Alumni Engagement News
A&M-Commerce Alum Named to Senior Leadership Position at Origin Bank
Texas A&M University-Commerce alum Ryan Frahm was recently promoted to senior vice president of Origin Bank. In this capacity, Frahm will serve as a regional production manager, as well as head Origin's Texas loan officers. In addition, he will continue…
A&M-Commerce Alum Elected Mayor of Northeast Texas City
Recent Texas A&M University-Commerce graduate Justin Florence was elected to the office of Mayor of Palestine, Texas in a special runoff election held June 18, 2022. Florence received 56.22 percent of the vote during the runoff and will serve a…
TAMUC Alumna Georgia King Retires After 53 Years in Education
A&M-Commerce alumna Georgia King, Ed.D., recently retired from Beckville ISD after serving in the field of education for 53 years. King was the assistant superintendent of curriculum for the district. She earned her bachelor’s degree from East Texas State University…
TAMUC Alum and Renowned Radio Personality Reflects on His Career
A&M-Commerce alumnus Donovan Lewis is a professional radio personality on SportsRadio 96.7/1310 (“The Ticket”), the top-rated radio station in Dallas-Fort Worth. In a recent interview with Barrett Sports Media, Donovan talked about his beginnings in radio, challenges he's faced on…
TAMUC Alum Named Principal in Corsicana ISD
Texas A&M University-Commerce alumnus Paul Toal was recently named principal at Collins Intermediate School in Corsicana, Texas. Toal has been in education for 13 years, starting as a math teacher. He most recently served as assistant principal at Waxahachie High…
TAMUC Alum Named Dean at Tarleton State University
A&M-Commerce alumna Kayla Peak, Ed.D., was recently named dean of Tarleton State University's School of Kinesiology. Peak joined Tarleton faculty in 2006, working her way up to associate dean of the School of Kinesiology and her current role as interim…
TAMUC Curriculum and Instruction Publication Highlights Faculty Achievements
The April/May edition of C&I Research Spotlights, produced by the Department of Curriculum and Instruction at A&M-Commerce, highlights several faculty accomplishments and features an in-depth interview with Professor David Brown, Ph.D.
A prolific researcher and author, Brown has been a…
TAMUC Alum Named Middle School Principal in Cedar Hill ISD
A press release from Cedar Hill ISD announced that Katrina Lemons has been named the new principal at Permenter Middle School in Cedar Hill, effective July 1, 2022.
According to the release, Lemons has worked in Cedar Hill ISD's special…
TAMUC Alum Named State Fair of Texas Volunteer of the Year
A&M-Commerce Foundation Board member, donor and alumnus Robert Rhoads was recently named State Fair of Texas Volunteer of the Year. Rhoads has served as a long-time volunteer and board member for the state fair's scholarship program. He graduated from East…
A&M-Commerce Alum Wins Prestigious Garden Club Award
Texas A&M University-Commerce alum Matt Byrd was recently named a winner of the Hull Award from the Garden Club of America. The award is given annually to the top environmental educators in the nation. Established in 1992, the award also…
TAMUC Alum Named Chancellor in Residence at Educate Texas
Educate Texas recently announced that Dr. Joe May will serve as the organization's new chancellor in residence. May previously served for eight years as chancellor of Dallas College. He holds a doctorate in education from A&M-Commerce.
Educate Texas is an…
TAMUC Alum Named Assistant Principal in Wylie ISD
A&M-Commerce alumna Crystal Harrelson was named assistant principal at Whitt Elementary in Wylie ISD for the 2022-2023 school year. Harrelson currently teaches fourth grade at Miss May Vernon Elementary in Royse City ISD. She serves on Royse City ISD's Superintendent's…
Chapman Scholarship Supports First-Generation Hopkins County Students
The Ken Chapman Scholarship provides a new opportunity for first-generation students from Hopkins County to pursue agriculture studies at Texas A&M University-Commerce.
Starting this fall, the scholarship will be awarded annually to a student pursuing a major in the College…
TAMUC Alum and Nationally Acclaimed Photojournalist is Correspondent in Ukraine
Award-winning photojournalist and TAMUC alum Erin Trieb travels the world to capture touching stories of strength, courage and resilience.
As a freelance photographer, Trieb captures stories on issues of social justice involving cultural identity, war trauma and feminism. CBS recently…
TAMUC Alum Launches Career with Dallas Mavericks
Bri Mathis, a 2020 graduate of the sport and recreation management program at A&M-Commerce, has accepted a position with the Dallas Mavericks as an event specialist. Most recently, she worked for the NFL Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.
Dr.…
TAMUC Alumna Named Teacher of the Year at Cedar Hill Campus
A&M-Commerce alumna Tiffany Anderson was named 2021-2022 Bray Elementary Teacher of the Year in her first year at the Cedar Hill ISD campus. A Cedar Hill ISD press release quoted Anderson:
“I am shocked that I was chosen, but the…
A&M-Commerce Alum Named Interim President at SFA
Stephen F. Austin State University (SFA) named A&M-Commerce alum Steve Westbrook, Ed.D., as interim president of the university.
