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TCU JOHN V. ROACH HONORS COLLEGE
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Promotions
& New Hires
Dr. Ron Pitcock,
Assistant Dean
Dr. Pitcock is no stranger
to the Honors College.
He already serves as the
J. Vaughn and Evelyn H.
Wilson Honors Fellow
and teaches Honors
Colloquia like “Nature
of Giving” and “Nature
of Values,” as well as a
Cultural Visions class
titled “Cultural Memory
in the U.S.” He is also the
director of prestigious
scholarships.
Fun Fact:
Named one of
the “Best 300 Professors
in the U.S.” by
The
Princeton Review
(2012).
Dr. Rob Garnett,
Associate Dean
Dr. Garnett brings
a wealth of Honors
experience. During
his 20+ years at TCU,
he has supervised
numerous Honors
theses, taught Honors
sections of Introductory
Macroeconomics, and
served as a member
of the Honors College
Advisory Council and
Self-Study Review Team.
Fun Fact:
Editor of
five books and author
of more than fifty
published essays.
Colby Birdsell,
Honors College
Coordinator
Birdsell plans events,
organizes projects,
represents the College
at various functions and
manages the budget.
Fun Fact:
Holds a Master
of Arts in History from
TCU. Her graduate
thesis studied women’s
historical roles in the
AddRan College of
Liberal Arts.
Shelly Frank,
Director of
Development
Frank supports the work
of the Honors College
and its programs through
strategic fundraising
initiatives and gift
planning.
Fun fact:
Married to
Stephen Quinn, a TCU
Economics professor.
They have two sons.
Cameron
Navarro,
Academic
Advisor
Navarro provides
advising services for
Honors students with
last names starting with
A through E. He earned
his B.A. in
Religion from
Southwestern University
and is currently working
toward his Master of
Social Work.
Fun fact:
Plays drums for
a local band.
Dr. Mikio
Akagi, Assistant
Professor of
the History and
Philosophy
of Science
Dr. Akagi is the
Honors College’s first
tenure-track assistant
professor. He recently
completed his Ph.D.
in Philosophy at the
University of Pittsburgh,
and he holds a Master of
Science in Philosophy
from the University
of Edinburgh. In
the Honors College,
he teaches unique
interdisciplinary courses
such as “Nature of the
Universe: Disease,
Disorder and Disability.”
Fun fact:
Connoisseur
of Scottish whiskey and
ex a cappella singer.
Dr. Lynn
Hampton,
Lecturer
Dr. Hampton teaches
Honors courses such
as “Cultural Contact
Zones: U.S. Schooling
& American Society”
and “Nature of Society:
Engaging Difference.”
She received her
undergraduate degree
in political science
and Africana studies
from Wellesley College
and her doctorate
in sociology from
Vanderbilt University.
Fun Fact:
Serves on the
executive committee for
the new Comparative
Race & Ethnic Studies
program.
Dr. Sarah
Vartabedian,
Lecturer
Dr. Vartabedian
teaches Honors courses
such as “Language,
Communication and
Cultural Identity:
Performance and
Politics” and “Nature of
Society: Living in the
Material World.” She
earned her B.A. and
M.A. in communication
studies from the
University of North
Carolina at Chapel Hill
and her Ph.D. in rhetoric
and language from the
University of Texas at
Austin.
Fun Fact:
Has traveled
extensively throughout
Europe, South America
and Asia to analyze
numerous politically
divisive monuments.