College of Education and Human Services News

Smith Set to Lead A&M-Commerce School of Social Work
The College of Education and Human Services at A&M-Commerce recently named Dr. Marcella Smith as interim head of the School of Social Work.
Smith joined A&M-Commerce in 2015 and began her tenure track a year later. She served as the…

TAMUC Education Dean Set to Present Online Workshop
Dean Kimberly McLeod in the College of Education and Human Services at A&M-Commerce will present an online workshop called Racial Justice and Social Emotional Learning. The workshop is scheduled for June 8 from 2:00-3:30 p.m.
The session will provide strategies…

Endowment Honors Turners’ Impact on TAMUC and Texas Education
Professor Emeritus Lynn Turner holds an important place in Texas A&M University-Commerce history. As one of the original faculty members in the Department of Educational Leadership, his contributions helped build the department into a leading producer of principals and superintendents…

Culpepper Takes Helm of TAMUC Department of Health and Human Performance
The College of Education and Human Services at A&M-Commerce recently named Dr. Dean Culpepper as interim head of the Department of Health and Human Performance.
Culpepper has 17 years of higher education experience as a faculty member, including more than…

Templeton Assumes Head of Educational Leadership at A&M-Commerce
The College of Education and Human Services at A&M-Commerce recently named Dr. Nate Templeton as interim head of the Department of Educational Leadership.
Templeton is an associate professor and director of the Meadows Principal Leadership Institute in the department. Prior…

A&M-Commerce Alum Wins 2021 Morphet Dissertation of the Year
The International Council of Professors of Educational Leadership named Dr. Jericah Jackson, a graduate of A&M-Commerce, winner of the 2021 Edgar L. Morphet Dissertation of the Year Award. The award recognizes scholarship in the dissertation stage of advanced academic work…

A&M-Commerce Navarro Partnership Alumnae Receive Awards
Two A&M-Commerce alumnae are setting the mark high in the Corsicana Independent School District.
The Corsicana ISD Board of Trustees and Corsicana Education Foundation Executive Board named Casey Gordon as Elementary Teacher of the Year at Navarro Elementary School. She…

TAMUC’s Morton Appointed to State Education Agency Committee
The Texas Education Agency appointed Dr. Tami Morton, associate professor in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction at A&M-Commerce, to the agency's Reading Specialist Educator Standards Advisory Committee. Limited to 15 members, the committee advises on relevant updates to standards…

TAMUC’s Hendricks Interviewed for Social Justice Study
Dr. LaVelle Hendricks, head and professor in the Department of Counseling at A&M-Commerce is featured in a recent episode of Here & Now on Fox 4 News in Dallas, Texas. The segment discussed a study Hendricks and colleagues performed in…

TAMUC Social Work Student Awarded Ima Hogg Scholarship
The Hogg Foundation for Mental Health recently selected A&M-Commerce graduate student Amanda Gage as a 2021 Ima Hogg Scholarship recipient. Gage will receive a one-time award of $5,000 to support her Master of Social Work studies before launching a career…

TAMUC Faculty Koo Discusses International Student Mental Health
Kate Koo, Ph.D., assistant professor of higher education at A&M-Commerce, is featured in a recent article from The Chronicle of Higher Education. The article details mental health strains on international students.
Koo spoke of faculty and staff misperceptions of international…

TAMUC Web Series Features A&M-Commerce Education Dean
Kimberly McLeod, Ph.D., dean of the College of Education and Human Services at A&M-Commerce, recently joined Keturi DeLong, vice president for Philanthropy and Engagement at A&M-Commerce, for an episode of “Let's Talk it Over,” a TAMUC web series on YouTube.…
A&M-Commerce Graduate Ahmad Honored with Boe Award
The Great Plains Honors Council has recognized Maleeha Ahmad, a recent graduate of the Honors College at Texas A&M University-Commerce, with the Boe Award. The award showcases honors program students who display outstanding scholarly work. She was nominated by the…

TAMUC Biology Undergrad Selected for Summer Research Program
Diksha Shakya, an undergraduate biology student at Texas A&M University-Commerce, is set to attend the Developing and Readying Underrepresented Minority Researchers (DRUMR) program this summer at Texas A&M University's College of Medicine in College Station, Texas.
Funded by a grant…

A&M-Commerce Faculty Araujo Accepted into Leadership Academy
Juan Araujo, Ph.D., assistant dean in the College of Education and Human Services at Texas A&M University-Commerce, has been chosen to participate as a Fellow in Cohort 4 of the Texas Academic Leadership Academy (TALA).
TALA is a year-long experience…
TAMUC Athletic Training Students Receive LSC Accolades
Several athletic training students in the Department of Health and Human Performance at A&M-Commerce received recognition at a reception on April 27.
Five students received the Lone Star Conference Athletic Training Student Academic Award. The award recognizes students with at…

TAMUC Virtual Guest Lecturer Duncan Draws International Crowd
The Department of Curriculum and Instruction at A&M-Commerce hosted a guest lecture by Sandra Duncan, Ed.D., via Zoom on April 10. The virtual event drew a large international attendance with 179 registrants from across the United States, United Kingdom and…

