapter of the Association for Computing Machinery,” said Dr. Ram Narayanan, managing director at Goldman Sachs and a member of the Jonsson School’s Executive Council.
Creating Career Paths
American Airlines recently invested in the Jonsson School’s DEI initiatives and the UTDesign Senior Capstone Program with a $30,000 gift.
“As the global leader in commercial aviation, American Airlines has to carry the banner for DEI around the world,” said Maya Leibman, executive vice president and chief information officer at American Airlines. “These issues are foundational to our company culture, and we are proud to support UT Dallas in making engineering a more accessible career path for all students.”
New Dimensions, The Campaign for UT Dallas
HumCap, a high-tech human resources consulting and recruiting firm based in Plano, Texas, created a $50,000 endowment in 2021 for scholarships for first-generation STEM students at UTD.
“We want to help those students get an education, then go out and do something great,” said Tad McIntosh, president and CEO of HumCap. “It will change generations.”
Dr. Stephanie G. Adams, dean of the Jonsson School and the Lars Magnus Ericsson Chair in Electrical Engineering, said that one of the Jonsson School’s main goals is to enable greater access to higher education for all students.
“Jonsson School graduates and engineers are in high demand, but the opportunities to participate in this field have not always been welcoming to everyone,” Adams said. “We need to bring our attention to fully including underrepresented students — those who are nontraditional in age, gender, or racial and ethnic makeup, or those who are differently abled. Diverse perspectives help all of us by yielding the best solutions to problems facing our society.”
In addition to support from local businesses, donations from individuals are driving investments in financial aid at UTD.
A new $100,000 scholarship to enhance diversity in the Department of Bioengineering was established by members of the department’s Industry Advisory Council, led by Dr. Claire Aldridge, director of biotech for Capital Factory.
“UT Dallas’ Department of Bioengineering is a vital part of our local innovation ecosystem,” Aldridge said. “As home to a talented and diverse cohort of scholars, the department generates discoveries and new technologies that transform lives and businesses in North Texas. We’re proud to support this work.”
A second gift from an anonymous donor established a $100,000 endowed scholarship for Jonsson School students who are active in organizations that promote women in engineering.