News Bites

Beta Alpha Psi Honors Founding Advisor Dr. Bobby Carmichael and Celebrates New Foundation Gift
The College of Business at East Texas A&M University recently welcomed back Dr. Bobby Carmichael, Professor Emeritus of Accounting, for a special visit in April, 2025.

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.

Alum to Lead Prestigeous Percussion Research Center
ETAMU alum Dr. Andrew Veit was recently named the new managing director for the Wells-Rapp Center for Mallet Percussion Research at Kutztown University.

Morris Recreation Center Expansion Featured in National Campus Recreation Magazine
East Texas A&M's rec center expansions were featured in a recent Campus Rec Magazine article.

Student Premieres Original Mass Composition at Choral Concert
An undergraduate ETAMU music student directed the university's Chamber Choir while they performed his self-composed Mass during a recent choral concert at the Jack and Lou Finney Concert Hall.

East Texas A&M Faculty Member Awarded National Grant to Research HBCU Homecomings
Dr. Leslie Ekpe, assistant professor in the Department of Higher Education and Learning Technologies at East Texas A&M University, has been awarded a $5,000 grant for her research project.

VisCom Student Work Honored with Graphis New Talent Awards
Several Visual Communication students at East Texas A&M University received high honors in the 2025 Graphis New Talent Awards.

CBS Interviews ETAMU’s Dr. Kathryn Dixon on Urgent Need for Certified Teachers in Texas
Dr. Kathryn Dixon of East Texas A&M discusses the growing teacher shortage in Texas and the importance of certification in a CBS News interview.

Doctoral Students Honored with University Innovation Award
ETAMU students Emily Littlejohn and Gouda Taha were selected for the 2025 Graduate Assistant Teacher of Record (GAToR) Innovations in Writing Pedagogy Award.

Wheelchair Basketball Tournament Scores Big For Special Olympics
On May 1, East Texas A&M University held the Roll 'n' Shoot 3-on-3 Wheelchair Basketball Tournament.

East Texas A&M Alum Lands Position Working For U.S. Congress
East Texas A&M University alum Emau Stephen Petaia has been appointed to the position of digital engagement manager for United States Congresswoman Aumua Amata Coleman Radewagen.

ETAMU’s Fuseini Anchors Ghana to World Champs Qualification
ETAMU sprinter Ibrahim Fuseini anchored the Ghanaian Men's 4x100 relay team and earned qualification for the World Outdoor Athletics Championships.

Esports Club’s Gold Team Reaches NECC ‘Smash Ultimate’ Nationals
The East Texas A&M Esports Club's Gold team achieved its highest-ever finish after reaching the national tournament for the NECC "Super Smash Bros. Ultimate" Spring 2025 season.

College of Business Innovators Take Top Honors at Texas Healthcare Challenge Hackathon
Two outstanding students from the College of Business—Rithika R. and Nirupama Vallabhaneni—helped lead their multidisciplinary teams to second and third-place finishes in the highly competitive TXHCC Open Track at the 7th Annual Texas Healthcare Challenge Hackathon, hosted by Health Wildcatters at Pegasus Park.

East Texas A&M Alum Named Plano ISD Principal
Jean Laswell, a 2007 graduate from East Texas A&M University, has been named the first-ever principal of the newly established Plano ISD Career and Technical Education (CTE) Center.

VisCom Students Honored with Awards at National Student Show
On Friday, April 11, students from East Texas A&M University’s Visual Communication program had an impressive showing at the 20th Annual National Student Show & Conference, held in Dallas.

East Texas A&M Team Named Finalist in U.S. Air Force Software Competition
A team of electrical engineering students from East Texas A&M University has earned national recognition as a top finalist in the prestigious 2025 Software Defined Radio (SDR) University Challenge.

Alum Named Southlake Fire Chief
A Lion alum with more than 30 years of experience in fire and emergency medical services was recently appointed to lead the Southlake, Texas Fire Department.

THECB Taps East Texas A&M Professor to Evaluate Workforce Training Initiative
Dr. LaVelle Hendricks, a professor of counseling at East Texas A&M University, has been awarded a $200,000 grant by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB), to evaluate the Texas Innovative Adult Career Educational (ACE) Grant Program.