Your BDP advisor is here to help! Whether you’re looking for a great class to take next semester, thinking about the kind of Connecting Experience you want to pursue, or figuring out which BDP requirements you have left to fulfill, your BDP advisor is an important resource throughout your time in the program.
During your first semester in the BDPs you will be required to meet with your advisor at least once to create a plan for your BDP experience. Beyond that, we encourage you to meet with your advisor regularly for guidance in selecting courses and preparing for Connecting Experiences. Your advisor can alert you to courses you may not be aware of, check your progress in your BDP, and help you figure out how to integrate your BDP requirements with your degree plan.
It is important that you meet with your BDP advisor the semester before you intend to register for a research, creative project, or internship Connecting Experience course. These experiences take careful planning, so it is best to start early and discuss your plans with your advisor to make sure you’re on the right track.
BDP advisors offer advising appointments for current BDP students either in-person or via Zoom. All current BDP students have been added to a BDP Advising Canvas page, and current students may schedule advising appointments through that Canvas page.
Meet the Advisors
Rebecca Buckalew, M.Ed.
Design Strategies, Patients, Practitioners & Cultures of Care, and Smart Cities
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.
Liz Hampton, M.A.
Children & Society, Museum Studies, and Social Inequality, Health & Policy
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.
Conflict Resolution & Peace Studies, Environment & Sustainability, Ethics & Leadership in Business, Ethics & Leadership in Health Care, Ethics & Leadership in Law, Politics & Government, and Public Policy
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.
Digital Arts & Media, Criminal Law, Justice & Inequality, Human Rights & Social Justice, Innovation, Creativity & Entrepreneurship, and Non-profits & Social Entrepreneurship
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.