2021 Graduates
Angelica Avila
Angelica Avila is a first-generation student graduating magna cum laude with a degree in sociology and a minor in human resource management. She served as the Leadership Programs intern at the Dallas Regional Chamber, was a fellow for the Texas Women’s Foundation, and a Corporate Citizenship intern at IBM. Avila served as the academic coordinator for the Terry Scholars Student Organization and was also a part of the First-Gen Student Program, Transfer Mentor Program, and Association of Latino Professionals for America. Avila continues to serve on IBM’s Corporate Citizenship team and to be an advocate for students and minorities.
Caleb Brown
Caleb Brown graduated with a degree in speech language pathology and audiology. He was active in the National Student Speech Language Hearing Association and the National Society of Leadership and Success. Brown will pursue a master’s degree in speech language pathology at Abilene Christian University, Dallas.
Mariela Canas
Mariela Canas graduated with a degree in public affairs in December 2021. She was involved with community legal services while living in Amarillo and served as service coordinator for the Terry Scholars Student Organization. Building on her knowledge of the law, Canas will work in legal services.
Jordan Dick
Jordan Dick graduated with a master’s degree in business analytics. He received his bachelor’s degree in finance with honors from Texas A&M. As an undergraduate, he was the service chair in the Terry Scholars Student Organization and treasurer in the organization Aggies Starting Projects, Private Foundations and NPOs. He hiked 500 miles across Spain on the Camino de Santiago and studied abroad in India. Dick works as a financial analyst at Wells Fargo.
Abby Flores
Abby Flores graduated magna cum laude with a double major in finance and information technology and systems. Flores was vice president of the student chapter of the Association of Latino Professionals for America, where she worked to increase representation of minority students in business. She interned at GEICO, Santander Consumer USA, Highside Global Management, and Andersen Consulting. Flores works with the operations division at Goldman Sachs.
Nilisha Gajera
Nilisha Gajera graduated magna cum laude with a degree in finance and with Collegium V honors. She was part of the Professional Program in Finance and the Dean’s Council of the Jindal School of Management. She also interned with McAfee. Gajera works as a financial analyst at AT&T and is pursuing a master’s degree in business analytics at UT Dallas.
Abby Lewis
Abby Lewis graduated summa cum laude with a degree in biochemistry. Lewis served as president, vice president and first year coordinator for the Terry Scholars Student Organization. Lewis also devoted numerous hours to Camp Kesem and worked as a researcher with Dr. Kenneth Balkus for three years. She was active in the Joint Admission Medical Program (JAMP), Freshmen Mentor Program, and Global Brigades. She is a member of the prestigious Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society. Lewis attends UT Southwestern Medical School.
Emily Lomas
Emily Lomas graduated with a degree in information technology and systems. She received JSOM’s Owlie Award for the “Most Likely to be a C-Level Executive” and was president for the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers. Lomas worked with the Collin County Healthcare Department during COVID-19 as a functional analyst. Lomas works with Accenture as a security consulting analyst.
Aida Maldonado
Aida Maldonado graduated with a degree in speech-language pathology and audiology and is a mom of three teens. She was a research assistant in the Bilingual Language Lab and served as the transfer coordinator in the Terry Scholars Student Organization. She plans to work as a speech-language pathologist assistant in the home health industry to help those who have suffered brain injuries or neurological disorders. Maldonado will pursue a master’s degree in applied cognition and neuroscience.
Jessie-Anne McCoy
Jessie-Anne McCoy graduated magna cum laude with a degree in accounting. She worked as a peer advisor for three years and devoted much time to helping residents with academic, personal and housing needs. McCoy will sit for the Texas CPA exam next year and has accepted a post-graduation position as an audit associate at RSM US LLP. McCoy is pursuing a master’s degree at UT Dallas through the Professional Program in Accounting.
Afza Mohammed
Afza Mohammed graduated summa cum laude and with Collegium V honors with a degree in biology and a minor in history. She held various leadership positions in the University Emergency Medical Response program, as well as Camp Kesem. Mohammad also served as academic coordinator and enrichment advisor for the Terry Scholars Student Organization. She is a member of the prestigious Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society. Mohammed is studying classical Arabic intensively before attending medical school.
