Giving

A Strong Foundation

By Taylor Bird

In both business and philanthropy, Dirk and Annie Elmendorf believe in starting from the ground up. “Backwards, forwards, upside down, inside out, until you’re living and dreaming and breathing it,” says Dirk Elmendorf, one of the three founders of Rackspace Technology, the highly successful cloud computing company based in the San Antonio area. The Elmendorfs’ holistic approach to ensuring educational success starts with preparing the next generation of teachers.

“I wasn’t encouraged to do more than the bare minimum in math, and I came from a place where [I thought] this wasn’t going to be applied in real life,” says Annie Elmendorf. “Because of that, I feel very strongly about instilling in my kids the confidence to not be intimidated by math, to understand the value of math and science.”

Inspired by their own academic experiences, the Elmendorfs believe great teachers play a critical role in building that confidence and appreciation for math and science. That’s why they established the Elmendorf Family Fund for UTeachSA to support the College of Sciences’ teacher

Photo courtesy of Dirk and Annie Elmendorf

The Elmendorfs are proud champions of UTeachSA.

recruitment, preparation and retention program and to grow the pipeline of highly qualified math and science teachers in San Antonio. Graduates of the program simultaneously earn their teaching certification and their degree in a STEM field in four years.

“Math can be the gateway to more science. If you can’t do the math in science, you don’t get to stay in science,” Dirk Elmendorf says.

The Elmendorfs believe that teachers who are passionate enough about math or science to earn their degree in a STEM discipline are more likely to inspire that interest in their students. They feel strongly that keeping kids engaged in math and science, starting as early as possible, helps broaden their opportunities into adulthood.

The Elmendorfs are ensuring the next generation has the best foundation to solve the problems of tomorrow. Through their giving, they hope to inspire others to invest in the next generation of teachers, too.

GIVING

A Generous Tradition

Photo courtesy of AnnDee Ladensohn Steidel

By Taylor Bird

It all started at home.

As children, AnnDee, Sydney and David Ladensohn saw the value and joy of philanthropy. The San Antonio natives watched their grandfather and parents give to charitable causes throughout the city. Now the siblings are following that example with the Jean and Kenneth Ladensohn Endowed Research Fund in the College of Sciences, established in memory of their parents and in support of research in Alzheimer’s disease.

“Our mother had a tender heart, and we grew up with the example of our parents giving to all kinds of causes in San Antonio,” says AnnDee Ladensohn Steidel. “This was their city, and very young we experienced the pleasures of giving to organizations here.”

After their mother developed Alzheimer’s disease and passed away, Steidel and her siblings knew they wanted to support research toward a cure that could help other families. They learned of the world-renowned Alzheimer’s scientists working at UTSA and of a matching opportunity for gifts made to the university from the Texas state legislature. AnnDee, Sydney and David support Alzheimer’s research at UTSA.

“Knowing there is world-class, basic research in Alzheimer’s at UTSA, with the development team’s encouragement and with the matching opportunity, we threaded the needle. It was a combination made in heaven,” said David Ladensohn.

The Ladensohns take every opportunity they have to spread the good word about UTSA. They enjoy sharing news of the latest research developments and excellent faculty with friends and colleagues.

“UTSA is our university,” said Steidel. “We are thrilled with our gift and are very happy to be able to participate. With an endowment, you can keep giving to it. It is the gift that keeps on giving.”

Their parents would be proud.

GIVING

UTSA’s Next Generation of Researchers

By Jordan Allen

Dr. Doug Frantz’s legacy is his students; they are his reason for dedicating his life to research at UTSA. Frantz says he was drawn to UTSA’s vast potential for growth in the Department of Chemistry, where his lab studies the mechanisms of stem cell differentiation and cancer. He credits the Max and Minnie Tomerlin Voelcker Fund Endowed Distinguished Professorship in Chemistry with allowing him to train the next generation of scientists while conducting his own research.

Frantz says that having the support of the Max and Minnie Tomerlin Voelcker Fund Endowed Distinguished Professorship in Chemistry is critical to maintaining and increasing UTSA’s trajectory in research and creating opportunities for himself and his students. He believes students benefit the most from the endowment, which enables him to offer fellowships for his students, allowing them to spend more time researching rather than juggling classes, off-campus jobs and time in the lab.

“It’s clear that the Voelcker Fund believes in what we do here at UTSA. It’s been incredibly supportive in our ability to attract the best and brightest students,” Frantz said. Ultimately, Frantz seeks to translate his basic discoveries into treatments for patients that will end up in their medicine cabinets. He even has his eye on opening his own company in San Antonio, benefitting the city and UTSA. Dr. Doug Frantz is preparing the next generation of scientists.

“The Max and Minnie Tomerlin Voelcker Fund has been critical in getting my research off the ground here at UTSA…. I am indebted to the Voelcker Fund. I know they’re going to be a huge part of us moving forward.”

The primary goal of the Voelcker Fund is to support research that finds cures for medical diseases. Banks Smith, a Voelcker Fund trustee, says he has been extremely impressed by UTSA and its College of Sciences in the pursuit of medical cures. Voelcker Fund trustees are passionate about supporting medical research for several reasons, one being the excitement among the researchers themselves. They understand that their dedication is a critical aspect to elevating UTSA as a top research institution in the country.

“Why UTSA? Because it is a tremendous research institution and research is the focus of the Voelcker Fund…. The quality of the faculty at UTSA is reflected in the quality of their research, and it is excellent,” Smith said.

GIVING

A Legacy of Student Success

Photo courtesy of Dr. Craig Jordan

By Taylor Bird

For over four decades, from professor to senior associate dean, Dr. Craig Jordan has been committed to helping students succeed in the College of Sciences. His wife, Arcie, witnessed his efforts firsthand.

Inspired by an experience with an undergraduate student during which Craig Jordan tasked the student with giving feedback on his introductory biology course and developing course material for the class (which he still uses to this day), he approached his wife about establishing the Arcie and Craig

Jordan Endowed Undergraduate Scholarship in Sciences.

“Craig is a fabulous professor,” says Arcie Jordan. “He really cares about students and wants them to grow. I remember my days in a large university setting and how difficult it was to get the personal attention that I needed and that I saw other students needed from professors who were more focused on their research than imparting their knowledge to students. I saw this [scholarship] as a way to support the development of teaching as a goal, and teaching students, inspiring them and helping them to grow. That in and of itself is such a laudable goal.”

The Jordans’ scholarship also nurtures excellent instruction in the College of Sciences. Students who receive this scholarship work closely with a faculty member in the College of Sciences to create curriculum and course materials for a class. The Jordans are passionate about helping students thrive in the College of Sciences.

That mentoring continues after students leave UTSA and throughout their professional careers. The Jordans chose to establish an endowment to ensure their vision is carried on in perpetuity.

“Craig and I inherited a love of learning from our respective parents who each placed a premium on education and who supported educational outreach in various ways. This endowment allows us to create a legacy in the name of something that is important to us. It communicates to the students that this is something we really care about: We care about teaching, we care about developing students, and we care enough about it to put our name on it and to fund it at a level that is self-sustaining and will grow over time,” Arcie Jordan says.

“We chose to establish an endowment to ensure the longevity of this program. We now have a reservoir to which we can add so that, in the future, even more students can be supported,” Craig Jordan adds.

After working closely with and getting to know that first student, Craig Jordan wrote a glowing recommendation letter for her medical school application. She received a full academic scholarship plus an additional $20,000. Through the Arcie and Craig Jordan Endowed Undergraduate Scholarship in Sciences, the Jordans hope to be the catalyst for many more success stories.