Diane Gavin lived a full and vibrant life marked by a passion for education, exploration, and creativity. She arrived at A&M–San Antonio in 2023 as executive director of the Center for Academic Innovation, where she partnered with faculty to advance student-centered teaching and learning. Two years later, after a brief battle with cancer, she passed away. Before her death, however, Gavin made a meaningful gift to the University to ensure that students would continue to benefit from her generosity.
An avid reader and prolific author, Gavin collected hundreds of books throughout her life and academic career, said her husband, Tim Gavin. Honoring her wishes, Tim recently delivered 117 boxes of her books to the University library. The collection, about 2,000 volumes, spans a wide range of topics, from qualitative analytics and photography to space exploration.
“One trend we're seeing is that a large number of students still prefer print books,” said Deidre McDonald, the library’s assistant director. “So, getting such a variety of new and interesting stuff will definitely benefit our student population.”
McDonald added that as the books are processed, library staff will add a little inscription to each book indicating it was donated in honor of Diane Gavin.
Per Diane’s wishes, Tim also donated 17 wardrobe boxes — about 400 items of clothing — to the University’s Career Closet, which provides free professional attire to students for interviews, career fairs, and networking events.
“We are incredibly grateful for Diane’s donation to the Career Closet, which is an essential resource for students,” said Karen Martin, director of career services at the Mays Center for Experiential Learning and Community Engagement, which operates the closet. “We see multiple students utilize it each week, so donations like this make a real difference in supporting their professional development.”
Gavin brought nearly 30 years of higher education experience with her when she joined A&M–San Antonio. Her career included leadership roles at several institutions. She served as dean of performance excellence at St. Philip’s College and as a university research methodologist at the University of Phoenix. She was also a professor of English and director of the university writing program at East Carolina University, as well as a professor at Rowan University.
Gavin’s intellectual curiosity extended well beyond her professional roles. She learned multiple languages and earned five academic degrees, including a master’s degree in higher education administration and a Ph.D. in English, composition, and cultural rhetoric. She authored numerous books on popular culture and writing instruction and published about 25 articles on media, journalism, and educational technology.
As accomplished as she was academically, Tim recounts that Diane was also a talented artist and photographer who loved to try new things. Over the years, she even worked as a public access television host and a radio program host.
The couple’s story began decades before they married. They first met as teenagers in Eden, New York, when Diane was a student of Tim’s older brother, a middle school teacher. One day, Tim and his brother ran into Diane as she rode past them on her bicycle. They shared a brief conversation before life took them in different directions.
They crossed paths again in 1982 at a concert where Tim was helping set up equipment for the bands. There was a spark, but once again, their lives diverged. It wasn’t until about 25 years later, through Facebook, that they reconnected for a third time.
At the time, Tim was living in Phoenix and Diane was in New Jersey, but the timing was finally right. They married in 2010 in St. Petersburg, Florida, surrounded by friends.
“It took a while, but we just knew we were meant to be together,” Tim said. “We were the perfect couple.”
Over their 16-year marriage, the two shared many adventures, traveling, taking photographs, and pursuing new professional opportunities that eventually brought them to San Antonio.
“Diane was truly a special person, and it was always her way to pay it forward,” Tim said. “I miss her so much, but I’m also so thankful for the time we had together.”