Fall Convocation The Honors College September 1, 2020 Fall Convocation The Honors College • University of Houston Keynote Speaker: Jennifer Sullivan (’96), M.D., M.P.H. Jennifer Sullivan is a National Merit Scholar who was recruited by the Honors College to the University of Houston in 1992 and completed a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology in 1996. She earned a Masters in Public Health at the Richard Fairbanks School of Public Health at Indiana University, a Medical Doctorate at Indiana University School of Medicine, and is board certified in both Emergency Medicine and Pediatrics. Dr. Sullivan was appointed Secretary of the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration by Governor Eric J. Holcomb, effective January 9, 2017. Prior to this appointment, she served as the Deputy State Health Commissioner and Director for Health Outcomes at the Indiana State Department of Health. Dr. Sullivan is currently a Professor of Clinical Emergency Medicine and Pediatrics at Indiana University School of Medicine. She served as the Division Chief for Pediatric Emergency Medicine and was the Program Director for the Emergency Medicine and Pediatrics Residency from 2007-2015. Dr. Sullivan continues to work clinically in the Riley Hospital for Children Emergency Department. Dr. Sullivan is dedicated to building effective and efficient delivery of health care and social services to Hoosiers. She takes a public health and wellness approach to policy decisions and is committed to strategic alignment across government and the private sector to improve health outcomes and fill unmet social needs. In 2019, she was recognized as the recipient of the American Public Human Services Administration’s Friedman Health and Human Services Impact Award and is a 2017 Indianapolis Business Journal Woman of Influence. Dr. Sullivan lives in Indianapolis with her two sons, Joey and Jack, and is married to Dr. Matthew Sullivan. Joey attends Franklin College and is majoring in psychology and music. She also shares her home with a gigantic Bernese Mountain Dog named Rex and a rescue kitty named Ruffles whom she found hiding in a construction site outside of the Indiana Statehouse—which is to say, she is strongly inclined to help those in need. Fall Convocation The Honors College • University of Houston Welcome William Monroe Dean Welcoming Renu Khator Remarks President, University of Houston Chancellor, University of Houston System Greeting Paula Myrick Short Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost, University of Houston Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, University of Houston System Introductory Stephen J. Spann, M. D., M.B.A. Remarks University of Houston College of Medicine Founding Dean Alumni Jennifer Sullivan (’96), M.D., M.P.H. Address Indiana Family and Social Services Administration, Secretary Recognitions William Monroe Dean Dear Students, Parents, Faculty, and Friends, September, 2020, challenging in so many ways, is yet a new beginning, full of promise. Now more than ever there’s a chance for fresh starts. As dean of the Honors College, it is my privilege to highlight the broad learning, unscripted discoveries, and creative work of students of all backgrounds, majors, and pathways. Students: As this academic year begins we wish you many intellectual adventures and beyond- the-classroom engagements. Develop your reading, thinking, and writing abilities. Support each other and connect with UH faculty and staff. Pursue opportunities for working with off-campus partners. Seek purpose through awareness and imagination. Be vulnerable. Refine your perspectives. Create a rich tapestry of learning and doing to benefit yourselves, your families, and your communities, local and global. Make the world a better place. Learn like your lives, and our lives, depend on it. Because they do. In this time of uncertainty, know that this University seeks to be, and is, a humane and inclusive community that shares and respects diverse values, experiences, and ideas. Welcome to all…Go Coogs! William Monroe Dean and Nancy O’Connor Abendshein Professor The Honors College Faculty and Staff Administration William Monroe Jennifer Hennessy Dean Assistant Director, Admissions & Recruitment Jonathan Williamson Associate Dean, Academic Christopher Herrin Programs and Faculty Affairs Assistant Business Administrator Stuart Long Willa Lambert Associate Dean, Manager, Information Technology Undergraduate Research Alison Leland Brenda Rhoden Director, Honors Pre-Law and Assistant Dean, Student Success Public Service Director, Leadership Studies Lorena Lopez Director, College Business Mariam Ali Operations Academic Adviser Larry Lyke Hannah Barker Academic Adviser Director of Advancement Brittni MacLeod Rikki Bettinger Associate