College of Science and Engineering (COSE) Newsletter 2019-2020 at TAMUC

INNOVATION & DISCOVERY College of Science and Engineering NEWSLETTER | 2019-2020

LETTER FROM THE DEAN The unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a semester filled with uncertainty and challenges for the faculty, students and university as a whole. Here in the College of Science and Engineering (COSE), our mission is to "join our students to shape an innovative framework to build a better Texas eager to compete in an interconnected world with creativity, ethical leadership and imagination." At this time, creativity and imagination are needed more than ever to enable our students to stay on track to achieve their education and career goals. The faculty and staff have been amazing during this tough period as they have faithfully upheld the college's Core Values: • Student Focused: We consider ourselves partners in facilitating student learning and development. We recognize students as individuals and assist them in achieving their full potential.

• Professionalism: We exhibit characteristics necessary to produce high-quality work and we accept personal responsibility and accountability to fulfill our obligations.

• Cooperation: We support the mission and goals of the university, college and department through cooperative and synergistic activities.

In spite of the recent challenges, it was a productive and impactful year for COSE. We awarded 269 undergraduate degrees and 164 graduate degrees in 2019, and we continue to assist students in achieving their education goals while supporting the local and regional economies.

COSE was once again the top recipient of research grants for the university, and the faculty and staff received numerous awards acknowledging their efforts in areas of teaching, research and service. I continue to be amazed at the talent of our faculty, staff and students, and I am humbled to serve as Dean of this amazing college.

• Joy: We find happiness in our work and celebrate the accomplishments of our students, faculty and staff.

The second annual edition of COSE newsletter will once again highlight noteworthy accomplishments of our faculty, staff, students and alumni. I hope the insight from the following pages provides both encouragement and excitement about your college.

Thank you for the continued support of the College of Science & Engineering.

TA B L E O F C O N T E N T S Planetarium and Observatory Offer the Universe

J.G. Grove Professor

4 6

Emeritus Reception

Alum Jacob Stahl Honored as Rookie of the Year at NASA

New COSE

8 10

Alumni Ambassadors

Professor Receives Creativity in Teaching Award

COSE Faculty Selected For 20192020 Faculty Senate Awards

11 12

Department of Engineering and Technology Produces Face Shields

Physics Students Represent A&MCommerce at Dallas ISD STEM Expo

First Graduates of Electrical Engineering Program

Lauren Smith: A Student’s Journey To Becoming a Physician

Computer Science Student Wins IMCS Group Coding Challenge

Meet Curtis Ivory, Master's in Biological Sciences

13 15 16 18 20 21

Creative Director: Tatiana Chamorro | Editors: Kristen Segar, Chris Gage Photography: Tatiana Chamorro, Brittany Gryder

Texas A&M University-Commerce

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A&M-COMMERCE PLANETARIUM & OBSERVATORY OFFER THE UNIVERSE TO STUDENTS AND COMMUNITY

The Planetarium and the Observatory at Texas

presentations from titles such as A Starry Night, Earth,

A&M University-Commerce offer an astronomical

Moon & Sun, Asteroid Mission Extreme, Astronaut, and

amount of knowledge to students and the community.

Kaluoka’hina: The Enchanted Reef.

Located on the first floor of the McFarland

Approximately 75% of guests are children

Science Building, the Planetarium features a Digistar

visiting with public and private school groups, as

5 all-digital projection system and 87 reclined seats

well as homeschool groups. “It is amazing to see the

within a 40-foot dome, surrounding viewers in a space

excitement for astronomy increase and grow through

environment filled with stellar sights and sounds sure

the eyes of our young visitors,” stated Dr. Cheri Davis,

to amaze audiences of all ages.

Planetarium director.

As the only planetarium within 60 miles, the

The Planetarium is open to the public on Friday

facility receives over 10,000 visitors annually. Although

nights for shows at 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. The shows

some A&M-Commerce classes and labs are held at

last approximately 50 minutes, beginning with a live,

the Planetarium, the facility’s major function is to

interactive presentation featuring constellations, stars

support outreach efforts focused on instilling a love of

and planets in the current night sky. Mid-week matinees

astronomy and physics in the minds of young people.

are offered through June and July.

Planetarium shows are specifically designed

Additionally, the first Wednesday of each month

to meet critical learning criteria for school groups,

is reserved for homeschool groups. The box office

and feature presentations target grade-level content

opens at 11 a.m. and the show begins at 11:30 a.m.

that is appropriate for all ages. Teachers can select

4 | College of Science and Engineering Newsletter

For more information about the A&M-Commerce

A LU M NI PR I D E Planetarium, visit tamuc.edu/planetarium.

Five miles south of campus, the A&M-Commerce

Observatory houses the university’s observing and research-grade telescopes, including a Planewave CDK 700 27-inch telescope and a Meade 16-inch LX200 Schmidt-

SHANDI GROEZINGER

Alum, 2019 BS in Physics Graduate

Cassegrain telescope.

