Thursday, Sep 26, 2024 • Brian Lopez : contact

A $1 million gift from the Harold Simmons Foundation and Thomas Connelly will help students in The University of Texas at Arlington’s School of Social Work earn their graduate degrees and embark on successful careers as champions of social justice.

The gift will create the Serena Simmons Connelly Memorial Endowed Graduate Fellowship in memory of the late Serena Simmons Connelly, a UTA alumna and noted social activist. The fellowship will support full-time social work graduate students with financial need who demonstrate academic excellence and a strong interest in advocacy/policy work.

“We are deeply grateful to the Harold Simmons Foundation and Thomas Connelly for this transformative philanthropic investment,” UTA President Jennifer Cowley said. “The Serena Simmons Connelly Memorial Endowed Graduate Fellowship will empower our social work students to achieve their academic and professional goals, continuing Serena’s legacy of compassion and advocacy.”

Simmons Connelly co-founded the Human Rights Initiative of North Texas and was serving as director of philanthropy at the Harold Simmons Foundation upon her death in 2020. She earned a Master of Social Work degree from UTA in 1995 and was named a Distinguished Alumna in 2014.

“Serena believed in the profound impact that caring and devoted social workers can have on society,” said Thomas Connelly, Serena’s husband. “This gift is a tribute to her unwavering commitment to helping others and her vision of a better world.”

Established in 1988, the Dallas-based Harold Simmons Foundation seeks to improve lives and enrich the community by providing resources for individuals to live with dignity and meaning. Previously, the foundation supported the School of Social Work through the Social Policy Education Advocacy & Knowledge (SPEAK) Project and the Innovative Community-Academic Partnership (iCAP) program, among other initiatives.

“Through this fellowship, we aim to carry forward Serena’s passion for social justice and her dedication to uplifting vulnerable communities,” said Lisa Simmons, Serena’s sister and president of the Harold Simmons Foundation. “We are proud to support the School of Social Work in nurturing future leaders.”

With an enrollment of 2,137 students, including 1,492 graduate students, the UTA School of Social Work is one of the largest in the nation. The school has trained thousands of social advocates who have made millions of lives better through awareness, education, interdisciplinary research and evidence-based clinical practice.

“This generous gift will not only help our graduate students, but will also have a great impact in the communities we serve,” said Kirk Foster, dean of the School of Social Work. “It will open up more opportunities for students to work with various community organizations, while also providing the financial support students need to complete their degrees, pursue meaningful careers and advocate for social justice. We are immensely thankful for this investment in our students and the most vulnerable across DFW.”

— Written by Mark Permenter

About The University of Texas at Arlington (UTA)

Located in the heart of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, The University of Texas at Arlington is a comprehensive teaching, research, and public service institution dedicated to the advancement of knowledge through scholarship and creative work. With an enrollment of approximately 41,000 students, UT Arlington is the second-largest institution in the UT System. UTA’s combination of outstanding academics and innovative research contributes to its designation as a Carnegie R-1 “Very High Research Activity” institution, a significant milestone of excellence. The University is designated as a Hispanic Serving-Institution and an Asian American Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution by the U.S. Department of Education and has earned the Seal of Excelencia for its commitment to accelerating Latino student success. The University ranks as the No. 1 national public university in the U.S. for veterans (Military Times, 2024), No. 4 in Texas for advancing social mobility (U.S. News & World Report, 2025), and No. 6 in the United States for its undergraduate ethnic diversity (U.S. News & World Report, 2025). UT Arlington’s approximately 270,000 alumni occupy leadership positions at many of the 21 Fortune 500 companies headquartered in North Texas and contribute to the University’s $28.8 billion annual economic impact on Texas.