|
|
A Read on Library Resources: If you’re thinking about accessing the McDermott Library this summer (see item below), these numbers make it clear you’ll have no shortage of options. The library has 1,994,823 electronic books; 531,147 physical books; 138,408 electronic journals; 122,223 streaming media; 3,337 print journals; 443 active subscriptions to electronic journals and journal packages; and 386 electronic databases.
|
|
|
|
|
The 2025 Provost’s mentoring award-winners are (clockwise from top left) Dr. Justin Ruths, Dr. Kathryn Evans PhD’16, Dr. Baowei Fei and Dr. Vijay Mookerjee.
|
|
|
|
PROVOST’S MENTORING AWARDS
Four Stories of Diverse Contributions
Dr. Justin Ruths learned from the research of his mentee, Dr. Zejiang Wang, while Dr. Kathryn Evans PhD’16 coached Dr. James Wilder through a planning nightmare. Dr. Baowei Fei schools a large number of undergraduate students in his lab, while Dr. Vijay Mookerjee usually works one-on-one with graduate students. But they have one thing in common: Their efforts made them the winners of the 2025 Provost’s mentoring awards.
|
|
|
|
|
From left, Dr. Jessica Kraft and Dr. Christopher Brewer of the UT Dallas Postdoctoral Association joined Dr. Francesca Filbey MS’97 at the national postdoctoral conference.
|
|
|
|
POSTDOCTORAL MENTORING PROGRAM
National Perspective Hits Home
Dr. Francesca Filbey MS’97, Senior Associate Provost for Faculty Success, wanted the leaders of the UT Dallas Postdoctoral Association to see what’s happening nationally. Their first visit to the national conference showed them how to go about reaching their goal: Build a postdoc community.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
UNIVERSITY COMMENCEMENT
A Peek at Horizon, a Reflection on Past
University Commencement on May 16 was a perfect opportunity to look ahead while also looking back. Dr. Richard C. Benson, in his last ceremony as President, asked the graduates a pertinent question about what they will do with the knowledge they have gained. Dr. Inga H. Musselman, Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost, noted in her remarks that they have witnessed more changes than any class in UT Dallas history.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
DOCTORAL HOODING CEREMONY
Record Number of Graduates Springs Up
Another May 16 highlight was the largest spring Doctoral Hooding Ceremony in UT Dallas history — 124 students walked and 139 graduated. The alumni speaker was Dr. Shaurabh Nandy BS’08, MS’09, PhD’18, Head of Applied AI and co-founder of Foxbat Research.
|
|
|
|
|
“From Texas to the World” celebrates the philanthropic efforts of UT Dallas pioneers Eugene and Margaret McDermott, J. Erik and Margaret Jonsson, Cecil H. and Ida Green, Dr. Richard Brettell, and Bonnie Pitman.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
EUGENE MCDERMOTT LIBRARY
Make It a Summer of Learning
Faculty and staff can take the McDermott Library with them this summer. Find out how you can tap into its extensive collection of novels, access its free subscriptions to The New York Times and Wall Street Journal, learn a new language or skill, and stream films and documentaries.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CENTER FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES
Owen Leaves 44-Year Legacy of Leadership
Dr. Margaret Owen, founder of the Center for Children and Families (CCF), retired May 31. Owen, known for her pioneering work in child development during a 44-year career at the University, served as Interim Dean of the School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences on two occasions and was the CCF Director for 14 years.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CENTER FOR VITAL LONGEVITY
Park Closes Renowned Career in Cognitive Health
Dr. Denise C. Park, founder and Director of Research at the Center for Vital Longevity (CVL), retired May 31. For 15 years, she led CVL’s mission to understand how the brain changes across the lifespan and promote cognitive health in aging, building the center into a leading research hub with nine labs and global collaborations. Watch for the News Center story.
|
|
|
|
|
Dr. Barbara Ashmore (left) and Dr. Ruth Johnson
|
|
|
|
TEACHER DEVELOPMENT CENTER
Ashmore Wraps Up Long Run of Success
Dr. Barbara Ashmore, who has worked in the Teacher Development Center (TDC) since 2010 and has been Director since 2022, retired May 31. Dr. Ruth Johnson is the Interim Director.
The TDC has graduated and/or certified 1,225 classroom teachers since 2010. Some of its recent accomplishments:
- A nearly 100% hire rate for candidates seeking positions as classroom teachers upon certification and/or graduation.
- A $750,000 Toyota USA Foundation grant that allowed the TDC to graduate 21 UT Dallas Teaching Scholars.
- Becoming the first four-year university in Texas to be awarded an educational apprenticeship program from the U.S. Department of Labor.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CENTER FOR TRANSLATION STUDIES
Guest Speaker Preaches Innovation
Dr. Steven Mintz, Professor of History at UT Austin, delivered a talk hosted by the Center for Translation Studies, “The Coming Higher Education Shakeout.” Mintz is convinced that higher education is at a crossroads and must fundamentally change its approach, which means being open to innovation. Watch the lecture
- “Translating the World with Rainer Schulte” podcast: Episode 32 features a conversation with Deep Vellum’s Will Evans, an award-winning publisher, writer, translator, bookstore owner, professor and literary arts advocate. Listen to the podcast
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
SCHOOL OF BEHAVIORAL AND BRAIN SCIENCES
Latest Developments in Clinical Trials
Clinical Trials Day 2025, hosted by the Clinical and Translational Research Center, featured a “fireside chat” with Dr. Jane Wigginton, Dr. Michael Kilgard, Dr. Seth Hays and Dr. Robert Rennaker and four research presentations:
- Kilgard: Vagus nerve stimulation to enhance plasticity and rehabilitation in stroke, tinnitus, spinal cord injury, neuropathy and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
- Dr. Francesca Filbey MS’97: Addiction as a model to understand reward system dysfunction in humans using multimodal brain imaging techniques.
- Dr. John Hart: Identifying the neural basis of semantic memory with imaging and electrophysiology and applying these findings to diagnosing and treating patients.
- Dr. Pamela Rollins: Social underpinnings of language with emphasis on intervention efficacy in culturally and linguistically diverse autistic children.
|
|
|
|
|
IN MEMORIAM
Misty Owens
Misty Owens, a founding teacher of dance classes for people coping with Parkinson’s disease, died on May 2. The senior lecturer in dance for the Harry W. Bass Jr. School of Arts, Humanities, and Technology led the UTDance Ensemble and a wide range of technique courses.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Calendar
Thursday, June 5
Student Answers to “What Do You Wish Your Professors Understood About You?”: Center for Teaching and Learning invites faculty, staff, graduate students and postdoctoral scholars to Virtual Office Hours event. 4-5 p.m., Microsoft Teams | Register
Thursday, June 19
Juneteenth/Emancipation Day: Campus holiday.
|
|
|
|
|
FEEDBACK
Send Us Your Ideas
Faculty or Academic Affairs staff are welcome to suggest items and story ideas for the Provost newsletter by emailing provostnews@utdallas.edu.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
