Awards and Achievements
A&M-Commerce Researchers Publish Groundbreaking Record of Quail Chick Development
Awards and Achievements
A&M-Commerce Partners with Rural School Districts for $1.7 Million Grant
Awards and Achievements
A&M-Commerce Celebrates Spring 2022 Commencement May 13 and 14
Awards and Achievements
A&M-Commerce Personnel, Alumni Honored by Texas Association of Black Personnel in Higher Education
Student Disability Services
TAMUC Celebrates Autism Acceptance Month
Agriculture & Natural Resources
Chapman Scholarship Supports First-Generation Hopkins County Students
News Bites
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.
The duo of Texas A&M University-Commerce students Gus McLarry and Jared West took home victory in the Abu Garcia College Fishing Competition held on March 11 at the Sam Rayburn Reservoir in East Texas. The pair bested the field of 151 other entrants from more than a dozen colleges and universities across the country. After submitting their five largest catches, their haul weighed in at a combined 28 pounds, 9 ounces. The win nets the A&M-Commerce Fishing Club a $2,000 prize and qualifies the two anglers for the 2023 Major League Fishing National Championship. Read more at the Major League Fishing website.
(Pictured from left: Jared West and Gus McLarry)
A group of 26 A&M-Commerce students presented research at the 17th annual Texas A&M University System (TAMUS) Pathways Student Research Symposium held March 3-4 in College Station, with five students earning top marks at the event.
The symposium is a student research showcase open to undergraduate and graduate students from all TAMUS institutions. The event is an opportunity for system students to present their research to—and network with—faculty members, judges and other students from across the system. Separate categories are available for undergraduate-, master’s- and doctoral-level posters or oral presentations.
A&M-Commerce award winners included:
Diksha Shakya, 2nd place, Undergraduate Life Sciences Poster PresentationCAV-1Rho pathway mediates G1P3-induced Breast Cancer cell migrationVida Robertson, 2nd place, Undergraduate Mathematics and Physical Sciences Poster PresentationSubstituent Effect Analysis of the Synthesis of 1-Azabicyclo[2.2.1]heptan-2-one Using Diels-Alder Reactions.Michael Brdeka, 3rd place, Undergraduate Mathematics and Physical Sciences Poster PresentationHydrothermal Liquefaction of Chlorella and Reeds to Bio-oils and other Value-added products.Chiho Kim, 1st place, Undergraduate Business and Information Technology Poster PresentationZero-day Malware Detection using Threshold-free Autoencoding Architecture.Hailey Burt, 1st place, Master’s Mathematics and Physical Sciences Poster PresentationPromoted Palladium Catalysts for Liquid-Phase Selective Hydrogenation of Alkynes.
View the full list of winners.
A&M-Commerce student Su Gordh presented her research, “How to help couples who are covert narcissists,” at the 17th annual Texas A&M University System Pathways Student Research Symposium held March 3-4 in College Station.
Gordh is a first-year graduate student in the Department of Counseling. She is pursuing her master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling. Her research seeks to enhance couples’ marital satisfaction through emotional regulation and forgiveness.
Learn more about the Department of Counseling at A&M-Commerce.
The Texas School Counselor Association voted to select A&M-Commerce doctoral student Cheryl Loving as the 2022 Counselor Supervisor of the Year. Loving was recognized at the association’s annual conference on Feb. 13.
Loving is a second-year student in the Counselor Education and Supervision doctoral program at A&M-Commerce. She has served as the director of counseling for Allen ISD since 2019.
Learn more about the Department of Counseling at A&M-Commerce and the Texas School Counselor Association.
A&M-Commerce student Maigyne Ishman and others recently received the Extra Mile Award from Greenville ISD for their role in assisting a GISD student involved in a motor vehicle accident in Greenville.
Ishman, a student in the Organizational Leadership program at A&M-Commerce, is a Marine and a business teacher at Greenville High School. Upon witnessing a nearby pedestrian versus vehicle accident, she moved quickly to render aid. She then recognized the pedestrian as one of her students. Utilizing her military training, Ishman assessed and immobilized and kept the student calm while waiting for first responders to arrive at the scene.
