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A&M-Commerce were recipients of scholarships from NETBIO (from left) Cierra Hatch of Rockwall, Karlie Self of Sulphur Bluff, Cheyenne Gray of Cumby, Hannah Wright of Omaha, Madison Wynne of Garland and Taylor Gilcrest of Campbell. Seven Texas A&M University-Commerce students were the recipients of scholarships from the Northeast Texas Beef Improvement Organization at its July Cattle Sale in Sulphur Springs, Texas. NETBIO awards these scholarships each year to young students from the Northeast Texas area who are interested in completing their degrees and returning to the area to practice their agriculture-related trades. The scholarship recipients are as follows: • J. D. Norris Scholarship: Taylor Gilcrest (Campbell, Texas) majoring in Animal Science/Pre-Vet •NETBIO Jacobs scholarship: Madison Wynne (Garland, Texas) majoring in Agricultural Science/Education; Hannah Wright (Omaha, Texas) majoring in Animal Science; Cheyenne Gray (Cumby, Texas) majoring in Agricultural Science; Karlie Self (Sulphur Bluff, Texas) majoring in Agriculture Education; and Cierra Hatch (Rockwall, Texas) majoring in Agricultural Science. Also receiving a scholarship but unable to attend the event was Ann-Marie Robinson (Seagoville, Texas) a graduate student earning a degree in Animal Science. Read the Sulphur Springs News-Telegram story.
A&M-Commerce Nursing and Human Services Two A&M-Commerce nursing classes working through their clinicals at Baylor Scott & White Medical Center – Lake Pointe, in Rockwall, Texas, recently received high praise from their host. A&M-Commerce junior nursing students with clinical instructor Crystal Brakefield.A&M-Commerce senior nursing students with clinical instructor Modester Gemas. Vice president of patient care services, Joni Watson, said she’s heard highly-positive feedback about the junior nursing students taught by clinical instructor Crystal Brakefield and the senior nursing students taught by clinical instructor Modester Gemas. “I just want to thank you for letting us serve your students in our hospital,” said Watson. “I have recently heard how helpful your current student cohort has been with patient care.” Watson said the students are always smiling and pleasant. “Your students are serving as strong partners in care,” she continued. “That’s pretty spectacular feedback to hear from my nurse leaders. Thank you for growing our profession and letting us serve them in growth.” Brakefield and her students are grateful for their clinical experience at the hospital. She said clinicals allow nursing students to have real-world experiences caring for actual patients in a hospital setting alongside seasoned medical professionals. “All of the staff have been so helpful and supportive of the students’ learning experiences,” said Brakefield. “They have been so gracious with sharing their knowledge and time to help train our future nurses.”
Maxwell PerezDr. Jim Hamill, head of the Department of Accounting and Finance at Texas A&M University-Commerce, recently announced that accounting student Maxwell Perez has received a $10,000 scholarship from the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB). The PCAOB is a non-profit corporation established by Congress to oversee audits of public companies. The PCAOB Scholars Program awards merit-based scholarships to exemplary undergraduate and graduate accounting students. In order to be awarded this scholarship students must have an outstanding academic record and department faculty must advocate heavily for the student. “It’s an honor for Maxwell and for the A&M-Commerce College of Business for one of our students to be selected,” said Hamill. Perez is from Denison, Texas where he graduated eighth in his class.
A&M-Commerce graduate Ashlyn Jones was featured in an article on myparistexas.com for her one-of-a-kind graduation ceremony. Since commencement ceremonies at A&M-Commerce have been postponed, Ashlyn’s husband, Derek Jones, decided to hold a graduation ceremony for his wife in their own back yard. According to the article, he turned the deck into a stage and a ladder into a podium; the karaoke machine served as the sound system, and a printed banner proudly announced graduation 2020 at A&M-Commerce. Four family members attended the ceremony, and Ashlyn walked down the “aisle” to “Pomp and Circumstance” in her high school cap and gown. Ashlyn described the event as “a special moment because Derek worked really hard to make it perfect for me.” “I had to hold back the tears because, honestly, if it weren’t for him I don’t know where I would be. I definitely probably wouldn’t be reaching my dreams of becoming a teacher. I got the degree, but he put in the sacrifices of long work hours, watching the kiddos so I could attend classes, helping me study…,” Ashlyn said. According to Derek, it may not have been the graduation ceremony of Ashlyn’s dreams, but it’s a memory they will never forget. “I am so proud of her,” said Derek. Read the entire myparistexas article.
A&M-Commerce graduate student Stephanie Talley has been inducted into Marquis Who’s Who. According to an article about Talley at 24-7pressrelease.com, “Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.”Talley holds a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Brigham Young University and is currently pursuing her doctorate in educational psychology at A&M-Commerce. Read the full article.
