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A Legacy of Excellence: Thomas F. Freeman Honors College Launches Best Thesis Award in Memory of Dr. Dianne Jemison Pollard

Posted on Tuesday, June 10, 2025

Dr. Pollard's son the Honorable Edward Pollard poses with honors college students

The Thomas F. Freeman Honors College inaugurated the Dianne Jemison Pollard Best Undergraduate Thesis Award on April 30, 2025, to coincide with the 2025 Spring Graduation Recognition Ceremony. This award pays tribute to the legacy of the late Dr. Dianne Jemison Pollard, the former dean of the Honors College who initiated the undergraduate thesis program in 2018.

The ceremony was graced by Houston City Councilman and son of Dr. Jemison Pollard, the Honorable Edward J. Pollard. In honor of his mother, Councilman Pollard took the time to share inspirational thoughts with the graduating class of Spring 2025.

The thesis manuscripts and presentations were evaluated by an interdisciplinary panel of faculty members: Dr. Tanya Allen (COLABS), Dr. Antoinette Christophe (SOPA), Dr. Mayur Desai (JHJ), Prof. Isoke Frank-Williams (JHJ), Dr. Iris Lancaster Lawson (COLABS), Dr. Shirlette Milton (COPHS), Dr. Yi Qi (COSET), Prof. Dorris Robinson (SOPA), Dr. Azime Saydam (COSET), Dr. Ayodotun Sodipe (COSET), Dr. Karen Stewart (COPHS), and Dr. Yunjiao Wang (COSET).

The Best Honors Thesis was awarded to Miguel Garza (B.B.A. Management) for his thesis entitled: Embracing Change in the Business World: Adapting and Evolving for Success. A cash award accompanied the certificate from the City of Houston and was presented by Councilman Pollard. The spring 2025 graduating class of Freeman Scholars and their theses also include:

Channing Below B.B.A. Management

Navigating The Future: The Impact, Challenges, And Strategic Integration of Artificial Intelligence in Business

 

Kunetra Bradford B.B.A. Management

Graceful Dynamics Institute: A Nonprofit Model for Equitable Dance Education in Underserved Communities

 

Ehiose Edosomwan B.S. Biology

The Impact of Oxidative Stress Dysregulation on Neurodegenerative Disease: A Case Study of Parkinson’s Pathology  

 

Kymani Gordon B.S. Electrical and Computer Engineering

In Living Color: The Representation and Contributions of Black Women in Animation

 

Michelle Hamilton B.S. Administration of Justice

The Effectiveness of Body Cameras in Reducing Police Misconduct

 

Rathea Hersi PharmD. Pharmacy Practice

The Efficacy of Neuroleptics on Mental Health Disorders

 

Chandler Magee B.B.A. Accounting

The Weight of a Nation: Evaluating the Fitness Industry's Impact on Obesity Reduction and Economic Recovery in America

Feria Nji B.S. Computer Science

Gene Expression Profiling in Neurological Disorders: A Comparative Study of Alzheimer's Disease and Brain Cancer

 

Zoe Russell B.B.A. Finance

The Path to Financial Freedom: Examining the Roles of Entrepreneurial Risk-Taking, Mindset, and Real Estate Investment

 

Katelayn Vault B.A. Public Affairs

Public Opinion and Policy Reform: The Sociopolitical Dynamics of Marijuana Legalization in the United States

 

Jaidyn Wright B.S.  Administration of Justice

Divorce And Its Correlation to Juvenile Delinquency

 

The Thomas F. Freeman Honors College proudly celebrates the remarkable achievements of its graduates, who stand as shining examples of academic excellence and leadership at Texas Southern University.

 

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Last updated: 06/10/2025