Fall 2016
A LL EE D D II TT II O ON N SS PP EE CC II A
President Killebrew leaves a better Island University after boosting momentum for research and expansion
the Islander
CONTENTS
Fall 2016
FEATURE
6 Breaking ground on Tidal Hall
11 Dr. Flavius Killebrew – Solid & Steady Progress
IN THIS ISSUE 3
College of Liberal Arts
4
College of Nursing & Health Sciences
8 College of Business 16 College of Education & Human Development 18 College of Science & Engineering 2
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College of Liberal Arts
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Islanders Contribute to the
CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI
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orpus Christi residents and visitors may not be aware of the city’s rich and vibrant history, but thanks to an app created by history graduate students at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, the public can experience history through the Corpus Christi Downtown Walking Tours. The idea for the Corpus Christi Downtown Walking Tours app was developed by Dr. Jen Brown, Assistant Professor of History at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, as a class assignment for graduate students in the history program. Each tour represents a historical aspect of Corpus Christi that has been selected, researched and designed by groups of graduate students in the Space and Place in Modern America class. Tours include: Past and Present of Downtown Corpus Christi Tour, Hidden in Plain Sight: Corpus Christi Historical Public Art Walking Tour, Harbor Bridge Historical Walking Tour and the Historic Heritage Park Walking Tour. The tours are free to the public and can be accessed through geotourist.com or by downloading the free
Geotourist mobile app for Apple and Android. Islander alumna Sandra Gonzalez is also contributing to the city with a unique mark on downtown Corpus Christi. Her mural, “Endless Sunset: The Colors of Our City,” now graces a large side wall of the Corpus Christi CallerTimes building, located on the corner of N. Lower Broadway and Taylor Street. In September 2015, the Caller Times was awarded a property improvement grant from the Downtown Management District. Shortly thereafter, the newspaper put out a call for entries for a mural contest. Gonzalez’s proposal was chosen as the winner. The mural includes images of fish, birds, flowers and mandalas–intricate circular designs which add symmetry to the mural. Gonzalez also integrated bright colors to represent the vibrant culture of Corpus Christi. Gonzalez graduated from Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi with a Master of Arts in Studio Art in 2011. T E X A S A & M U N I V E R S I T Y- CO R P U S C H R I S T I ■ Fa l l 2 0 1 6 |
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College of Nursing & Health Sciences
College Receives $2.6 Million Grant for Full-Ride Scholarships
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the year 2020,” said Hamhe College of Nursing friends’ couches just so they ilton. “Between 2005 and and Health Sciences can continue their educa(CONHS) is now able tion. This is why we work 2020, demand for RNs is expected to increase by 86 to give full-ride scholarships so hard to help ease their to select students thanks financial burden.” percent and the supply of RNs to increase by only 53 to a $649,224-a-year For students receiving the scholarship, it has been percent.” grant. The money, which totals $2.6 million over a huge blessing. In total, only three out of the 147 universities in Texas “This scholarship has the next four years, is from the Health Resources and brought me a sense of relief. that applied for the SDS grant received funding. Services Administration Without it, I don’t know (HRSA). how far I would make it “At the beginning of this semester, I was wondering “We often talk about this semester,” said Barret Belknap, who is pursuing a how I was going to pay my access to care, but this rent because I was spendis access to education,” Bachelor of Science in Nursing all my money said Dr. Mary Jane Hamilton, on my books and CONHS Dean. Between 2005 and 2020, demand the other things I “The majority of for RNs is expected to increase by 86 needed for nursing school,” said our students are percent and the supply of Marivel Hernanfirst-generation RNs to increase by only dez, a first year college students, so a grant like this nursing student. 53 percent. is literally a game “Because of this changer.” scholarship, a — Dr. Mary Jane Hamilton, This grant giant weight has Dean of College of Nursing will provide 71 been lifted off my & Health Sciences Scholarships for shoulders.” Disadvantaged Students ing on an accelerated track. The CONHS strives to This HRSA grant will also (SDS) each year for the next support its students using allow the CONHS to gradumultiple methods, including four years to full-time students who display financial ate more registered nurses retention efforts, academic support and personal need. The students will (RNs) who will then go on support. receive $9,144 each year to to work in medically underserved areas in the Coastal “We work to maintain cover tuition, uniforms, edBend and fulfill a rapidly exa small school atmosphere ucational materials, clinical by bringing our faculty and supplies and books. panding community need. students together on a per“This grant will ultimate“The Texas Center for ly allow students to attend Nursing Workforce Studies sonal level,” said Hamilton. school full-time without has reported that colleges “We know our students and worrying about financial and universities are unwe become mentors to our costs,” said Hamilton. able to produce sufficient students. We work really “Some of them end up registered nurses to meet hard to make sure they’re living in their cars or on their healthcare demand through successful.”