Several Texas A&M University-Commerce students were honored by the Lone Star Conference this month for their work in sports medicine and athletic communications. Each academic year, the LSC recognizes student athletic trainers and athletic communications students who devote several hours to assist with the operation of the athletics department while also finding the time to excel in the classroom. To be eligible for LSC academic honors, these students must carry at least a 3.30 grade point average with a minimum of 24 semester hours at the nominating institution. The qualifications mirror those required of student-athletes to gain LSC All-Academic recognition. The students are: Sports Medicine Katherine Daniels, Sr., Winnsboro, TexasCesar Torres, Sr., Dallas, TexasHyaznarely Ramirez, Sr., Greenville, TexasDejhia Taylor, Jr., McKinney, TexasShelby Gerner, Jr., Whitewright, Texas Athletic Communications Cameron Justice, Sr., Sunnyvale, TexasJun Lee, Grad., Daejeon, South KoreaTyler McDonough, Sr., Horseshoe Bay, TexasAshley Tuppen, Sr., De Kalb, Texas
Students from the Department of Engineering and Technology at Texas A&M University-Commerce participated in a concrete glider competition in recognition of Engineers Week, also known as EWeek. EWeek (February 16-22, 2020) was founded in 1951 by the National Society of Professional Engineers in order to ensure a diverse and well-educated future engineering workforce by increasing understanding of and interest in engineering and technology careers. With only four days to build, the teams were challenged to make a glider out of concrete able to support itself in flight. The winning team included A&M-Commerce students Chris Papson, Elmer Benitez, Gerardo Hernandez and Zacchaeus Bell. The students won a Phantom 2 Drone.
Meat Judging team wins at Houston Rodeo The Meat Judging Team from Texas A&M University-Commerce were named Grand Champions of the “A” Division at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo’s annual intercollegiate meat judging contest on March 7. This marks the second championship victory for the team since the beginning of the calendar year. The team finished first in the overall standings with all four members placing in the top 10 in the individual standings out of 34 competitors. The team is coached by Haley Cole. The results were: Team standings 1st in beef grading 1st in lamb judging 1st in overall beef 1st in pork judging 1st in questions 2nd in beef judging 3rd in total placings Individual results Colleen Hooge: 2nd high individual 2nd in lamb judging 2nd in questions 2nd in overall beef 3rd in beef grading 3rd in pork judging Madison Wynne: 3rd high individual 4th in overall beef 4th in questions 5th in beef judging Kris Barr 4th high individual 5th in beef grading 5th in pork judging 6th in questions 6th in overall beef Katherine Bivens 8th high individual 6th in pork judging 7th in questions 8th in beef judging 9th in overall beef
Brian TaylorTexas A&M University-Commerce Computer Science student Brian Taylor was announced as the first-place winner at the IMCS Group Coding Challenge. The challenge was held on Friday, February 21 at A&M-Commerce. The first-place prize was a $1,000 scholarship. The challenge was to help expose students to real-world problems and cultivate their technical and problem-solving skills. Participants could code in any preferred programming language and the solution could be displayed either as a web or mobile application. Thirty students competed. Taylor is a student in the College of Science and Engineering.
Four students of Texas A&M University-Commerce presented their research at the annual American Society for Horticultural Science – Southern Region meeting in Louisville, Kentucky. The meeting was held from January 31 through February 2. The student research–two graduates and two undergraduates–was the culmination up to a year of work on crepe myrtle bark scale, the interaction between crepe myrtles and bees in the landscape, and a technique for monitoring bees and other pollinators. The graduate students included Michael Bledsoe and Canaan Sutton. The two undergraduate students were Taryn Bazhaw and Martin “Tino” Mendietta.
Students worked the booths at the NCAA Division II Football National Championship game in December. 26 undergraduate students and two graduate students in the Department of Health and Human Performance at Texas A&M University-Commerce assisted the Lone Star Conference, NCAA, and McKinney ISD with the 2019 Division II Football Championship at McKinney ISD Stadium on Saturday, December 21. This participation gave students experiential learning in the B.S. in Sport & Recreation Management and M.S. in International Sport Management programs. Students were responsible for staffing the merchandise stores on both sides of the stadium for the duration of the championship. Their advisors, Dr. Clay Bolton and Dr. Samantha Roberts, served as hosts for the hospitality suite for administration, boosters, and guests of West Florida University, the 2019 National Champions. A&M-Commerce defeated West Florida University in Kansas City in 2017.
Ty Harris, A&M-Commerce Rodeo Team standout, competed at the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas in December. He placed ninth in the worldwide standings for the tie-down roping event. See a Pro Rodeo interview with Harris and view his Pro Rodeo standings. Jake Brown, A&M-Commerce Rodeo Team alum, also competed at the National Finals Rodeo. Brown, a bareback rider, is a five-time National Finals Rodeo qualifier. Brown graduated from A&M-Commerce with a degree in agribusiness. Read a recent article about Brown’s successful rodeo career.
