Dear CHSS Alumni,

We are thrilled to connect with you through our new e-newsletter, exclusively designed for our esteemed alumni community!

This semi-annual publication will keep you abreast of the recent news, events, and achievements from the College of Humanities and Social Sciences. Whether it's a story about faculty, staff, and student success, or an opportunity to get involved, we hope to keep you informed and engaged with the vibrant community you helped build.

Your journey with us did not end at graduation; your continued support and engagement mean the world to us. We encourage you to share your news and updates with us to make this newsletter truly yours.

Thank you for being an integral part of our college's legacy. We look forward to hearing from you and staying connected.

Warm regards,

Chien-pin Li, PhD

The CHSS Alumni Advisory Board established the CHSS Wall of Honor in 2011 to acknowledge faculty and alum who have distinguished themselves in their careers through personal and professional achievements and who have made significant contributions thus bringing honor and distinction to our university. The College of Humanities and Social Sciences is pleased to announce the 2024 Wall of Honor Recipients:

Mr. Ron L. Gay, Distinguished Alum. Ron Gay earned two degrees in political science from Sam Houston State University, first in 1977 with a bachelor’s degree, and then again in 1984 with a master’s degree. Since 2008, Ron has served with distinction in CHSS Advisory Board, and in 2016 he was elected as its Chair, a position he still holds. He and his wife, Terri, are both passionate world travelers. They currently reside in College Station, Texas, and have three children and five grandchildren.

Mrs. Vanessa Hicks-Callaway, Distinguished Alum. Vanessa pursued her bachelor’s degree from SHSU in political science with a minor in military science while serving in the Army Reserves as a military police officer. Her service in the U.S. Army as a supply sergeant and intelligence officer included two separate deployments to combat zones and earned her the Bronze Star Medal. She has been married to fellow Army Veteran Jason Ohm Callaway for 26 years and they have been blessed with two sons, Eric and Edward.

Dr. Terry Thibodeaux, Distinguished Faculty. Terry Mark Thibodeaux received his first two degrees, a Bachelor of Arts in Speech Education and a Master of Education, from McNeese State University in 1978 and 1980, respectively. He then went on to receive a Doctor of Philosophy in Communication from the University of Southern Mississippi in 1986. He has dedicated more than 35 years of service to the SHSU community. He has been a Professor, a Dean, a Chair, and more in his years at the university, giving back to the students, faculty, and staff around him.

Read the full story here.

Recent Communication Studies (COMS) graduate, Tiffany Venekamp, is the new Executive Director of Family Promise of Lake Houston (FPLH). A Fall 2023 graduate, Tiffany credits her time in the COMS program with helping her gain interpersonal skills and helping her understand how and why people work the way they do. She says her mentors were critical in supporting her and helping her grow her skills during her time at SHSU, skills she now takes into the workplace to do great things. 

How do you think your time at SHSU has prepared you for being the Executive Director of FPLH?

I think that understanding so much more about the way and why people communicate is really impactful for me on every level of my job. Not just working with my clients but also working with professionals in my field, working with the donors, and facilitating those relationships and being able to be more mindful of what we call "friend-raising" instead of fundraising. Building those connections with other individuals so that they are more willing to fund my non-profit is definitely something that I was prepared for through all of my communication courses.

Read the full interview here.

CHSS psychology professor Dr. Adam Natoli's work on health equity is being recognized through a grant consortium funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Along with SHSU computer science professor Dr. ABM Islam, Dr. Natoli's work focuses on the development of an AI-powered, multi-lingual smartphone application designed to help reduce mental health disparities in immigrant and migrant communities experiencing language barriers to care. They aim to scale this research for widespread benefit through alliances with community organizations and those providing medical and mental health services. In addition, they are developing educational curricula to promote the responsible and ethical use of AI in scholarship and clinical practice. 