Photo courtesy of Greenville ISD. Pictured left to right: GHS Assistant Principal Amos Williams, GHS Principal Brant Perry, GHS junior Shayli “Theo” Stanbery, GHS teacher Maigyne Ishman, and GISD Superintendent Sharon Booth. Williams, Stanbery and Ishman recently assisted a GHS student who was struck by a vehicle on Wesley Street in Greenville.
Students in the Texas A&M University-Commerce Percussion Studio performed well at the Tierras South Texas Percussion Competition in December. This first-annual competition saw high schoolers and university students perform their works on either keyboard or snare drum. A&M-Commerce students finished as follows:
Ashton Carter – 1st place in the Collegiate Snare Drum CategoryGenevieve Trant – 3rd place in the Collegiate Snare Drum CategoryConnor Trant – 2nd place in the Collegiate Keyboard CategoryCameron Schreiber – 5th place in the Collegiate Keyboard Category
The TAMUC students represented four of the eight finalist spots for the competition, while no other school at the competition featured more than one finalist.
The A&M-Commerce chapter of the Society of Physics Students (SPS) won an Outstanding Chapter Award from the organization’s national office. The designation is the highest level of distinction, with less than 15% of the organization’s chapters receiving the title. The local chapter has been a Distinguished Chapter for the past six years consecutively.
The A&M-Commerce chapter is advised by Bahar Modir, Ph.D., an assistant professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy. Officers for the 2020-2021 academic year include Keely Scott, president; Madison Smith, vice president; Zorayda Martinez, secretary; and James Hiron, treasurer.
“I’m extremely impressed with the SPS officers and advisor this past year,” said Kent Montgomery, Ph.D., who serves as head of the department. “Throughout the pandemic and mostly online learning, this group kept the organization going when many other student organizations ceased to function. They held meetings and social functions, produced recruitment videos for the department and helped with Physics Day each semester.”
Operating within the American Institute of Physics, SPS is a professional association designed for students. Membership is open to anyone interested in physics and related fields.
Learn more about the Society of Physics Students.
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.
Gracie Brownell, Ph.D., assistant professor and director of the master’s program for the School of Social Work at A&M-Commerce, is one of five co-authors of a recently published research article in the peer-reviewed journal Sustainability.
The article, “Economic Drivers of Voluntary Return among Conflict-Induced Internally Displaced Persons in Nigeria,” investigates factors contributing to the unwillingness of displaced Nigerians to return to their homes in Northeast Nigeria following peace restoration to the region after a decade of terrorism by Boko Haram.
Read the full article and learn more about the School of Social Work at A&M-Commerce.
A recent article in the Carrollton Leader said Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD is working to increase inclusivity within the district. Dr. Kimberly McLeod, dean of the College of Education and Human Services at A&M-Commerce, is helping the district implement positive changes. According to the article, McLeod conducted an audit to help the district understand where inclusivity needs to be enhanced. Then, she met individually with administrators to provide training. Read the full Carrollton Leader article.
Allure, a national women’s magazine, recently published an article highlighting research from A&M-Commerce assistant professor Toni Sturdivant. The article explores how dolls affect children’s self-esteem, identity and sense of belonging. It also discusses the power of dolls to shape perceptions of beauty, and fuel gender and racial stereotypes.
Read the Allure article.
Columbia Law School’s blog recently published research by Regents Professor Srinivas Nippani from A&M-Commerce, and Associate Professor Nizan Geslevich Packin from Baruch College, City University of New York.
Their research discusses efforts by the U.S. government to end discrimination by banks against minority families. Examples of these efforts include the Fair Housing Act, the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, and the Consumer Financial Protection Act of 2010.
Nippani and Packin argue that banks need to do more to end discrimination. They offer an analysis of issues with the current system and conclude by suggesting a rating system for banks based on diversity, equity and inclusion.
