A
YEAR PRESIDENT’S REPORT 2020-2021
OF
RESILIENCE
MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT Brace for re-entry! One year ago in this letter, I described an eerily quiet campus and an uncertain future as we planned for a year of living and learning amid a pandemic. Our nation was grappling with yet another cycle of racial injustice and civil unrest. And while these issues continue to percolate through our society, one year later, I am beginning to feel a sense of hope and optimism. We are all emerging from the past 18 months as changed people. The world has undoubtedly changed around us, but we have also been transformed as individuals. Even so, I hope that during this time of uncertainty and isolation, you were able to find time for introspection and self-improvement. Perhaps you learned to paint, cook, or complete a long-neglected home improvement project. Or maybe you rekindled an old friendship or reflected upon what’s truly important in your life. Whatever it may be, my desire is that you are re-entering our world as a stronger, more resilient person. In much the same way, Trinity is emerging as a changed, yet stronger and more resilient institution that has recommitted itself to living out our values of enduring excellence, intentional inclusion, and perpetual discovery. During the last year, every division of Trinity learned to work together more closely and interconnectedly to ensure that the student experience remained productive and impactful, even as we implemented significant health and wellness protocols. This invigorated sense of unity and purpose will serve us well in the coming years. As an institution, we also took a hard and sometimes uncomfortable look at Trinity’s commitment to diversity and inclusion. I am grateful for the recommendations made by the Diversity and Inclusion Task Force, and much of the past year was spent taking significant and meaningful first steps toward a more open and inclusive campus. We will continue to make important strides going forward. I’m also excited to report that the University embarked on its own “home improvement” project, breaking ground on the new Dicke Hall, Trinity’s new state-of-the-art home for the Humanities. Through it all, our alumni have remained steadfast in their commitment to stewardship. You might be tempted to say that we’re back to “business as usual” at Trinity, but there’s nothing usual about it. Our world, our campus, and all of us are in the midst of transformation. And that’s exactly where Trinity graduates thrive. We will continue to work collectively to uncover new ways to think, to create, to teach, to learn, and to grow. We have endured. We remain resilient. We are a force in motion. With gratitude, Danny J. Anderson President, Trinity University
2 2020-21 President’s Report
TABLE OF CONTENTS
2020-2021 TRINITY UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT’S REPORT
3
A Year of Resilience
4
Student Success
7
Community Engagement
10
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
11
Faculty Excellence
14
One Trinity
16
Trinity Alumni
18
Budget and Financials
19
Campus Impact
A YEAR OF RESILIENCE The 2020-21 academic year was one for the history books, but Trinity made history in the process. Through a global pandemic, a devastating winter storm, and a difficult but necessary look at our own history and culture, our Trinity community remained steadfast in its mission, vision, and values. And it’s because of you—the questions you answer and the answers you question—that Trinity is poised to transform this history into a truly remarkable future.
www.trinity.edu/presidents-report 3
STUDENT SUCCESS
SEE YOURSELF HERE, ON CAMPUS OR ONLINE Creativity and Technology Inspire Virtual Visits
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE
CLASS OF 2025
9,606
FIRST-YEAR
APPLICATIONS
34 ADMIT RATE %
696
FIRST-YEARS ENROLLED
MIDDLE 50%
OF ADMITTED STUDENTS
1340-1480 SAT 30-34 ACT
43 UNDERREPRESENTED 3.6-4.0 GPA %
4 2020-21 President’s Report
From the lawn of Tehuacana to the stage of Laurie Auditorium, Tigers have donned cap and gown to take their first steps as Trinity graduates in myriad places. The Spring 2021 commencement ceremonies again provided a different backdrop, as outdoor, socially distanced events took place at the multipurpose stadium in May. Despite the downpours, Tigers embraced the opportunity to celebrate their graduation in person in the first series of large events held on campus since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.
as of June 1, 2021
Without many in-person options available for visiting Trinity’s campus during the COVID-19 pandemic, the University virtually connected prospective students with faculty, staff, current students, and the campus. The Office of Admissions developed creative and meaningful virtual visit experiences for prospective and admitted students and families. And when in-person campus visits resumed in March, tours were held predominately outdoors due to University safety protocols for visitors. During the academic year, Admissions tour guides gave 838 tours, more than 300 of which were done virtually. Through virtual interviews, prospective students met one-on-one with an admissions representative. Through virtual faculty chats, admitted students personally connected with faculty in their desired academic disciplines in interactive sessions. And through live virtual campus visits offered twice a week, prospective students and family members attended an information session and virtual campus tour. Signature programs, such as Trinity in Focus and Trinity Tower Scholars Day, also found successful space in the virtual sphere. But Admitted Tiger Days boasted extraordinary results: The Office of Admissions hosted more than 480 students across 11 Admitted Tiger Days on campus in small groups, and more than 65% of attendees ultimately enrolled at Trinity. “We thought it was really important to keep having programs like this, where students meet with faculty and with other students and go on a campus tour,” says Justin Doty, dean of Admissions. “The whole community rallied to make these programs happen.”
