Life & Letters Magazine

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2014 Dean’s Distinguished Graduates Luncheon

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Dean Randy Diehl recognized 12 outstanding College of Liberal Arts students at a luncheon on May 15.

The Dean’s Distinguished Graduates Program was founded in 1980. Each May, 12 Liberal Arts graduates are selected on the basis of high achievements in scholarship, leadership and service to the College. The recognition of the Dean’s Distinguished Graduates has become an integral part of the spring commencement ceremony. A total of 406 students have been recognized over the past 34 years.

Dean Randy Diehl greets DDG Rebekah Rodriguez and her family at the luncheon Thursday.
Dean Diehl greets DDG Rebekah Rodriguez and her family at the luncheon Thursday.

The event’s guest speaker was Brian Haymon, a UT Austin humanities alumnus and 1982 Dean’s Distinguished Graduate. Haymon’s support of higher education began at the age of 26, with Bob King, then dean of the College of Liberal Arts, invited him to join the Liberal Arts Advisory Council, on which he served for 13 years. Today, Haymon serves as CEO of SGS Petroleum Service Corporation.

Brian Haymon speaks about his time as a COLA undergraduate student and his experience supporting high education throughout his life.
Brian Haymon speaks about his time as a COLA undergraduate student and his experience supporting higher education throughout his life.

A selection committee, composed of college faculty and staff, reviews the DDG nominations each year and ranks the nominees. The current members of this committee are:

  • Douglas S. Bruster, Professor, Department of English
  • Monica Chartier, Program Coordinator, Liberal Arts Career Center
  • Cynthia A. Gladstone, Senior Academic Advisor, Teresa Lozano Long Institute of Latin American Studies
  • Robert A. Josephs, Professor, Department of Psychology
  • Marc A. Musick, Ex-Officio Member, Senior Associate Dean for Student Affairs Elizabeth Richmond-Garza, Associate Professor, Department of English
  • John E. St. Lawrence, Administrative Associate, Liberal Arts Office of Academic Affairs
Selection committee member Douglas Bruster greets luncheon attendees with DDG Patrick Naeve.

This year’s Dean’s Distinguished Graduates are:

Cintia Preciado Hinojosa
Special Honors in Psychology

Cintia is a psychology honors student and Ronald E. McNair Scholar who is conducting her senior honor theses under Dr. Cristine Legare and Dr. David Yeager. As a Latina first-generation college student, Cintia values incorporating culture and character-based traits into her research on academic development on at-risk youth.
Cintia is a psychology honors student and Ronald E. McNair Scholar who is conducting her senior honor theses under Dr. Cristine Legare and Dr. David Yeager. As a Latina first-generation college student, Cintia values incorporating culture and character-based traits into her research on academic development on at-risk youth.

Samuel Augustus Jefferson Kieke
Special Honors in International Relations and Global Studies; Middle Eastern Studies; Arabic Language and Literature

While at The University of Texas at Austin, Samuel A. J. Kieke worked with Professor Laila Familiar on the Khallina Project as an Arabic curriculum designer. Samuel’s honors thesis deals with the centralization of patrimonial networks in Syria under the Ba’th Party and how this analysis can be used as an alternative paradigm through which to conceptualize contemporary Syria. Upon graduating, Samuel will be continuing his Arabic studies in Amman, Jordan, as a CASA 1 Fellow.
While at The University of Texas at Austin, Samuel worked with Professor Laila Familiar on the Khallina Project as an Arabic curriculum designer. Samuel’s honors thesis deals with the centralization of patrimonial networks in Syria under the Ba’th Party and how this analysis can be used as an alternative paradigm through which to conceptualize contemporary Syria. Upon graduating, Samuel will be continuing his Arabic studies in Amman, Jordan, as a CASA 1 Fellow.

Sarah Michelle Lusher
Special Honors in English; History; Liberal Arts Honors

A Kentuckian by birth, Sarah attended middle and high schools in Frisco, Texas. She has particular interest in medieval Europe, Victorian literature, and the German language. She strives to broaden her research and composition and ultimately become an English professor.
A Kentuckian by birth, Sarah attended middle and high schools in Frisco, Texas. She has particular interest in medieval Europe, Victorian literature, and the German language. She strives to broaden her research and
composition and ultimately become an English professor.

