2023 UNT Great Grads Spring

Angela Alvarado
Ph.D. Information Science

It took Angela Alvarado six years to complete her bachelor's degree. She was working full time, raising her daughters and battling imposter syndrome that had her questioning her unconventional path to graduation.

Two master's degrees and a Ph.D. later, Angela has never felt more confident about where life has taken her.

“My family often jokes that I'm a lifelong student, and my comeback is, ‘We all should be,'” she says. “That's how you grow and move into different parts of your life.”

Angela earns her Ph.D. in Information Science with a concentration in Health Informatics in Spring 2023. She's also celebrating a milestone in her career as an award-winning social worker: a new leadership role as administrator for Gentiva Health Services in Dallas, where she's worked since 2013.

“Some of the best advice I was given is to own your worth,” she says. “It took me a long time to understand I belong at the table, I belong in these conversations and I belong in the room with these other folks. I truly believe the only way I got there mentally was by surrounding myself with people who supported and believed in me more than I did myself.”

Growing up in the unincorporated town of Norton, Texas, Angela rode the school bus 15 miles to attend high school in Ballinger, where she graduated in a class of only 52.

She earned her bachelor's degree in psychology from Angelo State University in 1999, then returned for her master's degree in Industrial Organizational Psychology in 2004. Shortly after graduating, she moved to Dallas with her husband and three daughters in search of new job opportunities.

She was working as director of social services for a nursing and rehabilitation center when she realized that health care technology was advancing rapidly, and if she wanted to keep up, she had to further her education.

She chose UNT for its top-ranked Master of Science in Information Science with a concentration in Health Informatics, and in 2014, she graduated with her second master's degree.

It wasn't easy pursuing her education while working full-time and raising a family, especially as a nontraditional student in the years before hybrid and online learning went mainstream.

“For me to drive to Denton from Dallas, take a three-hour class and drive an hour back was a five-hour round trip. I did that for a couple semesters. It was a lot. It made me realize I am very resilient, because it really is a marathon. But my employer supported me and my family did, too. I had an amazing village.”

She also found support in her UNT professors, especially her dissertation committee, which she describes as eclectic. “I chose them on purpose because information science is interdisciplinary, and I wanted to bring in my medical background.”

Her committee included Daniella Smith, Hazel Harvey Peace Endowed Professor of Information Science and director of the Information Science Ph.D. program. “She's been absolutely amazing,” Angela says. “Very responsive, very supportive.”

She also chose Associate Professor of Anthropology Doug Henry, whose research focuses on applied medical anthropology and the interaction of culture, health, society and illness. “I'd taken some of his courses over the years that worked in my degree plan, and I just loved them — to the point that I actually utilized methodology from my experiences in his classes for my dissertation,” she says. “He was very supportive, even though I wasn't in his program, providing resources, answering questions, providing me with really great feedback.”

Twenty-four years after earning her bachelor's degree, Angela continues to discover new passions and opportunities, many of which were made possible through her experiences at UNT. Being a teaching fellow was one of the highlights of her doctoral experience and she hopes to continue in an adjunct capacity as she settles into her new role at Gentiva.

“I wish somebody had told me in the beginning, do not compare your journey to anybody else's journey. No one's life is exactly like yours. Things will come up and things will change. Life happens. But it can be done. I'm proof of that.”

Republished Angela Alvarado story from UNT Great Grads: Spring 2023

 

Diane Gill
Ph.D. Information Science

Diane always had a passion for literature and access to information. As a child, Diane would finish her class assignments quickly so she could emerge herself in the latest book on her list, even if it meant getting sent to the principal's office for reading unrelated course material during class.

“I come from a big, southern family, and we didn't travel abroad much, so I rarely explored other cultures and countries,” Diane says. “But reading was my form of global traveling and inquiry.”

Her love for information continued to expand as she earned her first master's degree in Education in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Texas at Arlington. While Diane was a middle school reading teacher, she worked closely with the school librarian to develop initiatives to advance student literacy and learning outcomes. After several collaborations, the school librarian suggested that Diane would be a great fit UNT's College of Information Library Science master's program and asked if she had considered becoming a school librarian. Having never seen an African American librarian before, Diane was reluctant and needed reassurance that this would be right for her. After attending a professional development conference for librarians, she was hooked.

“Once I realized the importance of not only being in that space but finding ways to recruit and support the retention of people that looked like me in the profession, it became my passion,” Diane says.