Jade Montague
Jade Montague graduated summa cum laude with a degree in arts, technology and emerging communication, with a concentration in game design. Montague was a part of Game Lab where she contributed as both design manager and programmer on two student-led video games. She is also a member of the prestigious Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society. Montague is pursuing a career in the video game industry.
Trenton Moore
Trenton Moore graduated with a degree in information technology and systems. Moore served as an ecology representative in the Office of Sustainability. He participated in the CometX Accelerator and went on to pitch in the Big Idea Competition. Moore is pursing trading at various proprietary trading firms to fund his long-term goal of advancing sustainable food and environmentally sustainable technology.
Jeannie Nghiem
Jeannie Nghiem graduated with a degree in neuroscience in December 2021. She was part of the Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation Fellowship Abroad through UT El Paso where she conducted research on Alzheimer’s disease. She co-founded the nonprofit COOKED-19 organization, providing meals to healthcare workers during COVID-19. Nghiem will pursue a career in healthcare.
Martin Nguyen
Martin Nguyen graduated cum laude and with Collegium V honors with a double major in mathematics and actuarial science and a minor in computer science. Nguyen was a student ambassador where he connected alumni with the student body, recruited new ambassadors, and organized various university events. He is training to become a pilot in the armed forces while studying for his actuarial fellowship.
Nathan Ortiz
Nathan Ortiz graduated summa cum laude with a degree in accounting. He is a dad to two young boys and an avid woodworker. He is a member of the prestigious Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society. Ortiz is pursuing a master’s degree at UT Dallas while working as a staff accountant at Parkland Center for Clinical Innovation.
Tiffany Page Carter
Tiffany Page Carter is a first-generation student and mom of two young boys. She graduated summa cum laude, with Collegium V honors, and ATEC Major Honors. Page Carter has a degree in arts, technology, and emerging communication, with a focus in critical media studies and a minor in creative writing. She is a member of the prestigious Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society and a 2021 undergraduate commencement speaker. Page Carter is currently the Fellow for Texas Instruments Founders Leadership and will continue her fellowship while attending graduate school.
Hetal Patel
Hetal Patel graduated magna cum laude in December 2021 with a degree in information technology and systems. She served as a transfer mentor for two years at the Jindal School of Management, promoting women in STEM. She is a member of the Association for Information Systems, Women in Tech and Business, and the prestigious Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society. Patel works as a Cybersecurity Engineer at BNSF Railway.
Rita Phinyawatana
Rita Phinyawatana graduated cum laude with a degree in finance. She was active in the Freshman Mentor Program, Financial Executive Experience, and The National Society of Leadership and Success. Phinyawatana works at the Finance, Accounting and Operations Co-Op for Texas Instruments and is pursuing a master’s degree in business administration at UT Dallas, with a concentration in finance.
Pranami Saha
Pranami Saha graduated summa cum laude with a degree in accounting. She was membership officer for the Accounting Club and part of Volunteer Income Tax Assistance, where she prepared tax returns for low-income families. As part of the Professional Program in Accounting, she is pursuing a master’s degree at UT Dallas. Saha interned at H&R Block and Armanino, where she will work as a certified public accountant after her master’s graduation.
Ramzi Taim
Ramzi Taim graduated cum laude with a degree in healthcare studies and a minor in Spanish. Taim co-founded the nonprofit organization COOKED-19 which serves meals to healthcare workers helping battle COVID-19. He studied in Oaxaca, Mexico, was a PLTL team leader, a student ambassador, and service coordinator for the Terry Scholars Student Organization. Taim works with the Collin County Healthcare Department as a functional analyst.
Jacob Waller
Jacob Waller graduated with a degree in computer science. He was active in his fraternity Sigma Alpha Epsilon, serving as the scholarship chair. He was also active in the UT Dallas wrestling team and club and plans to continue wrestling after graduation. Waller interned two summers at Ethos Group, where he now works full time.
Stephen Woods
Stephen Woods graduated in December 2021 with a degree in psychology and a minor in human resource management. Woods has worked as a quality assurance manager at GenPact LLC, a global technology company, for the past three years and will work in human resources at GenPact as he completes his master’s degree in healthcare leadership and management at The University of Texas at Dallas.
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).