Alumni Engagement News
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.…
Retirement Reception Planned for Derryle Peace
Derryle Peace, director of Alumni Engagement, has announced his retirement from Texas A&M University-Commerce effective May 31. A beloved member of the Lion family, Mr. Peace has led the Office of Alumni Engagement for more than 18 years.
Derryle holds…
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…
TAMUC Professor Honored as ‘Star’ Texas Photographer
Chad Smith, professor of photography at Texas A&M University-Commerce, was recently honored as a “Star of Texas” by the Association of Texas Photography Instructors (ATPI) at their annual winter meeting held at the University of Texas at Arlington.
The award…
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…
TAMUC Students Showcase Their Work at Annual Juried Art Exhibition
Students majoring in Art at Texas A&M University-Commerce put their work on display to be judged by a guest artist as part of the annual Juried Student Art Exhibition.
The students' submissions were judged by Dr. Elizabeth Ranieri, a visiting…
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…
TAMUC Names 2023 Alumni Ambassadors
The Texas A&M University-Commerce Alumni Association honored 16 new Alumni Ambassadors at the 2023 Alumni Ambassador Forum and Luncheon held Tuesday, March 7 on the university campus.
An Alumni Ambassador is the highest honor an academic department may bestow upon…
Alum Bill O’Neal Named to Carthage, Texas Arts Walk of Fame
Historian, author and Texas A&M University-Commerce alum Bill O’Neal was honored last month after being inducted into the city of Carthage, Texas’ Art Walk of Fame.
Launched in 2021, the Art Walk of Fame was an initiative created by the…
A&M-Commerce Alum Named Next Superintendent at Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD
A&M-Commerce alum Dr. Wendy Eldredge is the sole finalist to become the next superintendent at Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD, following a unanimous decision by the district's board of trustees.
Eldredge earned her doctorate in supervision, curriculum and instruction at A&M-Commerce in…
A&M-Commerce Alum Wins Two Dissertation Awards
The American Educational Research Association (AERA) named A&M-Commerce graduate Dr. Meghan Gowin winner of the 2023 Selma Greenberg Outstanding Dissertation Award for her Research on Women and Education special interest group dissertation.
The dissertation, titled “Sister outsider: Lived experiences of…
A&M-Commerce Alum Named One of Dallas’s Most Influential Business Leaders
A&M-Commerce alumnus Awstin Gregg was selected as one of D CEO magazine's Dallas 500, an annual collection of biographies highlighting the most influential top executives in the Dallas-Fort Worth business community.
Gregg earned his Master of Social Work degree at…
TAMUC Alum Named Acting Provost and Senior Vice Chancellor at UT Martin
A&M-Commerce alumna Stephanie Kolitsch has been named acting provost and senior vice chancellor for academic affairs at the University of Tennesee at Martin.
According to a UT Martin news release, Kolitsch has served as a SACS coordinator as well as…
Remembering “The Texas Whistler”
A Greenville Herald-Banner article recounted the life of A&M-Commerce alum James Narramore who passed away on Jan. 21. Popularly known as “The Texas Whistler,” Narramore entertained community members during parades and other holiday festivities at his home in Greenville, Texas.…
TAMUC Alumna Recognized for Service to Texas Department of Licensing and Regulations
The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulations (TDLR) recently recognized Mrs. Faye Branch Williams for her dedicated support to the organization’s Code Enforcement Officer Program. Throughout her career, Williams has served as a code enforcement officer, a supervisor and an…
LPGas Magazine Highlights TAMUC Alum Duncan McMurchie
A recent article in LPGas magazine reports that A&M-Commerce alumnus Duncan McMurchie has been hired as a new associate at financial advisory firm Cetane Associates, headquartered in New Milford, Connecticut.
In the article, Cetane managing director Barrett Conway states, “We…
Graduates Give High Marks for TAMUC Region 10 Superintendent Certification Partnership
Two A&M-Commerce Region 10 ESC Superintendent Certification graduates shared their experiences in the Fall 2022 edition of Reach!, a biannual magazine published by the Region 10 Education Service Center (ESC).
Ben Dickerson and Michael Gipson were in the 2022 cohort…
TAMUC Alumna Featured by eChannelNEWS as Cybersecurity Leader
eChannelNEWS recently featured A&M-Commerce alumna Tiffany Ricks in its Women in Tech interview series. Ricks is the founder and CEO of HacWare, Inc, an award-winning cybersecurity startup providing AI-powered cybersecurity education to help security teams combat phishing attacks.
