Portraits of Impact
Highlighting the students, artists and researchers whose lives are being changed through the generosity of philanthropic support during New Dimensions: The Campaign for UT Dallas.
Ya-Yu Hu
International Neuroscientist
Neuroscience scholar Ya-Yu Hu made her home in Richardson, Texas. Originally from Taiwan, Ya-Yu came to UTD during the COVID-19 pandemic and found what she was looking for: mentorship and friendship.
Attract the Best and
Brightest Students
Dr. Michael Burton
Chronic Pain Solver
Dedicated to understanding the mechanisms of pain, Dr. Michael Burton innovated the study of pain research at UTD. His commitment to research and to his students earned him a prestigious endowed professorship.
Enhance Lives
through Research
Maryam Takalou
Empowered Artist
Maryam Takalou has expressed herself through art since her childhood in Iran. With scholarship support at UT Dallas, she found a space to grow and connect with others through her work.
Transform
the Arts
Katie Strand
Engineer & Art Historian
Scholarship opportunities at UTD helped Katie Strand BS’23 bring her engineering skills into the art world. She now has the unique opportunity to use new technologies to study ancient ones around Pompeii, Italy.
Transform
the Arts
Dr. Nikki Delk
Active Investigator
Dr. Nikki Delk was appointed as the Cecil H. and Ida Green Professor in Systems Biology Science for her commitment to UTD students. She leads the Delk Lab, where she and her research team observe how inflammation affects cancer cells.
Enhance Lives
through Research
Jacob Roy
Student Ambassador and Cancer Researcher
Jacob Roy BS’24 became a Student Ambassador to help educate others about what it means to be a Comet. When he’s not giving tours, he’s likely in the Functional Genomics lab, working with a team to find better medications for cancer patients.
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Brightest Students
Sreoshi Sen Chowdhury
Multi-Talented Alumna
After formative experiences in the Clark Summer Research Program and as a Texas Instruments Founders Leadership Fellow, Sreoshi Sen Chowdhury BS’21, MS’24 is looking to combine her love of research with a passion for philanthropy.
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Brightest Students
Satwik Dutta
AI Algorithm Developer
Financial support from UT Dallas allowed Satwik Dutta MS’20 the opportunity to pursue graduate school in the U.S. Now he is working to perfect an AI algorithm to detect developmental issues in speech patterns.
Enhance Lives
through Research
Kaitlyn Weirich
Dancer & Historian
Kaitlyn Weirich BA’24 is blending history and dance into a career. Her UTD scholarships helped her combine her passions into an undergraduate capstone project. Now a master’s student, she is furthering her dream to bring the two fields together.
Transform
the Arts
Logan Brazeal
Passionate Musician
Logan Brazeal received multiple music scholarships at UT Dallas and developed a deep connection to his professors. His experiences motivated him to inspire the next generation of musicians by teaching what he learned at UTD.
Transform
the Arts
Katie Fisher
Society & Trauma Researcher
Katie Fisher PhD’24 has always been fascinated with how trauma affects communities. With fellowship support from UTD, she uncovered a unique relationship between environmental violence, collective memory and trauma.
Enhance Lives
through Research
Nandita Kumar
Honors Student & Organizer
Sometimes a supportive mentor is all a person needs. After working with her mentors, Nandita Kumar secured funding to organize the first UT Dallas Global Health Case Competition. Now, she supports other students’ goals.
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Brightest Students
John Kalkanli
Future Professor
John Kalkanli MA’23 came to the U.S. to find better academic opportunities for visually impaired people like himself. At the Ackerman Center for Holocaust Studies, he is working towards becoming a professor of the Holocaust and human rights.
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Brightest Students
Joseph Leos
Patient & Fighter
From birth, Joseph Leos’ parents realized he faced difficulties with eating and speech development. After receiving treatment at the Callier Center for Communication Disorders, Leos went from being nonverbal to singing his favorite songs.
Enhance Lives
through Research
Sneha Sharma
Scholar & Reading Coach
As a Eugene McDermott Scholar, Sneha Sharma started reading to children at a nearby elementary school. This experience led her to create the Comets Read organization to improve literacy among local youth.
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Brightest Students
Jacky Chao
Alumnus & Animator
Jacky Chao BA’22 and his friends created a summer camp to teach children a variety of media arts classes. Using skills he learned at UTD, the Creator Camp has grown from 200 students to a projected enrollment of close to 5,000.
Transform
the Arts
Dr. Zhengpeng Qin
Bioengineer & Collaborator
Dr. Zhengpeng Qin and his team recently moved into the new Texas Instruments Biomedical Sciences and Engineering Building, where their research is advancing a new treatment for brain diseases like glioblastoma.
Enhance Lives
through Research
Sage Herrera
Student Athlete & Artist
Sage Herrera knew UTD was the school that would best fit her artistic career path when she first applied. Now, three years later, the athlete and animator is creating diverse, in-depth experiences for the masses.
Attract the Best and
Brightest Students