Awards and Achievements
A&M-Commerce Physics Students Present Research at International White Dwarf Workshop
Agriculture & Natural Resources
Several TAMUC Alumni Selected for Agriculture Teacher Hall of Fame
Awards and Achievements
A&M-Commerce Announces First Health Services Administration Graduates
Agriculture & Natural Resources
New A&M-Commerce Animal Welfare Judging Team Hoping to Build on Early Success
News Bites
A&M-Commerce doctoral candidate Veronica Beavers has been named the inaugural deputy chief diversity officer at Stephen F. Austin State University (SFA) in Nacogdoches, Texas. She will continue serving in her previous role as director of SFA's Office of Multicultural Affairs.
“It's an honor to serve in this position,” Beavers said in an SFA press release. “I will assist in consulting on matters pertaining to diversity, inclusion and equity across SFA. I will also be able to implement plans and projects to uphold the university’s commitment to making SFA inclusive and equitable.”
Beavers is pursuing her doctorate in higher education administration at A&M-Commerce.
Read the full announcement at the SFA website. Learn more about the Department of Higher Education and Learning Technology at A&M-Commerce.
(Photo courtesy of Stephen F. Austin State University)
The A&M-Commerce College of Education and Human Services (CoEHS) hosted a pinning ceremony on August 16 in Corsicana. The ceremony recognized incoming transfer students from Navarro College who are now pursuing CoEHS degrees through the A&M-Commerce at Navarro instruction site.
Students and their guests gathered in the Dawson Auditorium at Navarro College to hear a welcome message from CoEHS Assistant Deans Juan Araujo, Ph.D., and DeMarquis Hayes, Ph.D., before receiving their Lion pin and a certificate recognizing them as new A&M-Commerce students. Refreshments were served following the ceremony while students networked with the deans and their peers.
View photos from the event and learn more about A&M-Commerce at Navarro and the College of Education and Human Services at A&M-Commerce.
Many students and faculty from Texas A&M University-Commerce participated in Drum Corps International (DCI) during the past summer. DCI has been a leader in producing events for the world's most elite and exclusive marching ensembles for student musicians and performers. The annual DCI Tour sees performance ensembles compete in a variety of competitive events.
The following A&M-Commerce students participated in DCI this summer:
Genevieve Hilburn, 2nd year grad student, Pacific Crest, Bass Drum InstructorMakena Mailer, Junior, Santa Clara Vanguard, MarimbaAdam Whoolery, Junior, Boston Crusaders, MarimbaStephen Mann, Junior, The Cavaliers, PercussionJohn Wolff, Sophomore, Crossmen, Snare DrumTrey Lewis, Senior, The Troopers, TimpaniJesse Vela, Senior, The Troopers, MarimbaCarter Torn, Junior, The Troopers, VibraphoneDanyel Buentello, Junior, The Troopers, VibraphoneBrenley Rowland, Senior, The Troopers, PercussionBeau Bavousett, Incoming Freshman, Santa Clara Vanguard, Bass DrumNoah Caldera, Incoming Freshman, Blue Knights, VibraphoneIsaiah Davidson, Incoming Freshman, The Cavaliers, VibraphoneCollin Sampson, Incoming Freshman, The Cavaliers, TimpaniJean-Luc Poulin, Incoming Freshman, Madison Scouts, TenorsRose Brown, Incoming Freshman, Guardians, Vibraphone
The following adjunct faculty also participated in DCI:
Sandi Rennick, Percussion Instructor, Santa Clara Vanguard and The Troopers, Front Ensemble ArrangerLauren Teel, Percussion Instructor, The Troopers, Drumline Caption HeadTanner Leonardo, Percussion Instructor, The Troopers, Sound SpecialistJeff Ausdemore, Percussion Instructor, Drum Corps International, Percussion Judge
A&M-Commerce graduate physics students Jake Richter, Rebecca Preston, Benjamin Santoyo and Amber Stinson recently attended the National Nuclear Physics Summer School program presented by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Cambridge on July 11-22.
Only 50 students are accepted to the program, which is open to graduate and post-doctoral students within a few years of their doctorate who display a strong interest in experimental and theoretical nuclear physics.
Learn more about the 2022 Nuclear Physics Summer School program and explore opportunities through the Department of Physics and Astronomy at A&M-Commerce.
Pictured from left: Jake Richter, Rebecca Preston, Benjamin Santoyo and Amber Stinson.
A&M-Commerce student Charles Berry was recognized by Pi Kappa Alpha International Fraternity as June Pike of the Month. Berry was selected from among hundreds of submissions. A press release at pikes.org stated that Berry was nominated for the award because he demonstrates leadership, community service and commitment to his fraternity brothers.
Berry has served as Theta Xi Chapter president, external vice president, and health and safety officer. He was instrumental in the fraternity's efforts to raise more than $20,000 in donations for the North Texas Food Bank over the past two years, and he was recognized as Theta Xi Leader of the Year by his peers.
Berry is a senior business management major in the College of Business at A&M-Commerce. He has served in the United States Marine Corps for over five years where he is a non-commissioned officer.
Read the full press release.
Photo Credit: pikes.org
Texas A&M University-Commerce student Evan June reached the semifinals of the National Student Auditions hosted by the National Association of Teachers of Singing, held in Chicago from July 1-2. June reached the semifinal round after submitting a video audition in October 2021. His audition pieces were “Sea Moods” by Tyson, “Der Atlas” by Schubert and “Quia Fecit Mihi Magna” by Bach. He qualified as one of only 15 semifinalists in the Lower Classical TBB Voice Division. June, a Junior from Mesquite, Texas, is pursuing his bachelor's degree in Music with an emphasis in education. He currently studies voice under Dr. Brock Johnson, assistant professor of voice at A&M-Commerce.
Pictured from left: Libby Vanatta (Instructor of Piano), Evan June and Dr. Brock Johnson (Assistant Professor of Voice).
The Theta Xi chapter of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity at Texas A&M University-Commerce recently presented a check for $11,300 to the North Texas Food Bank. The funds were raised at the chapter's 25th annual Crawfish Festival on April 23, 2022 at “Pikeland” north of the A&M-Commerce campus. The North Texas Food Bank distributes food across a large area with the help of several partner organizations, including the Commerce Food Pantry. Over the last two years, Pi Kappa Alpha's fundraising efforts have brought in enough money for the food bank to provide more than 60,000 meals to those in need across the region. Learn more about the food bank at their website.
(Pictured from left: Jay Kohlmeier, Charles Berry, Zach Erlewein, Brandon Diosdado and NTFB Major Gift Officer Cody Meyers.)
Two A&M-Commerce education students received Aspiring Educator grants from the Alpha State Texas Educational Foundation (ASTEF), an affiliate of Delta Kappa Gamma (DKG) International.
