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T E X A S A & M U N I V E R S I T Y-T E X A R K A N A
C O N V O C A T I O N
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A Message from the President
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Spring Brings Baseball
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Thinking Pink
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First Time’s the Charm
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Happy Trails
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Faculty Spotlight
A B O U T
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U N I V ER S I T Y
Texas A&M University-Texarkana originated in 1971 as a center of East Texas State University in Commerce, Texas. Both institutions joined The Texas A&M University System as standalone institutions in 1996. For 39 years, the institution offered only upper division courses for undergraduate programs and graduate (master’s) degree programs and shared a campus with Texarkana College, its primary transfer institution. In 2005, Texas A&M-Texarkana received approval from the Texas Legislature for downward expansion. In fall 2010, the institution began accepting freshman and sophomore students and relocated to a new campus on a 375-acre tract of land near Bringle Lake, north of Texarkana. The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) approved the institution’s application to compete in intercollegiate athletics beginning fall 2014. That semester saw the
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New Dean of College of Business Wastes No Time Creating New Opportunities
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Alumni Spotlight
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Freshman Convocation
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Student Spotlight
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JAMP Provides Opportunities for A&M-Texarkana Pre-Med Students
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A&M Graduate Makes Things Happen at Texarkana Farmers’ Market
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Student Life
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Homecoming
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Alumni Spotlight
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Quality Matters
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Happening at A&M-Texarkana
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2015 Eagle Roundup
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Alumni News P R ES I D EN T
Dr. Emily Fourmy Cutrer C H I EF O F S TA F F T O T H E P R ES I D EN T
Vicki Melde Huckabee A S S O C I AT E V I C E P R ES I D EN T F O R U N I V ER S I T Y A DVA N C EM EN T
LeAnne Wright
D EV EL O P M EN T O F F I C ER
Summer Nelson
D I R E C T O R O F A LU M N I R EL AT I O N S
Mark Mi s s i l d i n e
DIRECTOR OF CO M M U N I CAT I O N S
Carol Langston CO N S U LTA N T
Dr. Robin Rogers
A RT D I R E C T O R
Natalie Haywood CO N T R I B U T O R S
Carol Langston
FALL 2015
Kristie Avery Stacy Glover Marina Garza Martin Patterson Dr. David Allard Dr. Kevin Ells Dr. Thomas Cutrer Jordan Logan DIRECTOR OF MARKETING
Stacy Glover
A D M I N I S T R AT I V E A S S I S TA N T
Shannon Gustafson
The Convocation is published by the Office of University Advancement for Texas A&M University-Texarkana. Address changes, inquiries, and contributions may be directed to Carol Langston at 7101 University Avenue, Texarkana, Texas 75503, OfficeOfCommunications@ tamut.edu, (903) 334-6628. Copyright ©2015 by Texas A&M University-Texarkana. All rights reser ved. No part of this periodical may be reproduced without the written permission of Texas A&M University-Texarkana.
Convocation: 1. a ceremonial assembly of members of a college or university 2. a collective group of Eagles
beginning of women’s soccer and men’s and women’s tennis programs at TAMUT, giving student athletes the opportunity to be part of a team. Baseball is coming to TAMUT in spring 2016. Students can experience the best that campus life has to offer while working toward a degree from the revered Texas A&M University System! With a breath-taking campus, state-of-the-art facilities at Bringle Lake Village, the university’s on-campus residence hall, and new soccer field, students at TAMUT have all they need to live, learn, and experience college life. Bringle Lake Village is an apartment-style complex with access to a swimming pool, patio grilling area, sand volleyball court, and overlooks beautiful Bringle Lake. The campus is directly across the street from a golf course, Texarkana Golf Ranch, and students are surrounded by endless opportunities for outdoor recreation. With over 40 recognized student groups, including Greek life, and extracurricular learning, intramural and social activities, students can explore Texas A&M-Texarkana outside the classroom and make connections that last a lifetime.
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president Greetings from Eagles countr y. It is a pleasure and a privilege to bring to you the fall 2015 issue of The Convocation, our magazine for friends, faculty, staff, and students of Texas A&M University-Texarkana. As a member of a world-class university system, A&M-Texarkana provides our students with the prestige of a Texas A&M University degree earned on a campus well-recognized by students, faculty, and staff as the “Eagle family ” and by others in the higher education realm as a true “community of learners” – a community that includes you as a friend of the university. Throughout this issue of The Convocation, we will highlight examples of engaged students, faculty, and alumni who truly represent the hallmarks of our university – academic excellence, student success, and community leadership. You will read stories about students, such as Holden F leming and Kaylee Loeza, who are making an impact in Texarkana and state of Texas. You will find out more about faculty members, such as Dr. Gaynell Green, Dr. Enobong Inyang, Dr. Kevin Ells, Dr. LuzMar y Rincon, Dr. Kevin W illiams, and Dr. Nurul Alam, who are working to fulfill our mission of teaching, research, and ser vice both in Texarkana and abroad, and alumni, such as Jason Noriega and Trailukya Borgohain, who are making an impact in the global community through their work in business and industr y. D uring the past few months, we have achieved a number of milestones at the university ; however, there is much left to accomplish. We will field our first baseball team this spring and hope you enjoy reading about Coach Steve Jones’ and Athletics Director Michael Galvan’s efforts to build a team from the ground up. You’ ll also get a glimpse of student life through stories about Hatch Camp, our new First Year Experience program for freshmen, our Best Week Ever welcome week, 2015 Homecoming Week, and more.
D ynamic enhancements are occurring for our community to enjoy, including a new academic building to house multipurpose classrooms, a new four-year nursing program, and new academic and support ser vices for our students and soonto-be graduates. A&M-Texarkana will continue to pursue changes that will strengthen our future and the future of our region. The addition of new undergraduate and graduate degree programs, as well as the development of recreational facilities, will attract students from our region and beyond and will contribute to the economic development of the greater Texarkana area. Thank you for joining us as we “ build the nest ” at A&M-Texarkana. We are proud you are a part of the Eagle family and the A&MTexarkana community of learners, and thank you for your commitment to joining us as we take the university to the next level and beyond.
Dr. Emily Fourmy Cutrer president
nes ve Jo h Ste Coac
Neiko ckin, a M c lor M l, Tay cher arnel V ou n B e n Brayd , Jonatha z e in t Ma
heus uille T Shaq
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B G RIN
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or the 60-plus students from throughout the country hoping to make the first-ever baseball team at Texas A&M University-Texarkana, the excitement is palpable. Some are community-college transfers with two years of college ball under their belts. Others are first-time college students, fresh from playing on their high-school teams. All are hoping to become a part of history at A&M-Texarkana. With 28 years of coaching experience at the NCAA Division II level, A&M-Texarkana Head Baseball Coach and Assistant Athletic Director Steve Jones has demonstrated his ability to build a winning baseball program from the ground up. The Eagles had their first-ever practice with a Pre-Midnight Madness scrimmage at Spring Lake Park in late September. If the crowd at the scrimmage was any indication of the future popularity of baseball at A&M-Texarkana, the university community can anticipate a great showing when the season starts. “The response to bringing baseball to A&M-Texarkana has been
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so overwhelming,” Coach Jones said. “I have been coaching for a long time and have never seen the tremendous enthusiasm that we have received from both the campus community and the city of Texarkana. The players have been involved in events on campus as well as in the community, and the response they receive is just amazing to me.” Coach Jones came to Texarkana from New Mexico Highlands University, an NCAA Division II school in Las Vegas, New Mexico. He was the Head Assistant Coach at the University of California-Davis for seven years and at Cal State University-Chico for four years prior to joining the NMHU coaching staff. Coach Jones’ teams averaged over 30 wins per season in his 17 years at NMHU along with 12 straight winning seasons and six trips to the NCAA Division II Regional Tournament. “The addition of baseball to our intercollegiate programs has brought an enriched sense of excitement to the university,” Athletics Director Michael Galvan said.
“The interest level was enough to bring in over 60 student-athletes who will compete for about four dozen spots on the roster for the spring 2016 season, and the talent level has been exceptional. More importantly, these are 60 plus students who might never have attended A&MTexarkana otherwise. Now, they are sitting in our classrooms being instructed by quality professors who are experts in their field of study.” Cade Davis, a junior pitcher and outfielder from Lubbock who spent two years at Midland College and played in the Junior College World Series in Grand Junction, Colorado, said he transferred to A&M-Texarkana because he saw an opportunity to leave a legacy at the university. “When we look back on this year, we will know we were the part of the first baseball team that ever stepped foot on a field for A&M-Texarkana,” he said. “We’re like a big family – a family away from home. I love it.” Shaquille “Shaq” Theus, a junior from Kansas City, Missouri, who spent two years at Hesston College in Kansas, agreed. “I feel cemented here,” he said. “I feel like we’re a part of the school’s history and that’s something that can never be taken away from us. I
love the philosophy here. It almost makes you feel like you’re legendary. Everybody will always remember this experience.” Theus said Coach Jones and the entire coaching staff stress the importance of giving back to the Texarkana community. Players recently had a clean-up day at Spring Lake Park and assisted Susan G. Komen Texarkana in placing pink ribbons around town to promote breast cancer awareness. The team’s efforts, coupled with those of the entire university community, garnered A&M-Texarkana the Susan G. Komen Texarkana Community Partner of the Year honor. “We have a tight-knit group, and we’re going to give it our all. We enjoy helping out in the community and look forward to the community coming out to support us. Without the community’s support, a baseball game might as well be a practice,” Theus said. The Eagles will play their first game January 29 at 3 p.m. at George Dobson Field at Spring Lake Park in Texarkana, Texas. For more information and the 2016 schedule, visit tamuteagles.com.
Jon Michael Cunningham, Brandon Garnto, Neiko Martinez, Taylor McMackin
A&M-Texarkana is Susan G. Komen Texarkana Community Partner of the Year
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VERY TWO MINUTES, a case of breast cancer is diagnosed in a woman in the United States. The mission of Susan G. Komen is to save lives and end breast cancer forever by empowering others, ensuring quality care for all, and investing in science to find the cures. While students, faculty, and staff at Texas A&M UniversityTexarkana often participate in the Susan G. Komen Texarkana Race for the Cure, a group of researchers at the university were tapped this year to provide a different type of volunteer support for the local nonprofit organization. Earlier this year, Amber Lawrence, Executive Director of Susan G. Komen Texarkana, reached out to A&M-Texarkana to assist with its community needs assessment, a set of reports that would be provided to Susan G. Komen, the most widely known, largest and best-funded nonprofit breast cancer organization in the United States. Dr. Bill McHenry, Dean of Graduate Studies and Research, assembled a team that included Dr. Gaynell Green, Associate Professor of Adult and Higher Education, and Dr. Enobong Inyang, Assistant Professor of Counseling and Psychology, to provide assistance with the project. “The research initiative involved focus-group interviews with
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survivors, healthcare-provider interviews, and taking an inventory of the breast-health service providers in the two counties identified in this region as less likely to meet the Healthy People 2020 Initiative. The team collected and analyzed qualitative data to explore the perspectives and needs of women in the counties pertaining to breast health,” Dr. Inyang said. “The overall goal was to assess breast health in area counties and to make recommendations to Komen Texarkana based on the findings” said Lawrence. According to the research, Dr. Green said one of the main barriers to breast healthcare in the region seems to be lack of lack of knowledge about screening and available services. Financial assistance is available through the Komen affiliate, but patients often do not pursue the additional services, particularly if they do not have a strong support system at home or don’t understand the treatment options. Fear is a very prominent barrier. “Many uninsured and underinsured individuals in the Texarkana region do not have a primary-care physician,” Dr. Green said. “This contributes to a lack of knowledge about breast healthcare.” “Residents in need of services the most in the targeted counties are often unable to leave their jobs to attend diagnostic
Venus Lillis, Morgan Moses and Mike Brown all placed in their divisions in the 2015 Susan G. Komen Texarkana Race for the Cure.
mammography follow ups for abnormal screening mammograms done outside of the main medical hub in Texarkana,” Dr. Inyang continued. “Most study participants felt that the barriers could be overcome by improving education efforts concerning the importance of preventive care and the awareness of resources for the underserved.” Other obstacles to care are logistical in nature, Dr. Inyang said, including lack of transportation. Improving access to care was a recurrent suggestion among study participants. “Improved transportation to medical facilities was among suggested solutions,” Dr. Inyang said. Drs. Green and Inyang contributed to devising the Affiliate Mission Action Plan as well as collecting participant data. Suggested improvements for the breast health care system in the Susan G. Komen Texarkana area included expanding resources for transportation to treatment options, more educational events for the underserved, particularly in rural counties, and adding more patient navigators for medical facilities, Dr. Green said. “Screening options are available,” Dr. Green said, “but patients who need studies and treatment beyond that step are often unfunded or delay treatment due to the complexities and simply lacking understanding of next steps. We found the role of the patient navigator was instrumental and so appreciated by the patients and their families. The employment of a clinical nurse practitioner to perform clinical breast exams in a community clinic setting was also recommended.” “The research findings, if implemented, are likely to im-
A&M-Texarkana Takes Breast Cancer Awareness to Heart Members of Team Texas A&M University-Texarkana showed up in full force at the 2015 Susan G. Komen Texarkana Race for the Cure Saturday, October 17, at the Four States Fairgrounds. With 64 team members, the university garnered several honors this year, including Community Partner of the Year and the Pink Out Day Award. In the competitive race, Mike Brown of the Information Technology department won first place in his age group, Morgan Moses with the College of Education and Liberal Arts placed second in her age group and Venus Lillis with the Academic Advising Center placed third in her age group. Roger McVeety, Volunteers Co-Chair for Race for the Cure, expressed appreciation to the A&M-Texarkana Athletics department and teams, students, faculty, and staff who provided volunteer support throughout the weeks and days leading up to the race. “It’s just great to have the university’s students give back to the community,” he said. “I hope they come back next year. They were a huge help.” the convocation [fall 2015]
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prove communication of services provided by Komen Texarkana throughout the entire service area, educate women about breast cancer prevention, screening, treatment and aftercare in the region, state and beyond. They will also encourage advocacy for funding, visibility of Komen, and community collaboration for breast health in the entire region,” Dr. Inyang said. Both Dr. Green and Dr. Inyang said the research experience proved to be very valuable. “It provided me the opportunity to apply my research background in a different area of community need with a serendipi-
Terrica Kirk and Marcie Whisenhunt
tous emergent of mental health implications for breast health screening, diagnosis, treatment, and after care,” Dr. Inyang said. “As a teacher and researcher it drew my attention to the mental health issues related to breast cancer and the significance of breast cancer education, research and advocacy.” “We were thrilled to partner with the university on this project,” Lawrence said. “Texarkana is blessed to have a regional university with a community leadership focus in our midst. We look forward to many more opportunities to work with A&MTexarkana in the future.”
Leanne Bruce and daughter Macey
About Dr. Inyang
Dr. Inyang is a Licensed Professional Counselor-Supervisor (LPC-S)-Texas, Nationally Certified Counselor (NCC), Certified Forensic Examiner (CFE), and Tricare Mental Health Counselor (TMHC) and an independent consultant. He previously taught at Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas, and Marshall University in West Virginia. Dr. Inyang has been at Texas A&M-Texarkana since fall 2014. He graduated from the University of Texas at Dallas, University of North Texas- Denton and Sam Houston State University. His research interests include empowerment therapy, neuroscience in clinical and the national Fatherhood Initiative. Among the courses he teaches are Social and Cultural Issues in Counseling, Addictions, Theories of Counseling, Couples, Marriage and Family Counseling, Research, Group Counseling, and Career Counseling.
About Dr. Green
Dr. Enobong Inyang, Amber Lawrence and Dr. Gaynell Green 10
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Dr. Green has been with Texas A&M University-Texarkana for 15 years, with a primary teaching and research focus on adult learners in higher education and workforce development. She taught in the BAAS program for adult undergraduate students for 12 years and now coordinates the M.S. in Adult and Higher Education. She received her doctorate from the University of Arkansas, majoring in Adult Education, and a Master of Science in Human Resource Development from Texas A&M University. Dr. Green’s area of research includes adult degree programs, experiential learning, and adult learning. Recent courses she has taught include College Teaching and the Professoriate, Workforce Training and Development, Adult Learning and Development, Research Methods, and Organizational Development.
FIRST TIME’S THE CHARM A&M-TEXARKANA SOCCER TEAM ENTERS CONFERENCE PLAY IN FIRST YEAR OF ELIGIBILITY
In its first year of eligibility, the Texas A&M University-Texarkana women’s soccer team qualified for the Association of Independent Institutions Conference Tournament November 1114 on the campus of Georgia Gwinnett College in Lawrenceville, Georgia. The two-year-old A&M-Texarkana Eagles were seeded fifth out of six teams in the tournament and went on to defeat Fisher College of Boston, Massachusetts, which had a 12-4 record entering the tournament, by a score of 7-1. In the semi-final round of the tournament, the Eagles narrowly lost to first-seeded Ashford University of San Diego, California, by a score of 3-2. “This is the first year for A&M-Texarkana programs to be eligible for postseason play, so it is quite an accomplishment for A&M-Texarkana student-athletes and Coach Don Koontz,” said Michael Galvan, Director of Athletics. “I am extremely proud of our student-athletes and what they have done up to this point; however, I want this to be expected each and every year along with the opportunity to become Academic All-Americans, which would be the icing on the cake. It is a great year to be an Eagle.” The purpose of the Association of Independent Institutions is to promote the education, development, and welfare of student-athletes through their various experiences and participation in National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics programs.
