Alumni Success
Josephine Durkin’s message: “You Have to Show up”
All of Professor Josephine Durkin's students receive a list of galleries and museums they must visit. There is a simple lesson in her list: “You have to show up.” What she means is that becoming an artist is about becoming…
Mary Couzelis: Part of Literature and Languages’ 100 Percent
Even in an extended recession, the university's literature and languages department can claim a 100 percent placement ratio for doctoral students. Mary Couzelis, who defended her dissertation this spring, was hired as a tenure-track professor of children's literature at Morgan…
A&M-Commerce Alumnus Reappointed as Texas State Historian
Bill O'Neal was reappointed as Texas State Historian by Governor Rick Perry on Sept. 5. The Carthage native received his bachelor's and master's degrees in history from East Texas State University, and he was also awarded an honorary doctorate from…
Dr. Sherilyn Emberton Finds Success After A&M-Commerce
It's always great to see members of the Lion pride breaking down barriers and making history. Just a little over a year ago, Dr. Sherilyn Emberton did just that. In April of 2013, she was elected the 13th president of…
Alumnus nominated to “25 Under 35”
In April 2014, Editor & Publisher recognized Tommy Felts as one of its “25 Under 35,” a list of young journalists reinventing the newspaper industry. Felts, the 2003-2004 editor of the university's newspaper, The East Texan, is now the managing…
University Honors 2014 Distinguished Alumni and Gold Blazer Recipients
The Alumni Association of Texas A&M University-Commerce honored eight new Distinguished Alumni and four new Gold Blazers at their annual Alumni Awards Gala on Saturday, May 3, 2014.
The Alumni Awards Gala, held at the university's Sam Rayburn Student Center,…
Documenting War and Homecoming
“The first class I never slept in was a photography class,” Alumni Ambassador Erin Trieb tells an enraptured standing-room-only audience in the Hall of Languages. Trieb talks about flipping through John Loengard's “Life Photographers: What They Saw” and knowing that…
Building a life with hidden doors
Situated in historic downtown Marshall, Texas, the offices of Siebman, Burg, Phillips & Smith reside in a building called The Hub. From the outside, it is easy to mistake the structure for an old shoe store.
“This was the Hub…
Alumnus Andrew Dahir Receives NSF Fellowship
The National Science Foundation has named Andrew Dahir, a Texas A&M University-Commerce alumnus, as a recipient of a 2014 Graduate Research Fellowship. The fellowship program recognizes and supports students in research-based master's and doctoral degree programs in the areas of…
In Memory: Dr. Fred A. Tarpley
The university flag flew at half staff Wednesday, March 5, 2014, in memory of Dr. Fred A. Tarpley, who passed away March 1, 2014. Dr. Tarpley was employed by the university from 1957 until his retirement in 1992 and was…
In Memory: Dr. Barry B. Thompson
Distinguished Alumnus Dr. Barry B. Thompson, died March 1, 2014. Dr. Thompson received a master's degree from this institution and served from 1975-1982 as department head and later as vice president for academic affairs. He left to assume the presidency…
Alumni Ambassadors Day
The university hosted the 31st Annual Alumni Ambassador Forum. Honored alumni invited by each department gave talks, visited classrooms and shared their experiences with current faculty members and students. Alumni ambassadors for the College of Humanities, Social Sciences and Arts…
Frisco High School Named for Alum Dr. Rick Reedy
The Frisco Independent School District is building its eighth high school which is projected to open in fall 2015. On Feb. 10, the Frisco ISD Board of Trustees unanimously voted to name the school after Dr. Rick Reedy, the long…
Alumna, Bulawayo, Shortlisted for Etisalat Literature Award
Texas A&M University-Commerce alumna, NoViolet Bulawayo, has had her name placed on the shortlist of finalists for yet another international literary award. The Etisalat Prize for Literature celebrates first time African writers of published fiction books, and if she wins,…
Williams Selected to Chancellor’s Academy of Teacher Educators
Dr. Bob Williams, associate professor of agricultural science and technology at A&M-Commerce, has been named an inductee into The Texas A&M University System's Chancellor's Academy of Teacher Educators. The academy acknowledges individuals who exhibit excellence in teaching and is supported…
McKinney Avenue Contemporary to show Believe It Anyway!
The McKinney Avenue Contemporary (The MAC) will show “Believe It Anyway!”—five stories from the Christian Bible presented in a series of silent short films—on Jan. 11 at 8:15 p.m. in the Heldt/Hall Theater. The films were created by A&M-Commerce Marketing…
It’s a Wonderful Life
“My grandmother took me out into a field to paint bluebonnets,” alumna and decorated artist Jo Ann Durham tells me as I follow her into her studio. “My grandmother is the one who got me started. All of this is…
Alumni Association to Build Brick Garden
The Alumni Association of Texas A&M University-Commerce, Inc. revealed plans to build a brick garden in honor of the university's upcoming 125th Anniversary.
“It's about legacy, it's about paying it forward,” says Derryle Peace, director of alumni relations. “The garden…
A&M-Commerce Flag to Fly Over Hopkins County Courthouse
Beating out back-to-back winner Texas Tech, A&M-Commerce secured the right to fly the university's flag over the Hopkins County Courthouse in Sulphur Springs after alumni placed the winning bid of $4,750 during the Hopkins County Health Care Foundation's “Fly Your…
Giving Back in an Unusual Way
It's rare to find someone willing and able to give up an organ to save your life. It's even rarer when that person is your husband.
A&M-Commerce alumna, Tiffany Mathias Peek was diagnosed with polycystic kidney disease in 2010. She…