A Message from the UT Arlington African-American Alumni Chapter President, Timeka Gordon

Over recent years, the African-American Alumni Chapter at UT Arlington has worked to reconnect and strengthen African-American alumni involvement and support in various ways through the Alumni Association. With the support of fellow African-American alumni, faculty, staff, and students and the Alumni Association, this chapter is headed towards excellence.

As an alumna of UT Arlington, I realize alumni involvement is critical to the university's continued success. So many of us have achieved great measures of success because, of our relationships with faculty/staff, friends, social organizations, community leaders, and involvement in other areas of campus life. Now is the time for us to come back and empower, encourage, and motivate anyone with African decent within the University community (undergraduates, graduates, alumni, faculty, and staff).

As president of the UT Arlington African-American Alumni Chapter, I am committed to planning social, cultural, and educational events to benefit the African-American university community and surrounding community. However, we won't be successful without your help. Your active participation and support will ensure we achieve as much success as the other alumni chapters on campus. Your input and ideas will provide us with valuable information that will be used to plan events that appeal to your interests, whether they are networking events, student mentoring opportunities, community service, social activities, and much more.

I encourage you to become involved in the African-American Alumni Chapter. If you live or work in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, please plan to attend an upcoming event and the next chapter meeting.

I look forward to working with you as we work together to heighten a greater appreciation of The University of Texas at Arlington and what it has to offer, while enhancing the quality of life of African Americans and the surrounding community.

Be A Maverick!

Sincerely,
Timeka Gordon, '01
President, African-American Alumni Chapter

AAAC Blog

Walter Dansby ‘74

Posted on February 6, 2013 by

Mr. Dansby began his career in the Fort Worth ISD in 1974 as a History teacher and coach at Rosemont Middle School. During his tenure he has served the District as a head high school basketball coach at Paschal High School, assistant principal at Paschal High School, principal at O.D. Wyatt High School, executive director of instruction for the South Quadrant, associate superintendent of the Instructional Team for Area 1, and deputy superintendent for Operational Management and Human Resources. He is also responsible for overseeing the District’s Capital Improvement Program, a $593.6 million, multi-year effort to renovate aging facilities, add modernized classrooms and build five new schools. Under his leadership the CIP program is on time and under budget.

Mr. Dansby is a graduate of Fort Worth ISD’s Paul Laurence Dunbar High School. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Texas at Arlington and a Master of Education degree from Tarleton State University.
Among the many awards and accolades received by Mr. Dansby are the Excellence in Education Award from the Multi-Ethnic Chamber of Commerce; the Men of Distinction Award from Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity; the Distinguished Service Award from the Greater Fort Worth Area Negro Business and Professional Women’s Club; Public Sector Advocate Award by the Black Contractors Association; and, last year, the Dr. Marion J. Brooks Living Legend Award for Education.
Mr. Dansby and his wife Sharon have two daughters, Marsha and Leigh Ann.

Mr. Dansby is a graduate of Fort Worth ISD’s Paul Laurence Dunbar High School. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Texas at Arlington and a Master of Education degree from Tarleton State University.Among the many awards and accolades received by Mr. Dansby are the Excellence in Education Award from the Multi-Ethnic Chamber of Commerce; the Men of Distinction Award from Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity; the Distinguished Service Award from the Greater Fort Worth Area Negro Business and Professional Women’s Club; Public Sector Advocate Award by the Black Contractors Association; and, last year, the Dr. Marion J. Brooks Living Legend Award for Education.Mr. Dansby and his wife Sharon have two daughters, Marsha and Leigh Ann.

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Colonel (Retired) Archie P. Davis III ‘86

Posted on February 6, 2013 by

Colonel (Retired) Archie P. Davis III, although a native of Riviera Beach, Florida, he grew up and attended school in Donalsonville, Georgia.  After graduating from High School on the 4 June 1981, he entered the Army on 5 June 1981 as a Cavalry Scout (19D).  After serving a little over 2 years on active duty and completing 1 year of college, he won a 3 year ROTC Scholarship (an active duty program which awarded 125 scholarships per year to deserving Soldiers).  He was released from active duty in July 1983 in order to attend college full time, and to pursue an Army commission.
While participating in the ROTC (Maverick Battalion) program at UTA, as a MS II Cadet, he served as the Cadet First Sergeant for Charlie Company, and served as a member of the Color Guard.  As a MS III, he served as the Commander of the UTA ROTC Color Guard.  After distinguishing himself during summer camp at Fort Riley, Kansas during the summer of 1985, he became the first African American to serve as the Cadet Corps Commander.  He earned the coveted “George C. Marshall ROTC” award and numerous other awards for his service as a UTA ROTC Cadet.  In May 1986, COL (Ret) Davis earned a commissioned as a second lieutenant and graduated from the University of Texas at Arlington’s ROTC program as a Distinguished Military Graduate.  In December 1986, COL (Ret) graduated from the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA) with a BBA degree in Management.  Additionally, while attending UTA, he was inducted into “Who’s Who Among America’s Colleges and Universities,” and was selected as one of “America’s Most Outstanding Young Men” in 1985.  He re-entered active duty on 4 January 1987 as an Air Defense Artillery Officer, and served with the 2nd Battalion, 44th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.
Colonel (Retired) Davis currently serves as the Director, Financial & Resource Management / Assistant Chief of Staff, G8, United States Army Operational Test Command (USAOTC) at Fort Hood, Texas.
Colonel (Retired) Davis is married to the former Jacqueline Rena Powell of Thomasville, Alabama.  They have three kids, Vernon Davis who is married (wife – Valarie) and has 3 daughters; Warrant Officer Kurtis Davis, who is married (wife – Hanna), and is a recent graduate of the Army Aviation School. He is a Blackhawk (UH60) pilot at Fort Bliss, Texas; and daughter – Nikki Davis, a recent graduate of the University of Texas at San Antonio (USTA), and currently serves as an Accountant with the First National Bank in Killeen, Texas.
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Fort Worth Superintendent; Retired Army Colonel named outstanding African-American alumni

