College of Education and Human Services News
TAMUC Grad Student Morris Named Red Oak ISD Teacher of the Year
Red Oak ISD recently named A&M-Commerce graduate student Taylor Morris as the district's top elementary school teacher. Along with the title, Morris was surprised to receive a $1,000 honorarium from Baylor Scott & White Health in appreciation of her outstanding…
A&M-Commerce Recognized with Vetted Teacher Residency Distinction
The Texas Education Agency recently designated Texas A&M University-Commerce with the Vetted Teacher Residency distinction along with nine other programs in Texas.
Sherri Harwell, director of the Office of Educator Certification and Academic Services at A&M-Commerce, lead efforts to secure…
Uplift Education Renews Partnership with A&M-Commerce
A memorandum of understanding was signed by Uplift Education president Remy Washington, Ed.D. and A&M-Commerce president Mark Rudin, Ph.D. The agreement ensures that every Uplift student has an equal opportunity to access college education, no matter their socioeconomic status.
Uplift…
TAMUC Faculty Brownell Featured in Online ‘Ask an Expert’ Series
Dr. Gracie Brownell, assistant professor of social work at A&M-Commerce, is featured in an interview for MSW Online. The site interviewed Brownell for their Ask an Expert series.
Brownell discussed factors for choosing a master's in social work program in…
Multiple A&M-Commerce Professors to Receive Junior Faculty Award
The A&M-Commerce Faculty Senate and the Texas Association of Black Personnel in Higher Education have selected eight outstanding faculty members to receive the 2021 Dr. Augustine “Chuck” Arize Junior Faculty Award.
The award recognizes A&M-Commerce faculty who exhibit professional excellence.…
A&M-Commerce to Host 2021 TAFE Area 11 Conference
A&M-Commerce will host the 2021 Texas Association of Future Educators (TAFE) Area 11 Conference this fall. The event will be held at the Rayburn Student Center on November 5.
The organization encourages students to learn about careers in education and…
TAMUC Doctoral Student Named Director at Austin ISD
Texas A&M University-Commerce doctoral student Statia Paschel is the new director of Social Emotional Learning and Cultural Proficiency and Inclusiveness at Austin ISD, the district recently announced.
Dr. Kimberly McLeod, dean of the College of Education and Human Services at…
TAMUC Teams up With Tarleton State to Receive Massive Grant for Drought and Pollinator Research
Texas A&M University-Commerce and Tarleton State University jointly received nearly $300,000 in research funds from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture. The funds will support research into plant drought response and insect pollinator studies, also…
TAMUC Faculty Rodriguez Collaborates to Secure Nearly $1M in Research Funding
Dr. Sarah Rodriguez, associate professor of higher education and learning technologies at A&M-Commerce, is teaming up with Miami Dade College and the University of Florida for nearly $1 million in funding from the National Science Foundation for work on the…
TAMUC Alum McWhirter’s Estate Establishes Graduate Fellowships
Two new graduate fellowships will be available next year to students in the College of Education and Human Services at A&M-Commerce, thanks to the estate of alumna EdWinnie Brown McWhirter.
Assistant dean Juan Araujo, Ph.D., said the college will begin…
A&M-Commerce Faculty Newton, Fields, Receive Funding for Interdepartmental Research
The National Science Foundation recently awarded grant funding to A&M-Commerce faculty members Dr. William Newton, associate professor of physics and astronomy and Dr. Melanie Fields, assistant professor of curriculum and instruction.
William Newton, Ph.D.
Melanie Fields, Ph.D.
The funding will…
TAMUC Sport and Recreation Management Board Member Takes Shot at the NBA
Nicole Britenriker, a three-year member of the expert advisory board that helps guide the Sport and Recreation Management program at Texas A&M University-Commerce, is taking her shot as a senior team talent advisor for the NBA in New York City.…
University Flag Flies at Half-Staff in Memory of Dr. Chester Robinson
The university flag at A&M-Commerce will fly at half-staff Monday, July 12 in memory of Dr. Chester Robinson, associate professor of counseling, who passed away on the morning of Friday, July 9. Originally from Bluefield, Virginia, Robinson joined the A&M-Commerce…
TAMUC Alum Named Executive Director at Killeen ISD
A&M-Commerce alumna Nicole Koch was named executive director for strategic initiatives and accountability at Killeen ISD.
Koch is a former teacher and, most recently, Killeen ISD's special projects assistant. She holds a doctorate in educational leadership from University of Mary…
ResponsiveEd Partnership Increases Access to Higher Education
A new partnership between Texas A&M University-Commerce and Responsive Education Solutions (ResponsiveEd) opens new opportunities for thousands of students and educators who want to advance their education.
ResponsiveEd is a Lewisville-based non-profit charter school company that operates 70 school campuses…
TAMUC Faculty Carrero Secures Research Funding
Associate professor Kelly M. Carrero, Ph.D., in the Department of Psychology and Special Education at A&M-Commerce, recently secured funding to research the design and implementation of a community-based program to increase safe interactions between law enforcement and people with exceptionalities…
TAMUC Faculty Williams Co-hosts Doc101 Podcast Series
Peter Williams, associate professor of educational leadership at Texas A&M University-Commerce, is co-host of the Doc101 podcast series along with Drs. Linnea Rademaker and Scott Self from the School of Educational Leadership at Abilene Christian University.
Geared toward doctoral students,…
A&M-Commerce, Frisco ISD Expand Student Teaching Opportunities
A&M-Commerce and Frisco ISD are partnering to provide more student teaching opportunities for the university's undergraduate education students.
Department of Curriculum and Instruction head Laura Isbell, Ph.D., reports that the university is delighted with the partnership and looks forward to…
TAMUC Alum and Staff Member Shows Courage in the Face of Adversity
Courtney Fields, an A&M-Commerce alum and staff member, was featured in an NBC News story on June 7. The news story shares how Fields, a former Lion basketball player, endured a double mastectomy, followed by blood clots that resulted in…
A&M-Commerce Doctoral Student Named Principal at Allen ISD
Allen ISD recently named Aimee Cherry as the new principal at Norton Elementary School. Cherry is currently working toward a Doctor of Education in educational leadership at A&M-Commerce.
An Allen ISD alum, Cherry earned her undergraduate degree from Oklahoma Christian…
TAMUC Health and Human Performance Grads Receive Recognition
The American Kinesiology Association (AKA) recognized recent A&M-Commerce graduates Belinda Sanchez and Mikaela Green in the 2021 AKA National Scholar Awards competition. The awards recognize academic excellence, encourage professional competence and promote kinesiology and related fields.
Pictured left to right:…
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…
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…