Remembering Alumna LaNelle Ford, PsyD

LaNelle Ford graduated from Fielding in 1978 and continued to be an important and beloved community member throughout her long life.

She passed away this month in Texas at age 91. LaNelle completed her doctorate in clinical psychology at Fielding in 1978 and went on to establish a private practice in psychotherapy in Austin. She became a well-respected hypnotherapist, and a treasured teacher and mentor to many other therapists, well into her 80’s. LaNelle was also well known as an avid tennis player and was a nationally ranked seniors tennis player.

Her husband Dennis, a leading adult educator and academic administrator, first encouraged LaNelle to attend Fielding. He said the Fielding model was “the direction education must go.” It became even more of a family affair when their daughter Linda attended, graduating with a doctorate from the School of HOD in 1992.

When Dennis died in 2001, LaNelle and her daughters Linda and Kathryn created a scholarship in his name and memory. It has been providing support ever since to female students residing in Texas and working toward their doctorates in the schools of Psychology and HOD.

To celebrate LaNelle’s 90th birthday last year, and honor her life and accomplishments, Linda and Kathryn appealed to those close to their family to help endow the scholarship, now called the LaNelle and Dennis Ford Endowed Scholarship. Donations pored in and the fund reached the endowment goal in time for the auspicious birthday. The announcement was made to LaNelle with a letter from President Katrina Rogers, along with a list of the many donors who helped make the endowment a reality.

LaNelle’s – and Dennis’s – legacy of advocacy and support for education will continue through their scholarship for generations of Fielding students.

For more information: http://www.harrellfuneralhomes.com/obituaries/Frances-Ford-3/#!/Obituary In lieu of flowers the family requests donations to the LaNelle and Dennis Ford Endowed Scholarship at www.fielding.edu/giving.