Lion Football safety Alex Shillow was named to the Second Team Academic All-America® by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). According to the program’s website, the Academic All-America Team honors “outstanding academic and athletic achievement by student-athletes throughout the landscape of college sports…” Shillow is only the 16th Academic All-America honoree in A&M-Commerce history. He was named to the President’s List four times, Dean’s List two times and LSC Commissioner’s Honor Roll six times. Additionally, he was a two-time D2-ADA Academic Achievement Award winner. Shillow earned his bachelor’s degree in sports management in August. Read the full article.
East Texas State Fair Students from the A&M-Commerce College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources received an Outstanding Volunteer Award for their great work at the East Texas State Fair in Tyler, Texas in September. The students volunteered at the fair’s Junior Heifer Show and Texas Junior Beefmaster Breeders Association Show. Student volunteers included: Emma Lawson, Brownsboro; Erica Vanderslice, Kaufman; Tori Copeland, Greenville; Emily Joie, Denison; Kassidy Jefferson-Saul, Kopperl; John Lewis, Mineola; and Haley Cole, graduate assistant and meats judging team coach, Casper, WY. The student volunteers were coordinated by Dr. Megan Owen, assistant professor of animal science and Brad Johnson, animal science instructor and judging team coordinator.
The lota Nu at-Large chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing inducted 18 new members during a ceremony at A&M-Commerce on November 5. Sigma Theta Tau is the world’s only nursing honor society. According to Dr. Carole McKenzie, A&M-Commerce nursing director, induction into Sigma Theta Tau is a great honor that recognizes leadership, scholarship and community service. The 2019 inductees are: Undergraduate Students: Leonel Arreola Leslie Benson Monica Booker Abby Christian Darin Hampton Renae Helmberger Chelsea Holland Shelby Kissane Laci Livingston Kyle Myers Alyssa Sagun Kelcie Stager John Wensel Sarah Willeford Graduate Students: Rebecca Long Geethu Philip Haley Rouse Nurse Leaders: Crystal Brakefield
Several students and faculty members from the A&M-Commerce College of Education and Human Services traveled to Clavellinas, Mexico, in June as part of The Texas A&M University System Colleges of Education Mexico Education Collaborative. According to the group’s annual report, “The Collaborative provides opportunities for TAMU System faculty members, undergraduate and graduate students to participate in service leadership, discipline-specific clinical field experience, and meaningful scholarly research in the rural community of Clavellinas…” Dr. Kathryn Dixon and Dr. Kelly M. Carrero accompanied three students on the excursion.
Texas A&M University-Commerce alum and adjunct professor Awstin Gregg was recently featured in an article in Dallas’ “D Magazine” on how to achieve zero percent turnover in business. Gregg is currently a licensed clinical social worker, as well as a former hospital CEO, and leads Connections Wellness Group, a nationally accredited healthcare practice. Gregg Is currently serving as an adjunct professor in the School of Social Work at A&M-Commerce, and received his Master’s of Art in Social Work from the institution. Read the D Magazine article.
TIEC Virtual Exchange Two faculty members from the Department of Nursing at Texas A&M University-Commerce are participating in the TIEC and The Stevens Initiative Virtual Exchange Program for Nursing in Egypt, Jordan, and Texas. Drs. Carole McKenzie and Monica Tenhunen recently began an intensive two-week training class which ended July 10. They will now enter a planning phase where they will be partnered with a faculty team from Egypt or Jordan. McKenzie and Tenhunen plan to develop a virtual exchange learning module for a nursing class focused on rural and community health, NURS 4660, which will be taught in spring 2021. Afterward, the team’s project will be presented to the broader group for feedback during the third week of August. “We are very excited to be involved with such diverse colleagues across Texas, Egypt and Jordan,” said McKenzie. “We look forward to the opportunities and outcomes from this project.” The international exchange is facilitated by the Texas International Exchange Consortium (TIEC) and The Stevens Initiative. TIEC is a non-profit corporation based in Austin, Texas, which strives to build global educational partnerships between Texas and the world. The Stevens Initiative, named after U.S. Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens, seeks to build upon the meaningful international exchanges which shaped Ambassador Stevens’ life as a diplomat. Dr. Kimberly McLeod, dean of the College of Education and Human Services at A&M-Commerce, said she’s proud of the nursing department for creating international experiences for students and faculty. “These efforts increase the impact and outreach of our program at Texas A&M University-Commerce.” There are nine public universities in Texas participating in the exchange program, including Texas A&M International University in Laredo, Texas.
Dr. LaVelle Hendricks, A&M-CommerceA&M-Commerce associate professor, Dr. LaVelle Hendricks, recently participated in a news segment featured on WFAA.com to address the dire need for quality internet access for students in minority communities. The segment stressed that reliable access to the internet has become an essential utility, similar to water and electricity. When asked whether minority communities have, historically, had less access to the internet, Hendricks replied, “There’s no question about it. They can’t study well.” He continued, “They can’t communicate with their instructors. They can’t communicate with one another. They don’t have materials they can readily access via the internet.” View the news segment.
