Fitting farewell: Before Jim Stallings retired last month after 20 years as director of the chess program, the team qualified for the President’s Cup for a record 20th time in the last 25 years.

SCHOOL OF BEHAVIORAL AND BRAIN SCIENCES

New Dean Is Focused on Bright BBS Future

Dr. Adam J. Woods is already in his second semester as dean of the School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences. Find out more about his work on age-related decline, his excitement about the potential of BBS and why he says, “This is exactly where I want to be.”

WINTERMESTER PROGRAM

Deep Dive into History of Modern Medicine

Students from a variety of disciplines explored the creative genius of John Hunter in the first UT Dallas faculty-led Wintermester, which took them to London and Bath in England and Glasgow and Edinburgh in Scotland.

Hunter is relatively unknown even though he pioneered many modern surgeries. Other threads included the social determinants of public health, how the Enlightenment overcame the miasma theory of disease and how resistance to anesthesia was finally overcome.

NAVEEN JINDAL SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT

Online MBA Program Named No. 1 in U.S.

Our online MBA program earned first place in the 2025 rankings of Poets&Quants, an online publication that covers the graduate business education market.

Lisa Shatz, Assistant Dean of JSOM and Director of its MBA Programs, said UT Dallas sets itself apart by having the same faculty teach all MBA programs. “Our online MBA students get the same benefit as all of our other graduate students,” she said.

Ghana Conference Studies Sustainability

Approximately 200 scholars, practitioners, policymakers and students from JSOM and the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology’s School of Business gathered last month in Kumasi, Ghana, for a joint conference that explored sustainability as a solution to global challenges.

Sponsors of the three-day event are the Ann and Jack Graves Charitable Foundation and the Africa Academy of Management.

ARCHER FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM

Don’t Let Students Miss Next Week’s Deadline

Faculty and staff are encouraged to have their students apply for the Archer Fellowship Program, which provides UT System undergraduate students with the life-changing opportunity to live, learn and intern in our nation’s capital during the fall or spring semester.

The deadline is Saturday, Feb. 15. Students from all majors are eligible.

While in Washington, D.C., students earn in-residence UT Dallas credit for their coursework and gain hands-on work experience in an internship. Archer Fellows live together near Capitol Hill, experiencing fellowship and signature events that foster lasting friendships and professional connections.

TERRY SCHOLARS AT UT DALLAS

Class of 2024 Continues Recent Rise

Terry Scholars at UT Dallas welcomed 25 new scholars in fall 2024, bringing the program total to 75 and continuing the upward trajectory post-COVID-19. The average GPA of all Terry Scholars is consistently above 3.5, and a third of this year’s incoming scholars are from outside the DFW area. The Terry Foundation has funded full-ride scholarships for more than 400 UT Dallas students since 2006.

UT SOUTHWESTERN SHUTTLE

Bigger Bus, More Accommodating Schedule

The weekday bus to UT Southwestern has proved convenient to so many students, faculty and staff, a larger vehicle now makes the trek and the schedule was adjusted for this semester to better meet the needs of riders.

The bus, provided by the Office of the Provost, still runs between Capella Hall on Rutford Avenue and the Texas Instruments Biomedical Engineering and Sciences Building at UTSW. And it still has users raving about avoiding traffic and parking challenges.

The new schedule (Monday through Friday only; please note that this is a revised schedule effective Wednesday, Feb. 5):

• 7:30 a.m.: Depart UTD
• 8:30 a.m.: Depart TI-BMES
• 9:30 a.m.: Depart UTD
• 11 a.m.: Depart TI-BMES
• 4 p.m.: Depart TI-BMES
• 5 p.m.: Depart UTD
• 6 p.m.: Depart TI-BMES
• 7 p.m.: Depart UTD
• 8 p.m.: Depart TI-BMES

INTERNATIONAL CENTER

New Students Get a True Texas Welcome

The International Student Services Office (ISSO) welcomed approximately 290 new international students for the spring 2025 semester through a series of workshops and events.

