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.
FOSTERING MEANINGFUL DISCUSSIONS BETWEEN FACULTY & STUDENTS
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.
FALL CONVERSATIONS WILL BE HELD AT:
Setzer Student Center
San Jacinto Room 218
FALL 2026
Tues, OCTOBER 6, 2026 @ 12:45 PM
Does Population, When Growing Exponentially, Press Against the Food Supply and Lead to Resource Scarcity if Left Unchecked?
Our conversation will explore the population growth from the Roman Times to the Industrial Revolution to Present Day, with a focus on the Malthus Growth Theory. Malthus argued that population growth grows geometrically (exponentially), while food supply grows arithmetically (linearly), inevitably leading to crisis if population growth is left unchecked. At the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, economists and demographers began to dismiss the Malthus Growth Theory. We’ll discuss why, and whether the theory is possible today.
– MENTOR: Dr. John McCollough
Thurs, NOVEMBER 12, 2026 @ 12:45 PM
What Should a Teacher Know About AI? Trends and Challenges in AI-Supported Teaching
Our conversation will explore the trends and challenges of teachers using AI for course preparation and the need for teacher education programs to build AI literacy focused on practical use and critical evaluation. Teachers should know how AI supports lesson planning, activity design, and assessment. Pre-service teachers often use AI to draft lessons and activities but struggle with accuracy, while in-service teachers apply AI more strategically for standards-aligned plans, differentiated tasks, and quick assessments considering ethical issues like bias and privacy.
– MENTOR: Dr. Yan Yan
SPRING 2027
Tues, FEBRUARY 23, 2027 @ 12:45 PM
The Ethical Conduct of Research
The ethical conduct of research is grounded in principles that protect the rights, dignity, and well‑being of participants. Its importance became evident after several unethical studies in the twentieth century, such as the Tuskegee Syphilis Study, where treatment was withheld without consent, and the Nazi medical experiments conducted during World War II. These abuses led to the development of foundational ethical guidelines, including the Nuremberg Code, the Declaration of Helsinki, and the Belmont Report, which established requirements for informed consent, beneficence, and justice. Today, these principles guide researchers in conducting studies responsibly and with respect for all participants. Our conversation will attempt to answer: Do you think such ethical violations in research exist? Who plays a central role in ensuring that a research study is conducted ethically?
– MENTOR: Dr. Raouth Kostandy
Tues, MARCH 30, 2027 @ 12:45 PM
Founding Mothers to Freedom Riders: How Women Rewrote American Democracy
Most history textbooks often compress two centuries of women’s activism into a single milestone: winning the right to vote. But the reality is much more complex and messier. This conversation traces a sweeping arc from the American Revolution through the 20th century, exploring how women transformed themselves from “republican mothers” into radical political organizers. We will look at how the early republic relied on women to weaponize domestic life through activities such as revolutionary boycotts, and how those tactics evolved into the massive, organized movements of the 19th and 20th centuries—including abolition, labor rights, suffrage, civil rights, and modern feminism.
– MENTOR: Dr. Tina Kibbe
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. The Honors Conversations series is a way to live that mission.