Cheryl Donaldson

Article by Lauren McLain

Parlez-vous francais?

When Cheryl Donaldson first moved to Arlington and needed to find work to support her two young children, she applied to the human resources department after seeing university banners on the campus fringe. Cheryl has been in various roles at UTA since joining in August 1999. She started first in the physics department after acing the HR typing test. Cheryl typed 90+ words per minute even with a young child in tow. She still types that fast, but now her kids are all grown up. Cheryl typed up tests for less than a year where she learned how a college works and then moved on to being an administrative assistant in the College of Education, then the School of Architecture (which is now part of CAPPA), all while acquiring a second bachelor’s degree for Interdisciplinary Studies.

Cheryl enjoys helping students follow their academic paths towards graduation as her current role as the Director of Student Success and Advising in the College of Architecture, Planning and Public Affairs, which is also known as CAPPA. She makes sure advisors are readily available to advise students because she herself only met with an advisor once at the start of her college journey. Whatever the situation, she wants to help them navigate to the finish line.

Cheryl deems the beloved political science professor, Allan Saxe, a memorable person to work with at UTA. She had the privilege of experiencing Allan in three forms – as an instructor when she took a class of his while pursuing the interdisciplinary studies degree; as a colleague when she moved on to be part of faculty on campus; and as a collaborator through their shared civic involvements with the City of Arlington. In addition to Cheryl’s fulltime work, she serves on the city’s Landmark Preservation Commission, also serves as a board member for the Arlington Historical Society, and volunteers regularly as a docent at the Knapp Heritage Park (shown in the photo).

Cheryl is a big LeVar Burton fan, who was a past speaker in the Maverick Speakers Series. She would like to have lunch with LeVar because she admires his acting skills, both on television and the big screens. LeVar got the male main role in Roots when he was only 18 and later played Geordi LaForge in the Star Trek: The Next Generation series among other acting roles. LeVar also hosted and produced the PBS children’s program called Reading Rainbow for 23 years, which is why Cheryl thinks of him as an education advocate, even though he is not an educator.

Cheryl has two adult children, both work for UTA. Her son is a public safety officer, and her daughter is an IT Tech working at the Arlington Regional Data Center (ARDC) and at UTD. So, you can say that the family bleeds blue and orange.

What Cheryl would tell her younger self would be “to study more French and go to Paris”. She is a stereotypical Francophile. Her office is filled with many things French. Cheryl has made 10 trips to the City of Lights and recounted her ascent on the Eifel Tower even though she’s afraid of heights. She even knows a short cut entrance into the Louvre to bypass the long glass Pyramid line.

If Cheryl hadn’t told you, you wouldn’t have known that she was in the U.S. Army Reserve (by accident after high school graduation). As a senior, she and her best friend were “wine and dined” by army recruiters. But since Cheryl was underage, the recruiters got permission from her mother and her best friend enlisted in solidarity. She’s had no regrets though for her Army Reserve time served. Cheryl and her best friend were valedictorian and salutatorian of their graduating class.

Cheryl is currently working on her PhD in Public Administration/Public Policy with a focus on Historic Preservation. This is one step closer to fulfill her dream of relocating to Paris and teaching at The American University of Paris. Finally, a place to put all her historic preservation expertise to use and to polish her French.