Texas A&M University-Texarkana Convocation Spring 2015

1the convocation [spring 2015]

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 stand-alone 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.

A B O U T T H E U N I V E R S I T YT 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

The Convocation is published by the Office of University Advancement for Texas A&M University-Texarkana. Requests for information may be directed to Mark Missildine at 7101 University Avenue, Texarkana, Texas, 75503. Copyright © 2015

by Texas A&M University-Texarkana. All rights reserved. No part of this periodical may be reproduced without the written permission of Texas A&M University-Texarkana.

PRESIDENTDr. Emily Fourmy Cutrer

CHIEF OF STAFFTO THE PRESIDENTVicki Melde Huckabee

ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENT FOR

UNIVERSIT Y ADVANCEMENT

LeAnne Wright

DEVELOPMENT OFFICERSummer Nelson

ADMINISTRATIVEASSISTANT

Frankie Milligan Tilley

EDITORDr. Robin Rogers (BS ’90, MS ’95)

ART DIRECTORWhitney Brooks

CONTRIBU TORSPatsy MorrissAgnes TirritoSara TirritoDr. Craig NakashianMartin PattersonMarina Garza

DIRECTOR OF MARKETINGStacy Glover

Convocation:1. a ceremonial assembly of membersof a college or university2. a collective group of Eagles

SPRING 2015

5A Message from the President

6STEM Thrives

9A Provocative and Insightful Lecture Series

10Student Life

12Homecoming

14From DeKalb to Disneyworld:

A Magical Internship

16Faculty Spotlight

18Student Ambassadors

Serve Campus & Community

20Engineering Degree Equals Career

22Alumni Spotlight

23A Lovely Donation

24Getting the Ball Rolling:The Debut of Athletics

28A Partnership in Mentoring

Students for the Future

30Going International

32Alumni News


The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) approved the institution’s application to compete in intercollegiate athletics

beginning fall 2014. That semester saw the 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.

Convocation:1. a ceremonial assembly of membersof a college or university2. a collective group of Eagles

4 the convocation [spring 2015]


a m e s s a g e f r o m t h e

It is with great pride that we share with you the inaugural issue of our new publication, The Convocation. As you read about the accomplishments of our students, faculty, and staff, it will be apparent why Texas A&M University-Texarkana is THE regional comprehensive university of choice in East Texas and beyond. Academic excellence, student success, and community leadership are the hallmarks of the A&M-Texarkana experience. Our membership in a world-class university system provides our graduates with the prestige of a Texas A&M University degree earned on a campus known for its strong sense of community, one that comes from being part of our “Eagle Family.”

Faculty members, such as Dr. Craig Nakashian, whom you’ ll read about in this issue, know their students by name and make a personal investment in helping our students reach their goals. We provide hands-on learning opportunities, including student research in facilities, such as our new STEM Innovation Lab, pioneered by STEM Dean Dr. Don Peterson. And our students develop and enhance their leadership skills in a myriad of ways, including mentorship programs such as PEP (Partner, Engage, Prepare) and the Student Ambassadors program.

Although relatively young as a comprehensive university, we have developed a vibrant campus atmosphere. With athletics,

Greek life, and our first Homecoming, our students are establishing campus traditions while making life-long friends.

Among the greatest gifts we offer the region are the graduates who become its economic, cultural, and civic leaders. Alumni Justin Tilley and Ty Abston, profiled in this issue, are certainly shining examples of the caliber of our graduates.

We hope that you will enjoy The Convocation as much as we have enjoyed bringing it to you. We believe you’ ll share our pride in Texas A&M University-Texarkana. GO EAGLES!

Dr. Emily Fourmy Cutrerpresident

p r e s i d e n tp r e s i d e n t


STEMN E W L E A D E R | N E W L A B | N O L I M I T S

n academia, hiring faculty often equates to finding profes-sors who have published extensively, are married to their subjects, and without a doubt would be considered “book smart.” Imagine your sophomore year and trying to discuss

an abstract concept with the brilliant chemistry professor who spoke of chemical reactions with such ease while your brain just couldn’t comprehend an ounce of the explanation.

Now imagine meeting a professor who has not only published over 60 journal articles, written textbooks, developed devices for real world use that are currently in the commercialization pipeline, and designed medical rehabilitation devices that have impacted the disabled population, but has also assisted in the design of spacesuits for NASA. The best part is that the pro-

fessor does not talk over your head and sees a practical use for everything he teaches and is intent on helping students learn to be innovators. What every informed American realizes today is that jobs are available and pay well for people trained in STEM education, and finding a leader who understands that economic fact is invaluable. Texas A&M University-Texarkana landed a prize in Dr. Don Peterson when they recruited him as the Dean of the College of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math-ematics (STEM) and a professor of engineering last year.

Arriving with a mission for the STEM program at Texas A&M-Texarkana in August of 2014, Dr. Peterson brought many of his research projects with him, some dating as far back as 1994. With innovation and research, funding often follows a researcher. Jovial, energetic, and easy to speak with, Dr. Pe-

terson explains that while he loves research and creation, he also truly thrives in the classroom. “Research makes me a better teacher, and teaching makes me a better researcher. So I want to teach and be hands on with students,” Peterson said. Thank-fully, Dr. Peterson was able to bring two of his former students with him, one who had been a Ph.D. student, and another who had worked under him as a Masters level student. Both men knew the methods to Dr. Peterson’s work, so there was no lull in moving quickly forward with the STEM innovation lab’s creation. The momentum was strong because no one had to be trained. During their first semester at the university, Dr. Peter-son, Dr. Takafumi Asaki, and Simon Kudernatsch concentrated on unpacking boxes and setting up the university’s innovation

lab. It must have been like Christmas, as they opened 3D print-ers, robotic exoskeletons, surgical simulators, various medical devices, and a smart helmet designed for the petroleum and mining industries. Checking the packages to ensure all worked, organizing the lab for best use purposes, and preparing an in-novative interdisciplinary research lab like the university had never seen before was their mission, which was accomplished and designed for use by the beginning of the spring semester.

By January of 2015, the Texas A&M-Texarkana STEM in-novation lab was open, and students began to trickle in to see what was happening. Dr. Peterson says the innovative lab is available to all faculty and not just STEM faculty. One of the biology professors, Dr. David Allard, came in to use the 3D printer to make some anatomically correct models of the hu-

“RESEARCH MAKES ME A BETTER TEACHER, AND TEACHING MAKES ME A BETTER RESEARCHER.. .” DR. DON PETERSON


man body that he had not had prior. Another faculty member in the mathematics department printed three dimensional math functions for classroom use. Dr. Peterson says that he hopes all faculty members will find a way to utilize the lab. Working across disciplines for real world benefits to students is ideal. For instance, if students from the business division see the advan-tages to the inventive processes happening in the STEM lab, there are possibilities of patent-ing and small business pursuits that can occur with cooperation. Dr. Peterson explains. “Getting students to work together to solve complex, real world prob-lems using an interdisciplinary approach is a positive applica-tion of learning.”

Opportunities abound for stu-dents who want to be involved in STEM research and innova-tion. A state of the art lab now on campus, with a dean who has not only passion, but the tactical experience and real world innovations to back up his resume, make Texas A&M-Texarkana a place that is inviting for people who want more than just a textbook education in science, technology, math, and engineering. This program has the potential to be an economic driver for the university as well as the area. Dr. Peterson appears to be the perfect person to make entrepreneurs from scientists and innovators from students.

