HONORS CONNECTIONS

Student to Alumni Q&A

Q

uestions written by Grace Hugh, senior Honors Arts and Letters major 
(Health and Humanities concentration)

a

nswers provided by Dr. Bobby Mansouri, Honors College Class of 2007 and 
Sub-Investigator at Menter Dermatology Research Institute

If you were a senior of the Honors College today, what would be your 
topic of your graduation thesis?
I would try to find a topic outside of my major. The Honors College offers 
the opportunity to be as well-rounded in your educational endeavors as 
you choose to be. Whether you decide to pursue medicine or otherwise, 
the choices you have made during college to extend yourself outside of 
your comfort zone will pay larger dividends as they will ultimately make 
you more unique, versatile, and marketable for a career.

As an Honors College graduate, please name a few of the most 
significant benefits you received in your education with the Honors 
College. How have these been valuable to you throughout your career?
First and foremost, the Honors College forced me to take classes I would 
not have otherwise taken and in a fashion that promoted preparation 
and thoughtful discussion. When I look back at my college experiences, 
the most important aspects of my time at Tech were the Honors College 
coursework, my study abroad experience, and my Howard Hughes 
Medical Institute research scholarship, all of which shaped me as an 
individual and have made me a better physician.

T

he 2015 new MCAT is adding a social and behavioral sciences 

section, and another critical analysis and reasoning skills section—
give an example that shows why these new changes are well founded.
…[T]he need for social and behavioral sciences is important, particularly 
when it comes to patient interactions… The most important thing to 
remember about any standardized test… is that they test how well 
you can learn and remember information and how well you can use 
that information to critically think during a testing situation. Medical 
admissions committees… care much more that you are a compassionate 
person who is excellent at critical thinking, as this will be a necessity 
during medical school and for the rest of your career.

The Health Sciences Center at Texas Tech is a teaching hospital 
dedicated to training medical professionals to specialize in the 
healthcare of more rural populations. How do you see this changing 
medicine in the future?
The TTUHSC serves both an important and necessary mission in aiming to 
provide high-quality care to those who would otherwise not have access in 
rural areas. The future of healthcare probably has mid-levels (PAs, NPs, etc.) 
providing most of the standard care for patients and physicians acting as 
mid-level managers as well as the primary providers for more specialized 
needs. Hopefully by providing better care for rural populations, patients will 
receive better preventative care and have less need for emergency room 
visits, hospitalizations, and aggressive medical care for conditions which 
have gone largely untreated as a result of their lack of access to care.

Q

uestions written by Marcos Palacios, sophomore Electronic Media and 
Communication and Journalism & Electronic Media double major

a

nswers provided by Father Joseph Palacios, Honors College Class of 2006, 
Director, Office of Vocations for the Lubbock Dioceses and Associate Pastor 

at Holy Spirit Catholic Church

How has the Honors College helped with your past and 
current studies?

The Honors College has helped me through the caliber of work it requires. 
It helped me stretch my mind and made me more able to think differently 
and walk with people on a deeper level.  We are always meeting people 
from many different walks of life, and my studies have helped me to 
engage a diverse selection of people. 

I am a member of the new House of Haragan, characterized by 
Service. The other houses are Lawless, Winer, and Bell. Which do you 
think you would be sorted into?

I think I’d be sorted into Haragan as well. I have come to understand the 
importance of service in our lives, especially through the Honors College, 
and I think I’d fit best into a house that is built upon it.

What are some of the coolest things the Honors College has 
offered you?

Early registration for classes as a First-year student is the best thing ever. But 
more importantly, I think the Honors College really challenged me to 
expand the horizon of my education because it wasn’t specifically tied 
to my major. Being able to learn across disciplines is one of the greatest 
gifts of the Honors College, and I know the commitment, leadership, and 
sociability were recognized in my endeavors outside of Texas Tech.

As an Honors Alumnus, what is the best advice you can offer an 
Honors First-year student?

Look at the gifts and advantages the college presents. Use them and 
understand that you are becoming a citizen of a global community, 
which will be helpful to yourself and others as well. Also, take 
something totally outside of your field because it totally enriches 
you professionally and personally. Lastly, become friends with your 
professors. These are people that have been where you are and know 
where you are headed. They have an immense amount of wisdom, and 
while it may be a busy time with your Honors College workload, take the 
time to see how they can help you accomplish your current goals and 
set new ones through their expertise.