Hybrid and Historic Graduation
UNDERGRADUATE CLASS OF 2021 Awarded bachelor’s
of arts: 225 of science: 264 of music: 5 Latin honors: 220 Phi Beta Kappa: 39
Graduated without debt: 54%
GRADUATE CLASS OF 2021 Awarded master’s
of arts: 8 of science: 18 of education: 21
Tigers Remain Resilient In a year of uncertainty and upheaval, many students showed strength by working toward incredible achievements. Meet seven graduates from the Class of 2021 who continue to thrive and look forward to the future.
Read each of these students’ stories at www.trinity.edu/news.
Ryanna Chouman ’21
Michael Edmonson ’21
Estella Frausto ’21
Chinese and International Studies
Finance
Geoscience
Shannon York ’21
Edmonson helped manage more than $9 million in Trinity’s Student Managed Fund. Before graduation, he completed an internship as a financial adviser, and with his hands-on experience with the SMF he plans to offer startups support as a financial analyst.
With funding awarded from the Stumberg Venture Competition and as a 2020-21 UPS Scholar, Frausto founded Mariachi Mercado, an online business that provides support for mariachi performers throughout San Antonio and surrounding areas.
Lauren Johnson ’21
Thomas Lauerman ’21
Gina Monaco ’21
Biology
Computer Science
Communication
Johnson, a 2020 Goldwater Scholar, received a graduate research award from the National Science Foundation, one of the highest honors a young scientist could earn. She will study evolutionary biology at Washington University in St. Louis in the fall.
Thanks to rigorous technical interview training in a class with computer science professor Mark Lewis ’96, Lauerman turned an internship with Google Maps into a full-time position as a Google software engineer.
After COVID-19 forced her to press pause on her softball mentorship nonprofit Trinity Buddies, Monaco switched gears and partnered with all 18 Tiger athletic teams to raise money for local homeless families as part of the NCAA’s United As One campaign.
International Studies The duo are the fifth and sixth students in Trinity’s history to be accepted to the U.S. Department of State’s Critical Language Scholarship program in Chinese, a prestigious summer program with a focus on language study, cultural exchange, and diplomacy.
www.trinity.edu/presidents-report 5
Advocating For Education and Community Development Diana Long ’21, a sociology major
TRINITY STUDENTS BY THE NUMBERS
2,512
Undergraduates
173
Graduate students
2,685
from San Antonio, fostered her passion for making a change in her community and improving access to education. In collaboration with Trinity education professor Oscar Jiménez-Castellanos, the Oregon Department of Education, and the McNair Scholars program, Diana researched the best funding practices for English-language learners and how to give future generations of students greater opportunities such as her own experiences at Trinity. Through Trinity’s excellent mentorstudent partnerships and LatinX leadership program, she learned how to develop her leadership skills and be an ally with marginalized groups.
Total student enrollment (Fall 2020)
UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT BODY
74.8%
Students from Texas
4.1
%
International students
48
Countries represented
38.9%
Students of color
$35,380
Average financial aid package per undergrad student
$69.7M
Institutional financial aid awarded by Trinity
6 2020-21 President’s Report
Trinity Choirs Participate in Crucial Conversations Trinity’s director for choral activities and associate professor of music, Gary Seighman, DMA, joined conversations about Black Lives Matter and fundamental changes to the art of group singing. Inspired by Cozbi A. Cabrera’s My Hair is a Garden, which follows the journey of a young Black protagonist questioning the beauty of her natural Black hair, Seighman directed a Trinity-produced choral narrative that focused on social justice and antiracism. Alongside Cabrera herself, more than a dozen guest artists and 85 singers in the Trinity choirs contributed more than 20 musical, artistic, and visual components. Seighman notes that the project represents something bigger within Trinity and a readiness to be part of these conversations in a respectful way.
RANKINGS AND ACCOLADES Trinity’s academic programs and outstanding students are consistently ranked among the best in the nation by respected sources each year.
42
#
liberal arts institution in the nation
113
#
college in the nation
Wall Street Journal / Times Higher Education
98
# COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
NATIONAL LEADERSHIP Presidential Appointment Raises Trinity’s Profile As the Ron Calgaard Distinguished Visiting Professor of Political Science who has served in two previous presidential administrations, Juan Sepúlveda, J.D., was called to serve on President Joe Biden’s transition team in late 2020. From October 2020 to January 2021, he was placed on the Arts & Humanities agency review team and led the public media agency review team. This was a perfect fit for Sepúlveda, who also served as a senior executive for PBS before launching his academic career. Biden’s team, composed of more than 600 people, was stocked with “powerful, experienced” voices, Sepúlveda says. This group also contained more than 80 representatives from universities, including traditional academic powerhouses. “You expect to see your Ivy Leagues, your Stanfords, big public schools, but I was one of the few folks coming from small liberal arts colleges,” Sepúlveda says. “And what I loved about this was ... that it gets Trinity in the mix as a national power.” Taking this invaluable opportunity back to his courses on urban politics and Latinx leadership, he became one of the few professors in the country who could say they were able to ditch the textbook for real-time practical experience. “It was ironic to me that right at the time I was asked to join this presidential transition, I was actually teaching a course about campaigns here at Trinity,” Sepúlveda says. “And the last segment of that course was about transitions. We had students basically preparing virtual versions of the reallife memos I had to prepare. It was incredible to be able to tell my students, ‘We’re not making this up; this is the actual work you’ll do in the field.’”
