When Alice Kuhn (M.Ed. ‘83) joined the College of Education at The University of Texas, she was 35 years old, had three children and was returning to a dream she had been forced to abandon many years earlier.
At 17 years old, Kuhn had enrolled at the University of Illinois with the hope of becoming a teacher someday. But, due to her family’s economic circumstances, she was forced to drop out. Despite the obstacles she faced, she was determined to keep her dream alive, earn her degree and make a difference.
Years later, she returned to school and completed her bachelor’s degree at the University of Texas at Dallas, eventually going on to attend the LBJ School of Public Affairs at The University of Texas at Austin. By then, she decided to focus her impact at the root – education. She transferred to the College of Education to address social and economic issues at the classroom level.
“I think education is the root of everything,” Kuhn said. “Education is the basis of life. If you have a good education, you can aspire to your dreams.”
Now, Kuhn lives in Austin, Texas, where she dedicates her efforts to supporting educators and education in addition to leading the Micheal and Alice Kuhn Foundation. The goal of her family’s organization is to promote systemic change across society, institutions and policy to achieve social and economic justice. Her personal mission is to help educators access education and find a passion for teaching.
“I learned from doing student teaching and other classroom activities how important it is for students to have quality teachers who really inspire them and how underappreciated teachers are,” Kuhn said.
In recent years, Kuhn has donated over half a million dollars through personal philanthropic contributions and support from her family’s foundation to fund outright scholarships for promising educators and teaching initiatives at the College of Education. Directly inspired by the economic obstacles that she overcame herself, she hopes to make a difference for future students who otherwise would be unable to access these experiences.
This fall, thanks to Kuhn’s generosity, 10 first-generation students were awarded the Dean’s Promising Scholar Award, the college’s premier four-year, full-tuition scholarship. Now, these future educators begin their journey toward a bachelor’s degree and teacher certification with financial support and a strong endorsement of their choice to pursue teaching.
“Sometimes parents are just struggling to make ends meet,” Kuhn said. “I really feel like it is just an ease of their mind. Students can concentrate on their studies, and they don’t have to worry about what their parents are going to sacrifice”
Kuhn said she has found her passion in improving equitable access to higher education and opportunities for teachers, as well as supporting young students with dreams of pursuing a degree.
Part of her inspiration for supporting future teachers comes from witnessing educators historically remain without proper compensation, appreciation or support from policymakers and community members despite their vital role in the development of future generations.
“Teachers are the basis of society,” Kuhn said. “Without good teachers you can’t have an educated society.”
Earlier this year, a donation from the Michael and Alice Kuhn Foundation supported COE student teachers as they made their way to South Texas to help with a local district’s summer school program and learn from experienced educators along the way.
Kuhn said this program, Hook’Em Here Harlingen, is meant to provide the college’s students with an opportunity to give back, as well as immerse themselves in diverse communities across the state.
Her hope, Kuhn said, is that some students will return to work in underserved schools once they graduate, even if only for a couple of years, so they can experience firsthand the difference they can make.
“I hope that with their love of teaching they will remain in the profession and that it is their lifelong passion,” Kuhn said.