“The 27-inch telescope is the largest in Northeast

Texas, giving our students access to a research-grade facility every clear night,” said Dr. Matt Wood, professor of physics and astronomy.

“Our students and faculty use the facility to obtain

data for honors and master’s theses in collaboration with astronomers from around the globe,” Wood continued.

Students majoring in physics work closely with a faculty mentor on research projects as they search for exoplanets,

"One of the best aspects of A&M-

track asteroid light curves and rotation periods, and

Commerce is its on-campus jobs. As a

investigate white dwarf stars.

student who is self-sufficient, I enjoy

The university’s membership in the Southeastern

Association for Research in Astronomy (SARA) also provides students with remote access to three 1-m-class telescopes

sneaking in work hours between classes.

I have worked as a student instructor

housed at premier astronomical observatories in Arizona,

(SI), a learning assistant (LA) and a

Chile and the island of La Palma in the Canary Islands.

planetarium assistant. As an SI and LA,

I get to work alongside professors who

In addition to research-grade telescopes, the facility

features multiple smaller telescopes and binoculars for

teach various subjects such as physics,

public viewing. The observatory is ideally positioned on

astronomy and mathematics. As a

open acreage, thus avoiding light pollution from the city.

planetarium assistant, I get to educate

Red indoor lighting also helps to protect viewers’ night

students and the public with interactive

vision.

astronomy presentations and operate

The observatory is open to the public during

seasonally scheduled open house events and occasional

various telescopes at the off-campus

astronomical events, such as lunar eclipses. Public viewing events can be found on the observatory’s

observatory.

"

webpage.

To learn how you can help support these facilities, contact Ray Garvin at 903.468.8182 or Raymond.

Garvin@tamuc.edu or donate online at www.bit.ly/COSEgive

Texas A&M University-Commerce

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Former Faculty Member J.G. Grove Posthumously Named Professor Emeritus at Reception

On February 6, the Texas A&M University System

successful careers.

Board of Regents honored former faculty member Joe

Gilbert Grove with the posthumous title of Professor

Commerce on February 17. Guests from the university

Emeritus of Industrial Arts Education.

and surrounding community joined several members

of Grove’s family at the Alumni Center to celebrate his

Grove is credited as the founder of the

A reception honoring Grove was held at A&M-

Department of Engineering and Technology at Texas

important contributions to the university.

A&M University-Commerce. In the early 20th century,

he developed the department from the ground up. Set

Rudin, president of A&M-Commerce. “It’s obvious that

in motion by his foundational work, the department has

our institution has a rich history of pioneers and the

evolved into a state-of-the-art educational program

pioneering spirit.”

offering degrees in construction engineering, electrical

engineering, industrial engineering and technology

at our institution, and his efforts have led to our

management.

College of Science and Engineering,” Rudin said. “We

felt it only fitting that we present the Grove family and

During his 35-year career at the university

“This is a special occasion for us,” said Dr. Mark

“Mr. Grove was a pioneer in industrial education

(1919-1954), Grove served as a state leader in industrial

posthumously present Mr. Grove with a Professor

education, wrote industrial education curriculum

Emeritus rank at our university.”

that was used and published nationally, and helped

thousands of students attain a quality education and

Science and Engineering, said, “We thought it was

6 | College of Science and Engineering Newsletter

Dr. Brent Donham, dean of the College of

A LU M NI PR I D E

appropriate at the start of Engineers’ Week to mark the 100th year of when Mr. Grove started this department…Our engineering program continues to grow under that leadership.”

DAVID MEDINA

Major in Construction Engineering

Reception guests received a booklet titled

“From Humble Beginnings: The Legacy of J.G. Grove,” which outlines Grove’s career and accomplishments at East Texas State. The brief biography follows the development of the engineering and technology department from its creation in 1919 through its impressive growth under Grove’s 35-year leadership.

According to Dr. Andrea Graham, head of the

Department of Engineering and Technology, “From those humble beginnings, our students who didn’t think they’d have the opportunity of being exposed to

" I feel very proud and honored to have received this scholarship

engineering in East Texas now have that opportunity.”

named after J.G. Grove, the pioneer

of industrial education at this

Grove retired from East Texas State Teachers

College in 1954, yet his family continues to positively

university. I was also immensely

impact the university. His late wife, Mrs. Nelle Couch

honored to have met his family at the

Grove, created the J.G. Grove Memorial Endowment in 1985 to financially assist engineering and technology students.

Additionally, throughout their careers at

J.G. Grove reception. Thanks to this scholarship, I will be the first in my family to graduate from a university

L3Harris Technologies in Greenville, Texas, both

in the United States. I hope one day I

Bob Grove (son) and Jim Bob Grove (grandson)

will be able to help students achieve

have provided internships and full-time positions to

their goals just as the J.G. Grove

numerous engineering and technology students from A&M-Commerce.

scholarship has helped me."