“IT IS A GREAT YEAR TO BE AN EAGLE.” “I AM EXTREMELY PROUD OF ...WHAT THEY HAVE DONE.” the convocation [fall 2015]
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“It is our hope that the wilderness trail offers everyone the opportunity to slow down and take in the beauty around us.” - Julie-Ray Harrison
Happy Trails T
he wilderness trail system at Bringle Lake Park will soon be enhanced as a result of a community collaboration between Texas A&M University-Texarkana, the City of Texarkana, Texas, and Partnership for the Pathway that resulted in half a million dollars in grant funding for the project. Last year, the university announced a $199,500 grant from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and a $50,000 matching grant from the Partnership for the Pathway to fund the first phase of the wilderness trail system. In August, the university received the same amounts from TPWD and Partnership for the Pathway to fund phase two of the program. Construction of the Bringle Lake Park wilderness trail system is scheduled to begin this fall. When completed, the wilderness trail system will wind through a diverse collection of habitats and landscapes as it connects Texarkana’s Bringle Lake Park to University Avenue via a seven-mile loop that will be open to hikers, cyclists, skaters, joggers, and other outdoor recreation enthusiasts. The trail route will include a kiosk that will provide information about current environmental issues, as well as signage developed by A&M-Texarkana students at every 1/10 of a mile that will educate hikers about plants, animals, and the environment. Dr. Emily Cutrer, President of A&M-Texarkana, said the trail project, as well as the broader community, would benefit as a result of the cooperative efforts of those involved in the grant initiative, including the Partnership for the Pathway, the local legislative delegation, mayors and city managers, and Bowie County officials. “Community engagement is a key component of the university’s mission,” Dr. Cutrer said. “We are excited about this educational part-
COMMUNITY COLLABORATION MAKES BRINGLE LAKE PARK WILDERNESS TRAIL SYSTEM A REALITY
nership and look forward to many more collaborative initiatives in the years to come.” “Trails are a vital part of our parks system,” Mayor Bob Bruggeman of Texarkana, Texas, said. “It is our hope that the Bringle Lake Park wilderness trail system contributes to a healthier and more physically fit community.” The trail will be available to groups such as the Caddo Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America and Girl Scouts-Diamonds of Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas to enjoy a true wilderness experience within the Texarkana city limits, Robby Robertson, Parks and Recreation Director for the City of Texarkana, Texas, said. Dr. Bill McHenry, Dean of Graduate Studies and Research at the university, praised the efforts of Robertson and Dr. Angela Sikorski, Associate Professor of Psychology, who served as lead grant writer. He also said students and faculty would soon begin preparing the educational materials for the trail signage. John and Julie-Ray Harrison with Partnership for the Pathway, a non-profit organization based in Texarkana, said the organization is dedicated to the development of safe trail systems that increase the quality of life of all citizens in the Texarkana region. “The Bringle Lake Park wilderness trail system will be a wonderful enhancement to the trails of the Texarkana area,” Julie-Ray Harrison said. “A&M-Texarkana’s expertise was an essential element in receiving the grant. It is our hope that the wilderness trail offers everyone the opportunity to slow down and take in the beauty around us.”
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Dr. Kevin Ells 14
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Dr. Kevin Ells
FULBRIGHT SCHOLAR RETURNS FROM AZERBAIJAN WITH A NEW PERSPECTIVE When Dr. Kevin Ells returned from a se- For more information or to schedule younger Americans,” he said, “but in small mester as a Fulbright Scholar in the Republic groups and conversations, they can be quite of Azerbaijan, the largest country in the Cau- Dr. Ells for a presentation, write to gracious and helpful, especially for those who casus region of Eurasia, he described his visit show genuine interest in their country and as a “real study in crossroads” – both literally culture. It is very much a densely networked Kevin.Ells@tamut.edu. and figuratively. society where who you know can likely make Located at the juncture of Western Asia and Eastern Europe and on or break a long sojourn or a career.” the coast of the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan is the only country bordering Dr. Ells also said the overall experience at Baku State was extremely both Russia and Iran. Over 90 percent of its citizens are Muslim and valuable to him as a researcher and teacher. He not only gained a more speak Azerbaijani, a language related to Turkish. Azerbaijani troops detailed global perspective, but also had to rethink his approach to have served as peacekeepers alongside American forces in Iraq and lecturing. Afghanistan. “As a teacher, preparing complex material for students who underDr. Ells, an Associate Professor of Mass Communication at Texas stood English as a second or third language or only through translaA&M University-Texarkana, was selected for the flagship internation- tion in class, I found myself preparing lecture notes in far more detail al educational exchange program sponsored by the U.S. government and rehearsing lectures even more than I normally do at home. I think through a competitive application process. Participants are chosen for this has already improved my lecturing and presentations here this their potential — with opportunities to study, teach, conduct research, semester,” he said. exchange ideas, and address shared international concerns. Dr. Ells, who serves on the Quality Enhancement Program (QEP) While in Azerbaijan, Dr. Ells taught a course called Journalistic Committee, Program for Learning and Community Engagement Ethics in Radio-Television at Baku State University, an eight-lecture (PLACE) Committee, and the First-Year Experience (FYE) Steering series on Principles of Journalism and Mass Communication co- Committee at A&M-Texarkana, said he plans to share his experiences sponsored by the U.S. Embassy at the ANS-TV Media Academy, and with the university and greater Texarkana community. a five-week course in Conversational English sponsored by the U.S. “Certainly the Fulbright brand is useful in promoting A&M-TexEmbassy at the Baku American Center. He also lectured on U.S. Me- arkana,” he said. “I’ve already given a talk on my experiences to the dia History to an American Studies class in the Baku State History Friends United for a Safe Environment (FUSE) group in town. I will department. talk about Azerbaijan in our own PLACE series at A&M-Texarkana, Dr. Ells described his experience in Azerbaijan as very pleasant. as well as to anyone else who might be interested in learning more “The people might seem family-bound, stay-at-home types to about the country, the Fulbright program, or both.”
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Dr. Gary Stading
New Dean of College of Business Wastes No Time Creating New Opportunities When Dr. Gary Stading came to Texas A&M University-Texarkana as the new Dean of the College of Business in mid-July, he already had a vision for developing a new business and industry partnership that would serve the four-state region of Texas, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Louisiana. He has wasted no time making his presence felt on campus and in the surrounding community. In less than three months, Dr. Stading and his colleagues have developed an ad hoc committee, comprised of leaders in transportation and logistics from the region, with a mission to develop education and training opportunities for individuals and organizations in the area of supply chain management. “With two interstate highways, multiple railroad lines, and a centralized location in Texarkana, it was easy to visualize A&M-Texarkana as a center of excellence in providing additional educational opportunities in transportation and logistics,” said Dr. Stading, who has a Doctor of Philosophy with a concentration in Production and Operations Management from Texas A&M University at College Station. Prior to joining the A&M-Texarkana community, Dr. Stading served on the faculty and in a number of administrative positions at the University of Houston Downtown. Most recently, he was the Associate Dean of Graduate Studies in the College of Business. Shortly after his arrival in Texarkana, Dr. Stading became involved in the community as a member of the Texarkana Chamber of Commerce economic development committee and military affairs group. He also started working with Workforce Solutions of North-
east Texas and the city of Texarkana, Texas, on several grant initiatives. Dr. Stading observed that Dr. Larry Davis, a Professor of Economics and Management who previously served as Dean, and the College of Business faculty members as a whole have a long history of developing and nurturing business and industry partnerships in the region. For example, the university currently provides Leadership and Management and Logistics Management certificate programs through a partnership with the Red River Army Depot, which is located west of Texarkana in Bowie County, Texas. “These types of partnerships will continue to be the key to building student value in our educational process,” Dr. Stading said. Dr. Stading also commended A&M-Texarkana faculty members for developing programs that provide industry employees with education in a hands-on environment. Dr. David Reavis, Associate Professor of Management Information Systems and Management, is a key leader in this initiative. Dr. Stading foresees a tremendous amount of growth and development for the A&MTexarkana College of Business in the future. “I am extremely pleased and honored to be a part of the A&M-Texarkana community,” Dr. Stading said. “The faculty and staff represent the highest ideals of academic standards. The students are hardworking and interested in attaining education to better their lives and the world in which we live. I hope I can provide servant leadership for the A&M-Texarkana faculty, staff, students, and community partners that helps all of us expand upon our contributions to the world around us.”
