2025 Endeavors Captures ‘Surging Momentum’ of TCU Research

For nearly two decades, Endeavors has showcased the research and creative triumphs of the TCU community. The 2025 issue illustrates new discoveries from all sides of campus. 

“TCU scholars continue to expand knowledge, build empathy, delight the senses and challenge us to be more responsible global citizens in a world whose rules seemingly change daily,” said editor Caroline Collier.  

From its beginnings as a slim TCU Magazine insert to its current status as a multifaceted publication that drew more than 450,000 online readers last year, the magazine continues to illuminate the transformative power of scholarship and innovation. 

“This issue celebrates the surging momentum of research at TCU,” writes Floyd Wormley, provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs in his introduction letter. “In 2024, the university launched its new strategic plan, LEAD ON: Values in Action, and research, scholarship and creative activity stand as a cornerstone of our future.” 

In this issue, read about those pursuits in a variety of stories: 

Beyond the DNA test: Amina Zarrugh and Luis Romero of the AddRan College of Liberal Arts encourage DNA ancestry test-takers to look beyond the genetic data and explore the rich social and historical context of their heritage. 

The heart of entrepreneurship: We explore the role of authenticity and empathy in entrepreneurial success, featuring insights from Neeley’s Thomas Allison, Devin Burnell, Emily Neubert and Stella Seyb.  

Civil discourse in higher education: Tee Tyler of Harris College’s Department of Social Work discusses the importance of skillfully bringing contentious conversations into the classroom. He has developed an evidence-based method of this pedagogy, the Interpersonal Classroom Model. 

A Q&A with Anna Wilhelm Menon ’08: The mathematics and Spanish graduate is now an astronaut with SpaceX. We discuss the research she is doing to better understand the effects of space travel on the human body. 

Beyond brand awareness: Schieffer College’s Catherine A. Coleman studies how advertising can act as a powerful force for cultural change, influencing societal perceptions and even driving policy. 

Read Endeavors.