Sherman, Texas -- Dr. Saritha Bangara, Associate Professor of Public Health and Public Health Department Chair, will present a lecture titled “Mitigating the Susceptibility of Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) Victims to Chronic Diseases by Empowering Women in the U.S. and India Through Data-Driven and Trauma-Informed Women's Health Education” at Austin College. A reception will begin at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 19, 2025, with the lecture following at 5 p.m. in Wright Campus Center, Mabee Hall. The event, sponsored by the Bernice S. Melvin Sabbatical Lecture Series, is free and open to the public. Registration is not required.
Bangara received her master’s degree in public health in 2008 and her Ph.D. in philosophy in 2015, both from University of North Texas Health Science Center. She started at Austin College as an Associate Professor in 2015, becoming Public Health Department Chair in 2023. Currently, she is collaborating with students to conduct localized research focused on “Educating Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) on Women’s Health Issues (WHIs) and IPV-associated Risk Factors using Data-Driven and Trauma-Informed Education Modules at the Grayson Crisis Center in Sherman, Texas.”
The Johnson Center's Bernice S. Melvin Sabbatical Series honors Professor Emerita of French Dr. Bernice Melvin, who taught at Austin College from 1980 until her retirement in 2015. As a department chair, dean of Humanities, and Johnson Center director, Bernice was an indefatigable supporter of faculty autonomy and research and fostered a collegial environment of scholarly creativity and innovation across all Austin College divisions and disciplines.
The Robert and Joyce Johnson Center for Faculty Development and Excellence in Teaching schedules several events throughout the year, with presentations by Austin College faculty and guest lecturers.
Austin College, a private national liberal arts college located north of Dallas in Sherman, Texas, has earned a reputation for excellence in academic preparation, pre-professional foundations, committed faculty, and hands-on, adventurous learning opportunities. One of 44 schools profiled in Loren Pope’s influential book Colleges That Change Lives, Austin College boasts a welcoming community that embraces diversity and individuality, with more than 50 percent of students identifying as persons of color. The residential student body of approximately 1,300 students and an expert faculty of more than 100 educators allow an 11:1 student-faculty ratio and personalized attention. Related by covenant to the Presbyterian Church (USA), Austin College cultivates an inclusive atmosphere that supports students’ faith journeys regardless of religious tradition. The College, founded in 1849, is the oldest institution of higher education in Texas operating under original name and charter.
