Jonsson School Launches Executive Council
March 22, 2019
In late 2017, the Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science created the school’s first Executive Council. Composed of distinguished alumni, trusted corporate partners, current faculty and students, this council serves Jonsson School leadership in an advisory capacity and advocates for the school’s success throughout the Dallas community and beyond.
“I am truly very thankful for everyone who has volunteered their time and resources to help us achieve our goals,” said Dr. Poras Balsara, interim dean of the Jonsson School. “As we look toward the future, everyone has a key role to play.”
Executive Council members quickly demonstrated their investment in the Jonsson School’s mission. Within the first six months of the council’s formation, every member had made a new gift to the school — including a number of generous major gifts. Contributions from Executive Council members have had an immediate impact on the school’s top priorities through the creation of new endowed scholarships, opportunity funds, and gifts for student and research support.
Annette Watkins, chair of the Executive Council and vice president of U.S. Trust, established an unrestricted endowed fund that offers school leadership the flexibility needed to respond to changing priorities in the future.
“The Dallas area needs the Jonsson School, and the Jonsson School needs to expand its reach in the community in order to sustain its current momentum,” Watkins said. “This council will help diversify the school’s appeal and broaden its impact.”
Jonsson School Executive Council
Honorary Chairs
Philip and Diane Jonsson
The Philip R. Jonsson Foundation
Chair
Annette Watkins
U.S. Trust, Bank of America
Vice Chair
Neel Gonuguntla
U.S. India Chamber of Commerce
Members
Satyajit P. Doctor (Doc) MS’91
Award Solutions
Jim Hellums PhD’00
Texas Instruments
Tahir Hussain BS’94
Collide Village
Lou Hutter
Lou Hutter Consulting
Rahul Kukreti BS’01, MS’02
mroads
Veronica Lewis
Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher
Sean Minter
AmplifAI
Vinod Nanu
AltraXcl
Farooq A. Tayab
Norton Rose Fulbright US
Yi Zhao MS’92, PhD’96
Huawei R&D, USA
UT Dallas Members
Pat Dayton
Graduate Student Representative
Robert Gregg
Fellow, Eugene McDermott Professor
Neel Reddy
McDermott Scholar
Walter Voit BS’05, MS’06
Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering
UT Dallas Ex Officio Members
Poras Balsara
Interim Dean, Jonsson School
Inga Musselman
Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost
Kyle Edgington PhD’13
Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations
Chris Bhatti MA’06
Assistant Dean for Development and Alumni Relations, Jonsson School