The project, funded through the Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning Consortium to Advance Health Equity and Researcher Diversity (AIM-AHEAD) Program for AI Readiness (PAIR) Grant "will advance AI health equity research at SHSU and significantly enhance the standing of SHSU in the realm of groundbreaking AI healthcare research and application," according to Dr. Natoli. 

Read more about their research and the PAIR program here.

More accolades for Dr. Adam Natoli, Assistant Professor of Psychology, after being named the 2024 John E. Exner award winner. The award recognizes and supports the research of younger scholars involved in personality assessment. Natoli is the director of the Multimethod Assessment & Personality Lab (MAPL) where he focuses on how researchers use measurement methods to conduct measurement research, or simply put, he investigates all aspects of "how we measure what we measure." Natoli joins other psychology professors, Dr. Ryan Marek and Dr. Jaime Anderson, who won the award in 2021 and 2018, respectively. 

To what do you attribute your professional successes? 

The continued support I receive from SHSU, "and the support I receive from CHSS in particular, has allowed me to advance my program of research in important ways, and I don't think it's a coincidence that three SHSU [psychology] professors have won this award in the last six years."

Read more about the award and Dr. Natoli here.

At the 2024 Model United Nations (MUN) conference in New York City, Sam Houston Bearkats showcased outstanding diplomacy and global policymaking skills. Led by Dr. Dennis Weng, from the Department of Political Science, twelve students from diverse disciplines, guided by head delegates Alondra Bermea and Taylar Russell, garnered awards including an Honorable Mention and the university's first Best Position Paper Award.

The demanding MUN schedule tested the delegates' commitment and endurance, culminating in a rewarding experience that included a significant ceremony at the United Nations building. This event celebrated their achievements and highlighted the collaborative spirit and learning acquired throughout the week. Beyond academic achievement, SHSU's MUN participation reflects its commitment to global awareness and community engagement, offering students transformative experiences and opportunities for personal growth. As preparations for the 2025 Model UN begin, SHSU invites students to join in cultivating essential skills for global citizenship develop essential skills in public speaking, and critical thinking.

Read more about MUN here.

This spring, CHSS hosted its inaugural Skills Challenge. Inspired by Applied Skills Consortiums, the Skills Challenge challenged three teams of CHSS majors to address an issue that a local nonprofit organization is currently experiencing. This semester, the teams worked with SAAFE House, a local advocacy organization that provides a shelter and crisis intervention services for the community. Over the course of 9 weeks, the teams created proposals to address SAAFE House's need for additional resources and housing to help them serve a greater population. 

Following the teams’ boardroom-style presentations to the SAAFE House Executive Staff, awards were given for the Outstanding Team and the Outstanding Individual Team Member. Jessica Bilsing was awarded the Outstanding Individual Team Member Award, and Team 2 consisting of Anahi Bosquez, Jessica Cuevas, and Alexis Minter were awarded the Outstanding Team Award.

What was your experience with the Skills Challenge?

The CHSS Skills Challenge presented a unique experience for students and faculty alike because of the open nature of the challenge. The SAAFE House needs to expand and is in the earliest phase of planning, which meant that students' proposals could go in a variety of directions. My team reached out to contractors and architectural firms and found a wealth of information and ideas about how the SAAFE House can proceed with its expansion. They synthesized this information into a presentation that clearly impressed the directors of the organization. It was a fantastic way for students to put their humanities skillset - research, public speaking, critical thinking - to work for the common good. - Zach Doleshal

The CHSS Skills Challenge was a very fun experience! It definitely got us out of our comfort zone by contacting different construction firms and presenting our presentation to SAAFE House. The team I worked with was very helpful and filled with like minded people who wanted to help SAAFE House the best we could! Knowing that this project was going to help with something bigger was a fulfilling experience and something I would do again! I'm glad that programs like this  exist at SHSU because they not only help the students, but also the community! -Lupe Centeno

