The UT TOWER Fellows Program

The Texas Exes staff met with several Tower Fellows to produce an article for its official publication, "Alcalde." Click below to read “World-Changers Reconnect with the University Through the Tower Fellows Program” and learn how the Tower Fellows make the most of their experiences at UT-Austin.

World-Changers Reconnect With the University Through the Tower Fellows Program The Blanton Museum of Art opened the doors of Ellsworth Kelly's "Austin" early one morning for a group of Tower Fellows to experience the winter light in the space, February 2024. Few UT students chance running into their children on campus. But for Stephanie Hamilton, BJ ’87, whose son Michael is...

Tower Fellows Program Director, Megan Frisque, was interviewed this month for the Midlife Fulfilled Podcast. Tune in to learn more about the power of encore education and, specifically, the Tower Fellows' experience.

https://midlifefulfilled.com/podcast/unlocking-purpose-through-encore-education-at-the-tower-fellows-program/

Unlocking Midlife Purpose Through Encore Education Megan Frisque shares insights into how the Tower Fellows program helps individuals in midlife find purpose through an immersive encore education experience.

The University of Texas has a lot to offer both in and outside the classroom! The Tower Fellows Program is excited to share events taking place across campus. Subscribe today for "The UT Nine" e-communication.

We'll send a curated list of our favorite nine events taking place at the University that are open to the public. From scholarly and cultural programs to athletic and artistic events, there is something for every learner.

Don’t miss out on all UT has to offer!

The UT Nine | TOWER Fellows Program The University of Texas has a lot to offer both in and outside the classroom! The Tower Fellows program is excited to share events taking place across campus. We'll send a curated list of our favorite 9 events taking place at the University that are open to the public. From scholarly and cultural...

On a visit to the UMLAUF Sculpture Garden & Museum, the TOWER Fellows learned about the former UT professor and sculptor, Charles Umlauf. Executive Director and Curator Katie Robinson Edwards provided the Fellows with a private tour of Charles Umlauf's home and studio. It was a beautiful evening to explore this Austin arts destination.

Blanca Herrera de Cummins came to the Tower Fellows Program with a project in mind. On April 29, we celebrated her culmination of her work. Congratulations, Blanca!

Tower Fellow Blanca Herrera de Cummins' experience was tailored to meet her personal goal to digitize and preserve her father's photography. Join us on Monday, April 29, for a special occasion – the dedication of the Alberto Herrera Photographic Collection at The University of Texas at Austin's Benson Latin American Collection. This collection comprises of over 60,000 images of the people and culture of northwestern Mexico.

Applications are now being accepted for the 2024-2025 year.
Learn more about the program and how apply at https://towerfellows.utexas.edu/become-a-fellow

Texas Performing Arts owns the most extensive educational collection of Hollywood motion picture backdrops in the world. Comprised of backings from iconic and critically acclaimed films such as The Sound of Music (20th Century Fox 1965), Ben Hur (MGM 1959), and North by Northwest (MGM 1958), the collection creates a living legacy of Hollywood's Golden Age. The TOWER Fellows met with Karen Maness, Associate Director of the Texas Performing Arts Fabrication Studios, to learn about the preservation of these pieces of Hollywood history. Learn more about the Hollywood Backdrop Collection at https://hollywoodbackdrops.org.

Tower Fellows kicking off the new semester with a walk in the rain!!

Thank you to all the TOWER Fellows — past, current, and future — who joined our end-of-year celebration and toast to the graduates. Congratulations to Debbie Travis King and James Bryant! We are so happy you’re a part of the TOWER Fellow family. We won’t let you get too far away from us! The program can’t wait for Spring 2024!🥂🤘🏼

The TOWER Fellows recently enjoyed a unique tour of two exhibitions at the Harry Ransom Center. Curator Aaron Pratt presented “The Long Lives of Very Old Books," exploring the historical significance of European books from the 15th to 17th centuries. Curator of Art, Dr. Tracy Bonfitto, showcased "Art in Words: Prints from the 20th Century to Today," featuring modern and contemporary art using text as a visual medium. The tour offered an intimate glimpse into the Ransom Center’s collecting and exhibition practices. Thank you Aaron and Tracy for the insightful comments and presentations.

Dr. Joydeep Ghosh delved into an array of captivating research interests this afternoon, including data mining, web mining, and health informatics. His expertise involves the realms of ethical, trustworthy, and responsible AI: He endeavors to ensure that artificial intelligence is developed with the utmost integrity. Dr. Ghosh's work also encompasses scalable machine learning algorithms tailored for predictive and prescriptive analytics. Thank you Dr. Ghosh for offering valuable insights into a variety of complex real-world issues surrounding artificial intelligence and data exploration.

