NSM Faculty/Staff Newsletter

Student Success Update

Inaugural Spring 2025 Pre-Med Emergency Preparedness Day - A Game-Changer for Your Students!

On Thursday, March 27, 2025, the NSM Career Center will be hosting the Spring 2025 Pre-Med Emergency Preparedness Day event, a collaboration between the NSM Career Center and the U.S. Army Medical Department (AMEDD). This groundbreaking event is designed to provide Pre-Health students with invaluable, hands-on experience in emergency medicine, disaster response, and life-changing opportunities for full tuition coverage for health professional schools (medicine, nursing, dentistry, veterinary, pharmacy, optometry, and more).

Faculty and staff volunteers are needed to help manage the event and/or serve as injured victims in the natural disaster scenario. If you are, please sign up here. There will be different times available in the sign-up link. Associate Dean, Donna Pattison sent an email with an attached slide to share the information with your students. We hope to see you there!

Event Details

Date: March 27, 2025
Location: University of Houston 🕘 Time: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Key Sessions Include:

9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Tour the U.S. Army Medical Marketing Semi, a mobile exhibit that showcases the capabilities of Army medicine. (Parking Lot 2C, UH Campus Recreation and Wellness Center)
Open to ALL faculty, staff, and students.

9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Emergency medical workshops & medevac instruction/tour (UH Campus Recreation and Wellness Center, Gertner Field)

11:00 AM – 11:45 AM
VIP reception with UH Leadership (Student Center South, Multipurpose Room)

12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
Keynote address by Colonel Christopher Mitchell (Student Center South, Houston Room)

1:30 PM – 4:00 PM
Emergency Preparedness Simulation (UH Campus Recreation and Wellness Center, Gertner Field)
Bleachers provided for any campus members who want to come observe.

SEP and TC Energy Host Speed Mentoring Event

TC Energy and the Scholar Enrichment Program (SEP) hosted a successful speed mentoring event at the University on March 5th. Forty-five (45) SEP students attended the event, engaging twenty-two (22) TC Energy volunteers as they shared insights into their careers and experiences within the energy sector. To maximize student interaction, the event featured seven 7-minute rounds, allowing students to rotate and speak with a different volunteer during each round. Participants expressed appreciation for the opportunity to gain diverse perspectives and learn about potential career opportunities at TC Energy. Due to the event’s success, TC Energy has committed to returning in Spring 2026 to host the event again.

UH STEM Center Hosts 66th Science and Engineering Fair of Houston

The UH STEM Center proudly hosted the 66th Science and Engineering Fair of Houston (SEFH), making a lasting impact on 1,135 students in grades 6-12. A total of 84 students (42 from each the junior and senior divisions) advanced to the state fair, while 14 finalists earned the opportunity to showcase their research at the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair. SEFH honored seven outstanding educators as Teachers of the Year for their dedication to fostering scientific literacy among their students.

Industry professionals served as place award judges, providing valuable feedback to participants.

SEFH incorporated a Student GAME Zone during Set Up Day on Friday, along with a STEM Festival where all participants and community members interacted with 20 representative exhibitors from academia and industry.

SEFH hosted its “STEM Leaders” program with 58 elementary, middle, and high school students learning about STEM research and engaging as “special awarding judges” that helped to increase self-efficacy, confidence, and secure an interest to conduct a science fair project for the following year so they become participants rather than observers. Nine school districts were represented.

SEFH Award Ceremony welcomed over 1,000 attendees. Jami Kovach, Associate Dean for Student Success and Undergraduate Support Services (Technology Division), Jay Neal, Associate Vice President, Academic Affairs & COO at Sugarland and UH Katy, Dean Cathy Horn (Education), Donna Pattison, Assistant Dean, Student Success (NSM), and Sohan Kureti, Legacy Award Winner and SEFH Alumni were VIP speakers that inspired students for their scientific achievements.

SEFH continues to serve as a catalyst for innovation and inspiration, shaping the next generation of scientists and engineers.

UH Day at the Capitol: NSM Students and Faculty Advocate for Health, Innovation, and STEM Education

On February 11, 2025, students and faculty from the University of Houston’s College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics (NSM) participated in UH Day at the Capitol, joining a university-wide effort to advocate for health-related innovations, research funding, and legislative support for UH initiatives.