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College of Nursing & Health Sciences
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First class of DNP Students Welcomed to Island University
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he College of Nursing and Health Sciences (CONHS) welcomed its newest graduate students during its graduate student orientation held Aug.20. This orientation also included the first cohort of students entering the new Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program. “We have worked very hard on this program and are excited to have such a strong group of students,” said Yolanda Keys, Graduate Department Chair and DNP Coordinator. “The potential for these nurses to improve the health of South Texas is what is driving all of us to have a strong DNP program.”
The new program focuses on helping DNP students take existing research and put it into practice. This allows the Island University to assist in closing the almost tenyear lag that can exist from research appearing in an academic journal to its results in the patient care setting. Several students at the orientation shared their excitement about being part of the first class for the new DNP program. “As soon as I heard that Texas A&M UniversityCorpus Christi had been approved for the DNP program, I knew I had to sign up and be part of this first class,” said Ashley Hughes.
Throughout the orientation, students were introduced to the campus and many of its resources. There were also presentations on graduatelevel writing, APA style and distance learning strategies. Students had the opportunity to have lunch with the nursing faculty and to meet each other in person during the orientation. Such face-to-face meetings are especially meaningful because both the Master of Science in Nursing and DNP are offered exclusively online. To learn more about CONHS graduate-level programs offered, visit gradschool.tamucc.edu.
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Campus News
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NEW TIDAL HALL TO OFFER ENHANCED RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS
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lected officials and community and campus leaders attended the Sept. 6 groundbreaking ceremony of Tidal Hall, the new Life Science, Research and Engineering building, which will be located near the first entrance to campus. “Tidal Hall will become the newest location for
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cutting-edge research and scholarly activity on the island,” said Dr. Flavius Killebrew, President and CEO of Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. “The timing of this project could not be better as we have already broken records this semester with the size of our incoming freshman class.” The new three-story building will support two
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of the Island University’s fastest-growing programs, life sciences and engineering. Students, faculty and staff can look forward to six new instructional labs, 34 research labs, as well as much-needed faculty office space. The new office space will allow the University to repurpose the space within the
Campus News
the Islander
The timing of this project could not be better as we have already broken records this semester with the size of our incoming freshman class.
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Dr. Flavius Killebrew, — President and CEO of Texas A&M-Corpus Christi
Engineering building for expansion of electrical and mechanical engineering programs. “I can’t emphasize enough what wonderful opportunities this will bring for students who will be able to get more involved with research,” said Dr. Charles Proffitt, Professor and Chair of the Department of Life Sciences. “With our new labs, students will get to
work alongside faculty, senior graduate students and experience various techniques that will help them become employable in the job of their choice.” Approval for Tidal Hall came from the Texas A&M University System Board of Regents in September 2015, and with it, the Island University was appropriated $60,000,000 for construction. The addition
is expected to solidify the University’s position as an Emerging Research University. Completion of the project is anticipated for July 2018. The name of the building was chosen through an online contest which was open to Islander students, faculty, staff and alumni. Garrett Arnett, a sophomore environmental science major, submitted the winning name.
