Welcome from the Dean
Welcome to our College of Public Service Newsletter. It has been an exciting semester in the college with many accomplishments for our programs, faculty and staff. In addition, we celebrated Black History Month and honored the rich heritage and invaluable contributions of Black individuals throughout history. I hope you enjoy learning about the exciting things happening in the college.
Beginning the Year with Bayou Connection
Bayou Connection in collaboration with the College of Public Service, hosted students and officers from the Central Police University (CPU); a police academy located in Guishan District, Taoyuan City, Taiwan. For two weeks CPS students and officers participated in talks and lectures focused on how each country address law enforcement issues in their respective societies. CPU representatives and their hosts visited a number of local law enforcement facilities as well as attended sessions on American Criminal Justice taught by UHD faculty. as well as staff, Local Officials, and Federal Law Enforcement. UHD and CPU participants shared a wonderful learning experience and we wish everyone a wonderful future in their respective careers.
Ending Ceremony with Bayou Connection
To celebrate the accomplishment of the visiting cadets and to recognize the collaboration with our community partners, Bayou Connection in collaboration with the College of Public Service hosted a moving ending ceremony. We would again like to thank all those who contributed to this successful initiative.
Upcoming vitalvoices "Loneliness: An Untold Epidemic Story"
Epidemic is a word typically used to characterize the spread of infectious diseases in communities. However, in recent times, there’s been a shifting focus on how loneliness has reached epidemic levels – across generations, geographies, and cultures. More people are feeling lonely, isolated, and disconnected, with stark physical and emotional consequences. This is not a new phenomenon, but there is an untold story surfacing around the extent and pervasiveness of its impact. Loneliness can occur to married couples, within families, within communities, and inside school classrooms. It can happen to virtually anyone, anywhere. Want to learn more about how this phenomenon can be impacting you? Your children? Your relationships?
Join us on Thursday, April 4th at 5:30 p.m. to discuss these and other issues related to social disconnectedness. Dr. Matthew Lee Smith of Texas A&M School of Public Health and Dr. Luming Li of The Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD will join us to discuss the U.S. Surgeon General’s 2023 report “Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation.” Additionally, Dr. Smith will discuss national initiatives to foster social connection and societal cohesion as well as research about innovative strategies to reduce social disconnectedness. Dr. Li will bring it home and talk about the issue as it relates to our own backyard here in the Houston/Harris County area.
Contact Steven Villano for more information.
vitalvoices: Judge For Yourself: An Event With Six Harris County Judges
Our first vitalvoices of the year asked the questions: "Have you ever wondered what it’s like to be a judge? Is there more to the job than just sitting on the bench clad in a robe and armed with a gavel? Is it hard to make decisions knowing the far-reaching impact they can have on the people who come before them? How do they remain impartial when their personal convictions go against a law they’re sworn to uphold?" This well attended vitalvoices session, moderated by Dr. Buckler, gave attendees the opportunity to understand what it is really like to be a judge in Harris County from panelists: Judges Tonya Jones, Erika Ramirez, Raul Rodriguez, and Sedrick Walker.
Criminal Justice Rankings with U.S. News & World Report
We are excited to announce that our Criminal Justice Online Master’s Program continues to rise in the U.S. News & World Report rankings. This year the MSCJ program moved up four places, ranking #22 in the country. Congratulations to the program, the department leadership, and all involved in designing and executing such a competitive program.
Recognizing Faculty and Staff
We are delighted to welcome new staff members to the college. We would also like to recognize Dr. Gehring, and Dr. Tiwari in moving into their new roles as Assistant Chairs in their respective departments.
New CPS Assistant Chairs
- Dr. Krista S. Gehring - Criminal Justice and Social Work Assistant Chair
- Dr. Ashwini Tiwari - Urban Education Assistant Chair for Undergraduate Studies
New CPS Staff
- Taylor Smith - Academic Success Coordinator II | CPS Advising Services
- Starla Probst - Administrative Assistant II | Department of Urban Education
- Brenda Lozano - Academic Success Coordinator II | CPS Advising Services
- Jasmine Patterson - Administrative Assistant II | Social Work Department
Celebration of Black History Month
In honor of Black History Month, and in conjunction with the President's Lecture Series, ReShonda Tate visited UHD to discuss her book and to deliver a lecture on titled “The Oscars and a Hidden History: Hollywood Legend Hattie McDaniel.” UHD President Loren J. Blanchard and Vice President of Advancement and University Relations Javier “Jay” L. Zambrano provided opening remarks, while Debra McGaughey, Assistant Vice President of University Relations, introduced Tate. Additionally we had talks from poets, writers, Professor Jennifer Maritza McCauley and Natasha Carrizosa on our celebration of Afro Latino Day.
