18 minute read
NEWS & EVENTS
TXWES welcomes back students, faculty and staff to a ‘better than ever’ campus
What does a strong return to campus look like at TXWES? Reconnecting students to their community
What does being back and “better than ever” look like for TXWES? The university committed to a strong return in August and each student is playing a vital role in the return process and bringing the vibrancy back to the campus that is so important to each of us.
Texas Wesleyan University President Frederick G. Slabach praised the broad response of the campus in the wake of the pandemic. “We have proved to ourselves that we are resilient — that we can respond effectively and quickly to any environment or emergency.” For its ability to respond quickly and begin effectively providing a “rigorous highquality education,” Texas Wesleyan received accolades from a nonprofit higher education organization.
TXWES is committed to a Smaller. Smarter. educational experience amid the ever-changing world of communications and technology. Over the course of 2020-2021, the university gained a significant amount of knowledge and experience utilizing various communication and technological programs for the purposes of providing a quality education, whether in person or online. As we moved to return to campus for the fall, President Slabach said, “Our priority is providing a toptier academic experience to our students with individualized attention from engaging educators in intentionally small classes so that students can fulfill their potential. Through our hybrid approach over the last year, we’ve taken our ‘Smaller. Smarter.’ experience to students’ homes, evolving with uncertain times. With the help of our invaluable faculty and staff and wider vaccine availability, we have begun to bring our complete “Smaller. Smarter.” atmosphere back to campus.”
Dennis Hall, vice president for student affairs and dean of students, has seen many “displays of perseverance and tenacity” in TXWES students over the past year as they showed “their grit by working hard, taking care of business, and continuing their education.” The Office of Student Affairs is hard at work planning in-person programming for students to enjoy in the academic year. Hall says that the student affairs office is striving to foster opportunities for students “to have meaningful, educational and fulfilling experiences … in a safe and healthy manner.” Academics have certainly looked different over the past year. Our academic side has adapted to the changes in stride, collaborating internally to find new ways for students to keep receiving their quality Texas Wesleyan education in the face of adversity. Faculty and staff developed new skills utilizing technology through the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning that will continually be refined to serve the campus community going forward. Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Hector Quintanilla prepared for students to return primarily to in-person instructional delivery with some online and hybrid classes, as opposed to the mainly hybrid model that was utilized throughout 2020-2021. Quintanilla states that his goals for the coming
academic year are to “continue strengthening our general education curriculum so that students have a distinctive experience that not only supports their current and future career aspirations but also gives students the experience of leadership responsibilities while simultaneously supporting our surrounding community.”
Christopher Deal, a senior exercise science major, is eager to reimmerse on Wesleyan’s campus. Deal actively serves as a TXWES football team captain, Mortar Board inductee, a tutor for A&P and head resident assistant. You can expect to see him on the sidelines of as many games as possible once he’s back on campus. For him “college game day is an unforgettable experience regardless of the sport.”
The past year has undoubtedly been a challenge but, in the process, we came together as a Texas Wesleyan community like never before. Through new virtual events and programming, adaptive education modalities, student efforts, and the tireless work of university faculty and staff, we have persevered and supported one another in ways not previously conceived as possible. The return to campus comes at a time when many of us are longing for a sense of belonging and fellowship. With the combined efforts of all who have called Texas Wesleyan “home” in some form, we know that this year will be one for the history books.
Fortune features 100% online MBA on list of top programs
TXWES recognized on Fortune’s first-ever Best Online MBA ranking
Texas Wesleyan has been on the cutting edge of higher education with its 100% online MBA, and the education team at Fortune magazine has noticed, ranking TXWES on its first-ever ranking of the nation’s Best Online MBAs.
Out of more than 200 online MBA programs invited to take part from around the country, “Our MBA program Texas Wesleyan was ranked in the top 50% based on prepares students a list of factors, including with excellent undergraduate GPA, quality communication and of alumni network and critical thinking skills, perception of university brand. TXWES is one of just which is what hiring nine Texas schools to make managers are looking the cut. for in today’s complex “Fortune magazine is a business environment.” longtime trusted source of business information, which – Sameer Vaidya, interim is why I am so pleased to dean of the School of see Texas Wesleyan’s 100% Business Administration online MBA receive this recognition,” said Sameer Vaidya, interim dean of the School of Business Administration. “Our MBA program prepares students with excellent communication and critical thinking skills, which is what hiring managers are looking for in today’s complex business environment.”
With five concentrations, seven-week sessions and seven starts per year, students are never more than a few weeks away from boosting their career.
Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia elects TXWES professor as president
Paul Austin honored as COA president
Paul Austin, professor of nurse anesthesia, was recently elected president of the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs. The COA is made up of interested parties from anesthesia educators, practitioners, students, health care administrators and the public. This board is responsible for maintaining accreditation standards for the 125+ nurse anesthesia programs across the U.S. and Puerto Rico.
Austin joined the faculty of Texas Wesleyan in 2008 following a long career as a nurse anesthetist and educator in the United States Air Force. His primary teaching responsibilities include the evidence-based courses and oversight of the doctoral scholarly projects in the master’s to DNAP program. His many awards include John F. Garde Researcher of the Year, Outstanding Nurse Faculty Member (UTHSC San Antonio), the Mary Hanna Memorial Journalism Award and the Alumni Legacy Award.
Austin maintains a clinical practice in Maryland where he lives with his wife. In his free time, he enjoys family and travel.
Elspeth Harris named first Dr. Trevor Morris Political Science Award winner
Student honored with memorial political science award
Elspeth Harris received the inaugural Dr. Trevor Morris Political Science Award. Ricardo Rodriguez, dean of the School of Arts and Sciences, presented the award to Harris in a private ceremony May 17 in the Martin Center.
The award is in memory of Trevor Morris, former dean of the School of Natural and Social Sciences, professor of political science and advisor for the Model UN. This will be an annual award that will be given to students who best exemplify the passion and intellectual curiosity in international affairs that Morris so willingly shared with his students. Morris died in February after complications from heart surgery.
“Dr. Morris is the reason that I was in the program to begin with,” Harris said.
TXWES paralegal studies degree ranked among top in the country
Study.com gives TXWES high ranking for paralegal studies
Texas Wesleyan is getting more national praise, this time from Study. com who ranked TXWES eighth on its list of Best Bachelor’s Degrees in Paralegal Studies in the country.
The site compared public and private fouryear universities and made their selections based on retention rates, American Bar Association approval, flexible learning options and overall program offerings.
“The university is home to a mediation team that participates in frequent competitions as well as a paralegal honor society, a pre-law fraternity and a social sciences honor society,” said Study.com on Texas Wesleyan’s ranking. It also touted the university’s location in the busy DFW metroplex as another factor of its high marks.
Innovative health idea wins global student competition
Two Texas Wesleyan students and their innovative idea to solve a pressing global health issue has received international praise
Raul Montes, a junior biology major, and Sheryl Vu ’21, who graduated with a B.S. in psychology, beat out more than 30 teams from around the world to win the United Nations Sustainable Goals Competition. Two students from Nigeria and the United Kingdom shared the honor with Montes and Vu.
The teams were tasked to create a solution to address an urgent global health issue. Montes and Vu along with the two students, who formed the team The Mending Minds, came up with a wristband and app which would detect levels of cortisol, the body’s stress hormone, and measure the user’s body temperature and pulse to gauge stress levels. It would then alert the user when those levels are too high.
“Mental health is an ever-increasing problem that has been intensified during the [COVID-19] pandemic. Thanks to this wristband, you will be advised on your phone to take action when it detects you are stressed,” said Montes.
The Mending Minds were among the three teams chosen to present their solution at Innovation to Action, an annual global health conference, held virtually this year, that fuses innovation and collaboration centered around human health.
“We had the opportunity to hear from professionals, doctors, public health experts, youth leaders and students from all over the world,” said Vu. “I found my interest in public health and strengthened my passion for mental health through this competition. I am grateful for such an amazing opportunity.”
Montes, an international student, hopes this success helps other students realize they can achieve their big dreams.
“Since I came three years ago to the U.S., all my endeavors have been directed toward making the possibility of getting into medical school a reality,” said Montes. “I want to demonstrate that I have what it takes to get there and inspire all international students not to be pulled back from accomplishing their dreams, especially if they want to make a better community and construct a promising future.”
See the winning presentation at txwes.edu/studentcompetition
TXWES Esports brings home first national championship
History graduate brings home gold for TXWES
Jacob Williams ’21 graduated with a B.A. in history, but not before he delivered an esports national championship to TXWES.
On April 24, Williams, TXWES’s FIFA team captain and coach, defeated the player representative from Old Dominion University (Virginia) two games to none to win the National Association of Collegiate Esports FIFA Xbox championship. It’s the program’s first national championship and had more than 123,000 views online. The program had won a regional FIFA title in spring 2019.
