Donor Stories

Knowing and Caring

When Jonathan Beard and Grace Nordhoff reflect on their vocation of social work and their core values, they speak in terms of both “knowing and caring” (Roberta Wells Imre*) and “standing up for others” (National Association of Social Workers). Grace started her journey while writing a series of articles for “Southern Exposure” documenting the horrific conditions of state psychiatric hospitals in the South. This led her to earn a Master of Social Work degree at the School of Social Work, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, and work in community mental health for several years.

Jonathan graduated with an MSSW from the UT Arlington School of Social Work in 1989. His father was a master’s prepared social worker serving adults with serious mental illness. “It was a family tradition to volunteer where my dad worked during the holidays", Jonathan says. After college, he began his career in community mental health, moved to Dallas, and worked at the Dallas MHMR Center with UT Arlington alum Marvin Williams. Marvin encouraged Jonathan and provided flexible work schedules that allowed him to attend classes. Remembering his time at UT Arlington, Jonathan recalls Lila Hagins, the former dean of admissions who admitted him on a probationary basis from which he went on to achieve a 3.75 GPA in his first courses. “I will forever remember her kindness and willingness to give an aspiring professional social worker a chance,” Jonathan says. He also treasured his relationship with Peter Gaupp, his graduate advisor. Dr. Gaupp advocated for Jonathan to continue to work full-time while completing the last hours of the MSW degree. “This meant so much to me,” Jonathan says. “It would have been easy and convenient for Dr. Gaupp and the School of Social Work to simply go by the book, and I would have likely never completed the degree requirements.”

Today, Jonathan divides his time between project management at the Washington Institute for Mental Health Research and Training and his independent contract business, Progressive Strategies. In recognition of Dean Hagins and Dr. Gaupp, Grace and Jonathan give regularly to the Lila B. Hagins Endowed Scholarship and the Peter G. Gaupp Endowed Scholarship and have included those Funds and the School of Social Work in their estate plans. “As an alumnus who has been successful utilizing what I learned at the UT Arlington School of Social Work, it pleases me to support the school in helping to prepare the next generation of community and agency leaders. These are challenging times that require well-prepared practitioners. Who will rise to that challenge? Professional social workers are part of the answer and the UT Arlington School of Social Work is a big part of that answer.”

*Roberta Wells Imre, Knowing and Caring Philosophical Issues in Social Work

In Memory

Dan and Gloria McQueen seem to know The University of Texas at Arlington inside and out, yet they are not alumni nor did they grow up in Arlington. They know all about UT Arlington through the experiences of their late son Danny, who graduated in 1990 with a Master of Arts degree in history. “The best years of his short life were spent at UT Arlington,” Dan McQueen says. Adds Gloria: “Danny had a love of learning that even outshone his struggle with diabetes. He left Parkland Hospital seriously ill one time just to make sure he registered for the next semester at UT Arlington.” Danny’s goal was to teach after graduation, but he passed away soon after getting his degree. His parents recall faculty—Dr. Joyce Goldberg, Dr. William Marvin Dulaney, and Dr. Dennis Reinhartz—who were tremendously helpful to Danny. A special reunion was held early in 2011 when Drs. Dennis and Judy Reinhartz returned to Arlington to visit the McQueens. They exchanged memories of Danny as both student and son. However, more than simply remembering Danny, Dan and Gloria McQueen have set up a special estate gift through their wills. Their estate will come to UT Arlington to establish the Danny McQueen Memorial Endowed Professorship and the Danny McQueen Memorial Endowed Scholarship in the History Department of the College of Liberal Arts. “We want to make sure many more students have the same great experience of learning and friendship that Danny did,” exclaimed Dan and Gloria. “We couldn’t imagine a better way to keep Danny’s memory and spirit alive.”

Beginning at the End

When asked about her passion, Dr. Barbara Raudonis, associate professor in the UT Arlington College of Nursing, is quick to answer: gerontological nursing and caring for the dying. “This passion grew from seeds planted during my first nursing position when I served at Fort Defiance Indian Hospital on the Navajo Indian Reservation,” she says. “Throughout my nursing career, I have had opportunities to integrate my passion for research and making a difference in the lives of people facing life-threatening illness.” Dr. Raudonis has been deeply involved in both teaching and research since coming to UT Arlington in 1997 and has extended that connection through an estate gift that will establish the Barbara M. Raudonis and Tony Ford Endowment in Gerontological Nursing at UT Arlington. Through her estate gift and the resulting endowment, she seeks to pass to future faculty and students the education, teaching and research opportunities she has experienced. She also wants to impart her belief that the end of life is more than the end – it is part of living a full and complete life.