Journalism BuildingA&M-Commerce professors of computer science and information systems, Dr. Omar El Ariss, Dr. Dongeun Lee and Dr. Kaoning Hu have been awarded a three-year grant from the National Science Foundation for their research project titled, “Multilingual Computational Thinking: Teaching Introductory Programming Classes Through Low-Level and High-Level Programming Languages.” The project intends to teach computational thinking and multiple programming languages simultaneously through the use of video game development. The research will be applied to three computer science courses at A&M-Commerce including COSC 1436: Introduction to Computer Science and Programming; COSC 1437: Programming Fundamentals II; and COSC 2336: Data Structures and Algorithms. The pedagogic approach integrates multiple learning theories into the instructional design in order to reach students with varying backgrounds and learning styles. “We are three computer science professors who believe in the importance of passion for what is being taught,” said El Ariss. “We took our childhood passion for playing video games and integrated it with our passion for teaching introductory programming.” “We are hopeful that our first-of-its-kind pedagogy will teach students to think computationally and create a passion for computer science.”
Tim McMurray Texas A&M University-Commerce Director of Athletics Tim McMurray was recently appointed to serve as a member of the NCAA Committee on Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports. The purpose of the committee is to provide expertise and leadership to the NCAA in order to promote a healthy and safe environment for student-athletes through research, education, collaboration and policy development. The committee comprises of 22 members that include not only athletics administrators, but student-athlete representatives as well. His appointment will last through August 2024
Dr. Sarah Rodriguez, associate professor of higher education and learning technologies, has been awarded a grant from the National Science Foundation for her project titled, “RAPID: Graduate Student Experiences During the COVID-19 Pandemic.” The multi-institution, mixed-method study of graduate student experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic will gauge their perceptions of institutional support and the impact of that support on their educational and career decisions. The study will closely monitor the way race, class, gender and other socio-demographic factors influence the experiences of graduate students in STEM disciplines. “I’m looking forward to collaborating with my colleagues at Montana State University, Iowa State University and the University of Michigan to enhance our knowledge about supporting STEM graduate students during times of crises,” said Rodriguez. “It is my hope that our findings can be applied at A&M-Commerce to better support STEM graduate students here and throughout the state of Texas.” View the award abstract.
Sarah Guthery, Ph.DDr. Sarah Guthery, assistant professor in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction at A&M-Commerce, and Lauren Bailes from the University of Delaware used data from the Texas Education Agency to assess the probability of and time to promotion for 4,689 assistant principals in Texas over a 16-year span. The study found that qualified black and female assistant principals are systematically delayed and denied promotion to principal compared to their white or male counterparts. The findings were published in June in AERA Open, an open access journal of the American Educational Research Association. Read the full press release.
Dr. Brandon Randolph-Seng, associate professor of management at Texas A&M University-Commerce, serves as editor-in-chief for the journal “Management Decision.” In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Randolph-Seng is leading a special issue titled, “Management in Crisis: Viruses, Earthquakes, and Tornadoes, Oh My!” He is issuing a call for papers to be included in the issue. “The purpose of this special issue is to provide the business community, who are on the front lines of this pandemic, good theory to correctly guide action by turning scientific knowledge into practical wisdom,” said Randolph-Seng. Learn more about the special issue, including submission guidelines.
Texas A&M University-Commerce Professor Debbie Mahoney was recently featured in Charm/View, a publication of the Longview News-Journal in Longview, Texas. Mahoney is coordinator of the master of nursing program at A&M-Commerce. She was highlighted for her humanitarian work at home and abroad. Mahoney first went to Guatemala as part of a medical mission trip in 2000 and has since encouraged many of her nursing students to volunteer there over the years. She also volunteers at the Hiway 80 Rescue Mission in Longview. View the article.
Dr. Carole McKenzie, interim head of the nursing department at Texas A&M University-Commerce, will assume the role of president of the Iota Nu at-Large Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau on July 1, 2020. Dr. Monica Tenhunen currently serves as treasurer for Sigma, and Kimberly Vice serves as faculty counselor to A&M-Commerce. Sigma is the international honor society of nursing, boasting more than 135,000 members in 100 countries. The Iota Nu at-Large Chapter is comprised of nursing programs from A&M-Commerce, The University of Texas at Tyler and East Texas Baptist University.
The Beta Chi Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society for Nurses has chosen to conduct the 2020 Beta Chi Research Conference in an online format. The conference was originally scheduled for March 13 in Shreveport, Louisiana, but it was cancelled due to Covid-19. Participants pre-recorded their presentations and uploaded them to WebEx where they will be available to conference participants. A&M-Commerce nursing professors, Dr. Carole McKenzie and Dr. Monica Tenhunen, and nursing lab coordinator, Kim Vice, will uploaded their research to the virtual conference by May 1, 2020.
