Above: Texas A&M University–Central Texas student Ariana Espinosa Grimaldo shares her research entitled "Bridging the Gap: The Relationship Between Student-Faculty Interactions, Motivation, Self-Confidence, and Stress" at a recent research symposium at the university.

The air buzzed with anticipation inside Bernie Beck Lecture Hall last Friday as Texas A&M University–Central Texas welcomed a crowd of eager students, faculty, and guests for the annual Student Research Symposium. Organized by the Division of Research and Innovation in collaboration with the Psychology Club, the Psi Chi Honor Society, and the Science Club, the event promised an afternoon of intellectual exploration and academic pride. Attendees shuffled through their programs, reading the lineup of presentations that spanned an array of disciplines.

For Summer Velasco, finding inspiration for her education and career decisions was as easy as hitting a drive-through window to order some tacos after a busy afternoon of binge watching her favorite shows … with ads. While some people find the constant breaks in their entertainment loop annoying, it was the advertising that inspired Velasco to pursue a bachelor’s degree in marketing at Texas A&M University–Central Texas.

As the new academic year approaches, Texas A&M University–Central Texas is set to welcome its incoming class with the annual New Student Orientation on January 11, 2025, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event will be held at the Bill Yowell Conference Center, located within Warrior Hall.

Chris Landry, 28, the middle son of Dale and Tina Landry, has been giving his mother grey hair for the last two and a half decades. He started young. Very young. In fact, he can remember his exact age when he recognized – and embraced – a daredevil spirit that is with him to this day.

By all accounts, he was blissfully unbothered about putting himself in jeopardy, or, for that matter, worrying his patient mom who witnessed his antics as he continually tested his limits.

The A&M-Central Texas December 2024 Commencement will be held at 3 p.m., Friday, December 13th at the Cadence Bank Center in Belton. A total of 321 students are expected, including 216 undergraduate and 105 graduate students, increasing the number of degrees awarded by the university since 2009 to 11, 307.

From left: Dr. Richard Rhodes with Dr. Jody Fry and Dr. Jerry Jones

Texas A&M University–Central Texas held its 14th annual service awards luncheon Wednesday, recognizing 33 employees for 5, 10, 15, and 25 years of service to the university.

Dr. Louis “Jody” Fry, professor of management, and Dr. Jerry Jones, professor of history, were each recognized for 25 years of service, dating back to when the University was operating as Tarleton State University Central Texas.

For the 10th time in the past eight years, A&M-Central Texas has been recognized for its activities encouraging student voter participation – most recently by the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge (ALL IN) as a 2024 ALL IN Most Engaged Campus for College Student Voting. The ALL IN Most Engaged Campuses for College Student Voting recognizes colleges and universities for outstanding efforts to increase nonpartisan student voter participation. With this newest recognition, A&M-Central Texas joins 471 colleges and universities recognized by ALL IN for encouraging non-partisan voting and election participation.

Let’s be honest: English degrees get a bad rap. People often joke that studying English will only prepare you for two things —becoming a barista or teaching more people to get English degrees. But here’s the kicker: that stereotype couldn’t be further from the truth. In reality, the skills you develop with your English degree are everywhere in the real world, quietly driving careers that you might never expect.

Take a moment and think about what English majors are really learning. We’re talking about the power of communication, critical thinking, storytelling, and creativity. And those skills? They’re essential in today’s job market.

Assistant Director of Human Resources/Wellness Champion, Debbie Morrison, doesn’t even like running. But just one visit to her A&M-Central Texas office would suggest that might not be entirely the case.

In a modest eight by 12-foot office on the fourth floor of Warrior Hall, there are photos of her crossing the runners’ tape splashed with celebratory colors, runners’ bibs, certificates of completions, and medals. Odd, another person might think. To be surrounded by memorabilia of something a person isn’t avid about.

But wait. As they say. There is more. While she might not “like” running, she has her reasons for surrounding herself with the memorabilia of it: years ago, she made a promise to herself to be healthy, and she wants to inspire other A&M-Central Texas employees to take part as a way to lead a healthy lifestyle. And there is some pretty good evidence that she is meeting her goal.

Killeen Daily Herald courtesy photo

This November, the Friends of Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery are inviting the community to come together to honor those who have served our nation with a series of wreath-laying events at the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery.

Texas A&M University–Central Texas is hosting an Internship and Career Fair from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 20 in Warrior Hall. Students, alumni, faculty, staff, and members of the Central Texas community are invited to connect with more than 40 employers.

This event offers attendees a unique opportunity to explore internships, volunteer roles, and career options with both full-time and part-time jobs. Participants will have opportunities to engage with potential employers and learn about various industries, including technology, healthcare, education, finance, government, and more.

Here are 4 solid reasons why going directly to university could be the best move for you right now, and why that "gap" year might not be all it's cracked up to be.

By Demetra Paizanis

Dr. Michael Daley, Regents Professor and Social Work Department Chair at Texas A&M University–Central Texas, was recently appointed to the Commission on Educational Policy of the Council on Social Work Education.

Texas A&M University–Central Texas invites the public to its 4th annual holiday celebration, Warrior Wonderland, set to take place on Friday, Dec. 6 from 6-9 p.m. at 1001 Leadership Place. Attendees can experience an array of activities from taking photos with Santa Claus to enjoy games, food, and music provided by local vendors.

The event is sponsored by the A&M–Central Texas University Police Department.

Here are 5 smart reasons why registering early for Spring 2025 (starting November 4th) is your ticket to smooth sailing!

By Demetra Paizanis

Texas A&M University–Central Texas has named Clifton T. Jones, Ph.D. the new Provost and Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs, beginning Jan. 1, 2025. He will fill the position vacated by Dr. Peg Gray-Vickrey who retired earlier this year.

Jones currently serves as Vice Provost at Angelo State University in San Angelo. As Vice Provost, he is the second highest ranking academic officer at the university, providing support to the Division of Academic Affairs.

As the chief academic officer and Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs at A&M–Central Texas, Jones will not only oversee the planning, organization, and operation of the university’s three academic colleges, but he will also oversee divisions directly related to student success such as enrollment management, retention, library services, and student affairs.

Texas A&M University-Central Texas lowered the university flag outside of Gen. Robert M. Shoemaker Founders Hall this week to observe the passing of the late Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Horace "Pete" Taylor. The flag will remain lowered until the conclusion of memorial, funeral, and burial services, said university president Richard M. Rhodes.

"Gen. Taylor meant so much to all of us at A&M-Central Texas," Rhodes expressed. "We join our community in commemorating his life, his enormous contributions to the United States military, the Central Texas educational community, and the great love he had for this country."

Well known for his decades-long efforts to establish A&M–Central Texas, Taylor worked side by side with the late Gen. Robert M. Shoemaker and hundreds of community leaders to successfully champion the legislative approval of a public undergraduate and graduate university, steadfast in the belief that Central Texans deserved access to higher education.

Registration for the A&M-Central Texas Spring 2025 semester opens for new and returning students on Monday, November 4, at 8 a.m. Spring enrollment begins as final figures show Fall 2024 enrollment increased by 7% in headcount and 10% in semester credit hours.

The University offers 30 undergraduate degrees and 20 graduate degrees, including a recently added master’s degree in public administration. Undergraduate admissions requirements are purposefully welcoming, open to everyone who has completed a minimum of 30 college or university credits with a 2.0 GPA.

While colleges and universities around the U.S. continue to wrestle with declining enrollments at both the undergraduate and graduate degree levels, A&M-Central Texas—with its 20 graduate degree and 10 graduate certificate programs, including a new program in public administration opening in Spring 2025—is proving to be a source of continuing optimism as growth continues.

A&M-Central Texas is proud to announce the launch of a new graduate degree in Master of Public Administration (MPA) beginning in Spring 2025. This innovative graduate degree is designed to equip public service professionals, as well as military personnel transitioning to civilian careers, with the leadership and management skills needed to succeed in government and nonprofit organizations.

Texas A&M University–Central Texas is celebrating National Transfer Student Week (NTSW) Oct. 21-25 with several special events scheduled throughout the week. Initiated by the National Institute for the Study of Transfer Students (NISTS) in 2017, NTSW is a time set aside to recognize and celebrate transfer students and those who support their academic journey.