Amanda Lueb received a $500 grant and Kayla Taylor received a $1,000 grant.
Amanda LuebKayla Taylor
ASTEF provides grants to women in Texas to assist with the completion of a bachelor's degree in education and Texas teacher certification.
Learn more about ASTEF and DKG.
A&M-Commerce students Jesseca Flanagan, Britni Sanchez and Gabriel Cunningham (pictured left to right) each received a $750 scholarship from the Texas Retired Teachers Foundation (TRTF) for the 2022-2023 school year. The funds are intended to reimburse students for certification tests and aid the applicant with purchasing classroom materials for their first year of teaching.
The students were recommended for the scholarship by TRTF member Paula Massey.
Learn more about TRTF and the Department of Curriculum and Instruction at A&M-Commerce.
A group of Texas A&M University-Commerce students took home second place in a recent competition held by the Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA). ISACA is a global association that provides training and credentials in auditing, governance, technology and privacy. A&M-Commerce students in the Marketing and Business Analytics student organization joined the Dallas Chapter of ISACA in 2014, and competed at a recent North Texas Case Competition, grabbing the runner-up spot. In these competitions, students must collaborate to create effective methods to solve real-world problems such as healthcare issues, supply chain disruptions and more. With the second-place finish, the TAMUC students won a $5,000 scholarship. This was the highest ever finish for an A&M-Commerce student group in ISACA competition. Participating students included:
Kingsley Amadi-Bennett (graduate student majoring in Business Analytics)Thuan Nguyen (undergraduate student majoring in Business Analytics)Monika Singh (graduate student majoring in Computer Science)Gladys Katubiya (graduate student majoring in Business Analytics)Syed Mohammad Abu Darda (graduate student majoring in Business Analytics)
(Pictured from left: A&M-Commerce Assistant Professor Dr. Son Bui, Syed Mohammad Abu Darda, Kingsley Amadi-Bennett, Gladys Katubiya, Thuan Nguyen, Monika Singh and ISACA Vice President for Academic Relations Jay Demmler.)
A team of students from Texas A&M University-Commerce recently reached the finals of the Beyond 5G Software Defined Radio University Challenge hosted by the Air Force Research Lab. This is the fourth installment of the competition, which saw universities from across the nation competing. The team — Comprised of Devin Beamon, Taylor Harris, Samuel Gonzalez, Rhiannon Roberts and Staton McGowin, all seniors majoring in Electrical Engineering — was named one of the eight finalists of the competition which took place from April 27-29. The team's faculty advisor, A&M-Commerce Assistant Professor Dr. Nizar Tayem, stated that the goal of the project was for the group to implement a computationally efficient algorithm for Direction of Arrival (DOA) estimation. DOA technology has made rapid strides in recent years due to its wide range of applications such as 5G wireless communication, radar, radio astronomy, sonar and navigation. Assistant Professor Dr. Gerald Fudge also advised students on their project. See a demo of the student's project here.
(Pictured from left to right: Taylor Harris, Devin Beamon, Staton McGowin, Rhiannon Roberts, Samuel Gonzalez and Dr. Nizar Tayem)
A Texas A&M University-Commerce student was featured in the Washington Post for a story covering American volunteers assisting with relief efforts and even engaging in combat in the ongoing war in Ukraine. Anja Osmon, a senior majoring in Animal Science with a concentration in Pre-Veterinary Medicine, is currently working with a medic group in Ukraine. Osmon is a U.S. Army veteran, having served tours in Iraq and Afghanistan from 2009 to 2015. She was quoted in the article saying that she decided to go to Ukraine on her own because she “[couldn't] turn away from injustice.” Read the Washington Post story.
A&M-Commerce doctoral candidate Deon Johnson recently appeared on the Kelly Clarkson Show.
Through his non-profit organization, Urban Dreams Music and Arts Program, Johnson provides free music and dance lessons for youth in Dallas. The program also provides academic support and helps students gain band scholarships and admission to higher education institutions. Clarkson announced on the show that the program received a $10,000 donation via the H-E-B Be the Change initiative.
Johnson is pursuing his doctorate in higher education through the Department of Higher Education and Learning Technology at A&M-Commerce.
View the segment on YouTube and learn more about Urban Dreams Music and Arts Program.
A&M-Commerce physics students presented at the spring meeting for the Texas sections of the American Physical Society and the American Association of Physics Teachers. The meeting took place March 10-12 at Abilene Christian University.
Graduate student Amber Stinson received joint first place for her presentation, “The Strength of Nuclear Pasta in Neutron Star Crusts.”
Presentations by graduate student Rebecca Preston and undergraduate Flint Morgan also placed highly. Preston presented, “Bayesian Inference of Neutron Star Crust Properties Using Neutron Skin Constraints.” Morgan presented, “A three-component pulsar glitch model with realistic microphysics.”
Learn more about the Department of Physics and Astronomy at A&M-Commerce.
A&M-Commerce doctoral student Cindy Retana has been a teacher, counselor and principal during her more than 25 years in education.
She joined Ector County ISD in October 2021 as an executive director of leadership and principal supervisor. She discussed her experiences so far in an interview published in the Odessa American newspaper.
Retana is currently pursuing her doctorate in educational leadership from A&M-Commerce.
Read the full article on the Odessa American website.
Photo courtesy of the Odessa American.
A team of A&M-Commerce students including Hailey Bartula, Sarah Gross and Dawson Knight placed fifth out of 16 teams at the Math Bowl competition hosted by the Mathematical Association of America at its annual Texas Section conference held March 31-April 2 at the University of North Texas in Denton, Texas.
Bartula and Gross are both majoring in mathematics. Knight is an engineering major. All three students are set to graduate this semester. The team is coached by instructors Adam Bowden and Rebecca Steward.
Learn more about the Department of Mathematics at A&M-Commerce.
Texas A&M University-Commerce student Madison Wynne was featured on the April Student Spotlight for the American Meat Science Association. Wynne was interviewed by the association and the dialogue was posted to the AMSA website. Wynne is currently studying for a bachelor's degree in Agricultural Science & Technology with a teaching emphasis, and plans to graduate in 2023. Read the full article on the AMSA website.
Texas A&M University-Commerce was represented well as students Dawson Cassidy and Gus McLarry took home a 9th-place finish out of 176 teams in the Abu Garcia College Fishing National Championships held at Fort Gibson Lake near Wagoner, Oklahoma. The event, sanctioned by Major League Fishing, was held March 29-31. Cassidy and McLarry's total haul weighed in at 28 pounds and 15 ounces. This continues the trend of success in the month of March for the A&M-Commerce Fishing Club, as the pair of McLarry and Jared West won the Abu Garcia Fishing Competition held on Sam Rayburn Reservoir on March 11.
