For generations, the Black Alumni Chapter at UTA has uplifted Black and African American students, providing guidance and community before and after graduation.
The chapter serves as a base of alumni that want to make sure they have a connection back to the university and the students and that they get value back from the university going forward, said Xavier Egan, Black Alumni Chapter president.
“The pillars of any university is students, faculty, staff and alumni. In order to perpetuate that value going forward, you need all four pillars to really make a sound university,” Egan said.
With African American students making up the third largest demographic at UTA, according to fall 2025 data, making sure that large population has a place to find their fit and be supported is the chapter’s goal, said Latoya Oduniyi, Black Alumni Chapter vice president.
The chapter also offers scholarships, a network of alumni, fellowship, resources and more. To help engage with students, Egan said, the chapter also partners with various organizations to keep cultural events alive, with the Evening of Black Excellence as a prime example.
When Egan joined the chapter, he said, his first initiative was to establish a mentorship program to help students transition from UTA to jobs, something that people needed.
Oduniyi is a first-generation student and said when she discovered the chapter, learning about the scholarships, volunteer opportunities and student organizations she could join was something that helped her get involved in the university.
After her graduation, she said, being part of the chapter was something she was intentionally looking to do.
“It gives you a unique opportunity that as you’re working with students, you can build some familiarity of ‘I’ve been there. I was a student. I did these things,’” she said. “Once I graduated, I definitely wanted to be one of those alumni that gave back to the university.”
For a couple of years, the chapter died down after the death of the previous president Zeb Strong. The chapter didn’t have monthly or quarterly meetings, but members continued to meet for events like Homecoming, she said.
Eventually, members of the organization decided they wanted the chapter to return and give the next generation help, resources, advice and the network to find jobs.
Oduniyi said she has seen more alumni in the past five or so years due to the intentional shift of wanting to build a connection for alumni to come back.
“It says volumes to what people’s time at UTA meant to them then and now,” she said.
Out of the many events the chapter sponsors, the Black Alumni Weekend allows groups of alumni to get together and catch up.
This year’s reunion banquet will take place April 11 with key speaker Byron Williams, a 1984 UTA graduate and Black Alumni Chapter member.
Williams said the chapter means a lot to him, noting that it offers platforms through educational services and systems that provide individuals with opportunities to live a wholesome life.
“I’m just excited by some of the things I’ve been involved in over the course of the years and then UTA is a big part of that. It’s where it all started for me,” he said.
Being connected to the student body and different professionals is important to Williams, as it is something the chapter offered him.
He said the chapter brings excitement to his life, noting that it brings back life experiences that shaped him.
“It’s awesome to hear so many students that went to UTA, their kids are going to UTA too, it’s kind of like a legacy, and it’s kind of like history,” Williams said. “It ties into all of us for what we are now, the generational gap that we can enclose and embrace.”
He commended Egan on his role in keeping the organization’s history intact.
“It’s good when you have a leader and a visionary type of person in place to bring back and remind us all that we are like a village that needs to continue to make history,” Williams said.
The chapter, he said, allows him to be a beacon of light to younger people.
“I can come from East Texas, attend UTA and get drafted into the National Football League and then be a part of something that’s staying true to my goals in life,” Williams said.
@_.lexlie_ @tay._.sansom