UT Social Work mourns the loss of cherished members of our community and honors their legacy.
Arlene Doris Gray (MSSW ’59)
Arlene Doris Gray, a gentle and compassionate soul, passed away on Oct. 21, 2025, at the age of 93. She is the namesake and founder of the Arlene D. Gray Endowed Scholarship.
Born on Sept. 23, 1932, in Omaha, Nebraska, to her loving parents Hilda and Arthur Gray, Arlene lived a life marked by kindness, honesty, and selflessness. Her career as a social worker in Lincoln, Nebraska, was a testament to her thoughtful and loyal nature, as she tirelessly worked to improve the lives of others. Arlene worked mostly in child welfare in many places, including, Texas, Ohio and Illinois. Before retirement, Gray was the chief social worker of the Acute Care Unit at the Lincoln Regional Center.
In her personal life, Arlene was known for her humor and love for making others laugh. Arlene’s kind-hearted spirit and humorous nature will be deeply missed by all who knew her.
Ronald “Ron” Gene Jackson (MSSW ’70)
Ronald “Ron” Gene Jackson passed away peacefully on the morning of January 13, 2026, at the age of 85, surrounded by his loving family. He is the founder of the Emily and Don Jackson Endowment for Excellence in Juvenile Justice, named after his adoptive parents.
Born on Sept. 28, 1940, Jackson lived a full life defined by compassion, service and redemption. At just 32 years old, he was appointed executive director of the Texas Youth Commission, making him the youngest executive director of any Texas state agency at the time. He fearlessly led TYC for the next two decades, transforming the state’s juvenile justice system into one centered on rehabilitation, dignity, and second chances. His legacy lives on through countless lives he helped shape and systems he helped rebuild with integrity, compassion and vision.
Melanie Sage, Ph.D., LCSW
Melanie Sage, Ph.D., LCSW, a member of our adjunct faculty and a consultant in artificial intelligence, unexpectedly passed away on Friday, May 15, 2026.
Sage was a national leader in technology use for social workers, and authored numerous texts on digital tools and skills for the profession, such as “Teaching Social Work With Digital Technology” and “101 Things to Do with a Social Work Degree: Career Pathways Across Micro, Mezzo, and Macro Practice.” Sage taught Digital Health and Health Technologies at UT Social Work, a new course exploring the ethical use of digital health spaces. She also hosted workshops at the DiNitto Career Center on AI tools. Melanie’s research, mentorship, and leadership impacted social work on a national scale.