News from CLASS

HHP research shows wheelchair rugby lowers depression and stress in spinal cord injury patients

A new study from the Department of Health and Human Performance (HHP) has found that frequent participation in wheelchair rugby is associated with lower levels of depression and stress among men with tetraplegia. The results of the study by HHP graduate student Stephanie Silveira and HHP faculty Dr. Daphne Hernandez , Dr. Tracey Ledoux and Dr. Michael Cottingham were published in the journal Spinal Cord. Read the entire article on the UH News website

UH researchers work to curb alcohol abuse in HIV-positive patients

A team of University of Houston researchers from the  department of psychology has been awarded a National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant to reduce HIV transmission and progression among hazardous alcohol users. Rates of alcohol abuse among HIV-positive individuals are approximately twice as high as the general population. read more

Provost undergraduate research scholarship allows student to work alongside faculty member

Michael Lyn, a junior majoring in biology and minoring in French, was one of only two students in the humanities to win a Provost’s Undergraduate Research Scholarship in 2017. Awarding 20 laureates per year the sum of $1,000, the scholarship makes it possible for undergraduates to pursue independent research under the guidance of a professor. Lyn worked with Dr. Julie Tolliver, assistant professor of French in the department of Modern and Classical Languages, on a project titled “Intralingual Translation and the Politics of Francophone Publication in the Novels of [Haitian-Québécois author] Dany Laferrière.” read more

New graduate certificate focuses on the social, political, economic, and environmental impacts of oil and gas projects

The Graduate Certificate in Global Energy, Development, and Sustainability (GEDS) is a nine-unit sequence of courses that offers graduate students, government officials, and leaders of NGOs current “best practices” for designing oil and gas projects that will prove beneficial to all stakeholders (communities, companies, governments) over the long term. read more

Spanish class for nursing students taught by CLASS faculty member

Negotiating the health care system is daunting—understanding insurance, finding a provider, securing appointments, communicating health issues. These challenges, coupled with language barriers, can discourage individuals from seeking help or cause them to misunderstand their diagnoses or treatments. For the first time, the University of Houston College of Nursing will offer a class in Beginning Medical Spanish, taught by Maria E. Perez, Instructional Assistant Professor in the Department of Hispanic Studies, to prepare students to care for patients with limited English-language proficiency. read more

Andre Ross invited to attend Ralph Bunche Institute at Duke University

After a decade in the workforce, Andre Ross decided it was time for a major life change. He had graduated from high school in 2003 and immediately began working in the marketing industry. But marketing was just a job to him – not a profession he was excited about. So, in 2014 he began attending the University of Houston to pursue a career path closer to his true passion - political science. read more

Chinese Studies Program students earn prestigious scholarship and competition

Three students from the Chinese Studies Program in Modern and Classical Languages, Tyler Hayward, Joshua Roorda and Daniel Scott, have been awarded the prestigious Chinese Government Scholarship from the Chinese Ministry of Education via the Consulate General of PRC in Houston. This full scholarship covers all expenses from tuition to room and board as well as medical insurance, initial settlement allowance, and monthly living allowances for a full year in China. read more

At the controls: UH students learn how to operate drones

As the number of people buying Unmanned Aircraft Systems, more commonly known as drones, increases, the University of Houston is giving students a “high-flying” lesson in how to operate them. The three-week course at the Jack J. Valenti School of Communication covers different drone applications, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) guidelines and basic flight operation, as well as giving students hands-on flight training. read more

Students reap the benefits of the International Affairs Internships: Seeing how the world runs!

In the fall, Mah-Noor Ahmed a political science major with a minor in National Security Studies will attend the Elliott School of International Affairs at George Washington University. Ahmed attributes her acceptance to the prestigious master’s program in Washington DC to UH’s Political Science International Affairs Internship Program (IAIP). read more

CLASS awards dissertation completion fellowships

A new cohort of College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences students were recently awarded dissertation completion fellowships. The dissertation completion fellowships were established to reward excellence, persistence and hard work by doctoral students and to provide them with financial support so they can spend their last semester or two concentrating on the completion work necessary to finish their dissertations. read more

Communication Sciences and Disorders graduate students offer speech therapy in Third Ward

June is National Aphasia Awareness month and the faculty and staff of the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences’ department of Communications Sciences and Disorders (COMD) work hard every day to help individuals with this speech disorder. A few years ago, COMD saw the need for accessible speech therapy for the citizens of Houston’s third ward community. read more

CLASS history faculty members earn grant to host department’s first NEH Summer Seminar

The National Endowment for the Humanities awarded Dr. Nancy Beck Young, professor of history, and Dr. Leandra Zarnow, assistant professor of history, a grant to host a Summer Seminar titled, “Gender, the State, and the 1977 International Women’s Year conference.” This one-week seminar, which was held June 12-18 on the UH campus, explores late twentieth century U.S. history through the lens of the National Women’s Conference which was held in Houston, Texas in 1977. read more

Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps hosted a week-long leadership course

The University of Houston’s Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) hosted a week-long leadership course on campus, June 12-17, for 350 students from 19 regional high schools. These students, all Air Force cadets within their high schools’ Junior ROTC (JROTC) programs, were competitively selected to attend the course, and spent the week engaging in challenging physical training, precision marching drills, academics, teamwork exercises, and more. The capstone event was a graduation parade on UH’s recreation center fields. read more

Communications Disorders students participate in Stomp Out Stroke event

Students and faculty from University of Houston’s Communication Sciences and Disorders participated in this year’s UT Health Science Center Stomp Out Stroke festival on May 8. At the event, students provided education about how different areas of the brain help with communication, and the speech, language and hearing services the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences provides through the University Speech, Language, and Hearing Clinic: A United Way Agency.

CLASS hosted Annual Scholarship Banquet featuring keynote speaker Wanda Adams

The College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences’ African American Studies program hosted their annual scholarship program on May 11. Wanda Adams, president of the Houston Independent School District Board of Education, was the featured keynote speaker. Along with student scholarship recipients, Suzette Caldwell, associate pastor for Windsor Village United Methodist Church (UH alum); Jeramaine Netherly, Sr. Manager KPMG (UH alum); and Judson Robinson III, president and CEO Houston Area Urban League received Distinguished Alumni awards. The purpose of the event was to raise funds for undergraduate and graduate student scholarships. Take a look at photos and coverage from the event in Houston Style Magazine and in the Houston Defender.