“The legacy is rich, and it continues and lives on,” said Graham.

You can read From Humble Beginnings: The Legacy of J.G. Grove at http://bit.ly/JGGroveLegacy.

Texas A&M University-Commerce

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Alum Jacob Stahl Honored as Rookie of the Year at

NASA

A&M-Commerce alum Jacob Stahl aimed for

the moon and landed among the stars, as the old saying

Dr. [Kent] Montgomery’s teaching style connected very well with me. I wound up doing well in a course that I

goes. Stahl was recently awarded the 590 Rookie of the Year Award by NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland. The award is given to an employee from NASA’S Mission Engineering and Systems Analysis (MESA) Division who practices “commitment to excellence, creativity, dedication, customer service and personal integrity in providing outstanding support to Goddard’s mission.” Stahl graduated from A&M-

"He was one of the hardest working students I have met, and he never lost sight of his goal.” -Dr. Kent Montgomery

Commerce in 2014 with a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering and Mathematics. His hometown

thought I would do very poorly at, and from that point

is Dike, Texas. Stahl’s dream to work at NASA came true

forward I was very motivated to do well in school and

after years of dedication, hard work and grit. “As long

get my foot into the space industry,” he said. After

as I can remember, I always wanted to have a career

graduation, Stahl pursued an M.S. in Mechanical

in the space industry, but I certainly never thought it

Engineering at Texas A&M University. While at Texas

was feasible for me, so I had very little confidence and

A&M, Stahl worked with Dr. Eric Petersen, testing

motivation to pursue it,” Stahl said.

rocket propellants. Meanwhile, he applied for NASA

internships. “There were many, many years of applying

However, everything changed when he enrolled

in a Physics I class at A&M-Commerce. “I found the

for NASA internships before I was finally accepted,”

Physics I course material incredibly interesting, and

Stahl said.

8 | College of Science and Engineering Newsletter

A LU M NI PR I D E

Stahl’s big break happened on a spring day

in 2016. He was working in the lab at Texas A&M, a cinderblock structure with limited cell service. When he left the lab for the day, he checked his phone and noticed a missed call and voicemail. The voicemail was from Andrew Maynard of NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, calling with the life-changing news that Stahl had been selected for a Pathways internship. “It was extremely exciting and certainly a huge relief to me,” Stahl recalled.

Stahl worked as a Pathways co-op intern at

Goddard Space Flight Center during the fall 2016 semester, and he was converted to a full-time civil servant at NASA after his May 2017 graduation from Texas A&M. Today, Stahl works in the Propulsion branch as a propulsion systems engineer. “Most of my work is dedicated to designing, analyzing, building and testing the Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, and ocean Ecosystem (PACE) mission’s propulsion subsystem,” Stahl said. According to NASA’s PACE website, “PACE’s data will help us better understand how the ocean and atmosphere exchange carbon dioxide.” Besides the PACE project, Stahl said his branch’s current missions include the propulsion subsystem for the JPL-led Europa Clipper Mission, the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) and the Wide Field Infrared Survey Telescope (WFIRST), among others.

Stahl emphasized that his education at A&M-

Commerce was crucial to his current role at NASA. “Our branch designs and builds in-space propulsion systems for spacecraft, so a strong background in systems engineering and project management is very critical in our day-to-day jobs,” Stahl said.

Lion Alum Attends 60th Homecoming at A&M-Commerce Mr. Rene Griffin may hold a record for the most consecutive homecoming games attended by an alumnus. This year, Griffin celebrated his 60th consecutive homecoming celebration. “I feel I have a very unique relationship with the university, having grown up in Commerce, and having so many different ties to the town for so many years,” Griffin said. “It was fantastic watching us win two national championships in football, plus getting close another time or two.”

Griffin attended public school in Commerce and then continued his education at East Texas State. He has always been a true Lion, representing and supporting the university in many ways. As a student, he was a police officer with the University Police Department, president of Delta Tau Delta, and elected class favorite. Griffin majored in computer science, biology and math. He graduated from East Texas State in 1975.

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NEW ALUMNI AMBASSADORS D I V YA S O LO M O N In 2017, Divya Solomon earned her Master of Science in Computational Sciences at A&M-Commerce. A technical educator, Ms. Solomon is passionate about technology and education. She currently serves as center director at Xantos LLC.

Family Weekend

DOUG HOLZBOG

Last September, the university hosted its first annual Family Day. COSE hosted an

Doug Holzbog is a native Texan. He is a graduate of

open house, where students and families

Forestburg High School, Cooke County Community

were able to tour the buildings and

College and East Texas State University. Mr. Holzbog

show their family members and friends

currently serves as the executive director of network

where they spend a large portion of their

development for the Paris Regional Medical Center.

time. COSE was awarded Outstanding Department for the inaugural Family Weekend.

N AT E H A N S O N Originally from Waxahachie, Texas, Nate Hanson graduated in 2011 with a Master of Science in Chemistry from A&M-Commerce and currently works as a continuous improvement engineer and quality manager for Valtris Specialty Chemicals.

