College of Education and Human Services News
A&M-Commerce Alum Joins Renowned Architecture Firm
Texas-based Pfluger Architects recently announced its selection of A&M-Commerce alum Dr. David Young ('98) as communications and engagement manager.
Texas A&M-Commerce alum Dr. David Young. Photo courtesy of Pfluger Architects.
The retired superintendent and 29-year educator brings a wealth of…
TAMUC Health and Human Performance Researchers Helping Build Resilience in First Responders
Faculty researchers in the Department of Health and Human Performance at Texas A&M-Commerce are at the forefront of improving physical fitness preparation and performance for first responder populations.
Instructor Hussien Jabai and Associate Professor Dean Culpepper recently penned an article…
TAMUC Bilingual Education Info Session Draws Potential Teachers
An information session on May 20 at Texas A&M University-Commerce at Dallas extended an action call to end the statewide teacher shortage in bilingual education.
Almost 80 participants packed a meeting room at the university's Dallas site to learn about…
TAMUC Alum, Instructor’s Agency Named a Top Dallas Firm in 2024
Texas A&M-Commerce alum and instructor Brandy Runyan's public relations firm, Black Diamond PR and Sport Management Firm, is one of the top PR firms in Dallas for 2024, according to PRNEWS.IO.
The site also published an interview with Runyan, discussing…
Texas A&M-Commerce Alum Named Rockport Chief of Police
The City of Rockport, Texas, named recent A&M-Commerce graduate Nathan Anderson as its new Chief of Police.
Anderson—who joined the department in 2020 with 24 years of law enforcement experience—completed his bachelor's degree in criminal justice with an emphasis in…
Showcasing Scholarship: Highlights from TAMUC’s Annual Research Symposium
TAMUC students present innovative research projects to the university community and industry leaders.
Texas A&M University-Commerce hosted its Annual Research Symposium on April 17, 2024, at the university's Rayburn Student Center. The symposium showcased undergraduate and graduate research projects, providing…
TAMUC Alum Named Superintendent of Schools for Abilene ISD
A&M-Commerce alum Dr. John Kuhn ('16) is the new superintendent of Abilene Independent School District. He previously served as superintendent at Mineral Wells ISD, overseeing approximately 3,000 students compared to Abilene's 15,000.
“This will be a challenge because there is…
TAMUC Electrical Engineering Students Reach Finals in National Beyond 5G Challenge
A team of A&M-Commerce undergraduate electrical engineering students recently reached the finals in the sixth annual Beyond 5G Software Defined Radio University Challenge. The Air Force Research Laboratory hosted the competition in partnership with the Wright Brothers Institute in Dayton,…
A&M-Commerce Professional Development Series Helps Employees Grow, Thrive
This spring, Texas A&M University-Commerce embarked on the second semester of its transformative Investing in Us employee development program, which has met with high praise from faculty and staff across the university. The innovative program features eight-week courses designed to…
Third Annual Health Fair at A&M-Commerce a Big Success
Texas A&M University-Commerce public health students—in conjunction with Exercise is Medicine® On Campus, Student Health Services and the Department of Nursing—recently hosted the third annual Health Fair on campus.
A&M-Commerce students, faculty and staff joined forces to present the third…
TAMUC Faculty Co-Edits Award-Winning Book on Furry Fandom
“Furscience,” a book co-edited by A&M-Commerce faculty Dr. Stephen Reysen, has been selected for the 2023 Ursa Major Award for “Best Non-Fiction Work.”
Reysen is an associate professor in the Department of Psychology and Special Education at A&M-Commerce. One area…
Community Food Drive Benefits A&M-Commerce Lion Food Pantry
A&M-Commerce student and Master of Public Health intern Alyssa Brimer, along with Assistant Professor of Health and Human Performance Dr. Katharine Halfacre, recently coordinated a food drive benefiting the Lion Food Pantry on campus.
