From omicron to economic freedom for women and a new football coaching staff, TCU Horned Frogs are in the news.
INSTITUTIONAL
Fort Worth Medical School students tour Alcon campus
Dec. 7, 2021
KRLD-AM
Students at the TCU and UNTHSC School of Medicine toured the Alcon campus Tuesday in Fort Worth. Sixty first-year medical students saw
tools and technology developed by the eye care company. “We've been able to do simulation
eye cataract surgery, which is awesome,” says first-year student Alejandra Gutierrez. “I've never had a clue of how it’s actually done. To be able to use the simulated
reality they had was really cool.”
FACULTY & STAFF
Abbott tells agencies to be careful before taking federal infrastructure funds
Dec. 16, 2021
Texas Standard
Texas is set to receive over $35 billion for infrastructure upgrades through the recently
passed Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. But Gov. Greg Abbott wants state agency
heads to be careful before accepting any money. Jim Riddlesperger, professor of political science, spoke to Texas Standard about the kinds of conditions
the governor’s referencing and the political dimensions of accepting the funds. "Of
course, the problem at its root is that the relationship between the national government
and the state government is inextricably intertwined," he said.
Inside Spyex, an Agency That Connects Hollywood With Real-Life Spies
Dec. 7, 2021
Yahoo
Hollywood has turned to individual experts in virtually every career field to advise
writers on their scripts, and international intelligence is no exception. Tricia Jenkins, professor of film, TV and digital media, said that producers are safer from CIA interference if they work with former intelligence
agents rather than those who are still in the business. “In general, the CIA’s liaisons
can offer assistance to preproduction and production teams in the form of access to
technical consultants, high-level personnel, the agency seal, stock footage, props,
shooting locations and even agency employees as extras — all at little to no charge,”
she said. "But before agreeing to provide these services, the CIA will review each
script to ensure that it presents the agency in a positive light and will not undermine
morale or jeopardize recruitment efforts. If it does not think the script meets these
requirements, the liaison office will refuse to offer the artist assistance.”
What Does Economic Freedom Look Like for Women?
Dec. 6, 2021
Mercatus Center
Rosemarie Fike, instructor of economics, joined a podcast to discuss a range of contemporary issues,
such as the gender wage gap, women’s property rights and changing social views on
labor. “Mainly with my research I try to explore the relationship between economic
freedom and women’s wellbeing essentially, and that first started with trying to figure
out how to have a more accurate or inclusive measure of economic freedom,” she said.
Federalism vs States Rights
Dec. 1, 2021
KRLD
Jim Riddlesperger, political science professor, explains in a nutshell what federalism is and how it’s
morphing in 2021. “It’s a unique arrangement we have here in the United States that
divides power in the United States between the national and state government. Obviously,
that has consequences here because normally when we talk about the traditions of the
United States, health, safety and welfare was the product of the state government
not of the national government. But of course, in the 20thcentury, the national government power has expanded dramatically.”
Matthew Wallis Named Top Attorney
Dec. 1, 2021
Fort Worth Magazine
The list is drawn from nominations by other attorneys in the region and goes through
a rigorous panel to assure the highest quality is met. Top 2021 attorneys include
Matthew Wallis, director of contracts at Texas Christian University.
For omicron or other variants, contingency plans exist - and they shouldn’t take long
to execute.
Dec. 1, 2021
Fort Worth Report
Before the shots can go into arms, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration would still
need to approve the newest formulas. Safety won’t be an issue, according to Dr. Mohanakrishnan Sathyamoorthy, a local physician who chairs the department of internal medicine at the TCU and UNTHSC
School of Medicine. Sathyamoorthy and a cohort of physicians from north Texas recently
received approval from the FDA to start clinical trials on a potential COVID-19 treatment. “An
ongoing, global pandemic, with rapid evolution of variants, intersecting with the
speed to which we can develop mRNA therapeutics has never happened in medical history
before,” he said.
STUDENTS
TCU student Bryn Carden offers tips on how to create a stylish college dorm room
Dec. 13, 2021
explosion.com
Bryn Carden, a Neeley School of Business student, reflects on her freshman year and remembers
how styling her dorm room helped shake the nerves of starting college. She offers
these seven tips to help any graduating high school senior planning for college create
a designer-style dorm room on a budget.