(In photo from left: Dawson Cassidy and Gus McLarry)
The Lone Star Conference (LSC) recently announced its 2022 all-academic teams for men's and women's indoor track and field. Four A&M-Commerce student-athletes from the Department of Health and Human Performance made the list.
Iniuto Ukpong is the women's 2022 Academic Athlete of the Year. She headlines a group of 11 athletes on the women's all-academic team, including Lion teammate Minna Svaerd.
Additionally, Lions Gage Marshall and Axel Paolucci were selected to the men's all-academic team.
Iniuto UkpongMinna SvaerdGage MarshallAxel Paolucci
Eligibility requirements for student-athletes to receive LSC academic honors include carrying a minimum 3.30 GPA and reaching sophomore status athletically and academically. Awardees are voted on by the league's sports information directors based on academic and athletic achievement.
View the full list of awardees on the LSC website and learn more about the Department of Health and Human Performance at A&M-Commerce.
A&M-Commerce students Hyungkwan Park, Sena Park and James Hirons earned top marks representing the Department of Mathematics at the 2021 SIMIODE Challenge Using Differential Equation Modeling (SCUDEM) VI.
SCUDEM is a modeling challenge where student teams choose a challenge problem pertaining to physics and engineering, chemistry and life sciences, or social sciences and humanities. The three-member teams develop a model using differential or difference equations and create a ten-minute video presenting their model. Judges then evaluate and score the video, providing valuable feedback.
The A&M-Commerce team chose the problem “Submitted a Tweet, Now What,” which challenged them to mathematically model how social media content warnings or moderation strategies influenced group populations.
Mentored by Assistant Professor of Mathematics Minchul Kang, Ph.D., the team's video received an Outstanding distinction, the event's top-level award.
Learn more about SCUDEM and the Department of Mathematics at A&M-Commerce.
Many students and faculty from Texas A&M University-Commerce participated in Drum Corps International (DCI) during the past summer. DCI has been a leader in producing events for the world's most elite and exclusive marching ensembles for student musicians and performers. The annual DCI Tour sees performance ensembles compete in a variety of competitive events.
The following A&M-Commerce students participated in DCI this summer:
Genevieve Hilburn, 2nd year grad student, Pacific Crest, Bass Drum InstructorMakena Mailer, Junior, Santa Clara Vanguard, MarimbaAdam Whoolery, Junior, Boston Crusaders, MarimbaStephen Mann, Junior, The Cavaliers, PercussionJohn Wolff, Sophomore, Crossmen, Snare DrumTrey Lewis, Senior, The Troopers, TimpaniJesse Vela, Senior, The Troopers, MarimbaCarter Torn, Junior, The Troopers, VibraphoneDanyel Buentello, Junior, The Troopers, VibraphoneBrenley Rowland, Senior, The Troopers, PercussionBeau Bavousett, Incoming Freshman, Santa Clara Vanguard, Bass DrumNoah Caldera, Incoming Freshman, Blue Knights, VibraphoneIsaiah Davidson, Incoming Freshman, The Cavaliers, VibraphoneCollin Sampson, Incoming Freshman, The Cavaliers, TimpaniJean-Luc Poulin, Incoming Freshman, Madison Scouts, TenorsRose Brown, Incoming Freshman, Guardians, Vibraphone
The following adjunct faculty also participated in DCI:
Sandi Rennick, Percussion Instructor, Santa Clara Vanguard and The Troopers, Front Ensemble ArrangerLauren Teel, Percussion Instructor, The Troopers, Drumline Caption HeadTanner Leonardo, Percussion Instructor, The Troopers, Sound SpecialistJeff Ausdemore, Percussion Instructor, Drum Corps International, Percussion Judge
The September 2022 issue of Management Teaching Review, a journal published through SAGE Journals, features an article co-authored by A&M-Commerce faculty member Peter Williams, Ph.D., and Robert Morris University faculty member Stuart Allen, Ph.D.
“Remote Oral Doctoral Dissertation Defenses in Management, Leadership, and Business: Benefits, Pedagogy, and Practices” discusses the challenges and benefits of moving the traditional face-to-face dissertation defense to a remote format.
Read the full article at the journal's website. Learn more about Williams and the Department of Educational Leadership at A&M-Commerce.
Kent Montgomery, Ph.D., who serves as associate professor and head of the Department of Physics and Astronomy at A&M-Commerce, is featured on a recent episode of The Blacklands Café, a radio program hosted on 88.9 KETR.
Montgomery discussed the first images released from the James Webb Space Telescope and the telescope's impact on researchers' understanding of how stars, galaxies and the universe were formed billions of years ago.
Listen to the full interview at KETR.org and learn more about Montgomery.
A&M-Commerce faculty member Carlos Bertulani, Ph.D., is part of an international research team that has discovered further evidence of the existence of a mysterious type of matter consisting of four neutrons known as a tetraneutron. The research is published in Nature, a prestigious, international science journal.
Possible tetraneutron signatures were first detected in a 2002 experiment. However, the modern-day experiment produced more reliable data.
According to a New Scientist article highlighting the research, Bertulani said the discovery will help physicists fine-tune theories about the nature of nuclear forces. He noted that questions regarding how neutrons do or don't stick together have been troubling nuclear physicists for more than a century.
Read the full article at NewScientist.com and learn more about Bertulani and the Department of Physics and Astronomy at A&M-Commerce.
A&M-Commerce faculty member Eman Hammad, Ph.D., and A&M-Central Texas faculty member Taylor Harvey, Ph.D., placed second at the 2022 Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station (TEES) Annual Research Conference on June 9.
The research team will receive seed funding from TEES for their project, “Trust AI.” Hammad will serve as principal investigator for the research project, with Harvey serving as co-principal investigator.
As part of the Texas A&M University System, TEES is a state research agency that solves problems through applied engineering research and development and collaboration with industry, government and academia. Each year, representatives from regional divisions gather at the TEES Annual Research Conference to expand research capacity in Texas.
Hammad is an assistant professor of cybersecurity and computer science who is based at The RELLIS Campus in Bryan, Texas.
Learn more about Hammad, the Department of Computer Science and Information Systems at A&M-Commerce, and the TEES Annual Research Conference.
A recent research article co-authored by Sarah Guthery, Ph.D., an assistant professor in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction at A&M-Commerce, indicates that principal longevity may influence teacher retention.
The research, published online in the Journal of Educational Administration, followed nearly 12,000 principals in Texas from 1999 through 2017.
The results suggest that principals who stay at a school for five or more years begin to hire significantly more teachers who persist with the school. However, on average, principals tend to leave a school after only four years and therefore fail to realize those gains in teacher retention.
Learn more about the research at the Journal of Educational Administration website.