For the first time, spring arrivals experienced the Immigration Resource Expo, where students met the entire ISSO advising team and had the opportunity to ask questions in a more interactive format.

• Help with employment-based visas: The International Center recently hosted a seminar on employment-based immigrant visas, co-presented by the Office of Immigrant and Citizenship Services and immigration attorneys from Ustun Law Group. The workshop provided international students with valuable insights into the employment-based visa process and offered an overview of pathways to securing these visas.

INTERCULTURAL PROGRAMS

International Week Offers World-Class Events

Our annual International Week, aka iWeek, will be celebrated Feb. 17-21 with an exploration of the tastes, sights and sounds of the world. Faculty, staff and students can learn about other cultures and sports, experience unique art, try new cuisine, discover recipes from around the globe and experience much more.

The iWeek website has a complete schedule of activities.

ACKERMAN CENTER FOR HOLOCAUST STUDIES

Historian To Share Insights into Nazi Crimes

Marc Masurovsky, who has spent the past 45 years studying assets looted during the Nazi era, will speak at 4 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 6, in JO 4.102.

Masurovsky co-founded the Holocaust Art Restitution Project in 1997 and served as its Director of Research. As a consultant and historian for the Department of Justice’s Office of Special Investigations, he provided information on alleged Nazi war criminals living in the U.S. and post-war relations between former Nazi officials and Allied intelligence agencies.

IN MEMORIAM

Dr. Brian Berry: Helped Put EPPS on the Map

Dr. Brian Berry, Professor Emeritus and the world’s most frequently cited geographer for more than 25 years, passed away Jan. 2 at age 90. Dr. Berry became Dean of what was then the School of Social Sciences in 2005 and engineered its transformation into the School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences (EPPS).

Dr. David F. Channell: Half-Century of Service

Dr. David F. Channell, who taught history and philosophy at UT Dallas for nearly 50 years, passed away recently. Dr. Channell was best known for his dedication to exploring the intersection of humanities and science.

Calendar

Wednesday, Feb. 5
Faculty Success Workshop: Tips and Techniques for Writing a Winning Grant: Panelists who have successfully secured federal and private grants offer insights and share experiences that will demystify the grant-submission process. 11:30 a.m.-12:45 p.m., CTL Workspace (MC 2.404)

Physics Colloquium: Dr. Mengke Liu, a Harvard Quantum Initiative postdoctoral fellow, discusses her research. 4-5 p.m., SCI 1.210

Thursday, Feb. 6
Mastering the CPRIT Language: Insider Strategies for Successful Submissions: Currently funded faculty share their insider knowledge on how to successfully secure funding from the Cancer Prevention Institute of Texas. 11 a.m.-noon, virtual event | Watch live

Future-Ready Graduates: Faculty’s Role in Career Preparation: Bethany AuHoy, Director, Career Center, and Amy Kendall, Associate Director, Career Readiness, explore the critical role faculty play in preparing students for future careers, highlighting innovative teaching methods and career-oriented curriculum design. 4-5 p.m., Microsoft Teams | Register by Feb. 5

Thursday-Friday, Feb. 6-7
Sustainability Strategy and Management in Aviation Certification: The Naveen Jindal School of Management presents faculty and industry experts who can share global best practices. Cost: $1,200. 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., JSOM | Register

Friday, Feb. 7
Margaret Tresch Owen Lecture Series: Dr. Leehyun Yoon explains how adolescents’ brains process social feedback on their performance and likability. 9:30-10:30 a.m., Callier Center Richardson Addition (CRA 12.110) | Register

M.A. Gallery Talks: First-year students of M.A. in Art History at the Edith O’Donnell Institute of Art History (EODIAH) present on works of art they have researched using Dallas Museum of Art archives and resources. Parking requires payment. 11 a.m.-noon, Dallas Museum of Art (meet in EODIAH Seminar room on mezzanine)

