2000s

2000
Exterior of library circa 1990s
January, 2000
Library Gets a Facelift
Remodeling begins in McDermott Library, including the McDermott Suite — a space for people to host gatherings.
February, 2000
Margaret McDermott Helps Scholars

Margaret McDermott donates $32 million dollars to establish the Eugene McDermott Scholars Program, a highly competitive program which seeks to provide scholars with leadership, cultural and educational tools to enrich their academic experience. Because of McDermott’s generosity, all McDermott Scholars attend UT Dallas on a full scholarship with a stipend package.

2001
January, 2001
First McDermott Scholar Class

After Margaret McDermott’s kind donation, the first class of McDermott Scholars arrives at UT Dallas ready to fulfill their leadership potential.

February, 2001
First Welch Chair in Chemistry

Dr. Ray Baughman becomes UT Dallas’ first Robert A. Welch Chair in Chemistry.

March, 2001
Blanchard Joins Engineering Staff

Dr. Andy Blanchard joins UT Dallas as a professor of electrical engineering and senior associate dean of the Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science.

April, 2001
Nanotech Institute Founded

Led by Dr. Ray Baughman and Dr. Anvar Zakhidov, the Nanotech Institute is founded in 2001.

May, 2001
Ring Tradition Begins

As a tangible reminder of their time at UT Dallas, students can purchase a class ring complete with UTD shield, a comet encircling a star, and the Texas flag. The University presents the rings after sealing them in a wooden box sourced from the original Founders Building and enclosed with equipment used in NASA missions. The ceremony includes dunking the rings in a reflection pool on the Margaret McDermott Mall.

2002
UTD Archer Fellows with Congressman Bill Archer
January, 2002
UTD Takes D.C.

UT Dallas joins other UT System schools in the Archer Fellowship program, a professional fellowship that gives students the opportunity to intern in Washington, D.C. Students from UT Dallas have worked everywhere from think tanks to the White House and Senate offices.

February, 2002
Washington Advisory Group Presents Report

Washington Advisory Group presents a report on UT Dallas’ future. In its conclusion, it states:

“We believe that with continued progress, support from the state, the UT System and private sources, and with strong leadership, UTD could become a top-tier research university and fulfill the dreams of its founders.”

From left: Gayla Von Ehr, Dr. Hobson Wildenthal, James Von Ehr MS’81, Dr. Reza Moheimani
April, 2002
James Von Ehr Distinguished Chair

From the generous donation of UTD alum James Von Ehr MS’81, the James Von Ehr Distinguished Chair in Science and Technology is established. Dr. Alan G. MacDiarmid, winner of the Nobel Prize in chemistry in 2000, is the first to hold the chair.

April, 2002
Women’s Soccer Wins Championship

UT Dallas’ women’s soccer team wins the American Southwest Conference championship for the first time.

Dr. William (Bill) P. Osborne, dean of the Jonsson School from 1995 to 2002, Jack Kilby and Charles Miller attend the groundbreaking of ECS South.
June, 2002
New Engineering Facilities

A 152,000-square-foot addition to the Engineering and Computer Science North building opens in August. The new ECS South building includes additional equipment, classrooms and the Texas Instruments auditorium.

September, 2002
A Messy Tradition Begins

Oozeball — an annual mud volleyball tournament — debuted at homecoming in fall 2002.

2003
Students in Dr. Mandy Maguire's Developmental Neurolinguistics Lab
January, 2003
School of Human Development’s New Name

The School of Human Development changes its name to the School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences.

Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison speaks at the Project Emmitt press conference.
February, 2003
Project Emmitt Begins

Texas Instruments, the state of Texas, and the UT System announce Project Emmitt, a bold public-private partnership formed to build a chip fabrication plant in Richardson and infuse up to $300 million for expanding the Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science.

March, 2003
Nobel Laureate Joins Staff

Dr. Russell A. Hulse, winner of the Nobel Prize for physics in 1993, joins UT Dallas as a visiting professor. He is appointed Regental Professor and associate vice president for strategic initiatives in 2004.

April, 2003
New Building for School of Management

The new 204,000-square-foot School of Management Building opens.

May, 2003
Men’s Golf Wins Championship

UT Dallas men’s golf team wins its first American Southwest Conference title.

2004
January, 2004
New Director of Cyber Security Research & Education Institute

Dr. Bhavani Thuraisingham joins UT Dallas as professor of computer science and director of the Cyber Security Research and Education Institute.

February, 2004
One-Millionth Book

The McDermott Library acquires its one-millionth book: Flora Londinensis, a landmark 18th-century botanical set by William Curtis.

March, 2004
New McDermott Library Dean

Dr. Larry D. Sall, director of libraries since 2000, is appointed dean of the McDermott Library.

April, 2004
Men’s Soccer Team Scores Big

The men’s soccer team wins its first American Southwest Conference tournament.

Choir concert practice with Kathryn Evans
May, 2004
UTD Gains Alma Mater

The UT Dallas alma mater, with music by Dr. Robert Xavier Rodríguez and lyrics by professional songwriters Bill Dunn and Neely Reynolds, debuts at spring commencement.

2005
January, 2005
New Dean of School of Social Sciences

Dr. Brian Berry is appointed dean of the School of Social Sciences.

