Jonathan Kotinek ‘99 serves as Director for LAUNCH: Honors, where he has advised students since 2003. He holds both a B.A. and M.A. in English from Texas A&M University and earned a Ph.D. in educational psychology in 2013. His dissertation title was “A Narrative Examination of the Experience of Early Entrance to College.”

Kotinek has been active with the National Collegiate Honors Council (NCHC), serving as a member of the Board of Directors from 2011-2014, as co-chair for the Diversity Issues Committee from 2006-2016, and on the Advocacy and Large Research Universities committees since 2017. He is also involved in the APLU Commission on Honors Education (CoHE) Student Engagement Committee and its USDA grant-funded “The Justice Challenge.” Kotinek co-edited two monographs for NCHC on diversity: Setting the Table for Diversity (2010) and Occupy Honors Education (2017). Kotinek is an active member of the Texas A&M Chapter of Phi Kappa Phi and was previously served two terms in a national role with Phi Kappa Phi as Vice President for Division 1, which includes large research universities across the country.

Kotinek was selected to be a Fish Camp namesake in 2007, is the recipient of a Phi Kappa Phi Love of Learning Grant (2013), was recognized with the Texas A&M Diversity Service Award and President's Meritorious Service Award (2011), was selected for the President's Award for Academic Advising (2013), and as a Fellow of the National Collegiate Honors Council (2023).

Annabelle graduated from Texas A&M University in 2014 with a B.A. in Telecommunication Media Studies and a minor in Japanese Language. She is currently working on a Master of Science in Library Sciences at the University of NorthTexas. Annabelle oversees the Undergraduate Research Scholars Program, Undergraduate Research Ambassadors, Explorations: the Texas A&M Undergraduate Journal, Summer Undergraduate Research Experiences and the general marketing needs for the LAUNCH office.

Gisele Cardoso de Lemos has obtained a Ph.D. degree in English (2021) from Texas A&M University, with a dissertation titled “Acid Aesthetics: Disfigurement, Gender-Based Violence, and Indian Cultural Production.” She has also obtained a Ph.D. degree in Religious Studies (2015) from the Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Brazil, with a dissertation titled: “Conceptual Recreation and Postcoloniality: ‘Science’ and ‘Religion’ in the work of the Indian Writer Amitav Ghosh.” Dr. Lemos was a research fellow at the Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Argentina, in 2006, and at Jawarhalal Nehru University, India, in 2013.

Austin received his B.A. in Political Science from the University of Nebraska, with minors in Ethnic Studies and African-American Studies. He began his career in higher education as an Admissions Counselor working with National Merit, National Achievement, and National Hispanic Scholars, along with first-generation students and populations that historically have been under-represented amongst the academy.

Dustin Kemp hails from the city of Enchantment; otherwise known as Lake Jackson, texas. Before completing his Undergraduate degree in Agricultural Leaderships & Development, Dustin traveled the country as a front man, sharing his passion for music with Austin-based band J.Green & The Steady (formerly known as Suite 709). Dustin was voted one of The Austin Chronicle's Best Males Vocalists two years in a row. Singing is his first love. His music has been featured on hit TV shows "Nashville" and "The Fosters". Kemp and his band were featured on Google+ and on Billboard.com. An avid Yoga practitioner and graphic designer, he expresses himself through his practice and his art. Dustin is the Capstone Program Coordinator for LAUNCH at Texas A&M University, a certified Rocket Yoga Teacher, an Aggie ALLY, and he is the founder of the Hunger Consortium at Texas A&M University. Dustin is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated and volunteers at The Theater Company of Bryan/College Station where he performs regularly. His top[ five STRENGTHs are: Adaptability, Maximizer, Empathy, Connectedness, and Ideation. Dustin's favorite quote is "be the person you needed when you were younger."

Emily Finbow joined the University Honors Program in 2023 when she began working with the Phi Kappa Phi and Phi Beta Kappa honor societies.

Emily earned her B.A. in English and American Literature at New York University in 2003 and her M.S. in Library Science at University of North Texas in 2012. Her undergraduate thesis, “Sexualized Education: The Evolution of the Governess,” focused on the influence of Jane Eyre and Vanity Fair on contemporary and modern romance novels.

Her internships in college in New York City ranged from “All My Children” to InStyle to Miramax Films. Upon graduation, she worked for talent agents at The Gersh Agency and International Creative Management. From 2007 to 2015 she worked in law school admissions at Texas Wesleyan Law (later Texas A&M School of Law). In 2015, she was promoted to Senior Data Analyst and spearheaded the ABA Site Evaluation Visit. Emily moved to the College Station campus in 2017 to join the School of Innovation. In 2021, she joined LAUNCH with her two programs, Innovation[X] and MaroonBase. Currently, she is a member of the International Education Week Committee and Interpersonal Violence Prevention Working Group, as well as an active member of both Phi Beta Kappa and Phi Kappa Phi.

She spends her free time with her husband Matt, reading, playing Dungeons and Dragons, listening to podcasts, and binging entirely too much Netflix.