Texas A&M University–Central Texas is excited to be among the six new Raising Texas Teachers partner universities announced by the Charles Butt Foundation. A&M–Central Texas joins more than 24 partner teacher preparation programs across the state collaborating with the Foundation to address persistent challenges in teacher preparation through innovative thinking and use of data.

Texas A&M University-Central Texas invites the campus community to join in its inaugural Scary-oke event on Oct. 30 at the Bill Yowell Conference Center.

Participants will have the chance to showcase their vocal talents by singing karaoke songs. Those arriving in costumes will be eligible to enter a costume contest and compete for prizes. Attendees can also decorate pumpkins and explore a haunted house.

Texas A&M University–Central Texas is set to host its 5th annual Child Welfare Conference on November 1. This event aims to unite students, faculty, and professionals to discuss pressing issues in child welfare.

Kathryn Crittenden, event coordinator emphasized the impact of the conference. “It is my sincere hope that everyone who attends or participates in this conference leaves with new knowledge that they can share with their agencies and organizations, and that something they learn will help them in their daily efforts of helping vulnerable families, youth, and children,” Crittenden said.

Almost 100 community members took advantage of an opportunity to explore A&M-Central Texas at Warrior Preview Day last Saturday, Oct. 5.

The event, designed to introduce potential students and their guests to the university and its many offerings included informational sessions about admissions, degree programs, financial aid opportunities, and one-on-one conversations with university faculty and staff about degree programs and available resources for students.

University President Richard M. Rhodes, Ph.D., joined by dozens of university staff members also in attendance, extended a warm welcome to the more than 50 potential new students and their guests gathered in the Bernie Beck Lecture Hall.

Dr. Michael Daley’s passion for social work was born from personal experience and education. While he’s always been interested in the human condition, his personal journey found him investing time in social work with a desire to help those around him. Now, as the director of the social work program at Texas A&M University—Central Texas, Daley continues to make a difference and be a positive influence on the world around him knowing that education is the key to success.

“My father told me that I really should try to get the best education that I could afford,” Daley said.

His father who earned a Bachelor of Law as his first degree later in life, around his forties, served as a model of persistent and lifelong learning.

When Temple resident Kino Hickey, 50, reflects on his educational journey, he is quick to admit that his first experience as a university student was filled with challenges that eventually led him to giving up on ever earning his undergraduate degree.

After four semesters of trying, he says, it was one obstacle after another, and, he admits, it was partly his own pride and headstrong nature that prevented him from continuing. He was struggling with lectures, but doing well in clinicals, and still, his 1.9 grade point average, he thought, was all the proof he needed that a degree was beyond his ability.

Back then, he says, he pushed the memory of it as far from his mind as possible. He had a job at the Olin E. Teague Veterans’ Medical Center in Temple, working in sterile processing. He lived a simple, honest, and happy life, a devoted husband to Michelle, 44, and father to their two children, Amir and Ashle’a.

Left: Justice Gregory Johnson, Bell County Justice of the Peace, Precinct Four, Place One, appeared as keynote speaker.

Almost 100 former A&M-Central Texas students and their guests attended an inaugural brunch celebrating the A&M-Central Texas Alumni Association which recognized three Central Texas leaders with awards this past Saturday, Sept. 21. Justice Gregory Johnson, Bell County Justice of the Peace, Precinct Four, Place One, was keynote speaker. Alumni Association Board President, Matthew Jimenez was the emcee.

Honorees include Anthony Martinez, Ph.D., receiving the Distinguished Alumni Award, joined by Mr. Abdul Subhani, receiving the Distinguished Legacy Alumni Award, and Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Pete Taylor, receiving the Honorary Alumni Award.

Texas A&M University-Central Texas invites students to explore global learning opportunities through its Study Abroad program. One of the highlights of the upcoming year is the 2025 study-abroad program, titled “Cathedrals, Monuments, & Memorials: A Journey Through England’s Heart”.

“You may want to wear some bug spray.”

It was a simple, yet common warning issued by Alyssa Taylor. It is summertime in Galveston, and the 2024 graduate of Texas A&M University–Central Texas was looking out for those around her. A hurricane pushed through the area a few weeks prior and that was followed by another week of torrential rain. Needless to say, the mosquitos were prolific.

