After earning her bachelor of Arts degree at the University of Texas, Nancy Halbreich added SMU to her education dossier when she went after her Masters of Liberal of Arts at the Hilltop institution. Good thing that she got to know the campus because she’s returning to Umphrey Lee Center’s Mack Grand Ballroom on Thursday, March 28, to receive 2019 J. Erik Jonsson Ethics Award.
It should be no surprise when one considers her mother was the late Dallas Mayor Annette Strauss, who was legendary for her leadership in community and nonprofit sectors. Her father, the late Ted Strauss, was a very successful entrepreneur. Her uncle, the late Bob Strauss, was head of the Democratic party. Her husband is Jeremy Halbreich, who had been renowned for his business acumen in the newspaper industry.
Instead of sitting back and enjoying the family connections, Nancy has carried on the family reputation of tackling every undertaking with success. Her dedication and enthusiasm are downright contagious. And she’s created quite a track record, both professionally and philanthropically, to prove it.
In addition to her professional life with Neiman Marcus, The Village Garden, SL Art Gallery and Stanley Korshak, she was with Sotheby’s for 19 years during which she was a regional associate and international representative. In 2007, she was named a senior associate of Fine and Decorative Arts at Heritage Auction Galleries.
While Nancy has been on loads of boards (Dallas Museum of Art, SMU’s John Tower Center for Political Studies, the SMU Maguire Center for Ethics and Public Responsibility, The Peter O’Donnell Jr. Brain Institute at UTSW, Charter 100, Southwestern Medical Foundation and Parkland Foundation), served as a trustee of the Hamon Foundation and AT&T Performing Arts Center Endowment Foundation, past trustee of The Hockaday School and held membership in many civic and charity organizations (Crystal Charity Ball, Junioor League, Dallas Woman’s Club and many others), her fundraising efforts have been simply remarkable. In addition to TACA’s 20th Anniversary Celebration, Dallas Museum of Art’s Silver Supper and the Sweetheart Ball, she co-chaired the “I Stand for Parkland Campaign” that resulted in the amazing new facility. More recently she joined Carol Seay in spearheading the fundraising efforts for Parkland’s Moody Breast Health Center.
Over the years she has received the Community Council of Greater Dallas’ Community Champion Award, Dallas Historical Society’s Award of Excellence for Voluntary Community Leadership, VolunteerNow Lifetime Achievement Award and Volunteer Fundraiser of the Year Award from the NSFRE.
Presented by SMU’s Maguire Center for Ethics and Public Responsibility, the award “Is given to individuals who epitomize the spirit of moral leadership and public virtue.” Nancy will be joining previous recipients like Bobby Lyle (2018), David Brown (2017), Terry Flowers (2016), Lyda Hill (2015) , Gail G. Thomas (2014), Nancy Ann and Ray L. Hunt (2013), Walter J. Humann (2012), Ruth Altshuler (2011), Bob Buford (2010), Ronald G. Steinhart (2009), Michael M. Boone (2008), Zan W. Holmes Jr., M.Th (2007), Roger Staubach (2006), Caren Prothro (2005), Tom Luce (2004), Ron Anderson, M.D. (2003), Jack Lowe Jr. (2002), William T. Solomon (2000), Stanley H. Marcus (1999), Charles C. Sprague, M.D. (1998) and Curtis W. Meadows Jr. (1997).
Tickets for the 2019 J. Erik Jonsson Ethics Award Luncheon are available here.