Student Financial Aid Counselor David Killeen

Hometown: Dallas

College Major: Sociology (undergraduate); Bicultural-Bilingual Studies (graduate)

Territories: Dallas-Fort Worth, West Texas and El Paso

Office: Dallas Admissions Center

Phone: 214-526-2393

E-mail: david.killeen@austin.utexas.edu

Q: Where are you from?
A: Though my origins lie in the Midwest and I’ve lived in several parts of the country--stretching from California to Maryland--I consider Texas my home state.  My family is scattered across the Dallas area which is the main reason I call Dallas home, but the nine years I spent living, studying and working in the great city of Austin have been some of the best years of my life.

Q: Where did you go to college and what did you study?
A:  I graduated from UT Austin with a bachelor's degree in sociology. My interest in sociology, and social stratification in particular, stemmed from my experiences working with schools and non-profit organizations as a member of the National Civilian Community Corps, a youth-oriented national community service organization and branch of AmeriCorps. I later completed a master's degree in bicultural-bilingual studies at UT San Antonio, where my studies focused on the effects of education policy and classroom pedagogy on language minority students.

Q: How long have you been working in higher education?
A: I began serving UT Austin students in 2008 as a financial aid counselor with the Office of Student Financial Services on campus. In late 2011, I moved to Dallas and continue to serve prospective and admitted Longhorns as the resident financial aid counselor at the Dallas Admissions Center. I find this work rewarding, because financial aid often plays a major role in providing students with access to the high-quality education and life-shaping experiences that UT Austin provides.

Q: What is your favorite place on campus?
A: When I was an undergraduate student at UT Austin, I loved taking breaks in the almost-hidden courtyard of Goldsmith Hall. It’s located mere feet away from the bustle of the West Mall, but it feels like a secluded world of its own.

Q: What are some of your favorite things to do in Austin?
A: Austin, like the rest of Texas, gets incredibly hot during the summer months, but luckily, the area has dozens of natural swimming holes, each with its own unique character. Within the Austin city limits, there’s the Barton Creek Greenbelt, which cuts right through the city but feels a world away. Just outside the city, there’s the otherworldly Hamilton Pool, lush and overgrown Krause Springs, and secluded Gracie Cove on Lake Travis. All of them are worth a visit.

Q: What is your favorite UT Austin fact?
A: Until 1986, the mammoth Jester Center residence hall did, in fact, have its own ZIP code.

Advice to Prospective Students

• Take advantage of living in Austin, a celebrated hotbed of creativity that defies a lot of Texas and U.S. stereotypes. Locals are getting a lot of attention for their contributions to the visual arts, music, film, cuisine and fashion. When it comes to personal style, Austinites are known for being trendsetters, but beyond aesthetics, there is a unique concentration of politically and socially engaged young people in the city. Within Texas, Austin is a leader in environmental and health initiatives, with farmers markets and a focus on locally and sustainably produced goods becoming increasingly popular. There’s plenty of natural beauty to motivate you to get outside regardless of the weather, and you’ll almost always see plenty of locals running, swimming, kayaking, and stand-up paddling.