As a passionate individual who values making a positive impact in the lives of others, I made the decision to join the 2024 Skills Challenge. I believed that my contribution could make a difference and wanted to try my best. Despite the expected challenges that come with any project, I found the experience to be quite rewarding, especially when we acquired our first donor. This was not only exciting but also helped us expand our network and gain more opportunities for donors. We were fortunate to have an amazing faculty advisor, Dena Horne, who was aware of our challenges and worked tirelessly to help us. Her guidance, support, and networking helped us develop a successful plan to overcome this hurdle and achieve our goals. -Alexis Minter

Interested in learning more about the Skills Challenge or have a community organization you'd like to recommend for next year's Skills Challenge? Email Dr. James Crosby at crosby@shsu.edu for more information.

Top Row, left to right: Alexis Minter, Dena Horne (Faculty Mentor), Anahi Bosquez

Bottom Row, left to right: Carolina Mancilla (Client Services Director), Tammy Farkas (Community Relations Director), Tracy Stoudt (Executive Director)

Top Row, left to right: Lupe Centeno, Jessica Bilsing, Heidi Parra, Dr. Zach Doleshal (Faculty Mentor)

Bottom Row, left to right: Carolina Mancilla (Client Services Director), Tammy Farkas (Community Relations Director), Tracy Stoudt (Executive Director)

#SamHoustonState is proud to announce the launch of a refreshed visual identity, ushering in a new era for the institution! This debut is the first phase of an extensive rebranding roll-out.

Marking a significant step towards connecting the university’s brand with its athletics program, the new visuals encompass a university logo, typeface, color palette, university marks and additional design elements. Bearkats will be pleased to see that the signature orange and white remain integral to the brand, with a few new colors added to enrich the visual appeal. Read the full article here.

CHSS Tailgate, Bearkat Family Weekend

Bearkat Alley, Coliseum Lot on Bobby K. Marks Drive & Bowers Boulevard

Join us at the College of Humanities and Social Sciences tailgate tent! Swing by for FREE swag, tasty goodies, and great company. Let’s show our Bearkat pride together! 🧡 Don't miss out - come say hi, grab your goodies, and let's cheer our team on! 

Get your football tickets here.

51st  Distinguished Alumni Gala

Lowman Student Center, Orange Ballroom

Congratulations to Mr. Chris Tritico who will be honored as a Distinguished Alumni and recognized during this year's homecoming festivities. He is a 1982 graduate of Sam Houston with a Bachelor of Science in Political Science. Mr. Tritico is a former President of the Alumni Association and a Life Member of the Association. He has served on the Advisory Committee for the College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHSS) of which he is also the Former Chairperson. In 2014, Mr. Tritico was placed on the CHSS Wall of Honor. 

 Purchase tickets to the Alumni Gala here.

CHSS Tailgate, Homecoming and Alumni Weekend

Bearkat Alley, Coliseum Lot on Bobby K. Marks Drive & Bowers Boulevard

It’s time to relive your student days at Sam Houston State University! Join us at the College of Humanities and Social Sciences tailgate tent for some FREE swag, tasty goodies, and a trip down memory lane. Don't miss the chance to reconnect with fellow alumni and experience the campus spirit once again. Get your football tickets here. #EatEmUpKats🐾

National Book Awards Festival

Lowman Student Center, Orange Ballroom, 6:00 - 8:00 PM

The National Book Awards Festival at SHSU brings recent National Book Award finalists and winners to Huntsville, Texas for several days of literary events that are free and open to the public. The marquee event is a reading and discussion with the visiting authors. This program is a joint endeavor of Sam Houston State University and the National Book Foundation sponsored by the College of Humanities and Social Sciences and the MFA Program in Creative Writing, Editing, and Publishing. The NBAF 2024 schedule and author information will be posted later this summer. 

Join the conversation and use the form below to help us tell your stories.

Allyzah Allene D. Cabugao, Newsletter Project Manager

Brianna Chapman, Writer / Editor

Deanna Briones, CHSS Events Coordinator

Tiffany Hubrig, CHSS Marketing Communications Coordinator

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