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Business Alumnus Puts His Analytical and Communication Skills to Work at Chevron When alumnus Jason Noriega returned to Texas A&M University-Texarkana in September to speak at a reception honoring legislators, he had opportunities to tour the campus and visit with students, faculty, and staff. “This campus is so different from the location at Texarkana College,” he said while walking the halls of the University Center. “I don’t really remember much about the old location. What I do remember most are the lessons I received in the classroom.” Noriega works as the Diversity Analytics Team Lead in the Office of Global Diversity at Chevron in San Ramon, California, where he applies data science and analytics to the workforce. One of the areas that he examines is the university hiring process. “I look at the diversity of graduates and various disciplines and try to help answer the question ‘How can we make improvements to our recruitment process and our feeder pool model?’” Noriega was born and grew up in Hawaii and attended Hawaii Pacific University on a cross-country scholarship. After graduating in 2001, he provided internal consulting regarding workforce planning and analytics, metric development, automation, standard and ad hoc reporting, business intelligence and dashboard development to the U.S.
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Department of Defense. Noriega moved to Texarkana and started attending A&MTexarkana, where he graduated in 2004 with a Master of Science in Business Administration. After graduation, he worked for various governmental agencies, including the NASA Dryden Flight Research Center in Palmdale, California, the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency in Washington, D.C., and the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in Livermore, California. He later worked as a Human Resources Analytics Specialist at eBay in San Jose, California, and a Senior Workforce Analyst at SanDisk in Milpitas, California. “I was advised that it was good to be mobile early on in my career. I took that advice seriously,” Noriega said. “Each step I took along my career path, I learned how to become so much more efficient and effective. That’s the type of experience that you get if you’re able to be mobile.” He said the education he received at A&M-Texarkana has played a major role in his career development. “The education I received at A&M-Texarkana took my analytical and communication skills to a whole new level,” Noriega said. “Through group work and class pre-
Jason Noriega
sentations, I had so many opportunities to practice and develop skills in making presentations. Since I graduated, I’ve had opportunities to serve as keynote speaker at human capital analytics conferences, as well as predictive analytics and business insights conferences. The education I received at A&M-Texarkana has been invaluable to me and to my career.” Noriega also offered a few words of advice for students. “You need to have passion. Your career is like a marathon. It’s not a sprint. You’re in it for the long run,” he said. “Always look for opportunities to improve your skills. Have a passion and the perseverance to achieve your long-term goals.” Noriega and his wife, Shalika, currently live in the San Ramon area with their two children. In about four years, Noriega said his entire Chevron department will be relocating to the Houston area. “I’m really looking forward to it,” he said. “Texas is amazing.”
F R E S H M E N C E L E B R AT E T I M E HONORED TRADITION Â
Texas A&M University-Texarkana freshmen celebrated timehonored traditions at Freshman Convocation August 23 in Eagle Hall of the University Center. Convocation is an academic ceremony that traditionally allows newly-matriculated students to join the university community and begin their academic career among their colleagues and professors. Students heard from professors and other students, as well as university administrators. Students also signed the university matricula, a ceremonial parchment that contains the names of university freshmen since 2010. Becoming part of the university community is an exciting event in a student’s life, and the role of the Convocation is to solemnize and celebrate that moment. the convocation [fall 2015] 19
student spotlight:
Kyle Price
A&M-TEXARKANA JUNIOR BRINGS PASSION AND KNOWLEDGE TO STEM EDUCATION Kyle Price, a junior Electrical Engineering major from Idabel, Oklahoma, is on a mission: to make science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education fun for today’s generation of learners. Price has been a part of engineering, robotics, and STEM teams since the 8th grade. “I enjoyed the problem solving aspect of math and science,” Price said. “I heard about a robotics team near where I grew up, and I checked it out. Because of robotics, I decided to follow electrical engineering.” As a mentor and team director of design and communication for FIRST robotics team 3152, Price figured out how to effectively lead group conversation and create synergy with STEM teams. At Texas A&M University-Texarkana, Price is enrolled in courses such as Electromagnetic Theory, Differential Equations, Signals and Systems, and Senior Design. He is a resident assistant at Bringle Lake Village residence hall, a tutor for the success center, and involved in the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers campus chapter. Now, at age 20, Price can add published author and entrepreneur to his list of accomplishments. With his book, “Team Building Activities for STEM Groups,” Price hopes to eliminate the stigma that STEM education is hard and no fun. Paradigm Shift, the experiential leadership company where Price works, helped him produce the book. “As an experiential-based educator that mostly organizes and directs leadership camps, trainings, and developments, I strongly believe that every career and field of study needs strong leadership 20
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Kyle Price
values,” Price said. “About three or four years ago, I really began to notice the stigma that many engineers and other STEM majors are intrinsically introverted or poor communicators. This isn’t true in most cases.” There is a huge push in education to garner student interest in STEM, Price said. “This can be hard when students associate the trials of high school algebra with STEM careers.” “By combining my love for learning through games and initiatives with my passion for seeing students connect to STEM, I began to create activities focused for high school STEM groups,” he said. After creating about 20 of these activities and directing STEM camps during the summer of 2015, Price decided to compile his activities and create new activities in a book. This book is designed to show students as young as elementary age that STEM is fun and that the problem solving part of math and science is a challenging, but rewarding pursuit. The book teaches important STEM lessons such as combinations and permutations, the five-step engineering
process, astronomy, basics of coding, and even 3-D printing. Each are all very positive and proud, too. The whole family has really been activity is fun, teaches a STEM lesson, and is designed for teams inspiring throughout the entire process.” He also gives a lot of credit to his Eagle family. rather than individuals. “The thing I enjoy most about A&M-Texarkana is the close con“The book came out in September, so I have been promoting it quite a bit recently,” Price said. “I went on a book tour through nection between students and faculty. I was able to get a referral for Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, and the back of my book by the dean of the STEM college, Dr. Don South Carolina. I did book signing events in Texarkana, Texas, Tul- Peterson. You can’t really say the same thing about a big university. A&M-Texarkana feels like home. We are all striving for the sa, Oklahoma, and Atlanta, Georgia. I lead three workshops same goals, and we all want each other to succeed.” on the activities in the book and how they relate to the Price recently received a promotion at Paragrowing interest in STEM in Tulsa, Atlanta, and digm Shift and is now a director/consultant in South Carolina.” charge of volunteers in the Oklahoma, Texas, He has been hitting the speaking circuit, and Arkansas region. too, speaking on the topics of goal setting, “Team Building “In five years, I see myself working totime management, holistic leadership, Activities for STEM ward my Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering. physics in leadership, and critical thinkGroups” can be I’d like to continue pursuing my educaing. tion. My career with Paradigm Shift is “I have been paid to speak at over 10 found on Amazon or also moving up very quickly. Within our events during 2015, including keynote at myparadigmshift.org. five-year plan, the hope is for me to oversee speeches for STEM camps and high a region of leadership camps. I would like to school leadership developments. One of the be in charge of STEM camps and corporate highlights of my speaking career is speaking engineering leadership development,” Price said. at the LaunchOut 2015 conference in Nashville, “My real passion is sharing information and leadTennessee, with New York Times bestselling author ership skills with others, so in 10 years, I could maybe see Jon Acuff.” The video is available on YouTube. Price praises his family as inspirational and motivational to his myself as a professor while working with Paradigm Shift. Hopefully by then, we will be able to expand our STEM camps and trainings efforts. “I have been super blessed to be given my family. My parents have into the international arena.” Price’s book, “Team Building Activities for STEM Groups” can both supported me in my pursuits. They trust the choices I make, so they are always extremely helpful and supportive when I start be found on Amazon or at myparadigmshift.org. When he is not working with STEM groups, Price said he can doing something. My mom even helped me come up with a few of the activities in the book. My brother is my best friend, and he be found “watching Premier League football, taking long walks in bought the book almost as soon as it came out. My grandparents the park with his calculator, or at a theater near you.”
