The national College Advising Corps is the gold standard for making strides toward equity in access to higher education. Launched in 2011, TCU’s chapter now serves over 40,000 high school students across Tarrant County, helping first-generation and underrepresented students create a path to college or another promising postsecondary plan. The cover story in the latest issue of TCU Magazine turns the spotlight on Horned Frog advisers past and present, illuminating the profound impact they have.
“These people are changing student lives, family trajectories, communities and thus
the world,” said Caroline Collier, editor. “All the advisers are recent TCU graduates.
I’m excited we are able to shine a spotlight on how they are providing possibility
and that little bit of encouragement people sometimes need to completely transform
their lives and reach unbelievable levels of success.”
Another story describes how Associate Professor María Ciriza and Assistant Professor Esther Teixeira creatively overcame pandemic restrictions for the Service Learning in the Latino Community course. Pre-pandemic, students in the class would go into the Fort Worth community and serve while strengthening their own Spanish language skills. Faced with in-person constraints, the professors connected with the human resources officials who run programs for Spanish-speaking TCU staff. Over Zoom, their students helped TCU employees who were studying for the GED exam.
“It was a mutually beneficial learning experience. The students learned about culture, people, privilege and service while also sharpening their Spanish,” Collier said. “Everyone knows how vital the Facilities and Housekeeping staff are to TCU’s beautiful campus and friendly culture. We’re thrilled we get to highlight them, this important class and how learning comes to life.”
The spring issue also features a profile on Lau’Rent Honeycutt, president of the Student Government Association, and Leslie Ekpe, president of the Graduate Student Senate. Both are the first Black students to hold these offices in TCU’s 149-year history.
“The fact that this has happened at the same time says a lot about the zeitgeist at TCU right now, who we are becoming and the great opportunities we are creating for everyone else who is going to follow,” Collier said. “It’s also an opportunity to assess as a community why it took 149 years to accept Black leadership and what new directions this will open for us.”
On Feb. 28, Honeycutt, Ekpe, story writer Brandon Kitchin and James Cash, TCU’s first Black student-athlete, will be part of a TCU Presents panel called “Let’s Do More” and discuss the opportunities and challenges of being a first. Watch the event on TCU’s Facebook page at 7 p.m.
Other stories to look for in the spring 2022 issue:
Ethics of speaking out: The lead story in the Research and Discovery section explores the ethical responsibilities of celebrities who speak out on social issues. Kristie Bunton, dean of the Bob Schieffer College of Communication and author of Having Their Say: Athletes and Entertainers and the Ethics of Speaking Out, discusses the importance of celebrity speakers being aware of their massive impact on public opinion as well as the responsibilities of those consuming news to check their information against known facts.
Modernizing Panama ranches: Another profile highlights how knowledge from the TCU Ranch Management program is making a difference on tables all across Panama. While working on a ranch in Panama, José Gallardo first connected with the Institute of Ranch Management when it was providing a short course. He eventually came to TCU for more in-depth study. After completing the yearlong program in 2018, Gallardo was recruited by the Panamanian government to help feed the country during the pandemic as well as modernize its farming practices.
Media as referee: Elizabeth Campbell ’18, a producer for CBS’ Face the Nation news program, shares her lessons learned since graduation, including the media’s responsibility to play referee.
“All of these stories really illustrate TCU’s unique position in higher ed and its charge to change the world for the better,” Collier said.