Dr. Andrea Graham of Texas A&M University-Commerce was awarded the Myrna Gilstrap Creativity in Teaching Award from the Texas Association of Black Personnel in Higher Education (TABPHE). The award recognizes a faculty member who implements and assesses the impact of innovative teaching methods on student learning outcomes by adapting teaching and learning methods from other fields and contexts. “Dr. Graham is an exceptional, sought-after professor and leader on campus,” said Dr. Lavelle Hendricks, president of the A&M-Commerce chapter of TABPHE. “Student evaluations reflect the professionalism, care and nurturing environment that she provides to students.” Graham is an associate professor and head of the Department of Engineering and Technology at A&M-Commerce. She received her Ph.D. in Industrial Engineering from the University of Texas at Arlington in 2012 before arriving at A&M-Commerce in fall of 2013. Hendricks continued, “We are fortunate to have Dr. Graham at A&M-Commerce. She represents the academy of teaching well.”
An article written by Texas A&M University-Commerce Assistant Professor of Political Science Dr. Ayal Feinberg was published by the Washington Post newspaper on April 13. Feinberg’s article covers the trends of hate crimes against Asian-Americans and how the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic can cause these instances to rise. Feinberg has been published by the Washington Post previously, most recently in 2019. In addition to his position at A&M-Commerce, Feinberg is also a senior fellow at the Centre for Analysis of the Radical Right, specializing in contemporary anti-Semitic hate crimes, the quantitative analysis of bias incidents and diaspora-homeland relations. Read the article.
Several faculty members from the College of Science and Engineering have been selected for recognition by the A&M-Commerce Faculty Senate. Dr. Allan Headley in the Department of Chemistry received the William L. Mayo Professorship Award, which recognizes individuals who epitomize the goals of Professor Mayo’s motto: “Ceaseless Industry, Fearless Investigation, Unfettered Thought, and Unselfish Service to Others.” The award is designated once every three years and recipients retain the title of “Mayo Professor” for the duration of their service at the university. Dr. Larry Lemanski, Department of Biological & Environmental Science, received the H.M. Lafferty Distinguished Faculty Award for Scholarship and Creative Activity. Granted each year, this award recognizes an individual who has performed in an outstanding manner in scholarship and/or creative activity. The Faculty Senate Awards for Professional Excellence are awarded each year to recognize faculty who have distinguished themselves through outstanding achievement in particular areas of their professional duties. Physics and astronomy professor, Dr. Cheri Davis, received the award in the Teaching ­– Classroom category. Dr. Robynne Lock, also with the Department of Physics & Astronomy, received the award for the Teaching – Innovation category. Dr. Bao-An Li with the Department of Physics & Astronomy received the Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activities – Unfettered Thought Award, while Regents Professor Dr. Wen-Long “Ben” Jang in the Department of Chemistry received the Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activities – Fearless Investigation Award. The Professional Service Award was granted to Dr. Matt Wood in the Department of Physics & Astronomy.
A&M-Commerce alum Eric Hale recently spoke with NBCDFW about ways to prepare children for the new school year, whatever it may bring. Among his tips, Hale encouraged parents to practice self-care. “You have to find at least 45 minutes a day, whether it’s meditation, going for a walk, knitting, sewing, whatever it might be…How your mental state goes, it’s going to affect the children that you serve,” Hale said. Hale received a master’s degree in education from A&M-Commerce. He is the reigning Elementary School Teacher of the Year for Dallas ISD. View the interview.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott appointed 23 members to the Early Childhood Intervention Advisory Committee, including A&M-Commerce alumna Cynthia D. (Cindy) Lee. According to a release from the governor’s office, “The Committee advises the Texas Health and Human Services Commission Division for Early Childhood Intervention Services on development and implementation of policies that constitute the statewide ECI system.” Lee’s appointment is set to expire in 2025. She received a Bachelor of Science in Organizational Behavior and a Master of Science in Special Education at Texas A&M University-Commerce. Read the governor’s office press release.
Texas A&M University-Commerce alum Troy Leland Walker was recently appointed by Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt to the Board of Regents of Eastern Oklahoma State College. Walker will serve a seven-year term beginning June 2, 2021. EOSC is a public community college located in Wilburton, Oklahoma. Walker has a long history at EOSC, serving as the school’s Dean of Agriculture from 1987 to 2012, and has enjoyed a career of more than 40 years in agriculture education. He was also named to the EOSC Alumni Association Hall of Fame in 2016. He received a bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Education from Oklahoma State University and a master’s degree in Agronomy from A&M-Commerce.
Texas A&M University-Commerce alum and adjunct professor Awstin Gregg was recently featured in an article in Dallas’ “D Magazine” on how to achieve zero percent turnover in business. Gregg is currently a licensed clinical social worker, as well as a former hospital CEO, and leads Connections Wellness Group, a nationally accredited healthcare practice. Gregg Is currently serving as an adjunct professor in the School of Social Work at A&M-Commerce, and received his Master’s of Art in Social Work from the institution. Read the D Magazine article.