With over…
A&M-Commerce Names New Interim Dean of the College of Business
The College of Business at Texas A&M University-Commerce will see a leadership change in the new year. Effective January 9, 2023, A&M-Commerce alumnus and business executive Scott Wheeler will assume the role of interim dean of the College of Business.…
One Big Lion Family: Four Relatives Attend TAMUC at the Same Time
Texas A&M University-Commerce prides itself on creating an atmosphere where Lions feel like family. Currently, a quartet of university students share the Lion family dynamic more literally than most.
Husband Jacob Cuevas, wife Hermila Cuevas, daughter Angelica Cuevas and niece…
Lions Recall TAMUC Experiences as Part of International Education Week
During the Transforming Lives: International Alumni Panel at Texas A&M University-Commerce on Nov. 16, several Lions discussed their experiences as international students, including why they chose A&M-Commerce and how the university has transformed their lives.
The panel was one of…
Clint Dolezel Hired as A&M-Commerce Head Football Coach
By Lion Athletics
Texas A&M University-Commerce has announced the hiring of Lion Athletics Hall of Famer Clint Dolezel as the 21st head coach in the history of the Lion Football program on Wednesday morning.
One of only three documented three-sport…
TAMUC Jazz Legend Louise Tobin Dies at 104
A recent article in The Washington Post reports that jazz legend Louise Tobin died on Nov. 26 at the age of 104. Tobin was a big-band singer of the 1930s and '40s who donated her jazz collection to A&M-Commerce in…
TAMUC Alum Selected as Finalist for National Principal of the Year
Colleyville Middle School principal David Arencibia, Ed.D., was selected as one of three finalists for the National Principal of the Year award by the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP). Arencibia graduated from A&M-Commerce in 2004 with a Master…
TAMUC Alum Featured for Impactful Work as Big Brother Mentor
A recent YouTube video by Arnold Ventures features Dr. Weldon Elbert, Jr., an A&M-Commerce alum, as a mentor in the Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) community mentoring program in Houston, Texas.
The video highlights the positive relationship between Elbert and…
Ribbon Cutting Commemorates Reopening of Lyday Gardens
A&M-Commerce welcomed alumni Gary and Sandra Fernandes to campus on Oct. 21 to cut the ribbon and officially reopen Lyday Gardens. The Fernandes family originally sponsored the construction of the gardens in 2001, and another generous gift from them made…
A&M-Commerce Alum Receives Lifetime Achievement Award from PAS
Texas A&M University-Commerce alum Anthony Robinson was recently honored with the “Lifetime Achievement in Education” award by the Percussive Arts Society (PAS). Robinson received his Bachelor of Music Education degree from Northwestern State University in 1975, and then earned his…
TCU Professor Nona Batiste Graduates With Doctorate From A&M-Commerce at 75
Professor Nona Batiste pursued her life's goal across six decades before graduating from Texas A&M University-Commerce with a Doctor of Education degree at age 75.
Her inspiring tenacity is a testament to her philosophy: If you want something badly enough,…
A&M-Commerce Alumna Dominates New York Times Best-Seller List
A recent New York Times article, “How Colleen Hoover Rose to Rule the Best-Seller List,” details how one of A&M-Commerce’s most famous alumni rose to unprecedented success. Hoover currently holds an astounding six of the top 10 spots on the…
TAMUC Alum Makes a Mark in Contemporary Art
A recent article on ArtDaily.com highlights contemporary artist Trenton Doyle Hancock, an alumnus of A&M-Commerce. Hancock is a renowned artist whose second solo exhibition is on view from Sept. 17 through Oct. 29 at Shulamit Nazarian gallery in Los Angeles,…
Dallas Mayor Recognizes TAMUC Alum for Sports Broadcasting Career
Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson extended special recognition to A&M-Commerce alumnus Gentry Ace Little on Sept. 2 for his service as a respected Dallas-area sports broadcaster since 1982. Little has covered more than 1,654 games across DFW and beyond. A statement…
TAMUC Alumnus James Thrower Inducted into Arkansas Black Hall of Fame
A&M-Commerce alumnus James Thrower will be inducted into the Arkansas Black Hall of Fame on Oct. 15, 2022. A recent article in the Magnolia Reporter announced that Thrower and six other Arkansans will be recognized for their extraordinary contributions to…
Several TAMUC Alumni Selected for Agriculture Teacher Hall of Fame
More than a dozen alumni of Texas A&M University-Commerce have been recognized for their contributions to agriculture education with their enshrinement into the Agriculture Teachers Association of Texas (ATAT) Hall of Fame.
