"My primary job is to serve as the sole student voice on the committee and I feel that's extremely important," Redden said. "It's intimidating, scary — perhaps terrifying — once one realizes that it's not just about you; it's not just about your university; it's about students in every public college and university across the state, which is a huge group of people."
The Undergraduate Advisory Committee provides recommendations to the board regarding the direction of undergraduate education in Texas. Redden applied for the position and later was appointed by the governor. His two-year term begins in June. He will travel to Austin at least twice a semester and will be a non-voting member of the committee.
While he anticipates working with the office of UH President Renu Khator, Redden will speak for undergraduates in all Texas public institutions of higher education. He is already aware of some concerns.
"For example, the ability of universities across the state to pursue research opportunities both for undergraduates and their faculty in terms of increasing research dollars and output. There also are concerns with keeping academically competitive students here in the state of Texas," he said.
Redden's professional goals may include politics or law school, but he's hopeful that his appointment as a spokesperson for Texas college students leaves a lasting impression.
"I hope to be able to say that undergraduate education in the state of Texas has improved," he said.
Krystafer Redden is part of what's happening at the University of Houston. I'm Marisa Ramirez.
Telling the stories of the University of Houston, this UH Moment is brought to you by KUHF, listener supported radio from the University of Houston.
What if you could determine the challenges of important heart research before costly experimental testing? It's a role being filled by mathematics. Learn how in this week's UH Moment.
Math sparks stressful memories of high school homework stumpers and late-night cramming for midterms. Math has not always been our friend. But at the University of Houston, math is proving a valuable guide for design solutions, and is fastly becoming a partner with its disciplinary cousins, the hard sciences. At the Center for the Mathematical Biosciences, math computations and models are an integral part important cardiovascular research.
"We can suggest optimal stent designs, for example," said UH Cullen Distinguished Professor Suncica Canic, co-director of the center, which partners with area universities and Texas Medical Center entities to use mathematical algorithms and models to describe certain applied problems. "We write mathematical equations that describe the behavior of those devices, stents, when they are inserted in a human artery. If you, for example, have an artery that is very curved, with time the artery may deform the stent and the stent may obstruct the flow of blood. By looking at mathematical models we can suggest a design for a stent that will eventually avoid complications of this kind."
"Only a small number of suggested designs would have to be tested to see which performs best in a given situation instead of having experiments done on a large number of possibilities," she said. "This is a fertile ground for this kind of research to be produced in Houston and UH. We are almost uniquely positioned to carry first rate research in this particular area."
Mathematical Biosciences are part of what's happening at the University of Houston. I'm Marisa Ramirez.
Telling the stories of the University of Houston, this UH Moment is brought to you by KUHF, listener supported radio from the University of Houston.
UH Moment is a weekly feature heard Wednesdays at 7:49 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Each week, you'll hear students, faculty and administrators telling stories of the innovative research, programs and successes that make up the story of the University of Houston.
UH Moment is written by the staff of University Communication and voiced by Marisa Ramirez, a UH alum. The program is produced by Paul Franklin, audio specialist for KUHF.
The music that introduces the segment is the original work of Brad Sayles, composer and KUHF Senior Recording Engineer. Brad is the 2003 and 2007 first laureate of the Louisa Stude Sarofim Composition Competition for his chamber suite New England Journey and his dramatic voice and chamber ensemble piece The Lily. He's also a UH alum.
UH Moment: "Women's Studies" March 3, 2010 by: Marisa Ramirez Women Studies programs aren't just for women and aren't just in the classroom. Find out what's happening with UH's Women's Studies program in this week's UH Moment. > read complete article > click to listen
UH Moment: "ExoGlove" February 23, 2010 by: Marisa Ramirez Inspiration for brilliant technological advances can come from surprising sources. Like the case of two University of Houston undergrads. Listen to this week's UH Moment. > read complete article > click to listen
UH Moment: "Diversity" February 10, 2010 by: Marisa Ramirez The University of Houston is home to star programs and premier researchers. It is also reflective of the city in which it resides. Learn more in this week's UH Moment. > read complete article > click to listen