Jarrett Van Curen is a Texas boot maker, one of just a few young craftsmen in the state. At 29, Van Curen is fully committed to the fine art of boot making. With intricate inlays, signature stitching and clean-lined aesthetics, his boots attract customers from California to New York. He typically begins work in his boot shop at 3 a.m. before he begins his day job as an ag mechanics teacher at Big Sandy High School. Van Curen’s boots have been featured in Texas Monthly and other publications. He graduated from A&M-Commerce in 2013 with a bachelor’s degree in agricultural science and technology. Read the full story about Van Curen in The Marshall News Messenger.
A&M-Commerce alum Holly Ferguson has been named the lone finalist for the position of superintendent of Prosper ISD. Ferguson is slated to replace Superintendent Drew Watkins, who is stepping down after 18 years with the district. Ferguson has worked at Prosper ISD for the past 12 years, serving as an elementary school teacher, campus principal, executive director of curriculum and instruction, assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction, and associate superintendent. Ferguson earned her doctorate in educational leadership at A&M-Commerce. Read the Prosper Press article.
A recent article at firsttee.org follows the amazing journey of A&M-Commerce alum Sara Diaz. Diaz learned to play golf through First Tee, a youth development organization that uses golf as a means to provide experiential learning opportunities to young people. In 2008, Diaz qualified for the prestigious Wal-Mart First Tee Open in Pebble Beach, California. In 2010, she was selected as a junior reporter at the WGC-CA Championship where she worked in the PGA Tour’s media center. The same year, she appeared in a commercial for the Royal Bank of Scotland with golf great Jack Nicklaus. In 2019, she accepted a job with PGA Tour where she manages the company’s multicultural marketing strategy. Diaz graduated from A&M-Commerce in 2014 with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Management. She played on the A&M-Commerce golf team from 2010 to 2013. Read the full article.
Dr. Molly J. Fuller, a graduate of Texas A&M University-Commerce has been named winner of the 2020 Morphet Dissertation of the Year Award for her dissertation titled, “Principal as Servant-Leader: An Embedded-Descriptive Case Study of One Prekindergarten School’s Efforts to Build Teacher Capacity in Foundational Skills.” The award is presented by the International Council of Professors of Educational Leadership (ICPEL) to recognize scholarship in the dissertation stage of advanced academic work in the field of educational administration. Dr. Fuller’s research was guided by A&M-Commerce faculty member, Dr. Nathan R. Templeton, associate professor in the Department of Educational Leadership. The Edgar L. Morphet Dissertation Award was established in recognition of Morphet’s lifetime of distinguished contributions to the field of educational administration. As the 2020 recipient, Fuller will be recognized at the 2020 ICPEL Virtual Conference on August 6, 2020, along with the opportunity to make a brief presentation of the award-winning dissertation. She will also receive a plaque and monetary award. “I am humbled by this honor,” said Fuller. “I consider it the culmination of an educational journey that has spanned decades.”
Dr. Alaric Williams, former student and staff member at Texas A&M University-Commerce, has been named dean of professional studies and applied sciences at Chadron State College in Chadron, Nebraska. He will begin his duties on July 15. Williams began his teaching career in 1999 in Greenville, Texas. He began working at A&M-Commerce in 2003 as an academic advisor and graduate teaching assistant. In 2008 he accepted a position as assistant professor of curriculum and instruction at Angelo State University in San Angelo, Texas, where he was named program director in 2009 and served as vice president of the faculty senate. Williams moved to Arkansas Tech University in 2015 to serve as department head and professor of student affairs and head of the Center for Leadership and Learning. Read the article from the csc.edu website.
Governor Gregg Abbott has appointed A&M-Commerce alumna Cortney Jones to the Family and Protective Services Council, along with Enrique Mata. Their terms will expire in 2025. The council makes recommendations to the commissioner regarding management of the Department of Family and Protective Services. Jones earned her bachelor’s degree in social work from A&M-Commerce. She is the founder and executive director of Change 1, a motivational speaker and a member of the Child Welfare Race Equity Collaborative Advisory Committee. Jones is also a member of the Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) Public Policy and Communications committees. View the announcement.
Two A&M-Commerce alums are preserving history in Greenville, Texas. Robbie Urbanski and Travis Hayes, both educators, purchased the historic Pfaeffle Circle House on Park Street in Greenville in 2017. The home was built around 1905 by local jewelry store owner George Pfaeffle. Urbanski and Hayes are working to gradually restore the charming Victorian-style home to its original splendor. In a recent Herald Banner article, Urbanski said, “The home is loved by so many. It’s a unique house. We love it and want to preserve it.” Urbanski has created an Instagram account for the Park Street house at THE_CIRCLE_HOUSE. Read the full article at Herald Banner.
A&M-Commerce alumna, Linda Ellis, has been named superintendent of the Grand Prairie (TX) Independent School District. Ellis has served as interim superintendent since July 2019, following the death of her longtime mentor and colleague, former superintendent Susan Simpson Hull. Ellis previously served as deputy superintendent of teaching and learning under Hull. Ellis has worked in many capacities over her 26-year tenure with Grand Prairie ISD and always felt her impact within the district would grow. Ellis received her Bachelor of Science degree from East Texas State University (now A&M-Commerce). She earned her Master of Education from A&M-Commerce. Read the feature article at Focus Daily News.
