A&S Student News

Fall 2021

Possible Starts Here | Part 4 | Called to a Mission

Isaiah George, a senior pre-med student studying microbiology, still recalls the moment he felt called to a career in medicine. The child of immigrant parents is now on a mission to serve and impact others as a medical professional.

Groundbreaking for New Academic Sciences Building

Artist's rendering shows courtyard view of Academic Sciences Building.

In December 2021, the Office of the President broke ground for construction of a new building that will provide much-needed classrooms and lab facilities for the College of Arts & Sciences. Designed in the style of the Spanish Renaissance, the three-story, 125,000-square-foot Academic Sciences Building will house teaching and laboratory space for the Departments of Biological Sciences, Chemistry & Biochemistry, Geosciences, Physics & Astronomy and Psychological Sciences. Construction is expected to continue through December 2023. 

Jake Fisher Hikes the Colorado Trail Solo

TTU psychology major Jake Fisher on the Colorado Trail in 2021.

Jake Fisher, a senior psychology major, put his will and endurance to the test this summer. Between July 3 and Aug. 7, he solo hiked 400 miles of the Colorado Trail, from Denver to Durango. For most of his college career, Fisher has taught for University Recreation's Outdoor Pursuits Center. Before entering university, he enrolled in a gap-year program from 2017-2018 and traveled to other parts of the world, confirming what he already knew: that he enjoyed learning, preferably outdoors and on the move. “I went to Tanzania and summited Mount Kilimanjaro and visited Rwanda and learned how they've rebuilt after the genocide,” he said. “I grew a lot that year. Those experiences developed me culturally, spiritually and emotionally. When I came back to the U.S., I knew I wanted to go to college and keep learning.” To read the full account of Jake Fisher's solo hike, follow this link.

Arts & Sciences Announces New Institute for Latina/o Studies

The College of Arts & Sciences announced on Nov. 16 the official formation of the Institute for Latina/o Studies, a dedicated hub for research, teaching, internationalization, and community engagement led by an interdisciplinary cohort of faculty and staff. The institute represents the latest investment by Texas Tech, a recognized Hispanic-Serving Institution, in its proactive outreach to the Hispanic community. “The College of Arts & Sciences is honored to be the home of the newly established Institute for Latina/o Studies,” said Brian Still, acting dean of the college. “A passionate, skilled and tireless team of faculty and staff, working with stakeholders across the Texas Tech University System, have made this new, important institute a reality.” Follow this link to read the complete article.

8 Awarded for Arts & Humanities Research

Eight Arts & Sciences graduate students recently were awarded for excellence in research during the 11th Annual Arts & Humanities Graduate Student Research Conference, held this year on Nov. 11. The conference, organized by Texas Tech University's Graduate School, featured paper presentations between 10-15 minutes each by graduate students. The Arts & Sciences winners are:

Akshata Balghare, a doctoral student in the Department of English, won first place in the category Human Behavior, Social Systems and Issues for “‘Hey Google, What's a Deductible?' International Voices on the Us Healthcare System.”

Pablo Hernandez Borges, a doctoral student in the Department of Political Science, won first place in the Political Issues category for “The Long Search for a Safe Haven: A Cross-National Analysis of Peacefulness in Refugee-Receiving Countries.”

Zachary Brandner, doctoral student, Department of Classical & Modern Languages & Literatures, won second place in the Literary Analysis category for “Negotiating Collective and Personal Agency in Contemporary Maya Literature.”

Kerry Chavez, a doctoral student in the Department of Political Science, won second place in the Political Issues category for “Cruisin' for a Bruisin': Political Constraints, Suboptimal Military Strategies.”

William Kariampuzha, a master's student in the Department of English, won first place in the Literary Analysis category for “A Set Theoretic Notion of the Linguistic Meaning of Words.”

N.H. Manzur E. Maula, a doctoral student in the Department of Economics, won second place in the Financial Concerns category for “Geopolitical Uncertainty and the Macroeconomy.”

Reda Rafei, a doctoral student in the Department of History, won second place in the category Human Behavior, Social Systems and Issues for “The Land is Gone and the Milk Generates Few Liras, Now What? Socio-Economic Struggle and the Daughters of Arous al-Thawra.”

Caleb Ward, a master's student in the Department of English, won first place in the Film 
Studies category for “Walking the Line: Identifying Boundaries and Their Meaning as Related to Imperialism Within the Handmaiden.”

“Not only do these competitions allow our students to showcase their scholarly work to the broader community, but they also provide students an opportunity to develop and hone their communication skills—skills that are essential in the workforce, whether in academia or in another sector of the economy,” said Mark Sheridan, dean of the Graduate School and vice provost for graduate and postdoctoral affairs. The winners were determined by a panel of judges who rated each presentation. First place winners received $300; second place winners received $200.

Arts & Sciences Honors Its Military Veterans

As our nation sets aside this day to remember the service of military veterans, the College of Arts & Sciences honors those among us who have dedicated themselves to duty, honor, and country that is easily talked about but hard earned. Here, in their own words, are a few of their stories.

Stark & Clark Awarded for Research

Two Arts & Sciences graduate students have won awards during the annual Three-Minute Thesis competition, organized by Texas Tech University's Graduate School, was held virtually this year on Oct. 14. The Arts & Sciences winners are:

First Place: Ian Stark, a doctoral student in the Department of English, won first place for presentation of his research topic, “Neuro-Positionality in User-Centered Design: The Case of Student Disability Service.”

Third Place: Nicholas Clark, who is pursuing a master's degree through the Department of Geosciences, won third place for presentation of his research topic, “Over the Mountains and Through the Atmosphere.”

“The Three-Minute Thesis Competition is aimed at giving students an opportunity to practice telling people what they do and why it's important,” said Mark Sheridan, dean of the Graduate School. It allows graduate students to hone their abilities in presenting their research with the use of a single, static, PowerPoint slide while effectively explaining their work in language appropriate to a general audience. Students were evaluated by a panel of judges from Texas Tech and the Lubbock community. The first-place winner received $300; the third-place winner received $100.

Donovan Satchell Crowned Homecoming King

Donvoan Stachell, left, and Channing Wicks, right, were crowned homecoming royalty Oct. 9.

Donovan Satchell, a global studies and general studies major in the College of Arts & Sciences, was crowned 2021 homecoming king Oct. 9 during the Texas Tech vs. TCU game at Jones AT&T Stadium. Satchell, who hails from Wylie, represents Arts & Sciences Ambassadors and is the first Black homecoming king in Texas Tech University history. “To be crowned homecoming king feels like royalty,” Satchell said. “Not for the sake of image, but to be a part of a 90-plus-year old tradition that unites us all as Red Raiders, past and present.”  Channing Wicks, a graphic design major from Lubbock, represents Chi Omega and was crowned 2021 homecoming queen. Read the complete story here.

Aaron Szczesny Finds the Gift of Opportunity

A child of Polish immigrants fleeing oppression, Aaron Szczesny has found a home at Texas Tech. The senior pre-law student is studying economics and has his sights set on earning a law degree to fulfill his dream of becoming an anti-trust lawyer. Already, Szczesny has propelled the legacy of his family forward for generations to come — proving Possible Starts Here.

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