Letter to the Editor

My dearest colleagues and friends,
It is such an honor to get an opportunity to draft a farewell. It has been a privilege to serve the staff, faculty and students of UT Dallas for the past five and half years.
Looking back on my years of service as a police officer, as President of the Staff Council, as UTD representative to the UT System Employee Advisory Council, as director of the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) and as captain of various Corporate Challenge events, I think about a quote I heard a long time ago which was originally stated by Albert Einstein: “Try not to become a person of success, but rather try to become a person of value.”
When we are searching for opportunities to be of service to others, we find true value in our lives and we begin to understand and see the value in others.
During my tenure at UT Dallas, in my full-time and volunteer capacities, we have worked together to establish principles concerning the way people should be treated and the way goals should be pursued.
We have created standards of excellence and then set an example for others to follow. We have unraveled bureaucracy when it impeded action and created opportunities for successful outcomes.
We have envisioned the future, creating an ideal and unique image of what UT Dallas can become. We have looked for innovative ways to improve the university and our work groups. In doing so, we have experimented and taken risks.
We have fostered collaboration and built spirited teams. We have actively involved others. We understand that mutual respect is what sustains extraordinary efforts by striving to create an atmosphere of trust and human dignity.
We strengthen others by making each person feel capable and powerful. To keep hope and determination alive, we took time to recognize contributions that individuals have made to make UT Dallas successful.
I have been fortunate enough to have received numerous e-mails of thanks and well wishes, and I appreciate those e-mails very much.
However, the accomplishments made were not mine, but rather accomplishments we can claim together. We worked together as a team for the betterment of the group and UT Dallas.
I would like to take this opportunity to express my thanks and appreciation to the staff, faculty and staff of UT Dallas, and I appreciate your many acts of kindness, love, support and friendship over the years.
I leave UT Dallas in good standing, and I await the many successes yet to come in my life. Goodbyes are not forever. Goodbyes are not the end. Therefore, farewell and goodbye UTD. I will miss you until we meet again.
In gratitude and service,
—Chris Dickson