Graduate school hosts the president as part of the listening tour
(Photo by UTHealth Houston)
Closing out the school visits of her university-wide listening tour on March 16, President Melina R. Kibbe, MD, stopped at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center UTHealth Houston Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences. Conversations throughout the afternoon centered on a primary theme: community.
The visit, hosted by Alejandro Aballay, PhD, dean of the graduate school, included a town hall with students, faculty, and staff, followed by a tour of educational spaces, administrative offices, and research labs in the Basic Sciences Research Building.
Kibbe heard perspectives on the graduate school’s uniquely supportive culture, its cross-institutional strengths, and the opportunities ahead as it continues to grow.
A culture of connection and support
During the town hall portion of the visit, Aballay highlighted the energy and perspective Kibbe brings to UTHealth Houston as a physician-scientist and academic leader.
Attendees then shared what makes the graduate school distinctive and what they hope to see strengthened in the years ahead. Students, faculty, and staff repeatedly pointed to the school’s sense of belonging and support as one of its defining strengths.
“I can’t imagine the person I am today without some of the people in this room who have helped me become a better leader, critical thinker, and scientist,” said Kaylene Lu, a fifth-year cancer biology PhD student, as she expressed pride in the graduate school community.
Jasmine Bledsoe, a molecular and translational biology PhD student, added, “I love that everyone is friendly and supportive, encourages our success, and is true to our mission.”
Rachel Miller, PhD, director of the Genetics and Epigenetics Program, said, “This community has trained and supported me to become a successful scientist and helped me reach the position I’m in today.”
A point of pride
Participants also spoke about the graduate school’s unique structure as a joint institution drawing on the strengths of UTHealth Houston and MD Anderson.
Faculty and students described the partnership as a distinct advantage, offering access to broad expertise, research opportunities, and a community that spans disciplines and institutions.
That sense of pride resonated with Kibbe. Since joining UTHealth Houston in September 2025, she said one of her strongest impressions has been the pride people across the university have in their schools and in one another.
“I’ve been blown away by the people,” Kibbe said, reflecting on her meetings throughout her listening tour. “I have been moved by the pride and positivity I have encountered across the institution.”
A conversation on shared priorities
As the town hall progressed, discussions touched on funding and the evolving research landscape.
Tanieka Young, MBA, MSHRD, student affairs program manager, asked about UTHealth Houston’s approach to nontraditional funding. Kibbe emphasized the importance of diversifying funding sources and pursuing a broad range of support.
Additional topics included lab placement, housing, parking, public engagement, international students, and expanded opportunities for collaboration and career development. Faculty and staff pointed to opportunities to raise the profile of graduate education and mentoring, deepen faculty engagement, and build on a strong student experience as the school continues to grow.
Participants also underscored the importance of clear, consistent communication and continued investment in students through mentoring, professional development, and accessible support systems.
Overall, the discussion illustrated a shared vision for continued growth and support.
For Kibbe, it captured the purpose of the listening tour: engaging with each school community to help guide the university’s future.
Lab visits showcase school’s research
Following the town hall, the dean led Kibbe on a tour of the graduate school, where students and faculty shared their research. Two stops on the tour included Aballay’s lab and the lab of Guillermina Lozano, PhD, professor and chair of the Department of Genetics at MD Anderson.
Students from the Lozano lab, Mitheera V, Ahmed Shatta, and Joshua Lindenberger, introduced Kibbe to their research and walked through concepts visually at the board during a brief chalk talk.
“It was a pleasure hosting Dr. Kibbe,” V said. Her discussion focused on the negative feedback loop between the tumor-suppressor protein p53 and its regulator and target gene, MDM2.
In the Aballay lab, Renee Rubiano, a second-year genetics and epigenetics PhD student who also completed her master’s degree at the graduate school, along with colleagues, introduced Kibbe to their work using C. elegans to study how pathogen infection affects neuronal health. During a tour of the lab’s microscope room, they demonstrated how fluorescent microscopy enables visualization of neuronal structures.
The lab conversations offered Kibbe a different perspective on the graduate school experience, grounded in day-to-day discovery, mentorship, and scientific training.
At a school centered on developing the next generation of researchers and physician-scientists, Kibbe’s background as a surgeon-scientist made those exchanges especially resonant.
Building the future through research and community
From thoughtful dialogue to hands-on discovery in the lab, the day reflected a commitment to advancing science, supporting students, and building on a foundation of connection as the school continues to expand its reach, programs, and impact.