ALUMNI
Rahr-ing success: Stories with Soul welcomes craft brewery wizard Fritz Rahr
Dec. 16, 2021
Fort Worth Business Press
After graduating from TCU in 1989 and earning an MBA from the Neeley School of Business
four years later, Fritz Rahr pursued other interests before deciding in 2004 to act on his brewing heritage by
starting a craft brewery in Fort Worth. Since then, Rahr & Sons Brewing Company has
grown into an award-winning global phenomenon. Rahr shares his story (and a beer)
with Jamey Ice and Jimmy Williams '08 in a tasty episode of the Stories with Soul podcast.
Interim appointments named for city attorney, auditor
Dec. 15, 2021
fortworthtexas.gov
The Fort Worth City Council approved the appointment of Laetitia Coleman Brown ’91 as interim city attorney. Sarah J. Fullenwider will retire as city attorney at the
end of this year. Brown was born and raised in Fort Worth, where she graduated from
O.D. Wyatt High School. She received a bachelor’s degree from Texas Christian University and
a law degree from Baylor Law School.
‘It was our destiny:’ Miller twin sisters redesigning Fort Worth through M2G Ventures
Dec. 9, 2021
Fort Worth Report
Jessica Miller Essl ’08 and Susan Miller Gruppi ’08 are 35-year-old sisters redesigning Fort Worth one building at a time. They own M2G
Ventures, a commercial real estate development group with two main fields, Essl said.
The first adapts mixed-use districts and the other builds ground-up urban industrial.
The company buys vacant buildings, redesigns them and leases the space. Both sisters
went to Texas Christian University and studied business administration.
ATHLETICS
TCU boosters are getting on board with NIL, unveiling new program for student-athletes
Dec. 15, 2021
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
TCU football coach Sonny Dykes made it clear how much of an impact student-athletes being able to profit off their
name, image and likeness (NIL) had in different schools assembling the 2022 recruiting
class. “Name, image and likeness was not supposed to be an enticement to attend a
university, but like everything else you draw conclusions and connect the dots,” Dykes
said. Frogs supporters announced a new program called “Think NIL” just hours after
Dykes’ news conference that is aimed at “facilitating and maximizing NIL opportunities
for TCU student-athletes by connecting them with local, regional and national businesses
and brands.”
TCU’s Jamie Dixon receives USA Basketball coaching award
Dec. 14, 2021
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
USA Basketball named TCU men’s basketball coach Jamie Dixon the 2021 developmental coach of the year along with UCLA’s Cori Close. Dixon led
the USA U19 World Cup Team to a gold medal this summer. “It’s an honor to be a part
of the winning tradition of USA Basketball,” said Dixon, who was the 2009 USA Basketball
National Coach of the Year after he led the 2009 USA Men’s U19 World Cup Team to a
gold medal. “It’s always a goal to continue to grow and develop and be a part of great
programs. I’ve really enjoyed the opportunity to be around great players and great
coaches.”
TCU AD Jeremiah Donati: Conference realignment is ‘certainly not over’
Dec. 5, 2021
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Last July news broke that flagships Texas and Oklahoma would be bolting for the SEC.
That left the remaining eight schools in the Big 12 scrambling, but the league solidified
its future by bringing in BYU, Cincinnati, Houston and Central Florida in the coming
years. However, the realignment discussion isn’t going away anytime soon. “As the
conferences’ television and media rights negotiations begin to pick up momentum, I
think that will compel more discussions on conference realignment,” TCU athletic director
Jeremiah Donati said. “It is certainly not over.”
Sonny Dykes is Bringing a Top-Notch Staff to TCU
Dec. 1, 2021
Sports Illustrated
It’s a new era for TCU Horned Frogs football. Sonny Dykes was officially named the new head coach for the Frogs. The former head coach at SMU
is assembling an impressive group of assistants as he moves crosstown to become the
man at the helm in Fort Worth. Several coaches leave the Hilltop at SMU and come with
Dykes, including Garrett Riley, Ra’Shaad Samples, David Gru, Chidera Uzo-Diribe and Kaz Kazadi. Two current members of the TCU staff, Malcolm Kelly and Paul Gonzales, are expected to remain. Other coaches include Bryan Carrington and Mark Tommerdahl.
Sonny Dykes and TCU football plan to double down on DFW: ‘Every kid better consider
TCU’
Dec. 1, 2021
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
TCU football is branding itself differently under Sonny Dykes. The program is referring to itself as “DFW’s Big 12 team” on social media and is
going all-in on recruiting local players. The Frogs have already landed a couple of
four-star receivers from the area who were once committed to SMU. Garland’s Jordan
Hudson (2022 class) and North Mesquite’s Cardale Russell (2023 class) both committed
to TCU within 24 hours of Dykes being named coach.