COMMERCE, Texas - Twenty-eight Texas A&M University-Commerce graduates have been designated Alumni Ambassadors. The 28 graduates returned to campus recently for the annual Alumni Forum.

The title of Alumni Ambassador is the highest award an academic department can bestow upon a graduate. This honor recognizes career achievements.

At a luncheon in their honor, A&M-Commerce President Keith McFarland congratulated the graduates.

The visits in the academic departments gave the alumni a chance to bring them "the benefit of real-world experience," noted Derryle Peace, director of Alumni Relations. "The alumni ambassadors are the people who go forth and forge new territory for the university."

Mick Trusty, president of the Alumni Association Board of Directors, also welcomed the ambassadors.

Ambassadors honored from the College of Arts and Sciences include the following: Department of Agricultural Science - Russell Graves, who is a 1993 agricultural education graduate of East Texas State University. He currently holds the position as an agricultural science instructor at Childress High School, is an award-winning photographer and writer, and a keynote speaker.

Department of Art - Yan Sun, who is currently an associate professor of art and chair of the art department at Muskingum College in New Concord, Ohio.

Department of Biological and Environmental Services -Helon Blackburn Razniak, who has spent most of her career with East Texas State and A&M-Commerce.

Department of Chemistry - Jim Archer, who was the first person to earn a Ph.D. in nuclear chemistry from Texas A&M University in College Station. From his 37 years as a collegiate educator, he served as a charter faculty member for the startup of two colleges, Austin Community College in 1973 and Northeast Texas Community College in 1985. He now operates a ranch specializing in Shorthorn cattle and guest ranch facilities, for which he was named 2002 Resident Conservationist Farmer.

Department of History - Debra Lynn Gossett, who is a public school teacher at Greenville High School. She teaches advanced placement United States history, Pre-AP world geography, world geography and sociology. In addition, she has received many honors, such as the A&M-Commerce 2003 Outstanding Graduate Student of History Award.

Department of Mathematics - Dr. Anita Griggs Armstrong, who is a professor of mathematics at Dallas Baptist University.

Department of Music - Harry "Key" Poulan, who is the brass arranger for the Santa Clara Vanguard. He has been recognized as one of the country's top arrangers and composers in the area of contemporary marching band music. His original work "Carnegie Fanfare and Dance" and "A Fortune in Steel" was premiered in New York City's Carnegie Hall.

Department of Physics - James Corey Morgan, who is as business unit manager of Fugro-Jason doing seismic inversion and interpretation. He is also the sole proprietor of his own company J-Seis Consulting.

Department of Political Science - Ken Crutchfield, who is currently the director of Human Resources/Equal Employment Opportunity at A&M-Commerce. Before this position, he was the Equal Employment Opportunity Coordinator from 2002 until 2004.

Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice - Darwin D. Shaw, who is a United States probation officer for the Northern District of Texas US Probation Office located in Garland, Texas. He supervises a caseload of federal offenders with various supervision issues, including substance abuse and mental health.

Department of Theatre - Laura Lundgren Smith, who has published several plays and poems. She has acted and directed several plays at A&M-Commerce and Paris Junior College.

College of Business and Technology:

Department of Accounting - Lisa Reeder, who is the manager of subcontracts with responsibility for the communication systems program group and the Navy P-3 program at L-3 Communications. She was twice honored by L-3 Communications and fellow employees with their "Tribute to Excellence" award.

Department of Business Administration and Management Information Systems - Ralph E. Dunton, who is currently in the position of director of Big Safari Special Programs at L-3 Communications ComCept Division in Rockwall. Prior to becoming a director of Special Programs, Dunton was the program manager for the Network Centric Collaborative Targeting Advanced Concept Technical Demonstration effort for two years.

Department of Economics and Finance - Don Grisham, who is currently a self-employed insurance agent at Don Grisham State Farm Insurance in Greenville. He is also a founding member of Omicron Delta Epsilon.

Department of Industrial Engineering and Technology - Jason Hudson, who teaches part time at Mesquite ISD and is an adjunct faculty member at A&M-Commerce. He also serves as the vice president of the Cumby ISD Board of Trustees, and has been nominated for the Sallie Mae New Teacher of the Year at Mesquite, and Who's Who Among High School Teachers. He lives in Cumby.

College of Education and Human Services:

Department of Counseling - Dr. Linda Ball, who has held the position of assistant professor of counseling at A&M-Commerce since 2000. Prior to this position she was the director of the Community Counseling Center on campus. Ball is also a licensed professional counselor and licensed marriage and family therapist in the state of Texas.

Department of Educational Administration - Dr. James P. Terry, who is currently an assistant professor at A&M-Commerce. He has served with distinction as a teacher, principal, director of secondary schools, assistant superintendent, deputy superintendent and superintendent with the Mesquite Independent School District.