Williams had a season that esports program director Eugene Frier called “incredible” as he reached number four on the FIFA Xbox Online Seasons ranking. That includes players all around the world, not just on the collegiate level.
Along with many aspects of life over the past year, the team contended with issues caused by COVID-19. Its team roster was cut down and the entire FIFA team’s operations were moved virtually. But the team was able to improve their skills through games with other online players.
See the winning performance at txwes.edu/esportschampion
Christopher Ohan ’90 reflects on teaching the important history of past and present
The history program is pleased to announce that this year’s United Methodist Church’s Exemplary Teacher of the Year award recipient is Christopher Ohan ’90, associate professor of history. The award was announced at the faculty assembly April 8.
“Teaching at this time in our nation’s history is an exercise in humility. Much of how we knew the American past is being reexamined in the current climate, informed by last year’s killing of George Floyd,” Ohan said. “Much of what I thought about race and progress in this nation has been shattered.
Teaching now entails more listening, self-examination and critical reflection that focuses on empathy rather than just understanding.”
Ohan offered a special topics course in Summer 2021, “U.S. Civil Rights: From the Bill of Rights to Black Lives Matter.”
In addition to offering the U.S. history survey, Ohan specializes in medieval and early modern European history. He offers classes in European and world history, including modern Latin America, ancient Greece and Rome, and the Crusades. Students in the history program especially appreciate Ohan’s dry humor and passionate delivery of course material.
Prior to coming to Texas Wesleyan in 2014, Ohan spent a dozen years teaching European history courses overseas at the American University of Kuwait and in Russia. According to Ohan, “I have come full circle. I graduated with a B.A. in history from Texas Wesleyan, saw a bit of the world and then returned home.”
The United Methodist Church’s General Board of Higher Education and Ministry selects the recipient of its Exemplary Teacher of the Year award. It recognizes educators that were nominated by their institution’s leader for exceptional service to the school and excellence in education.
Music graduate awarded prestigious Collegiate Music Educator Award from TMEA
Graduate turns focus to a quality music education in his community
Music graduate Cordry “Cord” Wiley ’21 was awarded the prestigious Collegiate Music Educator Award from the Texas Music Educators Association. This award, only given to the finest and most dedicated future music educators across the state, is an indication of quality for those looking to hire outstanding new teachers. Qualifications include a 3.5 or better GPA and the candidate providing nonmandatory music instruction or being otherwise significantly involved in the local music education community.
Wiley, an exemplary music education student, more than proved his dedication during his time at Texas Wesleyan. He was involved in Kappa Kappa Psi, a music-based service fraternity as an officer and was a student worker in the music department.
“Cordry is a wonderful student and very much deserving of this recognition. He has been a leader at Texas Wesleyan since his first days here, maintained high academic standards and overcame adversity to reach this point in his career,” Paul Sikes, former head of instrumental music studies at Texas Wesleyan, said. “Kids need teachers who know how to succeed, know how to overcome adversity and care for them deeply. Based on his experience here at Texas Wesleyan, I know he is going to be a great teacher and is going to make a positive impact on his community and beyond.”
GPNA graduates open first APRN-run ketamine clinic in Kansas
TXWES graduates meeting need for primary care and mental health in their community
West Library adapts to serve students
When faced with adversity, West Library continues to meet the needs of students
Three classmates from the 2006 master of science in nurse anesthesia cohort have formed Advanced Practice Association – a ketamine clinic in El Dorado, Kansas. Ketamine, long used as an anesthetic during surgery, is used as a treatment for more than two dozen conditions, including depression, chronic pain and migraines. Sonia Slaba, Jason Burk and Dean Heideman recognized a need in their community to address both primary care and mental health issues.
Prior to attending Texas Wesleyan, Slaba was a family nurse practitioner in Kansas. After practicing for four years as an FNP, she returned to school for a degree in nurse anesthesia and later completed her DNAP at TXWES in 2017. She is currently certified as a CRNA, FNP and as a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner. Slaba also brings fluency in both English and Spanish to her patient care.
Burk began his medical career as a paramedic prior to completing a Bachelor of Science in nursing. Following his graduation from TXWES, he practiced anesthesia in rural Kansas. Returning to school, Burk graduated from an FNP program in 2016 and completed his DNP at Creighton University in 2019. His doctoral project focused on ketamine infusions and treatment-resistant depression. Burk is currently completing additional education as a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner.
Heideman transitioned from his role as an LPN to an associate degree and later a BSN while working at Stormont Vail in Topeka, Kansas. After graduating from Texas Wesleyan’s anesthesia program, he completed a pain management fellowship at TCU in 2017. Heideman is currently enrolled in an MBA program.