A&M-Commerce faculty, staff, student volunteers and…
A&M-Commerce Professor to Learn, Receive Innovative New Braille Device
A&M-Commerce faculty Dr. Belinda Rudinger has been selected to participate in a two-day training on the Monarch, a revolutionary new braille device. The Monarch is the first braille device to offer more than one line of braille at a time…
A&M-Commerce Kinesiology Student Discovers Career Focus as a Champion for Accessibility in Sports
Standing courtside at a recent unified basketball event hosted at Texas A&M University-Commerce, kinesiology student Katelyn Frisbie's eyes light up as she cheers for both special education and general education students participating in the event. As an aspiring adapted physical…
Sucked Into the Vortex: Social Media and Mental Health Q&A with a TAMUC Counselor
In a world obsessed with likes, comments and views, how can we find a little peace and quiet in our minds?
Social media: we all know and love it. And, if you're like me, maybe you love it a little…
A&M-Commerce Earns Third Consecutive Silver Distinction for Campus Wellness Efforts
Texas A&M-Commerce is one of only 145 universities and colleges worldwide recognized by Exercise is Medicine for its efforts to create a culture of wellness on campus.
The Exercise is Medicine on Campus (EIM-OC) leadership team at A&M-Commerce—including Dr. Vipa…
Texas A&M-Commerce Alumni Association Honors 2024 Alumni Ambassadors
The 38th annual Alumni Ambassador Forum celebrates successful A&M-Commerce alumni.
The Alumni Association of Texas A&M University-Commerce recognized 21 new Alumni Ambassadors at the 2024 Alumni Ambassador Forum on Tuesday, March 19. The 38th annual forum was held in the…
Black History Month Extended: Celebrating the Contributions of Five Impactful TAMUC Professors
Black History Month Series Part 3: Honoring and Recognizing Impactful Black Figures in the Lion Family
As the echoes of Black History Month fade, the legacy of trailblazers like Dr. David Talbot continue to inspire forthcoming generations of brilliant professors…
A&M-Commerce Alum Shares Tips for a Career in Health and Wellness
A&M-Commerce alum Angela P. Harper (‘09) recently sat for an interview featured in Authority Magazine.
In the article, Harper shares five keys for building a successful career in health and wellness. She also emphasizes the importance of authenticity, self-care strategies…
A&M-Commerce and Austin Police Department Establish Preferred Path to a Bachelor’s in Criminal Justice
The partnership provides automatic admission for eligible department employees to obtain a high-value degree with no out-of-pocket expense.
The College of Innovation and Design at Texas A&M University-Commerce and the City of Austin, Texas, have partnered to establish a preferred…
A&M-Commerce Aspiring Educators Compete at State Conference, Advance to Nationals
A&M-Commerce students representing Texas Educators Affiliate, the university's chapter of the Texas Association of Future Educators (TAFE), attended the TAFE Teach Tomorrow Summit in Round Rock, Texas, Feb. 8 through March 1.
Student members participated in several competitive events at…
TAMUC Well-Represented at Texas Association of Black Personnel in Higher Education Annual Conference
A&M-Commerce had a strong showing at the 51st annual Texas Association of Black Personnel in Higher Education conference held Feb. 11-14 in Frisco, Texas.
Numerous faculty and staff presented at the conference, with two receiving some of TABPHE's highest awards.…
TAMUC Co-Hosts Privacy Week to Explore Digital Privacy
A&M-Commerce played a significant role in organizing and hosting an international event to promote discussions about digital privacy in academics and the wider community.
Flyer for the DRPC’s Privacy Week | Courtesy of the DRPC
Texas A&M University-Commerce played a…
TAMUC Health and Human Performance Students Present at Regional Conference
Twelve students and three faculty from the Department of Health and Human Performance at A&M-Commerce attended and presented at the annual conference for the Texas chapter of the American College of Sports Medicine in Waco, Texas, Feb. 22-23.
