Honors Conversations
THINK. FEEL. BE.
As a Reaud Honors College student, you are among the brightest students a university has to offer. Being a part of our community of scholars is an excellent way for you to meet new people and discuss ideas.
Our Honors Conversations series is a holistic journey of self-reflection, empowerment, and communication that will help you gain an appreciation for the mantra, “Think. Feel. Be.”
Upon completion of the reflection assignment, students will receive one hour of Non-Course Credit for each Honors Conversation attended, up to a maximum of three total.
Discussions
Each Socratic discussion begins with a professor speaking on a topic of interest for 15 minutes. Students will then engage in discussion for 45 minutes after, bouncing ideas, thoughts and opinions back and forth. The low-pressure environment of these gatherings is meant to foster meaningful discussions between faculty and students on a variety of topics with the goal of promoting dialogue.
ALL CONVERSATIONS WILL BE HELD IN:
REAUD HONORS LOUNGE
SEPTEMBER 17, 2024 @ 3:15 PM
Ethics & Soft Skills for STEM and Business Careers
Our conversation will explore a variety of topics in ethics and soft skills, equipping students for success in STEM fields and business. Research indicates that developing these skills and ethical values early on enhances the marketability and career success of young individuals. A lecture, presentation, and small workshop have been crafted drawing from selected materials to support this objective.
– MENTOR: Dr. Gevorg Sargsyan
OCTOBER 14, 2024 @ NOON
Homelessness
The experience of becoming unhoused is about much more than money. Using the framework of the Family Stress Theory, we will consider how access to resources and personal perception influence individual experiences of scarcity. Interwoven with stories of lived experiences in Southeast Texas, our conversation will challenge us to see and understand homelessness from multiple perspectives and will empower us to take action for the strengthening of our community.
– MENTOR: Dr. Janeal White
NOVEMBER 6, 2024 @ 1:00 PM
Building Empathy in Leaders
In our discussion of empathy's role in effective leadership, we will explores the three types of empathy— cognitive, emotional, and compassionate—and their impact on leadership performance. Drawing from research and real-world experience, the session examines how empathetic thinking influences team dynamics and provides practical strategies for developing this crucial skill. Balancing theory with actionable insights, this presentation is a resource for aspiring leaders seeking to enhance their emotional intelligence and leadership effectiveness.
– MENTOR: Dr. Ashley Dockens
JANUARY 28, 2025 @ 12:45 PM
Learner's Mindset
Dean Tilisa Thibodeaux will unveil her journey to embrace her “why” and share the foundational principles of the learner’s mindset. You will learn what it means to be a catalyst for change in the world around you by engaging in creative research and scholarship opportunities in the most unlikely of places.
– MENTOR: Dr. Tilisa Thibodeaux
FEBRUARY 4, 2025 @ 12:45 PM
Considering the Artistic Encounter
This art salon investigates the relationships between art and intellectual activity, creativity and consumerism, originality and appropriation. Our conversation will delve into representation, appropriation, and vision.
– MENTOR: Dr. Stephanie Chadwick
MARCH 18, 2025 @ 2:00 PM
Time Travel as a Reflection of Free Will vs. Predestination
The question of whether humans have free will or not has plagued us since early history. It has been debated across varied disciplines. Traditionally, this has been a major topic in religion and philosophy. Our discussion will touch on this historical framework but primarily focus on more contemporary sources. We will explore this topic through the frame of popular culture in the form of science fiction and fantasy. How do representations of time travel inform us about this topic? Does time itself have volition that requires us to act in certain ways?
– MENTORS: Dr. Nicki Michalski & Mr. O’Brien Stanley
APRIL 7, 2025 @ 1:00 PM
Suicide as Resistance During the Holocaust
Western societies have a history of condemning suicide as sinful. Both the Jewish and Christian religious traditions developed prohibitions on suicide for community members. As the premodern world transitioned into the modern world, Jewish and Christian religious traditions, influenced by modern scientific and philosophical developments, softened a bit, but suicide was still viewed by many as sinful as well as a mark of mental instability. The Holocaust presented unprecedented challenges for both Jewish and Christian Europeans. Did the context of the atrocities experienced by Jews influence how they viewed suicide? Should it influence a reevaluation of condemnatory ideas of suicide?
– MENTOR: Dr. Mark Mengerink
Beginning in the late 16th century in France and Italy, artists, intellectuals, political figures and many more came together regularly to discuss the most influential works and ideas of their day. Participants entertained each other with new music, brief theatrical performances, sardonic letters, but more often than not these gatherings were opportunities to discuss important literary works, political rumblings, or consider the efficacy of scientific breakthroughs.
The mission of the Reaud Honors College is to integrate academic excellence, community involvement, research and scholarship, and civic leadership and the Honors Conversations series is a way to live that mission.
