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HendersonDwight and Connie Henderson

Close Ties: Dwight and Connie Henderson Invest in Future of UTSA
 

For two decades, Dwight Henderson was dean for the College of Humanities and Social Services, now known as the College of Liberal and Fine Arts, at The University of Texas at San Antonio. Today, at age 80, he recalls the strides UTSA has made and the impact the university has had on his life.

“When I first arrived at UTSA, it was a relatively small university with great potential. It’s amazing to see just how far it’s come,” said Dwight.

It was an ad in the Chronicle of Higher Education where Dwight came across a job notice from a relatively unknown university in San Antonio. Ready for the warmer weather and with encouragement from his wife Connie, Dwight applied and landed the job of dean.

“I remember when computers were first introduced on campus,” recalled Dwight. “We were told that we would have to start inputting student grades on them. At first a few professors were resistant but eventually caught on. Now it’s hard to envision campus without them.”

While at UTSA, Dwight expanded his knowledge of environmental history by teaching classes in both United States and world environmental history. After retiring from full time service in 2006, he continued to teach at UTSA for the next seven years, and was one of the founding members of the UTSA Retired Faculty Association.

For Connie, who had a successful career with the San Antonio Water System, the university also holds a special place in her heart. She graduated from the university in 1987, earning a master’s in public administration and fondly recalls attending basketball games with Dwight and their daughter Tricia.

“UTSA means so much to us. I even reupholstered my car seats orange, and we’d show it to students at the basketball games— those are good family memories,” said Connie, who helped establish the Dwight F. Henderson Endowed Scholarship in History, in honor of her husband’s retirement.

With such deep pride in UTSA, Dwight and Connie, 73, are now making an even more significant gift to support students at UTSA. Together the couple have designated a portion of their wills to support women’s athletics, the College of Liberal and Fine Arts, and the College of Public Policy.

For the Hendersons, their motive to support UTSA comes naturally. “Philosophically we believe in giving back. UTSA enabled me to make the money that I did, and we want to share it,” said Dwight, who plans on establishing a scholarship in honor of Connie.

-Yvonne Zamora Byrd

 

To learn more about including UTSA in your estate plans contact Kim West at Kimberly.west@utsa.edu, or 210-458-7307.