Director, Undergraduate Program Manager, Research and Major Awards Office of Undergraduate Research and Major Awards Stacey Michael Assistant to the Dean Sarah Bhojani Director, Admissions and Keri Myrick Recruitment Director, Global Engagement and Special Programs Julia Brown Coordinator, Communications Megan Prather Academic Adviser Adrian Castillo Associate Director, Benjamin Rayder Global Engagement and Special Director, Office of Undergraduate Programs Research and Major Awards Brenda Cruz-Wolf Aaron Reynolds Photographer and Videographer Academic Adviser Colleen Davies Trinity Rinear Academic Adviser, Assistant Director, Bonner Bauer Honors Program Leaders Program Rob Glass David Tucker Assistant Director, Speech & Honors Relations Debate Alice Yang Sarah Gnospelius Recruitment & Scholarships Administrative Director, Bauer Honors Program Martha Hayes Director, Communications Teaching Faculty Elizabeth Anderson-Fletcher Richard Garner Director, Bauer Honors Program Director, Speech & Debate Brian Apicella Dustin Gish Classics Political Science Associate Director, Phronesis Richard Armstrong Classical Studies Irene Guenther History Jeremy Bailey Political Science Terry Hallmark Director, Phronesis Political Science Director, Energy & Sustainability Michael Barnes Classics Marc Hanke Biology Michelle Belco Political Science Debbie Harwell Center for Public History Laura Bland History, Philosophy of Science Theresa Hickey Philosophy Erika Jo Brown English and Creative Writing Laurie Lambeth Medicine & Society Ruth Bush College of Medicine Brandon Lamson English and Creative Writing Kristen Capuzzo Psychology Christine LeVeaux-Haley Political Science Hayan Charara English and Creative Writing Robert Liddell English and Creative Writing Ann Cheek Biology/Biochemistry Peggy Lindner Data Analytics Jeffrey Church Political Science John Lunstroth Medicine & Society Fritz Claydon Director, Honors Engineering Johanna Luttrell Program Hobby School of Public Policy Carol Cooper David Mikics Political Science English Robert Cremins Olivia Miljanic English International Business Director, The Creative Work Ognjen Miljanic Program Mechanical Engineering Michael Dieterich Iain Morrison Energy & Sustainability Philosophy Douglas Erwing Woods Nash History Director, Service Learning Medicine & Society Ted Estess Anna Newman English, Dean Emeritus Biology Jamie Ferguson Dan Price English Medicine and Community Health Teaching Faculty David Rainbow Donaji Stelzig Russian History Health Promotion and Continued Community Health Sciences Jesse Rainbow Religious Studies Marina Trninic English and Rhetoric Max Rayneard English Len Trombetta Associate Director, The Creative Honors Engineering Program Work Program Helen Valier Rita Sirrieh History Biology Director, Medicine & Society Associate Director, Energy & Lesli Vollrath Sustainability English Bradley Smith Daniel Wallace Psychology English and Creative Writing Tamler Sommers Robert Zaretsky Philosophy Intellectual History Society of Fellows The designation “Fellow of The Honors College” recognizes University faculty and staff, as well as friends of the College, for their contributions to Honors education. A Fellow may assist the College in many ways, including serving on senior honors thesis committees, teaching Honors courses, and providing counsel to Honors students and the College. Elizabeth Anderson-Fletcher Aaron Corsi Director, Bauer Honors Program Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant Management Francesca Behr Modern and Classical Languages Lawrence Curry Professor Emeritus, History Anadeli Bencomo Hispanic Studies Cliff Dacso Baylor College of Medicine David Bertman Director, University Bands Richard DeFrank Professor Emeritus, Management Eric Bittner Chemistry Casey Dué Hackney Modern and Classical Languages Geoff Brune Architecture Christian Eberhart Director, Religious Studies Margaret Cheung Physics Emran El-Badawi Director, Middle Eastern Studies Jeffrey Church Chair, Political Science William Fitzgibbon Mathematics Mark Clarke Associate Provost, Faculty Affairs W. Anthony Frankino Biology/Biochemistry Todd Frazier Alexander Parsons Director, Center for Performing Arts Medicine, Director, Creative Writing Methodist Hospital Melissa Pierson Scott Gilbertson Assistant Vice Provost, Chemistry Undergraduate Student Success Elizabeth Gregory Todd Romero Director, Women’s, Gender, & Sexuality Studies Associate Dean, Liberal Arts and Social Sciences Shiv Halasyamani Amy Sater Chemistry Chair, Biology and Biochemistry Stephan Hillerbrand Martha Serpas School of Art English and Creative Writing Norman Johnson Carla Sharp Bauer College of Business Psychology Jacqueline Kacen Robert Shimko Marketing and Entrepreneurship Director, School of Theatre and Dance Frank Kelley Kevin Simon Associate