university in the nation College Consensus
27 35 46
#
#
College Consensus
1
#
33 11
#
1 6
#
T O P
Money
in the nation for best undergraduate engineering program U.S. News & World Report
in the nation for CPA exam performance Uniform Certified Public Accountant Examination
in the nation for merit aid U.S. News & World Report in the nation for undergraduates registered to vote in presidential election U.S. News & World Report
14
#
Niche
best small college in the nation
best college in Texas for getting a job Zippia
#
#
#
debate team in the nation National Debate Tournament
5 6 T &O P
the country & in the world % inCOMAP international math modeling competition
www.trinity.edu/presidents-report 7
CITY LEADERSHIP Hall in the Family
Ron Nirenberg ’99
Erik Walsh ’91, M’94
Manny Pelaez ’97
8 2020-21 President’s Report
If Texans treated city hall like they do football, Trinity University would lay claim to a starstudded segment of San Antonio’s starting lineup. Representing the District Eight city council seat: the consensus builder, Manny Pelaez ’97. At city manager: the man in the trenches, Erik Walsh ’91, M’94. And your two-time defending mayor: the risk-taker, Ron Nirenberg ’99. Having a mayor, councilman, and city manager all with the same alma mater, Nirenberg says, creates a governing team with incredible chemistry—on and off the San Antonio “field.” Pelaez “is our star wide receiver. He’s a lawyer, he’s talented, he can put people at ease,” Nirenberg says. With the work ethic he developed at Trinity and his J.D. from St. Mary’s University School of Law, Pelaez tackles major issues such as poverty, displacement, and subpar international relationships. Walsh is the offensive lineman. “Erik is team-oriented, collaborative, and builds morale. He’s our team captain, the guy in the trenches doing the hard work that people don’t always see, but it’s incredibly important. Erik actually played that position for Trinity’s football team,” Nirenberg says. And that makes Nirenberg the quarterback: “You want your mayor to be able to see the whole field, and to call the right plays, and get it done.” A husband and father with a passion for community building, Nirenberg’s priority is improving the city and doing his part to leave it a better place for his son. “Elected office wasn’t the goal for me— it became a vehicle for building the city that I dream of,” Nirenberg says. “So, find what you’re passionate about, whether it’s an academic subject or a career field, and place yourself in a community that you love and appreciate. Your path will lead you to service. You won’t have to seek to be a leader: Leadership will come to you.”
SERVICE AND INVESTMENT
Perseverance Through the Winter Storm
Investing in the Local Community
When many Texans were deprived of power, water, and heat during the winter storm of 2021, Trinity students stepped up to provide aid. During the winter storm, the student organization Trinity Mutual Aid raised more than $110,000 after its Venmo handle went viral, being shared by celebrities around the world. In turn, they distributed everything they collected during the storm to about 700 families who requested aid.
Trinity and the San Antonio Independent School District (SAISD) announced the creation of the “Trinity Community Investment” partnership this past September. The partnership aims to make an education at Trinity accessible to top graduating seniors within SAISD. Trinity will meet the full demonstrated financial need of SAISD seniors who qualify for admission, allowing them to graduate with very minimal student loan debt.
The Bare Necessities
Service That Spans Oceans
During a year of uncertainty and adversity, Trinity students and staff have taken action to ensure students have basic needs readily available. Established in 2004 in honor of former University chaplain Raymond Judd ’56, the Raymond Judd Student Emergency Fund has helped students facing unexpected financial emergencies. Since March 2020, the Judd Fund has distributed more than $160,000 to more than 380 students and provided seed money for a new virtual food pantry, Nourish, that provides H-E-B gift cards to students in need. A cross-campus team also created the Care and Share meal swipe pilot program, where students can donate one of their meal swipes to peers in need, as well as the ReWear closet, which provides sustainable clothing options for students on campus.
When Ecuador, home to 10% of Trinity’s international students, was hit particularly hard by COVID-19, Tigers sprung into action to help the country. Two initiatives were led by the Avalos sisters, Alyssa ’21 and Stephanie ’11, and Isabel Chiriboga ’22, respectively: The Mask Task, which provided base recyclers with personal protective equipment, and Mission Ecuador X Trinity, which provided supplies for the Baca Ortiz Shelter in Quito, Ecuador. The Mask Task raised more than $1,500 to support vulnerable populations who must continue working, providing PPE kits to workers for each mask sold. Mission Ecuador X Trinity raised more than $4,300, delivering over 700 kits to the Baca Ortiz Shelter to support families who traveled to Quito to receive medical treatment.
www.trinity.edu/presidents-report 9
DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION
IMPACTFUL STRIDES
Find more about the task force report and other updates at gotu.us/IntentionalInclusion
e past tumultuous year saw many social movements in our nation that have prompted us to re ect an consider how the University can build a more diverse and inclusive campus community. Heartfelt fe from students, faculty, sta , and alumni—combined with our own assessment—made us realize that Trini more to do to make impactful strides toward diversity, equity, and inclusion.
DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION TASK FORCE REPORT In the summer of 2020, President Anderson established a Diversity and Inclusion Task Force comprised of faculty and staff, with participation from students and alumni. As a result of the August 2020 Diversity and Inclusion Task Force report, Trinity has embarked on a comprehensive mission to form permanent and foundational initiatives that can build strong anti-bias and anti-racist structures on its campus and beyond. The journey toward a more inclusive Trinity community is continual, but the University has committed itself to these goals through several initiatives and programs.
DEI Center Visioning
Administrative Audit
Policy Updates
A diverse committee is developing potential visions for a center or institute that brings together Trinity’s research and teaching on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). This vision will guide efforts to fund the center through philanthropic support. A DEI center can provide an engaging framework for students, faculty, staff, and alumni and serve as a home for programs focused on understanding differences, promoting racial/ethnic healing, and examining historic restoration.
In Fall 2020, Trinity conducted interviews with chief diversity officers who are the inaugural appointee in their roles to gather lessons learned about establishing a new office and configuring a meaningful portfolio of responsibilities. In Spring 2021, as part of a comprehensive administrative audit called for by the Trinity Tomorrow strategic plan, the University engaged an external review team to help navigate the feasibility and structure of a new chief diversity office as part of the University’s central leadership.
Some policies and procedures, including the Policy Prohibiting Harassment and Discrimination as well as the Student Disability Accommodation Grievance Policy, are a direct result of Trinity’s commitment to the Diversity and Inclusion Task Force’s recommendations, as well as shared governance. In addition, the groundwork is being prepared for a systemic “equity audit” of all Trinity policies, many as they come up for review and renewal in the immediate future.
Student Programming
Professional Development
LACRELA
Student Life has launched dozens of new programs that tackle bias training and DEI education for new and current students. Among many initiatives, they are developing mentoring programs for underrepresented populations, offering new resources for disability inclusion and academic support, and empowering the Student Diversity and Inclusion Office.
Faculty and staff have worked collaboratively to establish meaningful and cohesive approaches to professional development. Some workshops have already occurred this year, and the University will link professional development and personal DEI goals to the annual review process.
Trinity enrolled as an inaugural member of the University of Southern California (USC) Race and Equity Center’s Liberal Arts College Racial Equity Leadership Alliance. USC’s Race and Equity Center is home to a dynamic research and organizational improvement center that helps professionals at colleges and universities strategically develop and achieve equity goals.
10 2020-21 President’s Report
FACULTY EXCELLENCE
DISTINGUISHED TEACHING AND RESEARCH Trinity faculty are passionate teachers, active researchers, and caring mentors. Their commitment and diligence are strengths for the University, helping students develop the skills required to enter the market and succeed in post-graduate plans.
DEDICATED TO STUDENT SUCCESS
Rubén Dupertuis, Ph.D. Religion
1
2
3
4
(Not) For Granted National grants and fellowships abound, with notable support given to high-impact work in key STEM areas. 1 Christina Cooley, Ph.D.
Chemistry Cooley received more than $400,000 from the National Science Foundation in a grant to continue work on her fluorogenic polymerization project, which aims to use light as an indicator for disease, potentially having a monumental impact in the fight to diagnose diseases in areas of the world where advanced imaging equipment might not be available.
3 Jason Shearer, Ph.D.
Chemistry Shearer, the Semmes Distinguished Professor of Chemistry, received nearly $400,000 in a National Institutes of Health Research Enhancement Award to continue studying how the structure and bonding of biologically relevant late first row transition metal compounds influence their reactivity. 4 Jennifer Steele, Ph.D.
2 Corina Maeder ’99, Ph.D.
Chemistry Maeder received a $450,000 grant from the Max and Minnie Tomerlin Voelcker Fund to research gene mutations in retinitis pigmentosa, a degenerative eye disease. The disease is caused by gene mutations that limit the function of cells within the retina—undermining the eye’s ability to see—but exactly how these mutations impact cellular function is unknown.
Physics Steele received more than $250,000 from the National Science Foundation in a grant to study fluorescence resonance energy transfer, a technique that scientists can use to measure the relative distance between microscopic molecules—such as the proteins in our cells—that are mere nanometers or ångströms apart.
Dupertuis was named a 2020 Arts and Humanities Faculty Mentor—one of only two in the nation this year—by the Council of Undergraduate Research.
Matt Glazer ’04 2020-21 Entrepreneur in Residence Glazer used his decade of experience in consulting and startups to help students get their ventures off the ground.
