Nina Borland posted a condolence

Friday, June 2, 2023

I just found out about Dawn’s passing, but I wanted to share my memories, because Dawn had a profound impact on my life. Dawn was my babysitter for most of my elementary and middle school years. She lived in the same building as we did while she was studying at TC, and would often come over to spend time with me or host me in her dorm room on the 6th floor. Dawn was more than a caretaker to me, she was almost like family at that time. She listened to my thoughts and ideas and took me seriously, she helped me with my homework with such patience and a clear passion for teaching, she taught me strategies to make cleaning my room more fun. She made up amazing games and introduced me to so many crafts that I love to this day. Dawn was the first person to inspire me to pick up a camera. One day she bought me a disposable camera to take to the zoo and when we had the photos developed she and I went through each one, talking about the shots and what we liked. I am a photographer today because of Dawn. I have so many memories I could share, but I think the ones that I cherish most are from times when we were doing nothing at all. Just sitting around on the couch, talking and telling stories. Dawn modeled kindness, respect, passion for learning, creativity, flexibility, and humility. Her influence in those formative years of my life will always be a part of me. Dawn, I’m so thankful that I knew you. Thank you for teaching me so much and for listening to me when most adults just wouldn’t. I’m sorry. I should have reached out to you sooner. I wanted you to know that I grew up and met the love of my life and I became a teacher like you. And I know now what you mean now about dachshunds being the best dog! You used to tell me all about the ones your family had and now that I have one in my life, I get it! Dawn, I think about you often. I’m sorry I never let you know, but I hope that you know now.

Dr. Felicia Mensah lit a candle

Monday, May 9, 2022

I was saddened to hear of the passing of Dawn. I was a colleague of hers at Teachers College, Columbia University. She was on the team that provided after-school professional development for teachers in schools. I loved her gentle spirit and humor. Her kindness and intelligence were also part of her and much appreciated as worked to provide support to teachers to improve their teaching for the sake of their children. I pray for peace to you as you remember and celebrate Dawn. My most sincere condolences, Felicia Moore Mensah Department Chair, Mathematics, Science & Technology Teachers College, Columbia University

Maria José Botelho lit a candle

Monday, May 9, 2022

Dawn was my colleague at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Our paths crossed in the college-wide academic matters committee and a book study group. She was so generous and thoughtful in her participation in these two groups. Dawn's presence had a grounding effect. I will miss her at the College of Education. I'm so sorry for your loss. May the light that Dawn brought into the world bring you comfort during these difficult days. Maria José Botelho

Beth Rochon lit a candle

Monday, May 9, 2022

What a loss to our community, the UMass community, and no doubt all the schools, colleagues, students, relatives, friends that Dawn was connected with. Dawn was one of my first professors in graduate school... I was in her introduction to school counseling class. I was impressed by her encyclopedic knowledge of the field, her constant efforts to connect with each of us, and her desire to instill the highest standards of our profession in her students. She was always quick with a joke and a smile... she was honest and demanded exceptional work. She never asked anything of us that she wouldn't - or didn't - ask of herself. She taught me one other time - evidence-based practices. Dawn continued to push us to do our best work, to not rest on our laurels. She loved to talk about local restaurants in her personal mission to find exceptional food in Western Massachusetts - a tough feat after enjoying the cuisines of NYC for so long. She laughed easily, she taught freely, and she supported her advisees with a maternal fierceness that sustained them throughout their years in the program. Dawn is gone far too soon, but her impact has ripples that will continue well beyond the average lifespan. My deepest sympathies to you, Dawn's family. I pray that your cherished memories and recognition of her brilliance and contributions to her field will sustain you through this heartbreaking time.

Chelsea McCorry posted a condolence

Sunday, May 8, 2022

Dawn was my advisor and professor for the UMass School Counseling program from 2018-2021. She was a wonderful human, full of passion for her work and students. Her bright light is gone too soon, and I feel immensely grateful to have known her. Dawn was always an encouraging mentor and a helpful ear when I needed to talk through an idea or problem. She consistently spread her knowledge, kindness, and humor. I never left a meeting with Dawn without laughing! It was a challenge to navigate the beginning of the pandemic during graduate school, and Dawn was there to provide empathy and encouragement through it all. I will not forget the impact she created on my life during my three years at UMass. I send my deepest sympathies and condolences to Dawn’s family. She was a private person, but in the occasional small glimpses into her life, I could clearly see how important family was to her. Watching through her memorial video, I can see how much love there was in her life. Thank you, Dawn. - Chelsea McCorry

Ivonne Santiago posted a condolence

Sunday, May 8, 2022

My deepest condolences to the family and friends of Dawn. I loved her gentle soul and spirit, her kindness and willingness to help others. I will miss her smile. Her legacy will live forever in her students and colleagues like me from El Paso, Texas. We will never forget her.

