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UHCO Hosts Dialogue on Student-Athlete Leadership & Integrity 


What does it truly take to lead when the lights are brightest, and the pressure is at its peak? Hear from University of Houston student-athletes!

Join Dr. Michael Twa, Dean of UH College of Optometry, and Dr. Emmett Gill, Jr., Director of Mental Health Services at UH Athletics, for the Delta Gamma Foundation Richard D. Shirk Family Lectureship in Healthcare Values and Ethics, featuring:

This year's program will feature the personal perspectives of King, Overmyer, and Park regarding character, decision-making, and the evolving role of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) in collegiate athletics. Learn how they manage their mental, physical, and emotional health to compete at the highest level, as well their thoughts about leadership and ethics. Through candid conversation and reflection, these student-athletes will also discuss how personal values guide their choices on and off the field and court. Attendees will gain fresh perspectives about their own personal challenges and the encouragement to navigate pressure with integrity and purpose.

Schedule of events

7 p.m. on Thursday, April 30
Hilton University of Houston

  • Welcome Reception & Check-In: 6-7 p.m.
  • Student-Athlete Panel: 7-8 p.m.
  • Meet the Panel: 8-8:30 p.m.

This lectureship event is free and open to the public and complements the Inaugural Conference on College Athlete Mental Health, expanding the conversation from expert insight to student-athlete perspective.

For questions or assistance, please contact Amanda Johnson, Executive Director of Professional Relations at UH College of Optometry.


About the Shirk Family Lectureship
The Delta Gamma Foundation Richard D. Shirk Family Lectureship in Healthcare Values and Ethics is an endowed lecture series at the University of Houston College of Optometry, held biennially to explore the value of ethical conduct. Established to advance the mission "to illuminate and define what is good and bad in the lives, characters, and practice of all professionals, and to educate students on the value of ethical conduct," the lectureship brings distinguished voices to campus who challenge and inspire audiences to reflect on integrity, purpose, and responsibility in their work and lives.
 
Over the years, the series has featured an extraordinary range of speakers, including:
 
  • William Winslade, lecturer on "Innovations and Ethics in the Treatment of Brain and Eye Diseases"
  • Tom Sullivan, a visually impaired entertainer, actor, and singer
  • Brien Holden, OD, PhD, DSc, humanitarian and global leader in vision care
  • Joseph Lovett, a filmmaker diagnosed with glaucoma and creator of Going Blind
  • Richard Fish, MD, exploring artistic interpretations of vision loss
  • Reba Riley, author of Post-Traumatic Church Syndrome: A Memoir of Humor and Healing
  • Rebecca Alexander, author of Not Fade Away: A memoir of Senses Lost and Found

This lectureship is part of a broader national initiative spanning more than 15 institutions, with the University of Houston College of Optometry's endowment uniquely focused on healthcare values and ethics.

The College of Optometry's lectureship was established through the generosity of alumnae and friends, with matching support from the Delta Gamma Foundation and the Richard D. Shirk Family Foundation. Leadership support from Heather Shirk Patrick, a University of Houston alumna and former president of the Houston Delta Gamma Foundation, was instrumental in bringing this enduring program to life.