Rita Miller, Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students Soncia Reagins-Lilly, Joan Long and Andrew Mendoza

Our team in the Division of Student Affairs influences our students in Living the Longhorn Life™ every day. We do this by providing a welcoming community to our 51,000 students, showing them there’s more than one way to be a Longhorn and helping them find their potential to change the world. Today, we honored three colleagues go above and beyond, doing all these things and more, with the Texas Parents Staff Merit Award.

For 22 years, parents and families have used this award to honor outstanding Division staff members who work tirelessly to support students. 

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“I take a lot of pride in being a second-generation Longhorn and I am thankful for the college experiences that introduced me to the Division of Student Affairs. Our team does important work on this campus for students. My job is to help them prove it through assessment, data and analytics.”
-Rita Miller (Vice President for Student Affairs)

Data and numbers may be complex and mundane to some, but not for Rita Miller. She is skillfully able to is weave that information into a vibrant story of how the Division of Student Affairs influences the Longhorn life. It’s why she’s being recognized alongside two other team members with a Texas Parents Staff Merit Award.

“What could be considered boring for many, Rita explains with ease and humor. She consistently goes above and beyond, finding creative solutions to solve tough problems and collaborating with students, faculty and staff to better the university,” said nominator Jennifer Speer, Recreational Sports senior director.

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2019 Recipient Shreya Mallena, BS ’20 (front row, third from left), with the Sharon H. Justice Leadership Scholarship Selection Committee

Help us recognize a junior or senior with the Sharon H. Justice Leadership Scholarship by sharing this opportunity with your student leaders. Justice spent 24 years putting UT Austin students first (16 of those years as dean of students). To honor her, Vice President for Student Affairs will award a one-time $5,000 scholarship created by a group of former student leaders in 2012.

“I was fortunate to work with many outstanding student leaders when I served as dean of students. This scholarship will continue to support and honor leaders who can help shape the future of our great university as well as positively influencing the world around them,” noted Sharon.

When she joined UT Austin in 1976 as assistant dean of students and coordinator of orientation, Sharon began interacting with student leaders. That work expanded when she was promoted to associate dean and later associate vice president for student affairs and dean of students in 1985.

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Show us how you mask up while working for UT Austin — submit a photo of you displaying your Longhorn pride! Let’s show how we are committed to Protect Texas Together by wearing a recommended protective face mask.

Here’s what to send us!

• A solo photo of only you in a recommended protective face mask that you wear while working at UT Austin, whether on campus or remote.
• You can take a selfie or have someone take it of you wearing your mask. 
• Why a solo photo? To make sure the photo showcases our efforts to social distance. Above photos are some great examples with no other people in the background.
• Hold up a Hook ‘em if you want!
• Take your photo in the horizontal/landscape format.
• Make sure the area is well-lit.

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Vice President for Student Affairs Prize Pack

In celebration of the creation and signing of the United States Constitution (Sept. 17, 1787), Vice President for Student Affairs will be honoring Constitution Day on Friday, Sept. 17 by hosting an online constitution trivia contest and voter information to educate students on their rights of citizenship and civic engagement.

Longhorns can participate in our trivia contest on Twitter for a chance to win a Vice President for Student Affairs prize pack containing a Living the Longhorn Life® t-shirt, power bank, Recreational Sports towel and much more! Follow us at @UTexasStudents to take part in the trivia contest using #CDUT, 1-3 p.m. CT.

Rules: Only currently enrolled students are eligible to participate. Only answers using #CDUT will be considered. We will identify winners by quote tweeting their reply to our question. Winners will direct message @UTexasStudents with their name, email address and UT EID. They will receive information about picking up their prize via email.

We hope you will celebrate this important moment in U.S. history with us!

If you need to register to vote, our office is providing voter registration information through Oct.4 on our social media channels and website. Students who are not currently registered to vote in Travis County are invited and encouraged to complete a voter registration application. The last day to register to vote for the General and Special Elections in the state of Texas is Oct. 4.

