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Graduate Students

Arti A. Sadessai-Nadkarni

Arti A. Sardessai-Nadkarni is a fourth-year doctoral student from Goa, India. Her research focuses on how communication (family communication/patient-provider communication) influences people’s perceptions, assessment, and management of hereditary risks for chronic diseases such as cancer. The goal of her research is to bridge ethnic/racial disparities in public health genomics and promote informed genetic health decision-making. Her dissertation aims to investigate the social, cognitive, and affective factors that influence the decision to talk with family members about predictive genetic testing for BRCA 1/2 mutations.

Headshot of Angie Galal Headshot of Elina Tachkova

Angie Galal

angie.galal@tamu.edu

Angie Galal is a third-year PhD. student from Cairo, Egypt. She is interested in critical health communication, precisely examining the health disparities among the Arab immigrant populations residing in the United States. Her dissertation aims to explore Arabs’ perception of implicit biases in clinician-patient communication. Other topics she has explored include barriers to healthcare such as language, culture, and ability to effectively navigate the healthcare system. 

Elina Tachkova

elinatachkova@tamu.edu

Ellie Tachkova is PhD candidate from Bulgaria. Specially, her hometown is called Ruse and is located on the beautiful Danube river. Tachkova also has lived in Denmark, where she earned both her undergraduate and graduate degrees from Aarhus University. Tachkova’s primary area of research is focused on crisis communication and especially the concept of scansis. Scansis is the unique intersection between an organizational crisis and a scandal and is a new theoretical concept in crisis communication research. Additionally, her dissertation, Parameters of Scansis: Exploring the Interconnectedness of Crises and Scandals, seeks to provide conceptual clarity of the notion of scansis and its communicative implications for crisis communication scholars and practitioners. 

Resources for International Students

For International Graduate Students: 

Center for Teaching Excellence – https://cte.tamu.edu 

The Center for Teaching Excellence aims to “support the educational mission of Texas A&M University through evidence-based professional development opportunities promoting proven and innovative instructional approaches aligned with faculty and student success.”

 

O.G.A.P.S. – http://ogaps.tamu.edu 

OGAPS serves Texas A&M graduate students as an advocate for their graduate education and houses the Ombudsperson for Graduate Education. This office:

• establishes procedures to guarantee the highest quality educational experience at the graduate level;

• fosters and facilitates interdisciplinary/intercollegiate graduate programs and research activities; and

• strives to maintain and enhance an environment conducive to creative scholarship and scientific inquiry.

 

Graduate Resources and Development for Aggies (G.R.A.D. Aggies) – http://ogaps.tamu.edu/Buttons/Professional-Development-Opportunities/G-R-A-D-Aggies/Graduate-Resources-and-Development-for-Aggies 

From their website: “Several Texas A&M offices joined forces to provide support by offering professional development opportunities including workshops, seminars, training events and online resources. G.R.A.D. Aggies helps students engage in activities and resources to better prepare them for professional life after graduate school. The G.R.A.D. Aggies program is organized into four areas:  Academic Development, Leadership and Communication Development, Instruction and Assessment Development, and Career Development.”

 

For all International Students:

International Students Association – https://isa-aggies.tamu.edu 

From their website: “The International Student Association is an Aggie organization that embraces diversity and fosters a platform for cultural empowerment and education.”

 

International Student Mentor Association – https://www.ismatamu.com

From their website: “The International Student Mentors Association (ISMA) is an organization which helps international students adjust to American culture and to the enormous environment of Texas A&M University! They do this by pairing international students with a mentor to help them out whenever needed and through a variety of socials and road trips throughout the semester!”

 

International Student Organizations at Texas A&M – A list of diverse student organizations can be found here: http://iss.tamu.edu/Side-Menu/Campus-Services/International-Student-Organizations 

 

International Student Services – http://iss.tamu.edu 

“International Student Services (ISS) administers a wide variety of services to the international community of Texas A&M. The mission of ISS is to facilitate international students’ admittance to the United States, to assist international students’ transition to life in the United States and at Texas A&M, to promote interactions between the U.S. and international populations, and to provide services necessary to meet the special needs of international students.

To facilitate this mission, ISS serves as an information resource for all partners in the international education process, those both on campus and off. In addition to issuing documents for students to obtain non-immigrant visas to study at the University, the office works with other University departments concerning admissions and enrollment. International students are provided with counseling and information in the areas of immigration, employment, financial issues, medical insurance, adjustment to the U.S., and income taxes.”

 

Money Education Center – https://money.tamu.edu 

From their website: “As a student, you have invested significantly in Texas A&M. Our goal is to help you maximize your return on that investment. Through Research, One-On-One Advising, and Instruction (ROI) for Money Education (ME), we can help you do the following:

    1. Limit the cost of attending college
    2. Navigate unexpected financial barriers
    3. Minimize student loan debt and future struggles in repayment
    4. Prepare for a lifetime of financial decisions”

 

Multicultural Services – https://dms.tamu.edu 

The Department of Multicultural Services “offers multiple educational and developmental initiatives and programs that foster belonging, community, and inclusive learning environments as students thrive as members of the Aggie family. Here at Texas A&M University, the university is committed to enriching the learning and working environment for all visitors, student, faculty, and staff by promoting a culture that embraces inclusion, diversity, equity, and accountability. Diverse perspectives, talents, and identities are vital to accomplishing our mission and living our core values.”

 

Other Resources: