Young Alumna Supports Students, Honors Mentor’s Impact

Veda Tsai BA’22 graduated from The University of Texas at Dallas in 2022 but has already given back to support students who stand where she was just a few years ago. Her gift to fund scholarships for students in the University’s Hobson Wildenthal Honors College was also a way to recognize a professor who had a deep impact on her education.

That professor, Dr. Edward J. Harpham, inaugural dean of the Hobson Wildenthal Honors College, was instrumental in Tsai’s decision to attend UT Dallas. In fact, it was a chance encounter with Harpham that changed the direction of her undergraduate education.

“I was a senior at Plano Senior High School when I decided to tour UT Dallas even though I was accepted at UT Austin,” Tsai said. “This older gentleman came up to me and said, ‘I’m Dr. Harpham. How are you?’  We chatted and I really clicked with what he said about the Honors College, and I loved the idea behind the program. It was then that I decided to attend UT Dallas.”

Earlier this year, after graduating from law school at UT Austin, Tsai decided to honor Harpham and recognize what she says was a remarkable period in her young life. Tsai gave $1,500 to create three Edward J. Harpham Awards for Honors College students. The first three students were recognized with scholarships earlier this year, and Tsai intends to continue funding future awards.

“It was a wonderful thing,” said Harpham, professor emeritus of political science. “Establishing the scholarships was kind and generous and totally unexpected, and that’s just the kind of person that Veda is. I felt touched and very proud that she was my student.”

Tsai said her time at UT Dallas was deeply impacted by faculty, like Harpham, who bring a personal touch to their teaching and relationships with students.

“UT Dallas faculty approach teaching in a way that’s really about how they can help you identify what you want to do with your life and then support you from an academic standpoint.” Tsai said. “I still reach out to Dr. Harpham and other faculty for recommendations or just life advice. There were so many pivotal moments and difficult times where I would send a text and within five or 10 minutes, they’re like, ‘Yes, what do you need?’”

Tsai recalls a particular point after graduating from UT Dallas when she was preparing to start law school.

“I never felt more lost, and I think Dr. Harpham called me every single day for probably a week just to check on me and make sure I was OK,” Tsai said.

The Honors College holds a special place in Tsai’s heart — so much so that she wants to continue to see it grow and impact UT Dallas future students.

“I see the Honors College at a pivotal point where they’re growing so much,” Tsai said. “There is so much energy on campus right now with so many new buildings, and I wanted to do something to match that energy by supporting the program.”

The University works hard to attract students like Tsai to the Honors College, Harpham said.

“She has visions of what she wants to do and how she wants to improve the world, and she has a sense of what’s possible, which isn’t always there for students,” Harpham said. “A lot of students say they want to give back and help others, but Veda really delivered.”

Tsai is now spending a year clerking for a federal district judge and will join the Dallas law firm of Norton Rose Fulbright at the conclusion of her clerkship.

She says her passion for giving back to UT Dallas will not end with the gift in honor of Harpham. She also plans to create scholarships in recognition of UT Dallas political science professor Dr. Douglas Dow.

“Both Dr. Harpham and Dr. Dow were incredible mentors for me and really guided me to be the best version of myself,” Tsai said.

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