Residence Life Community Celebrates Mama Duren
Almetris Marsh Duren
During the early years of racial integration, Almetris Marsh Duren, known as “Mama Duren,” made a profound impact on UT Austin students as housemother, mentor and adviser. Now her legacy lives on at Almetris Duren Hall, one of Housing and Food Service 14 on-campus residence halls.
“She helped a lot of students. It’s always important to have someone to help you succeed,” shared senior biology major Marvin Thomas, Jr.
“When we look at campus today, you can see that there are more groups and resources for students — people here to advise us like LT Robinson.”
As part of Residence Life’s programming team, Thomas organized “Almetris Duren Hall: 10 Years Later” — an event last month to celebrate the facility’s decade anniversary and Duren’s legacy.
Attendees of last month’s celebration included (back row) Rene Rodriguez and Hemlata Jhaveri (Housing and Food Service), Tom Dison (Recreational Sports), Mylon Kirksy (Housing and Food Service), Nicholas Vasquez (University Residence Hall Association), Marvin Thomas, Jr. (Duren Hall Council), Gloria Allen (Housing and Food Service), Edna Dominquez (Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs), and panelists (front row) Paul Mannie, Jacquelyn Hawkins and Rene Gonzalez.
In 1956, she began her 25-year career at UT Austin as housemother to the first group of black female students admitted to the university. Later, she became student development specialist for minority affairs, organized the Innervisions of Blackness Choir and launched Project Info, the university’s first minority recruitment program.
“Duren exemplified what it means to be a student affairs professional — she supported students outside the classroom throughout their college experience, helping them succeed at UT Austin and after graduation,” noted Executive Director Hemlata Jhaveri.
After Duren retired in 1981, she continued to touch the lives of alumni, students, faculty and staff.
“I could feel from her aura that she is truly a giving and loving person who wanted to ensure that students and people … felt welcome and special. She lifted them up so they were ready to do the things they needed to in the classroom and out,” expressed African and African Diaspora Studies Department lecturer Brenda Burt, who organized the university’s memorial service for Duren after she passed away in 2001.
A student plays the piano in the Duren formal lounge.
Duren’s legacy not only lives on in the lives she touched and Duren Hall, but also in Kinsolving Residence Hall’s Great Texas Women Gallery and a scholarship in her name.
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