Faculty and Staff Success

AgriLife Agent and ETAMU Instructor Awarded County Agent of the Year
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension agent and East Texas A&M University Adjunct Instructor Dr. David Drake was recently recognized as the 2025 Texas Wheat County Agent of the Year by the Texas Wheat Producers Board.

East Texas A&M Professor Contributes to Major Discovery of Planet Candidate in Nearby Star System
A newly accepted scientific paper involving ETAMU's Dr. Billy Quarles, an assistant professor of physics and astronomy, details the possible discovery of a planet orbiting Alpha Centauri A.

Piano Faculty Judging Prestigious International Competition
Dr. Luis Sanchez, professor of music at East Texas A&M University, was invited to serve as a panelist for the 2025 Rubato International Piano Competition

Computational Linguistics Professor Featured in Article About A.I.-Created Humor
Dr. Christian Hempelmann, professor of computational linguistics at East Texas A&M University, was recently featured in an article by Undark Magazine discussing the science behind humor and whether artificial intelligence could truly be humorous.

English Faculty Receives Technology Innovator Award
East Texas A&M University Director of Writing, Assistant Professor and English Program Coordinator Dr. Charles Woods was recently honored with the Technology Innovator Award by the Conference on College Composition and Communication.

ETAMU Director of VisCom Honored with AAF Dallas Luminary Award
East Texas A&M University Director of Visual Communication Lee Hackett was recently honored with the prestigious Luminary Award by the American Advertising Federation of Dallas.

ETAMU Faculty to Keynote Fire Leadership Challenge 2025
Dr. Brandy Runyan and Hussien Jabai have been invited to serve as keynote speakers at the Fire Leadership Challenge 2025.

College of Ag Faculty Publishes Research in Journal of Animal Science
East Texas A&M University Assistant Professor Landon Sullivan was recently published in the latest issue of the Journal of Animal Science.

ETAMU Instructor Hired as First Police Chief of Central Texas Municipality
The City of Snook, Texas, recently announced the hiring of East Texas A&M University adjunct instructor Dr. Steven Huron as its first-ever police chief.

East Texas A&M Professor Featured in HigherEdJobs Interview on Graduate Student Success
Dr. Leslie Ekpe, assistant professor in the Department of Higher Education and Learning Technologies at East Texas A&M University, was recently featured in an interview with HigherEdJobs, a leading national platform for academic careers and insights.

ETAMU Adjunct Professor Desiree Stephens Featured in Voyage Dallas Interview
Dr. Desiree Stephens, adjunct professor of counseling at East Texas A&M University, was recently featured in Voyage Dallas, a regional publication known for spotlighting the stories of local entrepreneurs, creatives and community leaders.

Staff Honored at 2025 Appreciation Luncheon and Service Awards Ceremony
Staff Council hosted its annual Staff Service Awards and Appreciation Luncheon on April 24 at the Rayburn Student Center.

Mars Crater Naming Honors Renowned Planetary Scientist, Former ETAMU Professor Dr. Kit Blount
The honor recognizes Dr. Kit Blount’s legacy as a planetary scientist who helped map the Red Planet, and her lifelong commitment to STEM education.

East Texas A&M Faculty Members Recognized at Awards Luncheon
On April 22, the East Texas A&M University Faculty Senate combined efforts with the Texas Association of Black Personnel in Higher Education (TABPHE) to host a luncheon in which multiple faculty members received recognition for their service in teaching and research.

Newest Regents Professor Honored at Annual Convocation
East Texas A&M University Regents Professor of Music Dr. Brian Zator was officially recognized for his outstanding achievement at the university's annual Spring convocation.

East Texas A&M Students and Staff Take on Habitat Collegiate Challenge in Fort Lauderdale, Florida
In an inspiring demonstration of selfless service and community impact, a group of students and two staff members from East Texas A&M University recently participated in the Habitat for Humanity Collegiate Challenge in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

ETAMU Librarian Presents “ChatGPT Unveiled” to California Public Library
A.P. Anderson represented East Texas A&M on the West Coast with a presentation about the power and pitfalls of AI.

ETAMU Business Staff, Alum Named Co-Chair of DJCC
Yazan Kakish, director of marketing and communications for the East Texas A&M University College of Business, was recently named the co-chair of the Dallas Junior Chamber of Commerce's (DJCC) Board of Directors.

ETAMU Assistant Professor Receives Special Appointment From Texas Governor
Texas Governor Greg Abbott recently appointed Assistant Professor Belinda Rudinger, Ed.D., to the Governing Board of the Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired (TSBVI).

Faculty Member Honored with TABPHE State Service Award
East Texas A&M faculty member Michele Anderson was recently honored with the Reby Cary Community Service Award by the Texas Association of Black Personnel in Higher Education.