Jeanette Herman, Ph.D.
Assistant Vice Provost, Office of Curriculum Management and Innovation and Director, Bridging Disciplines Programs
hermanjm@austin.utexas.edu
Jeanette Herman is assistant vice provost in the Office of Curriculum Management and Innovation for the School of Undergraduate Studies (UGS) at The University of Texas at Austin. As part of her role, she directs the Bridging Disciplines Programs, a set of college-bridging certificate programs for undergraduates, and the Center for the Skills and Experience Flags, which coordinates part of the general education for all undergraduates at UT Austin. She also works with the Office of Undergraduate Research and other initiatives focusing on cross-college academic programming for undergraduates. Before joining UGS in 2006, Jeanette was the editor for UT Austin’s Center for Middle Eastern Studies, where she managed three series of scholarly monographs and literary translations. She received her Ph.D. in English from The University of Texas at Austin in 2004, with research focusing on images of suffering bodies in colonial and postcolonial political contexts.
Larissa Noake, Ed.M.
Assistant Director
larissa.noake@austin.utexas.edu
Larissa Noake joined the Bridging Disciplines Programs in August 2015. Larissa oversees advising services, events, and outreach activities for current and prospective students. Prior to joining the BDPs, Larissa spent eleven years at the Harvard Graduate School of Education (HGSE) in Cambridge, MA. While there, she managed the administration of professional programs for PreK-12 school leaders; served as relationship manager for a collaboration between HGSE, Teach For America, and Chicago Public Schools; and worked in the Career Services Office advising students on educator licensure requirements. She received her Ed.M. in education policy and management from HGSE, and her B.A. in English and B.S. in radio-television-film from The University of Texas at Austin.
Rebecca Buckalew, M.Ed.
Senior Academic Advisor
rebecca.buckalew1@austin.utexas.edu
Rebecca Buckalew joined the Bridging Disciplines Programs in November 2019. She previously worked as an academic advisor in the Department of International Studies at Texas A&M University after receiving her B.A. from the same department. Rebecca also holds an M.Ed. in Educational Leadership & Policy from The University of Texas at Austin. As a student, Rebecca worked as a graduate assistant in UT Austin’s Office of Student Activities and the First-Year Experience Office.
Yolanda Estrada-Muñoz, B.A., B.S.
Senior Administrative Associate
yoli@austin.utexas.edu
Yolanda Estrada-Muñoz joined the Bridging Disciplines Programs in April 2023. Prior to joining the BDP team, Yolanda worked in the College of Education as an administrative assistant and in other offices at UT Austin, including the Oden Institute where she was the special events coordinator. In December 2020, she earned a B.S. in education with a focus on applied learning and development as well as a B.A. in Mexican American Studies from The University of Texas at Austin.
Liz Hampton, M.A.
Associate Academic Advisor
liz.hampton@austin.utexas.edu
Liz Hampton joined the BDP team in February 2023. She previously served as a French teacher in the Manor Independent School District and, prior to that, worked as the advisor and petitions coordinator for the Skills & Experience Flags at UT Austin. Before moving to Austin, she was an instructor in the Intensive English Language Program at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. She earned her M.A. in second language pedagogy and her B.A. in French and journalism from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.
Victoria Hart, M.A.
Associate Academic Advisor
victoria.hart@austin.utexas.edu
Victoria Hart joined the BDP team in August 2023. A proud BDP alum, Victoria earned her certificate in Children & Society alongside completing her B.A. in both English and psychology here at The University of Texas at Austin. She was also a Rapoport Service Scholar and graduate of the UTeach-Liberal Arts program, which served her as a 12th-grade English teacher at Hyde Park High School. Just before joining the BDP team, she completed her M.A. in Literature from Queen Mary University of London, England.
Katelyn Meza, B.A.
Associate Academic Advisor
katelyn.meza@austin.utexas.edu
Katelyn Meza joined the Bridging Disciplines Program in February 2022. Prior to joining the BDP team, Katelyn was a library coordinator and summer programs teacher at a private school in Southern California. Katelyn earned a B.A. in creative writing and professional writing from Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana.