Texas Southern Freeman Honors College Launches Award in Memory of Dr. Dianne Jemison Pollard
By Texas Southern University’s Thomas F. Freeman Honors College marked a milestone in its academic history this spring by launching the inaugural Dianne Jemison Pollard Best Undergraduate Thesis Award, named in memory of the college’s former dean who established the thesis requirement in 2018.
The award was unveiled during the Spring 2025 Graduation Recognition Ceremony on April 30, serving as a tribute to Dr. Dianne Jemison Pollard’s enduring influence on academic excellence at Texas Southern. Her son, Houston City Councilmember Edward J. Pollard, honored her legacy at the event and shared words of inspiration with the graduating class.
The award recognizes the most outstanding thesis submitted by a graduating senior in the Honors College. This year’s top honor went to Miguel Garza, a B.B.A. Management graduate, for his thesis titled “Embracing Change in the Business World: Adapting and Evolving for Success.” Garza received a certificate from the City of Houston and a cash prize, presented by Councilmember Pollard.
The selection process for the award involved a diverse panel of Texas Southern faculty across multiple colleges, including COLABS, SOPA, JHJ, COPHS, and COSET. Faculty members evaluated each thesis based on originality, research depth, and presentation.
The Spring 2025 Freeman Scholars presented a wide range of research topics, from artificial intelligence in business to gene expression profiling in neurological disorders. Each thesis reflected the students’ intellectual curiosity and commitment to scholarship.
The Freeman Honors College continues to uphold the values of academic rigor and leadership, celebrating its graduates as they carry forward a tradition of excellence rooted deeply in Texas Southern mission.