He said, “Our students have the ability to create their own door, and it is our responsibility as academics to help them design and build that door, so they can walk through it.” The phrase from a popular baseball movie comes to mind. “If you build it, they will come.” The STEM Innovation lab has been built. The state of the art equipment is there, along with professors who want to help them innovate, design, and build their dreams. Perhaps there should be a sign on the door that says, “STEM lab open for business. Come and make your dreams a reality.”

“OUR STUDENTS HAVE THE ABILITY TO CREATE THEIR OWN DOOR, AND IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY AS ACADEMICS TO HELP THEM DESIGN AND BUILD THAT DOOR, SO THEY CAN WALK THROUGH IT.”DR. DON PETERSON

Simon Kudernatsch using the exoskeleton.

Dr. Takafumi Asaki


In the fall of 2014, Texas A&M-Texarkana’s Committee for the Annual Thematic Program and Lecture Series (CATPALS) launched the university’s first year-long public lecture series, focusing this year on environmental issues. A collaboration among university faculty, local and national experts, and well-respected journalists and authors, this inaugural thematic series has been well-received by the university and larger community. Open to all, the series brought multiple perspectives to bear on a common theme to create knowledge, foster interdisciplinary thinking, and spark discussion and debate.

Nationally and internationally-recognized authors, such as Richard Primack, Will Allen (see below), and Mark Hertsgaard educated the campus and community on regional water issues, coal plant regulation, environmentally sound agricultural practices, and environmental poetry, among other topics related to the environmental theme. Numerous faculty gave “super-lectures” throughout the year on topics as diverse as

damage created by Spanish explorers in the 16th century and the relationship among technology, population growth and Malthusian theory. The year culminated with a ceremony awarding prizes to students who participated in an environmental issues essay contest, a competition that highlighted the interdisciplinary sophistication that the students gained by attending and participating in CATPALS events.

The Committee for the Annual Thematic Program and Lecture Series intends to make the annual lecture series a signature event for Texas A&M-Texarkana by continuing to create a space for a broad community of learners to discuss significant contemporary issues. The theme selected for next year is “Economic Opportunity,” and events related to this topic will be announced in August. As during its inaugural year, events associated with the second annual thematic program will be open to the public.

and insightful lectureseries

A provocative

In the fall of 2014, all first-year students at Texas A&M-Texarkana read The Good Food Revolution: Growing Healthy Food, People, and Communities, by former professional basketball player and current food activist Will Allen. In addition to reading and discussing the book in their first-year seminars, TAMUT’s freshmen were able to meet Mr. Allen when he visited campus in November. Inspired by his message, students are investigating the possibility of installing a community garden on the Texas A&M-Texarkana campus.


making memories

working togetherHomecoming

“Chalk the Walk”

Groundbreaking of soccer field First senior torchlight parade

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 Affairs and the student-run Campus Activities Board is constantly planning activities that offer all students the chance to be engaged, make friends, and create memories.

FRATERNITIES

Phi Lambda Chi Fraternity was the first national fraternity to charter on the Texas A&M University-Texarkana campus. This organization came to campus in spring of 2011. Members uphold high standards in academics, campus leadership, and community service.

Kappa Sigma Fraternity, one of the largest international

fraternities, established a colony on the Texas A&M-Texarkana campus in the Spring of 2013. Kappa Sigma focuses on building better men through scholarship, brotherhood and service.

SORORITIES ON CAMPUS Zeta Phi Beta Sorority was chartered on our campus in 1995, as

the first Greek Letter organization at Texas A&M-Texarkana. Zeta Phi Beta is “a community-conscious, action-oriented organization” that works closely with its local alumni chapter to foster the ideas of service, charity, scholarship, civic and cultural endeavors, sisterhood and finer womanhood.

Omega Delta Chi Sorority is a local sorority founded by five

student leaders in the Fall of 2013. Omega Delta Chi takes pride in sisterhood, leadership, and service, and they hold bragging rights as the first annual Greek Week Champions in the spring of 2014.

National PanHellenic Sorority Interest Group is an organization

of young women who seek to bring a national sorority on campus. This group is the largest of our Greek organizations, with 40 active members. Their organization emphasizes the importance of sisterhood, scholarship, and service.greek life

making friendsmaking memories

Sorority

Fraternity

Student and staff leaders posed with the arrows they broke at Sky Ranch during the University’s 3rd annual leadership retreat, Recharge (2015).


Texas A&M - Texarkana’s first Homecoming Court-2014 with Ace the Eagle.

Races in Zorb Balls were part of the pre-game highlights of Homecoming Day.


The first Texas A&M-Texarkana Homecoming occurred during a beautiful week in mid-October 2014. Every day of that week leading up to the Homecoming Soccer Game and the crowning of the king and queen offered special activities at the campus. The week’s activities included a concert and chili cook-off, an outdoor movie night, zip lining, a senior torchlight parade, a bonfire, the annual distinguished alumni and faculty celebration, and plenty of excitement.

On Sunday, the 19th, tailgating began at noon, while Zorb Ball Racing (bubble soccer) created excitement for students. At 2:00 pm, the game commenced between the Lady Eagles and LSU-Alexandria, and the first Homecoming Court appeared before the fans. Spectators and alumni from all over came to support the university, athletics, the past and the future.

The first Texas A&M-Texarkana Homecoming queen was Amber Spence, and the king was Kim “KG” Ganado.

Dr. Cutrer cutting the ribbon in celebratoin of thenew soccer field prior to the Homecoming game.

SAVE THE DATES: October 3, 2015- Homecoming game & October 1, 2015 Distinguished Alumni & Faculty Celebration


FROM DEKALBTO DISNEYWORLD:

A Magical Internship

But unlike seeing Disney from a child’s perspective, this time, Taylor was going to Orlando, like some 5,000 other college students from all over the world, to participate in The Disney College Program as an intern.

An EC-6 Education major, Taylor left for Orlando on January 12, 2015, and will return on May 29th. While away, she is taking a course on Disney Heritage, in which students learn all about how Disney came to be. She said, “The Disney Heritage class meets weekly. It is teaching us how Walt started the company and the characteristics he possessed that made him so success-ful. We are analyzing his success.”

One of the great things about starting her education at Texas A&M-Tex-arkana, she said, was making personal connections with the faculty and staff. “At Texas A&M-Texarkana, I knew all of my professors, and they were all really excited about my opportunity to do The Disney College Program. They would ask me questions about the application process and were really interested in my journey,” Taylor said.

Taylor’s job is working in the second largest merchandising store in Epcot, called Mouse Gear. She shared that she would never trade her opportunity, but the work can be exhausting, sometimes keeping her out into the wee hours of the morning cleaning up and getting prepared for the next day.

With 63 hours under her belt, Taylor Pickle, a DeKalb High School graduate, decided that after a year at Texas A&M

University-Texarkana, living in the residence hall, and working at Racquet

and Jog, she was ready to branch out and do something that would take her to a

magical place where every child dreams of going: Disneyworld.

“I work a lot,” she said, “and then I go back to an apartment that I share with five girls from five different states across the US.”

Probably the most culturally eye-open-ing experience during Taylor’s intern-ship has been interacting with so many participants from around the globe, who definitely have different perspectives. Coming from a small East Texas town and going to a city that is bustling with traffic and an ever-changing population, Taylor feels certain that she will find her way back to Texas to finish up her degree.

