President’s Gathering Recognizes Jonsson School Benefactors
University of Texas at Dallas leaders gathered recently to celebrate the halfway point of New Dimensions: The Campaign for UT Dallas, the second major fundraising campaign in University history and to honor supporters of the Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science.
“Time and again, I am reminded of how fortunate our students and faculty are to interact on a campus like this one,” said University President Richard C. Benson, holder of the Eugene McDermott Distinguished University Chair of Leadership. “Generous benefactors are ensuring that generations of bright minds will choose UT Dallas as an ideal destination for a rigorous academic experience, to conduct cutting-edge research or to work in a fulfilling career.”
The Jonsson School goal for New Dimensions is to raise $75 million. Dr. Stephanie G. Adams, dean of the Jonsson School and Lars Magnus Ericsson Chair in Electrical Engineering, emphasized that the Jonsson School’s strategic priorities include ensuring student and faculty success, thereby expanding the school’s infrastructure and building a culture of inclusive excellence.
“My goal for the strategic planning process over the past year has been singular — to help the Jonsson School become the best it can possibly be,” said Adams, also a professor of systems engineering. “We have raised $40 million, so we’re over halfway to meeting our New Dimensions target.”
The final speaker was John Olajide BS’04, the founder and CEO of Axxess, a health care technology company based in Dallas. He has served as a campaign co-chair along with Ron Nash since the start of the public phase of the New Dimensions campaign in 2021. His philanthropy includes creating multiple funds, scholarships and sponsorships for engineering and computer science students attending the Jonsson School. The event location — the Axxess Atrium — was named for Olajide’s company.
“It’s clear that I am home. One of my greatest blessings is being part of the UTD family,” Olajide said. “I am living a life beyond my parents’ wildest dreams. We all want to make a difference — please continue to give.”
JONSSON SCHOOL NEW DIMENSIONS PRIORITIES:
- Impart knowledge through teaching and research to the next generation of global leaders in engineering and computer science
- Enable greater access to higher education for underrepresented and nontraditional students
- Continue to lead in new and emerging research fields led by the best faculty in the country
LEFT: University President Richard C. Benson welcomed guests to the President’s Gathering to honor their contributions. Guests included faculty members, industry leaders, distinguished alumni and many more.
RIGHT: Dr. Walter Voit BS’05,MS’06 shared a laugh with Jonsson School Dean Stephanie G. Adams. Voit, an associate professor in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering and Department of Mechanical Engineering, was recently named a senior member of the National Academy of Inventors. He is also the founder and CEO of Adaptive3D, a company that Desktop Metal acquired in 2021.
LEFT: Dr. Fatemeh Hassanipour (front left), assistant dean and professor of mechanical engineering in the Jonsson School, chatted with Debjani Biswas MS’93.
RIGHT: Dr. Manuel Quevedo-Lopez (right), head of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering visited with distinguished alum Chris Progler PhD’97 (left).
LEFT: Attendees gathered in the Axxess Atrium, which was named after the company formed by John Olajide BS’04, a speaker at the event and campaign co-chair.
RIGHT: Olajide BS’04 reminisced about his experiences as a Jonsson School engineering student who was about to graduate. “I remember it was a time of great pride but also great uncertainty,” Olajide said. “I knew I was going to make an impact. I also knew I couldn’t do it alone.”
LEFT: Neel Gonuguntla, member of the Dean’s Executive Council of the Jonsson School and executive board member of the U.S.-India Chamber of Commerce, hugged Tulika Bhatia (right).
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