While completing her second master's program, she was invited to work part time at Paul Quinn as an adjunct professor teaching children's literature. While on campus, she met her first academic librarian of color, Clarice Weeks. Through conversation, Mrs. Weeks was informed that Diane was completing her Library Science master's degree, so she invited her to work part time on the weekends in the university's library as a preservice reference librarian. This opportunity encouraged Diane to further her studies toward completing her doctoral degree at UNT.

Describing her journey to information science as serendipitous and unexpected, Diane credits her village for getting her through. Earning her doctoral degree always has been a shared dream that she and her husband had — he was her biggest supporter before he tragically passed from congestive heart failure one year before she graduated. As one of his caregivers, Diane didn't initially want to complete her doctoral program and wanted to focus on her husband. However, he encouraged her to keep going despite his failing health.

Looking back at her journey, Diane says that finding your passions and being open to shifts in life can lead you to a door filled with opportunities.

“Follow the path and be open for new opportunities,” Diane says.

Republished Diane Gill story from UNT Great Grads: Spring 2023

Tingkai Guan
B.A.S. in Learning Technologies

Tingkai Guan has long been looking for a way to influence what and how people think. First, being a movie director seemed like a good choice. Then, as a student at Tyler Junior College, he pursued educational gaming and got an associate degree's in Game and Simulation Development: Programming.

Neither option felt quite right, though. He finally found his calling after transferring to UNT and discovering the Department of Learning Technologies in the College of Information.

“Learning is where everyone begins their exploration of the world,” he says. “That's where I can make a difference — from the root of the human learning and educational process.”

Born in Zhengzhou in the Henan Province of China, Tingkai came to the U.S. as a 15-year-old high school sophomore and lived with two different host families. After earning his associate degree, he worked for a year to explore the technology industry. However, he knew he needed a bachelor's degree to be competitive.

Tingkai says he has enjoyed learning how a company's story emerges through data. The data analyst certificate will equip him with the techniques needed to find and resolve challenges facing organizations. He's putting these skills to use through a research project that has required significant data collection and analysis.

Tingkai partnered with Rose Baker, associate professor and director of the Bachelor of Applied Sciences in Learning Technologies program, to research cyberbullying prevention. The project is focused on developing a one-click function on social media that tags a message or post as cyberbullying. The recipient can then block the person who made the post with a single click.

Thanks to his work, Tingkai received the UNT Undergraduate Research Fellowship and has presented his findings through the Council on Undergraduate Research and at the College of Information's Day of Data Science conference.

“It's all about how to prevent and reduce the impact and the influence of people who are engaging in cyberbullying to better help the victims,” he says.

From his first semester at UNT, Tingkai got involved in the campus community. As president of the Chinese Student Scholars Association, he led efforts to restart the organization following the COVID-19 pandemic. He gained funding and led the organization in hosting two campus-wide galas and participating in events such as the World Fair and the International Flag Parade. Additionally, Tingkai met with the Dean of International Student Scholar Services and the UNT Provost to discuss opportunities to better serve international students, such as setting up a shuttle service at the Dallas-Fort Worth Airport to transport international students to the Denton campus.

Tingkai also served as a senator for the College of Information, writing legislation addressing the high cost of textbooks and enabling the cafeteria at Discovery Park to accept student meal plans. As chair of the Undergraduate Student Innovation Advisory Board, he worked with Adam Fein, UNT's Chief Digital Officer, on several proposals to improve campus policies.

Because of Tingkai's extensive campus involvement, he earned the Golden Eagle Award, the most prestigious award UNT gives a student leader.

“I'm proud of the impact I've made on campus and the opportunities I've had,” he says. “At UNT, you can dream big and do big things.”

Republished Tingkai Guan story from UNT Great Grads: Spring 2023

Sahithi Kommuru
Master's in Health Informatics

Sahithi Kommuru always wanted to help people, and she made quite a name for herself in her village near Mahadevapuram, India, where she started a foundation to adopt and care for the street dogs near her home.

"When someone needs me, I try to fulfill their wishes," says Sahithi, who used this opportunity to raise money for food and veterinary care for those animals.

Earning her Master's in Health Informatics continues her trajectory of seeking to help others.

"I decided on Health Informatics because I've always appreciated how doctors and health care specialists dedicate their lives to serve patients and others in need," she says. "I want to be a part of that process."