Yet while the warning came from the young biologist, it was a message she could not follow. Keeping the potentially harmful insect deterrents off her is, after all, part of the job. Working in a man-made rainforest limits the amount of chemicals to which one can be exposed without harming the animals and, in Taylor’s case, the insects.

At times, walking across the Texas A&M University–Central Texas campus can be a little surreal. Wandering past one of the butterfly gardens on campus might find you navigating waves of orange and black as Monarch butterflies swarm your every step. The university is uniquely positioned to view up close and personal, one of nature’s unique occurrences.

Monarchs are, in fact, migratory insects. Each fall, generally around late September to mid-October, they make their way from as far north as Canada down into Mexico, crossing through Central Texas.

According to a February 2024 report from Columbia University, only about one-third of community college students transfer to four-year schools, and only 16% earn an undergraduate degree within six years. And, for those students who are low income or the first in their families to attend college, the transfer percentages from community colleges to universities is even lower.

As a “transfer-friendly” university, A&M-Central Texas has proactively recruited and retained community college students since its inception in 2009, and there is more than a decade of data that suggests that they are performing better than the traditional universities cited in the Columbia University report.

The A&M-Central Texas Alumni Association will recognize three Central Texas leaders with awards at an inaugural ceremony upcoming September 21.

The College of Arts and Sciences and Texas A&M University–Central Texas will present a faculty spotlight featuring Dr. Michelle Dietert at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 19 in the Bernie Beck Lecture Hall in Founder’s Hall on campus.

Admission to the faculty spotlight is free and open to the public and students studying all academic disciplines are encouraged to attend.

Texas A&M University–Central Texas will welcome prospective students to its campus for Warrior Preview Day on Oct. 5, a special event designed to showcase the unique opportunities available at the university. As the only upper-level institution in the state, A&M–Central Texas was created to make finishing a bachelor’s degree more affordable and predictable and is dedicated to helping students complete their education on time with minimal debt.

The day begins at 10 a.m. with a Welcome Session in the Bill Yowell Conference Center, where attendees will be introduced to the university’s mission and the day’s activities. Whether a high school student, community college transfer, or transferring from another university, this session will help prospective students see why A&M-Central Texas might be the perfect place to complete their education.

Dr. Richard Rhodes with a student panel at last year's convocation.

The Texas A&M University–Central Texas Fall Convocation, an all-employee gathering to welcome in the Fall 2024 Semester, will be held Thursday, Aug. 22, at 7:30 a.m. And there will be something special for staff, faculty, and administrators in attendance. More than the usual basket of muffins, fresh fruit, and breakfast tacos. Members of the university’s leadership will be swapping out suitcoats for aprons and serving up pancakes for breakfast, led by President Richard M. Rhodes, now in his tenth month at the university.

“Leaders from the president’s staff, faculty senate, and staff council see examples every day of the tremendous work ethic of our employees and all they do,” Rhodes said. “Because of them, our students are thriving in an environment that embraces them, challenges and supports them, and propels them forward,” he noted. “This is a fun opportunity to express our appreciation and greet folks as we kick off the new semester.”

“I’m from a very, very rural area in Arkansas, and so most of the professional women I came in contact with as a little girl were teachers, so I wanted to be a teacher,” Amy Mersiovsky recalls. But life had other plans. At the tender age of 12, Mersiovsky was diagnosed with scoliosis, a condition that led to a major surgery and, ultimately, a new career aspiration.

“I spent many months back and forth to hospitals, treatments, etc., and I really started to learn about nursing and what all the nurses did. And that’s how I decided that I wanted to be a nurse,” she explains.

The path was not easy. As a first-generation college student, Mersiovsky faced numerous challenges, but her determination never waved.

The nursing program at Texas A&M University–Central Texas is adapting to better address nursing shortages while accommodating the need for more nurses with bachelor’s degrees.

While the industry has seen a decline in the number of RNs nationwide, the call for nurses with bachelor’s degrees is increasing. The Institute of Medicine is calling for at least 80% of nurses to hold a bachelor’s degree. Likewise, employers are increasingly starting to require bachelor’s degrees for their nursing staff. According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, 28% of employers currently require nurses to hold a bachelor’s degree, and 72 percent strongly prefer baccalaureate-prepared nurses.

