College of Applied Arts | Criminal Justice PhD
House Social Media Liaison
Hobbies: Gardening, running, writing poetry
Research Interests: Adultification of Black girls, juvenile justice, immigration
#1 Tip for Graduate Students: You should always make the time to schedule self-care the way you would for any of your assignments. Your mental health is the key to surviving and thriving in graduate school.
College of Applied Arts | Occupational, Workforce, Leadership Studies MSIS
Hi! I am originally from the east coast and moved to Austin to see what the fuss was about. So far it has been a wonderful journey.
Hobbies: In my spare time I love volunteering, thrifting, traveling, going to concerts, trivia, theatre, and watching Korean dramas. Between school and work it is hard to make time for hobbies, but I try to schedule something when I can.
Research Interests: I am using my graduate studies to research food insecurity. My focus is on public policy, best practices, prevention, and sociological effects.
#1 Tip for Surviving Grad School: Get organized early! However you organize your assignments, due dates, and other activities, start as soon as you can. Life comes at you fast, and it is easy to get overwhelmed with new deadlines and responsibilities. Stay organized, take deep breaths, and you will make it through!
House Parliamentarian
College of Education | Adult, Professional, and Community Education PhD
Hobbies: I love to travel and spend a lot of my spare time road-tripping around the country. Camping, hiking, and exploring scenic spaces are some of my favorite things to do. I’m originally from the forests of New England where the outdoor temperatures are never above 80 degrees, but have begrudgingly grown accustomed to the Texas heat after living in Austin for 6 years.
Research Interests: Critical disability studies; the workplace accommodations process for people with disabilities; team learning and development; organizational development
#1 Tip for Surviving Grad School: Study your syllabus and add important dates and deadlines to whatever calendar you use most often. I create Google Calendar events for my assignments that are bright red so I can’t miss them. This will give you a better sense of when you’ll need to invest time in assignments over the course of the semester and help you balance school with your other responsibilities.
House Leader
College of Education | Recreation Management MSRLS
Hey everyone! I'm Parker, and I am a lifelong Texan studying Recreation and Sport Management. I grew up in New Braunfels, right outside of San Marcos, and enjoy being in nature, especially if there is a river nearby. I work as a Graduate Instructional Assistant and have enjoyed learning how take my own knowledge and experiences and make them useful to others.
Hobbies: I enjoy playing sports, reading, going to concerts or museums, and spending quality time with friends and family.
#1 Tip for Surviving Grad School: Introduce yourself to as many people as possible! It can be easy to get wrapped up in your studying and research, especially if you're working as well, but making connections in graduate school with both your professors and peers will make a huge difference in your experience.
House Secretary
College of Fine Arts and Communication | Communication Design MFA
Hi everyone! I’m Maham, an international graduate student from Pakistan. I’m pursuing a MFA in Communication Design, working to make art more inclusive and form deeper connections with the people and spaces surrounding it. Basically, I’m a huge design nerd who can’t get enough of fonts. I’m a Graduate Instructional Assistant, a path through which I have discovered a passion for teaching and hope to continue spreading my love for design to more people.
Hobbies: In my spare time, I love to play soccer and read books, sci-fi in particular. I’ve recently picked up an interest in watching theatre, so I plan on catching many more shows and supporting our local theatre.
#1 Tip for Surviving Grad School: Make sure you’re dividing your time well! As much as grad school can consume a majority of your time, it is important to take a breather by spending time with your loved ones and creating memories. Future you will thank present you for it.
College of Fine Arts and Communication | Mass Communication MA
Alexander is a graduate student of Mass Communication and a Graduate Instructional Assistant in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Texas State. Originally from Ghana, he received his Bachelor’s degree in History from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST). During his second year of undergraduate studies, he founded Thriller News Ghana, a famous student media outlet dedicated to providing up-to-date local, national, and global news. This platform aims to project the indigenous histories of African societies to a global audience.
Research Interests: Alexander’s research interests are centered on digital media, particularly the integration of interactive media skills—like web development, mobile app development, and other computer skills—into journalism, communication and media education.
Professionally, Alexander has a strong background in website management and design, blogging, video production, editing, and broadcasting. He has created commercials and various video projects that highlight the stories of underserved groups.
Hobbies: Alexander enjoys listening to news, exploring new places, and values building networks with diverse groups.
#1 Tip for Surviving Graduate School: Navigating graduate school, particularly as an international student, can be challenging yet rewarding. If you find yourself struggling, don’t hesitate to ask for help. Reach out to professors and colleagues for guidance and build a supportive network. Prioritize your time efficiently and tackle tasks one step at a time. Remember, your journey to this point proves your potential to succeed. You've got this!
