New Faculty Debut 2024

The New Faculty Debut is a nearly weekly gathering to welcome and learn about the research of our new faculty. Each week an hour is scheduled for two new faculty to present their research for about twenty minutes and discuss for about ten minutes. We will gather in the Contreras Lounge, next to the Contreras Patio and the Pub on the west side of the Blume Library, adjacent to Alkek Plaza. Adult beverages and soft drinks will be available to employees, setting a casual mood. The target audience is other faculty. Students and mentees are also welcome. The New Faculty Debut is co-sponsored by the Office of Sponsored Projects and Research Compliance (SPARC), the University Research Council, and the Louis J. Blume Library. If you have questions, please contact Diane Duesterhoeft, Katie Thonen, or Tyler Davis.

Gatherings during the Fall 2024 Semester will be from 4:00-5:00 p.m. in the Contreras Lounge (new location this semester!), alternating between Wednesdays and Thursdays. The scheduled dates are:

Thursday, September 12: 

• Mohamed (Ibrahim) Shaat, Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering, "Towards Efficient Electrochemical Energy Storage and Autonomous Materials"  

Wednesday, September 18:

Thursday, September 26:

• Jena Martin, Professor of Law, "On Mexico, Meta, and International Human Rights Norms" 
• Ricardo Ramirez, Assistant Professor of Electrical Engineering, "Using AI to Understand Biological Processes"

Wednesday, October 2:

• Annie Bright, Moody Foundation Visiting Assistant Professor (Law), "Cultural Literacy in Asylum Proceedings"
• Solomon Wang, Associate Professor of Finance, "High Cost Loans, Present Bias and Financial Literacy"

Thursday, October 10:

• Sven Hoekstra, Assistant Professor of Exercise and Sport Science, "The Heat - Foe, or perhaps also Friend?"  

Wednesday, October 16:

• Greg Zlotnick, Clinical Assistant Professor of Law, "Teaching Client Counseling in the Shadow of Homelessness"

Thursday, October 24:

• Priscilla Reyna-Vasquez, Assistant Professor of Counseling and Human Services, "The Healing Power of Play"
• Jamie Crosswhite, Assistant Professor of English Literature and Language and Faculty Lead for Writing, "'Inviting the Body': Walking Methodologies as a Process of Unlearning"

Thursday, November 7:

• Emily Lacy, Lecturer of Philosophy, "Loving Attention and Art Interpretation"
• Patrick Olademehin, Assistant Professor of Biochemistry, "Computational Study of Antibiotics Interacting with Bacterial Cell Wall Structures"

Wednesday, November 13:

• Melissa Shultz, Professor of Law and Assistant Dean of Legal Writing, "Governor Abbott's Judicial Brainchild: Understanding the Structure and Implications of Texas's New 15th Court of Appeals"

Thursday, November 21:

• Crystal Morris, Assistant Professor of Counseling and Human Services, "Non-Pathological Counseling Approaches: Impact on Wellbeing and Relationships in Diverse Populations" 

Dr. Lesly Krome presenting in Fall 2022 at the New Faculty Debut. Photo by Todd Hanneken.

New Faculty - Fall 2024

The following faculty have been invited to present their research. This list includes all schools and the College, those new to full-time faculty status, but not to St. Mary's, and administrators with faculty rank.

• Tracy Cantu Almanzan, J.D., Assistant Professor of Practice (Law)
• Leah Arreguin, Ph.D., Visiting Assistant Professor of Languages (Spanish)
• Annie Bright, J.D., Moody Foundation Visiting Assistant Professor (Law)
• Shawna Corley, Ph.D., Visiting Assistant Professor of Counseling and Human Services
• Jamie Crosswhite, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of English Literature and Language and Faculty Lead for Writing
• Matthew "Match" Dawson, J.D., Assistant Professor of Law
• Aaron Diaz, J.D., Visiting Clinical Assistant Professor (Law)
• Robert Eichelbaum, J.D., Faculty in Residence (Law)
• Eloisa Marie Garza, M.S.N., R.N., Instructor of Nursing
• Joaquin Gonzalez, J.D., Assistant Professor of Practice (Law)
• Sven Hoekstra, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Exercise and Sport Science 
• Mohamed (Ibrahim) Shaat, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering
• Emily Lacy, Ph.D., Lecturer of Philosophy 
• Emily B. Lancaster, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Biochemistry
• Emily Marie Landon, J.D., Director of Bar Success and Assistant Professor of Practice (Law)
• Jena Martin, L.L.M., Professor of Law
• Madeline G. McLeod, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Forensic Science (Biological Sciences)
• Krystal Moczygemba, J.D., Assistant Professor of Practice (Law)
• Crystal Morris, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Counseling and Human Services
• Patrick Olatunde Olademehin, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Biochemistry 
• Ricardo Ramirez, Jr., Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Electrical Engineering
• Priscilla Reyna-Vasquez, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Counseling and Human Services
• Parker Schectman, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Engineering Management
• Melissa Bezanson Shultz, J.D., Professor of Law and Assistant Dean of Legal Writing
• Shem Vinton, J.D., Assistant Professor of Practice (Law)
• Solomon Wang, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Finance
• Madison S. Wooldridge, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Industrial Engineering
• Gregory Zlotnick, J.D., Clinical Assistant Professor of Law