Read the full story at the Columbia Law School blog.
Dr. Eman Hammad, a Texas A&M University-Commerce assistant professor working at the A&M System’s RELLIS Campus, recently received a pair of accolades signifying her accomplishments in the field of cybersecurity. Hammad was named one of the “Top Women in Cybersecurity” by the website ITWorld Canada. Hammad joins 19 other women on the list. In addition, she received the North America Exceptional Service Award from the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Communications Society. Through partnerships with Texas A&M University System, Blinn College, workforce training organizations and the private sector, RELLIS is the first integrated education, research and testing institution in the state of Texas. The educational programs at RELLIS focus on collaboration beyond institutional affiliation, and the campus will serve as a model for the future of higher education by cultivating powerful opportunities for students. Learn more about the RELLIS campus.
Professor Tracy B. Henley in the Department of Psychology and Special Education at A&M-Commerce and Matt J. Rossano, professor of psychology at Southeastern Louisiana University, are co-editors of a new book, “Psychology and Cognitive Archaeology: An Interdisciplinary Approach to the Study of the Human Mind.”
According to the publisher, the edited volume explores archaeological data concerning specific themes such as the use of tools, child-rearing practices, expressions of gender and sexuality, sleep patterns, the nature of warfare, cultural practices and the origins of religion.
Learn more at the publisher’s website.
(Photo courtesy of Routledge.com)
Belinda Rudinger, Ed.D., a clinical assistant professor in the Department of Psychology and Special Education at A&M-Commerce, has been elected to the board of the Council for Exceptional Children’s Division on Visual Impairments and Deaf-Blindness (DVIDB).
DVIDB seeks to advance the education of individuals with visual impairments while promoting related educational, scientific and charitable purposes. Rudinger will serve a two-year term ending in 2024.
“Given the nationwide shortage of vision professionals, serving on the DVIDB board offers a unique opportunity to impact the field,” Rudinger said. “My specific areas of interest include promotion of digital accessibility, braille and assistive technology.”
Learn more about DVIDB at their website.
A press release from Cedar Hill ISD announced that Katrina Lemons has been named the new principal at Permenter Middle School in Cedar Hill, effective July 1, 2022.
According to the release, Lemons has worked in Cedar Hill ISD’s special education department since August 2020. She currently serves as the district’s special education compliance coordinator. She has nine years of experience as an assistant principal in area school districts.
Lemons earned a Master of Science in Training and Development at A&M-Commerce and is currently completing a doctorate in education at Vanderbilt University in Tennessee.
Read the full Cedar Hill ISD press release.
Photo Credit: Cedar Hill ISD
A&M-Commerce Foundation Board member, donor and alumnus Robert Rhoads was recently named State Fair of Texas Volunteer of the Year. Rhoads has served as a long-time volunteer and board member for the state fair’s scholarship program. He graduated from East Texas State University (now A&M-Commerce) in 1967 with a degree in health and physical education.
Texas A&M University-Commerce alum Matt Byrd was recently named a winner of the Hull Award from the Garden Club of America. The award is given annually to the top environmental educators in the nation. Established in 1992, the award also comes with a $1,000 prize. Byrd, who graduated from A&M-Commerce in 2005 with a degree in Agricultural Science and Technology, currently serves as an agriculture teacher at Hawkins ISD in Hawkins, Texas. Byrd’s students have made headlines in recent years, with Hawkins FFA students winning a prestigious blue ribbon at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo in 2021, and the Hawkins “honey team” appearing on the national stage with a segment on NBC’s “Today Show” which was broadcast live from the Hawkins High School gym in 2019.
Educate Texas recently announced that Dr. Joe May will serve as the organization’s new chancellor in residence. May previously served for eight years as chancellor of Dallas College. He holds a doctorate in education from A&M-Commerce.
Educate Texas is an initiative of Communities Foundation of Texas (CFT) whose vision is to strengthen the education system to prepare students for success. Read the full CFT article.
