History & Traditions
The University of Texas at Dallas was founded by bold innovators whose vision and accomplishments paved the way for a bright future.
A Dynamic Past
In the 1960s, Eugene McDermott, Erik Jonsson and Cecil Green saw promising young Texans leaving the state to pursue education while their company, Texas Instruments, recruited out-of-state talent to work at their Dallas-based headquarters.
Hoping to create better higher-education opportunities in North Texas, the trio established the Graduate Research Center of the Southwest — the foundation for what will become The University of Texas at Dallas. Rooted in an entrepreneurial spirit, UTD has grown into one of the nation’s top public research universities.
Discover UTD’s history through an interactive timeline.
Treasured Traditions
Meet Temoc, learn the Whoosh and discover other unique UT Dallas campus traditions.