College of Education and Human Services News

Curriculum and Instruction Faculty Help Rural Schools Strengthen UIL Academics
East Texas A&M welcomed educators from across Northeast Texas for a UIL Academics Workshop designed to help rural schools strengthen their academic competition programs and better engage students.

Robert E. Howard Scholars Gather as East Texas A&M Takes Helm of The Dark Man Journal
East Texas A&M launched a new era of The Dark Man journal with an international conference celebrating Robert E. Howard's literary legacy.

Honors College Planting Seeds of Knowledge Through Community Garden
Honors College students at East Texas A&M University will soon be trading desks for garden beds as they take on the management of a community garden in Commerce.

ETAMU Becomes New Home of Robert E. Howard Journal, Announces June 20 Conference
East Texas A&M becomes the new home of The Dark Man—a journal dedicated to Robert E. Howard, the father of modern sword-and-sorcery fiction—and launches its next chapter with a free public conference.

East Texas A&M Education Student Awarded Aspiring Educator Grant
Education student Joanna Duran has received an Aspiring Educator Grant, supporting her goal of becoming a dual-language elementary teacher.

Educational Leadership Graduate Continues Rise in Texas Public Education
East Texas A&M alumnus Dr. Jason Adams has been named the lone finalist for superintendent of Grapevine-Colleyville Independent School District.

Alumna Earns National Award for Bilingual Education Dissertation
East Texas A&M University alumna Dr. Rocio Almanza has earned the 2026 Outstanding Dissertation Award from the National Association for Bilingual Education.

Murphy Day Counseling Conference Returns, Attracts 225 Attendees
East Texas A&M's Department of Counseling welcomed students, educators and mental health professionals from across the region to the return of the Murphy Day Counseling Conference.

ETAMU, Forney ISD Sign MOU for Affordable Master’s Degrees for Teachers
East Texas A&M and Forney Independent School District signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at expanding affordable graduate education opportunities for educators.

East Texas A&M Celebrates Class of 2026 with Milestone Commencement Weekend
Amidst cheers and applause, 1,586 graduates turned their tassels to mark the transition from students to proud East Texas A&M University alumni this weekend.

East Texas A&M Launches Innovative Effort to Help Address Texas Teacher Shortage
East Texas A&M is taking aim at the teacher shortage in Texas with a new initiative designed to help working adults and paraprofessionals become certified educators.

Graduating Senior Balances Football, Research and Leadership in Psychology
ETAMU senior Jason Otah reflects on the mentors and experiences that shaped his path from student-athlete to aspiring mental health professional.

ETAMU Student Recognized for Exceptional Commitment as a Paraprofessional
Elisabeth Armendariz, an ETAMU education major, earned an award for her standout work supporting students. Her passion for helping students thrive shines through her work as a paraprofessional.

ETAMU Hosts Regional Rural Med Camp To Build Healthcare Pipeline in East Texas
The Regional Rural Med Camp April 16–17, brought high school students from across the region to campus for an introduction to careers in healthcare.

Honoring Excellence: Meet the 2026 Alumni Ambassador Awardees
The annual Alumni Ambassador Forum gives ETAMU alumni an opportunity to connect with and encourage current students.

ETAMU Alum Helps Lead Global Study Revealing Why Scientific Findings Can Vary
The ETAMU graduate contributed to a large-scale international research study published in Nature, examining how different analytical approaches can lead to varying scientific results.

Counseling Professor Earns IAAOC Educator Excellence Award
Dr. Michael K. Schmit has been named the 2026 recipient of the Addictions/Offender Counselor Educator Excellence Award from the International Association of Addictions and Offender Counselors.

ETAMU Students Engage in National Education Advocacy Seminar in Washington, D.C.
ETAMU students explored national education policy firsthand in Washington, D.C., meeting leaders and visiting historic sites during the DKG Legislative Seminar.

Public Health Showcase Highlights Career Pathways, Community Impact at East Texas A&M-Dallas
East Texas A&M brought students and public health professionals together for its fifth annual Public Health Showcase, an event designed to connect classroom learning with real-world application.

ETAMU Awarded $381K Grant to Fund Experimental Psychology Ph.D. Students
East Texas A&M University was awarded a competitive Research Excellence Fund Graduate Fellowship grant from the Texas A&M University System to support doctoral students in its Experimental Psychology Ph.D. program.

East Texas A&M Honors Regents Professor Henley at Spring Academic Convocation
East Texas A&M University honored Dr. Tracy Henley, Regents Professor and professor in the Department of Psychology and Special Education, during its Spring 2026 Academic Convocation.

East Texas A&M Students Shine at Texas ACSM Conference
Students from the Department of Health and Human Performance at East Texas A&M University earned national recognition at the annual meeting of the Texas Chapter of the American College of Sports Medicine.

East Texas A&M Student Lands Internship with the Texas Rangers
If you head to a Texas Rangers game this season, you might spot a familiar Lion behind the scenes. Ruby Blaylock, an Honors College senior at East Texas A&M University, has earned a competitive internship with the Major League Baseball club.

Documentary Directed by Lion Alum Premieres at Major L.A. Film Festival
A documentary directed by an East Texas A&M University alum detailing the damage, impact and community resurgence following the devastating Eaton Fire recently premiered at the Pan African Film Festival in Los Angeles.

Counseling Professor LaVelle Hendricks Named 2026 Addictions Educator of the Year
Dr. LaVelle Hendricks has been named the first recipient of the 2026 Peter Bell Premier Addictions Educator of the Year Award by the Museum of African American Addictions, Treatment and Recovery.