The April/May edition of C&I Research Spotlights, produced by the Department of Curriculum and Instruction at A&M-Commerce, highlights several faculty accomplishments and features an in-depth interview with Professor David Brown, Ph.D.
A prolific researcher and author, Brown has been a stalwart of the department since joining the faculty at East Texas State University (now A&M-Commerce) in 1976.
Learn more about Brown and the Department of Curriculum and Instruction at A&M-Commerce.
A&M-Commerce curriculum and instruction faculty members Juan Araujo, Ph.D., Kamshia Childs, Ed.D., Tami Morton, Ph.D., and Laura Slay, Ph.D., are the incoming editors of the Texas Journal of Literacy Education (TJLE) beginning May 15.
The peer-reviewed, biannual publication is the official journal of the Texas Association for Literacy Education, which serves as the Texas affiliate of the International Reading Association. According to its website, the journal publishes original research and practitioner articles related to language and literacy practices, from early childhood through adult, inside and outside of the classroom.
Learn more about TJLE and the Department of Curriculum and Instruction at A&M-Commerce.
Ayman Elzohairy, Ph.D., assistant professor in the Department of Engineering and Technology at A&M-Commerce, recently received the A&M-Commerce Faculty Senate Award for Professional Excellence in Research, Scholarship and Creative Activities—Unfettered Thought.
The professional excellence awards recognize faculty who distinguish themselves through outstanding achievement in particular areas of their professional duties including teaching, scholarship and service.
Learn more about Elzohairy and the Department of Engineering and Technology at A&M-Commerce.
Edith Gonzalez, Ph.D., received the Paul W. Barrus Distinguished Faculty Award for Teaching at the A&M-Commerce Faculty Senate Awards Ceremony on April 20. The annual award recognizes faculty who have performed in an outstanding manner in teaching. Gonzalez is an assistant professor in the Department of Counseling.
Learn more about Gonzalez and the Department of Counseling at A&M-Commerce.
A&M-Commerce Associate Professor Mehmet Celik, Ph.D., received the Award for Distinguished College or University Teaching of Mathematics from the Mathematical Association of America during its annual Texas Section conference held March 31-April 2 at the University of North Texas in Denton, Texas.
Selection criteria includes demonstrating excellence in teaching college-level mathematics, influencing teaching practice beyond the classroom, a record of involvement in activities beyond the classroom that support teaching and learning, and recognition on campus or in the wider mathematics profession for excellence in teaching.
Learn more about Mehmet Celik, Ph.D., and the Department of Math at A&M-Commerce.
Literacy Research and Instruction, the official journal of the Association of Literacy Educators & Researchers, selected A&M-Commerce faculty member Juan Araujo, Ph.D., to serve on its four-member team of editors.
Araujo is an assistant dean and associate professor in the College of Education and Human Services at A&M-Commerce.
Learn more about the Literacy Research and Instruction journal.
Members of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) recently elected A&M-Commerce faculty member Toni Sturdivant, Ph.D., to the organization's governing board.
NAEYC is the world's largest organization of early childhood professionals and is considered a thought-leader in the field of early childhood education.
Sturdivant is an assistant professor in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction at A&M-Commerce. Her four-year term on the NAEYC board will begin on June 1.
Learn more about NAEYC and the Department of Curriculum and Instruction at A&M-Commerce.
A&M-Commerce Assistant Professor Sarah Guthery, Ph.D., is featured on a recent episode of the “All Sides with Ann Fisher” talk program on 89.7 FM NPR News in Ohio.
The episode discusses frustration and burnout among American teachers. Host Ann Fisher interviewed Guthery regarding an article she co-authored, “How teachers enter the profession affects how long they stay on the job.”
Listen to the full episode and learn more about the Department of Curriculum and Instruction at A&M-Commerce.
The Academy of Human Resource Development (AHRD) elected A&M-Commerce faculty member Seung Won Yoon, Ph.D., to the position of president-elect for the term 2022-2024. He will serve a two-year term as president-elect, followed by two years as president and two years as past president.
Yoon is a professor and the doctoral program coordinator in the Department of Higher Education and Learning Technologies at A&M-Commerce.
He earned his doctorate in human resource development from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Yoon taught at Western Illinois University and Northern Illinois University before joining the A&M-Commerce faculty in 2015.
Learn more about AHRD and the Department of Higher Education and Learning Technologies at A&M-Commerce.
Brian Brumley, LMSW-IPR, has been appointed to the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) as part of the Regulatory Education and Leadership committee. AWSB is the international board responsible for social work licensure testing requirements.
Brumley is a clinical instructor and the director of field education in the School of Social Work at A&M-Commerce.
Learn more about ASWB at their website.
The Trainers of School Psychologists organization selected Erin Harper, Ph.D., as a Black Leader in School Psychology as part of the Honoring Diverse Leaders in School Psychology Project.
Harper is an assistant professor in the Department of Psychology and Special Education at A&M-Commerce.
Learn more about Trainers of School Psychologists at their website.
Several faculty members in the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources at Texas A&M University-Commerce represented the university well at the recent Southern Region Conference of the American Association for Agricultural Education. The conference, held this year in New Orleans, Louisiana, saw educators from across several U.S. States present research among their peers and participate in impactful professional development opportunities.
A&M-Commerce faculty that participated in the conference include:
Maggie Salem, Ed.D., who presented a manuscript titled “Early Career Teachers' Struggles with ELL/ESL Stakeholders in SBAE: A Phenomenological Investigation”Keith Frost, Ph.D., who presented “Defining Programmatic Balance: A Modified Delphi Study”William Doss, Ph.D. presented a poster titled “A Comparison of Paper and Online Survey Responses,” as well as two manuscripts titled “The Effects of Survey Response Model and Incentives on Response Rates” and “Identifying Challenges Faced by School-Based Agricultural Education Teachers”
Doss' first manuscript received the 2022 AAAE Southern region Outstanding Presentation Award.
Sarah Guthery, Ph.D., an assistant professor in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction at A&M-Commerce, is co-author of a recent website article titled “How teachers enter the profession affects how long they stay on the job.”
The article discusses how factors including a teacher's path to certification and the type of school they begin their teaching career at can help predict how long that teacher will stay on the job.
Read the full article at TheConversation.com.
The Journal of Educational and Psychological Consultation has selected a research article co-authored by A&M-Commerce faculty member Erin Harper, Ph.D., as the journal's article of the year. The honor was announced at the National Association of School Psychologists annual convention in Boston, Massachusetts.
The article, “Using the Participatory Culture-Specific Intervention Model to Improve a Positive Youth Development Program for African American Adolescent Girls,” demonstrates how a university and community partnership can enhance the financial, physical and intellectual resources needed to support a culturally and contextually specific youth development program.
Harper is an associate professor in the Department of Psychology and Special Education at A&M-Commerce.