The Disney experience, though, has been one life-altering challenge for this small town beauty queen. And Taylor is happy to state that because of her experi-ences with Disney, she will be better at interacting with people in the future. “I was in sales before, but I really believe that I have learned a great deal about customer service here,” Taylor said. “We cater to everyone, and their needs are our priority. I will certainly be better with my customer service interactions because of what I have learned here.”

Taylor Pickle is fortunate to have been chosen to intern with The Disney College Program, and Texas A&M-Texarkana is proud to call this student ambassador one of their own.


f a c u l t y s p o t l i g h t :D r . C r a i g N a k a s h i a N

Craig M. Nakashian received his Ph.D. in History from the University of Rochester in 2010. He focused on medieval history, with minors in medieval Japan, medieval art history and archaeology. He joined Texas A&M University-Texarkana as an Assistant Professor of History in 2010. Prior to that, Dr. Nakashian taught courses at Southeast Missouri State University, Syracuse University, the University of Rochester and the Eastman School of Music. Dr. Nakashian teaches and researches medieval European history generally, and medieval England and France specifically. Dr. Nakashian has published on the role of levied soldiers in Anglo-Norman England and is currently preparing a manuscript on warrior churchmen in the Middle Ages. He is broadly interested in researching chivalry, religious culture, military culture and religious reform movements.


When most people think of the Middle Ages (roughly 500–1500 AD), they usually conjure images culled from Hollywood—Robin Hood, Monty Python, Game of Thrones, etc. For the most part the image is one of a dark, fore-boding place of superstition and magic, or a dark, foreboding place of superstition without magic. Obviously, the truth of the period is much more complicated, and my job as a medieval historian is to investigate the evidence from the period and communicate the importance of what was happening to my colleagues and students.

My own particular area of focus—England and France between 1000 and 1300—saw many of the most important institutions in Western civilization take root, grow and flower. It was during this period that the Christian church codified its rules and definitions of what it meant to be a Christian, and kings and nobles began to negotiate new ways of sharing power (helped along by efforts such as those in the Magna Car-ta). Literacy grew, and trade expanded, laying the foundation for the age of exploration and colonization (for better or worse) that followed in the fifteenth century and beyond. This period was also characterized by a close integration of religion and politics so that powerful figures in each area often had authority over the other sphere—kings were anointed to be God’s agent on Earth, and bishops held huge estates, led armed men in battle and judged legal cases.

Recently, I was invited to attend a symposium on the life and ca-reer of Henry of Blois, one of the most powerful clerics in the twelfth century. He came from a very powerful noble family in central France with close connections to the kings of England—he was the grandson of King William I, nephew of King Henry I, and brother of King Ste-phen. At an early age he was made the abbot of Glastonbury Abbey, the wealthiest abbey in England (and reported burial place of the legendary King Arthur). He was soon after made the bishop of Winchester, one of the wealthiest and most powerful dioceses in medieval England. He was a prolific builder and renovator of church properties, and he left a number of palaces and churches for later generations.

As Bishop of Winchester, Henry was instrumental in getting his brother Stephen elevated as king in 1135 (since Henry I had died without a legitimate son), and over the course of his brother’s turbulent and civil war-scarred, nineteen-year reign, Henry was often at the right hand of the king, guiding royal policy, protecting the interests of the church, and defending his own lands from attack. After his brother’s

death, he continued to serve as a powerful figure in English poli-tics, and he was chosen to over-see the trial of Thomas Becket, archbishop of Canterbury dur-ing his celebrated conflict with King Henry II. Upon his death in 1171, Henry of Winchester’s legacy was clearly seen in Eng-lish politics, church reform and architecture.

The symposium was hosted by FitzWilliam College, part of the University of Cambridge in

the United Kingdom. It was funded by the Leverhulm Trust, which was founded in 1925 to support research and education and distributes over $100 million in grants each year, as well as the British Academy, a national body of eminent figures in the humanities and social sciences that supports activities of high importance to the humanities and social sciences in the UK and internationally.

The symposium brought together scholars from England, France, Spain, Canada and the United States (me) in history, archaeology, and art history to discuss the life, career and legacy of Bishop Henry in support of the publication of a scholarly book on him. The participants each spoke to a different aspect of Henry’s life, with my contribution being centered on Henry’s role as a soldier and general during the civil war of Stephen’s reign. Others spoke to his role as a patron of the arts, a proponent of church reform and a builder of monumental structures. Our group included multiple members of the Royal Historical Society and the Society of Antiquaries, as well as two who have been knighted by Queen Elizabeth II for their contributions to human knowledge.

Being able to participate in discussions and debates with this group of scholars was extremely valuable to me as a researcher and teacher. These opportunities to collaborate with international scholars are the lifeblood of academic innovation and intellectual progress. I was able to discuss the finer points of twelfth-century history and culture, and this allows me to bring the most recent ideas on this crucial period of European development to my own work and students.

As wonderful an experience it was for me, it also has positive ben-efits for Texas A&M University-Texarkana. Being a part of this august group brings honor and recognition to our university, and it shows that even in a small city like Texarkana we have an opportunity for world-class education. I am certainly not alone among the faculty of A&M-Texarkana in having experiences like this, and I am glad to have been given the opportunity to share them here.

...eveN iN a small City like

texarkaNa we have aN

opportuNity for

worlD-Class eDuCatioN.

- b y D r . C r a i g N a k a s h i a n


s t u d e n t a m b a s s a d o r s

&SERVE CAMPUS COMMUNITY

Texas A&M University-Texarkana Ambassadors with U.S. Congressman John Ratcliffe and Dr. Emily Cutrer.


Whether it is opening the doors for visitors or pro-viding insight into registering for courses, nobody knows the pulse of campus services and activities like Texas A&M-Texarkana Student Ambassadors. These outgoing men and women vie for the chance to be ac-tively involved in community functions involving the university. To become student ambassadors, students must apply, interview, and maintain a high grade point average. Created in 2011, the Student Ambassador Scholarship Program awards annual $1500 scholar-ships to chosen participants. Whether it is a communi-ty breakfast meeting, a reception with state politicians or a lunch with The Texas A&M University System Chancellor, ambassadors have incredible opportunities to interact closely with President Cutrer, faculty and staff, community leaders and alumni.

Lindley Southard, a junior accounting major from Bedford, Texas, (DFW metroplex area), came to Texas A&M-Texarkana in 2013 not knowing anyone. After two years as an ambassador, she says she has broken out of her shell and become very involved in campus activi-ties. “I am gaining many leadership skills from the am-bassador program such as better communication skills, and time management skills in balancing school, work, and other extra curricular activities,” Southard said. “Without the ambassador program, I probably wouldn’t be as involved with campus life as I am now.”

Summer Nelson serves as the coordinator of the Stu-dent Ambassador Scholarship Program, and she is the first to boast about these achievers who consistently represent the university with enthusiasm and commit-ment. “The Ambassadors are well rounded, academically driven students whose futures are so bright. While it is great to see them help out at events, it is even better to watch them transform from shy, sometimes introverted students to bubbly, outgoing campus leaders,” Nelson said.