Alejandrina Guzman, BA ’18, Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students Soncia Reagins-Lilly, Muneezeh Carpenter, BA ’11, and Mehraz Rahman, BBA and BA ’19, at the VPSA Tailgate in November 2019

With campus life back in full swing, our development team has some exciting opportunities in store to engage our alumni. Whether they’re a recent graduate or have a long history with the university, we have ways to connect with our alums online and in person.

Chances are, most Longhorns were in some way supported and influenced by the people, programs and services provided by the Division of Student Affairs. Our goal is to reconnect and inspire our alumni to stay informed and involved with our Division, so that we can help them find ways to make an impact for current and future students on the Forty Acres.

HookedIn

LIVE today! Connect with the Division of Student Affairs via our new group page on HookedIn, a social media network created by the Texas Exes. This platform helps alumni remain connected to students, staff, faculty and campus. We will be posting updates and events information to outreach to our network. Follow our page to stay in touch with us!

Debbie Dillingham (University Unions) serves tacos during 40 Hours for the Forty Acres

During the university’s online fundraising campaign, students, staff, alumni and friends joined together to raise more than $3.7 million for programs, scholarships and initiatives. We raised more than $117,000 for the Division. This campaign now takes place twice a year, so be on the lookout early spring for information on the April campaign.

2021 VPSA Fall Reunion Tailgate

Our alumni and donors are invited to join VP for Student Affairs Soncia Reagins-Lilly at our upcoming 2021 VPSA Fall Reunion Tailgate on Nov. 13! The food and festivities begin two hours before Texas kicks off against the University of Kansas. If you know an alum or donor who should join us, let us know so we can add them to the invitation mailing list.

What Starts Here Campaign Launch, March 2022

This spring, the university marks an exciting milestone with the public kick off of the What Starts Here campaign. This fundraising campaign is the largest in the university’s history and in the silent phase of the campaign has already raised more than $3 billion. More details will be shared later about events scheduled on March 4 to celebrate the campaign launch.

Email us so we can keep you up-to-date on upcoming events and other occasions.

In celebration of the creation and signing of the United States Constitution (Sept. 17, 1787), Vice President for Student Affairs will be honoring Constitution Day on Thursday, Sept. 17. by hosting an online constitution trivia contest and voter information to educate students on their rights of citizenship and civic engagement.

Longhorns can participate in our trivia contest on Twitter for a chance to win a Living the Longhorn Life T-Shirt! Follow us at @UTexasStudents to take part in the trivia contest using #CDUT, 1-3 p.m. CT.

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Jess Cybulski (Vice President for Student Affairs Office), Marcus Mayes and Kelly Soucy (Office of the Dean of Students)

In a year that had major ups and downs with a global pandemic, punctuated by an historic winter storm, Jess Cybulski, Marcus Mayes and Kelly Soucy didn’t skip a beat when it came to influencing the Longhorn life. The Division of Student Affairs is recognizing them with 2021-22 Texas Parents Staff Merit Award.

Texas Parents created this award in 1997 to reflect the appreciation parents and families have for the work that is done in the Division day in and day out, honoring outstanding Division staff members. On Jan. 26, Cybulski, Mayes and Soucy were honored at the Division of Student Affairs’ annual Team Appreciation and Celebration.

Even in the midst of challenging circumstances, these three team members went above and beyond to support students. Cybulski communicating urgent information to the campus community during crises and launching a new storytelling platform to showcase student voices. Mayes educating Longhorns on their first amendment rights and guiding student organizations to host successful on-campus activities and safe demonstrations. And Soucy making it her mission to meet students’ needs during unforeseen, emergent situations so they can continue on a path towards graduation.