For more information on Joydeep Ghosh’s research: https://www.ece.utexas.edu/news/prof-joydeep-ghosh-awarded-grant-nsf-work-small-simultaneous-decomposition-and-predictive


Cockrell School of Engineering - UT Austin

TOWER Fellows Mannti Cummins and Blanca Herrera de Cummins were spotted biking to class on Speedway this afternoon. What a beautiful day for a bike ride!

The TOWER Fellows got the chance to visit the Texas Science & Natural History Museum and its unique and irreplaceable natural history of the State of Texas. The museum tells the story of life in the natural world in Texas from the formation of our planet to our current environment. Additionally, the museum showcased advanced research being done at UT that will make a positive impact on our environment in the future. We were very grateful to have the museum’s Visitor Services Manager Monte Montreal and Managing Director Carolyn Connerat Mooradian guide us through this personalized and in-depth tour! Thank you.

Author and Professor Jennifer Graber joined us to explore several Native American visionary movements, popularly known as prophetic movements, including the Ghost Dance of 1890. Graber evaluated historical tools and ethical principles for understanding these movements, as well as their relevance for the present day. Thank you, Dr. Graber, for sharing your professional insights on these little known yet culturally important movements.



College of Liberal Arts - University of Texas at Austin

The Civil War was the greatest test of American democracy, and Dr. Jeremi Suri proves it remains deeply relevant for debates and divisions today. The Civil War also provides a crucible for learning about effective and innovative leadership in challenging times. The TOWER Fellows joined Dr. Suri in a discussion that examined how the history of the Civil War and its aftermath can inform a new generation of enlightened leaders. Each Fellow went home with a copy of Suri’s novel “Civil War by Other Means.” Thank you Dr. Suri for leading this open-ended analysis and for valuing the arguments of all point of views when exploring an issue.

Check out Dr. Suri’s podcast: www.jeremisuri.net/this-is-democracy



Sheri C. Henriksen, Blanca Herrera de Cummins, Mannti Cummins, Council Member Alison Alter, The LBJ School of Public Affairs

Professor Kenneth Diller has invented and patented at UT a proprietary technology to manipulate human thermoregulatory function by a simple, safe, and comfortable means for which there are numerous important applications. He demonstrated that the ability to go to sleep can be improved for many people. Crucially, overnight blood pressure can be induced to dip resulting in a 43% reduction in the 5 year probability of experiencing a major cardiovascular event. Both effects are produced without relying on taking medications. This technology promises to improve sleep quality and reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events without the need for medication, revolutionizing healthcare and well-being. Thank you Dr. Diller for sharing your groundbreaking research and findings with us!



Cockrell School of Engineering - UT Austin

Photos by Flickr:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/cockrellschool/4249256108

Award-winning museum curator and UT Professor of Instruction, Dr. Suzy Seriff joined us to share the chronicles of her career as a public folklorist, championing the role of folk arts to catalyze important conversations around contemporary issues of conscience in our world. Seriff explores simple yet radical lessons learned from folk artists around the world who use their expressive arts to educate, advocate, and engage like South African embroidery artist, Maria Rengane. “You must not be afraid to speak out; if you keep silent, you sign your own death warrant.” - Maria Rengane.

College of Liberal Arts - University of Texas at Austin

We were so grateful to have Lieutenant Colonel Matthew Hood (United States Air Force) and Lieutenant Colonel Timothy Jones (United States Army) join us to unlock how one achieves leadership excellence. These respected veterans shared their insights on their methodology for teaching leadership and discussed personal military leadership experiences that sparked their passion to teach students here at UT.

The UT Army Reserve Officer Training Program (ROTC) recruits and retains quality Cadets as well as educates and trains Cadets in Army officership, values, physical and moral standards, and tactical craft. For years, Army ROTC has been creating leaders who go on to rewarding careers in the military and civilian worlds.

TOWER Fellow Morton Meyerson (pictured in middle) is an accomplished graduate of the program in 1956. Thank you UT Air Force ROTC Detachment 825 !

College of Liberal Arts - University of Texas at Austin

There is an intricate relationship between language and the brain. Dr. Alexander Huth shared how language meaning is encoded in specific brain activity patterns across a significant part of the human cortex. Through advanced machine learning and extensive fMRI data from individual subjects, he and his team have developed highly accurate brain response prediction models. These models allow for mapping language selectivity and effectively decoding language stimuli from fMRI brain activations, even during tasks like imagining storytelling or watching silent films without explicit language content. Thank you, Dr. Huth, for sharing the progress of your impressive research with us! College of Natural Sciences, UT Austin

Dr. Kathryn Paige Harden recently joined us to discuss new genetics research that has identified genetic variants correlated with childhood ADHD, adolescent sexual behavior, and adult drug use. These findings also predict an individual's involvement with the criminal justice system, including arrests and convictions. There are common misconceptions about the genetics of human behavior, and Dr. Harden explained how these myths have been employed to justify violence. It is important to consider how these new results revive age-old questions concerning human agency, blame, and moral responsibility. Be sure to get ahold of her forthcoming book, Original Sin, soon to be released!