To meet these goals, many nurses need additional college education. A&M–Central Texas is answering that call, offering a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree designed for working nurses. Program director Dr. Amy Mersiovsky said the goal is to meet the needs of those nursing looking to further their career through additional education.

Texas A&M University–Central Texas presents the “Read Today, Lead Tomorrow-Warriors Supporting Young Readers” university-wide book donation initiative as a part of this year’s Convocation activities, hosted by the Curriculum and Instruction Department of the College of Human Development and Education. The event will take place at the Bill Yowell Conference Center in Warrior Hall on Aug. 22, where donation boxes will be available throughout the day starting at 9 a.m.

This year, the department has set a goal to collect 100 new books to donate to a local elementary school, aiming to foster a love of reading and support educational resources within the community. With plans to make this drive an annual university tradition, the department has selected Southwest Elementary School in Belton to be this year’s recipient of the donated books.

Picture this: a young boy in the bustling heart of Killeen, eyes wide with admiration as he listens to his mother, a dedicated nurse, recount stories of her day spent tending to patients with unwavering compassion and skill. Fascinated by the tales she shared about her experiences at the hospital and captivated by her impact on her patients, Cheeno De la Cruz knew from a young age that he wanted to follow in her footsteps and become a nurse.

The Texas A&M University–Central Texas Summer 2024 Commencement will be held at 10 a.m., Friday, Aug. 9 on campus at the Bill Yowell Conference Center in Warrior Hall. University officials said that summer commencement is a “walk through” ceremony offering friends, and family the opportunity to be much closer to their graduates as they cross the stage.

A&M-Central Texas President Richard M. Rhodes, Ph.D., will also award each graduate a presidential challenge coin, initiating a new tradition that commemorates the significance of their academic achievement. Many graduates, he added, have earned honors and recognition, many are veterans, and many more are the first in their families to earn a university degree.

“Every graduate who puts on their cap and gown and walks across the stage is an inspiration to all of us,” Rhodes said. “When they take that degree into their hands, they are walking into a future of prosperity and accomplishment, and every faculty and staff member who contributed to their educational journey celebrates with them.”

Learn more about the WarriorReady program.

Texas A&M University–Central Texas is taking part in a program designed to make the student journey a little bit easier. Beginning Fall 2024, A&M–Central Texas student can take part in the WarriorREADY initiative designed to provide students with necessary course materials in an easy and convenient package for a set rental fee.

A&M–Central Texas is encouraging students to check their student email. Information will soon be sent via email regarding the WarriorReady program. Students need to follow the email instructions to make the most of this exciting new program that ensures their course materials are ready to go on the first day of class.

Texans praise his vision, energy, and breadth of accomplishments.

BRYAN-COLLEGE STATION, Texas – Porter Garner jokes that he is not sure John Sharp ever sleeps.

“He's the best chancellor we've ever had,” Garner added. “No chancellor in history has ever advanced Texas A&M and the Texas A&M University System like John Sharp has.”

Garner is among the Texans praising the era of the longest serving chancellor in the history of the Texas A&M System. Sharp announced Monday that he will retire as chancellor in 12 months.

Texas A&M University–Central Texas recently celebrated the university’s 15-year anniversary, and recent data points to significant increases in enrollment this summer.

Created to be a unique public university purposefully focused on accessibility and affordability, A&M–Central Texas removes complex admissions barriers, requiring only that undergraduate students have earned a minimum of 30 hours of previous college or university courses and a 2.0 grade point average for undergraduate admissions.

Many of the university graduate programs, too, practice flexible admissions including conditional and provisional acceptance. Graduate faculty emphasize the importance of these alternative admissions programs, citing years of experience with students who bring life experience and determination to their graduate studies that is enhanced by mentorship, encouragement, and academic rigor.

In a state known for independence, there are books and songs and stories aplenty celebrating Texans and their rugged determination.

The only state to have been its own country, Texas and its citizens have proven themselves to be fiercely independent, community-minded, and unwilling to shrink from adversity – a place where people with a goal come together to do things bigger and better than they might accomplish individually.

