When you ask Virginia Dorman why she gives to UT Arlington, her answer is simple. She wants to provide today’s students with opportunities to study business and its dynamics.

Her story is a familiar one. As a single parent raising three young children, she knew her part-time-job income wouldn’t meet their needs. She needed a business degree to reach her goals.

“I’ve always been very thankful that UT Arlington was available, convenient and affordable, so I could complete my degree in business administration in 1978,” she said. “My bachelor’s degree has been invaluable to me in all my business endeavors, and I appreciate the quality and breadth of the studies encompassed in the degree.”

Her decision to return to college would begin a family tradition. Her son, Mike Patterson, received his bachelor of business administration in 1986 and his master of business administration in 1991. While attending UT Arlington, Mike received the Texas Business Hall of Fame Foundation Scholarship, which goes to the top 15 M.B.A. students in Texas. Daughter Karie Patterson Vargas graduated from UT Arlington with a B.B.A. in 1992.

Virginia and her husband, H. Paul Dorman, recently contributed $250,000 to UT Arlington’s College of Business. Their investment, combined with matching challenge funds, creates a Goolsby Leadership Academy Endowed Chair.

“Paul and I believe the Goolsby Leadership Academy offers a tremendous advantage and opportunity for UT Arlington business students,” Virginia said. “Our contribution to endow a chair for the Goolsby Leadership Academy is our endorsement of the outstanding curriculum of the academy and its goal for continued success of its business students.”

Students selected for the cohort-based Goolsby Leadership Academy complete the same academic program as students in other disciplines, but, in addition, they complete unique leadership courses with emphasis on strength-based leadership, ethics and integrity.

The program also provides scholarships and affords opportunities for internships, externships, meetings with national business leaders and classes taught by the exceptional faculty selected as Goolsby Distinguished Professors.

The academy was created through a $2 million gift in honor of alumnus John Goolsby and his wife, Judy. The anonymous donor included a matching opportunity that could generate $5 million to prepare outstanding young students to be leaders in corporate America.