Announcements

Brent Beasley, President and CEO of Fort Worth Education Partnership, and Sara Greer, Principal at the Rainwater Charitable Foundation visited the John V. Roach Honors College to talk with students in the Design for Social Impact class taught by Associate Dean and Professor of Professional Practice, Stacy Landreth Grau, Ph.D. 

Students in this class are addressing Fort Worth's literacy crisis by exploring the causes of low reading scores, especially among third graders—the critical year when state standardized testing begins.

Both Beasley and Greer have worked extensively to address Fort Worth’s literacy crisis. During the class, they discussed socioeconomic challenges, ineffective instructional methods, and the impact of funding and resource allocation across schools.

We’re excited to introduce our newest team member, Melinda Santos, who joins us as an academic advisor in the John V. Roach Honors College.   

A Texas native from Addison, Melinda brings a wealth of experience to the Roach Honors College. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Baylor University, a Masters in Counseling from Wayland Baptist University, and a Masters in Military Operational Art and Science from Air University.

After serving 23 years in the Air Force as an Aircraft Maintenance Officer, she was drawn to TCU’s culture and mission, knowing it was the right place to continue making a difference. “Seeing the academic advisor role in the Honors College and meeting the team, I knew I’d found a place that upheld the values and principles instilled in me throughout my career," she said.

In her new role, she looks forward to learning what inspires our students and helping them achieve their goals. Her advice? “You are the only one who can limit yourself so take the time you have now to expand your horizon and experience all the opportunities that surround you, or forge a path to what has not been envisioned.”

TCU was awarded the Interfaith America Faith and Health Campus Grant, a prestigious award aimed at integrating interfaith understanding into healthcare education. This grant brings together faculty from the John V. Roach Honors College, the Pre-Health Professions Institute, and the Department of Religion in a collaborative effort to bridge faith and medicine.

The $60,000 grant was co-authored by professors Sharrona Pearl, Ph.D., the inaugural Andrews Chair of Interdisciplinary Studies in the Honors College; Matthew Crawford, Ph.D., from the Pre-Health Professions Institute within the College of Science and Engineering; and  Patricia Duncan, Ph.D. and Jan Quesada, Ph.D., both from the Department of Religion in the AddRan College of Liberal Arts. This grant will fund major initiatives, most notably a regional religion and healthcare symposium in fall 2025. It will also enhance curriculum to incorporate interfaith perspectives into health care education