Texas A&M University-Commerce alum Eric Hale teamed up with this alma mater to donate 16 laptops to his students so they can continue to learn through the summer. Hale teaches first grade at David Burnet Elementary School in Dallas. He received the 2019 Queen Smith Award from The Council of The Great City Schools and McGraw-Hill Education, which distinguished him as the best educator in an urban school district in the nation. He was also named one of two Teachers of the Year by Dallas ISD in early 2020. See a video clip about the donation.
Amanda Clements’ artwork is featured at R.W. Norton Art Gallery in Shreveport as part of “BLOOM! 2020,” a juried exhibition. Her work was one of only 48 pieces selected for the exhibit out of 193 submissions. Clements is an art professor at Panola College in Carthage, Texas. She received her bachelor’s degree from A&M-Commerce and her master’s degree in the Art Educator’s Master’s Program at Stephen F. Austin. Read the full article and find links to the art exhibition at The Panola Watchman.
Professor Eddie W. Airheart, Tyler Junior College assistant director of bands and professor of woodwinds, has been named one of 14 finalists nationwide — and the only finalist from Texas — for The American Prize in Conducting. Since 2009, The American Prize has recognized the best recorded performances by individual artists and ensembles in the United States. Airheart earned a bachelor’s degree in music education from East Texas State University (now A&M-Commerce) and advanced degrees from Texas Christian University. Read the full article in the Tyler Morning Telegraph.
A&M-Commerce received approval from the Texas A&M University System and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to offer the Master of Public Health degree program with face-to-face instruction or fully-online learning, beginning fall 2020. “The College of Education and Human Services is preparing future leaders today,” said Dr. Kimberly McLeod, dean of the college. “We continue to respond to current and future workforce demands by offering degree programs that prepare our students to contribute professionally to local, state, national and global needs.” Dr. Elizabeth Wachira, director of the public health program at A&M-Commerce, said the new program comes at a pivotal time, considering the dramatic increase in demand for public health professionals amid the COVID-19 pandemic. “The fully-online format is accessible for working professionals,” said Wachira. “Graduates of the program will be equipped with the knowledge and skills necessary to address public health issues from an evidence-based, multidisciplinary approach.” The graduate program is 42 credit hours.
Nursing and Health Sciences The A&M-Commerce Department of Nursing received approval from the Texas A&M University System and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to offer the M.S.N. Family Nurse Practitioner degree program in a hybrid modality, blending face-to-face and online class formats. Associate professor, Dr. Monica Tenhunen, said the varied course formats allow students to attend the program while still working as a registered nurse and provides face-to-face contact with faculty for content, skills training and feedback. “This approval is a huge step toward creating an agile nurse practitioner program,” said Dr. Kimberly McLeod, dean of the College of Education and Human Services. “With an unknown future surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, I’m thrilled that A&M-Commerce has a program that allows future nurse practitioners to pursue their dreams while serving our country on the front line.”
Sowers Education South|A&M-Commerce, partnering with Wylie ISD, is among nine university-school partnerships accepted into the Cohort III expansion of the University-School Partnerships for the Renewal of Educator Preparation (US PREP) National Center. As part of Texas Tech University’s College of Education, the national teacher preparation program has grown from six partnerships in a few states to 21 partnerships across the nation. “The College of Education and Human Services at A&M-Commerce celebrates partnerships like the one we have with US PREP because they allow us to continue developing teachers for the field alongside local school districts,” said Dr. Kimberly McLeod, dean of the college. “Working collaboratively, we both become responsive to each other’s needs, creating the greatest win for the public students we serve.” New institutions are rigorously vetted by US PREP during a three-month selection process including an application and baseline performance data along with faculty and administrator interviews and discussions with educators, administrators and key members of the partnership. The program reports that educators who complete the training program are able to achieve results quickly and do not appear to be first year teachers; instead being on par with second and third-year teachers. “It is essential for our university to collaborate with school districts like Wylie ISD throughout the teacher preparation process,” said Dr. Juan Araujo, assistant head of the Department of Curriculum and Instruction. “These partnerships ensure that, upon graduation, our students will be ready to serve the diverse population of students in Northeast Texas.” Learn more about US PREP. Read more about the Cohort III expansion.
Over the past several years, A&M-Commerce has partnered with the city of Commerce to offer a city-wide recycling program. The recycling collection site is located on the A&M-Commerce campus, in Lot 16, on the corner of Campbell and Walnut Streets. A recent article in the Herald Banner reported that Commerce Cares Recycling, a volunteer group that is not affiliated with A&M-Commerce but helps with the city’s recycling efforts, will discontinue their volunteer efforts. According to Commerce Cares, they have been struggling for months to clean up after citizens who fail to follow recycling guidelines, so they have decided to “call it quits.” In response, both city and A&M-Commerce leaders met Monday to begin talking about how to continue to serve Commerce-area residents’ recycling needs. The EcoLions at A&M-Commerce, a student organization, has also worked closely with Commerce Cares over the years.