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College of Business
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NEW INITIATIVES PROMOTE ENTREPRENEURSHIP, COLLABORATION
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ecent College of Business partnerships and operations are promoting entrepreneurship and collaboration for three important groups: students, veterans and Coastal Bend residents. Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi has joined forces with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) to strengthen and expand small business development for local veterans. “The new partnership between the SBA and the College of Business is another resource that we at the Island University are excited to provide to all veterans, including our student veterans,” said Dr. Flavius Killebrew, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi President and CEO.
The new alliance initiates the Boots to Business Reboot program, which focuses on helping veterans become entrepreneurs. The program consists of two parts: an Introduction to Entrepreneurship course followed by an eight-week Foundations to Entrepreneurship course. The entire program is conducted at the Coastal Bend Business Innovation Center, which was created in 2009 to promote higher education, research commercialization and economic development and is operated by the College of Business at A&M-Corpus Christi. The center has a new Associate Director of Client Relations, Russell Franques, whose mission is collaboration, job creation and entrepreneurship.
“We welcome all entrepreneurial minds,” said Franques. “We are looking for innovative, non-replicative ideas that meet a need or solve a problem and that are scalable.” Franques works closely with Dr. Kent Byus, Professor of Marketing and Entrepreneurship, to expand the University’s reach and impact by leveraging its intellectual resources. “We integrate students with the Business Innovation Center by letting them consult with real-world clients, perform Capstone projects with those clients and even bring in their ideas for incubation,” said Franques. “With a strengthened collaboration, students win, clients win, the community wins and the University wins.”
Russell Franques and Dr. Kent Byus 8
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College of Business
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Islander Alumni Turn Ideas into Inventions with Help from the ISLANDER VENTURE FUND
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wo start-up companies led by Island University alumni received $10,000 to continue their business plans from the newly established Islander Venture Fund. Derek Drozd received $7,500 to continue development of an online platShelby Polasek, Vanessa Galindo and Derek Drozd form called The Mobile Fitness Network that enables activities,” said Dr. John Incubator. the everyday individual to Polasek and Galindo Gamble, Dean of the book affordable in-home College of Business. “This won first place in that comtraining from qualified fitpetition and gained an augives students the opporness professionals. tomatic entry into the 2016 tunity to learn how to make Shelby Polasek and VaRaymond Ideas Challenge a real pitch to investors and nessa Galindo, who graduheld in May at Texas A&M obtain seed money for their ated in May 2016, received University-College Station. ventures.” $2,500 for their product, At the Raymond Ideas It is by no means the last The Quick Clip Challenge, Reminder, a Polasek and This gives students the opportunity to universal seat Galindo placed belt attachlearn how to make a real pitch to fifth out of 60 ment with a entries and were investors and obtain seed money awarded Honbuilt-in audio for their ventures. recorder which orable Mention allows users to for their product. —Dr. John Gamble, Dean of College of Business record mesThe Quick Clip sages that will Reminder was automatically also one of three step either, Gamble said. play back once the seatbelt products at the challenge Statistics suggest the likeliis unbuckled. selected for development hood of success for startups The Islander Venture based on feasibility, so they is slim, so the students will Fund was established by are working with the Cenreceive support and guidCharles and Martha DeCou, ter for New Ventures and ance from the College’s with the intent of supportEntrepreneurship (CNVE) in faculty with entrepreneurial ing students with innovative College Station to design a expertise. thinking and great ideas. prototype of their invention. Drozd, Polasek and The DeCous selected the The CNVE product Galindo participated earlier fund recipients after hearing development is valued at this year in the Buc Days them pitch their plans. $1,500 to $2,500. Ideas Challenge Showcase “The Venture Fund “We felt on top of the where they received prize investment is the next step world because we won money and a membership in the process to support what we wanted most,” said to the Coastal Bend Busistudent entrepreneurial Galindo. ness Innovation Student T E X A S A & M U N I V E R S I T Y- CO R P U S C H R I S T I ■ Fa l l 2 0 1 6 |
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College of Liberal Arts
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The Island University Honors South Texas History
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Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi alumna and several University professors are making an effort to share the historical significance of the South Texas region and its residents. South Texas has a unique history that several Island University professors are working to preserve. Dr. Claudia Rueda, Assistant Professor of History, and her colleagues at Texas A&M Corpus Christi are launching an innovative oral history initiative called “South Texas Stories.” Rueda is part of a team that includes Dr. Anthony Quiroz, Professor of Mexican-American Studies, Dr. David Blanke, Professor of History and Dr. Jen Brown, Assistant Professor of Environmental History. This academic year, oral histories will be collected on the Chicano movement of the 1960s and 10
1970s as well as sea turtle and coastal conservation. “We hope this project will start a conversation between generations,” said
Rueda. “As such, it is part of the History Department’s new initiative that seeks to preserve the region’s history through the voices of its residents.”
