The University of Texas dedicated a new residence hall Friday afternoon, named in honor of a woman who helped integrate the school.

Almetris Duren Hall is located at Guadalupe and 27th Street.

The dormitory is named for "Mama" Duren -- a housemother on the UT campus for a quarter century.

UT officials say Duren helped students get acclimated to the school when it became integrated in 1956 and motivated many students to strive for academic and individual success.

"Almetris Duren was one-of-a-kind, once-in-a-lifetime, a natural resource to thousands of University of Texas students," said Dr. Floyd Hoelting, director of the Division of Housing and Food Service. "She saw a need and filled it, witnessed an opportunity and met it, and withstood the challenges of the time. In her own loving way, she succeeded in spite of all. She found young people in desperate need of a mentor and friend and she became both."

Duren retired in 1980 and died in 2000.

Duren Hall will open to its first residents in January 2008 and has 588 beds.