Billy Freed Inaugural Investor in Residence Freed helped students keep their ventures running by lending his three dozen years of executive and advisory experience.
www.trinity.edu/presidents-report 11
David Tuttle Associate Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students
33 years at Trinity
DISTINGUISHED ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS Christina Cooley, Ph.D. | Chemistry
Distinguished Teaching and Research by an Early Career Faculty Member Lauren Turek, Ph.D. | History
Distinguished Teaching and Research by an Early Career Faculty Member Dania Abreu-Torres, Ph.D. | Modern Languages and Literatures
Distinguished Advising Amy Stone, Ph.D. | Sociology and Anthropology
Distinguished University, Community, and Professional Service Maria Pía Paganelli, Ph.D. | Economics
Distinguished Research, Scholarship, or Creative Work or Activity
“BEST OF THE BEST” AWARDS
Recognizes exceptional contributions to teaching, scholarship or creative work, and service Jennifer Henderson, Ph.D. | Communication Corina Maeder ’99, Ph.D. | Chemistry Jennifer Mathews, Ph.D.| Sociology and Anthropology Shana McDermott, Ph.D. | Economics Eddy Kwessi, Ph.D. | Mathematics Andrew Kania, Ph.D. | Philosophy Heather Sullivan, Ph.D. | Modern Languages and Literatures Erin Sumner, Ph.D. | Human Communication and Theatre Ben Surpless, Ph.D. | Geosciences
The people at Trinity are what make the University’s education and experience so special. While we are sad to see much-loved faculty and staff start different journeys, we are also excited to welcome new, smiling faces on Trinity journeys of their own.
Deneese L. Jones, Ph.D. Vice President for Academic Affairs
5 years at Trinity Gary W. Neal, Ph.D. Senior Director of Counseling
38 years at Trinity Michael Soto, Ph.D. Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs: Student Academic Issues and Retention
&HELLO 22 years at Trinity
GOODBYE
Megan Mustain, Ph.D. Vice President for Academic Affairs
Mustain helms Academic Affairs, overseeing all academic programs and mentoring faculty and staff.
Carolyn True, DMA | Music
Demitrius (Demi) Brown, Ed.D. Associate Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students
Z.T. SCOTT AWARD
Brown serves students and families as they manage academic and personal concerns.
Carey Latimore, Ph.D. | History
Jamie Thompson ’05 Assistant Dean of Students
TRINITY TOMORROW AWARDS
Thompson transitions to a role that calls for building a holistic Trinity student experience.
Glenn Kroeger, Ph.D. | Geosciences
Courtney Balderas Director for Student Diversity and Inclusion
Recognizes the top educator at Trinity
Recognizes significant contributions to Trinity’s educational mission Mark Lewis ’96, Ph.D. | Computer Science Jennifer Rowe | Academic Support Katherine Troyer, Ph.D. | Collaborative for Learning and Teaching
Balderas steps into a new role reconfigured for a deliberate emphasis on the student experience.
Rita Urquijo-Ruiz, Ph.D. | Modern Languages and Literatures
Spencer Scruggs Director for Student Accessibility Services
PRESIDENT’S AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN STUDENT ADVOCACY
Scruggs emphasizes solutions to accessibility and learning challenges unique to the pandemic.
Benjamin Sosnaud, Ph.D. | Sociology and Anthropology
Myron Hodge Learning Specialist
Recognizes significant support of student success Shannon Twumasi | Student Life
12 2020-21 President’s Report
Hodge enters a brand new role dedicated to creating individualized plans for student support.
1
2
CLOSE TO NORMAL
3
In 2020, students and professors in Trinity’s classrooms became closer than they had ever been—even though a global pandemic de-densified campus, spreading students from 6 to 6 million feet apart. Yet the strongest ties still connecting Tigers are the ones at the heart of the University: those formed in the classroom.
1
Biology Biology professor Kelly Lyons, Ph.D., taught students in person in her plant biology course, where they eagerly invested their energy into projects that took them outside of class. Students ventured to local sites and even grew plants at home, appreciating how the plants thrived in cooped up spaces—not unlike the students themselves this past year.
2
Choir Fortunately for Gary Seighman, DMA, director of choral activities at Trinity, voices can travel further than six feet. Trinity’s 2020 choral ensembles rehearsed in parking lots while masked up, bonding over a shared experience: “I’ve never had a group of first-years that have had this type of kinship,” Seighman says. “They’ve all had this same experience of loss—losing opportunities, concerts, missing friends. Drawing from that, we’ll create something beautiful.”
3
Geosciences Geosciences professor Brady Ziegler, Ph.D., bridged continent-sized rifts by creating a unique research project that ensured everyone in his Earth’s Environmental Systems course felt invaluable. The “TigerFlex” hybrid class examined the elemental content of street dust in San Antonio, with remote students from Texas, California, Pennsylvania, and even Italy mailing in their own samples to provide comparative data on the quality of dust outside San Antonio.
4
Physics With a frustrating amount of friction for a 150-person, six-section Physics 1111 class, physics professors Jennifer Steele, Ph.D., Orrin Shindell, Ph.D., and Nirav Mehta, Ph.D., redesigned their labs for home learning, encouraging students on-campus and remote to use household objects to conduct lab experiments and gather data remotely through downloadable software that can record and analyze the motion of any object they want to use for their experiments.