East Texas A&M Alum Receives Prestigious Outstanding Programmer Award
ETAMU alum Telvin James has been honored by NACA with the Patsy Morley Award for his student‑centered approach to campus programming.

East Texas A&M Recognized Among Top A&M System Schools in U.S. News Online Program Rankings
East Texas A&M stood strong alongside fellow Texas A&M University System institutions in the latest U.S. News & World Report rankings of online programs.

East Texas A&M Online Programs Ranked Among the Best in Texas and the Nation
East Texas A&M is making a name for itself in online education, earning national recognition from U.S. News & World Report.

Governor Abbott Reappoints ETAMU Alum to Texas State Board of Examiners of Psychologists
East Texas A&M alumna Dr. Sangeeta Singg will continue serving on the TSBEP, helping oversee licensure and ethical standards for psychologists in Texas.

Regional Athletic Training Symposium Connects Students with Real-World Skills
A recent symposium at ETAMU offered students real-world exposure in rodeo sports medicine, collegiate athletic training pathways and emergency action planning.

Omegas, ETAMU Staff Team Up to Provide Thanksgiving Meals to Students
Omega's and ETAMU staff turned a quiet holiday on campus into a celebration of care and community.

A Career of Curiosity and Commitment: Henley Named Regents Professor
Longtime psychology educator Dr. Tracy B. Henley honored for transformative teaching, research and mentorship.

Alumnus Earns 500th Career Win as Texas High School Basketball Coach
East Texas A&M University alumnus Hosea D. Lee, a 1993 graduate with a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology and applied anatomy, has reached a major milestone in his coaching career. Lee earned his 500th win on Nov.

A&M System Leaders Experience ETAMU’s Expanding Research Impact
East Texas A&M hosted the Texas A&M System’s Chief Research Officers fall meeting, highlighting groundbreaking research in gamebird conservation, cancer treatment, agriculture, astronomy, and human performance.

Governor Abbott Reappoints ETAMU Alum to Texas Commission on Jail Standards
East Texas A&M University alumna Patricia M. Anthony was recently reappointed to the Texas Commission on Jail Standards.

East Texas A&M Nursing Students Take Charge in Realistic Mass Casualty Simulation
As part of their Rural and Community Health Nursing course, nursing students participated in a mass casualty simulation designed to test their clinical decision-making, leadership and communication skills.

Strong Standards, Bright Futures: ETAMU Counseling Programs Reaccredited
East Texas A&M University’s graduate counseling programs have once again earned national recognition for excellence.

ETAMU Alumna Earns State Recognition for Dissertation on Bilingual Education
ETAMU graduate Dr. Rocio Almanza earned second place for Dissertation of the Year from the Texas Association for Bilingual Educators for her research on translanguaging in bilingual kindergarten classrooms.

Bill Martin Jr Symposium Celebrates 20 Years of Literacy, Learning and Legacy
The Department of Curriculum and Instruction at East Texas A&M hosted the 20th annual Bill Martin Jr Memorial Symposium, honoring the life and legacy of one of America’s most beloved children’s authors.

ETAMU Researchers Advance Athlete and Tactical Readiness at ROARHP Lab
The Department of Health and Human Performance at East Texas A&M is home to one of the most versatile and innovative facilities in the region: the ROARHP Lab.

ETAMU Ranks Among the Top Nursing, Engineering, and Social Mobility Programs in U.S. News & World Report 2025
The 2025 U.S. News rankings showcase ETAMU’s dedication to quality programs, affordability, and life-changing opportunities for students.

East Texas A&M Student Gains Valuable Experience with WNBA’s Dallas Wings
Ruby Blaylock, a junior majoring in sport and recreation management with a minor in general business, spent her summer interning with the WNBA’s Dallas Wings.

ETAMU Student’s Research Published in State Historical Journal
East Texas A&M University student Aubrey Watkins recently had her research published in "Touchstone," a collegiate academic journal produced by the Texas State Historical Association's Walter Prescott Webb Historical Society.

East Texas A&M Social Work Programs Earn 8-Year Reaffirmation
East Texas A&M University’s School of Social Work has received reaffirmation of accreditation for both its Bachelor of Social Work and Master of Social Work programs.

Why U.S. Police Training Is Under Fire—And How East Texas A&M’s Evidence-Based Academy Sets a New Standard
As questions grow around recruit deaths in the U.S., East Texas A&M is showing how evidence-based training can build strong law enforcement officers without breaking them.

East Texas A&M Alumnus Named General Manager of Maverik Center
East Texas A&M University alumnus Jeff Davis has been named general manager of the Maverik Center in West Valley City, Utah.

ETAMU Researchers Go Abroad to Tackle Global Sport Performance
Students and faculty from East Texas A&M University recently returned from a study abroad and research trip to Spain and Portugal, where they established international partnerships in the field of sport science and performance analytics.

Building Healthier Communities: Inside East Texas A&M’s Master of Public Health Program
In an immensely informative interview, Dr. Elizabeth Wachira explains how the East Texas A&M MPH program turns a passion for public service into a fulfilling career.

Alumna Retires After Decades of Child Advocacy Leadership
After more than three decades of service in child protection and advocacy, East Texas A&M alumna Irish Burch has announced her retirement.

East Texas A&M Hosts Regional Education Workshop
School board trustees and future superintendents gathered at ETAMU for a day of learning, leadership development, and real-world insights.