A recent Dallas Business Journal article highlighted A&M-Commerce as one of the top-ranked North Texas universities for its effective response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Educate to Career, a California-based education nonprofit, ranked four-year schools based on several factors to determine their adaptability “to life and learning during the COVID-19 crisis.” According to the article, the highest-ranked schools delivered their full curricula online and in-classroom and had at least three years of experience delivering online instruction. A&M-Commerce was ranked above Southern Methodist University and Texas Christian University, among others. Read the Dallas Business Journal article.
Michele Jones GalvinThe Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice at A&M-Commerce hosted special guest speaker Michele Jones Galvin at Ferguson Auditorium on March 5. Galvin spoke to attendees and signed copies of her book, Beyond the Underground: Aunt Harriet, Moses of Her People. Following her speech at Ferguson Auditorium, the author attended a luncheon at Rayburn Student Center as well as a group discussion and book signing with A&M-Commerce faculty and students. Galvin and her mother, Joyce Stokes Jones, co-authored their creative work of nonfiction, which was published in 2013. The work is based on genealogical research and their family ties to Harriet Ross Tubman, a central figure of the Underground Railroad. It chronicles the family saga from the survival of the Middle Passage to slavery on the eastern shore of Maryland to freedom in Canada, and then settling in upstate New York. Told from the perspective of descendants, the book portrays the life, times and accomplishments of the famed abolitionist.
A&M-Commerce recently received a Texas Emergency Aid Grant in the amount of $15k. The Texas Higher Education Foundation partnered with the Greater Texas Foundation and Trellis Foundation to offer the grant program. The grant money supports colleges and universities affected by pandemic-related disruptions. A&M-Commerce will use the funds to extend its Campus.Health service to students for an additional four weeks. The program was initially offered for 12 weeks. Campus.Health is a convenient way for students to receive medical and mental health support for common conditions that can be safely and accurately diagnosed and treated online. The program allows students access to medical and counseling visits anytime, anywhere via a secure video or brief phone visit from any web-enabled device – smartphone, tablet, laptop or desktop.
The Texas A&M University-Commerce Department of Mathematics hosted the 8th Annual Adventures in Mathematics (AIM) event on February 14, 2020 at the Rayburn Student Center. AIM—organized each year by the A&M-Commerce Department of Mathematics for high school math teachers and their students—includes a hands-on mathematics competition, breakout sessions and guest speakers. This year, 194 students and 25 teachers from eight area schools participated in the event, providing valuable exposure for the department and the College of Science and Engineering. The purpose of AIM is to increase students’ interest in learning mathematics while offering teachers methods, examples and stories that can be used in their classrooms.
A&M-Commerce President Mark Rudin and Associate Professor LaVelle Hendricks spoke with KETR about the new civility initiative on campus. Rudin explained that the civility initiative aims to create a campus environment where students feel comfortable, safe, healthy and included. Rudin also stated that the university’s focus on civility encourages everyone to think twice about how they interact with others, practicing good customer service in order to support students and help them succeed. Listen to the full KETR interview.
The A&M-Commerce Department of Counseling was recently featured in the Dallas Morning News for its innovative partnership with Mesquite ISD (MISD). The counseling department provides free services to students and parents in MISD. Around 15 interns from A&M-Commerce currently provide the services, but demand is so high that the program plans to add an additional 20 interns in January. After earning a graduate degree, individuals who plan to become licensed professional counselors must complete 3,000 hours of post-graduate counseling work. The MISD partnership allows interns to complete these hours while providing valuable counseling services to students and their parents. In Mesquite, nearly 80 percent of students in the district are low-income, so the need is great for low-cost counseling options. Read the full Dallas Morning News article.
A&M-Commerce College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources (CASNR) faculty played key roles in organizing the 2019 Swine Skillathon at the State Fair of Texas, and several CASNR student volunteers were instrumental to the successful mechanics of the contest. Several students also assisted with the State Fair of Texas Collegiate and Youth Livestock Judging Contests on October 7 and the State Fair of Texas Youth Dairy Judging Contest on October 12. Student volunteers included: Athena Castagna, Nevada Breanna White, Cookville Cherise Davis, Glenn Heights Colleen Hooge, Lindale Damon Donald, Emory De’Kyra Thomas, Oak Cliff Emily Jennings, Maud Emily Joie, Denison Harley Limmer, Merit John Lewis, Mineola Kambrie Hogue, Celeste Kasey Curtin, Quinlan Kathrine Bivens, Lake Worth Kelsie Kennon, Blue Ridge Kris Barr, Bonham Minnie Denson, Gilmer Montana Clark, Campbell Paige Perry, McAlester, OK Presli Cummings, Pickton Rory Curtin, Greenville Tara Newhouse, McKinney Thomas Aquino, San Jose, CA Tori Copeland, Greenville

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