TREY GLASCOCK Trey Glascock is a 2011 graduate of the industrial

HOMECOMING 2019

engineering program at A&M-Commerce. He is currently the engineering manager for Turner Industries

Our tailgate before the football game was

Group, LLC, where he began his career 20 years ago and

a crowd favorite. Professor Pat Carter and

worked concurrently while completing his degree.

Dr. Perry Moler prepared and served 100 pounds of brisket, 30 pounds of sausage, 70 pounds of pulled pork and 100 hamburgers.

Faculty, staff and visiting COSE families were recognized at half time.

CAM LE Cam Le graduated in 2006 from A&M-Commerce with a degree in mathematics, where Mr. Le was a proud member of the Kappa Alpha Order. Most recently, Mr. Le was promoted to director of business development and marketing at Markel for the entire mid-south region.

10 | College of Science and Engineering Newsletter

FACU LT Y H I G H L I G H TS

A&M-Commerce Professor Receives Creativity in Teaching Award

Dr. Andrea Graham of Texas A&M University-Commerce was awarded the

Myrna Gilstrap Creativity in Teaching Award from the Texas Association of Black Personnel in Higher Education (TABPHE). The award recognizes a faculty member who implements and assesses the impact of innovative teaching methods on student learning outcomes by adapting teaching and learning methods from other fields and contexts.

“Dr. Graham is an exceptional, sought-after professor and leader on

campus,” said Dr. Lavelle Hendricks, president of the A&M-Commerce chapter of TABPHE. “Student evaluations reflect the professionalism, care and nurturing environment that she provides to students.”

Dr. Graham is an associate professor and head of the Department of

Engineering and Technology at A&M-Commerce. She received her Ph.D. in Industrial Engineering from the University of Texas at Arlington in 2012 before arriving at A&MCommerce in fall of 2013.

Dr. Hendricks continued, “We are fortunate to have Dr. Graham at A&M-

Commerce. She represents the academy of teaching well.”

A&M-Commerce Department of Mathematics Hosts Annual High School Event

The Texas A&M University-Commerce Department of

Mathematics hosted the 8th Annual Adventures in Mathematics (AIM) event on February 14, 2020, at the Rayburn Student Center.

AIM—organized each year by the A&M-Commerce Department of Mathematics for high school math teachers and their students— includes a hands-on mathematics competition, breakout sessions and guest speakers. This year, 194 students and 25 teachers from eight area schools participated in the event, providing valuable exposure for the department and the College of Science and Engineering.

The purpose of AIM is to increase students’ interest in

mathematics while offering methods, examples and stories that teachers can use in their classrooms.

Texas A&M University-Commerce

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College of Science and Engineering Faculty Selected For 2019-2020 Faculty Senate Awards

Dr. Allan Headley in the Department of

faculty who have distinguished themselves through

Chemistry received the William L. Mayo Professorship

outstanding achievement in particular areas of their

Award, which recognizes individuals who epitomize the

professional duties. Physics and astronomy faculty

goals of Professor Mayo’s motto: “Ceaseless Industry,

member, Dr. Cheri Davis, received the award in the

Fearless Investigation, Unfettered Thought, and

Teaching ­– Classroom category. Dr. Robynne Lock, also

Unselfish Service to Others.” The award is designated

with the Department of Physics & Astronomy, received

once every three years and recipients retain the title of

the award for the Teaching – Innovation category.

“Mayo Professor” for the duration of their service at the

university.

& Astronomy received the Research, Scholarship

and Creative Activities – Unfettered Thought Award,

Dr. Larry Lemanski, Department of Biological

Dr. Bao-An Li with the Department of Physics

& Environmental Science, received the H.M. Lafferty

while Regents Professor Dr. Wen-Long “Ben” Jang in

Distinguished Faculty Award for Scholarship and

the Department of Chemistry received the Research,

Creative Activity. Granted each year, this award

Scholarship and Creative Activities – Fearless

recognizes an individual who has performed in an

Investigation Award.

outstanding manner in scholarship and/or creative

activity.

to Dr. Matt Wood in the Department of Physics &

Astronomy.

The Faculty Senate Awards for Professional

The Professional Service Award was granted

Excellence are awarded each year to recognize

A&M-Commerce Faculty Nominated for Chancellor’s Academy

Dr. Cheri Davis with the Department of Physics

& Astronomy has been nominated for and appointed to the 2019-2020 Texas A&M University System Chancellor’s Academy of Teacher Educators.

Since 2011, the academy has honored teacher

educators from the A&M System universities who significantly contribute to the field of teacher education,

and a calling for many people. I appreciate the privilege of working with students who will become the next generation of teachers.”

highlighting the role of the A&M System in producing

K-12 teachers for the state of Texas.

commemorative medallion and a certificate honoring

“I’m honored to receive this award and very

much appreciate the amazing students who made it possible,” Davis said. “Teaching is an honor in itself 12 | College of Science and Engineering Newsletter

Honorees are awarded a $1,000 stipend, a

their commitment to educating the teachers of tomorrow.