Photo from Communities Foundation of Texas
A&M-Commerce alumna Crystal Harrelson was named assistant principal at Whitt Elementary in Wylie ISD for the 2022-2023 school year. Harrelson currently teaches fourth grade at Miss May Vernon Elementary in Royse City ISD. She serves on Royse City ISD’s Superintendent’s Committee and is a mentor teacher for A&M-Commerce students. Harrelson received two degrees from A&M-Commerce: a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies and a master’s in educational administration. Read the full Wylie ISD article.
Photo from Wylie ISD.
Award-winning photojournalist and TAMUC alum Erin Trieb travels the world to capture touching stories of strength, courage and resilience.
As a freelance photographer, Trieb captures stories on issues of social justice involving cultural identity, war trauma and feminism. CBS recently interviewed her as a war correspondent in Ukraine. Her article about the women of Ukraine during the current crisis was published this month by Glamour magazine.
Trieb has also spent time in the Middle East, documenting life and conflict. She has photographed female Kurdish guerillas in northern Syria; the Peshmerga, the Kurdish branch of the Iraqi Armed Forces; and a U.S. Army infantry unit in one of the most dangerous areas of Afghanistan.
Her clients include National Geographic, The New York Times, ESPN Magazine, Rolling Stone, NBCnews.com and TIME. She has won numerous awards for her work.
Trieb grew up in Dallas and graduated from A&M-Commerce in 2004 with a Bachelor of Science in Photography. She was named an A&M-Commerce Distinguished Alumnus in 2014 and a “female icon of adventure” by Outside Magazine in 2017. She is currently based in Washington D.C.
View Trieb’s recent CBS interview and her Glamour magazine article.
Learn more about Trieb and view her work on Instagram @erintrieb.
Bri Mathis, a 2020 graduate of the sport and recreation management program at A&M-Commerce, has accepted a position with the Dallas Mavericks as an event specialist. Most recently, she worked for the NFL Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.
Dr. Clay Bolton, associate professor in the Department of Health and Human Performance, said Mathis was a hard-working student.
“We are proud of her transition from the NFL to an NBA franchise,” Bolton said.
Learn more about TAMUC’s Bachelor of Science in Sport and Recreation Management.
A&M-Commerce alumna Tiffany Anderson was named 2021-2022 Bray Elementary Teacher of the Year in her first year at the Cedar Hill ISD campus. A Cedar Hill ISD press release quoted Anderson:
“I am shocked that I was chosen, but the things that I am doing here are the things I’ve always done,” Anderson said. “I’m teaching content but also teaching about life and how the skills they learn translate into being an adult.”
Anderson is a fifth-grade math/science teacher at Bray Elementary. She earned a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education from A&M-Commerce in 2010.
Photo Credit: Cedar Hill ISD Twitter
Stephen F. Austin State University (SFA) named A&M-Commerce alum Steve Westbrook, Ed.D., as interim president of the university.
After joining SFA in 1981, Westbrook served as vice president for university affairs from 2007 to 2020 and filled the role of interim president from 2018 to 2019. He continued to work as an adjunct instructor after retirement.
Westbrook earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from SFA. He went on to earn his doctorate in supervision, curriculum and instruction from A&M-Commerce in 2010.
Learn more about the Department of Curriculum and Instruction at A&M-Commerce.
Photo courtesy of Stephen F. Austin State University.
Alumna Delores Wheeler recently interviewed with Thrive Global to share her experiences as an actor and writer in Los Angeles and Oklahoma City. According to her bio, Wheeler has appeared in Breaking Them Up (2020), Infamous (2020) and Painted Woman (2017). Wheeler has also written several e-books and their accompanying screenplays. She is serving her second term on the regional board for the Screen Actors Guild in Dallas, Texas. Wheeler graduated from East Texas State University (now A&M-Commerce) with a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education. Visit Wheeler’s website.