(A&M-Commerce faculty…
Blinn College and Texas A&M University-Commerce Forge New Bachelor’s Degree Pathway for Safety and Health Students
Through the partnership, students can earn their AAS in Fire Safety and Health and their BAAS in Safety and Health
By Blinn College District
BRYAN, TEXAS: The Blinn College District and Texas A&M University-Commerce have established a new transfer agreement…
TAMUC Alum Promoted to Senior Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, Chief Transformation Officer for The Texas A&M University System
A&M-Commerce alum Dr. Shonda Gibson has been promoted to the role of senior associate vice chancellor for Academic Affairs and chief transformation officer for The Texas A&M University System.
As chief transformation officer for the A&M System, Gibson's mission is…
Health and Human Performance Students Present at Social Change Conference
A&M-Commerce students from the Department of Health and Human Performance, guided by Assistant Professor Katharine Halfacre, presented an educational session titled “Roundtable: Perspectives on Women's Health and Nutrition” at the Social Change Conference held on campus Feb. 20.
A&M-Commerce Health…
A&M-Commerce Doctoral Student Published in Research Methods Publication
A&M-Commerce doctoral student Bailey Ayers is helping to shape the future of education with her recently published research in the Sage Research Methods Cases publication.
The case study highlights Ayers's thesis project on the effectiveness of different learning strategies in…
A&M-Commerce Professor Set to Lead Advocacy Group’s Division of Visual Impairment and Deafblindness
A&M-Commerce faculty Dr. Beth Jones was recently elected president-elect for the Council for Exceptional Children's Division of Visual Impairment and Deafblindness (DVIDB). She will serve two years as president-elect, two years as president, and two years as past president.
DVIDB's…
A&M-Commerce Alum Selected for Prestigious Federal Fellowship Program
A&M-Commerce alum Dr. Deon Johnson is one of the 825 finalists selected from more than 7,000 applicants for inclusion in the 2024 Presidential Management Fellows Program (PMF) cohort.
PMF is the U.S. government's flagship leadership development program, designed to recruit…
A&M-Commerce Alum, Instructor Spearheads Changes to CFL Collective Bargaining Agreement
A&M-Commerce alum and instructor Brandy Runyan recently celebrated the culmination of a two-year effort to battle fraudulent practices targeting free agents in the Canadian Football League (CFL).
Runyan, founder of Black Diamond PR & Sport Management Firm in Dallas, championed…
A&M-Commerce Students Gain Skills for Healthy, Affordable Cooking
The Department of Health and Human Performance at A&M-Commerce, in conjunction with the Lions Coalition for Accessible Needs, recently hosted a seminar on healthy meal preparation in the testing kitchen within the Nursing and Health Sciences building on campus.
More…
A&M-Commerce Doctoral Students Honored by International Association
Two A&M-Commerce doctoral students, Diana Rodriguez and Duc Huy, were recently named 2024 Emerging Leaders by the International Association of Marriage and Family Counselors (IAMFC). IAMFC is a division of the American Counseling Association consisting of counselors, therapists, social workers,…
A&M-Commerce Construction Science Alum Named to Prestigious 40 Under 40 List
A&M-Commerce alum Todd Wynne ('12) is forging a reputation as an innovative leader in the construction industry. He was recently named a distinguished recipient of the Building Design + Construction 2023 40 Under 40 award recognizing architecture, engineering and construction…
A&M-Commerce Alum Receives Human Rights Award
The Texas Counseling Association recently honored A&M-Commerce alum Dr. Staussa Ervin ('98, '05) as the recipient of its 2023 Molly Gerold Human Rights Award, which recognizes contributions in one or more areas of human rights.
Ervin's background advocating for human…
A&M-Commerce Building Reputation as Solid Choice for Future Physicists
In a world driven by technology and innovation, a degree in physics is a gateway to limitless possibilities. With the study of physics offering numerous benefits and opening doors to career paths across industries, the Department of Physics and Astronomy…
TAMUC Scholar-Athlete Tapped for Second-Team All-Academic Honors
A&M-Commerce scholar-athlete Casey Novelo earned Southland Conference second team all-academic honors for men's cross country in 2023, according to an announcement from Lion Athletics.