Retired TAMUC Faculty Holt Honored with Emeritus Distinction
Following his retirement after 10 years of service at Texas A&M University-Commerce, Chuck Holt, Ed.D., earned a new title when the Texas A&M University System Board of Regents designated him as Associate Professor Emeritus of Educational Leadership.
“I am honored…

Governor Names TAMUC Alumna Andrade to State Board
Texas Governor Greg Abbott recently appointed A&M-Commerce alumna Katie Andrade to the Texas State Board of Social Worker Examiners for a term set to expire in 2027. The board regulates the practice of social work in Texas. The appointment is…

TAMUC Public Health Students Host 2021 Student Healthfest
Public health students in the Department of Health and Human Performance at A&M-Commerce recently planned and executed the 2021 TAMUC Student Healthfest, which was hosted virtually on YouTube. The event aimed to promote wellness amongst A&M-Commerce students and the campus…

Brumley Represents A&M-Commerce at VA Social Work Conference
Brian Brumley, director of field education for the Department of Social Work at A&M-Commerce, presented at the 2021 VA Social Work conference, held virtually on March 26. Brumley spoke on ethical decision making to a group of 77 social work…
TAMUC Doctoral Counseling Students Place Second at Ethics Competition
Joy Teles Oliveira, Danielle McGarrh and Sarah Silveus, a team of three doctoral students representing the A&M-Commerce Department of Counseling, were recently named second-place finishers in the American Counseling Association (ACA) 2021 Graduate Student Ethics Awards competition.
The award competition…

Alumna Leaves $1.47 Million to A&M-Commerce
Texas A&M University-Commerce students will benefit from a generous $1.47 million gift from the late Lanelle E. Southerland.
The substantial gift will support A&M-Commerce students by providing two annual scholarships: The Lanelle E. Southerland and Joe E. Phillips Endowed Scholarship,…

A&M-Commerce, Dallas College Partner to Bring New Undergraduate Pathways to Dallas Students
Texas A&M University-Commerce and Dallas College are joining forces in a partnership that will provide Dallas College students with convenient options to transition their associate degree studies to a bachelor's degree from A&M-Commerce.
The institutions signed a memorandum of understanding…

TAMUC’s Ballenger Awarded Prestigious Willystine Goodsell Award
Julia Ballenger, a professor in the Department of Educational Leadership at A&M-Commerce, is the recipient of the 2022 Willystine Goodsell Award, presented by the American Education Research Association's (AERA) Research on Women and Education special interest group. The highly coveted…
A&M-Commerce Alum Named Superintendent of Lamar Consolidated ISD
An article in the Fort Bend Herald announced that A&M-Commerce alumnus Roosevelt Nivens, Ph.D., was named the lone finalist as superintendent of Lamar Consolidated ISD, southeast of Houston. Nivens has served as superintendent of Community ISD in Collin County since…

A&M-Commerce Professor Newton Cited for Space Research Collaboration
William Newton, associate professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at A&M-Commerce, is cited in a recent press release for his collaboration with researchers at the University of Bath in the United Kingdom.
The researchers have discovered a new…

TAMUC Department of Chemistry Selected for Renewed REU Grant
The A&M-Commerce Department of Chemistry is the recipient of a National Science Foundation grant for continued funding of the department's summer Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU). The grant will fund REU summer programs through 2024 for community college students interested…

A&M-Commerce Recognized for Culture of Wellness on Campus
By Exercise is Medicine
Texas A&M University-Commerce is one of only 153 universities and colleges around the world to be honored by Exercise is Medicine® (EIM) for its efforts to create a culture of wellness on campus.
“We are thrilled…

TAMUC Department of Chemistry to Receive Research Funding
The A&M-Commerce Department of Chemistry is the recent recipient of a grant from The Welch Foundation, one of the nation’s largest private funding sources for chemical research at universities, colleges and other educational institutions in Texas. The foundation supports degree…

11 Area Students Selected for TAMUC Chemistry Summer Research Experience
The Department of Chemistry at Texas A&M University-Commerce will host 11 community college and A&M-Commerce students this summer for a Chemistry Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU). The 2021 REU, which begins June 6, is funded by the National Science Foundation.…

A&M-Commerce to Co-Host MALES Summit with Dallas College
Texas A&M University-Commerce and Dallas College are set to co-host the 2021 MALES Summit: Men at Work, which will take place in a virtual format on April 9 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The summit for current and prospective…

Scholarship for Future Educators Established to Honor the Legacy of Dr. Mary Jane Vance
The family of the late Dr. Mary Jane Vance has established a scholarship to honor her lifelong commitment to education. This scholarship will benefit A&M-Commerce students who are pursuing teaching careers.
“The family has always known of her passion for…

TAMUC Recognized for Efforts During National School Psychology Week
The National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) recently dubbed the Specialist in School Psychology (SSP) program at Texas A&M University-Commerce as one of three leading school psychology programs in the country.
The program received an Honorable Mention for Outstanding Graduate…

