Oct. 1, 2019
It’s October and what a great semester!
As a part of the commitment to offer opportunities for students to engage in the university to unlock their potential we work closely with students, staff, parents, community members, alumni, foundations and companies interested in helping students succeed in their chosen endeavors. Our philanthropic partners suggest new creative ideas and others give generously to supplement our state allocated budgets.
To aid in this work, we brought in a new experienced team last year to direct and guide our development engagement and efforts and I’d like to introduce them to you and to celebrate our collective success.
Heather Guerrero leads fundraising strategy for Student Affairs and works both with senior leadership and me. Alma Garcia also joined our team and coordinates Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs and development events. Last but not least, Bitia Buenrostro provides support for the vice president’s office and the development team’s initiatives.
Former Development Team Student Assistant Marissa Elder, BS and BA '19, Heather Guerrero, Bitia Buenrostro, Dr. Lilly and Alma Garcia at 40 Hours for the Forty Acres in April 2019
Heather, Alma and Bitia collaborated with key staff and collectively, we did a great job raising $8.5 million for students and programs during 2018-2019. These funds are invested and provide critical resources through scholarship awards, internship stipends, emergency funding, and veteran services, just to name a few. Be on the lookout for new events focused on welcoming alumni and donors back to campus. The first event is the Fall Reunion Tailgate in November, just over one month away.
Philanthropic resources are vital to helping our professionals meet students where they are. Our trained staff guide students to the many opportunities we offer within the Division – programs, facilities and services – and this helps students reach their full potential. Put simply, private support boosts the ability to meet the growing needs of our students!
Student Affairs staff also invest. Everyone can make a difference at any level to support our work. Every dollar counts and we sincerely appreciate those of you who choose to provide financial support to facilitate the work we do for students. All of you are valued partners who influence the lives of our students daily. We are grateful for the time you invest in Longhorn students to make their experience on the Forty Acres the best it can be.
Thanks for ALL you do to support Longhorns.
Sincerely,
Soncia
Soncia Reagins-Lilly
Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students