In addition to helping with everyday campus activi-ties, student ambassadors assist with events hosted by Women for A&M-Texarkana, Young Professionals for

A&M-Texarkana and the Alumni Association. Nelson, in her role as Development Officer, coordinates most of the university’s community happenings on campus, so she works closely with the ambassadors to host those who are visiting campus. Her leadership in overseeing this program is widely recognized, as visitors are always greeted and directed with smiles and helpful attitudes.

Students may initially apply to be ambassadors dur-ing their freshman or sophomore year, but once selected, they can continue through their senior year as long as they maintain the requisite GPA and participate reg-ularly. Nelson enjoys getting to work closely with the student ambassadors and says that watching them grow and advance personally and in their academic careers is extremely rewarding for her. One of the current ambas-sadors was the valedictorian of her high school class. A past ambassador, Taylor Pickle, is completing an intern-ship with Walt Disney World. All have unique stories but share the enthusiasm for promoting their university.

The Texas A&M-Texarkana Student Ambassador Scholarship Program is another exciting example of transformation in student-community involvement. As Nelson summarized, “The Student Ambassador Schol-arship Program is about training leaders and productive citizens. We give students the opportunity to network not only with the wonderful citizens of Texarkana, but also to meet some of our great leaders and politicians.”

Energy and optimism are apparent with the Texas A&M University-Texarkana Student Ambassadors, a small group of students who are selected to participate and engage visitors to university events.

Ambassador Lindley Southard and Development Officer, Summer Nelson.


Billows of cloudlike steam spiral into a blue Arkansas sky as drivers pass Domtar Industries, Inc. on Hwy 71 North. Passersby might conjure up images of a paper production line or wonder how a tree standing in a forest miles away makes its way here to this paper production plant. Maybe they even think of the boxes and boxes of paper stacked to the ceiling, awaiting the next destination or customer.

Travel Hwy 71 in the opposite direction, and you might end up where 29-year-old Justin Til-ley did—at the Bringle Lake campus of Texas A&M University-Texarkana. There are no plumes of smoke to greet you; instead, well-cultivated landscaping and state-of-the-art architecture welcome you in. It is here that Justin studied engineering, enrolled in a business/university cooperative internship with Texas A&M-Texarkana and Domtar and just recently earned his degree. His studies, intern experience and degree have allowed him to pursue his dream of life as an engineer.

Before Justin made his way to Texarkana, he spent five years in Connecticut working for and receiving training from the U.S. Navy. During that time, he worked as a fire control technician and an electronics techni-cian, as well as managed the workload for the design, fabrica-tion and repair of multiple masts and antennas installed and implemented onboard U.S. Navy submarines. While his work experience proved him capable of professional engineering, Justin quickly learned that he would need a degree in electrical engineering in order to be employable.

“I found [an electrical engineering] job that was open at a dam in Mountain Home, Arkansas, so I applied for it,” he said. “I made it through to the interviews. They told me they would choose someone with a degree. My experience got me to the interview, but I decided I’d better go to school.”

After a year of school at Henderson State University in 2011, Justin looked to Texarkana.

“I knew I wanted to stay in Arkansas,” he said. “I found out Texarkana had a new program. Since my wife and child were there, I decided to transfer to Texas A&M-Texarkana and take advantage of the smaller-classroom setting while still earning an A&M degree.”

The following year, the Student Veterans of America award-ed Justin with their sole STEM scholarship, worth $10,000. “That brought a lot of light to me,” he said.

Soon, he started working as a summer intern at Domtar. After a successful season, Justin’s boss offered him a full-time position after graduation.

“I accepted,” he said. “I graduated in December of 2014 and began working as an Electrical Engineer on January 5, 2015.”

e n g i n e e r i n g d e g r e e e q u a l s c a r e e r FOR

JUSTIN TILLEY

“We recruit from all over, but, to A&M-Texarkana’s credit, we have recruited some of the best talent from there.” -Bernie Kreul

Justin Tilley and his wife,Frankie, at graduation.


“He’s the cream of the crop,” said Justin’s im-mediate supervisor, Bernie Kreul, the Engineer-ing Manager at the Ashdown Mill. “A&M-Tex-arkana is a good resource to get new talent. You really don’t know what you’re getting until you get someone on board. This co-op program takes the unknown variables out of the picture. We recruit from all over, but, to A&M-Texarkana’s credit, we have recruited some of the best talent from there. Justin has more than just technical ability. He takes initiative to get projects identified and pushed through. Hardly anything we do here is repeat. Every project is an adventure.”

“What we do mostly at Domtar is project man-agement,” added Justin. “We have to create scopes of work, do cost estimates, budget, send out and get quotes. We have to get the funding appropri-ated and approved. We issue purchase orders to contractors and we oversee the work. When I first started working here, I would assist other engi-neers and make drawings—anything to help them out. But now that I’ve been here for almost three years, my job duties have significantly increased.”

As Justin talks about his experience at Texas A&M-Texarkana, it is easy to see that he found his niche. “The professors here work with you,” he said. “Many of us were nontraditional stu-dents. There’s just a difference here, one that you don’t see at larger universities. I liked the smaller classes. I was one that took advantage of going to the professor’s office and talking to him if I had questions. My time was more limited than [that of ] the traditional student who lives in the dorm. I liked the fact that there were not twenty differ-ent professors for my courses. I could go to their offices. They were more available for students to talk to. They worked with us [non-traditional stu-dents] very well.”

“They have their numbers at big universities,” he said. “They don’t need to make sure every stu-dent is satisfied—just the majority. But at A&M-Texarkana, they make sure every student gets what they need.”

The opportunities that Justin received as a con-duit through the cooperative program between the university and Domtar Industries have been a win for the Tilley family. Knowing that his STEM education in Texarkana was the stepping-stone to a valuable career makes Justin very proud.

Maybe the next time you take a drive by the TexasA&M-Texarkana campus or pass Domtar Industries, Inc. as you travel Hwy 71, you’ll keep in mind the human element behind the bricks and paper. And maybe you’ll wonder if Justin Til-ley’s engineering degree is printed on paper that came from the Domtar mill.

With his engineering degree in hand, Justin Tilley had a full-time position at Domtar waiting for him.


As new students come from all areas of the world to study and grow with the university, it is important to look back and celebrate the achievements of the many alumni who have long since graduated and used their degrees to build businesses, sustain families, and pos-itively affect the lives of others. Once such person, Ty Abston, a native Texan and MBA graduate, oversees one of the largest commu-nity banking institutions in Texas, and like the university, Abston has his eye on future growth, too.

As Chairman of the Board and CEO of Guaranty Bank & Trust and its parent com-pany, Guaranty Bancshares, Inc., Abston is a creative financial thinker committed to banking, people, and community. Guaranty is a $1.4 billion community bank, having grown over $500 million during the last five years, with 22 bank locations throughout Texas and over 350 employees. In 2013, Guaranty Bank & Trust celebrated 100 years of banking in Texas, much to the credit of Mr. Abston’s leadership. For a sixth consecu-tive year, Guaranty Bank & Trust has been named “One of the Best Companies to Work for in Texas” by Texas Monthly magazine. Independent Community Bankers of America has named Guaranty Bank & Trust one of the top performing community banks in the country.

During his 27-year career, Abston has served in leadership roles in every functional area of banking. He has also served on the Board of Directors of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas, Texas, Security Bank in Dallas, and Independent Bankers Association of Texas. Abston is a person who believes strongly in sup-porting the community and has served in many capacities on various nonprofit boards. He is past President of the Mount Pleasant Industrial Foundation, Mount Pleasant Habitat for Humanity, and the Northeast Texas Water Coalition.

