Alumni Success
Ted and Donna Lyon Center for Gamebird Research Planned for Texas A&M University-Commerce
Texas A&M University-Commerce will soon be home to an innovative gamebird research and education facility, thanks to a historic gift from alumnus Ted B. Lyon and his wife, Donna. Construction of the Ted and Donna Lyon Center for Gamebird Research…
Recent TAMUC graduate receives NCAA Award
Acheil Tac, a recent Texas A&M University-Commerce graduate and founder of The Athlete's Advocate, was awarded the NCAA Legends Award during NCAA Women's Final Four. The Legends Award acknowledges and celebrates the determination of living legends who make a difference…
TAMUC Alumna Publishes Book on RV Travel Adventures
Author Bonnie Burgess Neely, an A&M-Commerce alumna, recently published a collection of humorous stories detailing her almost-50 years of RV travel adventures. The book, “Real Ventures: Did We Really Do That?” was published by Newman Springs Publishing. The author also…
In a Philanthropic State of Mind: Tatiana Chamorro and Carlos Rivers Share Their Story, Their Life Philosophy and a New Scholarship
Carlos Rivers and Tatiana Chamorro live by an inspiring philosophy: “Philanthropy is a state of mind, not a stage of life.” With this mindset, the young Lion alums recently created the Rivers and Chamorro Scholarship for business majors who are…
A&M-Commerce Graduate is “The Voice of Hunt County”
Texas A&M University-Commerce alum Carissa Carter has been singing for as long as she can remember. Her talent and determination were on full display as the inaugural winner of “The Voice of Hunt County,” a singing competition held April 14-15…
TAMUC Awards Gala Recognizes 10 Outstanding Alumni
The Texas A&M University-Commerce Alumni Association hosted the 2023 Alumni Awards Gala on Saturday, April 29 to honor the university's new Gold Blazers and Distinguished Alumni. The event was held in the Sam Rayburn Student Center on the university campus.…
A&M-Commerce Doctoral Alum Selected for Superintendent Post
The Sulphur Springs Independent School District Board of Trustees recently named A&M-Commerce alum Dr. Deana Steeber as the lone finalist to become its next superintendent.
Her 27 years of experience in education includes serving as principal at the elementary, middle…
Lewisville ISD Taps A&M-Commerce Alum as New Elementary Principal
Lewisville Independent School District has appointed A&M-Commerce alum Jennifer Driver as the new principal at its Indian Creek Elementary School campus. With 24 years in education, Driver brings with her more than 10 years of principal experience at the elementary…
A&M-Commerce Alum Named Teacher of the Year at East Side Elementary
Magnolia (AR) School District selected A&M-Commerce alum Connie Browning as Teacher of the Year for its East Side Elementary School campus.
Browning earned a master's degree in library science at A&M-Commerce in 2008. She has taught kindergarten at East Side…
A&M-Commerce Alum Reappointed by Texas Governor to State Council
Texas A&M University-Commerce alum Manoranjan “Mano” Mahadeva was recently reappointed to the Texas Executive Council of Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy Examiners by Governor Greg Abbott. Mahadeva was previously appointed to the council for the first time in 2020, and…
Lion Alum Arthur McClearin Wins Prestigious Award
Texas A&M University-Commerce alum Arthur McClearin was named the recipient of the 2023 Diversity Broker-Dealer Champion Award by the Wall Street Project, which was founded in 1996 to challenge corporate America to end the multi-billion dollar trade deficit with minority…
A&M-Commerce Alum Selected for Rising Presidents Fellowship
The Aspen Institute has selected A&M-Commerce alum Dr. Jerry Thomas to participate in its Rising Presidents Fellowship program. The intensive fellowship aims to reduce turnover in community college presidency by recruiting diverse leaders to drive change and contribute to student…
A&M-Commerce Alum: “They Call Me an Office on Wheels”
A&M-Commerce alum Dr. Samuel Ogbonna is featured in a recent profile published by Focus Daily News in Dallas, Texas, highlighting his 39-year career in education.
Born and raised in Nigeria, Ogbonna moved to the U.S. at age 21 to attend…
New Forney Middle School to be Named After TAMUC Alums
A groundbreaking was held on April 18, 2023, in Forney, Texas, for a new middle school that will be named after long-time Forney ISD educators and A&M-Commerce alumni Donald P. Themer and Vivian N. Themer. The Donald P. and Vivian…
TAMUC Alum Hoover One of TIME’s 100 Most Influential People of 2023
TIME Magazine has named A&M-Commerce alum Colleen Hoover to its list of the 100 Most Influential People of 2023. Jenna Bush Hager penned Hoover's entry in the Artist category.
The Sulphur Springs native is a New York Times best-selling author.…
A&M-Commerce Alum Earns Second Teacher of the Year Award
Cedar Hill ISD (CHISD) recently named A&M-Commerce alum Kellie Burchfield the 2022-2023 Collegiate Academy Teacher of the Year. Burchfield also earned the Collegiate Prep Elementary Teacher of the Year award in 2020-2021. She is only the second CHISD educator to…
TAMUC Alumni Association President Michael Lamb Hired as Superintendent of Little Elm ISD
A&M-Commerce Alumni Association President Michael Lamb was recently hired as the new superintendent of Little Elm ISD.
Lamb currently serves as superintendent of Sulphur Springs ISD, a position he has held for almost 11 years. He is set to begin…
Lion Alum has Painting Featured in Texas Rangers Hall of Fame
Texas A&M University-Commerce alum and artist Lee Herring has one of his paintings on display in the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum in Waco, Texas. The law enforcement agency is commemorating the 200th anniversary of its founding this…
Grapeland ISD Selects A&M-Commerce Alum as Next Superintendent
Grapeland Independent School District has unanimously selected A&M-Commerce alum Dr. David Maass as the district's next superintendent, according to The Messenger newspaper in Grapeland.
Maass earned his master's degree in educational administration in 2006, and his doctorate in higher education…
Venture College Lions Fellowship Program Hosts Lawyer, Entrepreneur and alum Jim Chester
The A&M-Commerce College of Business hosted a seminar with lawyer, entrepreneur and alum Jim Chester as part of its Venture College Lions Fellowship Program, an entrepreneurial and economic development program that teaches A&M-Commerce students and students from community colleges and…