TAMUC Education Dean Set as Keynote Speaker for Rescheduled FWAABSE Leadership Institute
Dr. Kimberly McLeod, dean of the College of Education and Human Services at A&M-Commerce, will be keynote speaker at IgNite II: Leading and Learning Through the Pandemic and Beyond, presented by the Fort Worth Area Alliance of Black School Educators.…

TAMUC Nursing Students Assist With Vaccination Efforts
Students with the Department of Nursing at A&M-Commerce are helping administer COVID-19 vaccinations at multiple locations across Northeast Texas.
More than 20 students have helped inoculate area residents at CHRISTUS Mother Francis Hospital-Sulphur Springs, Hunt Regional Healthcare, Wesley United Methodist…

TAMUC Faculty Member Revamps Historic Doll Experiment
Toni Sturdivant, assistant professor of curriculum and instruction at A&M-Commerce, recently published an article wherein she revisits the famous doll test first demonstrated by psychology researchers Kenneth and Mammie Clark in the 1940s.
The husband and wife team used dolls…

TAMUC Alum Shares Her Experiences as a Combat Medic
A&M-Commerce alumna Tanis Clarke was featured in an article in the Waco Tribune-Herald. The piece tells about Clarke's often-harrowing experiences as a combat medic in the U.S. Army. Clarke served for four years, and her tour included time in Germany,…

TAMUC Department of Physics and Astronomy to Host Summer REU
The A&M-Commerce Department of Physics and Astronomy is the recipient of a National Science Foundation grant intended to fund a summer Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) for community college students interested in physics and astronomy.
The 10-week REU program—which runs…
TAMUC College of Education and Human Services Names New Department Heads
The College of Education and Human Services at A&M-Commerce recently announced the appointment of three new department heads.
Laura Isbell, Ph.D.Dimitra Smith, Ph.D.LaVelle Hendricks, Ed.D
Dean Kimberly McLeod named Dr. Laura Isbell as head of the Department of Curriculum and…

A&M-Commerce Education Dean to Present at TWHE Annual Conference
Dr. Kimberly McLeod, dean of the A&M-Commerce College of Education and Human Services, is slated to speak at the upcoming 2021 Texas Women in Higher Education annual conference on March 22-23.
The virtual event is themed, “Showcasing Your Professional Portfolio.”…

TAMUC Integrating Effective ‘Life Design’ Courses Into Freshman Curriculum
The College of Innovation and Design at Texas A&M University-Commerce seeks to build on a foundation of “Life Design” courses to create a student body that can adapt to challenges and succeed in adult life regardless of career or vocation.…

Rosalie and Frank Turner Establish Endowed Professorship for Race Education at TAMUC
Award-winning novelist Rosalie Turner and her husband, Texas A&M University-Commerce alumnus Frank Turner, are doing their part to end systemic racism in America through education.
The Turners, who live in Durham, North Carolina, have established the Rosalie and Frank Turner…

TAMUC Robot Living Lab to Partner with Invento Research
The School of Social Work at Texas A&M University-Commerce is excited to announce a new, collaborative partnership between its Robot Living Lab and Invento Research, Inc., a Delaware-based corporation.
Established in January 2020, the mission of the Robot Living Lab…

A&M-Commerce Introduces New Cultural Competency Course
Cultural competency among students, faculty and staff is a top priority for University President Mark Rudin.
This spring, A&M-Commerce launched its first offering of a new cultural competency course, which garnered a lot of interest from students and university employees.…

Governor Names TAMUC Alumna to State Board of Examiners of Marriage and Family Therapists
Texas Governor Greg Abbott recently appointed A&M-Commerce alumna Jodie Elder, Ph.D., to the Texas State Board of Examiners of Marriage and Family Therapists for a term set to expire in 2027. The board licenses and regulates Marriage and Family Therapists…

A&M-Commerce Alumna Making Big Plays in Professional Athlete Management
In her Dallas office, Brandy Runyan fondly recalls her time in the Health, Kinesiology and Sports Studies graduate program at Texas A&M University-Commerce.
These days, she's the owner and chief executive of Black Diamond PR & Sport Management Firm, an…

A&M-Commerce Nationally Ranked by U.S. News & World Report
U.S. News & World Report has ranked several programs at Texas A&M University-Commerce among the top in the nation for 2021.
Every year, U.S. News compares academic programs at A&M-Commerce with other programs across the United States. The highly anticipated…

TAMUC Partners with Revature for Technology Certification Opportunities
Texas A&M University-Commerce has entered into a partnership with tech career launchpad Revature to provide opportunities for upperclassmen to receive technology certifications.
Revature is the largest employer of entry-level technology talent in the United States, providing services to Fortune 500…

TAMUC Education Dean Set as Keynote Speaker for FWAABSE Leadership Institute
This event has been rescheduled for April 24.
Dr. Kimberly McLeod, dean of the College of Education and Human Services at A&M-Commerce, will be keynote speaker at IgNite II: Leading and Learning Through the Pandemic and Beyond, presented by the…