NSM Faculty/Staff Newsletter

Student Success & Undergraduate Affairs Update

STEM Residential College

The new STEM Residential College has met its goal of enrolling 50 students for the 2026–2027 academic year by utilizing marketing strategies provided by UH marketing, Resident Life, and targeted NSM marketing. One component of engagement for the STEM Residential cohorts will be enrollment in a STEM Residential College Seminar course (IDNS 2197) which will help build community and build identity as a scientist or engineer, introduce them to campus resources, provide exposure to major specific activities, i.e., lab tour and ethics and societal impacts of STEM innovation which will to encourage discussion, deeper thought, and help students make the connections between coursework and society.

The STEM Residential College logo highlights the support and structure being provided for the students. We look forward to a robust experience for this inaugural cohort of Residential College students.

UH Katy Campus

Enrollments for the expansion of microbiology lecture and lab and anatomy & physiology lecture and lab courses on the Katy campus are strong with all classes having adequate enrollment. The college will continue to explore course expansions at te UH Katy and Sugar Land campuses.

Summer Scholars Academy Updates

• The Summer Scholars Academy (SSA) marked the start of its eighth year on Wednesday, June 10, welcoming 61 students to the nine-week summer bridge program. Designed for students planning to pursue majors in NSM or Engineering, SSA provides an early academic foundation through credit-bearing Calculus I, a preview of Chemistry coursework, a College Success mini-course, and a Scholar Enrichment Program Calculus workshop. Students celebrated the end of the first week by building connections with their fellow classmates on Friday, June 12, at the UH Student Center Game Room.

• On June 24, the Summer Scholars Academy (SSA) hosted a professional development session featuring a career panel with representatives from Cheniere Energy and alumni of the Scholar Enrichment Program (SEP). Alumni panelists, Ivan Rodriguez, Compiler Engineer at Hewlett Packard Enterprise (2021 cohort) and Migara Jayasekera, Resident Physician at the University of Texas Medical Branch (2019cohort), underscored the long-term impact of early academic enrichment initiatives of the program on their student success. Other panelists included Florian Pintgen, Vice President of Commercial Operations at Cheniere Energy and Jacqueline Buskop, Analyst in Climate and Sustainability at Cheniere Energy. Each speaker shared their distinct career trajectory and provided valuable insights on navigating academic pathways and transitioning into professional roles. The participation of alumni as speakers highlights the importance of sustained engagement, offering current students relatable role models while reinforcing a culture of mentorship and institutional connection.

Office of First Year Programs (OFYP) Updates

• Join us in welcoming the new OFYP’s Program Manager, Marli Scott to the team! She earned her Bachelor of Science in Mass Communication with a concentration in broadcast journalism and her master’s in Student Affairs and Higher Education from Stephen F. Austin State University, and is committed to being a supportive presence for students as they navigate their college journey.

Recruitment, Transition, Retention

• College Reviews - The OFYP is reviewing FTIC applications for the 26-27AY admissions cycle that are processed under College Review.
• Academic Information Session - These partnership events with the Office of Admissions offer an opportunity for prospective students and guests to learn more about the College, academic departments, student resources, signature experiences, and admissions information. The last event occurred on Friday, June 5.
• Admissions Training - The OFYP provided an in-person training to the Admissions Recruitment Team on June 16 to highlight new admissions requirements, programs, and enrollment goals for the College.
• New Student Orientation (NSO) - The OFYP has presented the College Engagement Session for the first-year sessions on June 1, 4, 8, and 15.
• Summer Scholars Academy - The OFYP provided a presentation for the Summer Scholars Academy on June 10.
• Get Involved Paths - The OFYP will partner with the Center for Student Involvement to use the Paths tool in Get Involved to improve progression tracking for student engagement.

teachHOUSTON Updates

• Mariam Manuel and co-authors, Lori D. Rhea, April L. Peters-Hawkins, Mariam Manuel, and Jerrod A. Henderson, were recognized by the Educational Research and Methods (ERM) Division of the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) for the 2026 Best Diversity Paper Award for thei paper entitled “From Sink-or-Swim to Scaffolding: How Engineering Undergraduates Experience Faculty Mentoring.” The paper is published in the Proceedings of the American Society for Engineering Education 2026 Annual Meeting.

