Pathways to Graduate School
March 6
1:00 – 2:15 p.m.
Pathways to Graduate School is a virtual panel discussion aimed at supporting students who have an interest in pursuing graduate studies and want to learn more about paving their path to a graduate degree. This panel discussion will cover the benefits of attending graduate school and address obstacles that graduate students may experience.
Outstanding mentors will address key topics related to graduate school, provide advice, and answer questions from audience members. These speakers will also share their success stories and discuss how they overcame challenges in their journey through graduate school.
Spring 2025 Panelists
Dr. Rachel Romero
Dr. Rachel Romero is a Regents’ Teacher and award-winning professor whose humanistic and empathetic approach to teaching promotes equitable learning environments. Dr. Romero’s courses nurture socio-emotional awareness, critical thinking, and creativity to cultivate community and encourage learning risks. Her research focuses on student teaching and learning, emphasizing arts-based practices to enhance engagement, empathy, and self-awareness. She has received numerous teaching awards, including the Presidential Award for Excellence in Teaching, the College of Liberal Arts Dean’s Golden Apple, and the John R. Hood Honors Professor of the Year. Dr. Romero’s work has been published in journals such as Community Mental Health Journal, Teaching in Higher Education, Pedagogies, and Teaching Sociology.
Dr. Shayne Futujma
Dr. Futujma currently serves as the Program Coordinator for Bobcats Bounce Back, Texas State University’s resiliency program. She received her Bachelor of Arts from Texas State University in Communication Studies ('08), her Master of Education in Student Development and Leadership in Higher Education ('16) from Angelo State University, and her Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership with a focus on Higher Education ('22) from Abilene Christian University.
Dr. Isaac Torres
Isaac Torres is an Assistant Professor of Instruction, in the Center for Diversity & Gender Studies and the University College at Texas State University. He has worked in cross-sector, collective impact collaboratives and has directed student-centered initiatives in Central Texas for thirteen years. Isaac holds degrees from Texas State University and the University of Oregon. Isaac identifies as a cishet, Chicano male, raised in California and Oregon. He is a former high-school dropout and is the first in his family to go to college. His research focuses on the intersections of race, gender, and participation within sociopolitical systems. Isaac is the father of an 11-year-old daughter who was born in Austin, TX.
Dr. Autumn B. Guel
Autumn B. Guel, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor of Instruction at Texas State University in the College of Education, where she instructs courses in Integrated Preparation, Integrated Project, Human Resource Development (HRD), and Adult Education. She earned a B.S. in Organizational Leadership and Management from Regent University, an M.S.I.S. in Interdisciplinary Studies (Occupation, Workforce, and Leadership), and a Ph.D. in Adult, Professional, and Community Education from Texas State University. Complementing her academic achievements, she possesses certificates in Mediation, Professional Ethics, Teaching with AI, Online and Hybrid Course Design, and Enneagram Conscious Living.
If you require accommodations due to a disability in order to participate, please contact 512-245-3451 or ods@txstate.edu at least 72 hours in advance of the event.
Texas State is a tobacco-free campus.