The A&M-Central Texas Spring 2024 Commencement was held on Saturday, May 11 at the Cadence Bank Center (formerly known as the Bell County Expo Center). Officials from the registrar’s office said that an estimated 275 undergraduate degrees and 73 graduate degrees were received, increasing the number of A&M-Central Texas degrees awarded since 2009 to a 15-year total of 10,837.

Not only did the ceremony mark the graduation of 348 students, it also recognized 26 of the graduates who were also A&M-Central Texas ROTC cadets being officially commissioned as second lieutenants in the U.S. Army.

A&M-Central Texas President, Dr. Richard M. Rhodes, said that the entire university community looks forward to every graduation because it marks important milestones for both the graduates – many of whom are the first in their families to earn a university degree.

Sitting in his room in Washington D.C. Matthew Coble takes stock of his new temporary home. For the past month, the Army Captain has been stationed in a classroom at The George Washington University (GW), focusing on the inner workings of congress and working toward a Master of Professional Studies degree in legislative affairs.

It’s all part of his new assignment. As a 15-year Army veteran, CPT. Coble was recently named an Army Congressional Fellow — a post he finds both exhilarating and challenging.

“This is crazy. You take the hard jobs, you run, and run, and run, and then, suddenly you’re a student again,” he said. “Like a lot of things in the Army, the hardest part is the process to get there and get selected. It’s really having the drive to stick with it. Taking the hard jobs and being competitive, and once you get there, you’re rewarded.”

Together, the A&M-Central Texas academic advisors have more than 50 years of experience in higher education, and they put that expertise to use with every student on their schedule. Every day. Every month. Of every year.

“Academic advisors are the Swiss Army knives of higher education,” Jeff Barron said, flashing a 1000-watt smile. “We meet our students where they are when they come to us. And because no two students are the same, we listen carefully to their goals and help them connect the dots.”

And not one person ever crosses the stage at commencement who hasn’t benefitted from their determination...

The Texas A&M University–Central Texas Foundation is more than doubling its commitment to student support and future growth of the university. Through its efforts, the foundation is committing $750,000 to scholarships, support for Early College High School (ECHS) graduates, and the establishment of new academic spaces.

In a recent meeting, foundation members voted to renew their annual commitment of $300,000 in scholarship funding through a combination of endowed and unrestricted funds. Along with the commitment renewal, the foundation authorized an additional $150,000 contribution to provide funding for ECHS students seeking to complete their bachelor’s degree at A&M–Central Texas. Previously the foundation authorized $300,000 to help establish an outdoor forensic lab space to enhance learning experience of students in criminal justice and anthropology programs, as well as developing an accounting lab for students focusing on accounting and finance education.

A&M—Central Texas President Dr. Richard M. Rhodes said the support of groups like the A&M–Central Texas Foundation is a crucial part of the university’s success....

Texas A&M University–Central Texas will celebrate the commissioning of 26 new U.S. Army second lieutenants in a Commissioning Ceremony, Friday, May 10, at 10 a.m. at the Killeen Civic Center.

LTG Donna W. Martin will be the featured speaker and is the Inspector General of the U.S. Army, assuming responsibility as the 67th Inspector General on September 2, 2021. LTG Martin is a native of Yorktown, Virginia, and a graduate of Old Dominion University, with a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice. She was commissioned in the Military Police Corps in 1988. LTG Martin holds a master’s degree in strategic studies from the United States Army War College.

See the list of commissioned officers.

The Texas A&M University–Central Texas Spring 2024 Commencement will be held at 3 p.m., Saturday, May 11 at the Cadence Bank Center (formerly known as the Bell County Expo Center). The ceremony will also be livestreamed, and information for friends and family is available on the University website at www.tamuct.edu.

Officials from the registrar’s office said that an estimated 275 undergraduate degrees and 73 graduate degrees will be received, increasing the number of A&M-Central Texas degrees awarded since 2009 to a 15-year total of 10,837.

Texas A&M University–Central Texas will host its Summer 2024 Cybersecurity Camp, specifically tailored for high school and middle school students interested in the field of cybersecurity. The camp will be held at the university campus, 1001 Leadership Place in Killeen, and is hosted by the Subhani Department of Computer Information Systems.