Abston earned his BBA in Finance from the University of North Texas, his MBA in Finance from Texas A&M University-Texarkana, and is a graduate of the American Bankers Association National Commercial Lending School. In 2012 he was honored as a recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award from Texas A&M University-Texarkana. He and his wife Anne have two children, a daughter, Taylor, and son Tanner.

a l u m n i s p o t l i g h t :TY ABSTON

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 M B A 1 9 9 0

Looking ahead at future growth is something the leadership of Texas A&M-Texarkana does every day.


In honor of Women’s History Month in March, Texas A&M University-Texarkana’s Honors Program sponsored a program fea-turing Dr. Doris Davis, professor of English. Dr. Davis spoke about the accomplishments and challenges of nineteenth-century women com-posers such as Amy Beach, Lili Boulanger, Cecile Chaminade, Fanny Mendelssohn Hensel, Clara Wieck Schuman, and Adaline Shepherd while performing exam-ples of their pieces on a beautiful antique Steinway piano.

What made the event even more special was the fact that the fully restored, square grand Steinway, dating from 1870, was donated

to the university by Texarkana resident Clara Ayres. Mrs. Ayres chose to give the rare and beauti-ful instrument to Texas A&M-Texarkana as a tribute to her Aunt Clara, for whom she is named, for sentimental reasons. “Several years ago, my Aunt Clara gave it [the pi-ano] to me. I was named for her…she had no children, and I was her namesake, so she left it to me. She was a very generous and compas-sionate lady with a kind heart. She was 15 years older than my father, Lloyd Borcherding, and his twin brother, Floyd. They lived in a time when not everyone got to go to col-lege, and she wanted my dad and his brother to go to Texas A&M

University. She made that hap-pen! That is why the piano is being given to Texas A&M-Texarkana…I donated it in tribute to my Aunt Clara and my father.”

Special donations like this an-tique Steinway are treasures for our university that will be appreciated and utilized for years to come. The university hopes that Mrs. Ayres and her family take great pride in seeing this beautiful instrument in-tegrated into the learning environ-ment. And just as her Aunt Clara did, we hope more families experi-ence the pride of seeing their loved ones attend college, graduate, and fulfill their dreams.

A Lovely DonationAn 1870s SteinwayA Lecture on Women ComposersA Piano Performance

All on a Lovely Afternoon.


- t h e d e b u t o f a t h l e t i c s -

At Texas A&M-Texarkana, he saw promise—promise for a flourishing athletics program, promise for a cul-ture of pride that would tie together students and the surrounding com-munity.

That promise was enough to make Michael Galvan leave behind a 17-year career at New Mexico’s Univer-sity of the Southwest, where he was Director of Athletics for ten years.

Galvan came to Texas A&M-Tex-arkana as Director of Athletics in September 2013, and, with the help of his staff and the support of the ad-ministration, his vision for the uni-

versity is already coming to life.Most recently came the announce-

ment that Coach Steve Jones of New Mexico Highlands University would head Texas A&M-Texarkana’s new baseball program. After over 17 years at NMHU, Jones said he is excited for the challenge of building a pro-gram here that is as respected as the one he established at NMHU. So far, things are looking good: there will be over 40 baseball players in the pro-gram this fall.

“We obviously target good stu-dent-athletes and student-athletes who we feel will be very good in the

university atmosphere as well as the community,” Jones said. “In this first year, that is especially important.”

Already, tennis and soccer teams have been established. The men’s and women’s tennis teams are 14 players strong and coached by Coach Billy Power. And Texas A&M-Texarkana’s own artificial turf soccer field was completed just in time for Coach Steve Golas’s team of 20+ women to host its inaugural Homecoming game in October 2014.

“They are experiencing playing on a facility that is second to none,” Gal-van said. “If our institution is willing


to commit to that, it shows that President Cutrer be-lieves in what we’re doing and believes in the impact that athletics can have on young people.”

In choosing which sports would be offered initially, Galvan opted for those that would bring in “academ-ically-driven” athletes. He also looked for a combina-tion that would give students teams to cheer for in both the fall and spring.

“There is a science to the madness behind this, and in due time we are going to meet most needs of those who take a genuine interest in our athletic depart-ment,” Galvan said. “I hope to put together a depart-ment that the entire community and institution can continue to support and be proud to call their own.”

Galvan described himself as “frugal” and “conserva-tive.” He is striving to use the department’s $325,000 budget wisely so that the programs he starts are sus-tainable.

Even with a small number of teams, Texas A&M-Texarkana’s first athletic season has brought the de-partment “plenty to boast about,” Galvan said. The tennis teams have seen a number of exciting individual wins and are preparing for team competition in the spring. The women’s soccer team finished its season with ten wins, two losses and three ties and would have ranked “anywhere from twelfth to about fifteenth in the country in the NAIA [National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics] if they had been post-season eligible,” Galvan said.

“That was a tremendous accomplishment from a

“I WANT PEOPLE TO TALK ABOUT A&M-TEXARKANA...”


win-loss standpoint, but even more [than that], we have a bunch of great student-athletes in that program,” Galvan said.

One of those is Crystal Torres, a junior who transferred from Mt. San Jacinto College in California. Torres chose to continue her soccer career at Texas A&M-Texarkana because she was excited about the prospect of making history.

“I think what made me come here was that it was a new school, that you could start something new and be a part of building a program, because that’s what it was like at my old school. We had a new coach, new girls, girls who didn’t know each other,” Torres said. “We started a foundation from that, and I was like, ‘I’ve been there, done that; I think I can do it again.’”

Though moving several states away was hard, Torres says she has gotten the chance to live her “athletic dream” at Texas A&M-Texarkana.

“I’ve made a family out here,” she said. “You hear that a lot in teams, but here it’s 100 percent true just be-cause we were all new. We didn’t know what to expect; we’re all coming from the same kind of athletic background; we’ve all played the game; what we didn’t know most was how to come to a new program at a new university.”

While she never expected to end up in Texas, Torres appreciates the slower pace of life in Texarkana. She plans to attend graduate school, become a physical therapist, and establish her life in this part of the world.

“I’m definitely staying,” Torres said. “I’ve already decided that I want to ap-ply to local schools around here.”

Torres epitomizes the type of stu-dent-athlete Texas A&M-Texarkana strives to foster—a student who is confident, academically-minded and

“WHEN OUR STUDENTS GRADUATE, THEY ARE GOING TO BE PREPARED FOR THE WORLD...”


aspiring to accomplish big things. “When our students graduate,

they are going to be prepared for the world, and I want the entire community to realize that we’re excited about that. We truly are,” Galvan said. “We want them to see our student-athletes as future employees. Many of them are go-ing to own their own businesses one day—maybe even be my boss one day, and I’m okay with that because I know we are preparing them well.”

For Galvan, that means holding his 80 or so athletes accountable,

getting them involved in community outreach, and encouraging them to better themselves every day. He takes pride in his athletes and is excited to see their peers and the community do the same.

