I was really interested in gaining research experience, and I quickly learned that Texas State has some great research opportunities. I was lucky enough to be accepted to the South Texas Doctoral Bridge Program here that aims to prepare underrepresented groups for advanced degrees in biomedical research. We are a small group, but most of us are first-generation students and likely to be the first in our families to obtain a Ph.D.
The large number of graduate assistantships available on campus is a great financial resource. Thanks to Jobs4Cats, I was able to find a very agreeable position that gave me the financial support I needed to pursue my program and was also flexible enough that I could focus on, and succeed in, my studies.
By taking time off school to work, read and explore the world, I eventually was able to gather the resources I needed to start my graduate degree. At Texas State, my experience is being appreciated with financial as well as faculty and staff support.
Laura Vazquez Arreguin was the 2019 Coverdell Fellow, and graduate of the master’s in international studies program at Texas State University. She formerly worked as a graduate assistant at the Center for International Studies, and as a high school teacher in Houston, where she graduated from the University of Houston-Downtown with a degree in Philosophy and one in Psychology. She also worked in the south of Armenia as a Peace Corp volunteer from 2015 to 2018 as an English teacher. She was born and raised in Mexico, and is now fluent in Armenian, English and Spanish. After graduating from Texas State University, she went on to pursue a doctoral degree at Rice University.
Texas State is more than an institution to me, this is where I grew to be a young woman and returned post grad to develop my professional knowledge and skills, and it has ultimately allowed me to the opportunity to expand professionally in the field of education. I have returned because Texas State is home. I am Texas State.
Mentoring has played a major role in my success in graduate school. I feel so fortunate to have found two excellent mentors at Texas State University who have guided me through several decisions and have supported my research and extracurricular endeavors.
Dr. Brittany Hyden is a doctoral alum of the adult, professional, and community education program at Texas State University and current Assistant Professor of Instruction in the Organizational, Workforce, and Leadership Studies department. She holds a master’s degree in adult education from Texas State University and a bachelor's degree in criminal justice from Texas A&M University-Central Texas.
Brittany's research revolves around nonformal learning in a variety of settings including the workplace, community, and study abroad. For her dissertation study, she examined the experiences of international graduate students as they participate in peer mentor circles. Brittany has over 10 publications in top adult education journals and has presented at over a dozen national conferences. As a doctoral student, she received several scholarships and fellowships including the Doctoral Merit Fellowship, Celebrity Classic Scholarship, and Phi Kappa Phi Love of Learning Award. Brittany is the founder of the adult, professional, and community education graduate student organization.
Participating in summer programs during my undergraduate studies helped me to narrow my career interests. I shadowed many physicians and completed summer undergraduate research at a nearby medical school, which convinced me to pursue a Ph.D. in Neuroscience.
Always look for good mentors. Along the way, I have had wonderful mentors who guided my decisions and helped me adjust to the culture of academia.
Dr. Natalie Ceballos is a first-generation college graduate raised in rural Oklahoma. She earned her bachelor’s degrees in biology and chemistry at Southwestern Oklahoma State University in 1998 and a doctorate in neuroscience from the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center in 2003. Following an NIH-sponsored postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Connecticut Health Center, she joined the faculty of Texas State University in 2006. Currently, Dr. Ceballos is a Professor in the Department of Psychology at Texas State, where her research interests focus on the interactions of stress and addictive behaviors in college students. Her work has been funded by the NIH and Humanities Texas.
If you're succeeding as an undergraduate student, then you have the potential to obtain a graduate degree. Although it is different, you can do it. You're here. You're making it now, and you can succeed as a graduate student!
Dr. Smith came to Texas State in 1992, serving as Director of Residence Life until 2000, when she began serving as the Associate Vice President for Student Affairs and Director of Enrollment Management. She became Vice President for Student Affairs in 2005. Dr. Smith was one of the founding faculty members for the student affairs master’s program and she continues to work with the program. She has been actively working in student affairs for over 40 years.
A first-generation graduate, she earned a B.S. in elementary education from Edinboro State University, a master's in student personnel and guidance from Wichita State University, and a Ph.D. in student personnel administration from Kansas State University.