2024 Graduates

Yosef Awad

Yosef Awad graduated cum laude with a degree in neuroscience. He served as the first-year coordinator for the Terry Scholars Student Organization, president of the Minority Association of Pre-Medical Students (MAPS), and quality assurance expert at the UT Southwestern Texas Emergency Medicine Research Associates Program (TEMRAP). Yosef worked with the Student Success Center as a Peer-Led Team Learning (PLTL) leader in calculus and volunteered at Medical City Plano with the Visiting Nurse Association, as well as with the nonprofit We Are Blood. Yosef is pursuing an advanced degree in healthcare.

Tarik Lbayad

Tarik Lbayad graduated with a degree in finance.  He served as treasurer of Sigma Alpha Epsilon, as an enrichment advisor for the Terry Scholars Student Organization, and volunteered with EPIC Masjid, in addition to summer internships. Tarik is taking a gap year to travel before starting his MBA.

Mya Miller

Mya Miller graduated in December 2023 magna cum laude with a degree in criminology. She completed the prestigious Archer Fellowship in Washington, D.C, studied in Lugano, Switzerland, and worked as an investigator. She also served as a mentor for the Innocence Project of Texas, worked as a peer advisor for Residential Life, volunteered with children at Heart House, and was a legal clerk for a pro-bono law firm in her hometown of Tyler. Mya will be attending the University of Texas at Austin School of Law on a full scholarship.

Joseph Paroski

Joseph Paroski graduated with a double degree in computer science and cognitive science. He will work in Silicon Valley in the field of computer networking and information security.

Mark Salazar

Mark Salazar graduated summa cum laude with a degree in neuroscience. He volunteered with the University Emergency Medical Response (UEMR) for four years and served as operations chief. Additionally, he served as an EMT in both Houston and Dallas for several years. Mark also worked as a BLS and CPR instructor and taught community Spanish and English classes. He is an active member of the Joint Admission Medical Program (JAMP) and mentored students as an ambassador. He is also a member of the prestigious Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society. Mark will attend the John Sealy School of Medicine at UTMB in Galveston.

ReNa Setiono

ReNa Setiono graduates in spring 2025 with a degree in business analytics. She served as a student ambassador and plans to work in industry in the DFW area.

Eric Shields

Eric Shields graduated with a degree in computer science and a focus on machine learning and cloud computing. He won first prize at three different hackathons over the last two years. He also worked as a software engineering intern for JPMorgan Chase during his senior year. Eric served as vice president of the Terry Scholars Student Organization and as the first technology chair of the organization. Eric will work as an engineer at JPMorgan Chase.

Abigail Smith

Abigail Smith graduated cum laude with a degree in computer science. She served as social coordinator, vice president, and president of the Terry Scholars Student Organization. Abigail also participated in the Association of Computing Machinery by serving the HackUTD team as logistics coordinator She interned for two summers and throughout her senior year at Pioneer Natural Resources as a data analyst. Abigail will work at Exxon Mobile as a digital analyst.

Jimena Soto

Jimena Soto graduated magna cum laude with a degree in political science. She worked as an orientation leader, studied in Lugano, Switzerland, and was social chair for the Terry Scholars Student Organization. Jimena also volunteered with LULAC, serving as treasurer, social chair, and vice president. She completed the prestigious Archer Fellowship program in Washington, D.C., and interned for the U.S. House of Representatives. Jimena will work as a paralegal while participating in UT Austin’s School of Law Pipeline Program before attending law school.

Jalen Williams

Jalen Williams graduated in December 2024 with a degree in finance. He served as partnership director for 180 Degrees Consulting and as first year coordinator for the Terry Scholars Student Organization. He also worked as a peer mentor and focus group leader for the Davidson Management Honors Program and as an alumni ambassador for the Archer Fellowship Program. Jalen was involved with the Professional Program in Finance and the John Marshall Pre-Law Society and played on the UT Dallas men’s basketball team for two years. He studied in Lugano, Switzerland, and interned at the Supreme Court as an Archer Fellow, as well as at JPMorgan Chase, Hilliard Law, and Bain & Company. Jalen will work as an associate consultant for Bain & Company.

Contact Us

Sheila Kelly

Director

972-883-6309
sheila.kelly@utdallas.edu

Cassie Cure

Assistant Director

972-883-4284
terryscholars@utdallas.edu

Terry Scholars at UT Dallas
The University of Texas at Dallas
800 W. Campbell Road, PHY 10
Richardson, TX 75080 – 3021

The office is located in the Physics Building (PHY).