Sugar Land 95 Civil Rights Community Service Award
February 12, 2024, will forever be a very special day for our own Dr. Dana Smith Associate Professor of Social Work. She was honored and humbled to be among several amazing honorees (archeologists, archivists, researchers, Texas State Reps) as a recipient of the Civil Rights Award from the Society of Justice & Equality for Sugar Land (@sojesjustice). She received this award for creating a curriculum for social work students that includes important content on the 13th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, convict leasing, and the fate of the Sugar Land 95. Go to www.sojesjustice.org to learn about the horrific dehumanizing practice of imprisonment of African Americans that led to the prosperous Sugar Land, TX we see today.
- Top Pic (left to right) Dr. Catrina Whitley, Anthropologist- Southern Methodist University
- Abigail Eve Fisher, Archeologist & Anthropologist- Southern Methodist University
- Dr. Helen Graham, Genealogist & Dean Liberal Arts, Humanities, & Education at Houston Community College
- Dr. Suleman Lalani- Texas House of Representatives
- Rep. Ron Reynolds- Texas House of Representatives
- (Representative for Rep. Lizzie Fletcher- U.S. House of Representatives)
- Dr. Dana Smith - Associate Professor of Social Work- UHD
Fall 2023 Dean’s List Celebrations
We had two successful Dean’s List Award celebrations. If you have not attended this ceremony, it is very moving as students are provided the opportunity to thank those who have supported their academic achievements. I want to thank everyone who helped organize and who participated in the ceremony, particularly Mr. Ben Robles for his leadership.
Social Work Program receives reaffirmation from Council on Social Work Education
On February 13th, the Social Work program in the Department of Criminal Justice and Social Work hosted a formal site visitor, the final step in their reaffirmation process as a Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) accredited program. As Social Work is a licensed profession, for students to obtain licensure, they must graduate from a CSWE accredited program. This site visit was the culmination of two years of self-study and program improvement to the great benefit of students, staff, faculty, and community!
TEA Commendations for Urban Education "Teacher Preparation Program"
Our own Urban Education Department recently received two TEA commendations for our teacher preparation program. The department was one of only five programs receiving a commendation for “Preparing the Educators Texas Needs (Bilingual)” and was one of only three programs receiving a commendation for “Preparing Educators for Long Term Success”. You can view all the commendations on the TEA website.
Training Series: Practicing Financial Wellness through a Cultural Lens
The Financial Coaching Lab and RAISE Texas are partnering to provide UHD students, faculty, and staff with the Training Series: Practicing Financial Wellness through a Cultural Lens. This five-part series will dive deep into our financial system's history and explore how current policies impact our communities. Attending all five sessions will earn the RAISE Texas Cultural Humility in Financial Services Certificate. The dates and registration link for this opportunity are coming soon. For more information, please contact Richard Simonds at simondsr@uhd.edu.
For more information about upcoming CPS Study Abroad opportunities please contact UHD's Office of Study Abroad.
Go TEXAN Day!!!!
Howdy, Gators! The City of Houston recently celebrated "Go Texan Day." Go Texan Day is the unofficial kickoff of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo where the entire Houston community is invited to celebrate Western heritage. Thousands of trail riders travel through the city for the official kickoff to the 2024 Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo.
Leadership Contact Information
- Dr. Jonathan Schwartz, Dean, College of Public Service
- Dr. Ashley Blackburn, Associate Dean, College of Public Service
- Ben Robles, Assistant Dean, College of Public Service
- Anna Esparza, Director, CPS Advising Services
- Dr. Ronald Beebe, Dept. Chair, Urban Education
- Dr. Kevin Buckler, Dept. Chair, Criminal Justice & Social Work
- Dr. Dawn McCarty, Director, Social Work Program