After joining SFA in 1981, Westbrook served as vice president for university affairs from 2007 to 2020 and filled the role of…
Gatlings’ Gifts Inspire New Generation of Alumni Donors
Christopher and Dr. Breanna Gatling are among the youngest donors in Texas A&M University-Commerce history. Their recent gifts set a precedent for a new generation of alumni to support their alma mater earlier in their careers.
The Gatlings introduced two…
ETSU Alumna Reflects on Acting Career
Alumna Delores Wheeler recently interviewed with Thrive Global to share her experiences as an actor and writer in Los Angeles and Oklahoma City. According to her bio, Wheeler has appeared in Breaking Them Up (2020), Infamous (2020) and Painted Woman …
McLennan Community College Facility Named for TAMUC Alumna
McLennan Community College in Waco, Texas, recently named a new learning facility in honor of A&M-Commerce alumna Johnette McKown, Ed.D. McKown has served as president of McLennan Community College since 2009. According to a recent article in the Waco-Tribune, the…
TAMUC Alumna Named Chief Human Resources Officer at Georgia Tech
A&M-Commerce alumna Skye Duckett was recently hired as the vice president and chief human resources officer at Georgia Institute of Technology, an R1 research university in Atlanta, Georgia. According to a Georgia Tech press release, Duckett previously served as chief…
TAMUC’s First African American Female Graduate of Accounting Establishes Scholarship Endowment
Distinguished Alumna Zenetta Strong Drew made history in 1974 as the first African American female accounting graduate from East Texas State University (now Texas A&M University-Commerce). At the end of last year, she extended her legacy through the Zenetta S.…
TAMUC Alum Named Dean at Bemidji State University
Texas A&M University-Commerce alum Jeffrey Bell, Ph.D., was recently named dean of the College of Individual and Community Health at Bemidji State University. Located in Bemidji, Minnesota, BSU is a public university that serves more than 5,000 students in a…
TAMUC Alum Recognized as African American Leader in Radio
Texas A&M University-Commerce alum Donovan Lewis was recently recognized as an African American Leader in Radio by Radio Ink magazine. Lewis graduated from then-East Texas State University with a degree in Radio/Television and began his career in broadcasting in 1993.…
A&M-Commerce Alumna Wins Athletics Coaching Honor
Texas A&M University-Commerce alumna Latasha Roach was recently named the Dallas Athletic Conference Coach of the Year for women's basketball. Roach currently coaches for the Cedar Valley Suns, who represent the Dallas College Cedar Valley campus located in Lancaster, Texas.…
A&M-Commerce Alum Named Finalist for Plano ISD Superintendent Position
An alumna of Texas A&M University-Commerce was recently named as the sole finalist to take over the position of superintendent of the Plano Independent School District in Plano, Texas. Theresa Williams, Ed.D, was announced as the finalist by the Plano…
ETSU Alum Inducted into Dallas ISD Athletic Hall of Fame
People Newspapers, a D Magazine publication, recently published an article about A&M-Commerce alumnus David Shepherd.
Shepherd was a legendary baseball coach at W.T. White High School in Dallas ISD. Coach Shepherd retired eight years ago, but he was inducted into…
Governor Reappoints A&M-Commerce Alum to State Crime Victims Council
Governor Greg Abbott recently reappointed A&M-Commerce alum Jeffrey “JD” Robertson to serve on the Texas Crime Victims' Institute Advisory Council for a term ending January 31, 2024. The council analyzes the impact of crime on victims and close relatives, and…
TAMUC Alum Hired to Address Health Disparities in Arkansas
The Arkansas Pharmacists Association recently named A&M-Commerce alum Marlene Battle, Pharm.D., as its new health equity coordinator. The organization created the position to tackle health disparities in the state exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Battle earned a Master of Science…
A&M-Commerce Alum to Lead National Statistics and Data Science Committee
A&M-Commerce alum Tom Faulkenberry, Ph.D., is the new chair of the Joint Committee on Undergraduate Statistics and Data Science Education. The committee is co-sponsored by the American Statistical Association and the Mathematical Association of America.
The two-year appointment will see…
Continuing the Legacy: Ernest Hawkins’ Daughter Makes Planned Gift
Texas A&M University-Commerce is more than a beloved alma mater to Kathy Hawkins Campbell. It is her childhood home and the site of her father's legendary career. These strong ties inspired Kathy to establish a planned gift to preserve her…
A&M-Commerce Alums Represent Well at Band and Orchestra Conference
Several Texas A&M University-Commerce alumni represented their alma mater well at the Midwest Clinic International Band and Orchestra Conference. The Midwest Clinic is the world’s largest instrumental music education conference, drawing approximately 17,000 attendees annually to Chicago from all fifty…
TAMUC Alum to Chair National Construction Conference
Texas A&M University-Commerce alumnus C. Collin Sutt was recently announced as the chair of the 2022 Advancing Construction Operational Excellence Conference to be held from March 7-9 in Denver, Colo. The conference bills itself as the only event in North…
Sandra and Gary Fernandes Gift $1 Million to TAMUC
Texas A&M University-Commerce alumni Sandra Lyday Fernandes and Gary Fernandes of Dallas and Honey Grove, Texas, made Lion history this month as the university’s first donors with a cumulative lifetime giving amount over $1 million.
