College of Education and Human Services News
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…
A&M-Commerce Professor Offers Insight on Teacher Retention in Texas
Dr. Kathryn Dixon, professor and head of the Department of Curriculum and Instruction at A&M-Commerce, was recently featured in a Dallas Morning News article about teacher retention issues in the state of Texas.
The article indicates teacher burnout is at…
TAMUC Professor Discusses University’s Quail Repopulation Efforts in Article
A&M-Commerce associate professor Dr. Kelly Reyna is featured in an article by the Tyler (TX) Morning Telegraph, where he discusses the critical issue of declining quail populations in Texas and across the country. The Ted and Donna Lyon Center for…
TAMUC Alum Gives Perspective of Successful Anime Career
Amanda Gish (left) and a few of the colorful characters she has given voice to
Texas A&M University-Commerce alum Amanda Gish was recently featured in a profile published by the Herald Banner to share about her successful voice acting career…
TAMUC Nursing Student Enjoying Second Life After Championship Boxing Career
Former two-time world champion boxer and current A&M-Commerce nursing student Kaliesha West-Hoke was recently inducted into the International Women's Boxing Hall of Fame.
(Kaliesha West-Hoke with A&M-Commerce President Mark Rudin. Photo by Tyler Holloway | Texas A&M University-Commerce Office of…
A&M-Commerce Hosts Special Education Mini Field Day for Commerce ISD
Students of all abilities from Commerce ISD (CISD) and A&M-Commerce joined forces to facilitate a day of activities for students with disabilities on Friday, Sept. 29.
more than 50 CISD students attended
Hosted in the Nursing and Health Sciences Building's…
A&M-Commerce Professors Team to Publish Book on Mental Health
Drs. Dimitra Smith and LaVelle Hendricks have published their latest book “Changing the Stigma of Mental Health Among African Americans: Moving from Denial to Acceptance.”
Published through IGI Global, the book describes the history of mental health in the African…
A&M-Commerce Alum Elected to National Health Center Board
A&M-Commerce alum Stan McKee has been elected to a two-year term serving as a health center board member representative to the board of directors for the National Association of Community Health Centers.
A retired senior manager of customer relations for…
TAMUC Professor and Alum Promoted to Associate Dean of Grad School
Dr. Jennifer Dyer from A&M-Commerce's Department of Curriculum and Instruction has been selected as the associate dean of the Graduate School. Dyer received her Ph.D. in Integrated Teaching and Learning from Ohio State University in 2002. She attended A&M-Commerce as…
A&M-Commerce Faculty Secure $100k College Readiness Grant
The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board has selected A&M-Commerce to receive a $100,000 College Readiness and Success Models grant. Dr. Pamela Webster, associate professor in the Department of Mathematics, and Dr. Gavin Johnson, assistant professor and director of writing in…
A&M-Commerce Professor Selected as Researcher of the Year
The Texas Council of Professors of Educational Administration (TCPEA) has selected A&M-Commerce faculty Dr. Kriss Kemp-Graham to receive its 2023 Researcher of the Year award. The award recognizes outstanding contributions to the field of educational research and inquiry.
Kemp-Graham's research…
TAMUC College of Science and Engineering Names Associate Dean
Dr. Kent Montgomery has been appointed associate dean for the College of Science and Engineering (CoSE) at A&M-Commerce. He has served as associate professor and head of the Department of Physics and Astronomy at A&M-Commerce since 2018.
Montgomery earned a…
A&M-Commerce Researcher Joins East Texas Conservation Project
A&M-Commerce assistant professor of biology Dr. Bjorn Schmidt secured a grant for $20,240.52 to participate in a collaborative research project between Texas Parks & Wildlife and Stephen F. Austin University.
The joint venture will investigate the distribution of several rare…
A&M-Commerce Alum Joins Tarleton Psychology Faculty
A&M-Commerce alumni Dr. Amanda Stevens accepted a position as assistant professor of psychology at Tarleton State University. Stevens began her position this fall semester.
Stevens earned three psychology degrees from A&M-Commerce. She completed her bachelor's with honors in 2011, her…
TAMUC Alum Selected to Chair Psychonomic Society Finance Committee
A&M-Commerce alum Dr. Tom Faulkenberry is tapped to chair the finance committee for the Psychonomic Society, an international scientific organization comprised of over 4,500 scientists and psychologists.