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Islander alumna Samantha Hernandez is contributing to the focus on history with the publishing of her new book, “Latinas in American Politics: Changing and Embracing Political Tradition.” Hernandez graduated from Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi in 2011 with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. In the book, Hernandez, along with two co-editors, examines when and how Latinas run for political office at the state and national level. Together, they also analyzed the manner in which Latinas are covered in the news, how they act once they are in office and how they are compared to other political candidates. It is one of the few comprehensive studies focusing on the race and gender issues commonly faced by Latina elected officials.
the Islander
President Killebrew leaves a better Island University after boosting momentum for research and expansion T E X A S A & M U N I V E R S I T Y- CO R P U S C H R I S T I â– Fa l l 2 0 1 6 |
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Dr. Flavius Killebrew
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r. Flavius Killebrew, path to success.” 2005 to 12,185 students in President and Under his leadership, fall 2016. CEO of Texas A&M Killebrew expanded “Flavius has exceeded University-Corpus Christi, A&M-Corpus Christi in even the highest expectaannounced at the 2016 multiple ways, including tions in his leadership of State of the University doubling research expenthis university,” said Texas ditures, the addition of luncheon his plans to retire A&M System Chancellor seven doctoral programs, and that he will step down John Sharp. “It was my as University hope he would serve President on Dec. through another legKathy and I feel truly blessed to 31, 2016. Killeislative session, but I have led such a dynamic group of brew, who has respect his decision faculty and staff and we served the Texas to hand over the A&M System for reins.” have been amazed at 40 years and the The President the caliber and character Island University and his wife, Kathy, of our students. for 12 years, has have enjoyed their accomplished time at the Universi—Dr. Flavius Killebrew, many great things ty. They say working President and CEO over the course of here has helped of Texas A&M-Corpus Christi his tenure. them stay young five masters programs and In 2005, when Killeand they’ve been grateeight baccalaureate probrew took over the reins as ful for the opportunity to grams, with two of those 10th president of the Island serve not just the campus being in engineering. KilUniversity, his goals includcommunity but the Coastal lebrew also led the charge ed expansion, engageBend as whole. in the construction of more ment and excellence. “Kathy and I feel truly than $350 million in new “I am incredibly happy blessed to have led such a and improved facilities, with the progress the Unidynamic group of faculty which doubled the Univerversity has made during my and staff and we have been sity’s physical footprint. time here,” said Killebrew. amazed at the caliber and Additionally, the Island “Universities are always a character of our students,” University’s student enrollwork in progress, but I feel said Killebrew. “Texas A&M ment has grown, increaslike Texas A&M-Corpus University-Corpus Christi is ing from 7,823 students in Christi is on an upward a rare pearl in South Texas.”
Dr. Killebrew becomes 10th President of the University
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The University joins the Southland Conference for the 2006-2007 Sports Season
The City of Corpus Christi donates 156 acres for the expansion of the Momentum Campus
The Dugan Wellness Center opens on campus
2006
2007
2009
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A bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering is approved
The Woo Song Lee Alumni Welcome Center opens off Ennis Joslin near Ocean Dr.