4
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ONE TRINITY
TIGERS AT HEART Supporting our University is synonymous with supporting students and their experiences. e generosity of our donors secures these experiences for generations to come, ensuring the best and brightest students from across the nation have access to a Trinity education.
above An architectural rendering of Dicke Hall. right The Dicke family at the Dicke Hall groundbreaking in May.
Trinity Breaks Ground on New Home for the Humanities Trinity broke ground for its newest academic building, Dicke Hall, in May 2020. Named in
honor of University alumni Janet ’68 and Jim ’68 Dicke, the three-story, 40,000 square-foot building will be Trinity’s new home for the Humanities. Scheduled for completion in Fall 2022, Dicke Hall will house the Department of English, the Department of Religion, and the Humanities Collective. The Hall will offer modern, inviting spaces that foster collaborative cross-partnerships among liberal arts and professional programs. “The overarching goal of the project is to 14 2020-21 President’s Report
create a student-centered and collaborative environment for the Humanities reflective of modern practices in the 21st century,” says Trinity President Danny Anderson. “Dicke Hall will serve as the centerpiece of modern teaching and learning on the Trinity campus.” Dicke Hall is a reality due to a $10 million gift from the Dickes—the single largest gift from a living alumnus/a—and gifts from: Semmes Foundation, Inc., Thomas R. Semmes, President and former Trustee; former Trinity Board Chair L. Herbert Stumberg Jr. ’81 and Paula Stumberg; the
Sunderland Foundation: Kent ’80 Sunderland and Charles ’78 Sunderland; the J. E. and L. E. Mabee Foundation, Inc.; and Trinity Board Chair Melody Boone Meyer ’79 and Kim I Meyer. Additional, significant support was provided by members of the Board of Trustees, foundations, and the community. Tim O’Sullivan, Ph.D., professor of classical studies and co-chair of the Chapman-HalsellDicke Complex project, says, “I am humbled that the Dicke Family acknowledged the exciting things happening at Trinity and want those to not only continue, but to flourish.”
28.5M IN GIFTS AND PLEDGES
$
continues a trend of record-setting giving totals. Thank you, Tigers!
FIVE-YEAR GIVING TOTALS Additional construction projects underway will establish a defining presence for Trinity University on Hildebrand Avenue as well as a more visible connection to the San Antonio community. As the University expands with innovative improvements, several new amenities will work toward the safety and success of our students.
Trinity is thankful for every gift from alumni, students, parents, faculty, staff, and friends. The University also recognizes and thanks the members of its Board of Trustees, constituents of these groups, for their generous and continued support.
$12.1M 6,000 Donors
$27.7M
Total Dollars Given
$21.2M
$14.1M 6,796
Total Number of Donors
1,424
Number of New Donors
7,410 7,057 6,493
6,192
$28.5M
4,000
Trinity Parkway and Grand Entrance Scheduled for completion in Fall 2021, the University’s new grand entrance, located on the far north side of campus off Hildebrand Avenue, will serve as a welcoming beacon for students, alumni, and visitors alike. The Trinity Parkway entrance, a combo crosswalk-intersection-entrance north of Coates Library and just west of City Vista, has been taking shape since Summer 2020.
2,000
1,917
1,734
0
2016-17 13.3
2017-18 13.4
%
%
NUMBER OF DONORS
6,796 donors
3,628
Multi-Purpose Stadium The Trinity Multi-Purpose Stadium, home to Tiger Football and Track and Field, closed out its third round of renovations this year. Since 2018, the stadium has received a new video scoreboard and sound system, a turf field, home-side bleachers with seat backs, an entertainment suite, and improved press boxes and coaching boxes.
Alumni
1,833
2018-19 15.5
%
1,736
2019-20 16.7
%
2020-21 15.5
%
AMOUNT RAISED
$28.5M in gifts and pledges
$14,345,920
Current Students
16
Estates & Trusts
$318,373
Estates & Trusts
Faculty/Staff
$250,531
Faculty/Staff
1,251 234
$6,146
Alumni
269
250
Current Students
Friends
$3,178,982
Friends
Organizations
$9,792,547
Organizations
1,148
Parents
6,796
Total
Percentage of Undergrad Donors
$563,527 $28,456,026
Parents Total
www.trinity.edu/presidents-report 15
ANNUAL GIVING
ENDOWMENT SUPPORT
TRINITY ALUMNI
2020 Reunion Giving Breaks Record Reunion giving in 2020 totaled $4.2 million, with the Class of 1980 raising the highest amount for a single class at $2.1 million. The Class of 1995 had the highest giving rate for a single class at 28%. The total reunion class giving rate was 19.5%.
1869 Challenge Shatters Goals During the 2020 1869 Challenge, Tigers shattered the original goal to raise 3,100 gifts over 1,869 minutes, ending in a tally totalling 4,456 gifts, representing a record $667,441 raised across 45 states.
