College of Humanities, Social Sciences and Arts News
Several A&M-Commerce Students and Faculty Participate in DCI
Many students and faculty from Texas A&M University-Commerce participated in Drum Corps International (DCI) during the past summer. DCI has been a leader in producing events for the world's most elite and exclusive marching ensembles for student musicians and performers. …
ETSU Alum Named Newest Las Vegas Fire Chief
A graduate of East Texas State University (now Texas A&M University-Commerce) was recently hired by the Las Vegas, Nevada City Council as the city's newest fire department chief. Alum Fernando Gray, Sr. is a career firefighter, beginning his time in…
A&M-Commerce Music Student Reaches Semifinals of National Vocal Competition
Texas A&M University-Commerce student Evan June reached the semifinals of the National Student Auditions hosted by the National Association of Teachers of Singing, held in Chicago from July 1-2. June reached the semifinal round after submitting a video audition in…
A&M-Commerce Student Demetrius Harrell Jr. Appointed as Texas A&M University System Student Regent
By the Texas A&M University System
BRYAN-COLLEGE STATION, Texas — Texas Governor Greg Abbott has appointed Marine veteran Demetrius L. Harrell Jr. as student regent for The Texas A&M University System.
Harrell, who is pursuing a degree in Criminal Justice…
TAMUC VisCom Program Ranked as a Top 50 National Graphic Design Program
The Visual Communication program at Texas A&M University-Commerce received high acclaim from Animation Career Review, an online ranking body.
In the site's annual Graphic Design School rankings, A&M-Commerce's Visual Communication programs received the following marks:
Ranked 36th nationally among all…
A&M-Commerce Personnel, Alumni Honored by Texas Association of Black Personnel in Higher Education
The Texas A&M University-Commerce chapter of the Texas Association of Black Personnel in Higher Education (TABPHE) honored several of the university's personnel and alumni at an awards ceremony on April 30 in the Rayburn Student Center on campus.
Awards and…
TAMUC Alum and Nationally Acclaimed Photojournalist is Correspondent in Ukraine
Award-winning photojournalist and TAMUC alum Erin Trieb travels the world to capture touching stories of strength, courage and resilience.
As a freelance photographer, Trieb captures stories on issues of social justice involving cultural identity, war trauma and feminism. CBS recently…
TAMUC Alum Recognized as African American Leader in Radio
Texas A&M University-Commerce alum Donovan Lewis was recently recognized as an African American Leader in Radio by Radio Ink magazine. Lewis graduated from then-East Texas State University with a degree in Radio/Television and began his career in broadcasting in 1993.…
A&M-Commerce Alumna Wins Athletics Coaching Honor
Texas A&M University-Commerce alumna Latasha Roach was recently named the Dallas Athletic Conference Coach of the Year for women's basketball. Roach currently coaches for the Cedar Valley Suns, who represent the Dallas College Cedar Valley campus located in Lancaster, Texas.…
Governor Reappoints A&M-Commerce Alum to State Crime Victims Council
Governor Greg Abbott recently reappointed A&M-Commerce alum Jeffrey “JD” Robertson to serve on the Texas Crime Victims' Institute Advisory Council for a term ending January 31, 2024. The council analyzes the impact of crime on victims and close relatives, and…
A&M-Commerce Alums Represent Well at Band and Orchestra Conference
Several Texas A&M University-Commerce alumni represented their alma mater well at the Midwest Clinic International Band and Orchestra Conference. The Midwest Clinic is the world’s largest instrumental music education conference, drawing approximately 17,000 attendees annually to Chicago from all fifty…
TAMUC Percussion Students Make Waves at Regional Competition
Students in the Texas A&M University-Commerce Percussion Studio performed well at the Tierras South Texas Percussion Competition in December. This first-annual competition saw high schoolers and university students perform their works on either keyboard or snare drum. A&M-Commerce students finished…
TAMUC History Students Present WWII Exhibit at Local Museum
Students in the Texas A&M University-Commerce Department of History have spent the past semester learning just what it takes to work in the field of public history after the completion of their “ETSTC in WWII” exhibit at the Audie Murphy…
A&M-Commerce Faculty Receives Grant to Fund Affordable Classroom Materials
Texas A&M University-Commerce Assistant Professor Dr. Jangsup Choi received a $5,000 grant from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) for the creation of affordable materials to be used in university classrooms, creating less financial burdens for students. Choi has…
TAMUC Students, Faculty and Alumni Shine at Percussion Convention
A strong contingent of students, faculty and alumni of Texas A&M University-Commerce had a stellar outing at the 2021 Percussive Arts Society International Convention (PASIC). The convention ran from November 10 through 13 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Featuring concerts, clinics, panels…
A&M-Commerce MFA Student Receives Prestigious Arts Fellowship
A current Texas A&M University-Commerce graduate student was recently the recipient of a renowned fellowship from a Dallas-Fort Worth area art gallery. Alex Ordóñez, currently pursuing his Master of Fine Arts degree in Art with a Studio Art emphasis, was…
