The Trinity Perspective | Fall 2020

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A Dose of Urgency Sarah Lovelace ’20 researches potential COVID-19 vaccine through NIH fellowship

Appreciating Excellence Rachel Daniel ’18, M’20 graduated from Trinity a triple threat: After receiving both a Bachelor of Science in accounting and a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish, she earned a Master of Science from Trinity’s accounting program.

Equipped with three degrees from Trinity, Daniel landed a postgraduate technical assistantship with the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB), the organization that sets financial accounting and reporting standards across the U.S. She is one of only about seven students picked nationwide this year for the position.

After her year-long post with the FASB, Daniel will return to her hometown of Houston to work full time in the audit and assurance division of PricewaterhouseCoopers.

She is just one of the many students Trinity’s accounting program places in jobs post-graduation–the program boasts a 100 percent employment rate and currently ranks No. 11 in the country for CPA pass rate.

“I feel like Trinity has really prepared me...because Trinity doesn’t just focus on giving you the technical skills,” Daniel says. “They do an incredibly good job of laying that foundation and then adding on the extra layer of analysis, writing abilities, and communication skills.”

The Trinity Perspective magazine is produced quarterly. Through these pages, explore the many facets of life at Trinity University and get to know the students, faculty, and staff who call Trinity home. With the vibrant city of San Antonio as a backdrop, discover the many benefits and opportunities our community has to offer. We invite you to read these pages to explore some of the many ways we make a great education possible, then take a virtual tour to get a sense of our 125-acre skyline campus.

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ABOUT TRINITY Trinity University is a private, residential, co-educational institution with an undergraduate focus. So, what does that mean? It means that we focus on YOU—connecting you with the best possible resources, caring faculty members, committed staff members, and other world-class students destined to have a positive impact in our community.

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Ready for Launch Six student startups, from street tacos to backpacks, are competing for $25,000 grand prize At Trinity, tenacious and innovative entrepreneurs embark on their next adventure, supported by mentorship, funding, and strong industry connections.

One of the biggest boosts for these students is making the finals of the Louis H. Stumberg Venture Plan Competition, Trinity’s premier, annual two-part pitch contest. Students of all majors can compete in the year-long competition, with a $25,000 grand prize at stake.

But first, students have to make it through the seed round of competition, which takes place in the spring. Here, hopeful students pitch their companies to a panel of judges, who select five or six finalists that each take home $5,000 and a spot in the summer accelerator program. The summer accelerator then crunches years of vital business skills, networking, and personal growth into a 10-week course for Stumberg finalists, who emerge with a sharpened pitch for the fall finals.

It’s a model that’s stood the test of time, as students have launched 55 companies through Trinity’s entrepreneurship program this past decade, with about 84 percent of those companies still active. This year, the competition has been held remotely via Zoom, but for the six new startups of 2020, the dream of creating their own company is still closer than ever.

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REVIVE SNACKS Amy Platter ’22 | Neuroscience and economics Kincannon Wilson ’22 | Mathematical finance and economics

Revive Snacks is committed to helping students live happier and healthier lives with a healthy snack packed with functional ingredients that promote overall health.

EMPOWER MEDIA Sebastian Trujillo ’22 | Accounting and finance Austin Sanders ’22 | Finance John Jay ’22 | Business analytics and technology

Empower Media provides entertainment venues holding 40,000 attendees or more with customizable portable charging and storage devices.

Meet the 2020-21 Stumberg Venture Competition finalists:

COMPASSVET Tara Perez Tiffany Perez ’21 | Communication

CompassVet is dedicated to providing quality, reliable, compassionate, and humane at-home pet euthanasia services to customers in greater San Antonio.

CHIROPACK Neha Kapur ’22 | Business analytics and technology

Chiropack aims to re-engineer the daily-wear backpack for students and working professionals who experience back, shoulder, or neck pain.

SAPPHIRE Zachary Taylor ’20 | Computer science Tara Lujan ’22 | Psychology

Sapphire increases awareness of hydration levels with a smart replacement lid that fits most bottle brands, automatically recording fluid intake and displaying it conveniently for the user.