FACU LT Y H I G H L I G H TS

Department of Engineering and Technology Produces Face Shields for Area Medical Centers

The Department of Engineering and Technology

used 3D printers from their makerspace to manufacture 200 face shields for Paris Regional Medical Center as part of an effort to equip healthcare workers with necessary personal protective equipment (PPE) during the COVID-19 pandemic. The face shields were delivered to the hospital on April 23, and on April 28 an additional 200 face shields were delivered to Hunt County Medical Center in Greenville.

Face shields are designed to offer protection

from fluids that may contain the coronavirus. They are commonly worn by healthcare professionals in addition to masks, glasses and other protective gear. The project started when an administrator at Paris Regional Medical Center reached out to Dr. Brent Donham, dean of the College of Science and Engineering, to request help producing at least 200 face shields for their healthcare workers.

According to Dr. Donham, the pandemic created a

severe shortage of PPE across the country, and smaller hospitals, like Paris Regional, find it especially difficult to source critical gear to protect their staff. Faculty from the Department of Engineering and Technology immediately began working to meet the need at Paris Regional.

The college has four 3D printers, which they set

up to manufacture the face shields. To meet the demand, they ordered ten additional Dremel 3D printers which went into production on April 20.

Dr. Perry Moler, assistant professor of

engineering and technology, is leading the project with help from Patrick Carter, distinguished lecturer of electrical engineering, and two student workers.

Together, the team is able to keep 12 printers in production almost 24 hours per day.

The initial goal is to produce about 1,000 face

shields, but that number may increase depending on demand. According to Dr. Moler, each face shield takes about three hours to produce, and at full production, the team is able to produce about 100 masks in 24 hours.

The 3D printing process creates the face

shields from a computer-aided design model. Dr. Moler explained that a spool of plastic is loaded into the machine and then extruded through a heating element at 230 degrees centigrade. The machine successively builds up layers of the plastic in a process called additive manufacturing. Dr. Moler sourced the face shield design from the National Institutes of Health. The face shield consists of a visor with a top vent to prevent fogging and a large plastic shield that extends down over the face. The durable plastic shields can be reused after sanitization.

According to Dr. Donham, A&M-Commerce will

continue to produce face shields for Paris Regional Medical Center and other local and regional healthcare organizations as the need arises. Dr. Moler emphasized that his team can manufacture other types of personal protective equipment as well. “Rapid prototyping and 3D printing these devices allow us to be flexible and to adapt,� he said.

Texas A&M University-Commerce

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COSE Faculty Named Eminent Faculty Scholars

Three faculty members from the College

The purpose of the award is to recognize faculty

of Science and Engineering received the Eminent

members who have established themselves in research,

Faculty Scholar Award at the annual Eminent Faculty

scholarship or service at A&M-Commerce. It is also

Scholars Award Ceremony on February 25 at the

designed to highlight faculty members' significance as

Rayburn Student Center. The Texas Association of

positive role models to students. The honorees were Dr.

Black Personnel in Higher Education (TABPHE) and the

Grady Blount and Dr. Bao-An Li from the Department of

Faculty Senate hosted the ceremony and dinner.

Physics and Astronomy, and Dr. Allan Headley from the

Department of Chemistry.

Students Win Big at 16th Annual Pathways Student Research Symposium

Four students from the College of Science and

In the undergraduate division, Shandi

Engineering came home with top finishes at The Texas

Groezinger, B.S. Physics/Mathematics, placed third in

A&M University System’s 16th Annual TAMUS Pathways

the Math & Physical Sciences: Physics category.

Research Symposium, hosted on the campus of Texas

A&M International University in Laredo, Texas, on November 7-8, 2019.

Students presented their work in either

Dr. Brent Donham, dean of the College of

Science and Engineering, noted, “We are extremely proud of these students. The 2019 award winners and past winners highlight the quality of students and

poster or oral format, with separate divisions for

faculty here in the College of Science and Engineering.”

undergraduate-, masters- and doctoral-level research.

A&M System students—provides the opportunity for

In the graduate division, Madeleine Morris,

The symposium—which is open to all Texas

M.S. Biological Sciences, finished first place in the Life

students to present and discuss their research projects

Sciences: Biomedical Sciences category. For the Math

with faculty, judges and other attendees. Participants

& Physical Sciences: Physics category, second place

also gain broader exposure to the A&M System, forming

went to Mathew Deutsch, M.S. Physics. Third place was

lasting, collaborative relationships for future research.

awarded to Pojun Quan, M.S. Chemistry.

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ST U D ENT H I G H L I G H TS

Physics Students Represent A&M-Commerce at 2020 Dallas ISD STEM Expo

Six members of the Society of Physics Students (SPS)

represented Texas A&M University-Commerce at the 2020 Dallas ISD Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Expo in Dallas on January 18.