A&M-Commerce Faculty Member to Give Virtual Lecture on the Rise of Online Antisemitism
Texas A&M University-Commerce Assistant Professor of Political Science Ayal Feinberg is slated to give a virtual lecture on antisemitism in the digital space later this month. The lecture, titled “Online Antisemitism: The New Hate Frontier,” will discuss how the internet…
Distinguished Alum Returning to TAMUC for Music Clinic
Texas A&M University-Commerce Distinguished Alumnus Dr. Dan Moore is scheduled to return to campus on November 15 to give a music clinic to A&M-Commerce percussion students. Moore is a 1982 graduate of then-East Texas State University, where he studied under…
A&M-Commerce Professor is Living a Sweet Dream
As told by the Forest Lake Times in Forest Lake, Minnesota, Professor Barret Radziun is on a journey through Claire Saffitz's cookbook “Dessert Person.” He's currently in his third year at A&M-Commerce as an assistant voice professor. After watching the…
TAMUC Employees Build Bridges to Student Success
Nearly a quarter of Texas A&M University-Commerce employees are Bridge Builders, a term referring to current faculty and staff who give financial gifts to the university. The Philanthropy and Engagement team at A&M-Commerce is hoping to boost that percentage over…
ETSU Graduate Named Distinguished Alumni by Temple Education Foundation
Lion graduate Earl Nottingham was recently named a Distinguished Alumni by the Temple Education Foundation at a ceremony on October 21. Nottingham graduated from East Texas State University (now-Texas A&M University-Commerce) in 1978 with a Bachelor of Science in Photography.…
Multiple TAMUC Faculty Members to be Recognized at Virtual Ceremony
Eight faculty members at A&M-Commerce will be awarded the 2021 Dr. Augustine “Chuck” Arize Junior Faculty Award in a virtual ceremony on Tuesday, Oct. 5.
Dean Kimberly McLeod in the College of Education and Human Services will serve as keynote…
TAMUC Hosting Annual Viewing of Manhattan Short Film Festival
The Texas A&M University-Commerce Department of Literature and Languages will restart its yearly tradition of hosting a viewing of the Manhattan Short Film Festival on Sept. 29.
The festival is unique in that, instead of a touring event that travels…
PBS Documentary Based on TAMUC Professor’s Research Airing in Dallas
“Citizens At Last,” a documentary based on research and publications by Dr. Jessica Brannon-Wranosky, distinguished professor of digital humanities and history at Texas A&M University-Commerce, has been making its worldwide debut on PBS stations around the globe. The program will…
TAMUC Senior Receiving Valuable Experience with Dallas Media Outlet
Texas A&M University-Commerce student Brianna Patt is currently receiving first-hand experience in her chosen field as an intern with Dallas Weekly. Patt, a senior majoring in journalism with a news-editorial emphasis, is also the current opinion editor for The East…
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 Percussion Student, Alums Win Big at International Competitions
A current Texas A&M University-Commerce percussion student and two alums took home the top prize in separate competitions this summer. Ashton Carter, a current music education major at A&M-Commerce, was named the winner of the 2021 Black Swamp Snare Drum…
TAMUC Visual Communication Alum Named ‘Emerging Creative’ at Dallas Show
Texas A&M University-Commerce alumna Christina Moreland is the recipient of the inaugural “Emerging Creative” award from the Dallas Society of Visual Communications. The award was given as part of the 52nd annual Dallas Show, the leading juried competition and awards…
Honors College Student Finds Ingredients for Success at A&M-Commerce
Noah Garcia, an Honors College student at Texas A&M University-Commerce, is cooking up a recipe for success by exploring the history of food with his podcast series, “A Bit About Bites.”
Noah's passion for culinary arts began at an early…
TAMUC Liberal Studies Faculty Publishes New Book on Philosophy and Leadership
Associate professor and Department of Liberal Studies head Mark Menaldo, Ph.D., recently published a new book through Routledge Publishing. “Philosophy and Leadership: Three Classical Models and Cases” connects philosophy to leadership by examining three representative texts from the history of…
From Ashes We Rise: TAMUC Senior Films NBA/MLB Sportscaster’s Inspirational Story of Survival
The story of Jerry Schemmel—renowned sportscaster, ultra-distance cyclist and plane crash survivor—is one of inspiration, hope and survival. Now, Schemmel is working with Texas A&M University-Commerce communications major Ashley Fordinal and her crew at Riseup Films to share his story…
TAMUC Faculty Member Promoted by Mesquite Police, Becomes the Department’s First Black Sergeant
Torrey Rhone, adjunct professor in the competency-based Criminal Justice program at A&M-Commerce, was recently promoted to the rank of Sergeant in the Mesquite Police Department (MPD), located in Mesquite, Texas. Rhone becomes the first Black sergeant in the department's 69-year…
TAMUC Teams up With North Texas Universities to Provide Cross-Institutional Learning
A 50-year partnership among three North Texas universities provides impactful cross-institutional learning opportunities for graduate students. The Federation of North Texas Area Universities brings together Texas Woman's University (TWU), the University of North Texas (UNT) and Texas A&M University-Commerce.
