Campaign Leadership
New Dimensions: The Campaign for UT Dallas is co-chaired by UT Dallas alumni Ron Nash MS’79 and John Olajide BS’04. Prominent and influential members of the business community, Nash and Olajide know firsthand the benefits of a UT Dallas education and the University’s importance to the growth and success of the city of Dallas, state of Texas and beyond.
Ron Nash MS’79
Ron Nash MS’79 is a veteran business executive in the technology industry currently serving as a senior advisor to the United States Department of Defense. He previously served as CEO and chairman of Pivot3, a Texas-based IT service management company, for over 15 years.
During his more than 35 years in the industry, Nash has helped guide successful entrepreneurial ventures across the U.S. He has held corporate officer positions with over 10 companies, leading numerous successful IPOs and acquisitions.
Nash graduated from the Georgia Institute of Technology with a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering and received a master’s in management from The University of Texas at Dallas.
In addition to his corporate leadership, Nash is a dedicated supporter of higher education. He is a trustee of the Georgia Tech Foundation and previously held several advisory roles across the university.
At UT Dallas, Nash served as a leader for the Realize the Vision campaign, the University’s first comprehensive fundraising campaign, which raised more than $273 million that propelled UT Dallas to Tier One status as a major research institution. For his leadership to UT Dallas and the broader community, Nash received the UT Dallas Distinguished Alumni Award in 2011.
John Olajide BS’04
John Olajide BS’04 is founder and CEO of Axxess, the leading home health care technology company in North America. He is also the current chairman of the board of the Dallas Regional Chamber.
A native of Nigeria, Olajide founded Axxess in 2007 and has since grown the company to serve more than 3 million patients worldwide and 9,000 organizations. The company’s daily commitment to maintaining an inclusive culture has earned Axxess numerous awards as being a “Best Place to Work.”
Through the company’s corporate citizenship efforts, Olajide has supported humanitarian efforts across the Dallas community, including Dallas ISD’s Kennedy-Curry Middle School, Cristo Rey Dallas College Prep, Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Dallas, Texas Women’s Foundation, Pat and Emmitt Smith Charities, Business Council for the Arts, Minnie’s Food Pantry, The Senior Source, and the Visiting Nurses Association of Texas.
Olajide graduated from The University of Texas at Dallas in 2004 with a degree in telecommunications engineering. As an alumnus, Olajide has been a vital University supporter. In 2016, he created an opportunity fund to benefit the National Society of Black Engineers, a student organization of which he was a member as an undergraduate.