MAY 8, 2020 — Like many communities, San Antonio has faced troubling times in the wake of the COVID-19 global pandemic. Charitable organizations such as the San Antonio Food Bank now face food shortages that hinder its mission to feed those in the local community who need it most.
After seeing reports of 10,000 people waiting at the food distribution center, one thoughtful Roadrunner decided to take action. Ambika Mathur, vice provost and dean of The Graduate School, and her husband donated $20,000 to the food bank to help operations continue during this time.
“Our San Antonio community is a wonderful one, and now is the time to support those in need,” said Mathur. “My husband and I were inspired by UTSA’s mission of community engagement to take action. As a community leader, it is crucial for the UTSA family to lend support to the Greater San Antonio area.”
Mathur, who came to UTSA in 2019, is no stranger to community involvement and support. During her time at Wayne State University, where she served as dean of the Graduate School, she developed numerous programs to prepare students and postdoctoral trainees, including those who are underrepresented in their respective disciplines.
One noted program created by Mathur was the Postdoctoral to Faculty Transition Fellowship program, which prepared scholars for tenure-track faculty appointments at various institutions.
In addition, Mathur and her husband established the Ambika Mathur, Ph.D., and Deepak Kamat, M.D., Ph.D., Endowed Scholarship to support doctoral students in the Wayne State University Graduate School. This endowment helps ensure that the graduate program represents a wide range of students from varying economic, cultural, ethnic and intellectual perspectives.
Mathur’s dedication to providing students with advanced career training to prepare them for organizational and community leadership lends itself to philanthropic leadership. This ethos echoes UTSA’s mission and values, focusing on an emphasis of community engagement and building an environment of integrity.
“At this time our community must band together to get back on track,” Mathur added. “I challenge every Roadrunner to contribute what they can to help feed our local citizens who are struggling. It is so important for us to unite and provide whatever assistance we can.”
To participate in Mathur’s challenge, visit the San Antonio Food Bank online to make a donation or discover other ways to get involved.
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