Faulkenberry holds a bachelor's from Southeastern Oklahoma State University and a master's degree…
A&M-Commerce Faculty and Students Conduct Elite Athlete Research Abroad
A team of A&M-Commerce researchers recently partnered with USA Track & Field to conduct research at the 2023 Thorpe Cup competition in Germany. The trip was sponsored by the Department of Health and Human Performance, the College of Education and…
TAMUC Alum One of Six Finalists for Texas Teacher of the Year
The Texas Association of School Administrators (TASA) has selected A&M-Commerce alum Genesis Yougas as one of six finalists in its 2024 Texas Teacher of the Year program.
Yougas has spent the past three years of her 10-year education career teaching…
Texas A&M System Honors Former A&M-Commerce Professor
The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents bestowed Dr. Martha Foote with the title Professor Emeritus of Curriculum and Instruction at a reception on Sept. 6. The Emeritus designation is the top honor granted to retired A&M System employees…
TAMUC Science and Engineering Dean Builds Bridges for STEM Success
As a young girl growing up in rural Lee County, South Carolina, Dr. Andrea Toney Graham had “big dreams of doing big things.” Since then, she has blazed a pioneering trail through the STEM field, making a lasting impact through…
Clark Middle School Selects A&M-Commerce Alum as Principal
Clark Middle School in Princeton, Texas, has selected A&M-Commerce alum Erica Anderson Haggard as their new principal. Haggard brings a rich educational background to her new role. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Sport and Recreation Management as well…
UNT Dallas Taps A&M-Commerce Doctoral Student as Assistant VP for Student Affairs
University of North Texas at Dallas has named A&M-Commerce doctoral student Jennifer Skinner as its new dean of students and assistant vice president for Student Affairs, according to the university's website. She has served in the role on an interim…
TAMUC Research Cited in Article Analyzing STAAR Test Results
A recent Fort Worth Star-Telegram article analyzing Fort Worth ISD's performance on the newly reformatted STAAR statewide test cites a 2019 study by researchers at A&M-Commerce.
The study—conducted by Dr. Becky Sinclair, a professor for the Department of Curriculum and…
A&M-Commerce Helping Fill School Leadership Pipeline in Texas
In a recent Dallas Morning News article, Tiffany Huitt, Dallas ISD's chief of school leadership, noted A&M-Commerce as one of four higher education institutions the district utilizes to bolster its local pipeline of principal candidates in preparation for expected school…
Mount Pleasant ISD Partners with A&M-Commerce for Alternative Teacher Certification
Officials with Mount Pleasant ISD (MPISD) and A&M-Commerce gathered on Aug. 14 as MPISD Superintendent Judd Marshall and A&M-Commerce President Mark Rudin signed an MOU affirming the district's commitment to the Pride Pathway alternative teacher certification program at A&M-Commerce.
Additionally,…
A&M-Commerce Researchers Publish Pioneering Cell Biology Article
Researchers from A&M-Commerce and Texas Woman's University (TWU) have uncovered new information about how G1P3/IFI6, a gene of the human immune system, promotes cancer cell growth.
The current study found that IFI6 increases the recruitment of certain cell parts, called…
A&M-Commerce Nursing Students Complete Pediatric Externships
Five A&M-Commerce nursing students recently completed summer externships with Children's Health hospital.
Spanning 300 hours, the externships provided students with invaluable experience in a high-fidelity simulation lab, various competency stations and multiple hospital departments.
Megan Ruhl: Psychiatry
Kelsey Points: Surgery,…
A&M-Commerce College of Science and Engineering Locks in Multiple Research Grants
From decoding the mysteries of the universe to engineering innovative solutions to real-world challenges, the College of Science and Engineering at Texas A&M University-Commerce is home to forward-thinking faculty dedicated to cutting-edge scientific exploration. Faculty members from the college secured…
U.S. Congressman Colin Allred Visits A&M-Commerce at Dallas
U.S. Congressman Colin Allred visited Texas A&M University-Commerce at Dallas on Tuesday, August 8, to commemorate the university's new Pride Pathway teacher certification program. A strong advocate for A&M-Commerce, Allred helped secure $516,614 in federal funds to establish the program…
A&M-Commerce Counseling Professor Earns Humanistic Teaching Award
A&M-Commerce faculty Dr. Ajitha Kumaran is the recipient of the 2023 Humanistic Educator/Supervisor of the Year award, presented by the Association for Humanistic Counseling, a division of the American Counseling Association.
The award honors a member who showcases a humanistic…
TAMUC Alum Selected as Principal for Joppa-Maple Grove Schools
According to an article on The Paducah Sun website, A&M-Commerce alum Wendy Wear is the new principal for Joppa-Maple Grove Unit 38 schools in Massac County, Illinois.
