It is with a great joy that we celebrate the launch the CHSS Newsletter. We hope to provide regular and timely updates to CHSS faculty, staff, students, and alumni about the accomplishments and the upcoming events in the College. I am grateful for the hard work of all involved in the publication of the first issue, particularly the assistance of Ms. Allyzah Allene Cabugao (lecturer of Communication Studies) and Ms. Deanna Briones (Dean’s Office). Of course, the project is a work in progress; it needs your continued support and feedback. Please let us know your thoughts and the areas we can improve. Thank you.

College Success: College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHSS) Wall of Honor.

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. Hicks-Callaway 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 Callaway.

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 Sam Houston State University 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.

CHSS Collaborative Research Cluster Initiatives Funding

Congratulations to the three research clusters that received funding from the 2023-24 CHSS Collaborative Research Cluster Initiatives:

Teaching the Medical Humanities and Social Sciences (PI: Dr. Scottie Buehler; Cluster members: Drs. Maria Botero, Michael Arrington, Benjamin Mitchell-Yellin, and Brandon Strubberg);

Sustainability and Resiliency in the Gulf Shore Region (PI: Dr. Jason Konefal; Cluster members: Drs. Maki Hatanaka, Ross Guida, Ava Fujimoto-Strait, Emily Peacock, Recayi Pecen, John Strait, and Amber Ulseth);

Phytochemical Evaluation Team (PI: Dr. Stephen White; Cluster members: Drs. Justin Williams and James Harper).

We appreciate the great work of the Review Committee: Drs. Jake Blevins, Audrey Murfin, and Lisa Dahlgren.

SHSU Faculty Development Leave for FY 2025.

Congratulations to the CHSS recipients of the SHSU Faculty Development Leave for FY 2025: Dr. April Shemak (ENGL), Dr. Jake Blevins (ENGL), and Dr. Lu Chang Weng (POLS).

CHSS Skills Workshop Series.

Last Fall, CHSS hosted its inaugural Skills Workshop Series. Following an analysis of alumni and employer surveys, the series was designed to focus on three critical skill areas for the workplace: business and professional communication, intercultural communication, and critical thinking. The three workshops, held across October and November, were open to all CHSS majors and provided our students with an opportunity to acquire critical skills while engaging closely with their peers and faculty. We had a diverse representation of majors across our college and each of the workshops was very well received by the attendees.

Dr. Caleb Hubbard (pictured above), Assistant Professor of Communication Studies, delivered the workshops on business and professional communication and intercultural communication, while Dr. Thomas Meagher, Assistant Professor of Philosophy, delivered the workshop on critical thinking. Attendees earned certificates of completion for participation in the workshops. CHSS is pleased to announce the second offering of the Skills Workshop series in Fall 2024, with the possibility of expanding to additional skill areas. Emails with signup information will be sent out to students in the fall semester.

Sam Model United Nations Program: Uniting and Advancing Together.

The SHSU Model United Nations (SMUN) program is Sam Houston State University’s competitive international relations organization that aims to promote cooperation and globalization among current and future Bearkats as well as area youths. The program, which is also a hybrid course offered in the spring, is supported by the Political Science Department as well as the College of Humanities and Social Sciences.

“It is about collaboration and globalization,” said Dennis Lu Chung Weng, associate professor and SMUN faculty adviser. “The shared experience makes our students really want to get involved. I try to bring this experience back to our campus to promote global awareness and the opportunity for students to expand their career possibilities.”

Read the full story here.

Wednesday, February 7

Guest Talk: “Risk Perception and Communication Behaviors during Public Health Crises” with Dr. Janet Yang

Medical and Health Humanities Speaker Series

AB4 Room 220, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM

Or Attend via Zoom(registration required)

Dr. Janet Yang (University of Buffalo, Department of Communication) discusses the impact of risk perception on communication behaviors during public health crises. Her research focuses on health communication, risk communication, and science communication.

Friday, February 16

Wall of Honor

The Woodlands Center, President’s Room, 6:00 PM

3380 College Park Drive

The Woodlands, TX 77384

The CHSS Alumni Advisory Board acknowledges the following individuals for their personal and professional achievements, significant contributions to SHSU, the students, and society, and for bringing honor and distinction to our university: Mr. Ron L. Gay, Mrs. Vanessa Hicks-Callaway, and Dr. Terry M. Thibodeaux. Tickets can be purchased through February 9, 2024. 

Wednesday, February 28 

Comm Color with Us! Communication Day Celebration

CHSS Room 410, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM

The Department of Communication Studies invites you to celebrate Communication Studies and students like you! All students are welcome. Join us for food, swag, coloring contests, and a scavenger hunt!

Wednesday, March 6

Guest Talk: “Medicine, Science, and the Making of Race in Civil War America” with Dr. Leslie Schwalm

Medical and Health Humanities Speaker Series

Attend via Zoom (registration required)

Dr. Leslie Schwalm (University of Iowa, Department of History) discusses the relationship between medicine, science, and race during Civil War America. She is a historian of gender and race in the nineteenth-century U.S., and her research focuses on slavery, the Civil War, and emancipation.

Thursday, March 7

Career and Internship Fair: Arts, Media, Humanities & Social Sciences

Lowman Student Center, Orange Ballroom, 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM

Career Success Center presents Career and Internship Fair in partnership with College of Arts and Media, College of Humanities & Social Sciences. Representatives from a wide variety of companies will meet with students to introduce their business as well as discuss full-time employment and internship opportunities with their organizations. Wear your best professional attire and bring copies of your resume.

Call for Papers.

The Measure: A Journal for Undergraduate Research, is seeking submissions for Volume 8 (2024). Students in CHSS classes who conducted research for their classes in Fall 2023 and Spring 2024 are eligible to submit their work for consideration. Click here for more information on how to submit and to link to our digital volumes. Complimentary print copies of Volume 7 (2023) are available in the Dean’s Suite, CHSS 290.

CHSS Faculty and Staff Awards.

Nominations for CHSS Faculty and Staff Awards is open now until February 28. Recipients of the awards will be honored at the CHSS Kick-off Forum at the beginning of the Fall 2024 semester. Please nominate one or more of the faculty and staff for the awards to help us recognize their accomplishments. 

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

Submission Form for CHSS

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