UTA In The News — Wednesday, January 20, 2021
UTA Admissions
Karla Hernandez, UTA admissions counselor, was interviewed on KUVN Univision 23 about the University’s admission process and what students and parents should consider when choosing the right college. Hernandez highlighted UT Arlington’s diverse student population and accommodating financial aid options, which help reduce student debt upon graduation.
Inauguration Day 2021
Rebecca Deen, chair of the UT Arlington Department of Political Science, spoke to NBC 5 about the historic Inauguration Day of 2021 and how the last several months have given political science professors a wealth of teachable moments for college students. She said the important thing she wants students to remember on this day is that a peaceful transfer of power is a vital part of what makes our country a free republic.
Scholarship winner
Xavien Johns, a junior business marketing major at UT Arlington, received a $2,000 scholarship from the Arlington Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Committee for winning its 2021 Collegiate Essay Contest, the city of Arlington reported. Johns, who holds the title of Mr. UTA for the 2020-21 academic year, is a frequent volunteer at UTA service events and said advancing Martin Luther King Jr.’s “dream” is about advancing the community.
Robot training
William J. Beski, UTA assistant professor in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering and founder and director of the UTA’s Robotic Vision Laboratory, was featured on Texas Advanced Computing Center spotlighting use of artificial intelligence and supercomputers to generate synthetic objects for robot training Beksi's research focuses on robotics, computer vision, and cyber-physical systems. "In particular, I'm interested in developing algorithms that enable machines to learn from their interactions with the physical world and autonomously acquire skills necessary to execute high-level tasks," he said.
Repairing gas leaks
Kathleen Smits, UTA civil engineering associate professor, received a pair of grants focused on detecting and repairing natural gas leaks in underground pipelines, U.S. Fed News reported. For the first, Smits is collaborating with Colorado State University on a U.S. Department of Transportation Pipeline and Hazardous Material Safety Administration grant to investigate leak detection and repair methods for underground pipelines. The second project, funded by a grant from the Colorado Department of Natural Resources, focuses on detecting and reducing natural gas emissions and decreasing the likelihood of accidents due to leaks.
Special Education perspectives
Bree Jimenez, UTA associate professor of special education, was published in Rural Special Education Quarterly, a publication devoted to topics in rural special education and disability services. The article examined the effects COVID-19 has had on special education in Australia and Turkey.