College of Healthcare Professions | Physical Therapy DPT
Hello! My name is Grace Vitale, and I am currently in my second year of my Doctoral program for Physical Therapy. I am originally from Frisco, Texas but have called Austin my home for the last 4 years. I attended Texas State for undergrad starting in 2020 and graduated Summa Cum Laude in 2022 with my Bachelors in Exercise and Sports Science with a Pre-Rehabilitation Concentration. In my free time I enjoy reading, spending time with family and friends, trying new coffee shops and playing with my cat, Pearl!
In my doctoral program I serve as the Administrator in our Community Access Physical Therapy clinic, serving those in the community who are under or uninsured. My setting of interest post grad is outpatient neuro, working with patients post CVA, TBI, SCI etc.
1# Tip for Grad Students: Never stop making the time for the things and people you love while you are in school. As Graduate Students being able to bring yourself back to your ‘Why’ through the people and things you love is what will keep you going!
College of Healthcare Professions | Respiratory Care MS
My name is Emily Russell, and I live in Decatur, Alabama. I am in the fully distance Master of Science in Respiratory Care program. I received a Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Therapy from the University of Alabama in Birmingham in 2005. I currently work at Athens-Limestone Hospital as a registered respiratory therapist and registered pulmonary function technologist. I am also the Technical Consultant for the arterial blood gas laboratory. I have been married for 22 years and I have 2 children.
Hobbies: I enjoy cooking. My favorite thing to cook is any type of pie. I love to read and learn new things. I have a son in the marching band, and I love being a band mom and attending all of the football games.
Research Interests: I work in pulmonary diagnostics and my research interest is the long-term effects of COVID-19 on lung function. I want to study the effects of the virus and the potential treatments for patient with long-term lung dysfunction.
#1 Tip for Surviving Graduate School: Do not procrastinate. Procrastination only leads to unnecessary stress. Create smaller goals each week that will help you achieve a larger goal.
College of Liberal Arts | Philosophy MA
Hello, Bobcats! My name is Elektra Jordan, and I am a proud fifth-generation Texan. I am pursuing a Master of Arts in applied philosophy and ethics as well as a graduate certificate in professional ethics. I graduated summa cum laude from Texas State University in May 2023 and received a Bachelor of Arts with double majors in political science and philosophy. As an undergraduate student, I worked as a Lead Tutor at the SSS-Trio office on campus, served in Student Government as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, and was active in the Honors College as a Managing Editor of the Texas State Undergraduate Research Journal (TXSTUR). I am honored to serve on the Distance and Extended Learning Student Advisory Committee (DELSAC) and as the President of our chapter of the international philosophy honor society, Phi Sigma Tau (ΦΣΤ).
Hobbies: I enjoy visiting history museums and checking out the old houses that surround our campus. My favorite local museum to visit is the Commemorative Air Force (CAF) wing at the San Marcos regional airport (KHYI). I am also a pilot and enjoy flying over the Texas State campus. Old Main is beautiful from the air!
Research Interests: I am interested in ancient Greek philosophy and 20th century Existentialism. I am currently writing my M.A. thesis about applied philosophy, Stoicism, and Epicureanism.
#1 Tip for Surviving Grad School: Look for opportunities to become involved with activities within your department, clubs/organizations related to your discipline, and other groups on campus that appeal to your interests. One of my favorite things about Texas State is the range of leadership opportunities that are available to students. As graduate students, we have a unique role in our departments to foster active participation and create a communal atmosphere with faculty and undergraduate students alike.
College of Liberal Arts | History MA
Hello, I’m Gabriel. I’m originally from Georgetown, Texas. I’m an MA student studying History through the Margerison Fellowship. History is my life - it is what I am the most passionate about. I hope to get my PhD and become a professor, or join the Air Force.
Research Interests: I study American diplomatic history, with as much military history as I can cram in while still having job prospects. I’m writing my thesis on the politics of American weapons sales to Israel during the Johnson Administration.
Hobbies: In my free time, I obsess over UT football and the NFL, I play PC games (mostly Hearts of Iron IV and Counter-Strike) and I manage my two cats. I also read a lot; mostly history but some sci-fi. Dune is a particular favorite.
#1 Tip for Surviving Grad School: My best advice for grad students is to read the syllabus carefully, and do what the professor says. It doesn’t hurt to have a cat either.
