Alumni Success
TAMUC Alum Promoted to Senior Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, Chief Transformation Officer for The Texas A&M University System
A&M-Commerce alum Dr. Shonda Gibson has been promoted to the role of senior associate vice chancellor for Academic Affairs and chief transformation officer for The Texas A&M University System.
As chief transformation officer for the A&M System, Gibson's mission is…

A&M-Commerce Doctoral Student Published in Research Methods Publication
A&M-Commerce doctoral student Bailey Ayers is helping to shape the future of education with her recently published research in the Sage Research Methods Cases publication.
The case study highlights Ayers's thesis project on the effectiveness of different learning strategies in…
The TAMUC Trailblazer: The Legacy of the First Black Student
Black History Month Series Part 2: Honoring and Recognizing Impactful Black Figures in the Lion Family
Texas A&M University-Commerce is renowned for a student body comprised of people from a multitude of races, cultures, and countries. But it wasn’t always…

A&M-Commerce Alum Selected for Prestigious Federal Fellowship Program
A&M-Commerce alum Dr. Deon Johnson is one of the 825 finalists selected from more than 7,000 applicants for inclusion in the 2024 Presidential Management Fellows Program (PMF) cohort.
PMF is the U.S. government's flagship leadership development program, designed to recruit…
‘Just Get Involved’: The Story of a Pioneering Computer Programmer Who Gives Back
Alumnus Scott Stahl and his wife, Margaret, from Sulphur Springs, Texas, have recently presented a $100,000 gift to Texas A&M University-Commerce. The Scott W. Stahl and Margaret Stahl Gift Agreement will provide matching gift opportunities that champion the Greatest Need…

Lions Feeding Lions: Match Challenge Brings Big Support to the Lion Food Pantry
Alumni Freddy and Margaret (Muffy) O’Pry presented the Lion Food Pantry with a $30,000 check on February 13 at the pantry’s grand reopening in the university’s Performing Arts Center. The funds were raised, in part, through the O'Pry Family Match…

A&M-Commerce Staff Member Receives Emmy Award for Musical Compositions
A staff member at Texas A&M University-Commerce was honored with an Emmy Award from the Rocky Mountain Southwest chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.
Taylor Mefford, who works as manager of videography in the Office of…

A&M-Commerce Alum, Instructor Spearheads Changes to CFL Collective Bargaining Agreement
A&M-Commerce alum and instructor Brandy Runyan recently celebrated the culmination of a two-year effort to battle fraudulent practices targeting free agents in the Canadian Football League (CFL).
Runyan, founder of Black Diamond PR & Sport Management Firm in Dallas, championed…

TAMUC College of Business Alum Receives Technical.ly Chief Technology Officer of the Year Award
Texas A&M University-Commerce proudly celebrates the success of Viveca Pavon-Harr, an esteemed alumna of the A&M-Commerce College of Business, who has recently won the prestigious Technical.ly award for Chief Technology Officer of the Year.
This recognition highlights Viveca's remarkable contributions…
A&M-Commerce Construction Science Alum Named to Prestigious 40 Under 40 List
A&M-Commerce alum Todd Wynne ('12) is forging a reputation as an innovative leader in the construction industry. He was recently named a distinguished recipient of the Building Design + Construction 2023 40 Under 40 award recognizing architecture, engineering and construction…

A&M-Commerce Alum Receives Human Rights Award
The Texas Counseling Association recently honored A&M-Commerce alum Dr. Staussa Ervin ('98, '05) as the recipient of its 2023 Molly Gerold Human Rights Award, which recognizes contributions in one or more areas of human rights.
Ervin's background advocating for human…

Lion alum receives recognition from Texas Bar Foundation
A Texas A&M University-Commerce alum was recently honored by the Texas Bar Foundation after being named a Foundation Fellow. Carey F. Walker, who currently serves as the Judge of Tarrant County Criminal Court 2, graduated from East Texas State University…

TAMUC Alum to Return to ‘Jeopardy!’
Texas A&M University-Commerce alum Jared Watson will be competing in the 2024 “Jeopardy!” Tournament of Champions. The Tournament of Champions is an annual trivia tournament featuring the top 15 winners from the previous season of Jeopardy. The Tournament takes two…
TAMUC Alum Named CFO of Wichita Falls, Texas
Texas A&M University-Commerce alum Stephen Calvert was recently announced as the new chief financial officer for the City of Wichita Falls, Texas. Calvert, who previously worked for the city as a senior budget analyst, assumed the role on January 5.…

TAMUC Alum Named Provost of Midwestern State University
A Texas A&M University-Commerce alum was recently named to a top leadership position at Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls, Texas. Dr. Margaret “Marcy” Brown Marsden was named provost and vice president for academic affairs for the university in December…

TEA Appoints TAMUC Alum as Deputy Commissioner of School Programs
The Texas Education Agency recently confirmed its appointment of A&M-Commerce alum Dr. Shannon Trejo ('23) as deputy commissioner for its Office of School Programs.
In her new role, Trejo will oversee three departments tasked with providing resources, services and program…

TAMUC Alumna Named Director of Operations for Veterans Pardners
A&M-Commerce alumna Donna Richardson has been named director of operations for Veterans Pardners, according to a recent article in The Lakelander newspaper in Whitney, Texas. Veterans Pardners is a non-profit organization that helps veterans in rural Hill County access resources.…
TAMUC Doctoral Student Named 2023 Administrator for the Gifted
The Texas Association for the Gifted & Talented (TAGT) named A&M-Commerce doctoral student Cheryl Beard as its 2023 TAGT Administrator for the Gifted. The award recognizes service, contributions and commitment to gifted education.
Beard has been an educator and district…

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…

Strokes of Brilliance—10 TAMUC Alumni with Successful Artistic Careers
Meet Our 10 Superstar Lion Alums
Meet Our 10 Superstar Lion Alums
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…