UTA’S E‑NEWSLETTER FOR FACULTY AND STAFF

UTA MavWire

THURSDAY, MAY 30, 2024

Kim Siniscalchi, fourth from left, standing next to President George H. W. Bush.

Professor served in military health care for 34 years

Retired Air Force Major General Kim Siniscalchi, now a professor of practice at UTA, served as a member of the White House Medical Unit for two presidents: George H. W. Bush and Bill Clinton. Today, she serves a different group: the students and faculty of UTA’s College of Nursing of Health Innovation. As a member of the college’s senior leadership team, she works to advance new strategies, policies, and projects that enhance the college's academic mission.

Shimadzu Distinguished Professor of Analytical Chemistry Kevin Schug

Developing more plastic recycling methods

Despite consumer efforts to separate recyclables, most plastic bottles end up in landfills. Recycling methods to sort, shred, and remake plastics are limited to just two types of plastic. Shimadzu Distinguished Professor of Analytical Chemistry Kevin Schug and his team of graduate and undergraduate researchers are working to develop new ways to recycle mixed plastics.

Meghna Tare, UTA’s chief sustainability officer

UTA leader joins a national sustainability roundtable

Meghna Tare, UTA’s chief sustainability officer, has been invited to contribute her expertise as a member of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine’s Roundtable on Science and Technology for Sustainability. The roundtable's membership includes leading experts from research institutions and senior decision-makers from government and industries in a position to mobilize new strategies for sustainability.

UTA Staff Advisory Council, Staff Development Conference, Save the date: June 7, 2024

Register for the Staff Development Conference

The Staff Advisory Council will host the 2024 Staff Development Conference on Friday, June 7, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. in the Bluebonnet Ballroom in the University Center. This event will explore resources UTA staff have to advance their careers and develop skills. Register for the conference by Monday, June 3.

Kyrah Brown (left) and Yue Liao, co-author on the study and assistant professor of kinesiology

Building trust in clinical research

Kyrah Brown, assistant professor of kinesiology, led a team of UTA researchers in a study on participation levels in clinical research involving biospecimen donation, specifically among Black women. Dr. Brown and her team asked nearly 500 Black women ages 18-49 to complete an online survey about their attitude toward giving blood for clinical health research. They found that less than half, 44%, would be willing to take part. Read more about the results of the survey.

Kim Bennett

Meet a Maverick

As the administrative assistant II to UTA’s TRiO Pre-College Programs Department, Kim Bennett helps ensure that the programs run smoothly. TRiO Pre-College Programs promote equal opportunities for secondary achievement and postsecondary enrollment through the following federally funded grant programs: Educational Talent Search, Upward Bound, Upward Bound Math and Sciences Center, Veterans Upward Bound, and the Educational Opportunity Center.

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Veterans Upward Bound has a mission that is particularly close to Bennett’s heart because her husband, brother, father, and nephew all served in the military. “It is wonderful to be able to give back and to help people find the tools that they need to succeed," she says.

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Bennett, who has been a Maverick for 10 years, is inspired by the passion she sees in her department’s staff members and leaders. Their dedication makes her work feel more like a joy than a job.

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Her 25-plus years of teaching martial arts have equipped Bennett with people skills and a desire to encourage others to persevere when reaching for a larger goal. Lisa Thompson, executive director of TRiO Pre-College Programs, described Bennett as a cheerleader, motivational speaker, confidant, and rescuer.

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“Kim Bennett is a valued staff member who goes above and beyond to keep our department and staff members happy and engaged. She brings positivity, passion, and great energy to every effort,” Thompson says. “We are lucky to have her on our team.”

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In her free time, Bennett coordinates delivery and helps create items for a volunteer group that knits and crochets socks, hats, scarves, and stuffed animals for Unbound Now North Texas, a nonprofit organization that provides resources for survivors of human trafficking. She also knits and crochets gifts for staff and students in her department for holidays and celebrations.

UTA researchers

Supporting Texas power

A group of UTA researchers has received a federal grant to find ways to increase the reliability and resilience of the Texas power grid, provide relief from power transmission congestion, reduce customer bills, and facilitate the production of Texas clean energy.

Group of UTA Greek Life students

Survey for UTA alumni who participated in Greek Life

UTA Alumni Relations is looking for ways to engage with UTA Fraternity and Sorority Life alumni by providing events and programming specifically for Greek Life alumni. Fill out this survey to share your insight on the best ways to develop and serve this group of alumni in the future. If you would like to volunteer to help plan, organize, or market Greek Life alumni events, include your contact information on the survey or contact christian.wommack@uta.edu.

An example of a field research photo

Submit your field research photos

Let UTA showcase your research in the field! Email photos of your work that you would like to see included in University marketing materials and on the website, with credit. Your submissions will help tell the story of the depth and breadth of research conducted by our students and faculty. Email your photos to Katherine Bennett for consideration.

Faculty and Staff Mav Power Giving Campaign

Mav Power

How can UTA faculty and staff empower students and their fellow employees at the University? Through our combined Mav Power! Working together, we can harness our collective strength to spur student success and launch bright futures. Mav Power, UTA's Faculty & Staff Giving Campaign, is an opportunity to make a philanthropic investment in our students, showing that supporting them is not just our job; it is our passion! Let's work together to empower our fellow Mavericks! Learn more at give.uta.edu/mavpower.

Third Thursday Think Tank, Leveraging Local Registrations to Grow Your Business, Thursday, June 20, 2024, Speaker Dr. Cassandra Brandford Certification Expert/Consultant Genesis Preferred Solution

Third Thursday Think Tank

Join UTA’s Veterans Business Outreach Center for Third Thursday Think Tank Thursday, June 20, 6-7:30 p.m. and learn how to leverage local registrations to expand your small business. The event will be held in person in Room 609 of the College of Business and virtually via Microsoft Teams. The meeting link will be emailed to registered attendees. Registration is required.

Employee Emergency Fund, photo of UTA campus

Emergency assistance

The Employee Emergency Fund (EEF) provides short-term assistance for employees experiencing significant temporary financial hardship. The fund helps eligible employees cover basic needs. You can donate to EEF through automatic payroll deduction or online through the EEF giving website. 

Photo of Arlington Hall

Temporary housing on campus

Whether you are in search of cost-efficient guest housing, overnight housing for summer youth camps and programs, or a place to stay while pursuing summer internship or employment opportunities in the DFW area, UTA’s Summer Camps and Guest Services Office is happy to discuss convenient, temporary accommodations. For more information, email conferences@uta.edu.

Global Seal of Biliteracy

Global Seal of Biliteracy

UTA students who speak a language in addition to English can take a test to potentially earn the Global Seal of Biliteracy certificate, a micro-credential that conveys language proficiency. The test is offered in more than 40 languages through the Department of Modern Languages. Email proficiency@uta.edu for more information.

 

Coming Up

THURSDAY, MAY 30

UTA Alumni Happy Hour Series: Fort Worth

SATURDAY, JUNE 1

UTA Fort Worth: Code and Coffee DFW Chapter Meetup

Open for Business - Graduate Program Open House

FRIDAY, JUNE 7

Mac McAnally Performance at Texas Hall

See more at events.uta.edu,

webapp.uta.edu/hr-training, and

uta.edu/business-affairs/training.

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