Novelo is a junior majoring in electrical engineering. He is a President's List honoree named to…
TEA Appoints TAMUC Alum as Deputy Commissioner of School Programs
The Texas Education Agency recently confirmed its appointment of A&M-Commerce alum Dr. Shannon Trejo ('23) as deputy commissioner for its Office of School Programs.
In her new role, Trejo will oversee three departments tasked with providing resources, services and program…
A&M-Commerce Physics Students Earn National Recognition
The Texas A&M University-Commerce chapter of the Society of Physics Students (SPS) has won a 2022-23 Outstanding Chapter Award from the SPS national office. This is the seventh consecutive year the chapter has been recognized for its excellence as a…
“Winter Blues”: Seasonal Affective Disorder and Tips to Fight It
Winter can be a beautiful season. The air gets colder; the holidays arrive, and a snow flurry might even appear. But for many, the feeling of “Jack Frost nipping at your nose” isn’t always pleasant. In fact, during the colder…
TAMUC Doctoral Student Named 2023 Administrator for the Gifted
The Texas Association for the Gifted & Talented (TAGT) named A&M-Commerce doctoral student Cheryl Beard as its 2023 TAGT Administrator for the Gifted. The award recognizes service, contributions and commitment to gifted education.
Beard has been an educator and district…
Educational Leadership Council Names TAMUC Professor ‘Living Legend’
The International Council of Professors of Educational Leadership (ICPEL) selected A&M-Commerce faculty Dr. Nathan R. Templeton as the recipient of its 2024 Living Legend award, which recognizes service, scholarship and overall contributions to ICPEL and the field of education.
Templeton—a…
Preserving History: TAMUC Student Helps Keep The East Texan Alive
Jackson Thornton, a senior Computer Science major at A&M-Commerce, is helping preserve the university's rich history. Since August, he has interned in the Archives Department, located on campus in Waters Library. His role is to digitize The East Texan, A&M-Commerce's…
A&M-Commerce: A Gateway to the Fastest-Growing Careers
A recent U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics report reveals remarkable growth in the U.S. job market in the fields of health, math and computer science. In fact, 15 of the top 20 fastest-growing careers land in these three fields. As…
Decades After Escaping Abuse, TAMUC Alum Now Aids Domestic Violence Victims
A&M-Commerce alum Dr. Aaliyah Miranda ('19) is featured in a recent Dallas Morning News article describing her journey from experiencing domestic violence to becoming a champion for victims of domestic abuse.
Born and raised in Mexico, Miranda immigrated to the…
A&M-Commerce Nursing Instructor Inspires Students to Take Flight
Few roles in healthcare are as dynamic and demanding as that of a flight nurse. These dedicated professionals provide quick, specialized care to critical patients during emergency air transport. Brandy Estes worked as a flight nurse for seven years before…
TAMUC Students Advance to State Competition for Future Educators
A&M-Commerce students comprising Texas Educators' Affiliate—the A&M-Commerce chapter of the Texas Association of Future Educators (TAFE)—demonstrated their teaching skills at the TAFE Area 11 regional competition at the University of North Texas at Dallas on Nov. 11.
Pictured from left.…
How to Mindfully Eat During the Holiday Season—A Conversation with TAMUC’s Registered Dietician
The holiday season—that sweet spot from Thanksgiving to Christmas—offers an abundance of mouthwatering dishes. Think turkey and dressing, mashed potatoes with gravy, rich and cheesy casseroles, and, of course, all of those sweet, sweet pies. Are you drooling yet?
While…
Strokes of Brilliance—10 TAMUC Alumni with Successful Artistic Careers
Did you know that A&M-Commerce has produced several talented and incredibly successful artists? “Successful” as in famous, well known and award-winning! Whether you're studying the arts at A&M-Commerce or simply dabbling in it on the side, you're in a lineage…
TAMUC Alum Tapped as Associate Provost at UT Martin
A&M-Commerce alum Dr. Stephanie Kolitsch ('87) is the new associate provost for academic affairs at the University of Tennessee at Martin, according to an announcement on the university's news site.
Previously, Kolitsch served as acting provost and senior vice chancellor…