Department of Educational Administration - Dr. Stacey L. Edmonson, who is currently an associate professor at Sam Houston State University. Her professional licenses include but are not limited to Provisional Secondary Teaching Certificate: English (Texas), Texas Midmanagement Certificate Life, and Texas Superintendency Certificate. She also has numerous publications, affiliations, memberships, and honors.

Department of Educational Administration - Dr. Marvin Crawford, who is currently employed as an educational consultant. He has served as an adjunct professor at several schools, including two years at A&M-Commerce. He was also the superintendent of schools districts that include Lindale, Grand Prairie, Carthage and Oklahoma City.

Department of Educational Administration - Dr. William "Henry" Scott, who is currently serving in his 45th year in public education, 43 years of those as an employee of the Denison Independent School District currently in the position of superintendent that he has held since 1993.

Department of Elementary Education - Carol Farek, who is employed by Davis Elementary School in Royse City. She teaches sixth grade science and social studies and is a teen leadership teacher. In 2005 she was named Teacher of the Year at Davis Elementary School.

Department of Elementary Education - Since 2002, Dr. Michelle Marie Fazio Brunson has served as an assistant professor at the Northwestern State University. Graduating Summa Cum Laude, she received a bachelor of art in elementary education in 1996 from Louisiana State University-Shreveport and a master of education in gifted and talented education with a GPA of 4.0. Fazio came to A&M-Commerce in 2000 and received a master's in early childhood education along with a doctoral degree, both with a 4.0 grade point average.

Department of Health, Kinesiology and Sports Studies - Chris Gage, director of athletics at University of Texas at Dallas, has filled this position at several other schools such as Colorado State University, University of Texas San Antonio, and Eastern New Mexico University. He made a change in each of their infrastructures.

Department of Health, Kinesiology and Sports Studies -William Tims Edwards retired as a K-12 principal in 2004 from Oden Public Schools. At Oden, he taught science, driver's education and health, scheduled classes, coached senior baseball, and helped prepare the school budget. He has received numerous honors and awards such as U.I.L Coach of the Year Award (1975), Arkansas Game & Fish Commission Educator Award (1992), and Rich Mountain Community College Single Parent Scholarship Committee (2006).

Department of Psychology and Special Education - Dr. David A. Giles, who is a nationally known trial consultant, author, public speaker, and currently serves as the vice president of a nationally known trial consulting firm, The Advocates. He pioneered many of the techniques and applied behavioral science principles being used in trial consulting today. He is affiliated with the American Society of Trial Consultants, Texas Psychological Association, Tarrant County Bar Association, and a host of other groups.

Department of Secondary and Higher Education - Dr. Toni P. Jenkins, who is executive vice president at Collin County Community College District where she has been employed for the past 20 years. She oversees district-wide marketing and public relations, continuing education and workforce development, institutional research. She serves on the Executive Committee of the North Central Texas Workforce Development and is secretary of the board for the Baylor Regional Medical Center of Plano.

Department of Secondary and Higher Education - Jane Ellen Smith, who is a graduate teaching assistant in the math department at A&M-Commerce and working toward her masters in math with expected graduation in 2007. She has taught high school math in several local school districts including Winnsboro and Sulphur Springs. She was listed in Who's Who Among American Teachers in 2004 and 2005.

Department of Secondary and Higher Education - Dr. Hong Yin Sun, who is currently a user support specialist and lecturer of art at Muskingum College, New Concord, Ohio. Her responsibilities include teaching graphic design course and designing web and printed productions for the College. She has authored numerous research articles and publications.

Department of Social Work - Patricia L. Gentry, who is currently the administrator at Leonard Manor, Inc., a long-term care facility. Prior to this position, she was a social worker in long term care at Greenville Health and Rehab. She is affiliated with the National Association of Social Workers and the Texas Health Care Association.

HIGH HONOR - Twenty-eight Texas A&M University-Commerce graduates have been designated Alumni Ambassadors. The 28 graduates returned to campus recently for the annual Alumni Forum. The title of Alumni Ambassador is the highest award an academic department can bestow upon a graduate and the honor recognizes career achievements.

They are (first row, left) Dr. James Terry, William Tims Edwards, Dr. James Archer, Gary Don Grisham, Ken Crutchfield, Russell Graves and Chris Gage. (Second, left) Key Poulan, Ralph Dunton, Lisa Reeder, Laura Smith, and Darwin Shaw. (Third, left) Dr. Hong Yin Sun, Carol Farek, Dr. Linda Ball, and Jane Smith. (Fourth, left) Dr. Stacey Edmonson, Yan Sun, Dr. Toni Jenkins, and Dr. Anita Armstrong. (Fifth, left) James Cory Morgan, Patricia Gentry, and Dr. Marvin Crawford. (Sixth, left) Dr. David Giles and Jason Hudson.  (A&M-Commerce photo/Craig Buck)