2010
Dr. Flavius Killebrew
Construction
the Islander
Ground breaking of the Michael and Karen O’Connor Business Building
Over the course of his 12-year tenure, Dr. Killebrew has doubled both the University’s research expenditures and, with the addition of the Momentum Campus, its physical footprint. Even through tight legislative sessions and tough economic times, Killebrew was able to amass $350 million in contributions for University construction projects. “I am proud that we were able to expand the University to such a degree,” said Killebrew. “The community and the City of Corpus Christi have done
Island Hall grand opening on the Island Campus
a lot to support us and I’m grateful for all their assistance.” The Island University has erected many new buildings in the last 12 years, including the Dr. Jack and Susie Dugan Wellness Center, Island Hall and the Michael and Karen O’Connor Building. New athletic facilities include the Dugan Family Soccer and Track Stadium and the Thomas J. Henry Tennis Center. “We are also excited for the new life sciences and research building, Tidal Hall, which entered into phase one of construction this
The Coastal Bend Business Innovation Center opens in Flour Bluff to provide business advice to the entrepreneurial community
fall,” said Killebrew. “This new $60 million building will allow us to expand our research endeavors.” The University has also grown in its traditions during Killebrew’s time. Some of these traditions include students touching the left foot of the Dr. Hector P. Garcia statue for good luck before a test and ROTC members saluting the statue as a show of respect. “Kathy and I thought it was important to cultivate these traditions because they bring us together as an Islander family,” said Killebrew.
The Thomas J. Henry Tennis Center opens on Momentum Campus
The Michael and Karen O’Connor Business Building opens
2011
Bayside parking garage is built to fulfill the needs of the growing campus
2012
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Dr. Flavius Killebrew
the Islander
Degrees
The Island University’s degree offerings have grown exponentially over the last 12 years. There has been an expansion of eight new bachelor’s degrees, including mechanical and electrical engineering, atmospheric science and graphic design. Graduate offerings grew by four new master’s degrees and seven new doctoral degrees. The new doctorates include marine biology, geospatial computing science and nursing practice. “It was an early goal of mine to help this university reach its fullest potential, and to do that, we needed to expand our degree offerings,” said Killebrew. “With that expansion came the opportunity to grow our research, scholarship and creative activity.” Research endeavors have doubled during Killebrew’s tenure as president. He secured the Lone Star UAS Center of Excellence (LSAUSC) as one of only six Federal Aviation Administration unmanned aircraft
The Dr. Jack Dugan Soccer & Track Stadium opens on Momentum Campus
Board of Regents approves the addition of a Doctor of Nursing Practice
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system research centers in the country and he also guided the university in its official designation as a RESTORE Research Center of Excellence. Killebrew also focused on developing the Harte Research Institute (HRI) for Gulf of Mexico Studies at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and its mission of producing science-driven solutions for an ecologically
and economically sustainable Gulf. “The Lone Star Center is on the cutting edge of drone technology while the HRI is highly recognized nationally and internationally for its work,” said Killebrew. “Both institutes have a huge amount of potential and I personally plan to help promote them, even after my retirement.”
Dr. Eve Layman, Dr. Flavius Killebrew, Janet Tysinger and Dr. Mary Jane Hamilton at the Layman Professorship Signing Luncheon
The Island University is named one of six federally approved test sited for unmanned aircraft systems (UAS)
The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board approves the creation of a Ph.D. in Geospatial Computing
The Island University welcomes a new dining hall for residents
20142007
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Dr. Flavius Killebrew
the Islander
Farewell
Born in a small town in the Texas panhandle and trained as a zoologist, Dr. Flavius Killebrew says that he rose through the ranks from professor to president by being open to opportunity. “In 1976, at the start of my career, I was happy as a clam teaching classes and doing research like any other professor,” said Killebrew. “Then a department chair position opened up, and I was nominated. Then I was nominated to be a dean and then a provost. I’ve always said I was lucky to be at the right place at the right time.” After serving for 28 years at A&M-West Texas, Killebrew says it was a natural decision to come to the Island University. “During my time at West Texas, I watched this
The Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies is named as a lead organization of the state’s RESTORE Research Centers of Excellence
2015
Island campus grow,” said Killebrew. “It was gem then, and it’s a gem now.” Killebrew says one of his main reasons for retiring is to spend more time with his family.