Read the full article on the publisher's website.
A recent article on ArtDaily.com highlights contemporary artist Trenton Doyle Hancock, an alumnus of A&M-Commerce. Hancock is a renowned artist whose second solo exhibition is on view from Sept. 17 through Oct. 29 at Shulamit Nazarian gallery in Los Angeles, California.
According to the article, “Storytelling is at the root of the artist's practice, drawing equally from the world of comics, film, art history, and religion.” Hancock's current exhibition is titled “Good Grief, Bad Grief” and includes a series of self-portraits that highlight his ability to “deftly utilize a range of styles, mark making and color theory to achieve a profoundly psychological image.”
Raised in Paris, Texas, Hancok lives and works in Houston. He graduated from A&M-Commerce in 1997 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art before attending Temple University in Philadelphia where he received a Master of Fine Arts.
Among his many honors and achievements, Hancock was one of the youngest artists in history to participate in the prestigious 2000 and 2002 Whitney Biennial exhibitions at The Whitney Museum of American Art in New York City.
Hancock's work is included in the permanent collections of the Museum of Modern Art, New York; The Whitney Museum of American Art; Los Angeles Contemporary Museum of Art; The Metropolitan Museum of Art; Brooklyn Museum; San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, and many more.
Read the full ArtDaily.com article.
Photo Credit: Shulamit Nazarian gallery
Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson extended special recognition to A&M-Commerce alumnus Gentry Ace Little on Sept. 2 for his service as a respected Dallas-area sports broadcaster since 1982. Little has covered more than 1,654 games across DFW and beyond. A statement from the mayor's office acknowledged Little for his “…superior knowledge of sports combined with unmatched experience, enthusiasm, and originality…” Little has supported several networks in Texas and Oklahoma, including KRLD Radio and USA Radio Network. He graduated from A&M-Commerce (then East Texas State University) in 1987 with a degree in radio and television broadcasting. On Sept. 14, Mayor Johnson met with Little at Dallas City Hall to further honor him at a city council meeting.
Photo courtesy of Dallas Mayor’s office. Mayor Eric Johnson (L) and Gentry Ace Little (R)
A&M-Commerce alumnus James Thrower will be inducted into the Arkansas Black Hall of Fame on Oct. 15, 2022. A recent article in the Magnolia Reporter announced that Thrower and six other Arkansans will be recognized for their extraordinary contributions to society.
For 32 years, Thrower has served as president and CEO of Jamjomar, Inc., the operating company for more than a dozen McDonald's restaurants in Michigan and Louisiana.
He was a stand-out football, basketball, and track and field player for East Texas State University (now A&M-Commerce) before playing three seasons each with the Philadelphia Eagles and Detroit Lions. He was inducted into the A&M-Commerce Athletic Hall of Fame in 2010 and was named an A&M-Commerce Distinguished Alumnus in 2012.
The Arkansas Black Hall of Fame was founded in 1992 and honors men and women “who are local or even national heroes” who have impacted their respective professional fields.
A recent article in the Alva Review-Courier reported that A&M-Commerce alumna Leigh Kirby, Ph.D., was recently hired as an assistant professor of psychology at Northwestern Oklahoma State University, beginning in the Fall 2022 semester. Northwestern Oklahoma State is located in Alva, approximately 150 miles northwest of Oklahoma City. Kirby holds a Master of Science and a Doctor of Philosophy in Counseling from A&M-Commerce. Read the full article.
Photo from Alva Review-Courier
Southern Methodist University (SMU) recently hired A&M-Commerce alumnus Cesar Quezada as its inaugural director of Mustang Scholars and the First-Generation Initiative. The Mustang Scholars initiative provides financial and academic support to qualified students while the First-Generation Initiative (FGI) ensures academic success for first-generation students at SMU.
An SMU press release states that Quezada previously served as the associate director of the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Division at Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska, and as the assistant director for the Multicultural Center at the University of North Texas.
Quezada graduated from A&M-Commerce in 2019 with a bachelor's in psychology. During his time at A&M-Commerce, he was an active student leader who served as president of the A&M-Commerce Latino American Mentorship Program and as a Lion Ambassador.
Photo from SMU.
A&M-Commerce alumnus Jerry King, Ed.D., announced his retirement as president of Trinity Valley Community College (TVCC) in Athens, Texas. He will retire in May 2023 after 45 years of service to the institution.
King joined TVCC in 1975, serving as a faculty member, dean, vice president and president over the past four-plus decades.
King graduated from A&M-Commerce with Master of Business Administration and Doctor of Education degrees. He has served on the A&M-Commerce Alumni Board. He has also been named Athens Citizen of the Year and received several service awards, including from A&M-Commerce.
Read the full TVCC press release.
An article in the Fredericksburg Standard reported that A&M-Commerce alumna Rebekah Hyatt was recently named executive director at SystemsGo, based in Fredericksburg, Texas. According to SystemsGo.org, the program “is an innovative high school rocketry/aerospace curriculum that uses project-based learning to teach science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM)…” High schools in Texas, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah and Colorado participate in the four-year curriculum. As part of the program, students have opportunity to build test rockets with launches at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico.
Hyatt has served as program director at SystemsGo since 2016. She also taught for 15 years in Midlothian and Maypearl ISDs.
Hyatt earned her Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology at Texas Woman's University and Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction at A&M-Commerce.
A&M-Commerce alumna Cynthia Woody, Ed.D., was recently hired to serve as the executive director of Curriculum and Instruction for Gregory-Portland ISD. G-PISD is located in Southeast Texas, near Corpus Christi. According to an article in The News of San Patricio, Woody previously worked at The University of Texas at Arlington as the director of the Office of Educator Field Experiences.
She holds nine educator certifications in Texas, including principal and superintendent certifications. Among her honors, she was recently nominated for The University of Texas at Arlington President's Award for Transformative Online Education.
Woody earned her Master of Science and Doctor of Education degrees from A&M-Commerce.
A&M-Commerce alumnus Tony Hollins recently released a new film titled “The Lady Makers.” Hollins, known professionally as “Tony Tite,” is a writer, director and producer. He is the founder of Tite Creations, a film, television and animation production company in Norcross, Georgia. Since 2007, Hollins has written 18 screenplays.
“The Lady Makers” features Jasmine Guy, star of the 1980s hit TV show “A Different World.” The film is showing in select theaters and streaming online. Hollins earned a Bachelor of Science in Speech and Theater from A&M-Commerce.
Visit The Lady Makers website and The Lady Makers trailer.
A two-time graduate of Texas A&M University-Commerce was recently named interim chief of the Rockwall, Texas Police Department. Edward Fowler has more than three decades of law enforcement experience, having served with Rockwall PD since 1990 in a number of different roles, most recently as assistant police chief. Fowler received his B.B.A. in Operations Management from East Texas State University (now A&M-Commerce) in 1994, and later earned an M.B.A. in Management in 2002. He is also a veteran of the United States Marine Corps, having served in operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. Read more.
