Skip to main content
Main Content
Judy and Paul Andrews Honors College Lounge

A Transformative Educational Experience

The John V. Roach Honors College encourages you to examine complex questions from a plurality of perspectives.

Meet the Dean

Ron Pitcock, Ph.D., serves as the Wassenich Family Dean of the John V. Roach Honors College

Expert Teacher-Scholars

Our award-winning faulty members craft innovative courses and conduct meaningful research while supporting you during and beyond your time at TCU.

Meet all our core faculty & Staff

Frederick Gooding

Frederick W. Gooding Jr., Ph.D.

A scholar of race, history and reconciliation who teaches the course "The Beauty of Black Music."

Wendi Sierra

Wendi Sierra, Ph.D.

A scholar of game studies who teaches the course "Video Games and Representation."

Dan Williams

Dan Williams, Ph.D.

A scholar of early American print culture who teaches the colloquium, "Texts and Treks."

Wendy Williams

Wendy Williams, Ph.D.

A scholar of George Eliot’s poetry who teaches courses on empathy and mindfulness.

106
Majors represented across Honors
44
States represented by Honors students
1,224
Honors students (2022-23 academic year)
15
Countries represented by Honors students

Points of Pride

Paul Wassenich

A History of Honors

Honors was first conceived in the front seat of a 1955 Plymouth station wagon as Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, James M. Moudy, and Professor of Religion, Paul Wassenich, commuted to and from TCU. They discussed how TCU could provide its best students with an enhanced level of study.

In 1962, Moudy and Wassenich launched the Honors Program. From the beginning, the central mission of Honors was defined as “the stimulation and encouragement of academic activity at the highest level,” and it was committed to an interdisciplinary curriculum and a co-curricular agenda. An endowment funded by Judy and Paul Andrews transitioned the Honors Program to the the John V. Roach Honors College in 2009.

John V. Roach

Our Namesake, John V. Roach

TCU officially launched the John V. Roach Honors College in 2009, funded by a gift from Paul and Judy Andrews of Fort Worth. The endowed gift pays tribute to their friend John Roach, longtime Fort Worth civic and business leader and former chairman of the TCU Board of Trustees.

Joined the Tandy Corp.
1967
One of the youngest CEOs
1981
Elected to the TCU Board of Trustees
1990
Honors College launched
2009

Frederick Gooding teaching class.

Mission, Vision & Values

Dedicated to enriching the intellectual life of TCU, the John V. Roach Honors College seeks to empower, inspire, and motivate high-achieving students to become leaders in our global society.

Students studying in Milton Daniel.

Frequently Asked Questions

Find answers to your questions about the Honors College.