Southwestern Magazine | Spring 2021

SOUTHWE S T E RN | 2 9 Distinguished Young Alumnus: Nicholas R. Cox ’11 Nicholas R. Cox owns Cox Family Dentistry in Plano. After graduating with a B.S. in chemistry from Southwestern, Cox earned his D.D.S. from the University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio, where he received the International Congress of Implantologists Predoctoral Achievement Award and the Comprehensive Dentistry Award, which is presented to the graduating senior who best demon- strates outstanding patient care, superior clinical skills, and excellent clinical productivity. In 2017, the North Texas Dental Society named him New Dentist of the Year. Shortly after launching his career, Cox began to explore ways to give back to Southwestern and support students interested in dental careers. He worked in partnership with the Center for Career & Professional Development to establish a summer shadowing program designed to help students obtain meaningful clinical experience and learn about the demands and rewards of being a dentist. Distinguished Young Alumna: Jessica Vittorio ’11 Jessica Vittorio is an attorney who provides startups and small busi- ness owners with the insight and advice they need to grow their businesses. Vittorio majored in political science at Southwestern and went on to receive her J.D. from Baylor Law School. As a commu- nity advocate and volunteer, she has provided legal assistance to nonprofit organizations that address issues ranging from homeless- ness to mental health. An active member of First United Methodist Church Dallas, Vittorio was elected as one of four lay delegates from the North Texas Conference to General Conference 2020, the global gathering and legislative arm of the United Methodist Church. She’s a past president of the Dallas Chapter of the Southwestern University Alumni Association and cofounder of Pirates Who Tech, which connects alumni in the technology and entrepreneurial communities.