STEM s c i e n c e | t e c h n o l o g y | e n g i n e e r i n g | m at h e m a t i c s
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JAMP
PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES FOR A&M-TEXARKANA PRE-MED STUDENTS
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Makenzie Stovall and Kaylee Loeza
Getting into medical school is difficult for all students. But medical school admission is especially challenging for students who face considerable financial barriers. Fortunately for students like Texas A&M University-Texarkana junior Kaylee Marcella Loeza, the Texas Legislature created the Joint Admission Medical Program ( JAMP) in 2003 to support and encourage highly qualified Texas resident students in pursuing a medical education. Funded through the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, JAMP is a unique partnership between all nine medical schools and 67 public and private four-year undergraduate institutions in Texas. The current Legislature reserves 10 percent of the seats available in each entering class for JAMP students. As of May, JAMP had sent 522 students to Texas medical schools; 242 have graduated. Ninety-seven percent of JAMP medical graduates were matched with residency programs, primarily in internal medicine and family practice. For the 2015 JAMP entry year, more than 500 students were recommended by undergraduate institutions to apply for the program; 293 completed the application process. After a rigorous evaluation process by a committee established by the JAMP council, 200 applicants were selected for face-to-face interviews at Texas medical schools. From this application and interview process, 100 students from 40 undergraduate institutions succeeded in joining JAMP. Loeza, a Biology major, was the first JAMP applicant from A&M-Texarkana. When the names of the selected students were announced at the 46th annual meeting of the Texas pre-med advisors, Loeza was one of them. “It was an honor for me as the new JAMP faculty director to have a successful candidate during my first year with JAMP,” said Dr. Nurul Alam, Associate Professor of Biology. “There were schools with about 10,000 students without any successful applicants.” Loeza graduated as valedictorian from New Diana High School
in Diana, Texas, in 2013 with a perfect GPA. Since acceptance into the program, Dr. Alam said Loeza has dedicated herself to remaining in the program and ultimately getting into medical school. This summer, Loeza completed a paid JAMP summer enrichment program at the Texas A&M Health Science Center in College Station. She was assigned to a Phase-I science enrichment program focusing on general chemistry, biology, and critical thinking and a phase-II MCAT (medical college admission test) preparation program. The MCAT program included a comprehensive online preparation and free access to the Kaplan library of MCAT modules. “The students not on the JAMP program will have to pay a huge amount of money for these resources,” Dr. Alam said. “Being accepted into JAMP is such an honor. I have been given the amazing opportunity to advance my education and future career,” Loeza said, adding that JAMP provided her with the confidence that she needed to be able to meet the criteria and pursue her dream to become a doctor. “I am truly blessed with the chance to fulfill my heart’s desire to help others, especially children,” she said. Dr. Alam said he reached out to 25 biology majors this semester, interviewed 10 students, selected one student who fulfilled all the criteria, and submitted her application for the 2016 entry year. “I am keeping my finDr. Nurul Alam gers crossed for her,” said Dr. Alam. “It’s a rigorous process, and we are very excited to have such an interest in JAMP. Biological science is one of the most popular majors at A&M-Texarkana. Many of our students are interested in medical careers, which we hope will have a tremendous impact on the regional medical community.” For inquiries regarding JAMP and the pre-health program at A&M-Texarkana, please contact Dr. Nurul Alam, Associate Professor of Biology and JAMP faculty director in the STEM College, at (903) 334-6671 or nurul.alam@tamut.edu.
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Holden Fleming 24
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A&M-Texarkana Graduate Makes Things Happen at Texarkana Farmers’ Market by KRISTIE AVERY Fleming’s advice to current and future A&M-Texarkana students hopMany people assume that farmers’ markets, most often associated with neatly displayed fresh fruits and vegetables, are seasonal affairs relegated ing to make the most of their time at the university is to find out what the local community has to offer, get involved, and go all in. to the warmer parts of the year. “If you want to support the community, then you have to actively be a But Texas A&M University-Texarkana alumnus Holden Fleming, Manager of the Texarkana Farmers’ Market in downtown Texarkana, part of it. Find a service organization, either on campus or off campus, Texas, is proving them wrong as he seeks to expand the city’s understand- and donate your time,” Fleming said. “Texas A&M University-Texarkana has some amazingly talented individuals with a wide set of skills. If they ing of what a farmers’ market can do for the community. Fleming, who graduated from A&M-Texarkana in May 2015 with a will commit those skills to the Texarkana community, it won’t be long degree in history, was offered the position with the City of Texarkana before their fingerprints start showing up all over projects and events in as the result of a Political Science internship last spring. The Political our area. They can have a real impact on the Texarkana area as a whole.” Fleming’s influence will likely linger in the Texarkana community for Science program coordinates an internship program, placing well-qualified students with local city and county governments, as well as with a long time to come. During his two-year term as Manager, he hopes to cement the farmers’ market’s repjudges, attorneys, and elected ofutation as a venue for community ficials. Students do not receive gathering and participation. He any money for working at their said its role as a place where ideas weekly internships, but they do and experiences can be shared is earn course credit. “I want people to wake up on Saturday just as important as the products One of the projects that Flemmorning and think to themselves, ‘I they offer. ing worked on as an intern was “My number one goal in the the “Texarkana Arts & Hiswonder what’s going on at the market time I have is to make the farmers’ toric District Economic Impact today.’ I want people to check our market as much of a destination Study.” He credits the internship schedule of events the same way they as anything else in Texarkana,” he for preparing him to serve in his check show times for the movies.” said. “I want people to wake up on new role. -Holden Fleming Saturday morning and think to “I owe this job 100 percent to themselves, ‘I wonder what’s gomy internship through A&Ming on at the market today.’ I want Texarkana,” Fleming said. people to check our schedule of “Honestly, the thing that most events the same way they check helped me was just obtaining a show times for the movies.” familiarity with the policies and “Our internship opportunities have recently expanded to include people within local government. I worked with them, and they worked with me. They knew what they could expect by offering me a job, and I positions with U.S. and state representatives and judges, as well as the really appreciated it. I’m very glad I decided to participate in the intern- Ark-Tex Council of Governments,” said Political Science Professor Gary Bugh, who coordinates the internship program. ship.” “These are quality internships that expose students to professional setFleming said he feels visiting a local farmers’ market is a good reflectings and responsibilities. Interns learn valuable knowledge and skills tion of what a city has to offer. “In areas where there is an active, vibrant farmers’ market, you can bet that they can use later in life. But perhaps the most important lesson that the rest of the community reflects that atmosphere,” he said. “Our interns take away is that they can do the same things others have done. farmers’ market is important not only to downtown, but to the entire city, They too can become program managers, government administrators, atbecause among other things, it provides a unique experience for residents torneys, judges, or elected officials.” Once gaining experience, many interns move into professional careers looking to expand their nutritional options, and a valuable tool for anythroughout the region. one wanting to learn more about local food production.” “One intern, Holly Wall, decided to run for a seat on the Linden City Fleming also plans to release an education programing schedule for council – and won,” Dr. Bugh said. “Nearly all of our Political Science the Farm-to-Table program soon. “Growing your own food or shopping local is not a trend or fad. From graduates who have gone to law school had an internship. Most recently time immemorial, this way of sourcing food has been the norm,” Fleming Political Science major Hannah Dyal went to the School of Law at the said. “I like to think of people who grow their own food, or use farmers’ University of Texas-Austin.” For more information on community internships at A&M-Texarkana, markets as an integral part of their shopping habits, as folks that are returning to their historical roots. The Texarkana Farmers’ Market wants contact Dr. Gary Bugh in the Department of Political Science at Gary. Bugh@tamut.edu. to be a tool to facilitate this return.” the convocation [fall 2015]
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There is never a dull day at A&M-Texarkana. Whether it is a musical guest, poetry slam contest, movie night on the lawn, or a leadership retreat, the Office of Student Life and the student-run Campus Activities Board are constantly planning activities that offer all students the chance to be engaged, make friends, and create memories.