CenterPoint Energy New Teacher Academy +

• New Teacher Academy+ and teachHOUSTON recently hosted a dynamic three-day professional development conference designed to support new educators as they begin their teaching careers. The event welcomed 95 attendees from across the greater Houston area, all early-career secondary teachers in mathematics, science, or computer science.
• The success of this year’s conference was made possible through the generous support of Liz Swartze, General Motors, CenterPoint Energy, Houston Loves Teachers, and Chevron, whose contributions helped provide meaningful professional learning opportunities for emerging STEM educators. We are also grateful to the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics Dean Dudley and Associate Dean Stokes and the College of Education Dean Horn for attending our Donor Day Luncheon and for their continued support of teacher preparation initiatives. Their generosity in providing space and facilities for the New Teacher Academy+ conference helped create a welcoming environment for collaboration, learning, and professional growth.
• Throughout the conference, participants engaged in interactive sessions focused on essential topics such as classroom management, inquiry-based lesson planning, effective use of educational technology, and the development of content-rich instructional strategies. teachHOUSTON alumni returned for another exciting summer of learning and collaboration, while STEM-Lead Master Teacher Fellows facilitated high-quality, impactful sessions tailored to the needs of beginning educators. The conference fostered meaningful connections among new teachers, experienced mentors, and educational leaders, reinforcing the importance of professional networks in supporting teacher retention and success.
• The event highlighted the power of community partnerships, institutional support, mentorship, and ongoing professional growth in building a strong foundation for classroom excellence and advancing high-quality STEM education throughout the Houston region.

Full STEM Ahead! Summer Camp

• Full STEM Ahead! junior scientists participated in a week of inquiry-based STEM experiences designed to strengthen collaboration, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills. Through a series of engineering design challenges, students designed, tested, and refined rubber band-powered helicopters, pneumatic straw rockets, and chain reaction systems while exploring concepts including force, motion, gravity, friction, energy transfer, and projectile motion. Using data collection, mathematical modeling, and iterative design processes, campers evaluated performance, made evidence-based improvements, and communicated their engineering decisions.
• Campers also engaged in authentic scientific investigations spanning physics, mathematics, engineering, and environmental science. Experiences included exploring magnetism, momentum, circuitry, energy transfer, and superconductivity during a visit to a leading superconductivity research center; applying algebraic reasoning and GeoGebra modeling to achieve targeted rocket launches; analyzing owl pellets to investigate local ecosystems; and conducting laboratory investigations to distinguish physical and chemical changes. These activities connected foundational STEM concepts to real-world scientific and engineering practices while fostering curiosity and engagement.
• The week concluded with recognition of campers’ outstanding attendance, enthusiastic participation, and commitment to learning. Students were celebrated for their curiosity, creativity, and perseverance throughout the program, highlighting the impact of immersive, hands-on STEM experiences in inspiring the next generation of scientists, engineers, and innovators.

Cougar STEM Camp

• The Cougar Summer STEM Camp successfully engaged 6th–9th grade Emergent Bilingual students from Channelview Independent School District in hands-on learning experiences designed to foster interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Through STEM exploration activities, engineering design challenges, 3D printing activities, and a visit to the Texas Center for Superconductivity at the University of Houston, participants developed critical thinking, problem-solving, and teamwork skills while strengthening both STEM knowledge and academic language skills. The camp provided students with valuable exposure to STEM education, advanced scientific research, and emerging technologies at University of Houston, helping them envision future educational and career opportunities. Participant engagement remained high throughout the program, and feedback from students indicated increased confidence, curiosity, and enthusiasm for STEM learning. The camp also advanced the university’s commitment to community engagement, educational access, and support for multilingual learners. Future opportunities include expanding participation, strengthening partnerships with local school districts and industry partners, and continued development of STEM enrichment experiences to sustain student interest and achievement.

