College of Education and Human Services News

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.

Snakes and Conan the Barbarian: Unique Topics at East Texas A&M Lion’s Lecture

On April 22, attendees at the atrium of the Nursing and Health Sciences Building were treated to two equally fascinating Lion’s Lectures, one discussing snakes and the other covering Texas author Robert E. Howard.

East Texas A&M Researchers Link Pollution Exposure to Mental Health Risks

A new peer-reviewed study involving East Texas A&M researchers is drawing urgent attention to the mental health consequences of environmental pollution in rural, underserved communities across the South.
A graphic of a college basketball coach with the text "Welcome Ross Hodge."

Alum, Former Coach Tabbed to Lead West Virginia Men’s Basketball Program

Lion alum and former assistant basketball coach Ross Hodge was recently announced as the new head coach of the West Virginia University Men's Basketball team.

Staff Member Appointed to Texas Association of Play Therapy Board of Directors

On March 20, Dr. Candace Chuyou-Campbell, clinical director for the Department of Counseling at East Texas A&M University, was appointed to the board of directors of the Texas Association for Play Therapy (TxAPT).
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Region 10 Superintendent Certification Program Students Enjoy Golf and Networking

Region 10 students gathered and shared experiences at their recent golfing event. They had the opportunity to network while enjoying a day of fun and connecting.
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Principal of the Year Awarded to ETAMU Alum

Alumna Dr. Jericah Jackson is the Secondary Principal of the Year in Aldine ISD for her outstanding work.

Why Advancing from RN to BSN Matters More Than Ever – And How It’s Faster and Cheaper Than You Think

At East Texas A&M University, an RN can earn their BSN in a matter of months while avoiding many of the drawbacks of the standard college experience.

Symposium Delivers Valuable Lessons to Graduate Students

For the fourth consecutive semester, East Texas A&M University Assistant Professor Dr. Leslie Ekpe organized and hosted an online Graduate Student Symposium.

ETAMU Alum Awarded PE Teacher of the Year

Alum Kevin Nguyen was awarded 2024 High School PE Teacher of the Year by TAHPERD.

Public Health Showcase Comes to East Texas A&M

On March 21, East Texas A&M Health and Human Performance students hosted the fourth annual Public Health Showcase at the university’s Dallas site.
A graphic of a basketball player that reads "Academic All-District"

Newsome named to CSC Academic All-District Team

East Texas A&M University women's basketball guard Jordyn Newsome was named to the Academic All-District team, as selected by the College Sports Communicators.

Wheelchair Basketball Tournament Sign-ups Open Now

East Texas A&M University will host the Roll ‘n’ Shoot 3-on-3 Wheelchair Basketball Tournament on May 1 at 5 p.m. at the Nursing and Health Services Building gym, room 175.
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ETAMU Alum Named Lone Finalist for GPISD Superintendent Position

Dr. Gabriel Trujillo was recently named the lone finalist for the position of superintendent of the Grand Prairie Independent School District.

Undergraduate Nutrition Program Earns Accreditation Candidacy

The Department of Health and Human Performance at East Texas A&M University recently announced that its Bachelor of Science in Nutrition degree program was granted candidacy status by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND).
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Social Work Graduate Student and Alum Named to TACUSPA Board

Current East Texas A&M University graduate student Gabrielle Vaughn was named to the Board of Directors of the Texas Association of College and University Student Personnel Administrators.
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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).
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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.

Reactivated Chi Sigma Iota Chapter at East Texas A&M Initiates New Members

The Epsilon Tau Honor Society, which promotes professionalism in counseling, will hold initiation ceremonies each fall and spring semester to induct new members.
East Texas A&M alum Tina Clark wearing a blue top, standing against a light brick background.

Lewisville ISD Names East Texas A&M Alum Executive Director of Special Education

Tina Clark brings years of experience to her new role as the executive director of Special Education at Lewisville ISD.

Super Bowl 2025: How Fandom Boosts Mental Health, According to Psychology Research

Dr. Stephen Reysen shares his insights into the psychology of the millions of fans who will watch Super Bowl 2025.

East Texas A&M Recognized for Top Online Programs by U.S. News & World Report

East Texas A&M earned top ratings from U.S. News & World Report for several online degree programs, reflecting the university's commitment to excellence and innovation in online education. 
A professional headshot of James J. Branam wearing a dark suit and purple tie. The headshot is floating over a blue and gold diagonal striped background.

