CHHS Students,
We are having another incredible year in the College of Health and Human Sciences. Last year, we achieved record numbers of students in both our undergraduate and graduate programs. This spring, our growth continued as students sought out the programs we offer that connect directly with career opportunities.
I’m very proud of all our programs and the impact they have both here at Texas Tech and in the wider community. You will have classes that connect with community organizations and businesses, and one of our goals is to ensure your education stays up to date and relevant in an ever-changing world. You will be well-prepared to face challenges in your future career.
For the past two years, we have been responding to that growth by enhancing our facilities to make the college a better place for you to learn, to meet, and to relax. We have renovated the space in El Centro to provide a better place for you to meet in groups or have downtime between classes. Our main lecture auditorium and the Canyon Room near the tower are also being revamped to provide additional updated space. We have also spent time working on advising and recruitment spaces to improve them and make them more comfortable and welcoming for our current and prospective students.
Finally, get involved - if you are not already involved with student organizations, I would encourage you to see how you might fit with one of our groups. This will help you develop a better understanding of the opportunities on campus, connect with others, and learn about your academic discipline.
We look forward to your continuing to make an impact in the college as we all help to improve and enhance the human condition.
Tim Dodd, Ph.D.
Dean
College of Health & Human Sciences
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Stress Happens: How to Stay Balanced in College
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There is not a predictable rhythm for every semester. It begins with optimism and fresh planners, builds with deadlines and exams, and somewhere in the middle, stress starts to creep in. For many college students stress can feel overwhelming.
The good news? Stress during college is not automatically a sign that something is wrong. Often, it is a sign that something matters. Unmanaged stress can quietly challenge academic performance, physical health, and emotional well-being. The key is not eliminating stress entirely. It is learning how to move through it in a healthy and sustainable way.
Karen A. Esquibel, Ph.D., APRN, CPNP-PC
Associate Dean, Undergraduate Student Services
College of Health & Human Sciences
Click below to view some key points to be mindful of this semester:
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| 5 Tips to Boost Your Financial Well-Being
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Looking to take charge of your finances?
KristiLyn Wilkinson, CFP®, AFC®, CDFA®, Personal Financial Planning Senior Lecturer, shares smart, student-friendly tips to help you build strong financial habits.
·Track Your Spending
A simple budgeting app or spreadsheet can help you determine where your money is going and if your spending aligns with your financial values and goals.
·Avoid Unnecessary Debt
Only borrow what you truly need for school expenses. If you are using a credit card, make sure you can pay it off in full each month to avoid interest charges. A low-limit student credit card for small, planned purchases that are paid off each month can help you start building a healthy credit score.
·Use Student Discounts
From software streaming to local restaurants, always check for student discounts. Saving 10% here and there can add up over time.
·Build a Small Emergency Fund
Start with getting $100 in your savings account, then aim to get one month’s worth of expenses saved for an emergency. Keep building from there so you don’t have to rely on credit in an emergency.
·Plan Ahead for Big Purchases
Save a little each month for textbooks, trips, or any other irregular expenses you know are coming. One way to do this is to add up all your known expenses, like tuition and textbooks, for the upcoming year, and divide them by the number of months remaining until you must pay for each item. Start saving each month for those upcoming expenses, and it won’t feel as overwhelming when it’s time to pay the bill!
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| Heart-Healthy: Beet Pasta for American Heart Month
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Alexis Mueller, Nutritional Sciences Graduate Student shared the recipe to her favorite heart-healthy dish!
With February being American Heart Month, this recipe includes an ingredient that not only improves cardiovascular function but also provides a pop of color to the dish!
Single Serving recipe:
- ½ cup (56 g) dry pasta
- 1 teaspoon (5 g) olive oil
- ½ clove garlic, thinly sliced (or small pinch garlic powder)
- 1–1½ oz (30–40 g) cooked beet
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¼ cup (60 g) cottage cheese
- 2 tablespoons (10 g) grated Parmesan
- Pinch salt
- Pinch black pepper
- Parsley for garnish (optional)
Steps:
- Cook the pasta according to instructions on package/box. Reserve some of the pasta water for later
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Add garlic to a pan with olive oil and toast until golden brown. Remove from heat
- Add the cooked beets, cottage cheese, parmesan cheese, salt, pepper, and ¼ cup of the pasta cooking water to a blender. Add the toasted garlic and olive oil. Blend until smooth.
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Pour the beet sauce over the cooked pasta and stir to coat. Add a splash or two of the pasta water as needed to thin the sauce.
- Top with grated parmesan and parsley and enjoy!