y t i n u m m co
HATCH CAMP: SUCCESS BEGINS AT DAY ONE
New students at Texas A&M University-Texarkana were welcomed to campus this fall with the first-ever Hatch Camp, which proved to be an “eggciting” new first-year experience program for incoming Eagles. Hatch Camp began with freshman move-in, a welcome party, and food, games, swimming and music for new students living in the Bringle Lake Village residence hall. It continued with interactive sessions designed to acquaint students with university expectations, a sand volleyball tournament and grill-n-chill at Bringle Lake Park West, and a freshman meet and greet on the University Center lawn. Students also learned about the history of the university and to sing the alma mater, and heard from deans and faculty members about classroom expectations, leadership opportunities, services offered, and other important information. They also participated in Playfair: The Ultimate Icebreaker at Eagle Field and heard from motivational speaker Ryan Penneau who encouraged them to “Take Back College” and make the most of their university experience. “Hatch Camp was an excellent introduction to the campus and faculty,” said Erin Beach, a freshman Biology major from Carrollton, Texas. “I felt more connected to my fellow freshmen and it was great know some upperclassmen before classes started.” thetoconvocation [fall 2015] Groundbreaking of soccer field 26 to get
family
BEST WEEK EVER: WELCOME WEEK OFFERS SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE
success
Best Week Ever, the annual fall welcome week at A&MTexarkana, offered a little something for everyone this year, with events ranging from a big money bingo, caricature artists and a comedy show to a bowling night, and a movie night. A cookout and concert featuring Kansas City folk-rock band Attic Wolves, winner of the 2014 John Lennon Songwriting Contest, kicked off the week’s activities, along with a street dance and Playfair: The Ultimate Icebreaker. Alingon Mitra, one of only 100 comedians invited to perform on the remake of NBC’s ”Last Comic Standing” who went on to be the winner of the show’s Comic Comeback contest, was featured in the Best Week Ever comedy showcase. One of the week’s highlights, Spotlight on Texarkana, featured more than 50 student organizations, banks, restaurants and other local businesses, showcasing all that Texarkana has to offer. Bearded Brothers Yogurt provided free frozen yogurt to participants. The week ended with a showing of “Avengers: Age of Ultron,” the 2015 sequel to the 2012 mega-hit “The Avengers,” featuring the Marvel Comics superhero in the 11th installment of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. “Best Week Ever was an amazing experience,” said Victoria “Tori” Leach, a sophomore Math Education major from Shreveport, Louisiana. “It was a great way to get students hyped for the upcoming semester.”
Lindley Southard, Caitlin Gray, Chesney Spears, Morgan Moses and Elizabeth Vargas
Chalk the Walk
traditions 28
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2015 Homecoming Queen Elizabeth Vargas and King Travis Garvin
Caleb Sparks, Tyler Lawrence, Travis Garvin, Jamaruyon Pree and Kreagan Scott
Senior Torchlight Parade
s
n, t
spirit!
From Crowns to Kicks 2015 Homecoming Week is Filled with New Traditions
A&M-Texarkana celebrated its second Homecoming Week September 28 to October 3, with two inaugural events hosted by the A&M-Texarkana Alumni Association that proved to be highlights for both students, alumni, faculty, staff, and friends of the university. Distinguished alumni and faculty were feted at the 2015 Eagle Roundup on October 1 in Eagle Hall of the University Center. More than 250 alumni and friends of the university attended the countrywestern-themed event, complete with a hayride, burlap, bandanas and fall florals, and western selfie station. Several event-goers stepped outside of the University Center to view the homecoming bonfire and senior torchlight parade later in the evening. On game day, October 3, the Alumni Association hosted the 2015 Eagle Chili Fest and Tailgate Party in the Bringle Lake Village parking lot adjacent to Eagle Field. Winners of the chili cookoff included Chartwells at A&M-Texarkana, first place; National Sorority Interest Group, second place; and American Red Cross,
third place. Showmanship award went to Soccer Moms and Dads. People’s Choice Award went to National Sorority Interest Group. Homecoming Week activities included a spirit banner competition, university decorating contest and Chalk the Walk Block Party featuring country-rockers the Phillip Fox Band, the South Central Kings of Comedy, a pep rally on the lawn, an outdoor showing of “Inside Out,” and the first-ever HoCo Glow Run with more than 200 participants running and walking a 5K route through Texarkana’s Bringle Lake Park. The university rounded out 2015 Homecoming Week with an A&M-Texarkana Eagles women’s soccer 3-0 win over the Louisiana College Wildcats. Elizabeth Vargas and Travis Garvin were crowned homecoming queen and king during the ceremony at half-time. Members of the homecoming court included Caleb Sparks, Kreagan Scott, Tyler Lawrence, Jamaruyon Pree, Caitlin Gray, Morgan Moses, Lindley Southard, and Chesney Spears. the convocation [fall 2015]
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a l u m n i
s p o t l i g h t :
T r a i l u k y a B o r go h a i n
T E X A S
A & M
U N I V E R S I T Y-T E X A R K A N A
worked as a geologist in India’s energy sector. In 1995, he was one of four candidates selected for a geologist position by Oil India Limited through an allIndia-based examination and interview. Since that time, he has worked in operations geology for the company and is presently deputy chief geologist and member of the exploration section responsible for all exploration evaluation studies for the company’s operational areas in India and throughout the world. “Post-liberalized India is Trailukya Borgohain bringing both challenges and opportunities to exploration and prospect professionals,” Borgohain explained. “An MBA equipped me with a greater understanding of the dynamics of the energy business in today’s complex scenario.” Borgohain has authored a number of technical papers and presented at both national and international professional seminars. His recent focus is on It’s not often a student travels more than the structural geology and evo8,000 miles to attend a university commencelution of Upper Assam Basin, a continental ment ceremony. But Trailukya Borgohain of area in northeast India characterized by MeDuliajan, India, was bound and determined sozoic and Cenozoic hydrocarbon systems. to make it to Texarkana for his. Borgohain also is seeking a Doctor of PhiBorgohain graduated from Texas A&M losophy at Dibrugarh University, where his University-Texarkana in May with a Master research work focuses on structural modeling of Business Administration with an emphasis of the Upper Assam Basin using both kinein Energy Leadership. Previously, he earned matic and geometrical techniques. a Bachelor of Science in geology from Arya The energy leadership track of the uniVidyapeeth College at Gauhati University in versity’s MBA program draws energy proAssam, India, in 1990 and a Master of Scifessionals from throughout the nation and ence in applied geology from the Indian Inworld, explained Dr. Gary Stading, Dean of stitute of Technology Roorkee in UP, India, the College of Business at A&M-Texarkana. in 1993. “We have a partnership with the American For the past two decades, Borgohain has
Student travels 8,000 miles to receive A&MTexarkana degree
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M B A
2 0 1 5
Association of Petroleum Geologists to offer an MBA-Energy Leadership Track for its members and others employed in the energy industry,” he explained. “This track provides many who have undergraduate degrees in geology, petroleum engineering or a related field with the additional skills to become successful in management positions in these industries.” Borgohain said the MBA program provided him with management skills he needed to grow in his leadership role. “As geologists we deal mainly with the technicalities and studies,” Borgohain said. “Nowadays, our jobs demand effective knowledge of management to address complicated team issues, proper time management, resource allocation and other matters. A formal education in business administration helped me gain a better understanding of how to achieve desired business objectives.” In addition to his work at Oil India Limited, Borgohain is an active member of the Lions Club of Duliajan, editor of the local chapter of the Association of Petroleum Geologists’ journal, Vortex, and general secretary of Oil India Executive Employees Cooperative Society Limited, which runs a store that supplies day-to-day commodities to approximately 1,600 members of the company. Borgohain and his wife of 15 years, Nibedita, an assistant professor of English at a college in India, are the parents of two children, daughter Hiandinee, 11, and son Anwesh, 4. He said his mother Kshetreswari, 71, a retired primary school teacher, has been a source of inspiration to him his entire life. For more information about the Master of Business Administration or the Master of Business Administration-Energy Leadership Track at A&M-Texarkana, contact Dr. Gary Stading, Dean of the College of Business, at (903) 334-6678 or Gary.Stading@ tamut.edu.
Quality Matters:
TAKING E-LEARNING TO THE NEXT LEVEL
Dr. LuzMary Rincon
In the past two decades, e-learning has become the norm rather than the exception at colleges and universities throughout the country. During the fall 2015 semester, Texas A&M University-Texarkana is offering 60 graduate classes or 65 percent of its graduate coursework online. Eighty-four of its 324 undergraduate classes (26 percent) are offered online. As programs and courses are added to Texas A&M University-Texarkana’s online and web-enhanced offerings, faculty members are becoming even more involved in teaching and creating dynamic online courses and using technology to enhance their face-to-face classroom instruction. Learning Technologists Julia Allen and Linda Scott work with faculty members to ensure that they have the resources they need in the area of instructional technology and in developing online courses in the Blackboard Learn online learning management system. A little more than a year ago, Allen said the university initiated Quality Matters, a nationally recognized faculty-centered peer review process designed to certify the quality of online course design and online components. “We were pursuing a way to evaluate the quality of online and web-enhanced – or ‘blended’ – courses at A&M-Texarkana,” Allen said. “A committee dedicated to educational technology that included faculty members, learning technologists, and three of the deans reviewed the Quality Matters program, recommended it to the university community, and developed an implementation plan for the initiative.” Scott said the Quality Matters Higher Education Rubric contains a set of standards that are used to evaluate the design of online and web-enhanced courses. “The main goal is to improve student persistence in online and web-enhanced courses,” Scott said. “Quality Matters ensures that the design process is transparent and of the highest quality.” Earlier this semester, Dr. LuzMary Rincon, Associate Professor of Spanish and Bilingual Education, successfully completed the Quality Matters Review process for her courses “Introduction to Teaching and “Classroom Management and Basic Law for Teachers.” “To be able to teach online involves a new set of skills – the ability to align, organize, be clear, have a predictable structure, develop new ways to communicate and interact with students, and most importantly find various ways to teach the content,” she said. “Students may be more successful if they are able to know what is expected and what will happen on the first as well as on the last day of class. The detail of information that is required by QM standards helps students acquire the skills to participate successfully in an online community – technical, netiquette, building learning, and pacing.” “Quality Matters provides standards. For me, it’s as simple as that,” said Dr. Kevin Williams, Department Chair for Graduate Education in Instructional Technology and coordinator of the Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences and Bachelor of General Studies programs. “While the QM rubric gives the students some uniformity, it does not regulate what or how the instructor teaches. That’s still left up to the individual professor.” In addition to Dr. Rincon’s courses, Dr. David Allard’s course in “Medical Terminology” and Dr. David Reavis’ “Leadership in Management” course also were certified earlier this semester. “Fifty-three percent of current faculty members have been trained in Quality Matters,” Allen said. “We also have seven certified peer reviewers. Four of our courses have been officially certified and we have more on track for certification, so we’ve made a tremendous amount of progress in the first year.”