The couple's most recent gift,…
A&M-Commerce Alum Remembers Pearl Harbor
A recent article in the Greenville Herald Banner tells the story of A&M-Commerce alum J.B. McNatt. McNatt was 17 when Pearl Harbor was attacked. Over 80 years later, he still remembers hearing the news for the first time. As a…
A&M-Commerce Alum Appointed Plano City Fire Chief
A&M-Commerce alum Chris Biggerstaff has been selected as the new fire chief for the city of Plano, Texas. Biggerstaff began his career by joining the Garland Fire Department in 1991. Shortly after, he joined the Plano Fire Department, earning Rookie…
Lion Alum Named to State Athletic Director Hall of Honor
A graduate of old ET has recently been named to the Hall of Honor of a state association for high school athletic directors, in recognition of her service and passion for high school athletics. Debbie Decker, a 1990 graduate of…
A&M-Commerce Alumna Fights Back Against Alzheimer’s Disease
For more than 15 years, Roslyn Thibodeaux Goodall has been raising awareness about Alzheimer's disease. She serves as the co-chair of the Alzheimer's Association/African Methodist Episcopal Church National Partnership Steering Committee and was recently featured in the Alzheimer’s Association’s ALZ…
A&M-Commerce Department of Counseling Represents at National Conference
The Department of Counseling at Texas A&M University-Commerce was well represented at the 2021 Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (ACES) national conference in Atlanta, Georgia, this past October, with several faculty members, current students and alumni in attendance.
Erika…
The Story of the A&M-Commerce Alumnus who Flew Rosa Parks Home
When Rosa Parks passed away in 2005, civil rights leaders wanted to honor her historic leadership with a multi-city procession of her casket. They reached out to Southwest Airlines to provide airline support for Parks' last trip home. Southwest agreed…
H.T. Sanchez Nominated for National Superintendent of the Year
An A&M-Commerce alum, Dr. H.T. Sanchez, has been nominated for The School Superintendents' Association (AASA) 2022 National Superintendent of the Year award. The award winner will be announced and the nominees will be honored at AASA's National Conference on Education…
A&M-Commerce Alum Named National University Teacher Regional Award Winner
A&M-Commerce alum Eric Hale recently received the 2021 National University Teacher Award for the southwest region. This award highlights teachers across the nation who have engaged their students and supported their educational journeys in exceptional ways. The 2021 National University…
TAMUC Students, Faculty and Alumni Shine at Percussion Convention
A strong contingent of students, faculty and alumni of Texas A&M University-Commerce had a stellar outing at the 2021 Percussive Arts Society International Convention (PASIC). The convention ran from November 10 through 13 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Featuring concerts, clinics, panels…
Distinguished Alum Returning to TAMUC for Music Clinic
Texas A&M University-Commerce Distinguished Alumnus Dr. Dan Moore is scheduled to return to campus on November 15 to give a music clinic to A&M-Commerce percussion students. Moore is a 1982 graduate of then-East Texas State University, where he studied under…
Alumni event planned for Nov. 1
A gathering of Texas A&M University-Commerce alumni is planned for the Dallas-Fort Worth area in support of the Lion Women's Basketball team. All alums are welcome to a gathering at the Ozona Grill & Bar, located at 4615 Greenville Ave.…
A&M-Commerce Alum Elected Secretary of TCBSBM
Texas A&M University-Commerce alum Barbara Kelley recently received the honor of being elected Secretary of the Texas Caucus of Black School Board Members (TCBSBM). Kelley is a 2006 graduate of A&M-Commerce and currently serves as the Police Lead Telecommunicator for…
ETSU Graduate Named Distinguished Alumni by Temple Education Foundation
Lion graduate Earl Nottingham was recently named a Distinguished Alumni by the Temple Education Foundation at a ceremony on October 21. Nottingham graduated from East Texas State University (now-Texas A&M University-Commerce) in 1978 with a Bachelor of Science in Photography.…
Shyulanda Randle-Filer Named TASSP Region 5 Middle School Principal of the Year
A&M-Commerce alum Shyulanda Randle-Filer was recently named 2021-2022 middle school principal of the year for Region 5 by the Texas Association of Secondary School Principals. Randle-Filer received her doctorate in educational leadership and administration from A&M-Commerce in 2015. She now…
A&M-Commerce Alum Named Texas Superintendent of the Year
A&M-Commerce alum H.T. Sanchez, Ed.D., has been named Superintendent of the Year by the Texas Association of School Boards (TASB). The presentation was made in September at the annual conference hosted by TASB and the Texas Association of School Administrators…
The Story of A&M-Commerce’s Jazz Legend Louise Tobin
A recent feature in the Denton Record Chronicle tells the story of Louise Tobin, a jazz legend who donated her jazz collection to A&M-Commerce in 2008. The jazz collection is available in the Velma K. Waters Library Special Collections.
Mary…