Daniel Brinson Muñoz
Special Honors in Philosophy; Linguistics

While at The University of Texas at Austin, Daniel, a double-major in philosophy and linguistics, served as president of the UT Men’s Chorus, president of Texas Secular Humanists, and co-editor-in- chief of Ex Nihilo. This fall, he will join the philosophy PhD program at MIT.
While at The University of Texas at Austin, Daniel served as president of the UT Men’s Chorus, president of Texas Secular Humanists, and co-editor-in- chief of Ex Nihilo. This fall, he will join the philosophy PhD program at MIT.

Patrick Gilbreath Naeve
Special Honors in Plan II Honors; Special honors in English; History; Liberal Arts Honors

Patrick Naeve is a native of Austin, Texas. He is interested in the intersections of literature, history and geography, and produced a Shakespearean-style history play for Plan II. Not realizing one thesis was more than enough, he wrote a second English honors thesis about Beowulf.
Patrick Naeve is a native of Austin, Texas. He is interested in the intersections of literature, history and geography, and produced a Shakespearean-style history play for Plan II. Not realizing one thesis was more than enough, he wrote a second English honors thesis about Beowulf.

David Hee Oh
Special Honors in Economics; Sociology; International Relations and Global Studies; Liberal Arts Honors; Mathematics

David Oh is a senior majoring in economics, mathematics, sociology, and international relations and global studies. Currently, David is completing his honors thesis in economics while working as supplemental instruction leader and undergraduate assistant for two separate introductory microeconomics classes. His hobbies include studying theology and playing board games.
This semester, David completed his honors thesis in economics while working as supplemental instruction leader and undergraduate assistant for two separate introductory microeconomics classes. His hobbies include studying theology and playing board games.

Ana Laura Rivera
Special Honors in Humanities; Government

From Palmview, Texas, Ana Laura is the first in her family to pursue higher education. Her humanities thesis focuses on identifying the barriers in abortion access among Latinas in the Rio Grande Valley. As a scholar, leader and agent of change, she will continue to serve the Texas community as a 2014 Houston Teach for America Corps member.
From Palmview, Texas, Ana Laura is the first in her family to pursue higher education. Her humanities thesis focuses on identifying the barriers in abortion access among Latinas in the Rio Grande Valley. As a scholar, leader and agent of change, she will continue to serve the Texas community as a 2014 Houston Teach for America Corps member.

Rebekah Maryssa Rodriguez
History; Sociology; Liberal Arts Honors

Inspired by her father, a Mexican native who immigrated to the U.S. and became a doctor, Rebekah has realized the importance of education, determination and giving back to the community. Rebekah has participated in the Normandy Scholar Program and Archer Fellowship as a Supreme Court intern. After graduation, she will pursue international and appellate law at Columbia Law School this fall in the hopes of becoming a federal judge.
Inspired by her father, a Mexican native who immigrated to the U.S. and became a doctor, Rebekah has realized the importance of education, determination and giving back to the community. Rebekah has participated in the Normandy Scholar Program and Archer Fellowship as a Supreme Court intern. After graduation, she will pursue international and appellate law at Columbia Law School this fall in the hopes of becoming a federal judge.

Aurora Mayté Salazar Ordoñez
Latin American Studies; History; Anthropology

Mayté was born in Chihuahua, Mexico, but considers the border towns of Juarez and El Paso to be home. As a student leader, she has advocated for the representation and involvement of underrepresented students and has decided to work in the non-profit sector to empower communities of color in Austin after graduating.
Mayté was born in Chihuahua, Mexico, but considers the border towns of Juarez and El Paso to be home. As a student leader, she has advocated for the representation and involvement of underrepresented students and has decided to work in the non-profit sector to empower communities of color in Austin after graduating.