Two prominent Central Texas businesses have been in partnership with Texas A&M University-Central Texas for the past two years, originally opening offices on campus, offering internships, opportunities for full-time employment, and conducting research.

Centex Technologies is a leading IT consulting company founded in 2006, serving both public and private sectors with a comprehensive suite of IT services. With over 18 years in business, Centex Technologies specializes in DevSecOps, digital marketing, forensics, and cyber solutions. The organization prioritizes innovation and community engagement, building strong ties with local educational institutions to support the next generation of IT professionals.

Friday marked the end of the Staff Appreciation Week at Texas A&M University–Central Texas, a time when administrators, directors and the Staff Council celebrate the individuals who make things happen on campus.

For the seventh consecutive year, the Staff Council sponsored the week-long celebration, offerings special events designed to educate, inspire and entertain staff members in unique ways that provided a brief respite from the typical daily grind.

Texas A&M University–Central Texas hosted a special awards ceremony recognizing students in the College of Arts and Sciences last Friday.

Dr. Amy Mersiovsky, director of the university’s nursing program, welcomed students and guests who were then celebrated for their academic achievements. In all, 39 students received awards. Following the awards presentations, Austin Davis, who received the award for Outstanding Undergraduate Student in Music, treated the attendees to a baritone solo.

See the award winners.

At colleges and universities across the country, faculty members are, without a doubt, the primary connection between students and the subjects that result in degrees.

Skilled at both their disciplines and at inspiring and nurturing curiosity and respect among with their students, university faculty constantly re-explore their academic areas of expertise in order to be currently informed and continue their professional development beyond their degree attainment. But in the best universities, they add one more thing: they pause, on occasion, to share their respective research with one another.

On Thursday, April 11th, more than 200 invited guests, dignitaries, donors, staff, and faculty, and students gathered to celebrate the initiation of construction on the university’s fourth building: the Centralized Operational Reliability and Efficiency (CORE) Building.

Above: Career-spanning photos of Dr. Jerry W. Jones, professor of history at Texas A&M University–Central Texas. Jones's time in education includes more than 25 years in the classroom and publication of "U.S. Battleship Operations in World War I", analyzing the strategic and tactical U.S. battleship operations during World War I and their impact on the war's maritime dynamics.

When Jerry Jones, Ph.D., enters a room, he does so quietly, pulling up a chair, situating himself comfortably, and completely and without pretention, telling the story of over three decades of teaching, leading, and learning. Twenty-eight of those years, he says, were at A&M-Central Texas or the three other universities that pre-dated it, and, as a result, he is rightfully known as the longest-serving employee at the university.

It is a gift of a sort that he is a historian. After all, he has not simply acquired historical or contextual facts and figures. To hear him weave a story or to engage him in conversation on just about any topic is to experience the same scholarly but slightly raconteurish style that has fascinated his students and colleagues.

From left: Queen Miller and Amanda McHugh received Psi Chi Regional Awards for their student projects at the 2024 Southwestern Psychological Association Conference in San Antonio.

Eight students and faculty from Texas A&M University—Central Texas attended the 2024 Southwestern Psychological Association Conference. Over the three-day event, the attendees engaged in a series of workshops, research presentations, and teaching demonstrations.

Texas A&M University—Central Texas is hosting the university’s first Psi Chi Psychology Honor Society induction ceremony, celebrating the academic achievements of 40 students and two faculty members on April 12 at 4:30 p.m. in the Bill Yowell Conference Center in Warrior Hall.

Founded in 1929, Psi Chi, the International Honor Society in Psychology, has a mission to encourage excellence in scholarship and advance the science of psychology. Memberships are offered to students and professionals who exemplify high standards of academic achievement in the field of psychology.

The nursing program at Texas A&M University–Central Texas is adapting to better meet the needs of students seeking a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree by offering 6 hours of summer classes to students who have not yet completed their associate’s degree, and changing to an 8-week term format.

At the recent Association of Baccalaureate Social Work Program Directors (BPD) 41st Annual Conference in New Orleans Dr. Michael Daley, TAMUCT Regents Professor and Chair of the Department was presented with an award for Outstanding Service. BPD is the national organization representing over 550 undergraduate social work programs in the United States. A long-time member of BPD, Dr. Daley has served in a number of leadership positions, and was President of the organization from 2010-2011. Learn more.

