UTA'S E-NEWSLETTER FOR STUDENTS

TUESDAY, OCT. 21, 2025

🎙 Bob Schieffer, the next guest for the Maverick Speakers Series, has interviewed every U.S. president since Richard Nixon.

Today's Trailblazer is 822 words, a three-minute read.

Colleges and Schools

Meet, greet, and learn about the Disability Studies Minor program

U T A students meet and greet each other on campus.

Come learn about disability rights, disability culture, and accessibility from faculty and students with disabilities at the Disability Studies Minor Meet & Greet.

Why it matters: Hear why students from all over are minoring in disability studies and how it can help your career or graduate school goals. The minor works with virtually any major and many other minors or certificates.

Going deeper: If you have questions like what “normal” means or you want an internship for which you can receive a scholarship/stipend, then come to the meet and greet to learn more and enjoy a free lunch.

Important info: This is a come-and-go event Wednesday, Oct. 22, from 12-12:50 p.m. at University Hall Room 01 (in the basement) and on Teams. Please RSVP to Disability Studies Minor and Adapted Sports Advisor Mikila Salazar if you think you may come for pizza order estimates.

Admissions and Enrollment

Spring registration is only two weeks away

Graphic for ready, set, register campaign.

With registration for spring classes beginning Monday, Nov. 3, the Maverick advising community wants to ensure students are ready to register with three simple steps—Ready. Set. Register—that can be addressed now to alleviate stress later.  

Why it matters: Ensure your academic progress by taking care of registration as early as possible. Do not wait until the last minute to address your holds—get them out of the way today.

Going deeper: Get ready by logging in to MavPlanner. Now is the time to meet with your advisor and plan your courses. Get set by verifying you meet registration requirements by validating your schedule in MavScheduler. Get registered by enrolling in courses through MavScheduler’s easy and seamless registration process.

For more information on MavPlanner and MavScheduler, visit here.

Athletics

A full-court family bond at UTA

Thumbnail for the Discovering the Maverick Factor podcast featuring Steven Reynolds and the Reynolds sisters.

In the latest episode of Discovering the Maverick Factor, meet Steven Reynolds, an assistant coach for UTA’s women’s basketball team, and his three daughters—Mila, Amiyah, and Kira—who will begin their first season with the Lady Mavs.

Why you should listen: The sisters discuss how their playing styles complement each other and what it’s like to be on the same team. Coach Reynolds shares his perspective on combining fatherhood and coaching.

Watch or listen now on Youtube and Spotify.

Around Campus

From the front lines to the archives at UTA

Photo featuring a group of soldiers from Bob Schieffer's Vietnam collection.

Legendary journalist Bob Schieffer donated his Vietnam collection, capturing the lives and voices of Texas soldiers, to UTA Libraries' Special Collections.

Why it matters: The Bob Schieffer Vietnam War Collection provides a glimpse into the experiences of soldiers in Vietnam from late 1965 through early 1966, as the war shifted from a limited advisory effort to a large-scale ground war.

Going deeper: A free exhibit, Our Man in Vietnam, will open in January 2026 and showcase materials from Schieffer's collection.

Important details: Schieffer will return to campus as the featured guest for UTA’s Maverick Speakers Series event Feb. 10, 2026. Tickets are available now. For more information about the exhibit, visit the website.

Student Success

Two professors earn top UT Regents’ teaching honor

Graphic featuring the Regent's Outstanding Teaching Award

Two UTA faculty members—Karen Magruder and Mohsen Shahandashti—have been named recipients of the 2025 UT Regents’ Outstanding Teaching Awards, one of the highest honors for educators in the UT System.

Why it matters: The awards celebrate faculty who foster student success through innovation, mentorship, and classroom excellence. They have been recognized for the role they play in inspiring the next generation of Texas leaders and innovators.

Going deeper: Magruder, an associate professor of practice and program director for UTA’s doctoral social work program, is known for mentoring students long after graduation. Dr. Shahandashti, a civil engineering professor, has built a career developing innovative courses, hands-on learning experiences, and industry-facing programs.

Blaze Bites

🧠 Are you an undergraduate student interested in pursuing a Ph.D. and advancing your research career? The McNair Scholars program at UTA is accepting applications until Monday, Dec. 1.

🎓 The Fall 2025 Grad Finale will be held at the UTA Bookstore today through Thursday, Oct. 23. Join us as we kick off the graduation season with special pricing on graduation regalia, announcements, and more. You will find everything you need for commencement.

👩‍💼 Join Mavs EDGE Employers: INSPIRE for a discussion on teamwork and networking with Tomorrow's Leaders Today, a nonprofit organization dedicated to developing leaders through education, collaboration, and mentorship. Thursday, Oct. 23.

👩‍🔬 Applications for the spring Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program and Undergraduate Research Assistant Program are open. These programs offer undergraduates the opportunity to engage in hands-on research across various disciplines. The application deadline is Sunday, Nov. 30.

🎟 Get ready to an unforgettable night at the UTA National Pan-Hellenic Council Homecoming Step Show. This year, UTA's Divine Nine chapters are bringing the heat with the theme "Ease on Down the Culture." Tickets are on sale now and will be $15 to $20 day of. Friday, Nov. 14.