A&M-Commerce participants included Shandi Groezinger,

Cristo Sanchez, Allan Teer, Macon Magno, Ian Jimenez and Flint Morgan. The group hosted about 1,600 visitors at their interactive display. The annual STEM Expo encourages school-age children to engage with science, technology, engineering and math as they explore thousands of interactive exhibits. The event is the largest event of its kind in Texas—about 1,900 organizations participated this year. At their booth, A&M-Commerce students featured several interactive physics demonstrations that taught the principles of mechanics, waves and acoustics, electricity, and magnetism. Expo attendees hit tuning forks with mallets to create a variety of pitches, spun around on the angular momentum wheel and watched a resonance plate vibrate at different frequencies to make patterns in the sand.

According to Dr. Bahar Modir, SPS faculty advisor, the SPS

group made a positive impression on Dallas ISD students, piquing their interest in the field of physics as well as the university. “Students, parents and teachers visited our booth and talked to the SPS students to discuss what it means to be a physics major, a STEM major and, more broadly, an A&M-Commerce student,” Modir said. The STEM Expo also provided valuable teaching opportunities for SPS members as they connected with Dallas ISD students over fascinating physics lessons.

“Our SPS students asked the kids a lot of questions to trigger their curiosity about the physics behind the demos and rewarded them with little prizes,” Modir said. SPS member and graduate student Shandi Groezinger added, “Everyone had fun while learning about the physics behind each demonstration. Even though we were told multiple times by kids that what we did was ‘magic,’ they left dazzled by the science from our SPS students!”

Community events, like the Dallas ISD STEM Expo, allow SPS

members to meet new people and establish professional relationships.

SPS member Cristo Sanchez said, “Events such as these are able to open up many new opportunities for future SPS outreach activities.”

Texas A&M University-Commerce

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First Graduates of A&M-Commerce Electrical Engineering Program

A&M-Commerce alums Charlie Didear and

Carter has also played a significant role in

Craig Anderson made history this month as the

the program’s history. After retiring from a 36-year

university’s first two electrical engineering graduates.

career with L3 Communications, now L3Harris,

Carter accepted a position as distinguished lecturer

Dr. Andrea Graham, head of the Department

of Engineering and Technology, and faculty member Patrick Carter recently presented them with commemorative shadow boxes—which Carter made himself—to celebrate their historic significance as the program’s first graduates.

Didear, who transferred to A&M-Commerce

from Paris Junior College, also majored in mathematics with a minor in computer science and graduated with a 4.0 GPA. He recently signed with Bell Helicopter as an avionics system engineer.

Anderson, having previously attended A&M-

Commerce, returned when the electrical engineering program was offered. He chose to finish his degree before testing the job market, but Carter suspects it won’t take long for Anderson to find a great opportunity

with A&M-Commerce to become the program’s first classroom instructor. He says he was hesitant to transition from industry to academia, but now he’s glad he made the switch. “Helping to build this program and teaching these students is an awesome experience on a daily basis,” Carter said. “It’s added years to my life.”

Dr. Brent Donham, dean of the College of

Science and Engineering, says it took nearly two years to get the electrical engineering program approved and implemented. “It’s especially gratifying to see the first graduates of our third engineering program,” Donham said.

“We’re disappointed that we can’t celebrate

their accomplishment at commencement,” Donham added, “but I’m grateful to Dr. Graham and Mr. Carter

as well.

for finding a meaningful way to mark the occasion.”

Carter says both graduates have bright futures

and he’s proud of them for setting a high standard for future electrical engineering students at A&MCommerce.

16 | College of Science and Engineering Newsletter

The electrical engineering program has grown

from five students in 2017, its first year, to more than 90 this year. “We are now the largest of the engineering programs at A&M-Commerce,” said Carter. “Well over

ST U D ENT H I G H L I G H TS a hundred students have been admitted to the program for the fall term.”

The department hopes at least 40-50% of

those admissions will follow through to begin at A&M-Commerce this fall. The program now has two additional faculty members, Dr. Nizer Tayem, and Dr. Redha Radaydeh. Carter says more faculty will be needed if the program continues to grow at its current rate.

According to Dr. Graham, electrical engineering

With its first successful graduates, the

department will seek accreditation from the

is one of the top careers in the engineering field,

Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET in

especially in a region like East Texas, where there are

fall 2020. ABET is a non-profit, non-governmental

several power and manufacturing companies. “The

agency that accredits educational programs in applied

breadth and depth of the electrical engineering major

and natural science, computing, engineering and

provide a significant number of opportunities for

engineering technology. The department’s programs in

graduates,” said Dr. Graham.

construction engineering and industrial engineering are

Dr. Graham continued, “With the success

both ABET accredited.

of electrical engineering and other engineering

ABET accreditation assures that each program

programs we’re considering, the College of Science

meets quality standards of the profession for which

and Engineering at A&M-Commerce is positioned

the program prepares graduates. Once the electrical

to significantly contribute to the university’s future

engineering program is accredited, Didear and

growth.”