Judd Emergency Fund Supports Students in Crisis The Raymond Judd Student Emergency Fund supports students with out-ofthe-ordinary and life-altering changes. In 2020-21, the Emergency Fund helped hundreds of students with expenses related to the COVID-19 pandemic, meeting 380 requests for aid that totaled more than $160,000. 16 2020-21 President’s Report
MAS Receives Alvarez Family Gift Trinity University’s Mexico, the Americas, and Spain Program (MAS) has received a $2 million donation from Carlos and Malú Alvarez, advocates for the program’s promotion of a bilingual and bicultural environment through opportunities for engagement with life and culture from Latin America, the U.S. Latinx contexts, Mexico, and Spain. This generous gift builds upon the legacy of the Alvarez family in championing higher education, bolstering the cultural knowledge of the Latino and Hispanic world at Trinity and in the San Antonio community, and providing enduring support for the MAS program.
Elma Dill Russell Spencer Foundation Supports Education Trinity University’s Center for Educational Leadership (CEL) received $1.5 million from the Elma Dill Russell Spencer Foundation, allowing the University to invest in the future of the San Antonio community by strengthening the aspirational and strategic goals of the CEL, the Tomorrow’s Leaders school leadership preparation program, and the Trinity School Design Network. This gift also ensures that Trinity’s Department of Education will continue to meet the needs of local Pre-K–12 students by providing resources to local educators and entrepreneurs.
LIFELONG LEARNING AND LEADING Trinity teaches its students to use innovation and creative problem solving skills, preparing them to lead distinguished careers in a variety of disciplines. iW th those skills, these Tigresses— among a world of others—are adapting to uncertainty, prospering in leadership positions, and making a difierence with their Trinity degrees.
Read about each of these Tigresses’ journeys at www.trinity.edu/news .
Jan Naylor Cope ’78
Ellen Jefferson ’93
Beginning her professional career in financial development and serving in the George H.W. Bush White House, Cope switched careers in 2007 after a breast cancer scare. She became an ordained Episcopal priest, and by 2015, she was appointed provost of Washington National Cathedral in Washington, D.C.
Director of Austin Pets Alive! and the founder of nonprofits Emancipet and San Antonio Pets Alive!, Jefferson has helped save tens of thousands of animals. During COVID-19, she spearheaded Human Animal Support Services, a national coalition of animal services.
Nava Kavelin ’06, M’07
Jelynne LeBlanc Jamison M’88
Kavelin is the CEO of Ninth Mode Media, a production company she co-founded with actor Penn Badgley to create meaningful content through a hopeful lens. She directed the Bahá’í International Community’s first feature film, Glimpses into the Spirit of Gender Equality, which explores gender equality in Bahá’í communities.
President and CEO of the Center for Health Care Services, LeBlanc Jamison oversees more than 30 locations where Bexar County residents receive a variety of mental health services. At the onset of the pandemic, LeBlanc Jamison led the Center’s quick pivot into online care.
Sarah Lovelace ’20
Melody Boone Meyer ’79
Lovelace is a fellow with the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland, working in a lab at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases that conducts research on contagions. In a world upended by COVID-19, Lovelace is proud to contribute to such a relevant field.
The current Trinity Board of Trustees Chair and oil and gas industry trailblazer was president of Chevron Asia Pacific Exploration and Production and worked with Chevron for 37 years. She now serves on the board of three Fortune 500 public companies and advocates for the advancement of women through Women with Energy LLC.
Celina Suarez ‘03 Ph.D. & Marina Suarez ‘03, Ph.D.
Belle Wheelan ’72, Ph.D.
These twin sisters and geologists were named to Cell Press’s Top 100 Inspiring Hispanic/Latinx Scientists in America this year. The two have also published countless articles, earned honorary titles, and received over hundreds of thousands of dollars in grants to fund their research.
Wheelan is entering her 16th year as president of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, an organization that accredits institutions of higher education in 11 states across the South. In 1992, Wheelan became the first Black woman in Virginia’s history to serve as a college president.
www.trinity.edu/presidents-report 17
BUDGET AND FINANCIALS
STUDENT-CENTRIC MISSION The 2020-21 academic year proved to be extremely challenging on many levels, and the University’s budgeting and finances
were no different. But thanks to exceptional stewardship by Trinity’s executive team, the Operating Budget Task Force, and the Board of Trustees, the University has weathered the COVID-19 pandemic better than many institutions of higher learning. A year ago, the University faced an estimated operating budget deficit of $22.7 million for the 2020-21 fiscal year resulting from the pandemic. Significant temporary expense budget reductions and the use of rainy day reserves allowed Trinity to narrow that gap. Additionally, the University established a target of $12.5 million in permanent expense reductions for FY22 to address longer‐term operating budget damage from the pandemic. While these cuts are painful, they will allow Trinity to continue its student-centric, long-term mission. Since December, our revenue projections have improved, thanks to strong student enrollment, significant progress in COVID‐19 vaccinations, a sharp V‐shaped financial market recovery, and promising economic acceleration. As a result, the permanent expense reductions originally proposed at $12.5 million have been reduced to $10 million, and the University has been able to restore its retirement contribution match to 10% effective January 1, 2022—a key priority for faculty and staff.