To learn more, check out Dr. Harden’s feature in the New Yorker: https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2021/09/13/can-progressives-be-convinced-that-genetics-matters (https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2021/09/13/can-progressives-be-convinced-that-genetics-matters) The New Yorker UT Jackson School of Geosciences

In the year 1600, the philosopher Giordano Bruno was burned alive by the Roman Inquisition, and his books too were burned. Sixteen years later, Galileo became the focus of their attention. And years later, the Inquisitors censored and condemned him too. But why? Dr. Alberto Martínez argued that Bruno’s and Galileo’s astronomical claims got them in trouble partly because, during this time, his cosmological views were deemed heretical. Thank you Dr. Martínez for joining us! Check out his book Burned Alive: Bruno, Galileo and the Inquisition.
College of Liberal Arts - University of Texas at Austin

The Gulf of Mexico's basin floor, ranging from 1000 to 4000 ft deep, may have once harbored an unknown dry eolian desert around 160 million years ago. Dr. John W. Snedden joined us to discuss an evolving theory that is based on paleogeographic methods and the growing number of deep wells uncovering oil-bearing reservoir rock in this expanse of sand dunes. The application of new scientific approaches, exemplified at UT Jackson School of Geosciences labs, is a pivotal part of this story. Thank you Dr. Snedden sharing and contributing to the Gulf of Mexico’s transition to a lower carbon future.

Professor Ian Duncan joined us to discuss the role of depleted oil reservoirs, CO2 sequestration, and subsurface hydrogen generation in the Energy Transition. His current research aims to generate hydrogen in depleted oil reservoirs using techniques like nanoparticles and ceramic membranes, potentially powering Austin's electric generation from West Texas. Thank you, Dr. Duncan for discussing innovative production methods to generate hydrogen while avoiding significant emissions of carbon dioxide into the atmoshphere.

Thank you to Debbie Travis King, David Ferdman, and Kevin Sweeney for sharing your stories with the cohort this week for Storytelling Part 2. They were fascinating, fun, and personal. We loved Kevin’s photographs and Deb’s stories of flying! David made us think about birth order and the strong influences of our family on who we are — then and now! We appreciate the coaching and support of Stephen Walls.

Looking forward to our last Storytelling session for this semester coming soon!

Professor Charters Wynn joined us to discuss his novel “The Moderate Bolshevik: Mikhail Tomsky from the Factory to the Kremlin, 1860-1936" which offers a sympathetic yet critical biography of this overlooked figure. Tomsky emerged from poverty and tsarist oppression to become a Politburo member and head of trade unions in the 20s. Later he was a prime target in the Great Purges. Thank you Professor Wynn for sharing such compelling insights of Tomsky’s dual roles in both government and workers' advocacy.

We had an awesome time hosting the TOWER Fellows tailgate and cheering on our Longhorns last week! Thanks to all that beat the Austin heat and celebrated our win against Kansas. Hookem!

Cyberspace is increasingly becoming a focus area for 21st-century conflict. Dr. Michael Mosser joined us to explore US cyber defenses in two key areas: defense against multifaceted cyber threats in the physical realm as well as in the information space. Mosser’s lecture seeks to understand the nature of the threats in both dimensions, as well as possible governmental and societal responses and strategies. Thank you Dr. Mosser for joining us to discuss this fascinating topic!

Can human genetic enhancement change our human nature? Undermine human dignity? Violate human rights? How should society address the complex ethical and social implications of human genetic engineering? Professor Benjamin Gregg explored these questions through his dynamic background in the emerging field of political bioethics. Professor Gregg considered constraints on biotechnological applications, development of public policies in democratic societies, and how to approach navigating the political dimensions of human nature, where competing values shape policy, legislation, and culture. We enjoyed analyzing the topic’s different perspectives and embracing the significance of conversation. Thank you Professor Gregg!

Our TOWER Fellow spotlight this week is Greg Jordan. Greg has been handling a diverse range of business ligitation and employment law matters in Texas since 1989. Greg and his wife, Amy, have raised three daughters and now have a granddaughter! Thank you so much for your sharing your insights with our program and how you’ve grown while being a Fellow, Greg!