Anderson will be retroactively recognized as graduates of an ABET-accredited program.

Engineering and Technology Student Wins Third Place at IISE Conference

Tyce Kissling, a senior industrial engineering student in the Department

of Engineering and Technology at A&M-Commerce, was a third-place winner in the Operations Research Division at the 2019 Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers (IISE) Conference and Expo. Kissling’s project was “Location Allocation of Autonomus Vehicle Stations in Frisco, Texas.” His advisor is Dr. Sojung Kim, assistant professor of engineering and technology at A&MCommerce. The IISE Conference was held May 18-21 in Orlando, Florida.

Texas A&M University-Commerce

www.tamuc.edu/COSE |17

LAUREN SMITH: A STUDENT’S JOURNEY TO BECOMING A PHYSICIAN

Lauren Smith is a self-proclaimed non-

traditional student. The senior biology major at A&M-

Commerce had a prior career as a fire investigator,

she said, “I think if you want something bad enough,

but she returned to school to pursue her dream of

you will always find a way to do it. If you didn't really

becoming a doctor of osteopathy.

want it, you wouldn't do it. I really have to work, and

I have to get good grades. I will not allow myself to

When she opens her future practice, Lauren

plans to focus on holistic medicine, treating the

When asked how she manages everything,

make below a B because I want to be a doctor. I will

human body as a single, interconnected system to achieve whole-body health.

Lauren chose A&M-Commerce for several reasons. “My mom went to school here, and I wanted to go to a good school

be a doctor.” She also relies on

"

Dr. Morrison taught me how to become a better team member and professional - Lauren Smith

that wouldn’t take such a harsh

”

the support and encouragement of her professional network.

“I have built up a base of physicians and people who are excited to see me finish,” she said. “My professional connections are all rooting for

toll on my wallet,” she said. “I also wanted to be close

me, and I couldn’t do this without them.”

to home. “

her inspirations. During her employment in Gonino’s

As a non-traditional student, Lauren’s life

Dr. Gonino, an osteopathic doctor, is one of

is not all “ponies and rainbows,” as she puts it. She

office, she enjoyed establishing connections with

works hard to juggle the responsibilities of home,

patients and helping them improve their overall

school and her full-time job, and she is determined to

health. She also admired Dr. Gonino’s holistic health

succeed, even if it’s not easy.

philosophy. “He provides his patients with education

and healing above anyone that I have seen,” Lauren

Perhaps Lauren is best described as a woman

with grit. Possessing a “firmness of mind or spirit,”

said. “I aspire to be the practitioner he is one day.”

Lauren is dedicated to her goals, and she is willing to

Dr. Melina Morrison, an A&M-Commerce alum,

do whatever it takes to achieve them.

is another important professional connection and

18 | College of Science and Engineering Newsletter

ST U D E N T H I G H L I G H TS

friend to Lauren. Lauren reaffirmed her passion for healthcare when she worked in Morrison’s dental office.

“Dr. Morrison taught me how

to become a better team member and professional during my employment with her,” Lauren said. “I look up to her and the benefits she has provided, not only to her community but the staff within her office.”

As president of the Student

Healthcare and Outreach Society (SHOS) at A&M-Commerce, Lauren also helps her peers find entrylevel jobs, internships or shadowing

friends who are veterinarians; I have friends who are

opportunities so they can gain experience in their chosen

dentists; I have friends who are physicians, and I want to

fields and establish their own professional networks.

connect students to those professionals.”

“I want to connect students with other people

who know what they are doing,” Lauren said. “I have

JOIN LION MENTORSHIP NETWORK Make meaningful connections in your career and your community: • Share advice with current TAMUC students • Make alumni-to-alumni connections • Connect over common interests Contact: Lacey J Henderson, M.B.A. 903-468-2332 Lacey.Henderson@tamuc.edu Director of Career Development Texas A&M University-Commerce

www.tamuc.edu/COSE |19

Computer Science Student Wins IMCS Group Coding Challenge

Texas A&M University-Commerce Computer

Science student Brian Taylor was announced as the first-place winner at the IMCS Group Coding Challenge. The challenge was held on Friday, February 21 at A&M-Commerce. The first-place prize was a $1,000 scholarship. The challenge was to help expose students to real-world problems and cultivate their technical and problem-solving skills. Participants could code in any preferred programming language and the solution could be displayed either as a web or mobile application. Thirty students competed. Taylor is a student in the College of Science and Engineering.

A&M-Commerce Students Compete in Concrete Glider Competition

Students from the Department of Engineering and

Technology at Texas A&M University-Commerce participated in a concrete glider competition in recognition of Engineers Week, also known as EWeek. EWeek (February 16-22, 2020) was founded in 1951 by the National Society of Professional Engineers in order to ensure a diverse and well-educated future engineering workforce by increasing understanding of and interest in engineering and technology careers. With only four days to build, the teams were challenged to make a glider out of concrete able to support itself in flight. The winning team included A&M-Commerce students Chris Papson, Elmer Benitez and Gerardo Hernandez. The students won a Phantom 2 Drone.

