NOVEMBER 30, 2020 — Editor’s note: The following message was sent via email today from Dean Lynne Cossman of the College for Health, Community and Policy to the college’s faculty and staff:
It is with a heavy heart that I let you know HCaP has lost a member of our community to COVID.
Gidget Vasquez spent the last eight years managing the office in the Department of Demography. Gidget was an incredibly devoted and dedicated member of the department.
In chatting with members of the department this morning, it became clear Gidget was so much more than an administrative assistant. She was the glue for the department—she celebrated its members’ successes and milestones with them. Faculty birthdays were celebrated with cake. Holidays were honored with door decorations. She coordinated a department Thanksgiving lunch every year.
Graduate student defenses were as nerve-racking for her as they were for the students.
She did these things because she cared deeply for the demography faculty and students as a part of her family.
In this season of Thanksgiving, we are cognizant of all the things for which we are grateful. Clearly faculty, staff and students of the Department of Demography are immensely grateful for Gidget’s many contributions.
COVID has made these incredibly difficult times and her death has brought this home to us. This is the first time for many of us the pandemic has been so personal.
COVID and its effects on our society and our communities emphasizes the critical importance of our HCaP mission: focusing on the health and well-being of all. Please lean on each other as we mourn Gidget’s death, celebrate her life, and withstand this pandemic.
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Move In To COLFA is strongly recommended for new students in COLFA. It gives you the chance to learn about the Student Success Center, campus resources and meet new friends!
Academic Classroom: Lecture Hall (MH 2.01.10,) McKinney Humanities BldgWe invite you to join us for Birds Up! Downtown, an exciting welcome back event designed to connect students with the different departments at the Downtown Campus. Students will have the opportunity to learn about some of the departments on campus, gain access to different resources, and collect some giveaways!
Bill Miller PlazaCome and celebrate this year's homecoming at the Downtown Campus with food, games, giveaways, music, and more. We look forward to seeing your Roadrunner Spirit!
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