What do you do when an unexpected pandemic – and a flood – throws a wrench in your finely tuned library plans? Keep going full steam ahead, of course.
Claudine Myles, circulation assistant, said during the time where most aspects of campus life moved to a virtual modality, the library faculty and staff continued to provide services such as parking permits, IDs and providing material to check out to TXWES students and employees. They relocated the Reserve Collection to the Martin Center and assisted students in locating and utilizing the STC computer labs and printers. Myles praised the adaptability of the circulation staff during this time, saying that they were “flexible and patient.”
Collection Management Librarian Natasha Zinsou gave us a behindthe-scenes look at some of the steps to the West Library’s reopening. Because parts of the library sustained water damage from the winter storm in February, Zinsou’s main focus is the recovery of the shelves located on the library’s third floor, which houses the General Collection. The entirety of the faculty librarians and the majority of the staff have been involved in the recovery process at some stage. Staff have been tasked with what Zinsou described as “shelf-reading,” which involves placing the books back on the shelves in the correct order.
Faculty librarians are conducting a book-by-book account of the collection on the third floor. Inventory is essential, according to Zinsou, as it “helps keep our library catalog accurate by identifying which books are physically confirmed to be on the shelf and which books may come up as lost/missing.” To ensure an accurate count of the books remaining in the General Collection, the faculty librarians take each book off of the shelves and individually scan it into their inventory system. As each book is handled, the faculty librarians assess the book’s relevance to current students’ needs, removing those that are no longer useful.
The incredible faculty and staff are engaged in this restoration project all the while continuing to provide stellar service to students. Their resilience in the face of challenges and difficulties showcases the spirit of Texas Wesleyan in such a tangible way. Eunice & James L. West Library reopened its doors Sept. 14 and is back to normal, serving hundreds of students a day.
TXWES IN THE NEWS
Glenn Lewis ’81 becomes first person of color to serve as chair on the TXWES Board of Trustees
Texas Wesleyan is proud to announce the election of Glenn Lewis ’81 as chair of the Board of Trustees, effective June 1. Lewis, who was unanimously elected, is the first person of color to serve as chair in Texas Wesleyan’s 131-year history. He will manage and provide leadership to the board as it transitions into the new Engage 2025 strategic plan.
“Texas Wesleyan’s mission is to facilitate success among all students from all backgrounds. Glenn has been a critical component in that mission and we are honored to have him serve as the new board chair,” said Texas Wesleyan University President Frederick G. Slabach. “The impact he has had across Fort Worth and Tarrant County is immeasurable. As we look ahead to our new strategic plan, we are confident that Glenn will help Texas Wesleyan make an even greater impact with our students and in the community.”
Lewis has been a member of the Board of Trustees since 2006 and had been serving as chairman of the governance committee. He is currently a partner in the law firm of Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson.
In 2005, Lewis concluded 10 years of service in the Texas House of Representatives, representing the 95th District in Tarrant County.
Lewis is active throughout Fort Worth. He is on the board of Water from the Rock, a nonprofit organization that helps economically disadvantaged women make a successful transition into the workforce. He has served as co-chairman of the Public Policy Committee of the United Way of Tarrant County. He is also chairman of the Tarrant County Civil Service Commission, a commission that he served on first in 1988 and was appointed to again in 2008. He is a life member of the Fort Worth/ Tarrant County branch of the NAACP and has served on its board of directors and as general counsel.
Lewis is a member of the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, the Fort Worth Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and the Fort Worth Metropolitan Black Chamber of Commerce where he served six years as chairman of its board of directors. He is a member of the board of directors and the Corporate Leadership Council of the Arlington Chamber of Commerce where he currently serves as chairman of the Public Policy Committee. Additionally, he has been a member of the board of directors of United Way of Tarrant County and the board of directors of the downtown Fort Worth Tax Increment Financing District.
Lewis succeeds Tim Carter who served as chair since 2017. During his term, Carter oversaw major developments at Texas Wesleyan, including the completion of the Nick & Lou Martin University Center and the expansion of the GPNA building. He also provided critical leadership as the university navigated through the COVID-19 pandemic. He will continue to serve as immediate past chair of the board and as such will be a member of the board’s Executive Committee.
Lewis has been married to his wife, Arveda Lewis, since 1977. They have two children. SOCIAL CHATTER
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after 173748 classes, 174872848 assignments, 164 mental breakdowns, we graduated. #txwesalumni #loveyouguys
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