UTSA's Jacqueline Parsons honored at White House for community service

Jacqueline Parsons (right) at White House event

By Jo Ann Jones
Communications Specialist, College of Education and Human Development

(Oct. 14, 2014) --Jacqueline Parsons, adjunct professor in the College of Education and Human Development Department of Counseling, was honored Oct. 7 at the White House for her service to the community. She was one of 10 women who received the Rotary International Women of Action award by the Obama Administration on Rotary Day 2014.

"I am simply overwhelmed," said Parsons. "To me, it's recognition of the work we are doing in Rotary for humanity both locally and globally. And even though my name is on the award, it was really the work of the Stone Oak Rotary Club and Rotary District 5840."

Parsons has been a member of the Stone Oak Rotary Club for 12 years and focuses her community service around education and social justice related issues, such as respect for cultural diversity. She was nominated for the national award by Janet Livingston, district governor for Rotary International District 5840, and submitted for consideration to the White House by Gary Huang, 2014-2015 Rotary International president.

"Experiencing the White House was incredible," said Parsons. "Just to have had this opportunity is beyond my wildest dreams. It was all very exciting."

Parsons joined the counseling faculty as an adjunct professor in 2010. This year, several members of the UTSA chapter of the Chi Sigma Iota International Counseling Honor Society will serve alongside her at the More Frightful than Delightful Halloween event at Morgan's Wonderland.

"We are participating in their Halloween event and will be passing out candy to the children and their families," said Parsons. "Some of our students have never seen or interacted with kids with disabilities, so this will give them the opportunity to see differently abled kids and adults with physical or developmental disabilities interacting in an inclusive environment like Morgan's Wonderland."

Rotary International is a service organization comprised of community, business, and professional leaders from around the world who provide needed services to the community. This is the first year the White House honored 10 women actively involved in Rotary clubs around the nation for their volunteerism efforts.

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