Texas A&M Former Students Share Inspiration For Enrolling Pets At Stevenson Center
Story by Rachel Knight, VMBS Marketing & Communications

Tonya Yurgensen-Jacks ’92 and Kevin Jacks ’92 have been married for 31 years, and companion animals have been important members of their family for just as long.
Their first pup was a rescue from the Bryan Animal Center, and every dog and cat to join their family since then has been a rescue as well, which speaks to Tonya’s and Kevin’s commitment to bettering animals’ lives.
Given their affinity for animals, it’s no surprise that the couple is already planning for their pets’ futures by enrolling them in the Stevenson Companion Animal Life-Care Center at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences.
Working Hard for What Matters Most
Tonya and Kevin embody the Aggie core values of leadership and excellence in their careers. Tonya works at Cisco Systems as a regional sales leader, while Kevin works as the director of sales at Chloride North America. Off the clock, the Aggie couple leans into the core values of selfless service and respect. They’re both active members and volunteers with the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo (HLSR), where Tonya serves as a Lifetime Vice President and Kevin is in leadership on multiple committees. As active HLSR members, the Aggie couple has contributed the organization’s history of awarding more than $85 million in scholarships to Texas A&M students over the last 67 years.
It was during a reception at A&M Night at the Rodeo that Tonya and Kevin learned about the Stevenson Center and how it could fit into their long-term giving plans.
“We didn’t get connected with the Stevenson Center until 2023, when Meredith, a fellow rodeo committee member who works for the Texas A&M Foundation, found out we were interested in it,” Tonya explained. “She put us in contact with Leslie Joyce, a senior director of development at the vet school, who helped us figure out what we wanted to do for the Stevenson Center.”
When Tonya and Kevin are not working or volunteering, they’re enjoying the company of their three dogs — Lamont, a 15-year-old hound dog mix; Ivey, an Australian Shepherd rescue who joined the family in the fall of 2023;and Dash, also an Australian Shepherd rescue who joined the family in the spring of 2024.
“We don’t have kids and we know we will always have animals in our lives,” Tonya said. “You have to make a plan for where your animals are going to go when you’re no longer here to care for them. It is a huge peace of mind knowing that if something happened to us tomorrow, our friends and family wouldn’t be scrambling to figure out what to do with our dogs.”
A Center Worth Supporting
Tonya and Kevin said visiting the Stevenson Center in person only reassured them that supporting it was the right thing to do.
“We knew going in that part of the beauty of the Stevenson Center is that it eliminates the burden that you put on your family or friends when you pass about what to do with your animals,” Kevin said. “But visiting the center made us want to support it even more. We were greeted by Reveille IX, we got to meet some of the students who live at the center, the staff were just great, and the animals were all happy and well cared for.”
That visit inspired the couple to both help and to share more about the center with others, including a friend who has already secured a spot for their dog as well as Kevin’s father — Brad Jacks ’66 — whom they accompanied on a return trip to the center. Additionally, after their first visit, Tonya and Kevin made a donation that allowed the center to build and maintain an artificial turfgrass yard so that the animals have both shade from oak trees and “grass” year-round.
Dr. Sam Miller ‘91, director of the Stevenson Center, said support from donors like Tonya and Kevin is essential for the Stevenson Center’s mission to provide the best possible home for the pets that live there.
“Caring for a household full of pets means we are not only going through a lot of food but also constantly replacing worn out bedding, toys, and general supplies, not to mention our commitment to providing excellent medical care for each and every one of our residents,” Miller said. “Support from our donors helps ensure we can keep our residents happy and healthy as they live their best lives here at the center.”
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For more information about the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, please visit our website at vetmed.tamu.edu or join us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
Contact Information: Jennifer Gauntt, Director of VMBS Communications, Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, jgauntt@cvm.tamu.edu, 979-862-4216
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