“I’d like to be a greater part of my granddaughter’s life,” said Killebrew. “Because of the nature of my job, I’ve missed so many special times in her life.” At the request of Chancellor John Sharp, Killebrew plans to work for
A new Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering degree is approved
2009
The newly expanded University Center opens to students
a year after his retirement to help transition the new president into office. His advise for the next president is to pay attention to the students, faculty and staff. “The campus community knows what they want and as president, you are poised to help them achieve their goals,” said Killebrew. “But remember, you can’t change the world in a single day. The foundation for great success here has been laid, and it’s ready to be built upon.” The University community will miss Dr. Killebrew. We wish him and his wife a wonderful retirement filled with many moments of joy. It’s safe to say our president will miss us as much as we miss him. “We have been blessed to serve this region,” said Killebrew. “Retiring from this University is giving up the best job in Texas.”
Fall 2016 enrollment hits an all-time high of 12,000 students
Ground breaking begins on Tidal Hall, the new life science research and engineering building set to open in summer 2018
2016 2010
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College of Education & Human Development
Applying Research to Real-World Problems on the Baseball Field
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pplying research to real-world problems on the baseball field, the Department of Kinesiology in the College of Education and Human Development has made international news with one of the first studies of its kind in professional athletic performance. The study, “A Description and Comparison of Cardiorespiratory Fitness Measures in Relation to Pitching Performance among Professional Baseball Pitchers,” was recently published by Dr. Frank Spaniol, Professor of Kinesiology, and has already received positive feedback from Major League Baseball teams. Spaniol and his research team were some of the first scientists to recognize the potential of applying Dr. Barry Seiller’s Vizual Edge software to sports. They have discovered that this vision training helps improve the performance of baseball players on the field and can be translated across almost all major sports. The study has shown such a substantial difference in athletic performance that a number of professional teams are now using it with their athletes in sports including baseball, football, soccer, tennis, volleyball and softball. In addition, researchers are now starting to test its effectiveness in the medical field to treat brain injuries and help doctors improve their overall performance.
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College of Education & Human Development
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ISLANDER STUDENT DEVELOPS BILINGUAL
‘College Ready’
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GAME APP
issy Perez, an Islander doctoral student, is taking what she has learned in her courses applying it to her business ventures, and ultimately helping students across the nation to be college ready. “College Ready – The Game,” Perez’s initial creation, began as a fun, educational board game teaching college readiness terms and processes. It launched in 2013 and is being used by classrooms in 39 different states. Perez has now created “College Ready – The Game App” based on the board game. The bilingual app launched in May 2016. The app challenges players to graduate with the most scholarships. During app play, students learn vital college-themed vocabulary words and also learn how to navigate the college admission process with ease. “The idea for the game came from personal experience,” says Perez. “I went through the college admission process the hard way and wanted to help end the cycle
of students making the same mistakes I did.” While serving in her current position as the principal of W.B. Ray High School in Corpus Christi, she realized that college terms and acronyms aren’t taught in the classroom. “Words like FAFSA, transcript, GPA, subsidized or unsubsidized student loans and grants can seem like a foreign language to some students,” said Perez. Perez received both a master’s degree in Education Administration and a Superintendent Certificate from Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. Currently a student in the Educational Leadership doctoral program, Perez says she was able to take what she learned in courses to help design and develop her app. “The coursework has both strengthened my knowledge of the work I am doing and reaffirmed my decision to pursue my dream of creating an app that can give kids the confidence to pursue college or a career.” To learn more, go to www.collegeready-thegame.com.
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College of Science & Engineering
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HRI Researchers Tag
1000-PLUS-POUND
“Monster Makos” for Shark Week
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esearchers with the Harte Research Institute (HRI) for Gulf of Mexico Studies at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi traveled to Southern California to study mako sharks for the 29th season of Discovery Channel’s summer television event, “Shark Week.”