McLennan Community College in Waco, Texas, recently named a new learning facility in honor of A&M-Commerce alumna Johnette McKown, Ed.D. McKown has served as president of McLennan Community College since 2009. According to a recent article in the Waco-Tribune, the Johnette E. McKown Learning Commons brings library services, academic and technical support to a centralized campus location. The space features private study rooms, classrooms and open areas for study and relaxation. McKown earned a master’s in secondary and higher education and a doctorate in curriculum and instruction from A&M-Commerce. Read the full Waco-Tribune article.
Staff photo: McLennan Community College
A&M-Commerce alumna Skye Duckett was recently hired as the vice president and chief human resources officer at Georgia Institute of Technology, an R1 research university in Atlanta, Georgia. According to a Georgia Tech press release, Duckett previously served as chief human resources officer for Atlanta Public Schools. Duckett received a Master of Science in Management at A&M-Commerce in 2014.
Photo from Georgia Institute of Technology
Texas A&M University-Commerce alum Jeffrey Bell, Ph.D., was recently named dean of the College of Individual and Community Health at Bemidji State University. Located in Bemidji, Minnesota, BSU is a public university that serves more than 5,000 students in a total of 79 different degree programs. Bell had previously worked at Southwest Minnesota State University for the past 12 years, most recently serving as interim dean of that institution’s College of Arts, Letters and Sciences since 2021. Bell earned a Master of Science in Health and Human Performance from A&M-Commerce in 2006. In addition, he holds a Bachelor of Arts in Visual Art and a Master of Arts in Teaching from Austin College, as well as a doctoral degree in exercise physiology from Purdue University. Read the BSU press release about Dr. Bell.
Texas A&M University-Commerce alum Donovan Lewis was recently recognized as an African American Leader in Radio by Radio Ink magazine. Lewis graduated from then-East Texas State University with a degree in Radio/Television and began his career in broadcasting in 1993. Lewis has been active on the airwaves in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex ever since. He currently serves as co-host of the “Norm & D Invasion” alongside Texas Radio Hall of Fame member Norm Hitzges on KTCK “The Ticket” 1310 AM/96.7 FM, a position he has held since 2015.
Texas A&M University-Commerce alumna Latasha Roach was recently named the Dallas Athletic Conference Coach of the Year for women’s basketball. Roach currently coaches for the Cedar Valley Suns, who represent the Dallas College Cedar Valley campus located in Lancaster, Texas. The Suns finished the season with a 9-8 overall record, but a perfect 5-0 mark in conference play while averaging an eye-popping 103.6 points per game against conference opponents. Cedar Valley fell in their final game of the year against Prince George’s Community College in the NJCAA Division III Women’s Basketball Southeast District Championship game. Roach received a master’s degree in Applied Criminology from A&M-Commerce in 2014. In addition to her coaching duties, Roach also serves as an adjunct faculty of criminal justice at Cedar Valley.
An alumna of Texas A&M University-Commerce was recently named as the sole finalist to take over the position of superintendent of the Plano Independent School District in Plano, Texas. Theresa Williams, Ed.D, was announced as the finalist by the Plano ISD Board of Trustees on February 28. State law requires a 21-day waiting period before she can be officially appointed to the role. Williams has served as the district’s deputy superintendent since 2018. She has 27 years of experience in public education and has served as both a teacher and administrator. Williams received two degrees in educational leadership and administration from A&M-Commerce, earning her M.S. in 2000 and her Ed.D in 2005. Read Plano ISD’s press release about the announcement.
People Newspapers, a D Magazine publication, recently published an article about A&M-Commerce alumnus David Shepherd.
Shepherd was a legendary baseball coach at W.T. White High School in Dallas ISD. Coach Shepherd retired eight years ago, but he was inducted into the Dallas ISD Athletic Hall of Fame on December 6, 2021.
Shepherd grew up near Commerce, graduated with bachelor’s and master’s degrees from East Texas State University (now A&M-Commerce), and served as a teacher and coach in Dallas ISD for more than 50 years.
Read the full article.