McCoy College of Business | Marketing Research and Analysis MS
Hi everyone! My name is Amber Friedeck and my journey in marketing started at Texas State University, where I graduated back in 2006. Over the past seventeen years, I've continuously picked up new tricks of the trade, mainly in the promotional product world. It's been a journey of constant learning and skill-building for me. In 2013, my passion for the field inspired me to co-found my own promotional products company. Fast forward to 2023, and I'm starting a new chapter by launching my very own marketing agency, Beyond Merch Marketing LLC. But that's not all – I'm back at Texas State, diving into the Master of Science in Marketing Research and Analysis (MSMRA) program. I'm fully committed to mastering everything from digital marketing and marketing analytics to Python, ensuring I stay abreast of today's data-driven market trends. As graduation nears, I'm excited to delve even deeper into marketing analytics and apply all that I learn to continue growing and evolving in my career.
Hobbies: In my spare time I love spending every waking second with my family on some kind of adventure. My daughter is 9 and my son is 12. We love mountain biking, swimming, camping, and pretty much anything that takes you outside.
#1 Tip for Surviving Grad School: Breathe. Try to take this time to absorb the information rather than get through it. There will be stressful moments but understanding how your degree will help you in your current career and beyond is invaluable. While I have found it not hard to do so, try to make everything applicable to your current and future career path. You will naturally meet other amazing leaders in your classes as well as be taught but some of the most amazing professors I’ve been so lucky to meet. Soak it all in.
McCoy College of Business | Quantitative Finance and Economics MS
Howdy! I'm Michael Stutz. I'm a native Texan from a ranch east of Austin. I'm in my second year of the MSQFE program at McCoy, and specialize in all things computational finance. My wife and I love hosting friends and family. I enjoy getting to know people and helping them realize their goals.
Research Interests: Reinforcement learning, data synthesis, options pricing, dynamic hedging, algorithmic trading, active portfolio management, and natural language processing
Hobbies: Most of my free time is spent with my family and friends; talking, playing games, working puzzles and just having a good time. I enjoy learning about languages and religions. I also enjoy listening to podcasts and keeping up with current events.
#1 Tip for Surviving Grad School: Talk to your professors and classmates. This is one of the best ways to further your learning and professional interests. These relationships will be long-lasting and of inestimable value.
College of Science and Engineering | Computer Science PhD
Hello! My name is Samantha Aziz, and I am a lifelong Texan with an undergraduate degree in Computer Science from TXST. I am currently pursuing a PhD in Computer Science, where I conduct research in human-computer interaction. My research interests involve developing novel paradigms to protect user privacy in new technologies, particularly for extended reality platforms and eye tracking applications. By characterizing and mitigating the potential privacy implications in these platforms, I am working to increase public trust in new technologies so that we can embrace their benefits while maintaining ownership of our personal data.
Accomplishments:
Hobbies: I always make time to work on my pet projects! I find a lot of enjoyment in tinkering with small software projects in my spare time. I also love to read, especially sci-fi and contemporary classic literature. You might also find me out and about in San Marcos–visiting outdoor markets, exploring natural areas, and catching some community theater downtown.
#1 Tip for Surviving Grad School: Look beyond the classroom for opportunities to advance your career! Graduate school is a temporary stage in your life, so use this time strategically to build your reputation as a strong, uniquely qualified candidate in your field. The skills you learn in graduate school can help you bring a fresh perspective to the table. Take advantage of this by applying your specialized knowledge to solve real-world problems in new, interesting ways. Taking action this way will help you reinforce your own learning, build credibility with yourself and others, and net you concrete accomplishments that set you apart from others!
College of Science and Engineering | Mathematics Education PhD
Hi! My name is Elizabeth. I am originally from Austin, Texas. In my free time, I enjoy spending time with friends, lifting weights, doing yoga, and watching Netflix. My favorite movie of all time is Matrix and my favorite TV series is Friends. I have one adult daughter (who graduated from TX State) and two cats.
Research Interests: I am earning my Ph.D. in mathematics education. My broad research interest is equity and inclusivity within mathematics education. More specifically, I am interested in understanding how we might ensure that reform-based educational practices are enacted equitably within the complex classroom environment.
#1 Tip for Surviving Graduate School: Go easy on yourself! We, as graduate students, tend to be overachievers and perfectionists. It is impossible to be anywhere near perfect and do everything for everyone, especially when you’re dealing with competing deadlines, pressures, and the responsibilities of graduate school. Do your best and learn from your mistakes without being too hard on yourself. Give yourself some grace!