Above left: In A&M-Central Texas's early years, the former Fairway Middle School gymnaisum served as the university's library, nicknamed "the gymbrary" Right: Stacy Ferrell, celebrating her nearly 25 years at a university that is "really" just 15 years old.

Stacy Ferrell has worked in and around libraries for most of her life, and while she cannot count herself among the ranks of librarians, her work has been and is a labor of love.

She can’t say when it was that her love for reading began, exactly. But she does have vivid memories that reaffirm those moments when she knew that both her love for books, libraries, and the work that happens there would always be an undeniable part of who she is.

Learn more about our 15-year anniversary!

At A&M-Central Texas, Center for Cybersecurity Innovation students become future business leaders, faculty, and security professionals needed to maintain the United States’ technological edge in cybersecurity. Learn more about CCI.

Begun in 2017, the Texas A&M University–Central Texas cybersecurity programs have had more than a few things going for them: program graduates remain in high demand locally, state-wide, and nationally thanks in part to faculty and administrative leadership devoted to creating the best possible program.

Texas A&M University–Central Texas is marking its 15th anniversary through a series of special messages, publications, and social media programs designed to celebrate its first decade-and-a-half and look to future growth and expansion of the state’s only upper-division university.

Although its historical ties date back to the 1970s, A&M–Central Texas was officially chartered as the 11th member of the Texas A&M University System on May 27, 2009. Since then, the university has moved to its existing site off Clear Creek in south Killeen, issued more than 10,000 degrees, and developed a curriculum designed to build a well-educated workforce in Central Texas with degree knowledge and skills valuable to local industry employers. The university continues to grow, adding new degree programs and starting construction on a new building that will further enhance its plans for expansion.

Above: A&M–Central Texas Interim Provost Dr. Kellie Cude (left) stands with Associate Vice President for Enrollment Management and University Relations Clifton Jones and Director of Recruitment and Enrollment Services Loida González Utley at Alamo College in San Antonio on Friday. The trio was on hand to sign the South & Central Texas Transfer Compact agreement with Alamo Colleges.

Representatives from Texas A&M University–Central Texas spent Friday morning in San Antonio at the Alamo Colleges District to sign the South & Central Texas Transfer Compact agreement.

The agreement signifies a relationship between Alamo Colleges and A&M–Central Texas to enhance the efficiency of transferring from community college to the university.

See degree pathways from Alamo Colleges to A&M-Central Texas.

To hear him tell it, before now-retired U.S. Army staff sergeant and Killeen resident Samuel “Sam” Schmidt, 35, joined the military, he was an average high school kid.

He played offensive tackle for Brentville District High School Tigers in Nokesville, Virginia, graduated, and even did a couple of years doing what a lot of teenage boys only wish they got to do: he was a roadie for a local metal band named Time Lord.

It wasn’t that he was musical, but he had friends who were. And he was built for heavy lifting. At almost six feet tall and muscular, he could do to any heavy equipment what he had lots of experience doing on the football field.

Texas A&M-Central Texas Assistant Professor, Lavanya Elluri, is the new recipient of a competitive two-year National Science Foundation grant totaling $170,062.

Her research proposal, submitted earlier this year, focuses on federal and state laws regarding data privacy and protection and the need to better address Cybersecurity of IoT – known as “the Internet of Things.

Dariusz Puchala, Ph.D. (left) and Kamil Stokfiszewski, Ph.D., from Lodz, Poland, talk about their research involving data compression and artificial intelligence during a presentation at Texas A&M University–Central Texas recently.

With the proliferation of artificial intelligence shaping the modern marketplace, finding models and uses for the technology has become an increasingly important endeavor for computer scientists. Students, faculty and staff at Texas A&M University–Central Texas were treated to a glimpse into research surrounding the field recently by a pair of visiting professors from Poland.

Dariusz Puchala, Ph.D., and Kamil Stokfiszewski, Ph.D., of Lodz University of Technology in Poland specialize in the field of data compression and are working with A&M–Central Texas Assistant Professor Khaldoon Dhou, Ph.D., to develop advanced models of data compression and determine a means by which artificial intelligence platforms can be compressed for use in smaller devices with less computational power.