The day’s agenda emphasized UH’s leadership in health care education, groundbreaking medical research, and key funding requests to further these efforts. The NSM delegation took the opportunity to highlight the critical role of STEM education and research in addressing Texas’ workforce needs and scientific advancements.

Representing NSM’s commitment to STEM education and workforce development were Kayla Le (Undergraduate Mathematics major, teachHOUSTON student), Maggie Fuller (Undergraduate Physics major), and Yunuen Avila Martinez (Chemistry PhD candidate), accompanied by faculty representative Dr. Mariam Manuel (Mathematics and teachHOUSTON). The group engaged in discussions with legislators about UH’s impact in STEM teacher preparation, innovative research, and the importance of supporting thriving STEM pathways.

NSM Living Learning Community

Members of the NSM Living Learning Community (LLC) participated in several academic and support events hosted by the College.

• On February 4, members of the NSM LLC went on an academic resource tour to introduce them to campus resource to support their success. The tour began at LAUNCH where Dr. Laura Heidel provided a facility tour and discussed tutoring, workshops and employment resources offered by the center. The next stop was the Scholar Enrichment Program (SEP) where Associate Dean for Curriculum, Donna Pattison provided information on workshops offered by SEP to support science and math courses as well as information on opportunities to engage with the program as a student leader.
• On February 18, members of the NSM LLC attended a wellness event which included a stress management and imposter syndrome discussion.

These events offer a wonderful opportunity for students to connect and learn about UH/NSM resources to help them succeed in their STEM majors. This is the second semester NSM has planned events for the LLC members. This spring, we aimed to engage not only those in the LLC, but also any freshmen student.

NSM Excel Workshop: Beginners to Intermediate

Ashley Askew, Director of Special Programs, conducted an Excel workshop for members of the UH Society for Human Resource Management (UHSHRM). The session covered a variety of concepts, including data entry and formatting, pivot tables, and XLOOKUP helping participants improve their data management skills.

Campus Visit - Austin High School (Austin, TX)

The College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics welcomed 25 sophomores and juniors from Austin High School for an engaging visit to the University of Houston. During their visit, students attended an NSM recruitment session, participated in a STEM student panel, and explored key campus landmarks on a guided tour, gaining valuable insight into university life.

Lab Crawl Event Exposes Students to NSM Research

The OFYP hosted a Lab Crawl, aiming to connect students and faculty while showcasing the innovative research (and accompanying facilities) within the College. Nearly 40 NSM majors and seven faculty participated in the event. Thanks to all who made this a successful event for exposing students to research in NSM.

OFYP Staff Attend Nation Conference on Programming for First Year Students

The OFYP staff attended/participated in the National Resource Center for the First-Year Experience and Students in Transitions’ 44th annual conference in New Orleans, LA February 16–19. The program’s director, Kayla Molnar, gave a presentation on creating campus spaces for authentic student engagement, providing exposure of successful NSM programming to the professional academic community. The staff also networked and learned about best practices related to supporting first-year students from university staff across the country.

Office of First Year Program (OFYP) Updates

Recruitment, Transition, Retention

• The OFYP hosted NSMeet, the college’s annual open house. The Student Leadership Team (SLT) served on a Peer Panel to answer questions about the student experience and their involvement in NSM and then the OFYP offered guidance on important next steps for enrolling and connecting to NSM (e.g., orientation, peer mentorship registration, Block Party).
• In partnership with the Office of Admissions, the OFYP co-hosted Academic Information Sessions for prospective students. The events introduce prospective students with information about the academic programs and signature experiences offered at NSM, along with interactive activities and panels for students to ask questions.
• The OFYP hosted Coffee and Conversations for the Department of Physics. The event provides an informal opportunity for first-year and first-semester transfer students to connect with their classmates and physics professors.
• The OFYP partnered with Technology Services & Support to secure phone lines for the SLT members to make recruiting calls to prospective and admitted students, particularly those that were awarded the Academic Excellence Scholarship starting March 5.

