21 UNIVERSITY STUDENTS MELANIE WORSLEY BECOMES FIRST GRADUATE OF TAMIU’S INAUGURAL PHD PROGRAM IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE In Fall 2024, a TAMIU student crossed the Commencement stage as the first graduate of the University’s Ph.D. program in Criminal Justice. Dr. Melanie Worsley, associate provost and professor at Washburn University, completed her doctoral work online from Kansas while working full-time. Her dissertation focused on intimate partner violence from the perspectives of victims-survivors, perpetrators, victim advocates, police officers, psychologists, educators, and legal professionals. “I believe the lived experiences of individuals within the Criminal Justice system are essential for further exploration,” Dr. Worsley said, “My research will focus on highlighting these experiences, with the goal of amplifying their voices.” Dr. Kate Houston, TAMIU associate professor of Psychology and Worsley’s dissertation chair, described the research as groundbreaking. “Melanie’s research represents a new direction,” she said, “While there will always be a place for big data in this field, research which elevates and gives voice to the lived experiences of those who have engaged with our justice system at times of crisis is increasingly a focus of a modern scholarship in Criminal Justice.” TAMIU’s PhD in Criminal Justice program aims to produce graduates who have the theoretical knowledge, practical experience, and marketable skills to assume high level leadership roles in various areas of Criminal Justice practice. Read more at go.tamiu.edu/drworsley-grad. SOUTH KOREAN TAMIU EXCHANGE STUDENTS SHARE THEIR STORIES Four university students from Sungshin Women’s University in Seoul, South Korea, embarked on a six-month student exchange at TAMIU this Spring. Their experience has been marked by new friendships, crosscultural interaction, and personal growth. They said Laredo and TAMIU welcomed them to a warm and embracing community where peers treated them with respect and genuine interest. Eunji Ok, a senior Kinesiology major, joined the program to learn English and experience U.S. student life before graduate school. “What impressed me most at TAMIU was that my friends treated me without prejudice and genuinely wanted to get to know me,” she said. Minji Oh, a junior majoring in Service Design and Engineering with a focus on UX/UI, found her time inspiring and transformative. “Collaborating with students and faculty from diverse backgrounds was a huge motivator for me,” she said. Gahee Yang, a senior Computer Engineering major, said the program broadened her perspective. “Even a short period abroad can be a turning point in one’s life,” she said. Yerin Kwak, a senior in Political Science and International Relations major, said she wanted to step out of her comfort zone and understand the wider world. “I want to help the world move in a better direction,” she said. Read more at go.tamiu.edu/sk-studentstories. TAMIU ESPORTS TEAM MAKES HISTORY, COMPETES IN NAT’L GRAND FINALS TAMIU Esports student-athletes made history after traveling and taking part in the 2025 Grand Finals LAN tournament for the National Association of College Esports (NACE). For the first time in the program’s four-year history, the TAMIU’s Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 (CoD) team traveled to nationals in Orlando, FL. The team, seeded in the Top 8 nationally in CoD, included the talents of varsity gamers Angel Galván, Joshua García, Abdiel Meléndez and Diego Torres. The team defied odds by making the Grand Finals, attributing much of their success to their team connection, chemistry and their constructive efforts in supporting one another. Dr. Kate Houston and Dr. Melanie Worsley Exchange students from South Korea's Sungshin Women's University studying this semester at TAMIU include from left to right: Minji Oh, Eunji Ok, Yerin Kwak, and Gahee Yang.
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