Retired TAMUC College of Business Faculty Honored with Emeritus Status
Two retired faculty members in the College of Business at Texas A&M University-Commerce were honored with the distinction of Professor Emeritus by the Texas A&M University System and recognized at a special ceremony in Commerce on August 25, 2023.
Mr. Jack Cooke and Dr. Mildred Golden Pryor were recipients of the Emeritus designation, which is the top honor granted to retired A&M System employees to recognize their achievements and dedication to their respective institutions.
A Lion alum, Cooke retired from A&M-Commerce after 13 years as an adjunct professor teaching classes in Management. Prior to his time at the university, he enjoyed a 34-year career at what is now known as L3Harris Technologies in Greenville, Texas, where he held senior positions in project management and strategic planning. He received his bachelor’s degree in Physics from East Carolina University in 1971, an M.S. in Computer Sciences from East Texas State University (now A&M-Commerce) in 1981 and an M.B.A. from the University of Dallas in 1990.
Pryor retired from A&M-Commerce following a 36-year career at the university across two different stints. She also was a faculty member at Stephen F. Austin State University and Troy State University, and even worked outside of academia as a director at Campbell Soup and E-Systems (now L3Harris). Pryor earned her B.B.A. from Memphis State University (now the University of Memphis) in 1964, an M.B.A. from Memphis State in 1965 and her Ph.D. in Production and Operations Management from the University of Mississippi in 1971. She has been the recipient of several teaching awards while at A&M-Commerce, including being named a Regents Professor by the A&M System in 2018. Pryor and her family have been strong supporters of the university and have donated funds yearly to several causes at A&M-Commerce.