Sahithi moved to the United States less than two years ago, specifically to attend the University of North Texas.

"I wanted to attend UNT because it's ranked in the top 10 colleges for Health Informatics," she says. "While getting my bachelor's in India, I studied what I needed to do to get into UNT. I love UNT - the college curriculum, the study they provide, and the scholarships they provide for students like me."

While at UNT, Sahithi has spent her spare time working for the Muskurahat Foundation to help children facing food insecurity, lack of education and clothing because it's important to her to give back to the less fortunate.

"I am lucky. I have parents who took care of me, provided for me, and I never went hungry," Sahithi says. "I want these children to have the same. They need it more than I do."

Sahithi wants to continue learning and helping others in need, even after graduation. She plans to find a full-time job developing her skills beyond her degree, while also working for the Muskurahat Foundation in her spare time once she settles into her career.

Sahithi feels like she has grown exponentially since coming to the U.S. and knows she could not have done it without UNT.

"I love UNT and the resources they offer to support students," Sahithi says. "Whether I needed access to technology, guidance with financial aid or support from my professors, everyone was always happy to help. When you have fewer struggles to deal with— it's easier to concentrate on your education. UNT allowed me to do just that."

Republished Sahithi Kommuru story from UNT Great Grads: Spring 2023

Henry Madubuike
B.S. Information Science and Applied Technology with a minor in Business Analytics

We all desire a place to call home. UNT became that place for student Henry Madubuike. Instilled with strong family values and guided by faith, Henry sought a learning community that aligned with his principles, allowed him to stay connected to his Nigerian roots, be engaged in active learning, and connected to people on campus.

Emigrating from Nigeria to Houston meant big changes. In addition to becoming acquainted with a new home and a new country, he had to sit for a series of entrance and language proficiency exams. Henry also had to learn how to dream Texas-sized dreams. He had a few friends he knew attending UNT so that helped ease his mind. He immediately was welcomed into the engineering students community as he began his journey in the College of Engineering as a Computer Science major. “It clicked for me and I‘m happy I came here,” he says. “The people I met have become family.”

Although some of his friends were fellow Eagles, they were in different majors or lived in different residence halls. Henry worried about becoming homesick. Even during First Flight Week, the week before he began studying at UNT, he often thought of home. Thankfully, he met people around him who helped him feel at home. His resident assistant became one of his mentors and encouraged him to become involved on campus. Henry explored student organizations that interested him, and he found three: the Black Student Union, the National Society for Black Engineers and the Nigerian Student Organization. “I also connected with church ministers. Most of my new friends I met through church events.” 

Once classes began, he began to recognize coding might not be the right path for him. He considered shifting his focus to exploring hobbies such as visual arts and considered a transfer to the College of Visual Art and Design. But he wanted to make the most of the coursework he'd already taken so his search for the right program continued. 

A friend told him about the Information Science program which piqued his interest. Henry decided to take a leap of faith and make the switch, soon realizing he enjoyed data science classes. He found his home in the College of Information with a minor in Business Analytics. “My favorite thing is the diversity. I met students from all over and I started thinking globally about solving problems, and that there is more than one way to do things,” he says. “My professor, Obiageli Ogbanufe, taught Introduction to Data Warehousing. She provides resources to all her students and helped me with workforce knowledge.” Through this transitional phase, he continued to excel academically and made the President's and Dean's lists.

Finding a place to call home off campus proved more challenging as Henry struggled to find an internship. He was qualified and determined, but most companies would not sponsor an employment visa. He networked with a co-worker of his - when he used to work as an IT Technician for UNT library - who referred him to an internship position at PepsiCo/Frito-Lay in Plano - Henry eventually got in and worked there the summer of 2022. “I've had classes that help me with what I will be doing in the real world. I took a technical visualization course that armed me with the knowledge of telling a story with data using Tableau software. These classes made me realize that this was going to be my future and they really helped me get into my industry!”

As commencement approaches, Henry reflects on the importance of having a community, seizing opportunities, and having faith. “My advice for new students is this Nigerian saying my dad tells me all the time: ‘follow who know road, make you de see road.' Henry explains that it means, if you follow an experienced and knowledgeable person, you will be able to gain knowledge and experience from them, which will help you to navigate your way successfully. If someone is great at something you see yourself doing, stick to them and learn from them.

  Republished Henry Madubuike story from UNT Great Grads: Spring 2023