The University of Texas at Dallas held a historical dedication ceremony officially naming the Harry W. Bass Jr. School of Arts, Humanities, and Technology on Thursday, September 28, 2023.
The name follows a $40 million gift to UT Dallas by the Harry W. Bass Jr. Foundation, to create new and expanded opportunities for students, faculty, and the broader community and name the school after Harry W. Bass Jr.
Among the speakers at the celebration were Michael L. Calhoun, Trustee of the Harry W. Bass Jr. Foundation board of directors, UT Dallas President Dr. Richard C. Benson, Provost, and Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Inga H. Musselman, Vice President of Development and Alumni Relations, Dr. Kyle Edgington, and Bass School Dean, Dr. Nils Roemer.
The excerpts below encapsulate critical moments from each speaker’s address.
“One of the takeaways I had from our early meetings [with Dr. Benson and Dr. Edgington] was it’s a school of arts, humanities, and technology. That’s a combination I’ve never heard of. And evidently, Dr. Benson confirmed that earlier. It’s the first one. So, the foundation’s namesake, Harry W. Bass Jr., was an enthusiast in many, many areas. He never did anything halfway. It was always a hundred and ten percent. So, in looking at the arts, Harry, like most of us, was an enthusiast of all things art, regardless of the form.” – Mr. Michael L. Calhoun, Trustee, The Harry W. Bass, Jr. Foundation.
“The dedication of the Bass School underscores its renewed emphasis on the arts. It is no secret that UTD aspires to be one of the nation’s great universities. I think we are one of the nation’s great universities. And we know that we can compete with anyone when it comes to generating impact in research and education. And we are already a worldwide destination for scholars in the STEM disciplines: science, technology, engineering, math, and management. We have two m’s.
But the greatest universities explore the full scope of what it means to be human. They investigate the great questions posed by humanities. (They) expand the imagination through artistic study and practice. And open new horizons of expression by engaging with the newest technologies. The Bass School is where we will do all these things and more.” – Dr. Richard Benson, President, The University of Texas at Dallas.
“Innovation is central to what we strive for in UT Dallas academics. And this is particularly evident in our newly renamed Harry W. Bass Jr. School of Arts, Humanities, and Technology. The Bass Foundation’s generous gift to the school will support scholarships, research funding, and programming. It will increase access to the school for talented students. It will help us recruit and retain a forward-looking faculty and support our unique take on the arts.
Dr. David Daniel, former president of UT Dallas, wrote about ten years ago in a newsletter, “Human creative talent drives innovation, social advancement, and prosperity of nations.” Increasingly, this innovation is occurring at the intersection of art and technology. We have reached that intersection at the Bass school and are racing in new directions.” – Dr. Inga Mussellman, Provost and Vice President for Academics, The University of Texas at Dallas.
“Harry W. Bass Jr. was a larger-than-life entrepreneur. He ran an oil company, invested in a skiing community in the early days, and fostered an interest in computer science. He was also passionate about the world of numismatics, and that’s the study and collection of coins. He loved to learn, to face challenges, and to solve problems. And it seems fitting that Harry’s legacy would be forever connected to our newly named Bass School: a unique home for innovation, creativity, and interdisciplinary collaboration.
Our celebration today is the culmination of years of effort to build a new era for the arts at UT Dallas. And the Bass School is a testament to the vision of our leadership and the transformative power of philanthropy. As we gather today, we reflect on the tremendous potential that lies ahead. The dedication of the Bass School is the beginning of a new chapter filled with exciting possibilities for learning and artistic expression.” – Dr. Kyle Edgington, Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations.
“I have been very excited about this very special day. It’s now my great pleasure to introduce to you the school by its new name. I want to really draw your attention to two of our founding professors who have been with us since 1975: Dr. Rainer Schulte, professor of literature and translation, and David Channell, professor of technology in history. They are two of the founding professors who are still active in our school and are still very much with us. And, for whom, I think, together with me, we’ve been thinking about the beginning of the school that dates back all the way to 1975. We’re finally at home. We’re at our final place with a brand-new name because of this exceptional gift that we have received.” – Dr. Nils Roemer, Dean, the Harry W. Bass Jr. School of Arts, Humanities, and Technology, The University of Texas at Dallas.