(Top) Soucy and Cybulski; (Bottom) Mayes and VP for Student Affairs and Dean of Students Soncia Reagins-Lilly at the Team Appreciation and Celebration on Jan. 26

Stay tuned for their profile stories in the coming days. In February, we’ll release Living the Longhorn Life podcast interviews with them and the students who helped select them for this award.

You gave it your all this semester, and now it’s time to celebrate your accomplishments! As we close out a year unlike any other, take a break from final exams and projects, and schedule time for some fun. Enjoy fun and games, tasty treats and cool giveaways, self-care tips and physical activity at the Division of Student Affairs events below. All events will follow university health guidance and social distancing. 

Longhorn Send-Off: Crush Your Finals
Monday, May 3, 1-3 p.m., Jester Corner
Kick off Vice President for Student Affairs’ inaugural Longhorn Send-Off week of events by picking up items to help you de-stress.

Longhorn Send-Off: Virtual Movie Trivia
Tuesday, May 4, 5 p.m., Zoom ID: 926 3785 5378
Calling all movie fans to this virtual trivia event with a chance to win cool prizes, compliments of Vice President for Student Affairs.  

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Welcome Bash 2024

Our team is bringing the fun to the final action-packed weekend before the end of the term. The Division of Student Affairs — the hub of student life and well-being — is hosting innovative programs with a brand-new spirit event and the annual Family Weekend tradition. There are activities for students, families, Longhorn fans and others to partake in living the Longhorn life — check out the highlights below!

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Orange and White Carnival
Friday, April 19, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Gregory Gym Plaza

Students can get hyped for Texas Football’s Orange-White Game at this Longhorn Friday celebration. The Office of the Dean of Students is hosting this fun “pep rally” with free food, carnival games, music from a live DJ and giveaways. Come hungry and leave happy! 

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Family Orientation 2023

Family Weekend
Friday, April 19-Sunday, April 21

This more than 100-year-old UT Austin tradition dates back to the 1920s. Generations of Longhorn families have made memories with their students, exploring campus and experiencing their favorite aspects of living the Longhorn life. This year, a total of 3,819 people are set to attend, including 2,799 family members and 1,020 students. 

Texas Parents and University leaders will officially welcome families during a reception on Friday evening. There are 41 events during the weekend, including open houses, museum and gallery exhibitions, and student group performances. Recreational Sports is offering free access to its facilities and families can enjoy a round of bowling at the Union Underground. Check out the full schedule that showcases the Division’s programs, spaces and resources. Some events require RSVP.

Spring 2024 Ring Celebration
Friday, April 19, 2-4 p.m. Ring Pickup, 4:30-5 p.m. Ring Celebration Program

Another unforgettable family activity is Texas Exes’ Ring Celebration. Students can debut their new class ring in the heart of campus with the UT Tower in the background, alongside their family and friends. No RSVP is required for guests of ring recipients.

Made in Austin Weekend
Friday, April 19-Sunday, April 21

Longhorn fans can enjoy a full weekend of gameday festivities hosted by Intercollegiate Athletics. Texas Football’s annual Orange-White Game takes place on Saturday. Fans can look forward to Bevo Blvd. and Longhorn City Limits with musical guest Reckless Kelly. The spring scrimmage game provides a glimpse at the Longhorns in action before the 2024 season opener against Colorado State on Aug. 31. Admission is free for the Orange-White Game.

There’s also a marquee Texas Baseball series versus Texas Christian University starting on Friday. Check availability for Sunday’s game. 

Honors Day  (Invite-only event)
Saturday, April 20, 6 p.m., Moody Center

Introduced in 1948 and celebrated every year since, Honors Day recognizes the accomplishments of the highest achieving students at UT Austin. These students earned their distinction as College Scholars or Distinguished College Scholars by meeting this competitive criteria. This year’s ceremony will celebrate 5,071 honorees who reached the very highest levels of academic accomplishment. This is an invite only event and RSVP is required.

Enjoy this fun lineup of events and have a great weekend living the Longhorn life!