College Roundup - University of Houston
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College Roundup A selection of faculty, staff, student and alumni happenings

June 2018

Kayce Solari Williams, clinical assistant professor and health program director, received the Historically Black Colleges and Universities Distinguished Alumni Award from the Sugar Valley Chapter of Top Ladies of Distinction, Inc. for her service in the community. The award was presented at the organization’s scholarship fundraiser in June.

Charles Foust, who received an Ed.D. in professional leadership - K-12 in 2017, was appointed superintendent of Kansas City, Kansas, Public Schools in June. Foust previously served as chief school performance officer for Union County Public Schools in Monroe, N.C., and as a school support officer and principal in the Houston Independent School District.

Raven Jones, who received an Ed.D. in administration and supervision in 2013, received the James Emerson Award from the nonprofit Education Reach for Texans. The award honors professionals for their commitment to supporting students formerly in foster care. Jones is director of the Urban Experience Program at UH.

Martha Rammel Hinman, who received an Ed.D. in allied health education and administration in 1995, is developing a new School of Physical Therapy with an entry-level Doctor of Physical Therapy program at Anderson University in South Carolina. The program will start enrolling students in the summer of 2019. Hinman also has a Doctor of Physical Therapy from Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale.

Zachary Gresham, who received a M.Ed. in curriculum and instruction in art education in 2015, recently was appointed program manager for arts in medicine at the MD Anderson Cancer Center. The program connects pediatric patients and their families to visual arts, music, theater and dance through community collaborations, large-scale projects and one-on-one experiences.

May 2018

Paige Evans, a clinical associate professor for teachHOUSTON, was appointed president of the UTeach STEM Educators Association during its annual conference that took place in Austin in May. The association unites UTeach preparation programs, alumni and other organizations interested in promoting STEM literacy for all students. Before she became president, Evans was instrumental in developing the association’s vision, bylaws and strategic plan.

Marissa Moreno, a doctoral student in the higher education program, won an Excellence in Education award in May from Lee College in Baytown, where she works as a lead counselor. The award was for a faculty member with more than 10 years of service.

Steve Fullen was promoted to associate superintendent of campus development for the Pasadena Independent School District in May. He previously served as principal of South Houston High School. Fullen earned a doctorate from the UH College of Education in educational leadership and cultural studies in 2010.

Nan Li, a doctoral student in the measurement, quantitative methods and learning sciences program, was selected as a recipient of the American Psychological Foundation’s 2018 Ungerleider/Zimbardo Travel Scholarship in May. He will receive $300 to help offset travel costs to the 2018 American Psychological Association Convention in San Francisco in August. 

Nathan Smith, an associate professor in the Department of Psychological, Health and Learning Sciences, was elected to the board of the Council of Counseling Psychology Training Programs in May. The council represents the training directors of all the counseling psychology doctoral programs in the U.S.

Emily Messa, associate vice chancellor and associate vice president for administration at UH, was appointed by the National Association of College Auxiliary Services to serve on the 2019 NACAS C3X Committee. NACAS, a professional trade association, supports the non-academic segment of higher education. Messa will play a crucial role in representing the association’s membership as its annual national event is planned and organized. She received a Ph.D. in educational psychology and individual differences in May 2015.

Micaela Rodriguez won the Outstanding Senior Honors Thesis Award from the UH Office of Undergraduate Research for her paper “Experiencing Intersectional Marginality: A First-Generation College Student’s Personal Narrative.” Rodriguez graduated in December with a B.S. in human development and family studies. The award ceremony was held in May. Sascha Hein and Leslie Frankel, assistant professors in the Department of Psychological, Health and Learning Sciences, were advisors on her thesis committee.

April 2018

Jonathan Campbell was named principal of Forney High School outside Dallas in April. He previously served as principal at Whitehouse High School, overseeing double-digit gains in student performance on state exams. Campbell received an Ed.D. in professional leadership – K-12 from the College of Education in 2015.

Ashley Mullen, a doctoral student in the higher education program, received a $1,000 grant in April from the Center for Professionalism at the Baylor College of Medicine to educate the volunteer clinical faculty there. Mullen developed the program at the UH College of Education in a course taught by Lyle McKinney, associate professor in higher education. She is currently an assistant professor in the School of Health Professions at Baylor.

The Department of Psychological, Health and Learning Sciences held the PHLS Research Symposium in April. The program consisted of research presentations, a panel discussion and awards. Here is a list of the award winners:

  • Julie Neisler, a doctoral student in the measurement, quantitative methods and learning sciences program, received $150 for the PHLS Outstanding Graduate Service Inspire Award.
  • Kimberly Smoots, a doctoral student in the counseling psychology program, received $150 for the PHLS Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant Extra-Mile Award.
  • Kevin Nguyen, a health major, received $100 for the PHLS Outstanding Undergraduate Service Inspire Award.

PHLS Outstanding Graduate Research Award recipients:

  • 1st Place: Sarah Turner, a doctoral student in the measurement, quantitative methods and learning sciences program, received $150. Mentor: Assistant Professor Sascha Hein                    
  • 2nd Place: Alexandra Slaughter, a doctoral student in the counseling psychology program, received $125. Mentor: Assistant Professor Sascha Hein
  • 3rd Place: Nayoung Choi, a doctoral student in the school psychology program, received $100. Mentor: Professor Jorge Gonzalez

PHLS Outstanding Undergraduate Research Award recipients:

  • 1st Place: Pooja Agrawal, a health minor, received $100. Mentor: Assistant Professor Rosenda Murillo
  • 2nd Place: Jason Okereke, a health major, received $75. Mentor: Department Chair Lorraine Reitzel
  • 3rd Place: Syed Naqvi, a health major, received $50. Mentor: Professor Norma Olvera

Five Ph.D. in higher education students have been selected to participate in the Data Fellows Training program in May that is sponsored by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. Victoria Doan, Dina Ghazzawi, Darrell Hooker, Guillermo Ortega and Christopher Burnett will receive training on understanding and leveraging data resources to support the state’s strategic plan.

Khalilah Campbell-Rhone, the principal of Worthing High School in Houston, received the April Excellence in Leadership Award from the Houston Independent School District. Campbell-Rhone is known for her championing spirit and commitment to student success. She received an Ed.D. in professional leadership in 2014.

Vincent Carales, an assistant professor in the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies, received an outstanding dissertation award from the American Educational Research Association in the Hispanic Research Issues division. He was recognized at the Hispanic Research Issues Business meeting at the AERA conference in New York City in April.

Sheng Kuan Chung, an art education professor in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction, received a grant in March from the UH Office of the Provost to support art classes for elementary school children in underserved areas in Houston. The classes will take place on the UH campus and in the community.