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Research Newsletter

Engaging Research

Spring 2022


dog in river

AVPR Message

Michael Blanda
Dr. Michael Blanda

In cultures worldwide, spring is a time for renewal and growth. As we find ourselves in the new spring 2022 semester, I wanted to give you some exciting news about the growth of the research enterprise at Texas State. In the fall issue of Engaging Research, I mentioned that research activities began to recover in March 2021 and continued through the summer months. The result was $72.5M in total research and development expenditures, a new institutional record. In fact, Texas State’s national ranking of total R&D expenditures places us in the top 20% out of 916 universities reporting to the National Science Foundation. That standing clearly reflects our Emerging Research status and Carnegie Classification. However, our goals are to achieve National Research University Fund eligibility and R-1 status, and we have a plan and momentum to get there.

In fiscal year 2022, we are poised to set an even higher level of research and development expenditures, possibly topping $100M! Many factors are driving us forward, including improving health conditions; return on investments in infrastructure and in our diverse faculty, students, and staff; and new research initiatives aligned with our academic programs. Recent legislative actions have identified funding opportunities, such as the Infrastructure Bill and the CHIPS Act. In addition, we are developing unique partnerships through our Round Rock Campus with ACC, TAMU, private entities, and the City of Round Rock.

Texas State research is making a difference, from student mental and physical well-being to workforce development and improved career opportunities. The diverse faculty and projects highlighted in this issue are excellent examples of impactful research conducted at Texas State in all academic disciplines, from STEM to the Arts and Humanities. One theme running through all the highlighted research is the impact of research and sponsored programs on student lives. Projects featured in this issue will enhance education in material sciences, help train the Texas workforce, analyze STEM graduation at HSIs, improve trauma care and services at Texas State University, and explore personality assessments.

I hope you enjoy reading about the current and future leaders of their respective research fields. We’re definitely TXST NEXT!

Faculty Research Spotlight

Paulina S. Flasch & Maria Haiyasoso - Counseling, Leadership, Adult Education & School Psychology

The REACH Project: Bringing Coordinated and Trauma-Informed Victim Services to Texas State University

"The hope is to create an informed and supportive campus community where we collaborate to combat dating and domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking at Texas State."

Faculty Research Spotlight

Omar López - Organization, Workforce, and Leadership Studies

Data Analysis Key to Graduating Hispanics in STEM at HSIs


New Faculty Research Spotlight

Krishna Kisi - Engineering Technology

Professor Receives Two U.S. Department of Labor Grants to Protect and Train Texas Workers

Faculty Research Spotlight

Tania Betancourt - Chemistry and Biochemistry

Texas State Partners with UT-Austin for Research and Education in Materials Science


Brian Miller - Management

Measuring Narcissism: Team Assesses Reliability of the Narcissistic Personality Inventory

Research Program Feature

Shawna R. White - Texas School Safety Center

Team Brings Strategic Planning Framework to School Policing

"Application of the framework ultimately develops more intentional partnerships between schools and law enforcement and provides the programmatic structure necessary for evaluation."


About ORSP

Exciting research happens every day in every department of Texas State University. Our faculty generate new knowledge and catalyze ideas into reality, combining creativity and determination to achieve innovation.

Each semester, we feature some of these accomplished researchers in our newsletter, where they share their work and advice about funding, managing teams, and more. The newsletter also includes practical tips for finding collaborators, mentoring students, and using ORSP’s resources to the fullest.

Remember, ORSP is here to support your research from start to finish.    

Editorial Team

Kay Hetherly, editor

Evy Gonzales

Jessica Schneider

Andrea Hilkovitz

Yongxia Xia, Web Developer