Sam Theis- Damien    

Hometown: Kansas City, MO

Degree: B.S. Marine Biology from TAMUG

Sports allegiances: none

Favorite Galveston spot: Freckleberry Tea House for coffee, the east end historic district for riding bikes or cruising in the golf cart, or Sportsman Road for birding/kayaking. I love the whole island, so it’s hard to pick one favorite spot!

Why did you become an academic advisor? As a student, I experienced both excellent and mediocre academic advising, and have seen firsthand how impactful a caring, thorough advisor can be. This inspired me to help make sure students receive the resources and guidance they need to be successful.

What is your favorite thing about the TAMUG experience? I enjoy the small campus environment and the level of connection it allows, while still benefiting from the resources and spirit of a large university.

What is your best advice for incoming students? Study hard, but also build friendships, join clubs, and attend campus activities! Creating a community for yourself will help you enjoy your time as a student, but it will also provide a support system that can help you academically, personally, and professionally.

What is your advising philosophy? My advising philosophy is to always remember that each student is a unique individual with different goals, strengths, and preferences. The advising process works best when we get to know our students and provide personalized support.

What do you do when you are not advising? I am almost always hanging out with my husband (Juan) and two daughters (Harper & Spencer). We all have a wide variety of hobbies, so there is no guessing what you might find us doing on any given day! We enjoy crafting, riding bikes, birdwatching, gardening, watching movies, attending theater shows, camping, and exploring or trying new things in general.

What else should students know about you? My family and I are huge animal lovers and have many pets. Our current menagerie consists of 3 cats (Onyx, Maple, & Palm), 2 dogs (Beau & Dot), and a flock of backyard chickens (“The Cheesy Chicks” - they are all named after varieties of cheese).