The ATAT was established in 1940 to promote…
TAMUC Alum Hired as Assistant Professor of Psychology at Northwestern Oklahoma State
A recent article in the Alva Review-Courier reported that A&M-Commerce alumna Leigh Kirby, Ph.D., was recently hired as an assistant professor of psychology at Northwestern Oklahoma State University, beginning in the Fall 2022 semester. Northwestern Oklahoma State is located in…
TAMUC Alum Cesar Quezada Hired by SMU as Inaugural Director of Mustang Scholars and the First-Generation Initiative
Southern Methodist University (SMU) recently hired A&M-Commerce alumnus Cesar Quezada as its inaugural director of Mustang Scholars and the First-Generation Initiative. The Mustang Scholars initiative provides financial and academic support to qualified students while the First-Generation Initiative (FGI) ensures academic…
TAMUC Alum Retires as President of Trinity Valley Community College
A&M-Commerce alumnus Jerry King, Ed.D., announced his retirement as president of Trinity Valley Community College (TVCC) in Athens, Texas. He will retire in May 2023 after 45 years of service to the institution.
King joined TVCC in 1975, serving as…
TAMUC Alum Named Executive Director at SystemsGo Aerospace Education Program
An article in the Fredericksburg Standard reported that A&M-Commerce alumna Rebekah Hyatt was recently named executive director at SystemsGo, based in Fredericksburg, Texas. According to SystemsGo.org, the program “is an innovative high school rocketry/aerospace curriculum that uses project-based learning to…
TAMUC Alumnus Establishes Accounting Scholarship for First-Generation Students
The new James Earl Estes Endowed Scholarship in Accounting offers financial support to first-generation students who major in accounting at Texas A&M University-Commerce. Mr. Estes, a graduate of East Texas State University (ETSU), generously provided the funds for the endowment.…
TAMUC Alumna Hired as Executive Director of Curriculum and Instruction for Gregory-Portland ISD
A&M-Commerce alumna Cynthia Woody, Ed.D., was recently hired to serve as the executive director of Curriculum and Instruction for Gregory-Portland ISD. G-PISD is located in Southeast Texas, near Corpus Christi. According to an article in The News of San Patricio,…
TAMUC Alum and Film Producer Releases “The Lady Makers”
A&M-Commerce alumnus Tony Hollins recently released a new film titled “The Lady Makers.” Hollins, known professionally as “Tony Tite,” is a writer, director and producer. He is the founder of Tite Creations, a film, television and animation production company in…
A&M-Commerce Alum Named Interim Police Chief in Rockwall
A two-time graduate of Texas A&M University-Commerce was recently named interim chief of the Rockwall, Texas Police Department. Edward Fowler has more than three decades of law enforcement experience, having served with Rockwall PD since 1990 in a number of…
ETSU Alum Named Newest Las Vegas Fire Chief
A graduate of East Texas State University (now Texas A&M University-Commerce) was recently hired by the Las Vegas, Nevada City Council as the city's newest fire department chief. Alum Fernando Gray, Sr. is a career firefighter, beginning his time in…
TAMUC Alum Selected to Attend Harvard’s Principal’s Center
A&M-Commerce alumna Aretha Jackson was selected to attend Harvard University's Principal's Center where she joined other school principals from around the U.S. to receive leadership and management training from Ivy League instructors. The opportunity was funded through the Charles Butt…
TAMUC Alum Named to Endowed Chair at OU College of Law
A&M-Commerce alumna Carla Pratt was selected by the University of Oklahoma (OU) College of Law as the first Ada Lois Sipuel Fisher Chair in Civil Rights, Race and Justice in Law. Pratt currently serves as dean of the School of…
TAMUC Music Grad Featured on NBC 5
NBC 5 news recently aired a segment about A&M-Commerce graduate Ashley Cox of Forney, Texas. During the pandemic, Cox lost her father to COVID-19, along with other family members. Yet, she persevered through hardship and achieved her dream, graduating with…
Alum Arthur McClearin Receives Maynard Jackson Award
TAMUC Alumnus Arthur McClearin received the Maynard Jackson Award at the 2022 Annual Financial Services Conference in Chicago. The award honors individuals who have made significant achievements and contributed richly to the financial services industry.
McClearin serves as senior managing…
Alumna Rita Ransdell Retires from American Airlines Center
Alumna Rita Ransdell recently retired after serving for 19 years as vice president of Human Resources for Center Operating Company, L.P. at the American Airlines Center in Dallas. As a member of the American Airlines Center team, Ransdell was instrumental…
A&M-Commerce Alum Named VP of Academic Affairs at Navarro College
The Navarro County Gazette reports that A&M-Commerce alum Jeanetta Johnson, Ed.D., is the new vice president of academic affairs at Navarro College.
Johnson earned three degrees from A&M-Commerce, including a bachelor's degree in interdisciplinary studies, a master's degree in elementary…