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 the University develop such programs as the student athletics program, recreational sports, cheerleading, the Greek system, student media and international student services.
Students will continue to see her efforts at work at the Learning Resource Center, the Comet Card Center, the living learning communities, The Pub, the Student Union expansion and, more recently, the new Dining Hall and Student Services Building.
“Over the years Donna has supervised almost every single department within Student Affairs,” said Dr. Darrelene Rachavong, vice president for student affairs. “Every single department she worked with, she left it better than she found it.”
Rogers said she will approach the next phase of her life following goals she recently learned from a colleague. She explained the process – reflection, renewal and responsibility – by describing how she will incorporate it into her life.
“To reflect a bit on what you’ve learned and to renew yourself,” Rogers said. “Then, taking responsibility for what you’ve learned and using it in the community, with your family, with your friends – whatever you’re going to do next in life – that’s what I intend to do for a period of time after I’m done working.”