With just one athletic season behind them, Galvan says there is already a burgeoning excitement about building Eagle traditions. He has heard talk of an Eagles’ hand gesture, a fight song, and plans for next year’s Homecoming celebration. Soon, he hopes to see that sense of pride permeate the entire community.“I want people to talk about A&M-Texarkana,” he said. “I want people to talk about this institution, because I have a passion for it, and about our coaches and our athletes. That’s ultimately what I want to see. I want to see signs going down Richmond Road, Summerhill Road, and all different places with ‘Eagles! Go Eagles!’ on them!”

“...WHAT MADE ME COME HERE WAS THAT IT WAS A NEW SCHOOL, THAT YOU COULD START SOMETHING NEW AND BE A PART OF BUILDING A PROGRAM.”


For Kimberly Bursey-Reece it’s not just a platitude. For her it ’s a deep-seated belief that drives everything she does as project administrator for Texas A&M University-Texarkana’s Partner-Engage-Prepare Project.

“We are treasure hunters,” she said. “It’s up to us to find the trea-sures in every child. We help stu-dents time travel. We help them see beyond where they are now. Envi-sioning a successful future is the first step toward achieving it.”

Partner-Engage-Prepare, or PEP, is

a collaboration between Texas A&M-Texarkana and Texar-kana-area high schools that focuses on the higher educa-tion of students who need sup-port in order to realize their goals. The program identifies

students who want to attend college but lack the resources to get there on their own. PEP pairs these stu-dents with Texas A&M-Texarkana students who act as their mentors, helping each one to create and fol-low a roadmap to future success.

Bursey-Reece’s office is a busy one, with PEP mentors constantly knocking on her door to seek guid-ance or update her on a student’s progress. She currently supervises 24 mentors, all undergraduate or graduate students at Texas A&M-Texarkana. A mentor is assigned five to eight high school students

and spends one hour per week with each one. During meetings with their mentees, mentors cover such topics as standardized college en-trance testing, college applications, interviewing, scholarships, and even personal finances. They invite students to events on campus and help them develop a comfort level with college life. Each student is encouraged to establish a life goal and then develop a plan to achieve it. Mentors are there to serve as guides.

Ellen Quinnelly, a two-year PEP mentor to Arkansas High School students, sees her role as not just about the future, however.

“I feel like I can help these stu-dents have a better future,” she said, “but I can also help them right now by being someone they can talk to, someone who cares about them.”

“We believe all students arecapable of succeeding.No exceptions.”

A PARTNERSHIP IN MENTORING STUDENTS FOR THE FUTURE


Indeed, some of the participants in PEP lack parental sup-port. Many, however, have very supportive parents who simply don’t know how to navigate the road to their children’s higher education. Mentors like Quinnelly are well versed in the pro-cess and have the advantage of Bursey-Reece’s curriculum and leadership. Most supplement their knowledge by doing re-search on their own. Quinnelly encourages students to pursue scholarships, which she uncovers through extensive research.

“Financial issues are huge for many of these students,” she said. “Even the fee for taking the ACT is a problem for some. Most of my mentees work after school; some work almost full-time. Many can’t attend college night events at their high school because they have to work.”

Mentor Precious Kendricks, who works with five Texas High School students, was a PEP stu-dent herself as a high school senior. Now a freshman at Texas A&M-Texar-kana, she says the program made a big difference for her.

“There was someone there pushing me and encouraging me,” she said. The encouragement was effective; by De-cember of her senior year Kendricks had received acceptance letters from eight colleges. She chose Texas A&M-Texarkana in order to remain close to home.

One of her mentees longs to play football at a particular university. Look-ing for a way to help him realize his dream, she sent emails to coaches at the university and eventually made con-tact with one. She is currently watch-ing closely and hoping the young man’s dream might actually become reality.

PEP mentors work with 120 students at Texas High School, Arkansas High School, Pleasant Grove High School and Liberty Eylau High School. Each high school student must maintain a 2.5 GPA and enroll in at least two academically-rigorous classes. They agree to maintain good attendance and satisfactory citizenship, and they sign on to participate in at least 20 hours of community service work per year.

Standards for Texas A&M-Texarkana students who wish to be mentors include a minimum GPA of 3.0 and a commit-ment to the program’s governing values of integrity, innova-tion, collaboration, respect and hope. Interested students sub-mit applications and are subject to a selection process. They are required to sign a detailed code of conduct as well as a

confidentiality agreement. The PEP Project is funded through a grant from the Texas

Pioneer Foundation, a private, independent foundation that supports similar programs in other parts of the state. Execu-tive Director and Texarkana native Fred Markham stresses that the foundation’s focus is education, with a particular em-phasis on college access and success.

“Some of the major barriers to higher education include cost, lack of information and the absence of a college-bound culture at home,” he said. “PEP addresses all of these issues and more. The mentors show students a different culture by modeling it themselves.”

The PEP program helps the university fulfill its mission of “providing excellence in education for all students today

and tomorrow” and makes a difference in the lives of students by guiding them toward success in life. Bursey-Reece reports that, while northeast Texas boasts one of the highest high school graduation rates in the state, its college graduation rates are among the lowest. Because increased college gradua-tion rates result in a boost to the area’s general socioeconomic level, the benefit of the PEP program to the Texarkana com-munity is indisputable.

“The high school students achieve success, the Texas A&M-Texarkana student mentors realize personal growth and the community becomes a place where success is possible,” she says. “It’s a win-win-win!”


Globalization has become a reality in the economy, and education is no different.Students from other countries are choosing the United States for study abroad programs more than any other country in the world. Provost Rosanne Stripling saw the opportunities to open an Interna-tional Studies Program for Texas A&M-Texarkana and in the spring of 2014, contacted Columbian-born professor, Dr. Luz Mary Rincon, about working with her to build an International Studies Office for the university. Dr. Rincon has been a professor of Spanish with the university for many years and has taken students overseas to study

in Peru, Costa Rica, Barcelona, and Mexico during her tenure. Dr. Rincon’s connections in Central America and with universities over-seas made her the perfect choice to build this program.

The International Studies effort has three components, each with a unique set of objectives. The first component is an intensive English program for international students coming to Texarkana. “With the intensive English program, “ Rincon said, “we help international stu-dents with English immersion; we hope they will seek a degree here. This helps increase student diversity and increases the involvement of all faculty.”

One of the most exciting endeavors to date for international stu-dents on campus has been a partnership with the Mexican govern-

Professor Luz Mary Rincon led Mt Pleasant campus students to the Medieval Castle of Monserrat, and

renovated areas, in Monserrat, north west of Barcelona. (left to right) Professor Rincon, Adriana Sanchez,

Diana Espino, Mariana Herrera, Elizabeth Colin, Sarai Hernandez, and Elizabeth Cruz (front).


ment that allowed 56 students to participate in an English immer-sion program at Texas A&M-Texarkana in the fall of 2014. This was the result of a grant that was written for Education USA that chose Texas A&M-Texarkana as a placement institution. Students arrived from Mexico, and the university had 15 instructors working with the 56 participants. “It is important to have small classes for these Eng-lish immersion students,” Rincon said, “and we taught all day long. To provide some regional culture, we took them to Dallas, Shreveport, a Perot Theater event, and made sure they got to participate in all of the student activities that were happening.” Dr. Rincon explained that they have reapplied for this program and are hoping to expand.

In the summer of 2015, the university hopes to be receiving pre-masters level students from Mexico through Projecta 2015. This pro-gram would be offered through the graduate office and would help Mexican students prepare for graduate entrance exams including the GRE, GMAT, and TOFEL.

