Advisor

Bahman Shahri, Ph.D.

Dr. Bahman Shahri has been involved in several years of teaching, research, leadership, program management, and professional service in various educational settings. Dr. Shahri currently serves as a senior educational consultant at the Texas A&M University Center for Teaching Excellence (CTE). He coordinates several graduate student programs such as the Teaching Assistant Institute (TAI), and the Graduate Teaching Consultant (GTC) Program. Dr. Shahri is the advisor to the Academy for Future Faculty (AFF) and a campus representative for the Center for the Integration of Research, Teaching, and Learning (CIRTL).

2024-2025 Co-Directors

Rachel McNeal

Rachel is a third year Ph.D. student in the Department of Entomology in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. She received her bachelor’s degree in Forensic and Investigative Sciences at Texas A&M University while pursuing a double major in entomology. In her undergraduate education, Rachel performed field work in Trinidad and Tobago on habitat preference of forensically relevant flies, presenting this research at the North American Forensic Entomology Association meeting. Rachel’s current work focuses on how microbes impact decomposer flies under different thermal stress levels. She also works with her lab to give workshops to law enforcement agencies on how to properly collect entomological evidence during investigation.

Thomas F. Hallmark

Thomas F. Hallmark brings over three decades of nuclear industry experience to his doctoral studies in Curriculum and Instruction at Texas A&M University, where he focuses on Engineering and STEM Education. His research explores AI integration in these fields, particularly in understanding how adaptive learning platforms can enhance student efficacy. Combining his legal background, MBA, and industry expertise, he develops innovative STEM curricula that integrate Artificial Intelligence into the classroom. As a Persian Gulf War veteran, Thomas is dedicated to supporting fellow veterans' transitions to civilian careers through educational initiatives. He is passionate about volunteering with the Academy for Future Faculty and embraces the opportunity to mentor the next generation of leaders by sharing his knowledge in STEM education and AI integration. Thomas is pursuing his Ph.D. degree in the Department of Teaching, Learning, and Culture. His current projects include studying adaptive learning platforms, AI curriculum integration, and cross-cultural engineering education between the United States and the DACH Region of Europe. He aims to define the standards in curriculum and instruction to advance artificial intelligence in global educational practices.

2024-2025 Executive Committee

Abdullah F. Al-Aboosi

Abdullah F. Al-Aboosi is a Ph.D. candidate in the Multidisciplinary Engineering Department. Abdullah’s research focuses on electro-decarbonization and renewable energy integration, aiming to tackle pressing environmental challenges. He has authored several peer-reviewed journal articles and many conference presentations. He is also eager to collaborate with other engineers and contribute to the transition from using fossil fuels to using green energy. Abdullah is interested in professional development and a career in higher education.

Faith Ebiere Eguolo Odele

Faith is interested in researching the evolution (and regression) of gender rhetoric through precolonial (Western), colonial, and “post-colonial” contexts, with a particular interest in theorizing and decolonizing gender and racial rhetoric. She aspires to inspire meaningful conversations and foster understanding, compassion, justice, hope, love, and life with her writing and scholarship. Her mind is a constant garden of musings, and sometimes they translate to poetry, prose, essays, or dialogues. In addition to PhDing and musing, she likes to travel to see the world, meet different people of different nations, enjoy their music, learn their songs, dances, and stories, and taste their delicacies. After participating in the Academy for Future Faculty (AFF) in the Spring 2024 semester and learning effective teaching practices to make her a better instructor as a graduate teaching assistant and to prepare her for a desired career in academia, Faith is excited to support other aspiring future faculty to benefit from AFF as a member of the executive committee.

Jacquie R. Berry

Jacquie Berry is a third year Ph.D. student in the Veterinary Pathobiology department within the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. Her current research is focused on the dynamics of tick feeding and pathogen transmission in the search for an anti-tick vaccine candidate. She earned her bachelor’s degree of science in biomedical sciences from Texas A&M University in 2021 and truly carries the Aggie spirit with her in all things. Jacquie holds memberships in multiple local and national groups, and she is very passionate about outreach in the community and encouraging people from all backgrounds to pursue careers in science. Her motivation for joining the AFF executive committee was due to her passion for teaching others, her love for Texas A&M and her belief that the AFF has helped to better prepare her for a career in academia. She wanted to a be a part of this great organization and assist in shaping the educators of the future.

AFF Executive Committee