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John C. Halton, III
Associate Dean for College Relations
Cockrell School of Engineering
Phone: (512) 471-2120
Fax: (512) 471-3955
e-mail: halton@mail.utexas.edu
John C. Halton brings a rich and varied educational background to his position as the Cockrell School of Engineering chief development officer. He received a bachelor's degree in political science and English from Houston Baptist University in 1969; a master's degree in theology from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in 1972; and an master's degree in journalism from The University of Texas at Austin in 1976. During his college years, he further acquired valuable experience in photography, public relations and institutional outreach through a series of highly responsible part-time jobs connected with school and church. Since 1975, he has worked full time for the University.
John’s first development activity, in 1975, was to work with 14 academic deans to reorganize the University’s annual giving programs. The initiative yielded a swift fourfold increase in gift dollars. The following year, he designed a promotional program which enabled the University's President’s Association (a $500-per-year minimum gift organization) to grow from 100 to more than 600 members within five years. Also in 1977, he served successively as the University-wide acting director and associate director of development. From 1983 to 1986, he was in charge of the day-to-day operation of the University's development program, including a massive revision of the University’s computerized donor record system. During that same period, he was active on the team that raised $80 million in cash and pledges from donors, and channeled an equal amount in University matching funds to the Centennial Endowed Professorships—increasing the number of University faculty endowments from approximately 100 to over 900. In 1986, John was named to the post of assistant dean in the College of Engineering, with responsibility for all private fund development activities in the College, and supervision over the Engineering Career Assistance Center, communications, and graphics divisions.
Halton finds no contradiction between his educational background in the liberal arts and a professional life centered around engineering. Always intrigued by science and technology, he welcomed the chance to work closely with engineers during the University’s centennial, while he was still employed in the University's central development office. When an opportunity arose to move to the College of Engineering, he followed a lifelong desire to become more involved in the technological world, while participating in the College’s mission to educate Texas’ future high-tech and entrepreneurial leaders. Away from the workplace, John pursues his philosophy of “investment in people” through committed volunteerism in support of several youth-oriented organizations.