Tuesday, Feb. 11
Data Management Symposium: Office of Research and Innovation event explores data governance, research resources and the role of artificial intelligence in modern data management. 9 a.m.-noon, Student Union, Artemis Hall I and II (SU 2.905A/B) | Register

Wednesday, Feb. 12
Accessibility: Law, Not Luxury: Center for Teaching and Learning’s Webinar Wednesday explains legal requirements and standards for digital accessibility. 11:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m., Microsoft Teams | Register by Feb. 11

Watch Party: Embracing AI as Essential Learning: Drawing from his new book, Teaching with AI: A Practical Guide to a New Era of Human Learning, Dr. C. Edward Watson details the challenges and opportunities that have emerged for higher education. 3:15-5 p.m. (Dr. Watson’s talk starts at 3:30 p.m.), CTL Workspace (MC 2.404) | Event is full and is no longer accepting registrations

Thursday, Feb. 13
Generative AI Across the UT System: Dr. Carol Cirulli Lanham MS’09, PhD’11, Associate Director of the Center for Teaching and Learning, and Dr. Sarah Moore MA’07, PhD’17, Provost’s Teaching Fellow, facilitate UT System Mini-Conference Series session. This month’s topic: how UT Dallas’ unique focus on AI policy, values-driven education and faculty support fosters academic integrity and student engagement. 1-2:15 p.m., Zoom | Register for link

Friday, Feb. 14
aXh Faculty Research Symposium: Harry W. Bass Jr. School of Arts, Humanities, and Technology showcases innovative research and highlights work of grant recipients. 10 a.m.-4 p.m., ATC lobby

Thursday, Feb. 20
Digital Accessibility Awareness Webinar: Mona Rekhi, Director of the College Board’s Accessibility Compliance Office, raises awareness about digital accessibility and legal requirements under U.S. law and shows how to apply best practices for creating accessible content in higher education. Noon-2 p.m., Microsoft Teams | Register by Feb. 17

Friday, Feb. 21
Ninth Annual All Campus Mini-Conference: Faculty share their successes in helping students appreciate the connections between coursework and purpose, building connections between themselves and the instructor, connecting with each other when collaborating in groups or design teams, developing a sense of belonging and making connections beyond the classroom. For faculty only. Light breakfast will be provided. 8:30 a.m.-noon, McDermott Suite (MC 4.404) | Register by Feb. 14

Margaret Tresch Owen Lecture Series: Dr. Sarah Kucker explains how digital media impacts language development. 9:30-10:30 a.m., Callier Center Richardson Addition (CRA 12.110) | Register

Tuesday, Feb. 25
Monthly Mentor-Mentee Coffee and Chat: Mentors and mentees connect over hot coffee and tea and meet other faculty members. 9-10 a.m., CTL Workspace (MC 2.404)

Wednesday, Feb. 26
Crafting Effective Letters of Recommendation: Dr. Salena Brody, Associate Director of the Center for Teaching and Learning, explains how to gather detailed information to craft strong recommendation letters, when to accept or decline requests, and strategies for streamlining the process. Cookies and coffee will be provided. 1:30-2:45 p.m., CTL Workspace (MC 2.404) | Register before Feb. 20

Thursday, Feb. 27
Bi-monthly Mentor-Mentee High Tea: Networking event where mentors and mentees in the Faculty Mentoring Program can connect over tea and pastries while discussing academic experiences and career guidance. 3-4 p.m., CTL Workspace (MC 2.404)

Medieval Kairouan Mosque Video Game Simulation: Dr. Ali Alibhai of the Edith O’Donnell Institute of Art History and his research team publicly debut their digital-learning tool. 4:30-6 p.m., ATC 3.309

Saturday, March 1
Research, Art, Writing Conference: What baits or prompts audiences to click on a post, linger on a painting or engage with a video? Bait theory studies these impulses in the 16th annual event. 8:30 a.m.-6 p.m., Edith O’Donnell Arts & Technology Building (ATC)

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