Newsletter of the College of Architecture at Texas A&M University
Texas A&M's Department of Visualization will enhance its diversity this fall, admitting four students who are pursing graduate degrees in visualization with the help of diversity fellowships from the Office of Graduate Studies.
"Embracing diversity at the department involves finding every opportunity to address gender and cultural balance in our population," said Carol Lafayette, associate professor of visualization and chairwoman of the graduate program's admissions committee. "Voices that represent different perspectives and experiences are so very important to an expansive, interdisciplinary program like Viz. These voices keep us all engaged by questioning, reaffirming and challenging our collective and individual ideas."
Faculty members nominate prospective graduate students with a proven record of success in a diverse environment, and students are selected for the fellowships based on overall merit and the nominating department's statement of support.
The four new diversity fellows will receive funding for two years and also have an option to obtain health insurance at a nominal cost.
Nicholas Garza, wrote Julie Rogers, senior lecturer in visualization, in her nomination letter, challenges himself and encourages others to redefine for themselves their place in the world.
"I have been teaching at the university level for 19 years and without hesitation, I would rank Nick in the top five percent of all design students I have taught," she said. Garza earned a Bachelor of Visualization degree at Texas A&M in 2010.
Stephanie Keske, according to Donna Hajash, senior lecturer of visualization, is a mature, focused and hard-working student who has a passion for whatever work she is engaged in.
"She has a great attitude about her work … she is conscientious and detail-specific when it comes to presenting her work." Keske earned a Bachelor of Visualization degree at Texas A&M in 2010.
Phil Peters, associate professor of digital media at the University of Central Florida, praised Kendall Litaker's academic abilities and growth as an artist.
"Kendall’s work on the assignments for my class have been painstakingly detailed and flawlessly executed," he wrote. "She is a skilled artist with both traditional and computer animation tools. She likes to share her knowledge, and I have often found her assisting her fellow classmates in learning the software. She asks no more of her fellow team members than she would ask of herself, and she is a total supporter of the project’s overall vision."
She earned a Bachelor of Digital Media degree from the University of Central Florida in 2009.
Lecturer Jill Mulholland recommended Jose Luis Velasquez as creative, quick, smart and technically skilled.
During the fall 2007 semester, Mulholland was teaching an undergraduate and graduate studio. "As an undergraduate, his work set a high bar and helped lead the way for the undergraduates to outperform the graduate students," she said. "I was grateful to have a student of his caliber in my class."
Velazquez earned a Bachelor of Visualization degree from Texas A&M in 2010.
- Posted: June 29, 2010 -