Dr. Matthew Bizzell does advising for the University Honors Program and the Undergraduate Research Scholars program, reviewing multiple scholar theses each year. Dr. Bizzell also helps coordinate the Aggie Creative Collective. 

Dr. Bizzell graduated from Texas A&M University with a dual B.A. in English-Creative Writing and Philosophy in 2014 and again in 2016 with a M.A. in American Literature. He graduated from the University of Houston with a Ph.D. in American Literature where he studied contemporary war fiction.

Sydney is the Program Coordinator for the Undergraduate Research Program. She works with the Undergraduate Research Scholars Program, Undergraduate Research Ambassadors, Explorations: The Texas A&M Undergraduate Journal, and Summer Undergraduate Research Experiences.   

Sydney completed her undergraduate studies at the University of West Georgia, earning a dual B.S. degree in Anthropology and Geology in 2018. She graduated from Texas A&M University with a M.A. in Anthropology in 2023, specializing in geoarchaeology, peopling of the Americas, and isotope geochemistry. Her primary research was centered on the analysis of osmium abundances and isotope ratios within sediments associated with the Younger Dryas cooling event ~12,900 ka.

Shaton Harris is the Associate Director for the Learning Communities (LCs) in the LAUNCH office. She oversees scholarship and retention programs such as the Century Scholars Program in College Station, McAllen, and Galveston; the Greater Texas Foundation Program (GTF); and the Brownsville Scholars Program. Shaton is also over the LAUNCH Mentor Training and Certification Program that trains all the mentors in each learning community including the University Honors Program. Her responsibilities also include coordinating and overseeing the planning, development, and implementation of the LC programs; teaching multiple sections of UGST 181 freshman seminar on topics such as academic and personal success, campus involvement, community engagement, cultural exploration, ethical decision making, and advocacy; advising students in the LC programs; overseeing the spring break international trip; and serving as the primary adviser for the Century Scholar Organization.
Shaton is from Pasadena, California. She moved to Texas to attend Sam Houston State Univerisry where she received her B.A in Sociology, with a minor in Communication Studies. While at Sam Houston, Shaton joined a program similar to the LC programs in LAUNCH that assisted her with her transition into college as a first-generation college student. Shaton continued her education in Texas and completed her Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. As an Associate Director, she has been able to implement many techniques and practices learned throughout her studies, internships, and clinical. Shaton also has a passion for integrating basic counseling techniques with advising. She believes her Master's Degree has allowed her to enhance her ability to build rapport with students and colleagues, which is very important to her.

Shelia Amos is the Administrative Coordinator for the LAUNCH office, where she handles all administrative level duties. Her undergraduate degree is in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix, where she drove from College Station to Houston every week, never missing a class. She received her Master's degree in Business Management, from Texas A&M Commerce in 2016. Her most proudest moment was walking across that stage, thanking God that she finally did it!

Shelia was raised in Hugo, a small country town in Oklahoma. She started working for Texas A&M in 1992. While employed at Texas A&M University, she has received the Presidential Meritorious Service Award (Team Award) in 1997, member of the IAAP (International Association of Administrative Professionals since 2004, Vice President of TAPSS (Texas A&M University Association of Professional Support Staff) in 2007 and was a member from 2005 through 2008. Serves currently on the University Staff Council, representing staff of Academic Affairs, where term ends in Fall of 2017. She is also serves as an ambassador of the WELLNESS WORKS as an WELL Leader here at Texas A&M.

In Shelia's spare time she likes traveling, working out, reading novels and spending time with family, especially grandchildren.

Lewis Edwards works as a program assistant for the Century Scholars Program, a four-year learning community designed to provide students from selected Texas high schools with scholarship funding and opportunities for professional development; he also serves as an advisor to the student-led Century Scholars Organization.

Lewis was born in Melbourne, Australia, and grew up in both New Orleans, Louisiana, and Houston, Texas. He graduated from Texas A&M University in May 2019 with a B.A. in English and a minor in Anthropology; he participated in the Undergraduate Research Scholars program through the Aggie Creative Collective while there and produced the creative thesis A Thousand Golden Yesterdays, a novella designed to explore new methods of portraying post-traumatic dissociative disorders in fiction.

In his spare time, Lewis devotes himself to multiple creative pursuits; most often, he spends his time producing music. He also works as a freelance writer, contributing film and album reviews and artist interviews to multiple prominent publications.

Calissa Garbaccio graduated from Texas A&M University in May 2023 with a B.S. in Recreation, Parks, and Tourism Sciences. She received certificates in Event Management, Tourism Management, and Hospitality Management. During her time in college she was became the Vice President of a student organization and found a love for leadership. She started working at LAUNCH as a Program Assistant for Learning Communities in July 2023. She primarily works with the Century Scholars Program and is the adviser for the Century Scholars Student Organization. Calissa also runs the social media for LCs and enjoys the creative processes behind creating content.

In Calissa's spare time she enjoys spending time with friends and family, crafting and creating, traveling, and hanging out with her cat, Jameson.