TACOS PAPI Alvaro Marquez ’20 | Geosciences Francisco Macias ’20 | Psychology and philosophy

Tacos Papi prepares authentic Mexican street tacos with traditional family recipes and quality delivery service for San Antonio.

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A Dose of Urgency

Lovelace researched at the UT Southwestern Medical Center and U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research during her time at Trinity.

Graduate researches potential COVID-19 vaccine through NIH fellowship

By Miriam Sitz

G rebey

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’10

The months following college graduation can feel a bit daunting in the best of times; completing an undergraduate career during a pandemic takes that uncertainty to a whole new level. Fortunately for Sarah Lovelace ’20—and for the rest of us—her next steps are set: The newly minted Trinity University alumna just began a two-year fellowship with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Bethesda, Maryland, working in a lab at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) that conducts research on vaccines for HIV, influenza, and—you guessed it—the novel coronavirus, among other contagions.

“I didn’t realize when I picked this lab that it was going to be quite so relevant,” Lovelace says.

When Lovelace started her academic career at Trinity, the Houston native knew she wanted to study the biological sciences. “I decided to major in biology, to explore the field more broadly and figure out what I like before narrowing my focus,” she says. “I’m glad I did; otherwise, I might not have discovered my passion for studying infectious diseases.”

Lovelace applied to the NIH Postbaccalaureate Intramural Research Training Award Program with several concrete goals: to study infectious diseases, pursue a project with real-world applications, and work at the main NIH campus in Bethesda. “I think it’s special, this opportunity to take what I’ve learned in school and contribute to something that’s going to help people down

Lovelace dons personal protective equipment before doing

A former Trinity Symphony Orchestra member, Lovelace

in vivo imaging.

plans to continue playing oboe.

the line,” she says, “to physically do things that will eventually result in some kind of medical technology that will help people.” Being based at NIH headquarters will allow her to make the most of her time: “There are so many researchers and opportunities at the NIH. I want to have access to all of those connections.”

This NIH fellowship won’t be Lovelace’s first experience in a lab: as an undergraduate, she spent two summers as an intern at the U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research, and another at UT Southwestern Medical Center. “I feel really fortunate to have started research so early in my college career,” she says. “Once you have that first experience, it helps you in your applications for the next and the next.”

In a world upended by COVID-19, Lovelace’s fellowship and area of study seem more urgent than ever. “It feels validating and exciting to know that I’m going to be contributing, in some small way, to a field that is so immediately relevant,” she says. And, given that her lab is part of the NIAID, her “big boss” is none other than the viral media sensation, Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the Institute. “It’s interesting to see him on TV now and think, ‘Oh, he’s at the top of my work food chain!’”

Apart from her work in the lab, Lovelace hopes to discern the right next step for her own career:

It feels validating and exciting to know that I’m going to be contributing, in some small way, to a field that is so immediately relevant.

– Sarah Lovelace ’20

medical school or graduate school. “I’ve spent the last four years going back and forth between the two,” she says. “This is an opportunity to talk to people in these different fields and see things for myself.” A former member of the Trinity Symphony Orchestra, she also plans to continue playing oboe.

Whether she decides to eventually pursue an M.D. or Ph.D., Lovelace’s time at Trinity laid the foundations for her future in infectious disease.

“Anyone who wants to be involved in research should just reach out to the Trinity faculty,” she says. “Take advantage of those opportunities while you have them. They were amazing for me.”

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A Secure Outcome Recent graduate turns internship for tech company into full-time job

By Brooke Yung ’20

It seemed that Daniel Matthewson’s interview was doomed before it even began. The phone rang two hours before the appointed time, jarring Matthewson awake. His prospective employer, Joseph Ndesandjo ’01, was waiting on the other end of the line.

“He woke me up, and I wasn’t prepared,” Matthewson confesses. But amazingly, after talking through their mutual goals, Ndesandjo offered him the job–with the stipulation that he accept within 24 hours. Otherwise, he would lose the opportunity. Even though Matthewson had neither met Ndesandjo nor spoken with other potential employers, he decided to take the leap. He accepted the job with SiteOwl, a security device management tech company, after only 30 minutes of deliberation, and what started off as a nightmare scenario turned out to be a promising beginning to a new career.

Matthewson initially had no intention of designing software for a security integration company. Inspired by his mother, who came to America from China to study economics, he planned to follow in her footsteps as an economist.

