Dear COEHD Faculty, Staff, and Students:
The loss of Dr. Duffey is likely to weigh heavy on all of us for a significant time ahead.
She was an extraordinary human being and an impactful scholar and leader who so often
placed needs of others before her own. She was a much-admired professor/leader, a
nationally respected scholar in the counseling field, and an advocate for many COEHD
faculty, staff, and students. I often marveled at her enthusiasm, authenticity, and
kindness, care, and devotion she demonstrated in virtually every aspect of her life,
personally and professionally. She left us too soon, but her legacy will live on in
COEHD.
I'm heartened by the outpouring of love and sympathy for Dr. Duffey's family and
loved ones and offers of assistance from across the institution yet the experience of
losing a member of our community impacts each of us differently and the way we process and
validate our feelings and emotions can also vary from individual to individual. Over the
coming days, I will begin sharing information regarding resources that will be made
available to the COEHD community, alumni, friends of the college to assist with
bereavement and mental health, which may come in the form of in person and virtual group
support meetings to help cope with grief (trauma support and coping strategies), access to
electronic support resources (see enclosed), and one on one counseling.
For instance, the Deer Oaks Employee Assistance Program (EAP) offers a wide variety of
counseling, referral and consultation services that are confidential and can be accessed
24 hours per day, 7 days per week. Employees can connect with Deer Oaks by calling
1-866-327-2400, through their website (login/password: UTSA), or through their mobile app
(iConnectYou - UTSA registration code: 52276). Additional information on the Deer Oaks EAP
can be found at
https://www.utsa.edu/hr/eap/<https://nam11.safelinks.protection.outloo...;.
Please be aware the university and college are fully committed to helping our community
heal and process this loss. More details to come.
Funeral or memorial services information will be forthcoming.
Please feel free to send me a message or contact me anytime. I'm here to help and
offer support.
Mario
Mario Torres, Ph.D.
Dean, College of Education and Human Development
President's Distinguished Professorship
The University of Texas at San Antonio
One UTSA Circle, Main Building 3.304
San Antonio, TX 78249
Office: 210.458.5200
Fax: 210.458.4487
Mario.Torres2@utsa.edu<mailto:Mario.Torres2@utsa.edu>