Student’s Memory Inspires Commitment to Mental Health

Shirley and Brad Weddle have created a lasting tribute at The University of Texas at Dallas to their son, Matthew, who tragically lost his life to suicide while a student at the University. The couple established two endowed funds in the School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences designed to support graduate students and researchers working to advance mental health understanding and care.

The Matthew K. Weddle Fellowship in Cognition and Neuroscience and the Matthew K. Weddle Opportunity Fund for Brain Healthy Communities are honoring Matthew’s memory by providing significant financial resources for causes that Matthew identified with as a student.

“Matthew loved being here at UT Dallas. It was a really special place for him,” Shirley said. “He always cared about helping others and wanted to make a difference in the world. These gifts in his name are a way for him to continue on and a way to support his dreams through the accomplishments of future UT Dallas students.”

Matthew’s time at UT Dallas began after he completed a prestigious internship at MD Anderson Cancer Center. Although he enrolled as a computer science major in the Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science, he also had deep interests in molecular and cellular biology, cognition and neuroscience. Shirley recalled that Matthew would “try to mathematize emotions and feelings,” and with the help of a full academic scholarship, he set about preparing for future graduate studies in neuroscience.

Along the way, Matthew developed strong connections with his fellow students and was particularly drawn to the international student community at UT Dallas. Remembering what these relationships meant to their son, the Weddles wanted international students to be eligible recipients of their fellowship. They specifically designed their endowment to provide life-changing opportunities for international students at UT Dallas, who often have a difficult time finding financial aid opportunities when studying abroad in the United States.

“Matthew was really an international person, and he loved studying other cultures and being around lots of different people,” Shirley said. “We definitely wanted this fellowship to be open to anyone who wanted to study at UT Dallas and make a difference.”

Shirley, who has a background in medical imaging and informatics, understands the importance of addressing mental health as an integral component of overall well-being. After Matthew’s death, she began volunteering at the Center for BrainHealth, becoming an ambassador for the center’s efforts and contributing to its initiatives. Her experiences emphasized the interconnectedness of mental health, brain health and physical health, sparking a vision for promoting brain-healthy communities.

“The dream is to be able to find an objective way to look at the brain in regard to mental health, just like how we have objective means of looking at the heart in relation to heart health,” Shirley said.

Recognizing the intricate link between mental health and academic success, Shirley and Brad established an opportunity fund to support the Center for BrainHealth. They hope the research supported by their gift will help create a future where communities embrace brain health with the same vigor as other facets of physical well-being.

Brad, a financial advisor who took a keen interest in Matthew’s academic endeavors, spoke about his son’s passions and the impact that those working in these fields can have on society.

“When Matthew would come home from college, sometimes he would just start talking about telomeres, longevity in life, machine learning or AI, and he was just so excited,” Brad said. “What these students are working on here at UT Dallas — it’s mind blowing. It’s amazing what they’re doing, the lives they’ll change and how they are going to impact the world. Our little bit of help there can go a very long way. I think Matthew would be proud of it.”

Brad and Shirley recently met the first four recipients of the Matthew K. Weddle Fellowship and were impressed with their character and accomplishments.

“They are amazing young men and women,” Brad said.

Shirley added that their current fellowship recipients are exactly the kind of people Matthew would have befriended.

“He would have so enjoyed talking to them,” she said. “We want to continue supporting these students. I told them they are stuck with us. We want to help them any way we can.”

The Weddles plan to continue adding to their endowments with additional gifts in the future. As the funds grow, so, too, will their impact for students and individuals around the world.

As part of their ongoing engagement with the UT Dallas community, the Weddles emphasize the importance of breaking the stigma surrounding mental health. Along with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, they help host an annual campus walk at UT Dallas to promote suicide prevention and awareness. The 2024 Out of the Darkness campus walk will take place at UT Dallas on Tuesday, April 2.

To support, volunteer or learn more about the walk, email studentwellness@utdallas.edu.

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