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Donna M. Gosbee

Biography

Profile: Donna Gosbee was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 2003, and shortly thereafter had her first experiences with a wheelchair.  That experience though helped shape her future and her passion as an advocate for the disabled.  “I looked at stores, offices, sidewalks and even parks from a different perspective,” said Donna. “This is where my advocacy work began - trying to inform businesses or governments how to make their places more accessible.”  In addition to the obvious physical barriers to the disabled, Donna personally became acutely aware of how financially devastating a serious illness or injury can be, and she increased her advocacy work to include not just accessibility but also insurance, Medicare, and other important quality of life issues. But it was a trip to Washington, DC to visit with legislators when she had her “aha moment.”  It was there Donna realized how “valuable an education would be to making me the very best advocate and voice for the disabled I could possibly be.”  And that’s where the Foundation played an important part in Donna’s future. “I had given up hope that I would be able to achieve a lifelong dream of obtaining my Bachelor's degree. I was a single parent, and then became disabled.  I thought the best I could hope for was to obtain my Associate's degree. But then the Foundation chose me to be the recipient of the Undergraduate Transfer scholarship, and I saw unbelievable doors of opportunity opening for me.”

Inspiration: The first faculty member Donna met at Texas A&M University - Commerce was the head of the Political Science Department, Dr. Joann DiGeorgio-Lutz.  A professor of international studies and world-renowned expert on genocide issues, “her passion for trying to make the world a better place is contagious,” Donna said.

Aspiration: As Donna embarks on graduate school, she will continue her life’s mission of advocating on behalf of the disabled.

Making a Difference: Donna is proud of having graduated Summa Cum Laude in 2010, having maintained a high GPA despite her illness and various advocacy/volunteer duties.  “However, the achievement in life that I am most proud of would have to be my wonderful, intelligent, funny and compassionate son, David.  He is now 24 years old and continues to make volunteerism an important part of his life.  It makes me proud to see him carry on the tradition of volunteer work we began when he was just a small child.”

Accolades: Donna was selected as President of the Pi Sigma Alpha (Political Science Honor Society) chapter at TAMU-Commerce in 2009-2010 and again for 2011-2012 as well as the Alpha Chi  Honor Society.  In December of 2010, she graduated Summa Cum Laude.

Interesting Fact: Donna’s first experience in politics was as a teenage volunteer in the Nixon-Agnew campaign in 1972.  “Not the greatest start,” Donna said, “since they both had to resign from office.”

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