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Founding Dean of Sciences and Mathematics Remembered with Memorial Fund As dean, he played a pivotal role in the forging of both the college and the university. His vision guided the development of three divisions within the college: Allied Health and Life Sciences; Earth and Physical Sciences; and Mathematics, Computer Science and Systems Design. He was also instrumental in facilitating the construction of research laboratory space which had not been part of the original UTSA building design. He was particularly interested in providing educational opportunities for those who were the first in their family to pursue a college degree. Sagik helped to implement several federally-funded student initiatives, including National Science Foundation summer research programs and the National Institutes of Health Minority Access to Research Careers (MARC) and the Minority Biomedical Research Support (MBRS) programs. Both NIH programs have been continuously funded since their inception. In 1980, Sagik left UTSA to take a position at Drexel University in Philadelphia, where he remained until his retirement in 1995. In honor of his pivotal contributions to both the college and the university, his former colleagues and students at UTSA are creating a memorial fund in his name. "As an administrator, a teacher and a mentor, Dr. Sagik influenced many lives," said Barbara E. Moore, faculty member in life sciences. "In his various academic roles, his door was always open to those who wanted to express their opinions and offer advice--even to those who disagreed with his policies. Indeed, he made a point of reading letters written by students and published in campus newspapers, often setting up lunch dates with these students to discuss their concerns and suggestions," Moore added. Donations will benefit scholarships and/or the library endowment fund. Contributions to the Bernard P. Sagik Memorial Fund should be made payable to UTSA in care of the Development office. For more information, call 458-4130. Send
your comments and items to: UTSAToday@utsa.edu.
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Bernard
P. Sagik, who in 1973 became the first dean of the UTSA College of Sciences
and Mathematics, died in New York on Jan. 2 at the age of 76.