The…
A&M-Commerce Department of Music Makes History as All-Steinway ‘Spirio’ School
The public profile of the Department of Music at Texas A&M University-Commerce is getting a big boost, giving students the opportunity to study piano with some of the most advanced technology in the industry thanks to the recent designation of…
A&M-Commerce Visual Communication Faculty Wins Coveted National ‘Golden Apple’ Award
Joshua Ege, associate professor of visual communication at Texas A&M University-Commerce, is the latest recipient of the Golden Apple Award from the Dallas Society of Visual Communication (DSVC). The award is given as part of the DSVC's National Student Show…
TAMUC Alum Making Waves in Cybersecurity as an Industry Leader
A Texas A&M University-Commerce alum is gaining serious recognition in the world of cybersecurity, and was recently named an industry leader by a national publication.
Earlier this year, Heather Gantt-Evans was named one of Security Magazine's Top Cybersecurity Leaders for…
Metropolitan Opera’s Sarah Mesko to Lead Virtual Masterclass for TAMUC Voice Students
On Monday, March 22, Metropolitan Opera rising star mezzo-soprano Sarah Mesko will present a virtual vocal masterclass on the campus of Texas A&M University-Commerce. Three students will perform live in Finney Concert Hall while Mesko works with them virtually through…
Feature Story Highlights Bill Carr’s Noteworthy Music Career
A Greenville Herald-Banner story, published by Yahoo News, shares the interesting history of A&M-Commerce alum Bill Carr.
Between 1975 and 1995, Carr was a working musician on the Las Vegas Strip. He and guitarist Larry Jenks backed famous performers like…
A&M-Commerce Faculty Member Receives Academic Engagement Network Grant
Dr. Ayal Feinberg, assistant professor of political science at Texas A&M University-Commerce, received a $3,000 grant from the Academic Engagement Network (AEN). The grant comes as part of Feinberg's appointment as the Junior Faculty Selection Chair of AEN. Feinberg utilizes…
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…
A&M-Commerce to Host Statewide World History Association Conference Virtually
Texas A&M University-Commerce will host the annual conference of the World History Association of Texas (WHAT) for the second time, but virtually on this occasion.
The event was previously held on the A&M-Commerce campus in 2019. This year's event is…
TAMUC Students Take Second Place in Film Competition
Students in the College of Humanities, Social Sciences & Arts at Texas A&M University-Commerce teamed up to create a film that took second place in the Broadcast Education Association's Film 168 Student Film Competition. The students' film, “Soda Boy,” finished…
Accomplished TAMUC Alum Highlighted in WLUC-TV Article
WLUC-TV in Michigan featured a story about A&M-Commerce alum Kia Jane Richmond, Ph.D.
Richmond is an English professor at Northern Michigan University who has been selected as the faculty speaker for NMU's virtual commencement ceremonies on December 6.
According to…
A&M-Commerce CHSSA faculty awarded human rights fellowships
Five faculty members from the College of Humanities, Social Sciences and Arts at A&M-Commerce were awarded Global Human Rights fellowships. These awards are meant to sponsor the research of faculty members whose subject areas engage with global human rights, and…
A&M-Commerce Professor Publishes New Book on Cultural Impact of Fairy Tales
Dr. Maia Lamarque, professor in the Texas A&M University-Commerce Department of Literature and Languages, recently published a new book, “Fairy Tales and its Adaptations in Spanish,” which focuses on how fairy tale analysis is the paradigm of globalization. Lamarque posits…
A&M-Commerce Professor Featured in State Historical Series
Dr. Mylynka Cardona, assistant professor of history at A&M-Commerce, was recently featured in an episode of “This Week in Texas History,” where she discussed what it is like teaching Texas history and some interesting historical figures from her research. “This…
A&M-Commerce Lit & Lang Professor Wins Intramural Tennis Tournament
Texas A&M University-Commerce Professor Dr. Maia Lamarque was crowned champion of the A&M-Commerce Intramural Tennis Tournament on Oct. 22. Lamarque, who teaches in the Department of Literature and Languages, won in straight sets against Kinesiology student Hyaznarely Ramirez. Lamarque stated…
A&M-Commerce professor details efforts to catalog suffrage movement in magazine feature
Dr. Jessica Brannon-Wranosky, distinguished professor of digital humanities and history, was recently featured in an article published by the Texas Observer magazine regarding the centennial of the adoption of the 19th amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which gave women the…
A&M-Commerce Professor Quoted in Nationally Syndicated Article
Dr. William Thompson, professor of sociology and criminal justice at Texas A&M University-Commerce, was recently quoted in a news story produced by the Associated Press. The article focused on efforts by President Donald Trump’s reelection campaign supporters to turn motorcycle…
88.9 KETR’s Jerrod Knight, A&M-Commerce’s Dr. Tony DeMars Elected to Texas Association of Broadcasters Board
Jerrod Knight, general manager of 88.9 KETR based at Texas A&M University-Commerce, and Dr. Tony DeMars, professor of mass media/journalism, were recently named to the 2020-2021 Board of Directors for the Texas Association of Broadcasters. This election marks Knight's seventh…