A Family Affair (An interview with Brenda Marshall, '78)

What made you choose UT Arlington?

The first time our family heard about UT Arlington was when my brother received a scholarship to play football. During Bruce's first two years, we traveled to UT Arlington to watch several football games. As I thought about college, I was interested in being a teacher and coach and decided to go to North Texas State to study education and be close to Arlington. That way I could watch Bruce play football.

In 1973, there was a turning point – softball was added as a sport at UT Arlington. When I told Bruce I was considering North Texas State, he suggested I think about UT Arlington. In addition to my brother being there, I discovered that several girls on the UT Arlington team were from teams I had played against in state tournaments. My brother spoke to Coach Jody Conradt about me, and I applied and began playing softball.

What stands out as the strengths of UT Arlington?

When I attended in 1974-78, UT Arlington was mostly a commuter school with only a few dorms. Because of that, those of us who lived on campus really got to know each other. Additionally, Greek life was important as I chose to pledge Delta Zeta sorority. Most of my friends were athletes to that point. Being in a sorority taught me to meet people with a variety of interests and to get along with them. Sorority life, playing sports, and being involved with campus student government taught me to learn time management and how to more effectively work with people.

What were hightlights of your time at UT Arlington?

• Being chosen one of two freshmen to make the softball team and receive a scholarship
• Playing in two College World Series, finishing 9th and 8th
• Being selected as Citizen-Journal Collegiate Female Athlete of the Year
• Being selected as Alumni Association Most Valuable Player for softball
• Being the first to earn a four-year letter in softball
• Being a part of student government and Delta Zeta Sorority and being an ambassador for the campus
• From experience playing at UT Arlington, making the 1979 USA Pan American softball team, which won the first gold medal

Your time at UT Arlington and your career have been connected to Athletics. How are Athletics important in all types of Education?

Students learn to accept each other and to work together for a common goal, even when they have differences of opinion. Discipline, integrity, no matter what, setting goals and achieving them and building self-esteem – all of these are part of a good Athletic setting like I had at UT Arlington. In my current position as Athletic Director for Corpus Christi Independent School District, I want to pass on the lessons I got from my coaches. I was Assistant Director for 21 years and became Athletic Director in 2007; the first woman in both positions. As Athletic Director, I get the opportunity to affect the programs that help develop well-rounded students – heart, mind and body. Sports provide high school students with some of their most memorable times and life lessons.

Pay It Forward (An interview with Neer Patel, '06)

What are the ways you have stayed connected to UT Arlington since graduation?

I love UT Arlington men's and women's basketball and get to the games as often as I can. I can't wait until they are playing in the new College Park Center. Also, right after graduation, I was elected to be the president of the Young Alumni Chapter, which kept me in touch with other young alums and the Alumni Association staff and events. More recently, I was elected president of the Alumni Association Board of Directors. With all of the new things going on with events, alumni mixers, and working in new ways with the chapters, I am very involved with the Alum Association staff and with alumni of all graduation years.

You have given generously to UT Arlington ever since you graduated, including setting up an estate gift through your Will for the Alumni Association. What has inspired you to give so generously?

I believe in "Pay It Forward." I had scholarships and grants that helped me at UT Arlington. I want to give so the students who are there now can have help and know that alumni care about them. Also, my family instilled in me an understanding of giving time, talent and treasure – helping others was central to our family life. So, I do what I can to make a difference. In addition to UT Arlington, I am very involved with the Epilepsy Foundation of Texas. I serve on the board of directors and volunteer at camps for kids with epilepsy.

What are your hopes for the future of UT Arlington?

For one thing, I hope they continue to hire great faculty who push the students. I remember the late Professor Ray Springston in the Computer Science Engineering Department. He challenged me; he was tough but he was fair and understanding as well. He helped me so much and I have followed a career as a programmer primarily because of him challenging me. Secondly, that we continue to work at getting the word out about how great UT Arlington is. I would like for UT Arlington to be so prominent and visible that when folks hear "UT" they think about us before any other university.