Carey Dimmitt posted a condolence

Saturday, May 7, 2022

Dawn was a School Counseling colleague in our program at UMass, and a valuable and generous member of our community. As our students would attest, she was always available to advise, consult, or just talk about school counseling. She loved being a professor - she could share all she knew (which was considerable!), provide support (which she excelled at), and help people develop into excellent school counselors (which was her gift). She was always willing to dive into whatever needed doing, and do that well. She was a team player, a great colleague, and a thoughtful teacher and advisor, all while doing important research about how to create better educational systems for all students. She had a quiet conviction about what was the right thing to do, and firmly believed in doing whatever the task was to high standards, but also having fun while doing it. For instance, to teach about data use in school counseling, she created a detailed PowerPoint about all the nuances of the topic, and then taught it using M&Ms (she loved her candy!) to concretely demonstrate how to think about data analysis. Classic Dawn! We will miss her thoughtfulness, her innate kindness, her wisdom, her deep thinking about all aspects of our work, and her wonderful dry sense of humor. My heart goes out to the family - know that you were always crucial for her, and she loved you all tremendously. ~Carey Dimmitt

Maddy Scott lit a candle

Friday, May 6, 2022

Dawn was my advisor at Umass Amherst and I am so, so deeply saddened to hear about this news. Dawn was very gentle and kind, and I always felt like she was truly present when we spoke. I will miss chatting with Dawn, and will really miss her good heart and good advice. Sending so, so much love to her family right now. I will miss you Dawn. <3

Sara Whitcomb posted a condolence

Friday, May 6, 2022

Dawn was a colleague at UMass Amherst. I am still trying to process this news and want to offer my deepest condolences to her family. I will always remember Dawn for her smile, her thoughtful questions and comments, and her generosity. When my son was beginning his college search, Dawn was so helpful and offered lots of tips and ideas. I was thankful for her wisdom and will really miss having her as a colleague.

Sigal & Julia lit a candle

Friday, May 6, 2022

Dawn was our graduate school counseling professor and advisor at UMass Amherst. It’s hard to put into words the affect she has had on us over the past three years. She is the reason we made it through the program. We are so fortunate to have been taught by a mind as brilliant as Dawn’s. She put deep care into each course and student she taught. A year ago, we promised each other to take Dawn out to dinner once we graduated as a thank you for all of the time, love, and support that she offered us as students at UMass. I, Sigal, felt incredibly seen by Dawn. During my first year in the program, she told me that I was an active learner and that if I was a little kid, she would put me on a trampoline while teaching me. No educator has ever made me feel as understood as Dawn did. The first person I wanted to tell when I got hired as a full time school counselor earlier this year was Dawn. I wrote her an extremely gushy email. She responded with such kindness and warmth. I will never forget those words. I, Julia, was recruited into a position by Dawn my second semester that offered me funding for my first year of grad school and allowed me to continue my graduate career. She recognized my strengths and is a significant reason why I’m graduating this semester. This Spring, she took me out for lunch just to check on me and insisted I get the cookie. She knew me so well. Dawn knew exactly how to teach and offer feedback that made us want to do better and be better. We are better writers, researchers and learners because of her. We are better listeners, empathizers and counselors because of her. We are better people because of her. While this is a devastating loss, we intend to carry everything she’s taught us into our counseling roles and lives. We love you Dawn. P.S. We tried our best to make this well written with no spelling or grammatical errors because we know that’s important to you. :) - Sigal & Julia

Tatiana Vanaria donated to HOPE GROWS HAITI INC

Friday, May 6, 2022

Jorge E. Gonzalez-Cruz lit a candle

Friday, May 6, 2022

Our sincere and deepest condolences to the Horton Family for the sad departure of Dawn Horton. Dr. Horton was a dear colleague of our community of The City College of New York, we worked together for close to ten years, enjoying her professionalism and personal charisma in laboring initiatives to support our students at all levels. Dr. Horton was instrumental to the success of our programs, impacting hundreds of students. She will be dearly and profoundly miss, and her memory and contributions will live forever. Our prayers and thoughts are with you in these moments. Sincerely, On behalf of City College of NY and partners, --- Prof. Jorge E. Gonzalez, Ph.D. FASME Presidential Professor of City College of New York The City College of New York Director of City College Initiative to Promote Academic Success in STEM (CIPASS) Director of the Hispanic Alliance for Graduate Education and the Professoriate (HAGEP) Email: jgonzalezcruz@ccny.cuny.edu

IRMA TORRES-CATANACH posted a condolence

Friday, May 6, 2022

Good afternoon, My name is Irma Torres-Catanach, and I've worked with Dawn for the last four year on an NSF grant she helped co-write. Our colleagues include those from my institution at The University of Texas at El Paso and the City College of New York. I started on this grant as a research assistant and Dawn was my mentor from the beginning. She was very helpful in sharing resources that she's learned over the years of being a researcher and evaluator, and I so appreciated her sharing them with me. Besides the professional advice and support she gave me as a co-researcher, I value more her kindness, laughter, and encouragement. We first met in person two years ago, before the pandemic, and since then, we talked often of having another conference to bring our grant partners together this fall. She was very committed to our grant efforts, and we all value her dedication. In our most recent conversations, she expressed her care and gratitude for her family. I can't imagine the tremendous loss this must be but please know that we loved her and appreciate all that she did, and that she is irreplaceable. May she Rest in Peace.

The family of Dawn Marie Horton uploaded a photo

Wednesday, May 4, 2022

Posts to the tribute of Dawn Marie Horton