With their new instrumentation, scientists hoped to document the predation behavior for the first time, as well as study and compare the behaviors of Pacific makos to their Gulf of Mexico counterparts.
Shark experts from HRI’s Center for Sportfish Science and Conservation (CSSC) set out on a seven-day expedition to tag and study the sharks that feed off the Southern California coast for a special called “Return of Monster Mako,” the sequel to last year’s hit special, “Monster Mako,” which drew 3.265 million viewers and the highest TV ratings of the night. The original “Monster Mako” found HRI researchers teaming up with the Discovery Channel crew to catch and tag makos off the South Texas coast with stateof-the-art scientific instrumentation. “Return of Monster Mako” sends the HRI crew to the waters off Southern California where mako sharks grow more than 10 feet long and 1,000 pounds, and feed on large, hard-to-catch prey, like seals.
Dr. Greg Stunz, CSSC Director and HRI Chair for Fisheries and Ocean Health, led the tagging effort with former HRI Assistant Research Scientist Dr. Matt Ajemian. Working with the Discovery Channel allows the CSSC to capture amazing footage of natural shark behavior that is both valuable to researchers and thrilling to watch. The CSSC runs several tagging programs to monitor shark populations and help fill information gaps about their lives in the Gulf. Working with fishermen, the CSSC has tagged more than 2,500 sharks along the Texas coast over the past seven years and partnered with the Texas State Aquarium and OCEARCH to use satellite tags to track hammerhead, tiger and mako sharks.
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College of Science & Engineering
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LONE STAR UAS CENTER
ADVANCES RESEARCH PARTNERSHIPS
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n April, Texas A&M Uniwas for operators from all create new opportunities versity-Corpus Christi’s six FAA test sites to interfor University researchers Lone Star Unmanned act with the UTM research to directly participate in Aircraft Systems Center platform at geographically NASA’s secure information (LSUASC) of Innovation and diverse locations, using network and exchange UAS Excellence participated various aircraft and different flight data. “We are proud in the largest test yet of software clients to test rural, to be on the cutting edge NASA’s UAS traffic manwithin-line-of-sight UAS opof this new technology,” agement (UTM) research erations, so that NASA, in said Dr. Flavius Killebrew, platform. collaboration with the FAA, President and CEO of The test included 22 could obtain information to Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. unmanned aircraft systems further refine and develop “Connecting with NASA (UAS), commonly called the research. safely and securely is key to drones, that were advancing research remotely flown partnerships, not Connecting with NASA safely and only in unmanned simultaneously securely is key to advancing research aircraft but for other at each of the six Federal Aviation partnerships, not only in fields as well.” AdministraThe LSUASC has unmanned aircraft but for tion (FAA) UAS been working under other fields as well. approved test a funded contract sites around the with NASA to secure —Dr. Flavius Killebrew, country. an Interconnection President and CEO Four UAS Security Agreement of Texas A&M-Corpus Christi took flight at Port (ISA). The ISA is the Mansfield, about first step toward the two hours south of Corpus The LSUASC is on LSUASC achieving a strong Christi. the cutting edge of the connection to NASA’s Using the UTM plattechnology that monitors network through an Auform, engineers at NASA’s NASA UAS flights as they thority to Operate (ATO). Ames Research Center in are happening across the The LSUASC has the only Moffett Field, California country. A recently comMission Control Center with monitored the flights repleted agreement between software that allows for motely. LSUASC and the NASA transmission and manipulaThe purpose of this test Ames Research Center will tion of UAS data.
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Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi 6300 Ocean Drive, Unit 5726 Corpus Christi, Texas 78412-5726
ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
Our Alumni Association is extremely grateful to Dr. Killebrew for his leadership and dedication to our University, organization, and Alumni over his past 12 years at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. Thank you for being our partner, advocate and friend. We’ll always consider you an Islander Forever! Ed Cantu ‘81, Alumni Association Board President