Beets contain nitrates which can lower blood pressure by relaxing the blood vessels and allow for more oxygen to be delivered to muscles. Additionally, incorporating cottage cheese and parmesan adds an extra boost of protein into the sauce!
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Connect. Network. Get Hired.
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Whether you’re searching for an internship, part-time role, or full-time position, the Hire Red Raiders Job Fair is a great opportunity to connect with employers specifically seeking Red Raiders in your major. This event offers more than just job leads — it’s a chance to expand your professional network, gain insight into different industries, and learn more about the companies recruiting on campus.
Event Details:
Date: Wednesday, February 25, 2026
Time: 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Location: McKenzie-Merket Alumni Center
Attire: Business professional attire encouraged
What to Bring:
- Multiple copies of your résumé
- Business professional attire
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A polished elevator pitch
Come prepared, be confident, and take the next step toward your career goals!
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| Where Innovation Meets Opportunity
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Ready to unleash your entrepreneurial spirit? Join the FREE Red Raider Startup Weekend at the TTU Innovation Hub on February 27th-March 1st! This 72-hour experience is open to the public and gives participants the chance to build a team, develop an idea, and pitch to judges for a chance to win up to $1,000. Meals, swag, and hands-on learning are included.
New this year: The Health for Humans Challenge will award three $1,000 prizes to teams that include at least one Health & Human Sciences student and fully participate in the weekend. Don’t have a team? No problem—teams will be formed on Day One. Come learn, collaborate, and innovate!
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| A Red Raider Day for Siblings!
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Bring your sibling to campus on February 28 to provide a full day of hands-on activities, campus fun, and Red Raider experiences designed just for them.
This year, siblings can choose one track:
- Plant Science
- Animal Science
Spots are limited and filled on a first-come, first-served basis, so early sign-up matters.
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| Popcorn with the Deans of the Founding Colleges
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Join us for Poppin’ Since 1925 on March 3 from 1:00–3:00 PM at the Student Union Building! All students are invited to stop by, grab a free bag of popcorn, and connect with the Deans and select Associate Deans representing the four founding colleges. We hope to see you there! 🍿
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| Stop by the Day of Giving pop-up on March 24
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Meet the CHHS team on March 24 from 10:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. in the breezeway to get ready for TTU’s 2026 Day of Giving.
Texas Tech’s Day of Giving is a 32 hours and 3 minutes (1,923 minutes) campus-wide effort happening March 25–26, bringing the Red Raider community together to support programs, students, and initiatives across the university.
Stop by the pop-up to:
- Learn how Day of Giving works
- Explore ways to support CHHS and TTU initiatives
- See how your participation creates lasting impact
Alumni, students, faculty, staff, and friends are all invited to take part.
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| Innovation Starts Here: Pop-Up Sessions at the Rawls
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The Texas Tech Innovation Hub will host Pop-Up Sessions at Rawls in March and April to give students a hands-on introduction to entrepreneurship and innovation. These events are open to all students in any college on campus.
Dates:
Tuesday, March 24 | 3:00–5:30 PM
Monday, April 13 | 3:00–5:30 PM
These casual, come-and-go sessions are open to all majors and include quick ideation exercises, real startup examples, and opportunities to connect directly with the Hub team.
Join us to spark ideas and learn how to get involved with the Innovation Hub’s programs and activities.
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The Skyviews Dinner Series is a unique pop-up restaurant experience, fully managed and operated by RHIM students as part of a hands-on lab course. Every Wednesday night during the semester, students take charge of both the front-of-house service and back-of-house kitchen operations. From designing the menus to recruiting guests, they do it all — delivering an unforgettable dining experience.
With every semester selling out for the past two years, the Dinner Series has become a highly anticipated event. Each evening promises creative cuisine, polished service, and a delicious night to remember.
If you are interested in attending a Dinner Series this spring, use the following link for reservation, menu and date information.
Skyviews Dinner Series Info >>
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Making a Difference Through Research
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Joanna Cayla Rivera, M.A., is a Doctoral Candidate from Tracy, CA, currently pursuing her Ph.D. in Human Development and Family Sciences. She is passionate about education and hopes to build a career teaching and mentoring children and students who are curious, inspired, and excited about learning. Through her work, she strives to uplift her community—especially young children and college students—and hopes to make a lasting impact on her future students, just as her own teachers have impacted her.
Joanna is completing her dissertation this upcoming Spring, titled “Cognitive Reappraisal in Early Adolescence and Parent and Sibling Influences.” Using data from the Texas Sibling Study (TSS), her research explores how parents’ and older siblings’ use of cognitive reappraisal, along with their warmth, predict the development of reappraisal in younger adolescents. Her work also examines how family dynamics in White families and Families of Color may differ in the ways they support—or do not support—adolescent emotional regulation and development through a multigroup analysis.