A graduate of East Texas State University (now Texas A&M University-Commerce) was recently hired by the Las Vegas, Nevada City Council as the city's newest fire department chief. Alum Fernando Gray, Sr. is a career firefighter, beginning his time in the profession with the Dallas Fire Department, where he worked for 21 years and rose to the rank of assistant fire chief. Since 2017, he served as chief of the Aurora Fire Department in Aurora, Colorado. Gray received his bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice from ETSU in 1995, and was honored as an A&M-Commerce Alumni Ambassador in 2016. He was also a member of the Theta Theta chapter of the Omega Psi Phi fraternity while attending.
A&M-Commerce alumna Aretha Jackson was selected to attend Harvard University's Principal's Center where she joined other school principals from around the U.S. to receive leadership and management training from Ivy League instructors. The opportunity was funded through the Charles Butt Foundation.
Jackson is the principal at Kerr Elementary in Allen ISD. She has served as an educator for 25 years. She earned her bachelor's degree in interdisciplinary studies and her master's degree in educational administration, both from A&M-Commerce.
Read an interview with Jackson at Allen American.
Photo from Allen ISD.
A&M-Commerce alumna Carla Pratt was selected by the University of Oklahoma (OU) College of Law as the first Ada Lois Sipuel Fisher Chair in Civil Rights, Race and Justice in Law. Pratt currently serves as dean of the School of Law at Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas.
According to an OU press release, the endowed chair position is Oklahoma's first professorship focused on civil rights, race and law. The position was created in 2019 to mark the 70th anniversary of the admission of OU's first black law graduate, Ada Lois Sipuel Fisher.
Pratt will enter the position in Fall 2022. In her role, she will teach and conduct research in the areas of civil rights law, election law and race in the legal system. Before her work at Washburn, Pratt served at Penn State's Dickinson School of Law as an associate dean for diversity and inclusion, faculty scholar, and professor of law.
Pratt graduated from East Texas State University (now A&M-Commerce) with a Bachelor of Arts in English and History in 1989.
View the full press release.
Photo Credit: Washburn University
NBC 5 news recently aired a segment about A&M-Commerce graduate Ashley Cox of Forney, Texas. During the pandemic, Cox lost her father to COVID-19, along with other family members. Yet, she persevered through hardship and achieved her dream, graduating with a music degree from A&M-Commerce in May.
On graduation day, Cox wanted to recreate a cherished family photo from her father's college graduation day at A&M-Commerce 30 years ago. Dressed in her cap and gown, she located the exact spot on campus where the original photo was taken and posed for a new photo with her mother and her children, while her father “stood with them in spirit.”
See the full story on NBC's “Something Good” segment.
TAMUC Alumnus Arthur McClearin received the Maynard Jackson Award at the 2022 Annual Financial Services Conference in Chicago. The award honors individuals who have made significant achievements and contributed richly to the financial services industry.
McClearin serves as senior managing director of marketing at Siebert Williams Shank & Co, LLC in New York, New York. He graduated from East Texas State University (now A&M-Commerce) in 1972 with a BBA in Business.
The award's namesake, Maynard Jackson, was the first African American mayor in Atlanta, Georgia, and was known for improving business opportunities for African American citizens. Jackson was one of the founders of NASP in 1985.
The financial services conference is hosted by the National Association of Securities Professionals (NASP). NASP helps people of color and women achieve inclusion in the financial services industry.
Learn more about NASP.
Alumna Rita Ransdell recently retired after serving for 19 years as vice president of Human Resources for Center Operating Company, L.P. at the American Airlines Center in Dallas. As a member of the American Airlines Center team, Ransdell was instrumental in developing new HR policies, practices and compensation programs.
Ransdell obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree from A&M-Commerce and then received a commission in the U.S. Air Force. She earned a Juris Doctor from the SMU School of Law. She is a licensed attorney and a member of the Labor and Employment Law section of the State Bar of Texas.
Ransdell was honored by the A&M-Commerce Alumni Association as a 2022 Distinguished Alumna.
View Ransdell's Distinguished Alumna Video.
The Navarro County Gazette reports that A&M-Commerce alum Jeanetta Johnson, Ed.D., is the new vice president of academic affairs at Navarro College.
Johnson earned three degrees from A&M-Commerce, including a bachelor's degree in interdisciplinary studies, a master's degree in elementary education and a doctorate in higher education leadership. She served as director of the A&M-Commerce at Navarro extended university site in Corsicana from 2010 through 2018.
Read the full article at NavarroCountyGazette.com.
(Photo courtesy of Navarro College)
Texas A&M University-Commerce alum Ryan Frahm was recently promoted to senior vice president of Origin Bank. In this capacity, Frahm will serve as a regional production manager, as well as head Origin's Texas loan officers. In addition, he will continue to serve on Origin's leadership team, helping to improve internal processes, employee workflow and recruitment. Founded in 1912, Origin Bank operates 40 banking centers in Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi. Frahm graduated from A&M-Commerce in 2005 with a bachelor's degree in business.
Recent Texas A&M University-Commerce graduate Justin Florence was elected to the office of Mayor of Palestine, Texas in a special runoff election held June 18, 2022. Florence received 56.22 percent of the vote during the runoff and will serve a two-year term. He graduated from A&M-Commerce in 2021 with a bachelor's degree in Organizational Leadership. A 1995 graduate of Palestine High School, Florence is a lifelong resident of the city, and has served as a paramedic for more than 20 years, in addition to serving as a health science teacher at Palestine High School since 2016. Florence began his campaign for Mayor after being first elected to the City Council in 2021. Palestine is the county seat of Anderson County and is home to more than 18,000 people. The election results will be officially canvassed on June 27.
A&M-Commerce alumna Georgia King, Ed.D., recently retired from Beckville ISD after serving in the field of education for 53 years. King was the assistant superintendent of curriculum for the district. She earned her bachelor’s degree from East Texas State University (now A&M-Commerce) in 1970.
A recent article in The Panola Watchman highlighted King's exceptional career. The article states that King was a special education teacher in San Angelo and Dallas ISDs as well as the Region 7 coordinator for special education. In 1997, she came to Beckville ISD in East Texas where she was an elementary school principal. In 1998, she accepted an assistant superintendent position. She worked in Beckville ISD for 25 years.
Read The Panola Watchman article.
The Department of Mathematics at A&M-Commerce is accepting entries for its first Mathemartist Competition. Entries will be accepted through Nov. 30 at 11:59 p.m.