Philip Ray Tryon
Special Honors in International Relations and Global Studies; Philosophy; Liberal Arts Honors

Philip participated in relief efforts in Port au Prince, Haiti, and advocated for anti-human trafficking efforts in Washington, D. C., and Australia. He is the Vice Chair of Eastside Memorial High School for the Texas Blazers, where he currently teaches empowerment classes. Throughout his college career, Philip has worked to expand opportunity for Americans through immigration and education reform. After graduation, Philip intends to commission as an officer in United States Marine Corps.
Philip participated in relief efforts in Port au Prince, Haiti, and advocated for anti-human trafficking efforts in Washington, D. C., and Australia. He is the Vice Chair of Eastside Memorial High School for the Texas Blazers, where he currently teaches empowerment classes. Throughout his college career, Philip has worked to expand opportunity for Americans through immigration and education reform. After graduation, Philip intends to commission as an officer in United States Marine Corps.

Andrew Tarver Wilson
Plan II Honors; History

Andrew is a Plan II and history student with an interest in post-colonial literatures. He is a Normandy Scholar, participated in the Oxford English program, and served as the Liberal Arts Council president. After graduation, he plans to teach English in France and eventually pursue a Ph.D. in comparative literature.
Andrew is a Plan II and history student with an interest in post-colonial literatures. He is a Normandy Scholar, participated in the Oxford English program, and served as the Liberal Arts Council president. After graduation, he plans to teach English in France and eventually pursue a Ph.D. incomparative literature.

Laura Sinisi Wright
Plan II Honors

Laura is a Plan II senior from San Antonio, Texas. In her time at UT Austin, Laura has worked for the Senate of College Councils on curricular policy, covered the Texas Legislative session for Texas Monthly magazine, and served as a Life & Arts senior writer, Opinion columnist, and finally editor- in-chief of the Daily Texan. She is a member of the Friar Society and is writing her thesis on the role of independent oversight in juvenile justice.
Laura is a Plan II senior from San Antonio, Texas. In her time at UT Austin, Laura has worked for the Senate of College Councils on curricular policy, covered the Texas Legislative session for Texas Monthly magazine, and served as a Life & Arts senior writer, Opinion columnist, and finally editor-in-chief of the Daily Texan. She is a member of the Friar Society and is writing her thesis on the role of independent oversight in juvenile justice.

Competition for Dean’s Distinguished Graduates is very close, and the selection committee would like to honor students who were nominated, but not selected, as an Honorable Mention in order to recognize their superior efforts in academics, service, and leadership.

The Honorable Mention recipients are:

  • Aidan Aannestad, Linguistics (Special Honors)
  • James Beveridge, Anthropology (Special Honors)/Latin American Studies
  • Taj Bruno, American Studies (Special Honors)/Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies/Jewish Studies
  • Alyse Camus, American Studies (Special Honors)/Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies
  • Andrew Clark, International Relations and Global Studies/History
  • Erica Dietzel, Religious Studies (Special Honors)
  • Adam Frye, Middle Eastern Studies
  • Jamie Hill, Psychology (College Honors)
  • Lucy Kerr, Philosophy (Special Honors)/Theatre and Dance (BA)
  • Madison Klim, Anthropology
  • Thaddeus Kull, Classics (College Honors)
  • Yoon Lee, Plan II Honors Program/Latin
  • Robert McDowall, Economics (Special Honors)/Mathematics (BA)
  • Tu-Uyen Nguyen, Classics (Special Honors)/Latin/Ethnic Studies (Asian American Studies)
  • Stephanie Onyekwere, Sociology (Special Honors)
  • Madeline Rodriguez, Spanish
  • Katherine Sanchez, Relgious Studies (Special Honors)/Middle Eastern Studies
  • Cortney Sanders, Government
  • Philip Wiseman, Government (Special Honors; College Honors)/History
  • Sarah Witkowski, Psychology BS (Special Honors)/Plan II Honors Program
  • Benjamin Wollam, International Relations and Global Studies/Asian Cultures and Languages (Chinese)

To view the entire album from the event, click here.