A new gift carries on C. Donald Babers’ legacy
A new University of Texas at Arlington scholarship endowment has been established in memory of C. Donald Babers to support needs-based first-generation students.
Babers, a 1969 UTA graduate who received his Bachelor of Arts in history and sociology, was among the first African Americans to be admitted to UTA following integration. While breaking barriers presented challenges, Babers persevered and graduated, setting the stage for a distinguished 42-year career at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
UTA Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Tamara L. Brown announced the creation of the C. Donald Babers Memorial Scholarship Endowment during a ribbon-cutting ceremony Wednesday morning for Babers Manor, a new Fort Worth Housing Solutions development in the city’s Stop Six neighborhood.
Fort Worth Housing Solutions and UTA alumni and friends helped fund the scholarship endowment honoring Babers’ legacy.
“At UTA, community engagement is central to our mission, and we are proud to know it was equally important to Mr. Babers,” Dr. Brown said. “His dedication to service and creating opportunities for others reflects values that continue to guide and inspire our work. We are grateful to Fort Worth Housing Solutions and a number of our alumni and friends for their investment in our students and their commitment to advancing his legacy.”
During his tenure at HUD, Babers held several senior positions, and in 2002 he became the highest-ranking HUD employee in his region’s five-state area. His distinguished track record with HUD and his pragmatic leadership style helped him earn the Presidential Rank Award for Meritorious Executive, the highest award a career federal civil servant can receive. He also helped restructure New Orleans public housing developments rendered unlivable by Hurricane Katrina.
About The University of Texas at Arlington (UTA)
The University of Texas at Arlington is a growing public research university in the heart of Dallas-Fort Worth. With a student body of over 42,700, UTA is the second-largest institution in the University of Texas System, offering more than 190 undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Recognized as a Carnegie R-1 university, UTA stands among the nation’s top 5% of institutions for research activity. UTA and its 300,000 alumni generate an annual economic impact of $28.8 billion for the state. The University has received the Innovation and Economic Prosperity designation from the Association of Public and Land Grant Universities and has earned recognition for its focus on student access and success, considered key drivers to economic growth and social progress for North Texas and beyond.