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| Celebrating achievements and new beginnings
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On Saturday, December 13, the College of Health & Human Sciences proudly celebrated its December graduates at the CHHS Graduation Celebration following the commencement ceremony.
It was a joy to reconnect with our graduates as they begin the next chapter of their journeys, making meaningful impacts and improving and enhancing the human condition across many fields. We are incredibly proud of your accomplishments and honored to call you CHHS graduates. Wishing you continued success in all that lies ahead!
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On Saturday January 10, the PEANUTs lab hosted its second Paper-in-a-Day event! Five undergraduate and graduate students along with Dr. Rioux spent the day writing a paper on the associations between sensory processing sensitivity (also known as the highly sensitive personality) and motives for using cannabis, ending the day with a full edited draft. They celebrated the end of a long day with dinner. We look forward to finalizing the paper for publication!
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| Tech Savvy STEM Event for Middle School Students
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Tech Savvy is a one-day STEM conference taking place on Saturday, February 28, designed for middle school students to participate in hands-on workshops and explore STEM careers and educational pathways.
This event is a great opportunity for students to dive into the exciting world of STEM! TTU Student organizations and STEM students, we need you! If you would like to volunteer at Tech Savvy, please fill out the Volunteer Application
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| Connecting Care Across the Community
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The Family Therapy Clinic partook in the monthly Networking for Kids event that was held on Thursday, February 12, from 12:00–1:00 PM.
The gathering brought together medical and mental health professionals who work with children and their families across Lubbock and the surrounding communities. Hosting this event helped increase the clinic’s visibility while fostering connections that may lead to future client referrals through professional networks and word of mouth. The event also provided an opportunity for attendees to visit the clinic and become more familiar with the building and services offered.
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STUDENT ORGANIZATION SPOTLIGHT
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| Tech NRF Takes on a Conference in NYC
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Tech National Retail Federation (NRF) member, Alexis Moyeda shared her experience attending the NRF Student Program Conference in New York City this January.
“My experience at the NRF NYC Student Program 2026 was phenomenal. This was my second year attending, and this time I had the honor of serving as a Student Ambassador for Texas Tech. The conference focused on how the retail industry is integrating artificial intelligence, emphasizing the importance of emerging leaders learning how to leverage AI, strengthen their skills, and make the most of available resources.
Throughout the program, we gained valuable insights from presenters representing companies such as Goodwill, Pandora, Uniqlo, and Zara, among many others. We also had the opportunity to connect with mentors working in human resources, talent acquisition, merchandising, executive leadership, and performance coaching from organizations including Target, Best Buy, Lowe’s, and Goodwill.
One of the most impactful takeaways was the encouragement to network, say yes to new opportunities, step outside of your comfort zone, and continuously strengthen transferable skills.
The right organization will recognize your passion and provide opportunities for success. This was an incredible experience, and I hope more students will have the opportunity to participate in the future.”
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| IIDA to Host Department of Design Career Fair
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On February 19, the IIDA Campus Center Chapter hosted the Department of Design Career Fair—its ninth annual event—at the Frazier Alumni Pavilion.
Throughout the day, Pamela Driza of Steelcase served as the featured speaker at the Keynote Brunch, which was complimentary for all IIDA members and staff. In the afternoon, the Career Fair brought together a diverse group of design firms and material manufacturers.
This event supported students’ professional development by strengthening communication skills and deepening their understanding of the design industry. Upperclassmen also had the opportunity to participate in interviews for summer internships and full-time positions.
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| Meet Saleth Orozco - President of CHHS Ambassadors
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Saleth Orozco serves as the 2026 President of the Health & Human Sciences Ambassador Program. Reflecting on her experiences as a student, Saleth explains what motivated her to take on this leadership role:
“I am majoring in Nutrition with double minors in Chemistry and Biology and plan to attend dental school in the future. I currently serve as President of the CHHS Ambassadors and Secretary of the Texas Tech Terry Scholars, and I am also involved in Pre-Dental Society, CAPS Advocacy, and the Bayless Mentoring Program.
I chose to lead the Ambassador Program as the President because an ambassador made a lasting impact on me before I even arrived on campus. They helped me understand that I didn’t have to be a biology major to pursue dentistry and that I could follow my passions while still achieving my goals. That conversation gave me confidence in my path.
Now, I want to be that same resource for current and incoming students by educating them about available opportunities and creating a welcoming, supportive environment where ambassadors feel proud to represent our college.”