Linda Scott and Julia Allen
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@
Happening
A&M-TEXARKANA
WOMEN FOR A&MTEXARKANA GOURMET BRUNCH
More than 100 Women for A&MTexarkana members and friends of the university gathered in Eagle Hall on the Texas A&M University-Texarkana campus August 29 for the annual Gourmet Brunch, featuring Executive Chef Sonya Cote’ of Eden East, a farm-to-table restaurant in Austin, Texas. The brunch was prepared by Amanda Horton of Flour Child Fine Foods.
A&M-Texarkana President Dr. Emily Cutrer and Texas A&M University System Regent Judy Morgan
WOMEN FOR A&M-TEXARKANA GOURMET DINNER
Patsy Morriss, Lisa Ledwell, Judy Smith
LEGISLATIVE RECEPTION
The Women for A&M-Texarkana hosted the 11th annual Gourmet Dinner and Auction August 29 at Texarkana Country Club. More than 240 guests enjoyed a meal prepared by Executive Chef Sonya Cote’ of Eden East of Austin, Texas, a live auction, music and dancing. Players from the Eagles Baseball team served as event volunteers. Following the dinner, Dr. Andrew and Caroline Curry hosted a brandy and cigars after party. The event raised $191,875 for student scholarships.
The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents, Texas A&M University System Chancellor John Sharp and Texas A&M University-Texarkana President Dr. Emily Cutrer honored legislators and friends of the university on September 24 with a reception in the third floor atrium of the University Center. More than 250 guests were in attendance at the event, including several legislative and community leaders and Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar.
Rep. John Otto, Chancellor John Sharp, Rep. Gary VanDeaver, Dr. Emily Cutrer, Regent Judy Morgan, Cary Patterson, Texas State Comptroller Glenn Hegar, Rep. Kyle Kacal and Rep. John Raney
Betty Grace and Conner Patman
Richard Reynolds, Lynn LaRowe
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Josh Potter, Rachel Schwartz
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Carolyn and Buddy Allen
Student Ambassadors with Student Regent
DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI
BOB BRUGGEMAN (BBA 1984) is a life-long resident of
A CELEBRATION OF DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI AND FACULTY
More than 250 alumni and friends of Texas A&M UniversityTexarkana attended the 2015 Eagle Roundup: A Celebration of Distinguished Alumni and Faculty hosted by the A&M-Texarkana Alumni Association in conjunction with 2015 Homecoming Week at the university. The A&M-Texarkana campus was transformed into a Texas ranch roundup, with Eagle Hall as the corral. Guests danced to music by Split Decision and enjoyed barbecue and all of the trimmings by Big Jake’s and a scrumptious dessert by Silver Spoon. Distinguished alumni honorees included Texarkana, Texas, Mayor Bob Bruggeman, Dennis Landreaux and Ray Walsh, all of Texarkana, Texas. Dr. Angela Sikorski, associate professor of psychology, was honored as distinguished faculty member. Dr. Ed and Gail Eichler of Texarkana, Texas, were honored with the Spirit of A&M-Texarkana Award.
SPIRIT OF A&M- TEXARKANA After losing their son, Clay, in a tragic accident, the DR. ED AND GAIL EICHLER family decided to organize an event that would honor their son’s memory and the community where he lived and enjoyed life. The idea eventually grew into a nonprofit organization called the Clay Eichler Memorial Fund – with a mission of providing support for non-profit organizations that served individuals in the Texarkana region. On May 30, the Clay Eichler Memorial Fund hosted its first golf tournament and concert appropriately named “Clay’s Golf and Guitars.” More than $110,000 in proceeds generated from the golf tournament and concert were donated to A&M-Texarkana to fund four, four-year scholarships, as well as to endow a scholarship, and to assist in equipping the new STEM Innovation Lab at the university.
DISTINGUISHED FACULTY MEMBER
DR. ANGELA SIKORSKI came to A&M-Texarkana in November 2008 as a tenure-track, assistant professor in psychology. She received a Doctor of Philosophy in psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Dr. Sikorski has taught many different courses at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. She has received four A&M Teaching Excellence Awards, which are awarded based upon students’ assessment of their professors. Dr. Sikorski supports her colleagues in the training of area counselors for continuing education. Professionally, she is a voting member of the Society for Neuroscience, a member of the Faculty for Undergraduate Neuroscience, and a member of the Southwestern Psychology Association.
Texarkana, Texas, and Business Development Officer at Bank of the Ozarks. Prior to joining the bank, he served as Communications and Alumni Relations Manager for A&MTexarkana for more than a decade. While a student pursing a Bachelor of Business Administration, Bob played on the men’s golf team, the first organized team sport offered at A&M-Texarkana. He graduated from the university in 1984 and was appointed to the Texarkana, Texas, City Council in 2005 to represent the citizens in Ward 4. He was elected Mayor in 2012. Bob and his wife, Jackie, who received a master’s degree from A&M-Texarkana in 1996, have two daughters, Olivia, 13, and Liz Friday, who is married to Micah Friday. They are the proud grandparents of two-year-old Ava Friday.
DENNIS LANDREAUX (BBA 1980) has served as Texarkana
Market President of BancorpSouth since 2005. Prior to joining BancorpSouth, he served in executivelevel positions at Regions Bank (formerly State First National Bank) from 1982-2005. From 1972-1982, he owned and operated two firms – Associated Distribution Systems, Inc., and Satterfield Oil Company, Inc. Both were engaged in the sale of refined petroleum products and groceries. Active in community affairs, Dennis is a member of the Randy Sams Outreach Shelter Board of Directors, the Wilbur Smith Rotary Club, and Partners in Philanthropy at CHRISTUS St. Michael Health System. He has served in major leadership positions with the Texarkana Regional Arts and Humanities Council, the Texarkana Chamber of Commerce, United Way of Greater Texarkana, Leadership Texarkana, and many other organizations throughout the region and state. Dennis and his wife, Susan, have three children and five grandchildren: daughter Christie and son-in-law Joseph Cahoon, who are the parents of Claire, John, and Anne Cahoon; son John and Laura Landreau, the parents of Patrick Landreaux and Catherine and Libby Raffaelli; and daughter Lindy and sonin-law Bruce Schratz.
RAY WALSH (MS 1976) ,President and Chief
Executive Officer of Ray Walsh Properties, graduated from East Texas State University-Commerce with a Bachelor of Business Administration in General Business in 1968. Ray graduated from the university (then East Texas State UniversityCommerce at Texarkana) in 1976 with a Master of Science in Secondary and Higher Education and taught school for many years in the Redwater Independent School District. He and his wife, Mel, are the parents of Field Walsh, Publisher of TXKToday.com.
