The Academy
Mission Statement
The mission of The Academy is to nurture scholastic growth through a collective study approach by developing diverse learning skills, instilling confidence, supporting cultural inclusiveness and validating college attendance of traditionally underrepresented Bobcats.
Overview
The Academy is a student-centered academic program housed in the Office of Student Diversity and Inclusion. Our objective is to nurture student knowledge through a variety of learning platforms. The Academy wants to see students of historically underrepresented identities feel included on the Texas State campus by providing a safe space to seek academic support.
The Academy is a peer led coalition of multicultural and inclusive scholars bound by the collective goal of increasing academic knowledge and skills. We provide academic support for a multitude of courses through individual, group and online peer-to-peer meetings. Explore our Appointment Scheduler to find out more information about our services and how to book an appointment.
Academy Scholars
Lead Scholar
Name: Cathie Jean Varlack (she/her/hers)
Major: Student Affairs in Higher Education
Classification: Graduate Student
Hometown: Haiti and Grand Rapids, MI
Hobby: Singing, baking, drawing, interior design, and writing.
Email: c_j222@txstate.edu
Lead Scholar
Name: Brittany Howard (She/Her/Hers)
Major: History
Minor: Mass Comm and Business
Classification: Senior
Hometown: Houston, Texas; San Marcos, Texas
Hobby: Reading, netflix, listening to and making music
Email: bh1406@txstate.edu
Name: Sam Shaabneh
Major: ESS Concentration in rehab
Year: Sophomore
Hometown: Austin, TX
Hobby: Cooking
Name: Claudia Gomez (she, her, hers)
Major: Micro-Biology/Pre-Med Concentration
Year: Senior
Hometown: Eagle Pass, Texas
Hobby: Baking/cooking, dancing, screenwriting, and Tiktok
Name: Catherine Wood (She/Her/Hers)
Major: Interdisciplinary Studies - Curriculum & Instruction ESL EC-6th
Year: Senior
Hometown: San Marcos, Texas
Hobby: Watching Netflix 24/7
Name: Robert Espinoza (He/Him/His)
Major: Mathematics; Educational Cert
Year: Senior
Hometown: New Braunfels, Texas
Hobbies: I like to spend most my free time either gaming on PS4 or just watching Netflix. Movie theater trips are always a plus though.
Name: Gabrielle Montero-Sierra
Major: Electrical Engineer
Year: Senior
Hometown: Kileen, Texas
Hobby: Gaming, building computers, baking