Photo credit: Chris McGathey
Governor Greg Abbott recently reappointed A&M-Commerce alum Jeffrey “JD” Robertson to serve on the Texas Crime Victims’ Institute Advisory Council for a term ending January 31, 2024. The council analyzes the impact of crime on victims and close relatives, and the impact on society.
Robertson earned his Master of Science in Applied Criminology from A&M-Commerce.
Learn more about the Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice at A&M-Commerce.
The Arkansas Pharmacists Association recently named A&M-Commerce alum Marlene Battle, Pharm.D., as its new health equity coordinator. The organization created the position to tackle health disparities in the state exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Battle earned a Master of Science in Biology from A&M-Commerce.
Read the full press release from the Arkansas Pharmacists Association.
Learn more about the Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences at A&M-Commerce.
A&M-Commerce alum Tom Faulkenberry, Ph.D., is the new chair of the Joint Committee on Undergraduate Statistics and Data Science Education. The committee is co-sponsored by the American Statistical Association and the Mathematical Association of America.
The two-year appointment will see Faulkenberry lead the committee’s nationwide charge to stimulate effective change in the teaching of undergraduate statistics and data science.
Faulkenberry is an associate professor and head of the Department of Psychological Sciences at Tarleton State University. He earned his doctorate in experimental psychology from A&M-Commerce in 2010 and served in multiple instructional and leadership roles over an eight-year span working at the university.
Read the full announcement.
(Photo courtesy of Tarleton State University)
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 700 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.
A&M-Commerce and Texas Woman’s University (TWU) will serve as co-sponsors for the 2022 Texas Association for Literacy Education (TALE) Annual Conference on March 4-5 at the Plano Event Center in Plano, Texas.
Juan Araujo, Ph.D., serves as an assistant dean and associate professor in the College of Education and Human Services at A&M-Commerce. He said Assistant Professor Kamshia Childs, Ed.D., who is also the current TALE president, was integral in forming the partnership.
“We are grateful to Dr. Childs for leading this partnership to bring language and literacy experts to our local teachers and community partners,” Araujo said. “We are excited to work with TWU and look forward to more partnership opportunities in the future.”
Consisting of professional members committed to serving learners in the state of Texas, TALE promotes literacy in the education sector to enhance the lives of Texans personally, socially and economically.
Learn more about TALE and register for the conference on their website.
Representatives from the Department of Counseling at A&M-Commerce delivered two presentations at the International Association of Marriage and Family Counselors World Conference held in New Orleans, Louisiana, from Jan. 27 through 29.
Professors LaVelle Hendricks, Ph.D., and Zaidy MohdZain, Ph.D., and doctoral student Joy Teles Oliveira presented “Nurturing and Preparing Future Counselor Educators: Student and Faculty Perspectives,” and “The Family Counseling Treatment and Intervention with Addictive Disorders: Skills and Techniques.”
Pictured left to right: LaVelle Hendricks, Ph.D.; Joy Teles Oliveira; and Zaidy MohdZain, Ph.D.Pictured left to right: Zaidy MohdZain, Ph.D.; LaVelle Hendricks, Ph.D.; and Joy Teles Oliveira.
Learn more about the Department of Counseling at A&M-Commerce and the International Association of Marriage and Family Counselors.
Texas A&M University-Commerce and the city of Commerce were featured in the January 2022 edition of Business View Magazine.
The article, titled “Commerce, Texas: Where Innovation Thrives,” interviewed Commerce city manager Howdy Lisenbee. Lisenbee discussed the expected growth of Commerce over the next two to three years and how the city is preparing.
The article also highlights A&M-Commerce and how the university helps meet the needs of the community. It describes the university as “a valued partner to both Commerce and Hunt County.”
Business View Magazine describes itself as a “source of news for executives, entrepreneurs, small business owners, franchisees, and anyone else interested in current industry trends and best practices.” The publication has 840,000 subscribers.
Read the full Business View article.
Representatives from the Department of Engineering and Technology at A&M-Commerce attended a Dec. 15 luncheon at Paris Regional Medical Center (PRMC), where the department was recognized for providing personal protective equipment during the COVID-19 pandemic.