Posted on February 6, 2013 by
News Release — 04 January 2013
The University of Texas at Arlington African-American Alumni Chapter will host the 23rd Annual African-American Alumni Banquet on Saturday, March 9, 2013.  The banquet will be held in the Bluebonnet Ballroom of the E.H. Hereford University Center, located at 300 W. First Street, Arlington, Texas 76019, 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
The highlight of the evening will be the presentation of the 2013 Outstanding African-American Alumni Award to Walter Dansby ‘74 and Archie Davis ‘86. Numerous alumni, students, University officials and community leaders are invited to the event.
We would appreciate your participation and support at this year’s banquet. The net proceeds from this event will benefit the African-American Endowed Scholarship Fund, which provides scholarships for deserving students each year. Your support of this event will ensure this tradition continues.
To purchase tickets, please visit www.utablackalumni.com by February 18, 2013.
If you have any questions regarding the banquet, please contact the UT Arlington African-American Alumni Chapter at banquet@utablackalumni.com.  Thank you again for your support of UT Arlington, the Alumni Association and African-American students and alumni.

Special Thanks to the 2012 African-American Alumni Banquet Sponsors

Dr. Maxwell C. and Vivian M. Scarlett
UT Arlington Office of the President
School of Social Work
Office of Multicultural Affairs
College of Engineering
EXCEL Campus Activities
Office of Human Resources
Office of Graduate Studies
College of Liberal Arts
Everett Hinson
Haywood and Timeka Gordon
School of Urban and Public Affairs
If you need assistance, please contact our office at 817-272-2594.
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UTA Creates African American Studies Program

Posted on April 29, 2012 by
ARLINGTON (AP) – Dr. Maxwell C. Scarlett’s biography is punctuated by firsts.
In 1966, Scarlett became the first African-American to graduate from what is now the University of Texas at Arlington. In the fall of 1962, he was among the first three African-American men to live in a college dormitory at the North Texas State University, now the University of North Texas.
Scarlett, 67, was also the first African-American to teach in the biology department at North Texas.
“My generation came along in a different day,” Scarlett said. “I never went to school with any students who were white and never had any teachers who were white until I was a freshman in college.”
Scarlett’s experience will be part of an oral history project at UTA that focuses on black alumni. The project is the first major undertaking for the university’s new Center for African American Studies. The center is described as unique to North Texas and the third of its kind in the state. The University of Texas at Austin and Texas Lutheran University in Seguin have similar centers. Continue reading →
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Undrey D. Wash ‘86

Posted on January 10, 2012 by

Undrey Wash has been employed with Allstate Insurance Company for 25 years after completing his degree in 1986 with a B.B.A. in Information Systems from University of Texas at Arlington. During his career with Allstate, he has handled auto and property claims and held various management assignments such as Frontline Performance Leader (FPL).  As an FPL, Undrey has been instrumental in the careers of new leaders by offering to help them get acclimated to their new roles.

His current role is as Claims Controller. He is responsible for assigning personal lines property claims to inside and outside adjusters for the state of Texas.  He has received the Employee of the Year Award and Allstate’s Chairman Award.

Undrey has also been employed by the National Football League for the last 12 years as an umpire.  His career as a football official spans 29 years. Working intramural games at UTA, Undrey joined the Dallas Football Officials Association in 1982 where he started with pee-wee games and progressed to junior high and sub-varsity.   He officiated games in the Mid-South, America Southwest and Lone Star conferences before advancing to the Southwest Conference in 1995.  When he was hired in 1996 by the newly formed Big 12 Conference, he became the youngest umpire in the conference.  Beginning in 1998, he also sharpened his officiating skills with NFL Europe for four summers.

His official move to the NFL began as an instant replay official in 1999 and later to the field in 2000 as an umpire.  Situated where much of the play’s initial action occurs and considered to hold the Continue reading →

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