Lori Holleran Steiker Endowed Faculty Chair in Substance Use and Recovery
A transformative $3.5 million gift from Revolution Recovery (formerly known as Austin Recovery) established the Lori Holleran Steiker Endowed Faculty Chair in Substance Use and Recovery. This endowed chair will provide permanent support for excellence in research, teaching and programming focused on substance use, recovery and well-being.
The new chair is named in memory of Lori Holleran Steiker, Ph.D., a distinguished faculty member, beloved colleague, and nationally recognized leader in the recovery field. Her pioneering work, deep compassion and tireless advocacy profoundly shaped adolescent recovery efforts on campus and across the nation.
Marilyn White’s Gift Funds Doctoral Research
Marilyn White, a 1959 graduate of The University of Texas who studied mathematics, supports the doctoral program at Texas Social Work through current use funding, particularly doctoral students who are studying addiction recovery and overdose prevention strategies.
Her gift helps students attend conferences, conduct and present research, build professional networks, and pursue the collaborative connections that define academic careers. Additionally, her gift gives doctoral students the time and space to focus on their dissertations and research.
Qusay Hussein Humanitarian Award Named for Three-Time Alum
The Qusay Hussein Humanitarian Award, a new annual scholarship at Texas Social Work, was founded in memory of three-time graduate Qusay Hussein (BSW ’21, MSSW ’22, Ph.D. ’25). The award is given to a student who demonstrates strength of character, resilience and compassion for others.
At the age of 17, Hussein survived a 2006 suicide bombing attack at his home in Mosul, Iraq, which left him blind and critically injured. After enduring dozens of reconstructive surgeries, he resettled in the U.S. in 2012 to seek advanced medical care and pursue an education.
Hussein was the first student at UT to graduate with a minor in disability studies, which he helped create. He served on UT’s Student Advisory Committee for students with disabilities and also as an advisor for Refugee Services of Texas. He was named a 2025 Outstanding Young Texas Ex, and developed close relationships within the UT community.
Following a battle with kidney cancer, he died in Summer 2025 shortly after walking the graduation stage for his doctorate program. His focus on education, advocacy and refugees’ well-being helped him heal from the bombing’s effects as well as extend his extraordinary compassion and knowledge to those he encountered.