Staff member finds life on other side of gaps
Sometimes life isn’t easy. People don’t get everything they want, things don’t go
as planned, and curveballs are thrown their way. But sometimes those moments are the
greatest gift in the world. Sometimes they lead people exactly where they were meant
to be through perseverance, purpose and commitment to excellence, and the end result
is more than they could have imagined.
For Jacqueline Arellano, community engagement strategist for the Office of the President at UNT Health Fort Worth, this rings true. Everything she has today is the result of hard work and sacrifice, two things she learned from her parents at a young age.
Wanting for nothing
Arellano grew up in a home full of laughter, shared meals and parents who always showed up. No matter how long her parents had worked or how tired they were, they never missed a game, recital or ceremony. They modeled the kind of commitment that went beyond words.
“I grew up deeply rich in love, in values and in the daily example of what hard work and family truly mean,” Arellano said.
As a child, her parents made sure she never felt she was lacking for anything even when the family had to go without. It was not until later that she learned of the tremendous sacrifices her parents made to create the life she knew.
“Later in life, I learned that we were living in poverty,” Arellano said. “Quite honestly, I had no idea. My home was filled with so much love that I never wanted for anything.”
More than a job
Arellano had just accepted a job at the Tarrant County Tax Office when her mother received a devastating cancer diagnosis. She found herself calling the tax office back to rescind her acceptance when the unexpected happened.
“I knew my mom needed me, so I called the office, explained the situation, expressed my gratitude and declined the offer,” Arellano said. “The next thing I knew, they told me they would hold the job for me once my mom was in a place where I could work. They were true to that promise, and I got to start the job once my mom got through treatment.”
The role proved to be more than just a job for Arellano. It became a lifeline.
Shortly after starting, Arellano learned she was pregnant and was going to be a single mom. At the time, she only had one week of paid maternity leave. Out of the goodness of his heart and his commitment to the well-being of his employees, her boss, Ron Wright, Tarrant County tax assessor-collector, stepped in to help, finding a way for Arellano to retain her insurance rather than using COBRA and creating a manageable repayment plan.
Wright did this by gifting her the funds raised from his annual staff fundraiser, Ron's Reindeer.
“It’s because of Ron and everyone in the tax office that I was able to keep my head above water as a new mom to Luna,” Arellano said. “It wasn’t easy, but it was so rewarding. I am so thankful for the two years I worked in that office.”
Pandemic hits home
After leaving the tax office, Arellano spent four years working for Judge Ralph Swearingin Jr. as a court coordinator. Her role placed her in the center of the court’s mediation program, which met monthly to review cases likely to settle. During those days, she sometimes helped process as many as 200 cases in a single day. She also translated Spanish wedding ceremonies, a responsibility that quickly became one of her favorite parts of the job.
While Arellano was working at the court, the COVID-19 pandemic upended daily life across the country. Because the court already operated electronically, the transition to remote work caused little disruption.
But the pandemic brought a far more personal challenge. During that time, Arellano’s daughter, Luna, then 2 years old, contracted COVID-19 and spent a week hospitalized at Cook Children’s Medical Center.
“She was on the highest level of oxygen someone can be on before going on a ventilator,” Arellano said. “For a week, my baby didn’t walk, talk or giggle. It was terrifying.”
A life-changing interview
Arellano’s next chapter began at UNT Health Fort Worth as an administrative coordinator in the Office of the President.
“I remember walking in for my interview, and I sat down with Dr. Sylvia Trent-Adams, former president of UNT Health,” Arellano said. “She asked me what she could do to make sure I left UNT Health a better me, a better professional and a better mother. I had never been asked anything like that before.”
Arellano was drawn to UNT Health because of its involvement with Remote Area Medical clinics and the Pediatric Mobile Clinic.
“As a cash-pay kid, it was incredible to me that there was an organization with a mission and community presence focused on bridging gaps,” Arellano said. “After that interview and the research that I had done about UNT Health, it just made sense to be here, pay cut and all.”
Shortly after accepting the job and returning from the holiday break, Trent-Adams met with Arellano again and asked another powerful question: Where did she want to complete her undergraduate degree, and how could she help her achieve that goal?
In December 2024, with the support of Trent-Adams, her mother and the rest of her village, Arellano graduated with honors from the University of Maryland Global Campus with a Bachelor of Business Administration, completing a dream her father, who unfortunately passed away before her graduation, had for her.
“I didn’t do it alone. It took a village,” Arellano said. “With the dream of my father, the love and support of my mother, and the love, grace and motivation of my daughter, Luna, I did it!
“That moment changed the trajectory of my life and continues to remind me what real leadership, compassion and growth look like.”
After holding three administrative roles at UNT Health, Arellano was recently promoted to community engagement strategist, a role she earned through dedication and perseverance.
“When I started at UNT Health, Jacqueline was assigned as my executive assistant,” said Taunya Williams, UNT Health’s chief of staff. “Even early in her career, what stood out was her eagerness to learn and her openness to new responsibilities.
“As I built my new division and created a community engagement department, I knew from both conversation and observation that she would be a natural fit. My instincts were right. She is truly excelling in her new role.”
A heart for giving back
Arellano’s parents taught her that giving back is not about resources but about showing up, bridging gaps and helping others believe in what is possible.
“That’s why I’m passionate about creating pathways and connections for people who think they do not have access to certain opportunities,” Arellano said. “My parents lived that story, and because of them, I feel a deep responsibility to continue their legacy through my new role by opening doors for others and helping them see that they belong on the other side of those gaps.”
It's In Our DNA
At UNT Health Fort Worth, our students are destined to shape the future of health care, research and public health, and our faculty and staff are here to guide them every step of the way. Whether it’s teaching safe patient care, advancing groundbreaking research or improving community health, it’s all second nature. We were born to live out our mission to create solutions for a healthier community. Why? Because it’s in our DNA. To view more stories, visit our newsroom and select the It's in our DNA category in the drop down menu.