Another grant for which Dr. Rincon has applied is 100,000 Strong in the Americas, which is an initiative of the White House to bring 100,000 students from Latin America to the U.S. and for 100,000 U.S. students to study in Latin America over the next five years. Rincon said that the university was selected in the fourth round of grants with Exxon Mobile for its STEM environmental studies. An exchange agreement between Texas A&M-Texarkana and a Columbian university has already been estab-lished; both institutions have an environmental studies program, so both universities are currently teaching a common class and having discussions in real time and online in chat groups about environmental issues. In May, ten Columbian students and their professor are coming here to study and work on projects with Texas A&M-Texarkana students as they build environmental stations in Spring Lake Park that are educational in na-ture. Students from local school districts will be invited to come to the stations and learn about local environ-mental issues from the Columbian-Texas A&M-Texar-kana collaboration. This course will last for two weeks, and then Texas A&M-Texarkana students will go back to Columbia with the Columbian students to do some-thing very similar.

Another Columbian University visitedTexas A&M-

Texarkana in the spring of 2014. “We hosted their students and fac-ulty, and then one of our mass communications professors took our students to their university to visit and study all of their mass media programs. In April, we are sending a business professor to Columbia with more students. They will be in the central region of the coffee production area, so students will see the plantations and the business of coffee and exportation,” Rincon said.

Besides student exchange programs, Texas A&M-Texarkana has entered into some faculty exchange programs with international uni-versities. The University has arranged for a faculty exchange in Italy for the upcoming summer for one of the STEM faculty.

If all of these great efforts seem overwhelming for one full time professor with an overload, for most people, that would be true. However, Dr. Luz Mary Rincon has the energy usually attributed to athletes. She loves her teaching and says that making a difference with students is why she loves education. Dr. Rincon has an upcom-ing trip to Peru offered in the fall of 2015. In order to participate, a student must be enrolled in a Spanish or History course and be able to go for two weeks. Like the many other trips she has offered for students in the past, the Peru adventure partners with a university and allows students to stay with host families. That facilitates the immersion process and encourages the use of Spanish language skills. “The trips we take are faculty led programs, and the Peru trip is also offered through history, as there is great pre-colonial and colonial history throughout the many museums in Cusco,” Rincon said.

Provost Stripling found the perfect person to lead the charge in International Studies with Dr. Rincon. Stripling said, “The Interna-tional Studies Office has grown more rapidly than we anticipated—probably in response to the recognized need that learning about and experiencing cultures of other lands and people are so critical to be-coming an “educated person” of today. Dr. Luz Mary Rincon’s pas-sion and sense of urgency in creating global learning opportunities for all students has also been critical to this program’s success.”

Undoubtedly, as an international scholar, Dr. Rincon has the focus and stamina to make Texas A&M-Texarkana’s international pro-grams a great accomplishment.

Randi C. Grounds, Erica Iannone, Misty J. Ruth, Shelby Elliot, and Luke Bultemeier in

the main plaza in the city of Cusco (Peru).

(left to right) Luke Bultemeier, Shelby Elliott, Misty J. Ruth, Erica Iannone in Machu Pichu (Peru).


ALUMNI NEWS


1975MIKE RICHARDSON (BS 1975) is the owner of Richardson Patio & Fence in Texarkana since 1978. Mike received the 2005 Distinguished Alumni Reward.

1977RICK L. WISDOM (BBA 1977) is the President of Bank of the Ozarks Southwest and Coastal Divisions. Rick has 33 years of banking experience and joined Bank of the Ozarks in 2004 to establish its Southwest

Division, headquartered in Texarkana, TX. Today, Rick oversees all aspects of banking operations in Bank of the Ozarks’ three Texarkana banking offices, and in Bank of the Ozarks Coastal Division, which includes banking offices in Mobile, Alabama; Brunswick, Savannah and St. Simons Island, Georgia; Wilmington, North Carolina and Bluffton, South Carolina. Rick currently serves on the Texas A&M University–Texarkana Alumni Board.

1982SARAH GRIFFIN SEALY (BBA 1982) is the broker and owner of Griffin Realtors. She is licensed to sell real estate in Texas and Arkansas since 1982. Sarah is active with local, state & national Associations of

Realtors and is currently the parliamentarian for Texarkana Board of Realtors. She is also the current chairperson for Texarkana Board of Realtors Special Olympic Fundraising Committee. Sarah is the past president of the Texarkana Board of Realtors and the past president and Governor of Arkansas Women’s Council of Realtors. Sarah is currently serving on the Board of Directors of Special Olympics Arkansas.

1984JO ANN RICE (BS 1979, MS 1984) serves as the Assistant Superintendent of Student and Community Development for Texarkana Independent School District.

Jo Ann has served as a board member of Women for A&M Texarkana, Wilbur Smith Rotary Club, Texarkana Regional Arts and Humanities Council, African American Advisory Committee, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., and The Texarkana Area Pan-Hellenic Council. Her local cable show “Out and About with Jo Ann Rice” has featured many local charities and celebrities who have made their way to the Ark-La-Tex. Some former guests include: Robin Roberts of GMA, Coach Frank Broyles of the University of Arkansas, “Boo” Mitchell, investigative reporter for the Clarion-Ledger, Vivica Fox, actress; and Carl Finch, two time Grammy Award Winner, just to name a few.

1990GREG MAY (BBA 1990) began his career in the car business in May of 1990. Greg purchased Greg May Honda in November of 1995; this year he celebrates his 20th anniversary

in business. Greg has been a member of the Honda Zone Dealer Advisory Board for 12 years and was a member of the National Dealer Advisory Board from 2011-2014. Greg is a three-time winner of the Honda Presidents Award and an eight-time winner of Honda Finance Council of Excellence. Greg bought Greg May Chevrolet in February of 2008. His dealership has won Chevrolet’s highest honor, the Mark of Excellence, three years in a row (2012-2014). In October 2014, Automotive News named Greg May Chevrolet the #1 dealership in North America to work for and Greg May Honda the #2 dealership in North America to work for.

1994KELLY MITCHELL (BBA 1992, MBA 1994) is the President of TEXAR Federal Credit Union where he has been employed since 1986. Kelly has served

on the board of directors of The American Red Cross, The Greater Texarkana People’s Clinic, The Caddo Area Council of Boy Scouts, Texarkana Chamber of Commerce and the Texarkana Regional Arts and Humanities Council. Kelly has also served on the Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone Committee for the City of Texarkana, Texas. He currently serves on the Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance and the Riverbend Water Resource District board. Kelly has also served as President of Harvest Texarkana and President of Texas A&M-Texarkana alumni board. While serving as Alumni President, he was appointed to the presidential search committee for the University. Kelly is a member of Williams Memorial Methodist Church where he is active in the food pantry program and also the Wilbur Smith Rotary Club. He is married to Lisa Mitchell and they have a son, Cody; two daughters, Jill and Sarah; and one granddaughter, Ella Grace.

1995ROBIN HUBNIK HICKERSON (BS 1989, MS 1995) has been an educator since 1989, and currently is an assistant superintendent in the

Texarkana Arkansas School District. In 2007, Robin was named Middle School Principal of the Year and National Distinguished Principal. In 2014, Robin served as president of the Wilbur Smith Rotary Club. She is on the Board of First United Methodist Church, Texarkana Arkansas. Robin also serves on the Leadership Texarkana Board, is a member of TRAHC, Women for A&M-Texarkana, and a sustaining member of the Junior League of Texarkana. Robin is a founding member of the Arkansas Women for Education. Married to David, they are the proud grandparents of Megan Harris, Remington Harris, Myles West, and Lexi Grey Stover.


