Theme: Pieces of a Mosaic

“As a mosaic is created from pieces of many sizes, colors, shapes, and elements, our global community includes individuals of diverse cultures, backgrounds, abilities, and experiences. Coming together, we can fashion a masterpiece with our varying ideas, beliefs, functions, and potentials. How then can we inspire diverse individuals to join together to create a more beautiful world mosaic?”

Austin College - Wright Campus Center
1101 E. Brockett
Sherman, Texas, 75090
United States

Aaron White

Associate Minister of First Unitarian Church of Dallas

Aaron White serves as the associate minister of the First Unitarian Church of Dallas. He graduated from Austin College in 2004 with a degree in religion and theatre, and completed his seminary training at Harvard Divinity School. He and his wife, Kate (Austin College ’04), live in east Dallas with their two sons, Hank and Micah.

Asil Yassine

Graduate of Harvard's Masters in Education program

Asil Yassine is the daughter of Lebanese immigrants and was raised in Plano, Texas. A proud graduate of Austin College, she recently completed her master’s degree in education at Harvard University. She taught middle school and high school math in Detroit to students who largely emigrated from Yemen, which catalyzed her interest in literacy and identity development. She previously worked at The Commit! Partnership, serving to improve education for kids in Dallas County. She enjoys hiking, camping, exploring bookstores, and watercolor painting.

David Savage

MD/PhD candidate

David Savage is an M.D./Ph.D. candidate at UTHealth McGovern Medical School in Houston, Texas, and aspires to be a primary care internist. He has worked with refugees from Asia and Africa, with utmost respect for the resilience of people who take the risk of leaving their homeland for the United States.

Ivette Vargas-O'Bryan

Professor of Religious Studies; Religious Studies Chair

Ivette Vargas-O’Bryan is chair and associate professor of religious studies at Austin College. She was trained as a historian of Buddhism and in medical anthropology at Harvard University with an undergraduate political science degree from Columbia University. As a Fulbright Scholar, she taught at Chinese universities. Dr. Vargas-O’Bryan enjoys traveling, learning languages, digital technology, art, mind-body exercises, and baking with her son.

Peter Schulze

Professor of Biology; Director of Center for Environmental Studies

Peter Schulze is a professor of biology and environmental science at Austin College, where he directs the College’s Center for Environmental Studies. He holds a Ph.D. in biology from Dartmouth College, serves on the editorial board of the journal Freshwater Biology, and was the J. Herbert Hollomon Fellow of the National Academy of Engineering. Schulze and his wife, Helen Schulze, M.D., have two sons, Ben and Matt.

Rob Kelso

Founder & CEO of Kelso Aerospace

Rob Kelso is the founder and CEO of Kelso Aerospace. A career civil servant, Kelso served 37 years at NASA’s Johnson Space Center and was the Shuttle Flight Director at NASA’s famed Mission Control Center. He holds a bachelor’s degree in physics and a master’s degree in business administration.

Sierra Salser

Student

Sierra Salser is a sophomore and an international relations major at Austin College. She is a member of the ’Roos women’s basketball team. This summer, she worked as an intern for the local nonprofits of S.H.A.R.E. and United Way through the Social Entrepreneurship for Poverty Alleviation (SEPA) program at Austin College.