East Texas A&M Doctoral Student Named Assistant Superintendent for Bonham ISD

A seasoned educator and administrator with more than 25 years of experience, Branam is pursuing a doctorate in educational administration at ETAMU.
Dr. Winston McCowan poses for a headshot against a vignette background wearing a dark suit, purple-toned tie and a gold cross necklace.

Texas Association of Secondary School Principals Selects ETAMU Alum Texas High School Principal of the Year

McCowan gained eligibility for the award following his selection as Principal of the Year for the Region 11 Education Service Center.
At left, Dr. Sandy Kimbrough stands next to a 2024 TAHPERD Award Winners sign showing a picture of her. On the right side of the image stands a female student with a male student behind her.

Department of Health and Human Performance Shines at Annual Industry Conference

Faculty and students from the department received awards and presented workshops at the premier industry conference.
East Texas A&M cybersecurity alum Tag Kalat smiles at the viewer, wearing black-rimmed glasses and a light blue button-up against a gray background.

Blazing New Trails: East Texas A&M Honors College and A&M-RELLIS Shape Cybersecurity Graduate’s Career Success

Kalat's academic and professional successes illustrate the transformative power of an East Texas A&M University education.
Leon Theodore, dressed in dark clothing, sits outside of a white building. He is smiling as he looks into the distance with his fingers interlocked in front of him.

ETAMU Alum Leverages His Past to Guide Youth Toward Better Futures

East Texas A&M alum Leon Theodore is featured in a recent article by Spectrum News. The feature details Theodore's journey of overcoming a troubled past to become a social worker, nonprofit leader and adjunct professor. East Texas A&M alum Leon…

East Texas A&M Professor Joins Educational Administration Group’s Executive Board

Ross brings more than 28 years of experience in education to the Texas Council of Professors of Educational Administration executive board.
Attendees at the Culturally Relevant Literacy Seminar pose for a group photo while holding up the Lucky Lion hand gesture involving the right-hand thumb and first two fingers.

Honoring Cultures Through Literacy: ETAMU Hosts First Culturally Relevant Literacy Seminar

The event brought together educators to explore effective strategies for integrating cultural perspectives into literacy instruction.
Professional headshot of ETAMU alum Freeman Martin against a splotched blue and brown background.

Two East Texas A&M Alums Lead Major State Agencies

Both Martin and Kidd graduated from competency-based degree programs at East Texas A&M designed to help working professionals advance their careers.
ETAMU alum Sharlene Belton-Gonzalez on a blue- and gold-barred background

ETAMU Alum Leading St. Croix District in U.S. Virgin Islands

Belton-Gonzalez brings more than 24 years of experience as a teacher and administrator to the role.
Book cover for "Hispanic Leadership in Higher Education" over a yellow, geometric background, featuring a Hispanic woman wearing a graduation robe, looking over her shoulder toward the viewer.

Interdisciplinary Team of Faculty Publish Title on Hispanic Leadership

The book is a result of a joint effort between the provost and the College of Education and Human Services to promote cross-discipline collaboration at A&M-Commerce.
A smiling Theresa Williams sits for an interview wearing a black dress against a light, blurred background.

A&M-Commerce Alum, Plano ISD Superintendent Profiled in Video Series

Two-time TAMUC alum Dr. Theresa Williams shares her insights on leadership, personal growth and the value of strong professional networks.
An athlete runs on a treadmill while connected to a tube measuring her breathing. Several students in the background are analyzing the data on a computer monitor.

A&M-Commerce Introduces Bachelor’s with Strength and Conditioning Emphasis to Train Future Athletic Performance Coaches

The bachelor's in strength and conditioning will provide a comprehensive curriculum combined with theoretical knowledge and practical applications.
A bilingual person sits with legs crossed facing the viewer. There are Spanish-language books on the table behind her, where blurred people are conversing in groups.

Preparing Bilingual Teachers for Texas Classrooms: A&M-Commerce Receives $2.7 Million Multilingualism Grant

The university will use the funding to launch the LeoTeach BEACON project.
An image of TAMUC alum Dr. Terri D. Osborne wearing a gray business suit displayed over a blue and gold background.

