A Message from Dr. Vincent
News Briefs
» Paying Tribute to a Legend: The Barbara Jordan Statue Project
» Dr. King Davis Steps Down as Executive Director of Hogg Foundation
» Endowment Creates Permanent Legacy for Former UT Austin Student
» Over 700 Participate in the 22nd Annual Heman Sweatt Symposium
» Winners of the 2008 Barbara Jordan Historical Essay Competition Announced
Spotlight Events
» DDCE “Celebration of Excellence” Graduation Reception Held on Campus
Calendar
As the 2007-08 academic year draws to a close, we celebrate our first full academic year as a division. The end of spring semester is a time for many DDCE events and ceremonies, all of which you will find listed in our online calendar. One particularly significant gathering is our spring division-wide staff meeting to be held Thursday, May 22, from 3-5 p.m. at the Rec Sports Center Games Room (2.104). Please plan to join me for this important event.
I am delighted to announce that the division’s Impact Report, which details the growth and reach of our many programs, has been released. Copies of the report are available in the DDCE central office (Main 12) and will be distributed to over 1,500 members of the university community via campus mail. Additionally, an electronic version of the report is available on the diversity website.
The 22nd Annual Heman Sweatt Symposium on Civil Rights held in late March had a strong turnout with over 700 participants. This year’s symposium was groundbreaking in its focus on cross-cultural relationships between blacks and Latinos in America, and it was the first to be co-organized by the Center for African and African American Studies and the Center for Mexican American Studies. Thank you to all of you who partnered to make this a successful event.
As some of you are aware, I was recently appointed chair of the management board for the UT Elementary School and I am honored to assume this role. Established through a pioneering charter program, the school is the first university-school-community partnership of its kind in the state and holds the distinction of being the only school in East Austin to be rated as exemplary by the Texas Education Agency.
You may also be aware that Dr. King Davis will step down from his position as Executive Director of The Hogg Foundation for Mental Health in May to return to his position as the Robert Lee Sutherland Endowed Chair in Mental Health and Social Policy professor in our School of Social Work. Dr. Davis has been a pillar of wisdom for the foundation for the last five years. Under his watchful eye and careful management, the unit has made significant strides. He will be greatly missed.
As a final note, I want to thank each of you for your commitment to moving our division forward. This year has proven productive and invigorating, and I am truly grateful for your efforts and support.
Dr. Gregory J. Vincent
Vice President for Diversity and Community Engagement
W.K. Kellogg Professor in Community College Leadership
Professor of Law
Faculty Fellow, Sid W. Richardson Regents Chair in Community College Leadership
Paying Tribute to a Legend: The Barbara Jordan Statue Project
Planning for the university’s Barbara Jordan statue, which began in the fall of 2002, has been a long—and at times challenging—journey. There is, however, an enormous sense of accomplishment felt by all those involved in the process as the statue’s unveiling, tentatively set for spring of 2009, draws nearer. “Since we began the discussions surrounding the project, all of the students initially involved have graduated,” said Project Director, Dr. Sherri L. Sanders. “I have been impressed with the new students who have come on board because they show the same level of passion and commitment as those who were involved from the beginning.” Learn More »
Dr. King Davis Steps Down as Hogg Foundation Executive Director
For over 65 years, The Hogg Foundation for Mental Health has been serving communities across Texas by assigning grants to mental health, research, public education and public policy organizations. Over the past five years, the foundation has been transformed in a number of ways under the leadership of Dr. King Davis, who has served as executive director of the foundation since March of 2003 and who will be stepping down when his contract expires in May. Learn More »
Endowment Creates Permanent Legacy for Former UT Austin Student
Lee Bagan set out to make a difference, and he succeeded. In the fall of 2005, as director of the Student Government’s Services for Students with Disabilities Agency (SSD), Bagan made the decision to raise money to help fund diagnostic testing for students who would otherwise be unable to afford it. The idea was sparked through conversations with Dr. Jennifer Maedgen, then SSD Director, who explained that a large number of university students with suspected learning disabilities were unable to receive services because their disability went undiagnosed. Learn More »
Over 700 Participate in the 22nd Annual Heman Sweatt Symposium
The 22nd annual Heman Sweatt Symposium on Civil Rights, held March 25-28 on The University of Texas at Austin campus, drew more than 700 participants. Themed “The Powerless Majority: The Black and Latino Experience in America,” the symposium focused on topics related to African American and Latino experiences in today’s society such as educational inequality, health care disparities, and immigration. Its sessions also explored the alliances and tensions created between African American and Latino communities as they face issues of equality and social justice. Learn More »
Winners of the 2008 Barbara Jordan Historical Essay Competition Announced
On March 28, the winners of the 13th annual Barbara Jordan Historical Essay Competition were announced at the closing ceremonies of the Heman Sweatt Symposium on Civil Rights. Cameron Smith, a sophomore at Smith Academy Home School in Fort Worth, won first place for his essay, “Clifton: One Night with The King.” Smith received a $2,500 scholarship and a gold trophy for his winning essay on the theme “African Americans in Texas: Past and Present.” Learn More »
All-Division Staff Meeting Scheduled May 22
The spring 2008 DDCE All-Division Staff Meeting will take place on Thursday, May 22, from 3-5 p.m. at the Rec Sports Center Games Room (2.104), where we will celebrate the accomplishments of DDCE staff in the past year and distribute service awards. Attendance is requested of all staff members.
DDCE Announces Release of 2008 Impact Report
The Division of Diversity and Community Engagement (DDCE) has released its 2008 Impact Report. The report, which is the first of its kind for the recently expanded and restructured division, introduces the division’s staff and outlines its initiatives and recent achievements. Its pages reflect the DDCE’s deep commitment to ensuring that The University of Texas at Austin attracts a robust and diverse mix of faculty, staff and students, while connecting its intellectual resources to the needs of the community.
To request a copy of the report, please contact Deb Duval at deb_duval@mail.utexas.edu or 512-232-7599. Visitors can also view the report online at www.utexas.edu/diversity.
DDCE Offices Located at 1301 East 7th Street Have Moved
Several units of the DDCE have moved to a new building located at 6207 Sheridan Ave, Austin, TX 78723 (near Hwy 290). The units include:
- DDCE Business Services
- Pre-College Youth Development and Student Diversity Initiatives
- The Neighborhood Longhorns Program
- The University Outreach Center of Austin
Contact information, including email addresses, fax and phone numbers remain the same.
DDCE “Celebration of Excellence” Graduation Reception Held on Campus
The Celebration of Excellence Graduation Reception was held Sunday, May 4th from 2-4 p.m. at the Texas Union Santa Rita Suite (3.502). The event, hosted by the Division of Diversity and Community Engagement, served as an opportunity to recognize diversity and unity in this year's graduating class. Several faculty, staff, students and their guests attended the reception. The keynote address was given by Dr. Edmund T. Gordon, Director of the Center for African and African American Studies and Associate Vice President of the DDCE.
Please click here for the latest events calendar for the Division of Diversity and Community Engagement.
To submit calendar
dates for division and community events, please visit http://www.utexas.edu/diversity/ddce/forms/news_form.php