$148.4M
$10M
total revenues for FY22
permanent expense reductions
(an increase of $6.2M from FY21)
(originally proposed at $12.5M)
The approved 2021-22 fiscal year budget includes total revenues of $148.4 million, an increase of $6.2M from the prior year. Net student revenues (net tuition plus room and board revenue) as well as endowment and trust distributions represent 91% of total revenues. As the economic and pandemic situation evolves, the University will review the budget in late summer and, if material changes are necessary, present a revised budget at the September 2021 Board of Trustees meeting.
Thank you to the featured Tigers who submitted photography for this report. Additional photo credits: Diana Long, p. 6, Melody Rodriguez - MC Photography; Jan Naylor Cope, p. 17, Danielle Thomas - Washington National Cathedral. 18 2020-21 President’s Report
The University welcomed two new members to its Board of Trustees in the 2020-21 academic year.
Thomas Evans ’84
Senior Vice President and Counsel for the North American transportation business unit of XPO Logistics, Inc.
Scott Tinker ’82
State Geologist of Texas; Director of the Bureau of Economic Geology and the Edwin Allday Endowed Chair in the Jackson School of Geosciences at the University of Texas at Austin
CAMPUS IMPACT
TRINITY UNIVERSITY BOARDS 2020-2021
Board of Trustees Ruth K. Agather April Ancira ’02 Erin Baker ’99 Annell R. Bay ’77 Ted W. Beneski Stephen W. Butt ’77 Miles C. Cortez ’64 Janet St. Clair Dicke ’68 Cydney C. Donnell Thomas Evans ’84 Douglas D. Hawthorne ’69, M’72 Marshall A. Hess ’88 Gen. James T. Hill ’68 Jelynne LeBlanc Jamison M’88 E. Carey Joullian IV ’82 The Rev. Dr. Richard R. Kannwischer ’95 Christopher M. Kinsey ’79 Dr. Katherine Wood Klinger ’72 John C. Korbell Oliver T.W. Lee ’93 Steven P. Mach ’92 Robert S. McClane ’61 Melody Boone Meyer ’79 Michael F. Neidorff ’65 Thomas Schluter ’85 Thomas R. Semmes L. Herbert Stumberg Jr. ’81 Jessica Thorne ’91 Scott Tinker ’82 Alumni Adviser to the Board of Trustees
Michelle Collette ’06
Synod of the Sun Representative to the Board
The Rev. Dr. James Freeman ’83
Alumni Association Board Michael Barrett ’00 Amy Carrier ’97 Sarah Causer ’11 Ellen Riojas Clark ’74 Brin Cole ’13, M’16 Michelle Collette ’06 Robert Devlin ’90 Jennifer Dewar ’02 Anh-Viet Dinh ’15 Luciano Garza ’86 David Girault ’90 Manuel Gonzalez ’07 Jill Grace ’85 Allison Hawk ’88 Paul Hensley ’87 Charles Houston ’09 Nadia Islam ’12 Sana James ’16 Ruth Johnson ’90 Brad Little ’93 Troy McKinnon ’10 Trey Moeller ’93 Steve Muller ’89 Meggan Partain ’97, M’98 Will Paulus ’14 Matthew Pepping ’05 Karla Phillips ’92 Barbara Poenisch ’08 Kay Reamey ’72 Robert Robinson ’92 Derick Rodgers ’92 Martin Schwed ’12 Leon Waddy ’93 Jasmeen Waliany ’06 Eric Weiss ’68 Scott Williams ’89
Board of Visitors John Arnold ’93 Lyn Belisle M’72 Eric Bell Sardar Biglari ’99 Kenneth Chang ’92 Amulya Deva* Deborah Blackhurst Doddy Homero R. Garza ’71 Larry Gottsman ’69 Kay Johnson Hazelwood ’82 Leslie Hollingsworth ’88 Lisa Breytspraak Jasper ’95 Peter L. Jennings ’64 Victoria Jennings ’67 Paul Keene ’91 Vanessa Hammler Kenon ’88 Grace B. Labatt John Lozano ’93 Dave Mansen ’76 Todd McCracken ’88 Adriana Mendez-Rugh ’97 Lawrence P. Moon ’76 Christi Morrow ’92 Janett Muñoz ’18* Susan Naylor Sellers ’84 Danielle Mitchell Oliver ’05 Becky Yates Pemberton ’88 Phillip Philbin ’86 Kristen Holloway Pratt ’95, M’98 Cynthia Schluter ’88 Sebastien Solar ’05 Polly Spencer Karen M. Vaughan Scott Walker ’70 Christian M. Warren ’78 Lora K. Watts ’79 Philip Wetz ’73 Tiffany S. Williams ’93 *Young Alumni Associate Member
www.trinity.edu/presidents-report 19
Office of the President One Trinity Place San Antonio, TX 78212-7200 CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED
Continue to do things that seem
IMPOSSIBLE.
Use the experiences you’ve gained in classrooms, on campus, and in the community to solve problems through critical, creative, and compassionate thinking. Seek justice, embrace mercy, and walk humbly. – Trinity President Danny J. Anderson in his commencement speech to the Class of 2021