Announcements
Three members of the Roach Honors academic advising team traveled to Memphis, Tennessee March 5-7, for the National Academic Advising Association’s regional conference. The conference theme this year was From Graceland to Greatness: Inspiring Success through Advising.
NACADA provides a forum for discussion, debate, and the exchange of ideas pertaining to academic advising through numerous activities and publications and advocates for effective academic advising. Shannon Cooper, Justine Grace, and Cecily Weir Jaeger attended sessions, participated in workshops, and spent time connecting with professional academic advisors from other institutions.
Through learning and engagement, the conference provided fresh ideas and perspectives for the benefit of our students and the John V. Roach Honors College.
posted March 10, 2025
Parts of California were devastated this year by wildfires. Disasters such as this always bring rebuilding challenges, specifically in an area as complex as California. Kristin Ferebee, assistant professor of professional practice with the John V. Roach Honors College, recently contributed to a conversation on rebuilding, moving forward and how we look at wildfires environmentally. Read the full story.
Posted March 6, 2025
David Dena, Director of Finance at the Fort Worth Zoo, visited with John V. Roach Honors College students taking Giving and Philanthropy course. For 90 minutes, Dena, a parent to four TCU alums who graduated as Roach Honors Laureates-shared his expertise on nonprofit financials.
Dena guided students through the process of reading and interpreting Form 990, a crucial tax document that provides insight into a nonprofit’s financial health. He explained how to assess whether an organization is financially stable, where its funding is allocated, and what red flags to watch for when considering a donation.
Throughout the semester, students in Giving and Philanthropy class research and analyze nonprofits across the DFW area, using financial documents like Form 990 to ensure organizations are transparent and responsible with their funds. At the conclusion of the course, students utilize their knowledge to debate a selection of organizations and decide which nonprofits will receive a class donation.
Posted Feb. 28, 2025
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.
Posted Feb. 21, 2025
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.”
Posted Feb. 21, 2025
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
Posted Feb. 20, 2025