STACY SHELBY GLOVER (BBA 1995, MBA 2006)
ALUMNI NEWS JOYCE CAMPBELL (BAAS 1994, MS 2002)
Touching lives and assisting in many diverse communities is what Joyce Campbell has done for nearly two decades as a seasoned community development strategist. Her career in community outreach, education, and collaborative partnership development began as a grassroots volunteer and evolved into diverse, extensive experience gained through positions held in banking, state government, and nonprofit industries. With a specialty in corporate social responsibility, Joyce helps organizations and communities in targeted geographies think creatively, strategically, and realistically about their goals, programming, and funding sources. Through her work as Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) Officer for Capital One Bank in the Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) and northeast Texas region, as the Policy Advisor and Liaison to the minority community for former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, and as Community Outreach Director for Hibernia National Bank, she has developed and managed countless community programs, initiatives, and partnerships designed to address the challenges of low-to-moderate income individual and families relative to affordable housing, economic development, workforce development, and neighborhood revitalization. She has served on countless boards both on the state and local levels. She is currently a consultant for Be Covered Texas, a grassroots campaign designed to educate Texans about the Affordable Healthcare Act. Joyce received a master’s degree in Counseling Psychology from A&M-Texarkana in 2002, a BAAS in Business/Psychology from A&M-Texarkana in 1994, and a Master of Divinity from the Southern Methodist University Perkins School of Theology. She is an ordained Elder in the African Methodist Episcopal Church and is currently pastoring in Little Rock, Arkansas. Joyce has one daughter, Major Natasha Campbell, who is currently serving in the U.S. Army. 34
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For Stacy Shelby Glover, A&MTexarkana is a family affair. Stacy, a native of Texarkana, Texas, graduated from A&M-Texarkana in 1995 with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Management Information Systems. After starting her career with a local computer company, she found she enjoyed the sales and marketing side of the business and pursued that arena. She soon found a position at Red River Federal Credit Union as their Marketing Specialist and was subsequently promoted to Marketing Manager. She then decided to pursue her master’s degree and graduated from A&M-Texarkana in 2006 with a Master of Business Administration. In 2007, a job opportunity arose for Stacy’s husband, Allen, and they moved to Austin, Texas, where she took the Director of Communications position with Texas PTA, the state-level organization for parents and teachers. At Texas PTA, she handled advocacy marketing and grassroots communications initiatives and managed the online storefront for six years before moving back to her hometown to take the Director of Marketing position at her alma mater. “My education has led me to pursue a career that helps kids become educated, and I can’t imagine pursuing anything more satisfying,” Stacy said. Stacy’s family also has strong ties to the university. Her husband, Charles (Allen) Glover, graduated from A&M-Texarkana with a BAAS in 2014. He is currently Territory Manager for Darr Equipment and a graduate student at the university. Nancy G. Patterson, Stacy’s mother, graduated with a BAAS in 1992 and a Master of Science in Business in 1994. She worked for Wadley Regional Medical Center for 16 years, beginning in 1981, as Director of Volunteer Services then Director of Total Quality Management. She worked for Blue Cross Blue Shield from 1997 to 2003 as Provider Representative for BCBS, Medicare, First Source, Dental and Optometry. Martin Patterson, Stacy’s stepfather, graduated from A&M-Texarkana with a BAAS in 1991 and worked for Day and Zimmerman for 44 years. Both are retired. Stacy’s brother, Martin Patterson III, earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology in 2001 and has been the primary photographer at Patterson’s Camera Shop, a family business, for 12 years. He also is responsible for growing local school portrait accounts. Martin’s wife, Misty Jennings Patterson, earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from A&M-Texarkana in 2012 and currently is enrolled in the master’s program in psychology.
Please send Alumni News to: Mark Missildine Director of Alumni Relations Mark.Missildine@tamut.edu Alumni Relations Office 7101 University Avenue Texarkana, Texas 75503.
2002
JULIUS ANDERSON (BSE 2002, MS 2008) has worked as a teacher and
administrator for the Texarkana Independent School District in Texarkana, Texas, for the past 13 years, where he has served on numerous boards and organizations, including campus and district quality improvement committees. He is currently entering his eighth year as an Assistant Principal. Julius is a 1995 graduate of Arkansas High School in Texarkana, Arkansas, and completed two years of coursework from Texarkana College before he transferred to A&M-Texarkana. He served as president of the Multicultural Association, while earning a Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education in 2002 and a Master of Science in Curriculum and Instruction in 2008. Upon completion of his master’s degree, he completed online coursework, through ITeach Texas, towards certification in Educational Administration. The son of Hubert and Carolyn Anderson of Texarkana, Arkansas, Julius is married to the former Christina Black of Texarkana. They have two children: Jasmine, 18, and Desiree, 10. He is an active member at Oak Street Baptist Church, where he serves as Sunday school teacher, deacon secretary/treasurer, male chorus secretary/treasurer, and junior deacon leader.
2009
LATONYA DARNEISH MCELROY (BAAS 2009, MBA 2014) is the Director
of Human Resources at Mayo Manufacturing Corporation. She has completed 10 years in the field of human resources and attained her Professional in Human Resources (PHR) designation in 2010 and Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) designation in 2015. Since entering human resources in 2005 at Red River Credit Union, LaTonya has enjoyed creating, implementing, and facilitating employee development and training programs and successfully piloted her own program, “Six Essentials of Service Excellence,” while serving as Human Resources Staffing Specialist/Training Coordinator. Later, as Human Resources Coordinator at the Texarkana Independent School District (TISD), she focused on staffing, recruitment, and administrative support training, while working on her MBA. As current Director of Human Resources at Mayo Manufacturing, she directs the Human Resources, Benefits, Employee Development, and Safety programs. LaTonya is a nine-year member and past president of the Tri-State Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM) Chapter, a member and multiple scholarship recipient of SHRM’s national organization, a three-year Junior Achievement volunteer, a member of the United Way Board of Directors and Campaign Cabinet, and a new member of the A&M-Texarkana Alumni Association Board of Directors. An active member of Pilgrim Rest Missionary Baptist Church, LaTonya volunteers as a Bible study teacher for teens and adults, sings in the church choir, and teaches praise and worship dance at churches in the greater Texarkana community. August 2015 marked the first annual Gospel Music and Dance Workshop of Texarkana. It involved participants from over 20 local churches and featured her brother and musician Michael Rhodes, Assistant Principal/Math Teacher for Texas Middle School. LaTonya and her husband, Arthur, have five children – Kristian, Brandy, Kaylin, Kaléa, and AJ.
2011
JILL WHITTINGTON (MSBA 2011) , a Texarkana transplant, moved to town 11 years ago to work as a Metallurgist at Alcoa after spending six years at the Alcoa facility outside of Knoxville, Tennessee. When the local plant idled in 2009, Jill changed paths and put her professional skills to work in the non-profit sector as the Executive Director of Harvest Texarkana for four years. In 2013, she returned to industry as the Facilities and Compliance Manager at Humco. Then in the fall of 2015, with the announcement of the reopening of the Alcoa facility, she returned full circle and is back as the Quality Lead/ Metallurgist at Alcoa Texarkana Works. Jill was born and raised in West Virginia. A die-hard Yellow Jacket, she received her Bachelor of Science in Materials Science and Engineering from Georgia Tech in 1998 and her MSBA from Texas A&M University–Texarkana in 2011. She is excited to bring her experiences from a university with deep-rooted traditions to A&M-Texarkana as it develops its own traditions and history as a four-year university with intercollegiate athletics. Having chosen to make Texarkana her home, Jill is deeply invested in the community. Beyond her time at Harvest Texarkana, she has volunteered with many organizations in town, including Literacy Council Executive Board, Junior Achievement, Leadership Texarkana (2006 program graduate), and Texarkana Independent School District Volunteers in Public Service. She is also the current secretary of the A&M-Texarkana Alumni Association Board of Directors and volunteers with the Junior League of Texarkana. Jill is married to James, and they have two sons, Nathan and Seth. “I’ve never regretted anything I’ve done to further my education,” she said.
2013
LAYNA BROWN (BS 2013) graduated
from Texarkana Arkansas High School in 2010 and accepted one of 10 Presidential Leadership Scholarships to attend A&M-Texarkana in the fall of 2011. “At TAMUT, I was a member of both Phi Alpha Theta and Alpha Chi honor societies. I founded Omega Delta Chi sorority with four other ladies. For over three years, I was a dedicated Resident Assistant in Bringle Lake Village. I graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science in History and a minor in Criminal Justice in the fall of 2013. I was one of two students who gave a keynote address at graduation,” she said. As an undergraduate, Layna said she discovered she had two passions: one for helping others and one for government and public service. “My work with residence and Greek life helped me to realize my passion for helping people and my community. The history department and a few political science electives pushed me toward public service and politics. I applied for Georgetown University’s master’s program in Emergency and Disaster Management because I believe Emergency Management is an excellent combination of my two passions. I knew Georgetown’s reputation and was terrified I would not get in. I was one of 30 students accepted from around the world and started my master’s in August 2014.” Layna graduated from Georgetown in 2015 and currently works as Director of Development at Harvest Regional Food Bank in Texarkana.
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