A&M-Commerce attendees included Brent Donham, Ed.D., dean of the College of Science and Engineering; Perry Moler, Ph.D., assistant professor and director of the Jimmy and Sherroll Shirley Makerspace; and student Tamara Susa, who assisted with the project.
Moler led a team of students who utilized 3D printers and laser cutters in the on-campus Jimmy and Sherroll Shirley Makerspace to produce more than 1,000 face shields, most of which were designated for PRMC.
The department also reverse-engineered an accompanying component to ensure the face shields fit healthcare providers and properly protected them from the virus.
Donham reported that PRMC representatives were greatly appreciative, stating that their nursing staff preferred the superior-quality face shields produced by A&M-Commerce. The hospital presented plaques to Moler and the department.
(Photo courtesy of Paris Regional Medical Center. Pictured left to right: Tamara Susa, Dr. Brent Donham and Dr. Perry Moler with Doug Holzbog, A&M-Commerce alum and executive director of network development for Paris Regional Medical Center.)
Faculty and students representing the A&M-Commerce Department of Health and Human Performance recently attended the Texas Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (TAHPERD) annual conference in Arlington, Texas. The group made several presentations and brought home one award.
Graduate student Omar Ramirez (pictured) and Associate Professor Vipa Bernhardt earned a first-place finish for their poster design in the Graduate Research Poster presentation.
Sandy Kimbrough, Ph.D., accepted the leadership gavel for a one-year term as the organization’s new president. She also presented “TAHPERD Race on Foot Expedition (TRoFE) is 22,” and “Kardio with Juli and Sandy.”
Faculty members Dean Culpepper, Ph.D., and Steve Prewitt, Ph.D., presented “Esports: A Sport and a Degree,” co-authored with Samantha Roberts, Ph.D., in memorium.
Retired A&M-Commerce instructor Henry Ross, Ed.D., presented “Leadership You-Niversity.”
Learn more about TAHPERD and the Department of Health and Human Performance at A&M-Commerce.
The College of Education and Human Services and the Office of Campus Life and Student Success recently hosted a Real Talk Workshop event to assist students with academic holds or other issues that might prevent them from registering for the upcoming semester.
Kimberly McLeod, dean of the College of Education and Human Services, said more than 270 students were registered at the event. She reported that faculty and staff supporting the event eventually lost count of the number of students they were able to assist, as a large group of students remained well past the workshop’s scheduled end time.
She emphasized, however, that registration is only the first step toward student success.
“The next step is for students to successfully navigate and thrive in the higher education landscape,” McLeod said. “We are so happy to help guide our students in their academic journey.”
The next Real Talk Workshop is planned for April 20, 2022.
A&M-Commerce was named a 2021 Star Award recipient by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB). Star Award recipients were honored at a special reception on December 1, at the beginning of the annual Higher Education Leadership Conference in Austin. Dr. John Humphreys, A&M-Commerce provost, and Derek Preas, A&M-Commerce director of Emergency Management and Safety, traveled to Austin to receive the award on behalf of the university. Read more about A&M-Commerce’s Star Award.
The A&M-Commerce College of Education and Human Services and the Office of Campus Life and Student Success will host a “Real Talk Workshop” on Wednesday, Dec. 1 at 12 p.m. in the Nursing and Health Sciences Building.
Students will have the opportunity to engage with college faculty and administrators, and other university staff to discuss opportunities to improve student engagement and retention. Attendees will also be able to register for the spring semester and apply for student-worker positions available on-campus.
La TacoTrona will be on-site providing free lunch for attendees.
A strong contingent of students, faculty and alumni of Texas A&M University-Commerce had a stellar outing at the 2021 Percussive Arts Society International Convention (PASIC). The convention ran from November 10 through 13 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Featuring concerts, clinics, panels and presentations given by the finest artists from all over the world, PASIC 2021 showcased all areas of percussion — drum set, marching, keyboard, symphonic, world, recreational, education, music technology, new music, and health and wellness. Some highlights from PASIC include:Student:
The A&M-Commerce Percussion Ensemble I, consisting of Genevieve Hilburn, Nestor Mercado-Garcia, Makena Mailer, Connor Trant, Jesse Vela, and Adam Whoolery, tied for third place in the College Small Chamber Ensemble Competition.Makena Mailer earned 3rd place in the College Keyboard Competition.
