Help Converting LaTeX to Docx using Pandoc

Question

It's my first time using pandoc, and my first time posting on here. I use TeX Maker to produce the LaTeX document to a PDF and it does not error. The Document class is report. I need to convert my LaTeX file to a docx file for my research advisor. I am using the latest version of pandoc (pandoc 3.1.9). The following commands I used to convert:

pandoc NMTthesis.tex -o mynewthesis.docx

Once I run this line of commands in windows command prompt, I get this error:

Error at "NMTthesis.tex" (line 197, column 1):
unexpected \@topnum
\chapter{Test READ BEFORE REPLACING THIS\protect\\ CHAPTER WITH YOUR CONTENT}
^

I have done some debugging through my LaTeX code and it did the same error with \listoftalbes, \listoffigures, and now, \chapters.

Does pandoc not like these LaTeX commands?

Thank you for your time and help.

More info:

I use MiKTeX and TeXmaker when creating my pdf. I am using windows command prompt to convert latex to docx with pandoc.

Here is the link to my university's latex template (NMTthesis.tex) which includes their own latex style file (NMTthesis2020.sty, custom usepackage): https://www.nmt.edu/gradstudies/thesis_information.php It will be the first link called LaTex Template. Below is the simplest latex document from my university (I shortened it to show what latex usepackage and commands are used. You will need usepackage \usepackage{NMTthesis2020} which is in the link provided):

\documentclass[12pt]{report}
\usepackage[sort&compress]{natbib}
\usepackage{NMTthesis2020}
\usepackage[hypertexnames=false]{hyperref}
\hypersetup{
    colorlinks = true,
    linkcolor = black,
    anchorcolor = black,
    citecolor = black,
    filecolor = black,
    urlcolor = black,
    pdfnewwindow = true,
    extension = pdf} 
\thesis

\author{Your Name Here}

\title{Place your title here, and use commands to break lines}

\degreeSought{Doctor of Philosophy in Mechanical Engineering with Dissertation in Intelligent Energetic Systems}

\thesiscompletiondate{May 12, 2020}

\graduationdate{June, 2020}

\academicadvisor{Ada Lovelace}

\researchadvisor{Ada Lovelace}

\committeesize{3}

\committeememberone{Committee Member 1}
\committeemembertwo{Committee Member 2}
\committeememberthree{Committee Member 3}
\committeememberfour{Committee Member 4}
\committeememberfive{Committee Member 5}

\begin{document}

\titlepage

\begin{dedication}
\end{dedication}

\begin{acknowledgments}
\end{acknowledgments}

\begin{abstract}
\keywords{Keyword1; Keyword2; Key Phrase 3; ...}
\end{abstract}

\tableofcontents

\listoftables

\listoffigures

\signaturepage
\chapter{Test READ BEFORE REPLACING THIS CHAPTER WITH YOUR CONTENT}

\chapter{SECOND CHAPTER TITLE}
\section{Section Title}
\subsection{Subsection Title}

\bibliographystyle{unsrt}
\bibliography{references}

\appendix
\chapter{1st app TITLE}
\section{First section of Appendix A}

\chapter{SECOND app TITLE}

\chapter{PERMISSIONS}

\copyrightpage

\end{document}