A&M-Commerce Alum Takes on Leadership Role at KISD

Dr. Terri D. Osborne stepped into the new role on Sept. 30.
A lion statue on the campus of Texas A&M University-Commerce

Pair of TAMUC Alumni Named to Quinlan ISD Hall of Fame

The Quinlan Independent School District in Quinlan, Texas recently announced their 2024 Hall of Fame inductees, which include a pair of Texas A&M University-Commerce alumni.
A head-and-shoulders portrait against a dark background of a man in a gray suit with a woman in a green top embracing him from behind with her arms and hands crossed over his shoulders.

A&M-Commerce Alums Honored with New Middle School in Forney ISD

The couple are noted Forney ISD alums and educators.
Seven people stand shoulder-to-shoulder in front of a table with a blue cloth cover and promotional items on top. Next to them is a blue, vertical banner with the A&M-Commerce logo and numerous smaller lion head logos below.

Six Mount Pleasant ISD Employees Receive Scholarships for Pride Pathway at A&M-Commerce

The program addresses teacher shortages by assisting school district employees in earning their degree and teacher certification.
Dr. Winston McCowan poses for a headshot against a vignette background wearing a dark suit, purple-toned tie and a gold cross necklace.

A&M-Commerce Alum Selected as Region 11 Principal of the Year

Dr. Winston McCowan ('01, '08) will now represent ESC Region 11, vying for Texas Principal of the Year.
A professional headshot of A&M-Commerce alum Shae Creel in a dark suit and blue tie against a blue and black backdrop.

A&M-Commerce Alum Named Region 10 Principal of the Year

Creel will now vie for the title of Texas Principal of the Year.
Four smiling female college students pose with a female faculty member in the middle. A stage behind them is adorned with flags representing countries around the world.

TAMUC Students Present at International Educator Convention

The students shared their experience establishing the first DKG student organization.
Three female students show the "Lucky Lion" hand sign at a national conference.

A&M-Commerce Education Students Compete Successfully at National Conference

Three A&M-Commerce students recently competed with future teachers from across the nation at the Educators Rising 2024 National Conference in Washington, DC.

Alternative Certification Empowers Career Changers and Retirees to Become Skilled Teachers

These online programs create pathways for professionals with non-education bachelor’s degrees to shift to a teaching career.
Headshot of Kathryn Dixon, a woman with white skin and long red hair.

A&M-Commerce Faculty’s Research on Texas Districts of Innovation Posted on Brown University’s EdWorkingPapers Website

Dr. Kathryn Dixon, associate professor and assistant dean for the College of Education and Human Services at Texas A&M-Commerce, and Dr. Sarah Guthery with the University of Oklahoma have researched the first iteration of Texas Districts of Innovation (DOI). DOIs…

TAMUC Alum to Join Arlington ISD as Deputy Superintendent

The Arlington Independent School District (AISD) recently named Dr. Jennifer Collins, an A&M-Commerce alum, its new deputy superintendent. Collins has an extensive background in education. She taught sixth-, seventh- and eighth-grade students in Sunnyvale, Forth Worth and Marshall. She served…

A&M-Commerce Alum Hoover Featured in Texas Monthly Magazine

An article published in the June 2024 edition of Texas Monthly magazine highlights A&M-Commerce alum and best-selling author Colleen Hoover. In it, Hoover provides insight into her meteoric rise to fame and the following scrutiny and criticism. Readers catch a…
A woman poses with a football while looking at the viewer

A&M-Commerce Instructor Self-Publishes Four Sport-Related Books

A&M-Commerce alum and instructor Brandy Runyan has self-published four titles this summer aimed at various groups in professional sports. “Understanding the Role of Agents and Navigating Legal Aspects of Contracts and Endorsements” equips aspiring agents, seasoned professionals and clients with…

TAMUC Faculty Publishes Book for Children with Unique Names

A&M-Commerce faculty member Dr. Kamshia Childs recently authored the children's book, “I Am More Than My Name.” Aimed at children from ages six to 10, the book celebrates the beauty of having a unique name through poetic storytelling. Illustrated by…

A&M-Commerce Alum to Head New School for Student Empowerment

The Cheltenham School District in Elkins Park, Pennsylvania, has named Texas A&M-Commerce alum Dr. Christine Zubairu (‘23) as principal at its newly established Cheltenham Empowerment Center (CEC). Aimed at students facing challenges in the traditional school setting, the center's mission…
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