The competition, co-sponsored with Cypress Bank, challenges participants to utilize the Desmos graphing calculator to create artwork using mathematic equations. High school and community college students are encouraged to participate, along with A&M-Commerce undergraduate students who have not yet received their bachelor's degree.
Prizes including gift cards and several generous Mathematics Excellence scholarships will be awarded for first, second and third place finishes, as well as ten honorable mentions.
Learn more about the Mathemartist Competition and the Department of Mathematics at A&M-Commerce.
An article at HoustonPublicMedia.org highlights the Pride Pathway program at A&M-Commerce as an option for replenishing the teacher preparation pipeline in Texas.
“One of the huge areas that have been a focus is the fact that the pipeline to education has been drying up,” said Zeph Capo, president of the American Federation of Teachers. “Too many kids have no interest in going into education anymore.”
Pride Pathway targets paraprofessionals already working within school districts, providing an affordable, fully online option for completing a bachelor's or master's degree leading to teacher certification.
Learn more about the Pride Pathway program at A&M-Commerce.
The A&M-Commerce College of Education and Human Services (CoEHS) hosted a pinning ceremony on August 16 in Corsicana. The ceremony recognized incoming transfer students from Navarro College who are now pursuing CoEHS degrees through the A&M-Commerce at Navarro instruction site.
Students and their guests gathered in the Dawson Auditorium at Navarro College to hear a welcome message from CoEHS Assistant Deans Juan Araujo, Ph.D., and DeMarquis Hayes, Ph.D., before receiving their Lion pin and a certificate recognizing them as new A&M-Commerce students. Refreshments were served following the ceremony while students networked with the deans and their peers.
View photos from the event and learn more about A&M-Commerce at Navarro and the College of Education and Human Services at A&M-Commerce.
The Department of Nursing at A&M-Commerce is one of 46 pre-licensure programs in Texas to earn a pass rate of 90% or above for the 2021 National Council Licensure Examination-RN (NCLEX-RN).
The NCLEX-RN tests the competency of nursing school graduates in the U.S. and Canada.
“There are 129 pre-licensure programs in Texas,” said Denise Neill, Ph.D., who serves as director of the nursing program. “Being one of only 46 programs with a pass rate above 90% on the NCLEX-RN is a testament to the amazing work our faculty and staff do each day to prepare our students for success.”
Learn more about the Department of Nursing at A&M-Commerce.
The Texas A&M University-Commerce Center for Excellence (CFE), which is housed in the College of Business, was recently highlighted by an international organization. The CFE was featured in an article published by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), a global nonprofit association that connects educators, students, and businesses to create the next generation of great leaders.
The AACSB article touts the rich returns that the CFE has provided in its efforts related to business training, consulting services and more. To date, the CFE is approaching $1 million in billing and has gross profit returns of approximately 60 percent.
Dr. Mario Hayek, dean of the College of Business, expressed high praise for the efforts of the CFE.
“With the leadership of Frank Smith and the support of College of Business faculty and staff, the CFE generates resources for the college and experiential learning for our students by providing corporate trainings, certificate offerings and consulting projects to the community,” Hayek said. “The CFE helps us diversify our revenue stream while engaging faculty and students in impactful learning experiences.”
The A&M-Commerce College of Business as a whole has also held the prestigious AACSB accreditation since 1976, and is one of just 800 institutions worldwide to have this distinction. Read the full AACSB article.
An article recently published at workingnation.com highlights the competency-based Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice, Law Enforcement Leadership degree program at A&M-Commerce as a beacon for merging classroom theory with real-world application.
The article “What is not causing the skills gap” is authored by Amber Garrison Duncan, executive vice president of Competency-Based Education Network (C-BEN) and C-BEN board member Brooks Doherty, assistant vice president of Academic Innovation at Rasmussen University.
The authors note that the A&M-Commerce program utilizes an advisory board of local law enforcement officers, thus providing these potential employers with insight into what the program's students know and can do, while also allowing industry experts to have input into what is being taught to students.
Learn more about the competency-based B.S. in Criminal Justice, Law Enforcement Leadership degree program at A&M-Commerce.
The College of Education and Human Services at A&M-Commerce has published the first issue of Literature Reviews in Education and Human Services. The peer-reviewed, online journal endeavors to provide a collection of high-quality literature reviews for topics related to education and human services as a learning resource for students, faculty, scholars, administrators and policymakers.
Issues are published biannually in spring and fall. There are no publication fees and authors retain the copyright to their articles.
Visit the Literature Reviews in Education and Human Services website to read articles from the first issue.
Dr. Randy Harp, dean of the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources (CASNR) at Texas A&M University-Commerce, recently presented a special plaque to Dr. Chris Boleman, President and CEO of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, to commemorate 50 years of partnership between the rodeo and A&M-Commerce agricultural programs. From 1970 to 2020, the Rodeo has financially supported scholarships, graduate student stipends and research grants at A&M-Commerce. CASNR has awarded more than $2 million to students during this time frame thanks to assistance from the Rodeo. Harp said of the partnership: “Support and gifts of this nature truly enable students to go to school and reach their career goals. Otherwise, many students would not be able to afford college tuition, fees etc. HLSR has been a tremendous supporter of youth education all across Texas for more than 50 years and is committed to agricultural industry.”
Originally scheduled for 2020, this commemoration ceremony was delayed several times due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
(Pictured from left: Dr. Randy Harp and Dr. Chris Boleman)
The Department of Engineering and Technology at A&M-Commerce hosted 60 cadets from high schools throughout Mesquite ISD for a hybrid JROTC Cadet Leadership Challenge (JCLC) event held June 6-9.
Traditional JCLC events included ropes training, a leadership reaction course, orienteering, swimming and drown proofing, drill and ceremony competitions and other events.
Cadets also received 15 hours of robotics training from members of the A&M-Commerce robotics team and faculty members Patrick Carter and Perry Moler, Ph.D., and participated in a robotics competition.
Partnering with the university allowed students to tour campus, live in the dorm rooms, eat meals at the Rayburn Student Center and visit the Planetarium.
The JCLC event is designed to develop leadership, discipline, teamwork and self-confidence in an unfamiliar environment while enhancing critical thinking skills and gaining exposure to opportunities in STEM fields.
Learn more about the Department of Engineering and Technology at A&M-Commerce.
(Photo courtesy of www.usarmyjrotc.com)
A recent article in Greenville's Herald-Banner noted the enduring partnership between global defense and aerospace giant L3Harris and A&M-Commerce. L3Harris employs 47,000 people worldwide, and 5,500 work at the company's Greenville, Texas, facility.
Luke Savoie, president of L3Harris's Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance sector, recently provided an update on the company's operations in Greenville. According to Savoie, the Greenville site employs about 1,900 engineers, but it could easily use hundreds more.
The company’s long-standing partnership with A&M-Commerce helps supply new engineering talent to L3Harris.