Faculty:
Dr. Brian Zator led the PAS Leadership Academy MeetingSandi Rennick and Lauren Teel performed as part of the International Marimba Orchestra
Alumni:
Dr. Andrew Lynge, Director of Percussion at the University of Alabama, led his percussion ensemble to a win in the International Percussion Ensemble Competition and was able to conduct this group on their PASIC Showcase Concert.Alum Colin Crouch is a Graduate Student at the University of Alabama and on their PASIC Showcase Concert.The University of Alabama Percussion Ensemble performed the World Premiere of a new work, “Her Eyes”, composed by alum Samuel Peruzzolo-Vieria. Kaylie Hardeman was a featured guest performer on Matt Penland’s clinic.
(Pictured in photo, from left: Adam Whoolery, Genevieve Hilburn, Connor Trant, Dr. Brian Zator, Jesse Vela, Nestor Mercado-Garcia and Makena Mailer.)
A&M-Commerce students in the Epsilon Sigma chapter of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., along with members of the Texas National Guard, provided a COVID-19 vaccination event on October 30.
The sorority’s community engagement project took place during the Big Game Tailgate event hosted by the College of Education and Human Services prior to the Lions football game against the University of Texas Permian Basin. The event was well-attended, with several members of the A&M-Commerce community receiving their first, second or booster vaccination dose.
The Counseling Center at A&M-Commerce will host American actor, motivational speaker and former U.S. Army soldier, Jose Rene (J.R.) Martinez, as a guest speaker on Nov. 3 at 2:00 p.m. in the Ferguson Social Sciences Auditorium.
In 2003, just one year after joining the Army, Martinez was in Iraq driving a Humvee filled with explosives when the vehicle hit a roadside bomb. The other three inhabitants of the vehicle were ejected, with Martinez trapped inside fearing for his life.
He is now author of the New York Times best-selling book, “Full of Heart: My Story of Survival, Strength, and Spirit,” a memoir about how he took his own personal tragedy and turned it into inspiration for others.
As keynote speaker for Mental Health Matters Week, Martinez will present, “Illuminating the Journey from Trauma to Hope.” The event is open to everyone, with the first 300 students receiving a copy of Martinez’s book.
Learn more about J.R. Martinez at his website.
Students, employees and the general public have a new location to get their fill of coffee, tea and other items with the grand opening of a full-service Starbucks location inside the Waters Library at Texas A&M University-Commerce. Following an extended renovation and remodeling of the east side of the library’s first floor, the location officially opened for business on Oct. 18. The location is open from 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Fridays and 12 to 5 p.m. on Sundays. Founded in 1971, Starbucks Corporation operates more than 32,000 locations worldwide.
The Department of Health and Human Performance at A&M-Commerce, along with Campus Recreation, will sponsor two events next week to celebrate Exercise is Medicine on Campus, a program that calls upon universities and colleges to promote physical activity as a vital sign of health.
The department will recognize Exercise is Medicine Day on Wednesday, Oct. 20 from 8 a.m. through 12 p.m. Six table stations will be set up on campus for activities including fitness challenges and testing, exercise tips, prizes and more.
Additionally, on Thursday, Oct. 21, guest speaker Matt Green, Ph.D., will present “Exercise and Perceptual Responses: Mediating Factors and Novel Applications.” Green is a professor of exercise science and associate dean in the College of Education and Human Sciences at the University of North Alabama. The presentation will be in the foyer of the A&M-Commerce Nursing and Health Sciences Building from 9:30-11 a.m.
Learn more about the Department of Health and Human Performance, Campus Recreation and Exercise is Medicine on Campus.
