Month: July 2025

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Office of Engaged Learning Pathways to Industry Student Academic Engagement & Success

Pathways to Business and Industry Info Sessions for Students and Families

SMU Pathways to Business & Industry logo

Please help us spread the word to students and families about an exciting opportunity at SMU for those interested in business careers—regardless of their major. 

Pathways to Business and Industry (PBI) is a unique program designed for students who are not majoring in the Cox School of Business but want to pursue careers in business and industry. Whether a student is an incoming first-year or a transfer, PBI offers personalized guidance, access to campus resources, and opportunities for internships and professional development. 

We encourage you to share the details of our upcoming virtual information sessions with incoming students and their families:  

Navigating Business & Industry Pathways at SMU 
• Tuesday, August 5, 2025, 12:00–12:30 PM (CT) 
• Thursday, August 7, 2025, 4:00–4:30 PM (CT) 

These live, 30-minute sessions offer a chance to hear directly from SMU advisors and career coaches who will guide your student throughout their journey.   

Students and families can also explore more about PBI through the PBI Playbook and blog stories that highlight student success and offer practical advice.  

Questions? 
If students or families have questions, please email pbi@smu.edu. 

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Academic Development of Student-Athletes (ADSA) Altshuler Learning Enhancement Center Disability Accommodations & Success Strategies Student Academic Engagement & Success University Testing Center

Upgrades underway in University Testing Center’s Varsity Testing Lab

The University Testing Center (UTC) has initiated a series of thoughtful improvements to its Varsity testing lab to enhance functionality and comfort for students and test-takers. The first phase of the project involves a revised seating layout that enables greater capacity and efficiency in the space for paper-based testing.

To ensure a secure testing environment, the lab is continuously monitored by 12 overhead cameras that capture full views of 13 workstations, as well as audio surveillance.

Additionally, the UTC plans to schedule the Varsity lab with new paint and carpeting, and to upgrade the student waiting area with improved furniture and natural greenery to create a more welcoming atmosphere, pending budget approval.

The ongoing improvements reflect UTC’s commitment to providing test takers with a secure, efficient, and comfortable testing experience. These efforts were identified and prioritized based on the UTC’s test-taker and instructor feedback survey results from the previous academic year.

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News Office of Engaged Learning Office of Engaged Learning – Research Student Academic Engagement & Success

Three Minute “Thesis” Competition showcases undergraduate research excellence

Group photo of students, faculty and staff participants in the 2025 Three Minute Thesis

On Thursday, July 24, the Office of Engaged Learning hosted the annual Three Minute “Thesis” competition, the culminating event of the Summer Research Intensive. In just under two hours, 27 students delivered concise and compelling presentations on faculty-mentored research projects across disciplines.

Throughout the summer, students in the Summer Research Intensive worked closely with faculty mentors through paid research positions and participated in professional development workshop series led by Dr. Adam Neal, Program Manager in the Office of Engaged Learning. Participants strenthened skills in oral and written communication, critical thinking, and career and self-development.

Congratulations to this year’s winners:

  • 1st Place: Felipe Mancera (Faculty Mentors: Andrew Davies, Caitlin Charles, and Malia Brink, Deason Criminal Justice Reform Center)

  • 2nd Place: Katie Andrews and Walker Homan (Faculty Mentor: Karissa Cloward, Political Science)

  • 3rd Place: Aubrey Brown (Faculty Mentor: Monnie McGee, Statistics & Data Science), Sierra Woolsey and Ananya Anupindi (Faculty Mentor: Chrystyna Kouros, Psychology)

2025 Judges:

  • Nancy George, Associate Director of Media Relations

  • Megan Heuer, Director of Educational Initiatives, SMU Libraries

  • Mateo Langston-Smith, Research Technology Developer, Office of Information Technology

  • Aishwary Pawar, Statistician, University Decision Support

  • David Son, Professor of Chemistry

Thank you to the judges, faculty mentors, and campus partners, whose support makes this summer research experiene possible.

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Disability Accommodations & Success Strategies Student Academic Engagement & Success

Enhanced DASS Services for Students with Autism

SMU student working at a desk with a DASS academic coach

Disability Accommodations & Success Strategies (DASS) has launched new initiatives to better support students on the autism spectrum. Building on existing services like weekly academic coaching, a neurodivergent-focused section of the UNIV 1210: Academic Success and Personal Development course, and the student-led group Students for New Learning, the effort emphasizes proactive preparation over reactive support.

Earlier this month, DASS held Thriving in College: A DASS Open House for Autistic Students and their Families, a virtual orientation that introduced Know Before You Go, our 30-question checklist to help autistic students anticipate academic and social challenges. The session also highlighted Start Smart! What’s New in College and How to Handle It, our new guide that walks the students through common college experiences and strategies to navigate them.

To address issues that arise during the term, DASS created Help Finder, a guide that connects struggling students with the most relevant SMU resources. Together, these tools offer a more structured pathway for autistic students to prepare, adapt, and self-advocate. All materials are available on the DASS Success Strategies webpage and can be shared with any student who may benefit.

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Student Academic Engagement & Success

Welcome Victoria Martini

Headshot of Victoria Martini
Victoria Martini

Please join us in welcoming Victoria Martini to the Student Academic Engagement and Success (SAES) team! Victoria has joined as the new SAES business manager. In her role, she will assist SAES staff and campus partners by answering budget-related questions, assembling job descriptions and postings, writing policies & procedures, and providing general administrative support. Victoria shared that she is always happy to help! Very approachable, she can help you work through any budget or operational issue you are facing.

