Featured Post from Texas Christian University

Experts in the Media: Eating Habits of People Who Grew Up Poor

Sarah Hill, Ph.D, professor of psychology helped reporters explore how early life poverty continues to foster food preferences and mental associations around eating.

Sep 29, 2025

2 min

Sarah Hill, Ph.D, professor of psychology, contributed insights to an AOL article, “Eating Habits of People Who Grew Up Poor,” exploring how early life poverty continues to foster food preferences and mental associations around eating. The piece examines why many adults raised in low-income households feel “unnatural” when switching from inexpensive comfort foods to fresh produce and how habits formed in scarcity can linger long after financial hardships subside.

Hill emphasizes that these patterns aren’t just personal quirks but deeply ingrained coping strategies.

“For someone who rarely saw fresh fruits or vegetables growing up, the cost, smell, even the way they cut or cook produce, can feel foreign,” she wrote.

The article also discusses how scarcity conditioning can lead to behaviors like eating beyond fullness to avoid waste, attachment to “cheap staples” or resistance to change in diet, even when healthy choices are available. Hill argues that recognizing these habits with compassion, as adaptations rather than flaws, is key to promoting lasting healthy change.

Sarah Hill is currently a researcher and professor at TCU, lead research advisor at 28, and a thought leader in the area of women’s hormones and sexual psychology. Sarah’s groundbreaking research has resulted in more than 80 research publications. Her work has been featured in The New York Times, The Washington Post, Scientific American, The Economist, and on television shows like Good Morning and The Today Show.

See her profile here.

The full article is available here:

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Sarah Hill

Professor, Psychology

Dr. Hill specializes in research on women's sexual psychology, sex hormones, and the birth control pill.

Women's PsychologySex HormonesThe Birth Control PillInterpersonal RelationshipsMenstrual Cycle

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May 5, 2026

2 min

From Amateur Passion to Global Science: How Meteorites Tell the Story of Our Solar System

A recent article in Texas Highways traces how Oscar Monnig, a Fort Worth businessman with no formal scientific training, built one of the most significant meteorite collections in the United States. Beginning in the 1930s, Monnig identified and acquired rare space rocks, often working directly with scientists and collectors, ultimately assembling a collection that would later be donated to Texas Christian University. Today, that legacy is carried forward, and elevated, by Rhiannon Mayne, curator of the Oscar E. Monnig Meteorite Collection and Gallery. Mayne frames Monnig not just as a collector, but as a foundational figure in modern meteoritics whose contributions continue to enable global research. As she notes, his collection ensures that “decades from now” scientists worldwide will still be able to study these materials. “He was definitely one of the most important meteorite collectors of the 20th century,” says Rhiannon Mayne, the curator of the Oscar Monnig Meteorite Collection and Gallery at TCU. She adds that, although he was not a scientist, his gift enables ongoing research in meteoritics. “Decades from now, people all over the world will get to request samples to study because of him.” Expert Insight: Turning a Private Collection into a Global Research Engine Mayne’s role is central to transforming Monnig’s passion project into a living scientific asset. Under her leadership, the collection, now one of the largest university-based meteorite repositories in the world supports both cutting-edge research and public engagement. Her work highlights a key insight: meteorites are not just curiosities, but critical records of planetary formation. By studying them, scientists can access information about the early solar system, and even Earth’s own origins that is otherwise impossible to obtain. Rhiannon Mayne is the curator of the Oscar E. Monnig Meteorite Collection, one of the world’s largest university-based meteorite collections, which also includes a world-class museum. View her profile The article ultimately becomes a story about continuity—how individual curiosity evolves into institutional impact. Monnig’s amateur pursuit laid the groundwork, but it is experts like Mayne who translate that legacy into ongoing discovery, education and global collaboration. In that sense, Mayne embodies the bridge between past and future: preserving a historic collection while ensuring it remains scientifically relevant, accessible and inspiring for the next generation of researchers.

