Wednesday, Feb 05, 2025 • Jeff Caplan : contact

University of Texas at Arlington President Jennifer Cowley received a national award for civic and community engagement on Wednesday from Campus Compact, a coalition of colleges and universities focused on higher education and strong communities.

Campus Compact recognized Cowley with its Richard Guarasci Award for Presidential Leadership, an honor reserved for presidents of four-year institutions who demonstrate deep and sustained commitments to civic and community engagement throughout their careers. The organization selected Cowley for her focus on UTA’s dedication to student accessibility and its role in contributing to the health and strength of local communities.

“At UT Arlington, our vision is to have a lasting impact on the communities we serve by developing the talents of our students, leading in innovation and discovery, and fostering a culture of engagement,” she said. “It is an honor to be recognized for my efforts, and the collective effort of UTA, to realize our shared vision. The impact we create as an anchor institution is extraordinary, transforming not only our students but also our local communities right here in the Metroplex.”

Arlington Mayor Jim Ross wrote a letter supporting Cowley’s nomination, recalling their joint visit to South Korea in 2024. The duo accepted the Tech-InnovaCity Seoul Smart City Prize for the city and University’s collaborative effort to develop an on-demand, autonomous transportation service—the first-of-its-kind in the United States. Called RAPID, the Rideshare, Automation, and Payment Integration Demonstration project has provided Arlington residents and UTA students with affordable transportation for several years.

“President Cowley exemplifies how to bridge the gap between academia and public service,” Ross said. “She consistently works to transform UT Arlington into a hub of civic responsibility and community involvement—and always in partnership with our city. She prioritizes community engagement as a core value and actively fosters meaningful partnerships that benefit her students and the surrounding community.”

The theme of community engagement and service is embedded into UTA’s strategic plan, UTA 2030: Shared Dreams, Bright Future. To ensure Mavericks are developing community engagement and engaged citizenship skills, UTA has undertaken a number of initiatives, including:

• Expanding internship opportunities that allow UTA students across disciplines to engage in public service at the local and state level
• Addressing our region’s teacher shortage by partnering with school districts to provide an alternative certification program for bachelor’s degree holders pursuing careers in teaching
• Growing community service in our academic coursework through the Center for Service Learning, where students, for example, have developed videos and websites for area non-profits
• Hiring faculty who specialize in community-engaged research, such as helping veterans transition into civilian life

“The resounding impact President Cowley has had throughout her career clearly demonstrates the myriad ways that dedicated, focused leadership can improve campus and community life and build a better future for us all,” said Bobbie Laur, president of Campus Compact. “President Cowley is an exemplar in her field and we are honored to recognize her with this award.”

Cowley said she has dedicated her career to working in partnership with communities.

“I am grateful to lead an extraordinary institution like UTA that shares an aspiration to ensure our University is a transformative agent of change in partnership with the diverse communities around us,” she said.

- Jeff Carlton, Office of the President and Office of the Provost 

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 in the top five nationally for veterans and their families (Military Times, 2024), is No. 4 in Texas for advancing social mobility (U.S. News & World Report, 2025), and is 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.