Victoria graduated from San Diego State University in 2020 with a degree in business administration and management. Since then, she has worked for several companies, building her business acumen. She brings an impressive set of skills to SMU, including strong organizational methods, creative problem-solving and excellent communication.

In her role, Victoria is looking forward to being part of a collaborative campus workspace alongside others who are passionate about education. She will work closely with SAES leadership to manage budgets and support division operations. And she is keen to expand her business administration skillset.

Outside of work, Victoria enjoys spending time with friends, trying new restaurants, walking around Uptown and traveling.

Welcome to the Hilltop, Victoria! We are excited to have you here.

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Academic Development of Student-Athletes (ADSA) Professional Advising Student Academic Engagement & Success Student Academic Success Programs

Welcome John Easton

Headshot of John Easton
John Easton

Please join us in welcoming John Easton to the Student Academic Engagement and Success (SAES) team! John has joined as the inaugural assistant provost for Student Academic Engagement and Success. In this role, he will lead cross-campus collaborations to improve undergraduate academic success for first-year and transfer students, support the launch of professional advising at SMU, develop additional opportunities for summer academic bridge and academic recovery courses and provide operational oversight of Academic Development of Student Athletics (ADSA).

John is bringing with him nearly 25 years of experience at SMU. He currently serves as associate chair, chief undergraduate advisor and program director of the Master of Science in environmental engineering in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Lyle School of Engineering. Additionally, he is a clinical professor, teaching undergraduate and graduate courses in Environmental Engineering. John received his Ph.D. in environmental health engineering, along with an M.S. in civil engineering, from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. He holds a B.A. in biology from the University of Kansas.

In his new role, John says he is looking forward to “working with all of the great people! The SAES team, administration, faculty colleagues, and (of course) students and student-athletes! Student engagement and success is “my jam,” and I’m thrilled to be working to support those programs and projects.” Of the students, he mentioned that “it’s a privilege to work alongside such driven, smart, and dedicated young people. They’re going out to change the world!”

John is super engaged at SMU along with his family. His wife also teaches in the Lyle School and his son has two SMU degrees and was a member of the Men’s Swimming and Diving team. Since all of the kids have left the nest, John and his wife are rediscovering their love of travel, reading, puzzles and games. And they are staying in touch with our kids by playing a weekly Dungeons and Dragons campaign, which he says has been great fun.

Welcome to SAES, John! We are excited to have you on board.

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Academic Development of Student-Athletes (ADSA) Altshuler Learning Enhancement Center Student Academic Engagement & Success Tutoring Writing Center

ALEC Congratulates Tutors on the Honor Rolls

The ALEC is very proud to acknowledge 9 tutors who made the various honor rolls for Spring 2025.

5 tutors made the Honor Roll with High Distinction. Those tutors are Anna Lena Adams, Julianne Flynn, Abigail Schade, Anastasiya Shyvilka, and Mediha Siddiqui. 2 tutors made the Honor Roll with Distinction. They are Lily Fee and Mallory Lorant. We also had 2 tutors make the Honor Roll. They are Anh Khoa Nguyen and Aaron Santa Cruz.

We are so proud of all our tutors!

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Altshuler Learning Enhancement Center Student Academic Engagement & Success Tutoring Writing Center

Artwork at the ALEC

The ALEC is privileged to have several pieces of art displayed in our Writing Center.

This summer and fall semester, visitors will have the pleasure of observing thought-provoking drawings done by SMU students in Ian Grieve’s drawing class (ASDR 5300). Students took inspiration from the artist Arinze Stanley, who often multiplies the number of hands in his drawings of people.  The artists were to work on  black paper with a white and possibly black charcoal. In this way, the process of drawing had to be reversed – instead of developing the shadows, students had to draw the light with white charcoal. This experience made the young artists more conscious and deliberate with such familiar processes as the creation of three-dimensionality and depth within their 2D works. The artists on display are Penelope Brushwood, Virginia Dean, Victoria Garcia, Kaitlyn Gonzales, Kaitlin Rue, Anastasiya Shyvilka, and Herold Zhang. Come by the Writing Center and view these wonderful works of art!

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Academic Development of Student-Athletes (ADSA) Altshuler Learning Enhancement Center Student Academic Engagement & Success Tutoring

A-LEC Alumni Receives Honor

Bibek Karki, a former A-LEC tutor has been announced as one of Consulting-Specifying Engineer Magazine’s “40 Under 40”.

Bibek graduated in 2011 (BS) and 2013 (MS) in Engineering. As a Lyle engineering student, Bibek learned many leadership skills through his time as a tutor, mentor, and ambassador for prospective students.

We are very proud of our alumni, like Bibek, that demonstrates SMU’s incredible ability to attract the best.

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Office of General Education

The Office of General Education archives the University Curriculum website and petitions

The Office of General Education will archive the University Curriculum (UC) website and petitions on July 18, 2025.

The UC applies to students who entered (matriculation into) SMU between Fall 2012 through Spring 2020.

Currently, only 17 undergraduate students are active on this curriculum, with only 8 students enrolled for fall 2025.

A copy of the archived site will be available online. University Curriculum-related petitions in DocuSign may be accessed by emailing theuc@smu.edu. Please refer to the students’ catalog, the archived website, and the Office of General Education for any other assistance.