However, his career path changed directions after arriving on campus.

Matthewson selected Trinity out of an extensive lineup of other institutions. Looking back, he calls his choice “a game changer,” particularly due to the student/professor engagement that comes with smaller class sizes. “I ended up taking a computer science class from Professor [Thomas] Hicks first semester of freshman year,” Matthewson explains. “We started talking about my major, and he convinced me to switch to CompSci. He said it would be a ‘waste of talent’ if I didn’t.”

Without this encouragement, Matthewson would never have started the journey that’s brought him to a new field, a formative internship, and a love for

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user experience. “I have friends in bigger schools who tell me their entry level classes have 400 people in them,” he says. “I wouldn’t have pursued computer science if I’d been in a class that size because I wouldn’t have had a professor come and tell me to pursue it.”

Eager to build on his new skills, Matthewson began to explore leadership and internship opportunities in computer science. He joined the Association for Computing Machinery, the Trinity chapter of a national computer science organization, eventually going on to become president in 2019. Finding an internship, however, presented more of a challenge. Like most first-year students, he found the prospect of competing against older applicants daunting–they would have more experience and more time to build up impressive resumes. But Matthewson pushed his anxieties aside and applied to SiteOwl through the Students + Startups program.

Four years later, Matthewson could not be more grateful for his choice. “It changed my entire trajectory,” he says. Despite its rocky start, his time at SiteOwl has allowed him to develop an enduring passion for creative technical solutions that he still pursues today. Matthewson’s summer internship turned into a part-time job with increasing responsibility over the years. He spent his senior year as a salaried product manager overseeing a team of designers and developers. Now, since graduating, he is fully leading product and creates work for up to 15 developers. “They’re in their 30s and 40s, which sometimes can be strange,” Matthewson admits. “Sometimes I wonder if I’m viewed as inexperienced just because of my age, but in the grand scheme of things, I’ve been with the company three years, and I know what I’m doing.”

Going for the Goldwater

Trinity student wins prestigious national scholarship for research

By Jeremy Gerlach

When Lauren Johnson ’21 heard a buzz on her phone one morning, she expected a text from her friend.

Instead, it was a life-changing email that said she’d been named a Goldwater Scholar.

The scholarship helps students pursue research careers in natural sciences, engineering, and mathematics. This year, just 396 college students nationwide earned the honor. Johnson is the 24th Trinity student to join the Goldwater ranks since 1994.

“It’s meant to build up the next generation of U.S. researchers who will keep the field at a high, rigorous level,” Johnson says. “It integrates our community together.”

Johnson has focused her interests on ecology and evolution. She’s also interested in

neuroscience and molecular biology. She loves the field of biology for its “integrative aspects.”

She originally chose Trinity because she knew she wanted a university with a focus on undergraduate research.

“At Trinity, that seemed to be a really big message,” Johnson says. After touring the University with a Trinity chemistry professor, Johnson says, “Just seeing how excited she got about research, I thought, ‘Man, Trinity’s a place I really want to come to.’ The research opportunities here are so top-notch.”

At Trinity, Johnson didn’t have to wait to get involved with these opportunities. She joined a biology lab as a first-year student and earned a Murchison research fellowship that following summer, which allowed her to do field work.

Johnson spent a semester studying at the Marine Biological Laboratory. She researched Ulva algae in estuaries around Woods Hole, Massachusetts.

Alongside researchers from the Netherlands, Johnson’s team studied male black-crested titmouse territorial behaviors at the Bracken Cave Preserve just north of San Antonio.

Since then, Johnson has won an award for her macroalga research with the Marine Biological Laboratory in Massachusetts and is part of a group about to have a paper published in an ecology journal. She also spent a summer at the National Science Foundation-funded Research Experience for Undergraduates in Georgia.

Having these early research opportunities, Johnson says, serves as a major advantage in earning honors such as the Goldwater Scholarship.

“I think Trinity really helps students get to the level where we can be competitive for these types of scholarships and fellowships and honors,” Johnson says. “It can be hard to apply for these awards when you don’t have as much research done as someone who’s older, but being encouraged by all our faculty with all these research opportunities, both here on campus and abroad, that makes a difference.”

“I don’t just want to take knowledge that other people are discovering and apply it, I want to contribute to new knowledge and science,” she continues. “Research will always be my thing.”

Johnson learned how to monitor and survey diverse aquatic life during her National Science Foundation-funded Research Experience for Undergraduates.

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Choose 49 6 64 your own path MINORS

Majors

Accounting African American Studies American Intercultural Studies Ancient Mediterranean Studies Anthropology Applied Chemistry Architectural Studies Art Art and Art History Art History Arts, Letters, and Enterprise Astronomy Biochemistry Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Biology Biomathematics Business Administration Business Administration Legal Studies Business Analytics and Technology Chemistry Chinese Chinese Studies Classical Languages Classical Studies Communication Communication Management Comparative Literature Computer Science Creative Writing Data Science Earth Systems Science East Asian Studies Economics Education Engineering Science English Entrepreneurship Environmental Studies Ethics Film Studies Finance

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2

GRAD

MAJORS

PROGRAMS

ADVISING

an option to create your own major

PROGRAMS

Grad Minors Programs

French Geosciences German German Studies Global Latinx Studies Global Supply Chain Management Greek Health Care Administration History History of Philosophy Human Communication International Business International Studies Latin Linguistics Logic and Philosophy of Cognition Management Information Systems Mathematical Finance Mathematics Medieval Renaissance Studies Museum Studies Music Music Composition Music Performance Neuroscience New Media Philosophy Philosophy of Art Physics Political Science Psychology Religion Russian Scientific Computing Sociology Spanish Sport Management Studio Art Teaching Theatre Urban Studies Women’s and Gender Studies

Majors

Grad Minors Programs

Apply Early, Know Early

Financial Aid Application Dates

Applications Available Online for Trinity’s Class of 2025 Common Application Coalition Application ApplyTexas

Trinity recommends submitting your financial aid applications by your corresponding admission deadline.

CSS Profile The 2021-22 application will be available

Oct. 1, 2020

Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

Application Deadlines

The 2021-22 application will be available

APPLICATION DEADLINE

DECISION NOTIFICATION

DEPOSIT DEADLINE

Early Decision I (binding)

Nov. 1

Dec. 1

Feb. 1

Early Action

Nov. 1

Dec. 15

May 1

Early Decision II (binding)

Feb. 1

Feb. 15

Mar. 1

Regular Decision

Feb. 1

Mar. 15

May 1

Apply now at

trinity.edu/apply

The College Search: An experience for the whole family The college search can be a fun and exciting time for students and families. Students get to celebrate their academic and co-curricular accomplishments and reflect upon their experiences as they chart their journeys forward. Here at Trinity, we appreciate the significance of the college search experience, and it centers on you.

Throughout this process, we encourage future Tigers to discover new interests, grow existing passions, and become empowered citizens of the global community. Seek support from your friends, family, and parents along the way.

This fall, take advantage of opportunities to meet one-on-one for virtual interviews. Admissions

interviews allow you the opportunity to distinguish yourself in Trinity’s competitive applicant pool and learn more about the admissions and scholarship process.

Resources for parents and families are available online at gotu.us/parents.

Oct. 1, 2020

Experience Trinity We invite you to experience our campus virtually or in person as health guidelines allow. Register for a virtual information session, available weekly.

Check back often for new ways to engage with our community and learn about the many opportunities available to students who study and live at Trinity University.

Explore your options at gotu.us/visit

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9:1 student-to-

QUICK FACTS

faculty ratio 97% of faculty hold doctoral or terminal degrees

Private, residential, co-educational, undergraduate-focused Founded in 1869 6 minutes from San Antonio International Airport Located in America’s 7th largest city

2,532

undergraduates from 47 states and 68 countries 9% international students

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125 acre campus

located in a residential neighborhood

minutes from downtown San Antonio

Follow us on social media! @TrinityU

LeeRoyTheTiger

/trinityuniversity

/trinityuniversity

@Trinity_U or @TrinityU_Admiss

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A D M I T T E D S T U DE N T P ROF IL E

3.73

Fall 2020 Entry Term*

average GPA

average ACT

31

1381

A- grade average

29–33 mid 50%

1310–1470 mid 50%

average SAT

*as of 7/17/20