July 2019
Finding the intersection of art, code and neuroscience
Stejara Dinulescu ’19 came to SMU as a pre-med student, but fell in love with her art classes. She found her passion for coding and neuroscience research when she added psychology and creative computation to her fine arts major. Her unique interdisciplinary interests led to her acceptance to three Ph.D. programs.
Prestigious awards fuel students’ global study and research
Siddhakshi Solanki ’20 is studying languages in Senegal as a Boren Scholarship and Gilman Scholarship recipient, and Tyler Giallanza ’21 received a Goldwater Scholarship to study at the University of Oxford. They are among the SMU students who recently earned prestigious international awards.
Following a missing link from Siberia to the Southwest
Ancient children’s teeth and adult remains found in Siberia yielded a huge archaeological discovery for a team of international researchers that includes SMU anthropologist David Meltzer. They uncovered a new Ice Age ethnic group whose DNA reveals a genetic link to Native Americans.
#PonyUpLagos: An unforgettable football experience
Young athletes with the grit, determination and heart of Mustangs made lasting impressions on the SMU football staff when they teamed up with basketball star Ejike Ugboaja’s foundation to teach some gridiron fundamentals to youth in Lagos, Nigeria.
Weighing shareholder democracy’s benefits and costs
Firms with strong corporate governance are like democracies, according Nickolay Gantche. Research by the finance professor shows that through their proposals and votes, shareholders can determine the broad direction of a company.
Ian Derrer: A singer’s journey to CEO
Ian Derrer ’96 remembers fetching coffee and chauffeuring visiting talent as a vocal performance student with an internship at The Dallas Opera. Now, as general director and chief executive officer, his responsibilities include overseeing the company’s fiscal health and steering its artistic direction.
Bringing scholars, artists and communities together
Perkins’ Center for the Study of Latino/a Christianity and Religions, in collaboration with Meadows School of the Arts, will present “The Art of Resilience: Latinx Public Witness in Troubled Times,” an experiential event on September 21–22. The event is free and open to the public.
ICYMI: In Case You Missed It
Enjoy these great videos and stories about the people and events making news on the Hilltop.