Apr 27, 2026

4 min

Seeing Green: Chemistry Professor Transforming Undergraduate Research at TCU

When it comes to advancing both student success and world-class research, Kayla Green embodies how the two can go hand in hand. The chemistry professor and assistant dean of undergraduate affairs at the Louise Dilworth Davis College of Science & Engineering has built an internationally recognized research program while mentoring the next generation of scientists and reshaping how chemistry is taught at Texas Christian University. Her leadership weaves together research and mentorship in ways that have elevated the department’s impact. With more than $2.5 million in external funding and a track record of collaboration around the globe, Green’s work has not only advanced the field of inorganic chemistry, particularly as applied to neurodegenerative diseases and catalysis, but also strengthened TCU’s standing as a hub for undergraduate research excellence. “In the summer heading into my junior year, I began working on what would be my research project in Dr. Green’s lab … that would use iron as a catalyst in molecules. I would end up presenting that research in my senior year,” said Jack Bonnell ’24, a John V. Roach Honors College laureate. Iron is more affordable, more available and less societally problematic than preexisting palladium- or platinum-based molecules. “By the end of my senior year, I was able to achieve comparable results with my iron catalyst as you could achieve with palladium or platinum,” said Bonnell, now a second-year medical student at the Anne Burnett Marion School of Medicine at TCU. “That was a pretty cool moment in my research, to be able to put it up there in comparison to those.” Since joining TCU in 2010, Green has mentored more than 50 undergraduate students in her lab, many of whom have gone on to publish their work, present at national conferences and pursue medical or doctoral degrees. She has also been instrumental in creating programs that prepare students to succeed in challenging classes and stay the course in scientific disciplines. “Dr. Green’s vision and drive have strengthened the foundation of our college,” said T. Dwayne McCay, interim dean of the Davis College of Science & Engineering. “Her ability to inspire students and colleagues alike reflects the kind of leadership that propels our mission forward.” Lifting Them Up One of Green’s most impactful initiatives is Chemistry Boot Camp, a program she developed with colleagues Ben Janesko and Heidi Conrad to help incoming students build confidence before their first chemistry class. “The boot camp helps lift them up, and it’s really helped with retention of students in pre-health and science fields,” said Timothy Barth, psychology professor and associate dean of graduate affairs in Davis College. “She didn’t have to do this; she created it because of her commitment and dedication to the students.” Green’s innovative use of grant funding has expanded laboratory resources, supported student travel to conferences and strengthened research collaborations. The result is a department that rivals larger institutions in both output and opportunity. “Davis College does a fantastic job on undergraduate research training,” Green said. “We are a powerhouse.” For Green, teaching and research are inseparable. Her classroom and laboratory experiences are deliberately interconnected, allowing students to see how chemistry concepts play out in the real world. “Going into a lot of these complicated diagnoses and being able to break them down into digestible pieces of information for patients is a skill that I definitely can see as useful in my future as a physician,” Bonnell said. As much as the material itself, he credits Green’s mentorship and the opportunities she provided for his preparation for medical school. “I had only taken Dr. Green’s general chemistry course in my first semester as a freshman at TCU. I joined her lab in the spring semester of my freshman year, and I knew only the bare minimum about chemistry. I was in meetings with graduate students who had been working on projects for years,” Bonnell said. “At the beginning, she bounced me around, and I worked with different graduate students to learn all the different things they were doing to find my best fit.” That blend of rigor and encouragement has become a hallmark of her approach and a model for other departments seeking to integrate research more deeply into the undergraduate experience. Building on Success Green’s excellence has earned her wide recognition, including honors from the American Chemical Society (Emerging Investigator and Women Chemists Rising Star awards), TCU’s Deans’ Award for Research and Creative Activity and, most recently, the Chancellor’s Award for Distinguished Achievement as a Creative Teacher and Scholar. She now brings that same analytical insight and collaborative spirit to her position as the college’s assistant dean of undergraduate affairs, a role she began this academic year. “We’ve already begun to experience her decision-making and analysis as part of the dean’s team,” Barth said. “In a short period of time, she’s proving to be an amazing and remarkable administrator.” Looking ahead, Green continues to build on her success through a National Institutes of Health R15 AREA grant, which supports undergraduate research and provides students with opportunities to contribute to federally funded science. “TCU Chemistry has an incredible record of placing students in medical school, Ph.D. programs and research labs across the country,” Green said. “It’s rewarding to see our students thrive in environments that started with their hands-on experiences here.”

Apr 30, 2026

2 min

TCU Nutritional Sciences Expert Discusses New US Dietary Guidelines

As updated federal recommendations roll out, Samantha Davis highlights gaps between science and messaging. When the 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans were released, the message seemed straightforward: Eat more whole foods and reduce processed ingredients and sugar intake. But for Samantha Davis, professor of professional practice in nutritional sciences in TCU’s Louise Dilworth Davis College of Science & Engineering, a closer look reveals a more complicated picture. “These guidelines influence far more than individual choices,” she said. “They shape what’s served in schools, child care programs and federal nutrition programs nationwide. That’s why it’s so important to ensure the recommendations and the messaging are aligned with the science.” A Growing Public Health Challenge The conversation comes amid rising concerns about chronic disease in the United States. More than 70% of American adults are overweight or obese, and nearly one in three adolescents has prediabetes. At the same time, almost 90% of health care spending is tied to chronic disease. “These are not small trends,” she said. “Nutrition guidance plays a significant role in how we respond.” When the Math Doesn’t Match the Message While the guidelines recommend limiting saturated fat to 10% of daily calories, following the suggested servings, particularly for animal proteins and full-fat dairy, the numbers do not add up. “When you actually break it down, those recommendations can push intake closer to 20%,” Davis said. “The math is not mathing.” That gap raises concerns for heart health, as higher saturated fat intake is associated with elevated LDL cholesterol and increased cardiovascular risk. Rethinking Protein in the American Diet The updated guidelines increase protein recommendations, in some cases significantly. However, protein deficiency is not a widespread issue in the United States. “The idea that more protein automatically leads to more muscle is a misconception,” she said. “Exercise builds muscle. Protein supports maintenance and repair.” Davis also notes that protein is found across a variety of foods, including grains and vegetables, reinforcing the importance of balance ahead of overemphasis. Not All Fats Function the Same The guidelines encourage incorporating “healthy fats,” but distinctions between fat types may not always be clear. “There’s important nuance here. Some fats support heart health, while others are linked to increased risk. That difference matters,” she said. “If we’re trying to address obesity at a population level, we need to consider where calories are coming from.” For most people, nutrition guidance is distilled into quick takeaways and simplified messaging. “People remember what they see and hear in an instant,” she said. “If those messages aren’t clear or consistent, it can lead to confusion.” Her advice remains grounded in fundamentals: Focus on whole, minimally processed foods and look beyond trends for long-term health. Davis’ expert perspective was also featured in Fort Worth Weekly, contributing to the broader conversation about how national nutrition guidance shapes everyday life.

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