Generous College Supporters John and Libba Massey Honored by Texas Exes in Dallas

The University of Texas at Austin’s Texas Exes Dallas Chapter honored longtime college of Education supporters John H. and Elizabeth “Libba” Massey at the chapter’s annual scholarship dinner on Nov. 19 at the Union Station Ballroom in Dallas. The Masseys have supported The University of Texas at Austin, College of Education and Texas Exes in countless ways over the years.  

Libba Massey, a University of Texas at Austin graduate and former public school teacher, is a longtime member of the College of Education’s Foundation Advisory Council, including a three year term as chair. She is also the chair of The University of Texas at Austin Development Board, an Executive Committee member of the UT System’s Chancellor’s Council, and co-chair of the Campaign for Texas. In addition, she has served on the Texas Exes Board of Directors.  John Massey, who is a graduate of The University of Texas at Austin’s law school, serves on the advisory Board of the McCombs School of Business and as a Trustee of the UT Law School.

“Mr. and Mrs. Massey contribute so much to their community, as well as The University of Texas at Austin,” said Brandi Kleinman, president of the Texas Exes Dallas Chapter, “I have never met two people who have such a strongly devoted interest in education and higher learning.  We have been overwhelmed by the response that we have received from the Masseys, UT and Texas Exes in our community.  We felt that the only appropriate way to honor Mr. and Mrs. Massey was for the Dallas Texas Exes to establish its own 40 Acres Scholarship.”

The Masseys’ long history of philanthropy at The University of Texas at Austin includes important contributions to the College of Education, School of Law, and the campus at large.  Most recently, the Masseys permanently endowed the College of Education’s Elizabeth Shatto Massey Chair in Education; previously, they had created the Elizabeth Shatto Massey Scholarships in Education and the Hill Bank & Trust Endowed Educational Scholarship Fund within the college.

Their significant contributions to the university have included the Elizabeth Shatto Massey Award for Excellence in Teacher Education, which recognizes exceptional  faculty who are engaged in teacher preparation and is administered by the Texas Exes; a permanent endowment of scholarships for Colorado County students who attend The University of Texas at Austin and study to be teachers; and most recently, the announcement of a large gift to create an endowed merit scholarship for the new 40 Acres Scholarship Program. Other important contributions by the Masseys include the Elizabeth S. and John H. Massey Chancellor’s Excellence in Education endowment, The Massey Law School Fund for the Study of Law, Innovation and the Capital Markets, and the Massey Excellence in Teaching endowment at the School of Law.

The Masseys’ scholarship endowment is one of the first of many the Texas Exes anticipates securing as part of the far-reaching 40 Acres Scholarship Program. The program’s goal is to build an endowment of $150 million. Income from the endowment will support up to 75 students each year and create over time a steady group of about 300 students, making it one of the largest merit-based scholarship programs in the country. It will be the first program of its kind at The University of Texas at Austin and will enable the university to compete with the nation’s best universities for top students.

—Kay Randall, University Communications, 512-232-3910