1988MARK L. BLEDSOE (BS 1987, MS 1988) is the new president/CEO of The United Way of Greater Texarkana. Mark is the chairman of the Texas

A&M-Texarkana Distinguished Alumni & Faculty Celebration, and he is a past president of the Alumni Board.

2000JAMES W. BRAMLETT (BAAS 2000) joined Farmers Bank & Trust as a Senior Vice-President of Business Development & Commercial Lending in February 2012. James currently serves on the Texas

A&M-Texarkana Alumni Board, the Texas A&M Eagle Athletic Board, the Pleasant Grove I.S.D. Education Foundation Board, the CHRISTUS St. Michael Hospital Board & as the Sacred Heart Catholic Church Finance Committee Chairman. James also serves the community through the annual Bramlett Beans & Cornbread Food Basket Fund Raiser; this namesake event (16 years strong) serves needy families in the local area with food baskets each year received from the donations of the community. James was first elected as Mayor of the City of Texarkana, Texas in 1998 and completed his 5th & final term in May 2008 with 10 years of service as Mayor.

HORACE G. SHIPP (BAAS 2000), former mayor of Texarkana, Arkansas, for eight years, is now retired and living with his wife Teresa in Fayetteville, Arkansas (after 68 years in Texarkana). The Shipps

relocated to be closer to their son and daughter and their families; they have three grandchildren and three great grandchildren. Horace and Teresa are very active in their church, preparing food for the homeless, serving in the UofA campus ministry, and participating in the Hilltoppers (the over sixty group with their church). With a farm south of Fayetteville on top of Black Oak Mountain, the Shipps enjoy family time calling the Hogs, as they are self-proclaimed “huge Razorback fans.” They enjoy Crystal Bridges Art Museum, the Ozark Mountains, and Arkansas entertainment and recreation destinations.

PAUL NORTON (MS 2000, PRINCIPAL CERTIFICATION 2001, SUPERINTENDENT CERTIFICATION 2002) is the Superintendent of Schools

for Texarkana Independent School District since June of 2011.

2002DONNA MCKINNEY-HODGE (MA 2002) received her Ph.D. from Texas Woman’s University in 2008 in Rhetoric and accepted a position with Colorado

State University-Pueblo that same year. Donna received tenure in 2013. She is currently an Associate Professor of English and Rhetoric and the University’s Director of Writing at CSU-Pueblo. Donna directs the department’s interdisciplinary Study Abroad Program; she and her husband take 25 undergradate and graduate students to Europe each summer. In January 2014, Donna completed an MA in Women’s Studies from TWU. Donna is an active member of the Junior League of Pueblo, and she serves on the Board of Directors for the Pueblo Symphony, the Pueblo Zoo, and the SoCo Spay/Neuter and Adoption Clinic. In her “free” time, she and her husband, Dustin Hodge, own Hodge Productions. Together, they write, film and produce a national TV show, which airs on RFD TV in over 300,000 homes each week.

2003JENNELL INGRAM (MBA 1995, MS 2003) is the principal of Texarkana Independent School District’s Theron Jones Early Literacy Center. Jennell was

selected as one of 100 school leaders in Texas by Raise Your Hand Texas for a weeklong course in leadership at Harvard University for public school principals.

2005LORIE SON (BS 2002, MSIS 2005) is the Director of the Williams Memorial Methodist Church Preschool. Lorie serves as a member of the board

of trustees for the Pleasant Grove Independent School District. Married to Scotty Son, they enjoy raising three girls, Addie 8, Laney 3, Piper 3.

ALUNMINEWS


2006ERIC CAIN (BS 2006) has recently become the Executive Director of the American Red Cross serving Northeast Texas and Southwest Arkansas. He

started his career with the United States House of Representatives as a Texas A&M-Texarkana intern for Congressman Ralph Hall. That internship turned into a wonderful nine years serving the people of the 4th Congressional District, until the Congressman’s retirement from public service. Eric is President-Elect of the Texas A&M–Texarkana Alumni Association. Eric currently serves on the CHRISTUS St. Michael Health System Board, Leadership Texarkana Board, and is Chairman of the CHRISTUS St. Michael Friends of the Foundation.

SUZY IRWIN (MA 2006) is the Director of Institutional Advancement and Public Relations for Texarkana College. Since earning her Masters of

Adult Education with an emphasis in Business, Suzy worked as an adjunct instructor for Texarkana College teaching Marketing and Advertising. She currently serves as a member of the TC Leadership Team where she manages all forms of communication on behalf of the institution with media, community, and students. Suzy chaired the Ross Perot Community Challenge that led Texarkana College toward a successful Bowie County Annexation Election. She has also served as co-chair with her husband, Robert, for the American Heart Association Heart Ball and the United Way of Greater Texarkana Annual Campaign. Suzy is a graduate of Leadership Texarkana and works as a volunteer for Pleasant Grove ISD, Chi Omega Sorority Alumnae Group, and Williams Memorial Methodist Church. She and Robert have two daughters, Natalie and Katy Beth.

2007MONICA HARRISON (BS 2005, MS 2007) serves as the Coordinator of Gifted Education for Texarkana Independent School District. Outside the

school day, Monica is an entrepreneur and network marketing leader, building a personal Rodan and Fields organization by partnering with the doctors who developed Proactiv Solution. Monica is an active member of Junior League of Texarkana, serving on the Mistletoe Fair committee for the past three years, and a volunteer for Girl Scouts Diamonds of Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Texas as a troop leader. She also begins a term on the Redlick Independent School District Board of Trustees later this year. Monica is married to Todd Harrison and they have two daughters, Megan and Anna Claire.

BRIA HOWE (BBA 2005, MBA 2007) is a co-owner of Bimini Yoga & Fitness in Texarkana, TX, where she is a personal trainer, fitness instructor

and nutrition consultant. Bria is passionate about fitness and teaching others how to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

2009MELANIE DANIELS GLOSTER (BS 2009) is the Executive Director of Opportunities, Inc., the pivotal Texarkana non-profit organization that provides

support services for children and adults with special needs. Melanie serves on the Women for A&M-Texarkana board.

2014DILLON ROSEBERRY (MS 2014) has been a junior high history teacher in the Texarkana Arkansas School District since 2011. Dillon received his Master of

Science in Adult & Higher Education in 2014. Dillon is actively pursuing doctoral options in higher education.

MARK MISSILDINE, BAAS ‘94, HAS JOINED THE UNIVERSITY ADVANCEMENT TEAM AS TEXAS A&M-TEXARKANA ALUMNI RELATIONS COORDINATOR. “I’m

excited to experience the level of energy and enthusiasm on our new campus. I will be working with the Alumni Association to assist in the promotion of the goals and mission of Texas A&M-Texarkana. Thanks to each of you for your support of the Alumni Association and the University. I encourage you to visit our website at www.tamut.edu to learn more about our plans, and how you can get involved. On behalf of the University Advancement Staff and the Alumni Association, I wish you the very best. Go Eagles!”


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Texas A&M University-Texarkana Convocation Spring 2015

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Transcript of Texas A&M University-Texarkana Convocation Spring 2015