Student Leadership Team (SLT) Program

• Recruiting for the 2025–2026 SLT members launched February 3. SLT members assist with college recruitment and retention efforts to support NSM first year students transition and persistence in NSM and at UH. The SLT application is open from February 24–March 24.
• SLT members hosted Study Nights to support students’ success in foundational STEM courses, including Chemistry I, on February 13 and Calculus I, on February 18.
• SLT members facilitated a volunteer event for FTIC and first-year transfer students at the Houston Food Bank on February 21. The event allowed the student to build community and provided opportunity for first-year students to earn credit toward the NSM Dean’s First-Year Excellence Award.

NSM Career Center Updates

Student Engagement

• Computer Science Career Fair: The NSM Career Center Staff and Student Directors assisted with the Computer Science Career Fair organized and hosted by the Computer Science Department on Feb. 19, 2025. Companies such as Capco, Charles Schwab, Sysco Business Services, Paycom, NOV, and Tokio Marine, among others, were in attendance to promote their internships and jobs.
• On Feb. 12, 2025, NSM Career Center Director Dawnelle Prince and Associate Director Lee Ann Lawrence conducted a “Resume and Networking” workshop to members of the AEG/AIPG student organization. After the presentation, students participated in a Q&A session with the NSM Career Center Staff.
• The NSM Career Center promoted the Health Professions Fair held on Feb. 17, 2025, in the Houston Ballroom. Students interested in pursuing professional programs met with representatives from medical and dental schools. Students received information regarding PT, OT, PA, and clinical lab service programs.
• The NSM Career Center is promoting the upcoming QVIDTVM x The Ion: Inaugural Hack Day Competition on Feb. 27 - 28 at the Ion in downtown Houston. Students will compete to estimate the total value of real estate platformed by Airbnb globally using provided or self-sourced datasets during the competition. Nick King, CEO of Data Kinetic, will be the guest speaker at the event.

Corporate Connections

• The NSM Career Center secures its first official corporate sponsor, Sysco Business Services. The Career Center looks forward to building a strong corporate partnership for the benefit of NSM students.
• The NSM Career Center is featured in the Houston Business Journal’s Book of Lists 2025. In addition to the NSM Career Center’s logo on the front cover, Associate Dean, Dr. Donna Stokes, and Assistant Dean, Dr. Donna Pattison, are highlighted in the sponsorship section and promotional material appeared on the inside back cover. As a trusted source of information, corporate decision-makers use the Book of Lists to identify partnerships and inform recruiting decisions. In fact, the typical Book of Lists reader uses the hard copy and digital version nearly thirty times each year. Exposure in the HBJ Book of Lists is a key step in developing future corporate relationships.

Career Counseling

• During January and February, Associate Director Lee Ann Lawrence completed 127 resume reviews and cover letters and had a 1:1 counseling appointment with thirty-eight students. The Pathways program has students from Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Earth and Atmospheric Science, and Math who have engaged with the first Career Readiness Module.

teachHOUSTON Updates

• The STEM LEAD Program kicked off on February 1 for 15 Master Teacher Fellows who will receive training in Culturally Responsive Classroom Management, Induction, Engineering Design Process and Mentoring over five years. The “Developing STEM Teacher Leaders in Culturally Responsive Classroom Management and Induction (STEM-Lead)” program is supported by $2.99 million grant program from the National Science Foundation and is led by PI, Dr. Paige Evans, teachHOUSTON: Co-PI, Dr. Jerrod Henderson, College of Engineering, Dr. Virginia Snodgrass-Rangel, College of Education and Dr. Karen McIntush, Ramona Mateer, and Amanda Campos, all of whom are part of teachHOUSTON.
• teachHOUSTON recruitment for the Fall 2025 cohort is underway. An open house event was held for the students enrolled in the College of Natural Science and Mathematics to learn about the teacher certification pathways offered. In addition, teachHOUSTON sponsored a table at the NSM Computer Science Career Fair on Wednesday, February 19, showcasing its programming.
• Members of teachHOUSTON attended the Western Regional Noyce Network Conference in San Diego, CA on February 21–23. Nearly 30 faculty, staff, alumni and students affiliated with the program attended the conference where they gave five oral and two poster presentations related to improving STEM teaching and learning through evidence-based practices.