Life Member from the U.K. Invests in UH's Future

Danny Cohen didn’t attend the University of Houston. He isn’t a native Houstonian. In fact, he was born and raised in London, U.K., where he still lives today. The only time he visited Texas was a brief stay in San Antonio many years ago.

However, since 2024, Cohen has been a proud Life Member of the University of Houston Alumni Association.

The story of how he became an ardent supporter of UH is one of forging impactful connections where one might not expect.

In 2016, Cohen’s production company, New Media News TV, began collaborating with U.S. nursing schools through a partnership with the American Association of Colleges of Nursing. His company had long worked with membership associations and education leaders to craft promotional and educational videos. One of his first partners through the association was Kathryn Tart, dean of UH’s Andy and Barbara Gessner College of Nursing. Though thousands of miles separated them, her leadership and stories of UH’s community-focused work made a lasting impression on him.

“I’ll always be grateful for early partners like Dean Tart who believed in my work,” Cohen shares.

Their connection deepened when Dean Tart shared more about what she accomplished as a dean.

“As we worked together, Dean Tart told me about the work the Gessner College of Nursing did during the flooding in Houston. I found their community engagement phenomenal.”

Tart’s compassion, advocacy and determination during times of crisis inspired him — not only professionally, but personally. The impact UH made on him sparked a desire to give back. After making several donations to the College of Nursing, he learned about the Life Member program and decided it was the perfect way to demonstrate his support for the greater Houston community.

For Cohen, it was a heartfelt expression of gratitude. “I’m very grateful to be able to support the College of Nursing,” he said. “The work that they do for the wider world is something that they should be truly proud of.”

Dean Tart was happy to learn of Cohen’s investment in UH. “Danny has a passion for telling the story of nursing to future students, faculty, donors and the community through video and TV. Countless people across the United States and the world have learned about the impact of nursing education through his efforts with AACN-TV. We feel special and honored he is a Life Member of the University of Houston!”

Cohen is also a big believer in giving back. He serves on the Ecoflix Foundation U.K. Board of Trustees of Ecoflix, a charitable nonprofit digital media platform whose goals are to protect wildlife and the natural world. Their content is aimed at educating and inspiring people to save animals and restore the planet.

To others considering Life Membership, Cohen has a simple message: “If you’re in a position to support such a great cause, do it. I’m just very grateful to be able to support people that are doing such great work with their lives.”

This month only, new Life Members receive a limited-edition T-shirt. Becoming a UH Alumni Life Member is a powerful way to stay connected and give back to your alma mater. Enjoy exclusive perks like priority access, special discounts and your name etched on a Life Member Panel at UH Alumni Center. Join today!