Wear earned her master's degree in training and development from A&M-Commerce in 2006.…
By Cops, For Cops: A&M-Commerce Competency-Based Criminal Justice Degree is Transforming Law Enforcement
Law enforcement officers in Texas and beyond are elevating their careers by earning their bachelor's degree fully online through Texas A&M University-Commerce.
The university's competency-based Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice degree program emphasizes law enforcement leadership and provides a…
A Lion’s Legacy: Sue McMichael McGown Elementary School Named in Honor of TAMUC Alum
Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District (CFISD) recognized Texas A&M University-Commerce alum Sue McGown in October 2022 for her contributions to the district by naming an elementary school in her honor. The district dedicated the new Sue McMichael McGown Elementary School on…
A&M-Commerce Well-Represented at Corsicana ISD Awards Ceremony
The Corsicana Independent School District recognized eight A&M-Commerce alumni and a current student at its year-end awards ceremony.
Five alumni received the Distinguished Teacher of the Year award:
Nina Arreola (‘16)
Hope Barton (‘16)
Crystal Jones ('11, ‘22)
Lora Ebadian…
A&M-Commerce’s Pearson Honored with TAMUS Veteran Support Award
A Texas A&M University-Commerce staff member was recently honored with an award celebrating his commitment to serving student veterans.
Dustin Pearson, veteran services manager at A&M-Commerce, received the 2022-23 Faculty/Staff Veteran Support Excellence Award from The Texas A&M University System.…
A&M-Commerce Wellness Efforts Earn Second Consecutive Silver Distinction
For the second year in a row, A&M-Commerce has earned a silver distinction from the Exercise is Medicine organization for efforts to create a culture of wellness on campus. Of the 149 universities and colleges honored by the organization worldwide,…
A&M-Commerce Student Vying to Become the Next Miss Texas USA
Texas A&M University-Commerce student Sarah Underwood, who hails from Winnsboro, Texas, has participated in beauty pageants since the age of two months. As the current Miss Northeast Texas USA, she hopes to earn her greatest title yet when she competes…
A&M-Commerce Alum Given Computer Science Teaching Honor
Texas A&M University-Commerce alum Christopher Evans was named as an honorable mention for the 2023 Computer Science Teachers Association CS Teaching Excellence Award. The honor is given to computer science teachers who demonstrate excellent work inspiring students to explore the…
A&M-Commerce Professor Appointed to ‘Kids Read Now’ Board
A&M-Commerce faculty Dr. Kamshia Childs is a recent appointee to the Kids Read Now (KRN) board of directors. The non-profit organization—which aims to help educators eliminate reading gaps among PK-5 students—delivers in-home reading programs encouraging students to read more frequently…
A&M-Commerce Conducts Elite Performance Research at Dallas Track and Field Event
The Department of Health and Human Performance at A&M-Commerce recently conducted performance testing with athletes competing at the John Green Texas Greatest Athletes Invitational from June 2-4 at the Greenhill School in Addison, Texas.
(An athlete competing in the high…
A&M-Commerce Student Profiled in Dallas Morning News Article on Mental Health Challenges
A&M-Commerce education student Abigail McGowan is featured in a recent Dallas Morning News article highlighting the growing mental health crisis among children and adolescents in Texas and beyond.
Noting the mental health challenges McGowan faced transitioning from high school to…
A&M-Commerce Hosts Area Special Olympics Athletes for Pickleball Challenge
A&M-Commerce hosted a Special Olympics pickleball skills challenge on May 11. More than 60 students attended the event from school districts including Commerce, Como-Pickton, Cooper, Farmersville, Quinlan and Wolfe City.
Commerce ISD teacher Alex Kirckof and Region 10 ESC Adapted…
Hydro Aluminum Helps A&M-Commerce Students Obtain Six Sigma Certifications
Thirteen A&M-Commerce industrial engineering students are earning their Lean Six Sigma Green Belt certification this summer, thanks to a generous donation from Hydro Aluminum in Commerce, Texas.
The donation covered students' registration costs. They can work at their own pace…
A&M-Commerce Counseling Professor Discusses Benefits of Master’s Degree
Dr. LaVelle Hendricks, professor and head of the Department of Counseling at A&M-Commerce, is featured in two Fortune.com articles discussing the merits of earning a master's degree in counseling.
In the article: “How much can you earn with a master's…