Scholarships to Honor Departing Administrators

Paying tribute to their combined decades of service to UT Dallas students and staff, UT Dallas President David E. Daniel recently announced two scholarships named for Jody and Robert Nelsen.

The Nelsens are honorees of the permanently endowed Joellyn (Jody) Nelsen Staff Council Scholarship and the Robert S. Nelsen Scholarship in Creative Writing.

	About the Scholarships
	The Joellyn (Jody) Nelsen Staff Council Scholarship Amount: $25,000 Administered by the Staff Council, this endowment provides scholarship funds for staff members taking classes at UT Dallas.     The Robert S. Nelsen Scholarship in Creative Writing Amount: $25,000 Provides funds for students who are dedicated to creative writing.

Each scholarship honors the personal and professionally demonstrated passions of the Nelsens, who distinguished themselves as advocates for the students and staff of UT Dallas. Jody Nelsen, associate vice president of business affairs, is a UT Dallas MBA graduate, class of 1997.

“Jody epitomizes the outstanding qualities of a dedicated staff member who advanced personally and professionally through her studies at UT Dallas,” Daniel said. “The endowed scholarship will provide financial support for UT Dallas staff members to pursue undergraduate or graduate degrees while working at UT Dallas.”

Robert Nelsen, vice provost, has been both a respected administrator and a well-known fixture in UT Dallas classrooms.

“We have left it flexible as to whether the scholarships will be awarded to undergraduate or graduate students, or to full-time or part-time students,” Daniel said. “The key is that the student must have a passion for creative writing. The faculty selection committee will no doubt think of Robert—his high ideals and creative talent—when awarding the scholarships, and ensure that the recipients’ skills and dedication measure up to what Robert would expect. Although Robert’s most visible contributions in recent times have been largely administrative, we know that his heart will always lie with our students and especially with students of creative writing.”

The Nelsens, now moving to the next phase of their respective careers, were recognized at a reception event that proved a relaxing opportunity for their UT Dallas family of friends and colleagues to thank the remarkable couple for their years of service and dedication.

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