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| Preparing Future Financial Planners for Career Success
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The Personal Financial Planning Association hosts career fair preparation events for the School of Financial Planning, helping students strengthen interview skills, stand out to employers, and gain insight from alumni and industry professionals.
This semester, the organization will feature a student panel with upperclassmen who have successfully secured internships and full-time roles, sharing practical advice and experiences.
On March 31, the group will also host a guest speaker and social with Dennis Moore, President of the Financial Planning Association and an alumnus of Texas Tech’s School of Financial Planning, who continues to make a lasting impact in the financial planning industry.
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Parent & Family Relations is offering BreakShuttle bus trips to help students travel home safely and conveniently for Spring Break. Tickets are on sale now for routes to Austin, Dallas, San Antonio, and Houston.
Students can click the button below to purchase tickets and view trip details. Seats are limited, so be sure to get your ticket early!
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The Family Therapy Clinic within the Health & Human Sciences building provides high-quality, affordable therapy services to individuals, couples, and families across the Lubbock area.
The clinic provides support for a wide range of concerns, including:
- Depression and anxiety
- Marital or relationship conflicts
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Post-divorce adjustment
- Grief and loss
- Other significant life transitions
The therapists are trained to work with clients of all ages and backgrounds in a supportive and confidential setting.
Currently enrolled students can access sessions at the clinic for just $10 per 50-minute appointment—the lowest rate available.
To schedule a session or learn more, call 806.742.3074.
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| Paige Morrison, Student Success Specialist
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As your Student Success Specialist, Paige is focused on helping you get connected to the resources at Texas Tech to help you be academically, professionally, and personally successful.
Whether you need assistance with time management, aren’t sure who to reach out to about finding mental health resources, are struggling with finances, are wondering how to get involved on campus, or just need someone to talk with about the stresses of college life, Paige is here to listen and to connect you with the individuals and offices on campus who can provide whatever help you need.
Paige works directly with the CHHS and your advisor to provide specialized retention outreach and support services. You can schedule with Paige using Raider Success Hub or send her an email at Paige.Morrison@ttu.edu if you need any help. Don't hesitate to reach out to her today!
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| Red to Black Peer Financial Coaching
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Red to Black® Peer Financial Coaching is a nationally recognized program led by Personal Financial Planning students at Texas Tech. Through one-on-one coaching, presentations, outreach events, and resource referrals, the team helps fellow students take control of their finances.
Whether it’s creating a spending plan, building credit, or managing debt, Red to Black® empowers students to make informed financial decisions. After all, who better to understand student needs than students themselves?
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| Stay in the know with your Title IX Resources
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WHAT IS TITLE IX?
Title IX is a federal law that prohibits sex-based discrimination in education. It protects individuals from sexual harassment, sexual assault, dating/domestic violence, and stalking. Texas Tech University must address this misconduct, provide support, and work to prevent its recurrence. TTU policies also prohibit discrimination or harassment based on sex, race, national origin (including shared ancestry), religion, age, disability, and veteran status.
HOW TO REPORT A TITLE IX INCIDENT
During Business Hours
- Online Reporting Form
- In Person: Doak Hall, Suite 129
- Phone: 806-742-7233
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Email: titleix@ttu.edu
After Business Hours
Confidential Reporting Options
- Student Counseling Center: 806-742-3674
- Student Health Services: 806-743-2848
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Crisis HelpLine: 806-742-5555
For immediate help:
Texas Tech Police: 806-742-3931 or call 911.
HOW OUR OFFICE CAN SUPPORT YOU
- CARE Coordinators for guided support
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Counseling services
- Medical services
- Short-term housing accommodations or housing changes
- Academic assistance
- On-campus parking assistance
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Support with extracurriculars and student organizations
- Adjustments to student employment schedules
- No Contact Orders
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Looking for college-specific scholarships or not sure how to complete your thank you letter? Wondering when your scholarship will be up on Raiderlink?
Connect with our Director of Scholarships and Recruitment, Billy.Tiongco@ttu.edu.
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KNOW YOUR CHHS SUPPORT TEAM
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From help with registration and course planning to finding the right TTU resources, or even just needing someone to talk to?
Connect with your Academic Advising team or Student Success Specialist.
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Looking for additional scholarship opportunities? Current and admitted prospective students at Texas Tech University can access millions of dollars in internal and external scholarships through Scholarship Universe, a platform designed to match you with opportunities tailored to your profile.
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Would you like to share any news, spotlights, or events happening in your area of the college?
Submit ideas for the next newsletter using the following form:
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1301 Akron Avenue Box 41162 None | Lubbock, TX 79409-1162 US
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