Established over a century ago as a new discipline called “domestic economy,” part of an evolving movement related to educating women, the School of Human Ecology houses a wide array of scholarship, research and practice in four primary areas:
- Human development and family sciences
- Nutritional sciences
- Textiles and apparel
- Public health
Timeline at a Glance
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1912 The predecessor to the School of Ecology was established at The University of Texas at Austin, led by faculty member Mary Gearing.
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1927 Gearing set up a lab/nursery school, with funding from the Texas Public Health Association. Roughly a century later, the school continues as the Priscilla Pond Flawn Child and Family Laboratory School.
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1933 Today's historic Gearing Hall opens for the first time and acts as a base for students and faculty in the School.
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1970 The first UT fashion show was held, organized by a new group, whose members wanted to help prepare students for jobs in the fashion industry.
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1970 From what had been a single college, UT established two separate colleges: the College of Liberal Arts and the College of Natural Sciences. Students enrolled in studies in the school became a part of the College of Natural Sciences.
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1972 Mary Ellen Durrett, an active researcher, began what would prove to be an important, 16-year stint of service as department chair, leading a period of timely reevaluation and vision-setting for the School and its programs.
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1974 The first female president of The University of Texas at Austin was selected from the nutrition faculty; in fact, Lorene Rogers was the first woman to lead a major university nationwide.
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1990 What had been the Department of Home Economics became the Department of Human Ecology.
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1997 The UT fashion show is held for the first time at one of the largest venues on campus, the Frank Erwin Center. The show would go on to become the nation's largest student fashion show at a university.
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1999 Nutritional sciences classes begin taking advantage of a renovated fourth-floor kitchen and food laboratory in Gearing Hall.
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2001 The Department of Human Development and Family Sciences and lab school are co-located for the first time in the new Sarah M. and Charles E. Seay Building.
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2008 The one-time department becomes the School of Human Ecology with support from alumni, friends, students, faculty and staff.
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2009 Dell Pediatric Research Institute opens and includes involvement from nutritional sciences faculty studying a range of illnesses and conditions that can be devastating in childhood, including childhood cancer, obesity and birth defects.
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2020 Then-chair of the Department of Human Development and Family Sciences named to his current post as director of the School of Human Ecology.