20 | College of Science and Engineering Newsletter

ST U D ENT H I G H L I G H TS

"

Like many others I

was a first-generation college student. After I graduate I hope to inspire others by sharing my own story.

CURTIS IVORY Master's in Biological Sciences B.S. Class of 2019

How did you decide to attend A&M-

in the STEM Living and Learning

jobs and participation in seven

Commerce?

Community.

campus organizations. I would use

During my freshman and sophomore

the calendar on my phone to manage

years in high school, I was a

Becoming a leader has been part of your student journey. Why did you

participant in the North East Texas

choose to do that?

make sure that I didn’t miss meetings

Organization of Language Educators

When I first arrived at A&M-

or assignment due dates. Even though

(NETOLE) symposium, which was

Commerce, I wanted to gain

my schedule was hectic, I always

hosted here at A&M-Commerce.

leadership experience because I

made time to study, eat and take care

Participating in NETOLE allows

believe leadership is a great quality.

of myself.

students to demonstrate their

I have always been goal-oriented. I

acquired understanding of foreign

strive for excellence and welcome

culture and foreign language. I was

You completed your bachelor’s from A&M-Commerce. What made you

leadership opportunities. My main

amazed by the atmosphere and

decide to come back for your master’s?

objective is to be a leader who makes

the beauty of the campus, and I

I made some of my best

a difference in the lives of others. I

felt as though I belonged here. As I

undergraduate memories during the

believe that success is not determined

approached high school graduation,

labs, which are a critical component

by how much money you make but by

I was confident that A&M-Commerce

of a STEM degree. During those

the lives you touch.

labs, I was inspired by one particular

How were you able to balance involvement in student organizations,

graduate assistant. I want to light the

work and student life?

in my footsteps and inspire them to

I had a very tough schedule consisting

overcome any obstacles that stand in

of 17 course hours, four part-time

the way of their goals.

was my first and only university choice. I was granted automatic acceptance because I ranked in the top 25 of my graduating class. I was offered a scholarship and a place

important times and deadlines to

path for students who are following

Texas A&M University-Commerce

www.tamuc.edu/COSE |21

SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS Your support today helps build their tomorrow.

1,135

Scholarships were awarded to COSE students in the 19-20 aid year

Alton & Wynell Goddard Endowment Recipient

41%

Dennis Quane Memorial Recipient

of our students are supported by scholarships

Buddie & Debby Barnes Scholarship Associated General Contractors

S U S H M A PA T I L

ARAM KIM

OLIVER LABUDOVIC

Major in Computer Science

Major in Chemistry

Major in Construction Engineering

"I am a graduate student

"As an international student and

majoring in computer science,

a chemistry major, receiving the

and I am honored to be the

Denis Quane Memorial Endowment

recipient of the Alton and Wynell

provides me with the opportunity

Goddard Scholarship award at

to continue my studies at A&M-

A&M-Commerce. I believe in

Commerce. I am currently working

the importance of earning a

on developing a solid foundation in

college degree, and receiving this

chemistry because I want to succeed

scholarship will boost my self-

in my field and become an example

confidence. Not only did I complete

to others, just like my mentors have

a very important task, I also took

been for me here."

steps toward my career goals."

"As an engineering student, everything is definitely a little challenging, but receiving both the Associated General Contractors Scholarship Endowment and the Buddie & Debbie Barnes Scholarship Endowment helped me tremendously. It also motivated me to work even harder in the classroom because they both made me realize that with commitment, consistency and determination, only good opportunities will present themselves as a result."

22 | College of Science and Engineering Newsletter

A LU M NI S U PPO RT

INTERESTED IN DONATING? Thank you for your interest in donating to the College of Science and Engineering at A&M-Commerce! The following funds have been established to aid our students and facilities:

943106-00000

College of Science & Engineering

943317-00000

College of Science & Engineering Dean's Club

943200-00000

Biology Excellence Fund

943206-00000

BIO Pride Excellence Fund

943300-00000

Chemistry Excellence Fund

943301-00000

Computer Science Excellence Fund

944301-00000

Mathematics Excellence Fund

944600-00000

Physics Excellence Fund

944605-00000

Planetarium Excellence Fund

948325-00000

Biomedical Institute for Regenerative Research (BIRR)

948402-00000

Jimmy ‘67 and Sherroll Shirley Makerspace

Additional giving opportunities are available within the college and departments. Please contact Raymond Garvin for more information on establishing a new endowment.

903.468.8182 | 832.919.0744 |

Raymond.Garvin@tamuc.edu

Or donate online at www.bit.ly/COSEgive

Texas A&M University-Commerce

www.tamuc.edu/COSE |23

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