“We continue to get engineers from A&M-Commerce. In fact, it continues to be our number one provider from the university-relations perspective on the engineering side— for what continues to feed the Greenville site,” Savoie said.
Read the full Herald-Banner article.
Learn more about the Department of Engineering and Technology and the Department of Computer Science and Computer Information Systems at A&M-Commerce.
A&M-Commerce has earned the Vetted Teacher Residency designation from the Texas Education Agency for the second consecutive year.
The vital distinction means that A&M-Commerce is eligible for state and national grant opportunities in conjunction with local school districts. These districts may submit proposals to the state of Texas that provide funds to compensate student teachers during their residency semesters.
“This recognition by the state is evidence that our student teaching clinical year experience exceeds the state's standards for quality teacher preparation,” said Juan Araujo, Ph.D., who serves as assistant dean and associate professor in the College of Education and Human Services. “We are extremely honored to receive this designation.”
Learn more about the designation and explore educator preparation opportunities available through the Department of Curriculum and Instruction at A&M-Commerce.
Texas A&M University-Commerce and Mount Pleasant ISD in Mount Pleasant, Texas, have partnered to provide scholarships that will help Mount Pleasant ISD employees attain a degree at A&M-Commerce. At the district's annual end-of-year breakfast on May 20, scholarships were awarded to 21 employees. The scholarships will pay for recipients’ first semester of study toward a Bachelor of Applied Science in Organizational Leadership through the Pride Pathway program. Through Pride Pathway, school district employees can attain an organizational leadership degree and earn a teacher certification through either an alternate certification program or a master's degree. Learn more about Pride Pathway.
A recent Herald Banner article about Greenville High School's graduating class stated that several students are planning to continue their education at Texas A&M University-Commerce.
According to the article, “Greenville High School’s close relationship with Texas A&M University-Commerce continues as 75 students were accepted and 18 have registered to begin classes there this fall.”
The Visual Communication program at Texas A&M University-Commerce received high acclaim from Animation Career Review, an online ranking body. In the site's annual Graphic Design School rankings, A&M-Commerce's Visual Communication programs received the following marks:
• Ranked 36th nationally among all public universities and colleges
• Ranked 12th in the southwest
• Ranked 7th in Texas.
The national ranking puts A&M-Commerce in the top 15 percent out of the more than 300 institutions in the rankings. Visual Communication offerings at A&M-Commerce include both a BFA and MFA in Visual Communications, with the BFA offering emphases in Art Direction, Design and New Media. See the rankings online. Learn more about VisCom at TAMUC.
A recent article in the Herald Banner shared information about the Ukraine symposium held at A&M-Commerce on May 3, 2022. Special guest Olga Andreyeva, retired professor at Kharkiv National University of Arts in Ukraine, spoke at the event. A&M-Commerce political science professors Robert Rodriguez (Adreyeva's son-in-law) and Ayal Feinberg also spoke.
According to the article, Andreyeva is a resident of Kharkiv, Ukraine's second largest city. As a center for culture, science, education and industry, the city has been a target by Russian forces. The article also reports that A&M-Commerce partners with Kharkiv National Automobile and Highway University, providing opportunities for A&M-Commerce students to travel extensively throughout Ukraine in past years as part of a study-abroad program.
Read the Herald Banner article. View a video presentation of the event.
A&M-Commerce is teaming up with the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) to launch the Student Success Programs Inventory project.
According to a THECB press release, institutions across the state have developed programs to support undergraduate student success as well as programs targeting specific subpopulations. However, there is no centralized source of information on who these programs are offered to, program features and costs, or program success rates.
The project will launch a survey and other research components to create a comprehensive inventory of program information intended to provide Texas institutions and practitioners with valuable information to enhance and scale their own student success programs.
A&M-Commerce will conduct focus groups among institutions serving underrepresented students. Institutions interested in participating may send a Letter of Support to [email protected] by Monday, May 9.
Cadets in the Hunt County Sheriff's Office Law Enforcement Academy located at A&M-Commerce recently participated in a research study to determine how fitness parameters change for academy cadets over the course of their training.
The study was conducted by Michael Oldham, Ph.D., Vipa Bernhardt, Ph.D., and Hussein Jabai in the Department of Health and Human Performance. The cadets were measured on static and functional mobility, grip strength, anaerobic power, lower body flexibility and aerobic endurance. Data collected from the academy's participation and other police and fire academies throughout Texas will serve to develop specific strength and conditioning programming for basic training.
The next cohort of cadets will begin classes in November. To learn more, or sign up for the law enforcement academy, contact [email protected] Follow the academy on Facebook.
A&M-Commerce is one of only 156 universities and colleges around the world to be honored by the Exercise is Medicine program for its efforts to create a culture of wellness on campus. The university's Exercise is Medicine on Campus (EIM-OC) leadership team recently announced that A&M-Commerce earned the program’s silver-level distinction. The university earned a bronze recognition in 2021.
The EIM-OC leadership team at A&M-Commerce includes Associate Professor Vipa Bernhardt, Ph.D., and Graduate Assistant Omar Ramirez, both in the Department of Health and Human Performance; and Dan Semprini, assistant director of fitness and wellbeing for Campus Recreation.
Learn more about the Department of Health and Human Performance and Campus Recreation at A&M-Commerce.
Venture College hosted its annual Networking Night on March 10 at the new A&M-Commerce at Dallas. Venture College is A&M-Commerce's entrepreneurship program wherein students learn the process of developing ideas into tangible products or businesses.
Six students participated in the recent Networking Night. Each presented a two-minute pitch of their business or product idea to an audience of more than 40 investors and industry leaders. Students also networked with business professionals who shared their knowledge and expertise throughout the evening.
Venture College coordinator Anthony Pierotti said A&M-Commerce at Dallas was the ideal venue for Networking Night.
“Our central location in the DFW area made it easy for many partners, alumni and leaders to attend the event. Beyond the ease of attendance, the location's view and design make it an inspirational space for fostering the entrepreneurial spirit,” Pierotti said.
According to Pierotti, students will earn college credit for participating in Venture College starting next semester.
“Students will get academic credit, and they will be surrounded by a community of entrepreneurs,” Pierotti said. “Changing something as insubstantial as an idea into a real product or business is a valuable learning experience.”
The Department of Curriculum and Instruction at A&M-Commerce is set to host two opportunities to attend a guest lecture by nationally renowned early childhood expert Sandra Duncan, Ed.D.
Duncan will present, “Teaching Playful Learning: The Experience” on April 18 at the Bain Center at Navarro College in Corsicana, and April 19 at the new A&M-Commerce at Dallas, located at 8750 N. Central Expressway. Both lectures are from 6-7:30 p.m. and are open to the public.
Register for the free event or contact [email protected] for more information.