UH-RET

• The Cullen College of Engineering’s Technology Division and teachHOUSTON are collaborating on a National Science Foundation (NSF)-funded Industries of the Future Research Experience for High School Teachers (UH Ret), which provides authentic engineering research experiences for high school STEM teachers from 8 partnering school districts across the Greater Houston area. The program provides high school STEM teachers with authentic engineering research experiences, professional development workshops, seminars, industry site visits, and curriculum development opportunities. These experiences help teachers translate their engineering research experience into secondary classroom lessons aligned with the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) and the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). Ramona Mateer provides instructional support throughout the program, guiding participants in connecting their research experiences to effective STEM instruction and developing standards-aligned lessons for implementation in their classrooms.

NSM Career Center Updates

• Workforce Intelligence Webinars - To ensure students remain competitive and in-sync with market demands, the NSMCC team completed three webinars hosted by industry and academic leadership, including the Computing Research Association and Georgia Tech University. Key structural shifts in the 2026 hiring landscape include:
  • Elevated Demand for Durable Skills: While deep technical competency remains a baseline requirement, corporate talent leaders (including VPs and Global Directors from ServiceNow, NCR Voyix, Cargill, and Norfolk Southern) emphasized that hiring decisions increasingly hinge on “soft” or durable skills. Employers are explicitly screening for complex problem-solving, advanced communication skills, and the ability to translate academic theory into immediate corporate impact.
  • The AI Literacy Standard: Employers now expect graduates to possess advanced AI literacy—demonstrating the capacity to leverage AI tools to optimize productivity, while applying rigorous critical thinking and independent oversight to mitigate “AI slop” and verify data integrity.
  • Next-Generation Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS 2.0): Corporate talent acquisition continues to rely on precise automated screening to initially filter large volumes of job applicants. These systems require single-column formatting and legal employer identifiers (e.g., “Inc.,” “Ltd.”) to prevent parsing errors. Resumes should be limited to one page and focus on quantified achievements to pass early software filters.
• Professional Development - The NSMCC members attended training session for utilizing the Lightcast data-visualization platforms for mapping alumni employment and refine our targeted corporate outreach.
• Corporate Relations - The NSMCC is currently finalizing discussions with Engie, a prominent global leader in low-carbon energy and sustainability. Engie is poised to become an official sponsor of the upcoming Fall Career Fair, anchoring an expanding pipeline in green energy and sustainability tech.
• Corporate Recognition - The NSMCC continues to receive recognition from industry leaders for its contributions to STEM workforce development. In a recent Houston Business Journal feature examining Houston’s economic growth and competitive advantages, Deloitte cited the NSM Career Center as a key example of the higher education programs that support the region’s STEM talent pipeline. Deloitte believes in Houston’s continued position as a leading hub for innovation, energy, and technology. This recognition reflects the Career Center’s success in connecting students with career opportunities while advancing the University’s mission to develop workforce-ready STEM professionals.
• Fall 2026 NSM Career Fair - Registration has officially opened for our premier recruitment event, scheduled for September 15, 2026, from 1–5 PM at the UH Student Center South. Demonstrating immediate demand, industry giants Chevron and ConocoPhillips have already finalized their early-bird registrations.
• First-Year Retention & “Pathways” Initiative - To support the University of Houston’s goals for student success, retention, career readiness, and post-graduation outcomes, NSMCC Director Dawnelle Prince developed a Summer Orientation video featuring Pathways, the Center’s Career Readiness Certification Program. Created by NSMCC Associate Director and Career Counselor Lee Ann Lawrence and tailored specifically to NSM students, the self-paced curriculum consists of eight modules that students must complete to earn NSM Career Readiness Certification. The program introduces a structured framework for career development from the first semester, establishes early career readiness milestones, and connects students to HireNSM resources, helping them prepare for internships, research opportunities, graduate education, and future careers.