February, 2005
Men’s Basketball Takes First

The men’s basketball team wins its first American Southwest Conference title.

March, 2005
Dr. Daniel Assumes Presidency

Dr. David E. Daniel is appointed fourth president of UT Dallas. An engineer whose work was recognized by the American Society of Civil Engineers, Daniel worked at UT Austin and University of Illinois before arriving at UT Dallas. Under his leadership, UTD triples its research expenditures, allocates $600 million for building construction, adds 40 new degree programs and raises $210 million in private funds.

April, 2005
First Truman and Marshall Scholar

Eugene McDermott Scholar Sophie Rutenbar BA ’06 becomes the first UT Dallas student to be awarded both a Truman Scholarship and Marshall Scholarship.

May, 2005
First Goldwater Scholar

Eugene McDermott Scholar Kassandra McLean earns the first Goldwater Scholarship awarded to a current UTD student.

2006
January, 2006
Ceremonial Mace Debuts

UT Dallas’ first Ceremonial Mace is presented to President David Daniel. The mace is made of wood from the 600-year-old Treaty Oak Tree in Austin and bears a metal University Seal that was carried into space.

Dr. Brian Berry stands in front of a sign for the School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences.
February, 2006
School of Social Sciences Renamed

The School of Social Sciences is renamed the School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences.

President David E. Daniel
March, 2006
UTD Presents Creating the Future

At UT Dallas’ inaugural Investiture Ceremony, President David E. Daniel presents “Creating the Future” — his strategic plan for UT Dallas that outlines how the University will become one of the nation’s best public research universities and one of the great universities of the world.

2007
January, 2007
Natural Sciences and Engineering’s New Lab

The Natural Science and Engineering Research Laboratory opens. Its colorful anodized shingles earn it the nickname “The Mermaid Building.”

February, 2007
Center for BrainHealth’s New Home

The Francis and Mildred Goad Building, the new home for the Center for BrainHealth, opens.

March, 2007
Denise C. Park Joins UTD

Dr. Denise C. Park joins UT Dallas as professor of Brain and Behavioral Science and the T. Boone Pickens Distinguished Chair in Clinical Brain Science.

2008
January, 2008
First Fulbright Scholar

McDermott Scholar Rachel Markowitz becomes UT Dallas’ first Fulbright Scholar.

February, 2008
U.S. State Department Fellowships

The U.S. State Department awards Critical Language Scholarships to Stacey Knepp and Molly Wurzer.

March, 2008
Comets Volleyball Spikes to the Top

The UT Dallas volleyball team wins its first American Southwest Conference championship.

Dr. Ray Baughman
April, 2008
National Academy of Engineering Bestows Honor

Director of the NanoTech Institute and the Robert A. Welch Distinguished Chair in Chemistry, Dr. Ray Baughman is elected to the National Academy of Engineering.

May, 2008
Confucius Institute and UTD Join Forces

UT Dallas partners with the Confucius Institute, a global network of partnerships that promotes a greater understanding of China’s languages and civilization.

May, 2008
Renovations Begin

Improvements across campus begin, including renovation of the Founders Building and construction of the school’s first residence hall and the Science Learning Center.

June, 2008
Campus Landscape Enhancement Begins

The first phase of the Campus Landscape Enhancement Project begins. The project includes planting 6,000 trees, constructing a small amphitheater and renovating roads.

June, 2008
Spirit Rock Makes Debut

Spirit Rock, an ever-changing public art piece consisting of three large boulders, is installed for students to paint messages and artwork.

Mural of campus and Dallas skyline
June, 2008
Randy Johnson Unveils UTD Mural

Artist Randy Johnson reveals his mural, depicting various scenes at UT Dallas, outside the Pub.

UTD Fight Song
July, 2008
Fight Song Debuts

UTD premieres its fight song, written to the tune of “Tiger Rag,” a famous jazz ballad produced in 1917 by the New Orleans group Original Dixieland Jazz Band.

July, 2008
General Studies Changes Its Name

The School of General Studies is renamed the School of Interdisciplinary Studies, offering programs in health care, American studies and exercise studies.

July, 2008
New Dean of Engineering

Dr. Mark W. Spong is appointed dean of the Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science.

2009
January, 2009
First Residence Hall Opens

The first residence hall (South) and Dining Hall open for students, followed by four more residence halls in the following five years. The group of residence halls is known as University Commons.

February, 2009
A Governor’s Visit

Gov. Rick Perry visits UT Dallas to sign House Bill 51. The legislation offers funding to reward research productivity and match private funding. It also establishes goals based on national standards that encourage UT Dallas and other universities throughout the state to expand research and improve academic excellence.

March, 2009
Major Donations in a Single Day

On Sept. 1, 2009, UT Dallas receives 16 individual donations — seven of which are greater than $1 million.

Panel of Presidents – Dr. Franklyn Jenifer, Dr. David E. Daniel and Dr. Robert H. Rutford
April, 2009
Presidents Discuss UTD’s First 40 Years

Presidents David E. Daniel, Franklyn Jenifer and Robert H. Rutford gather on a panel to reflect on the University’s 40-year trajectory.