The Pride Online -Spring 2004

Page 5

Former student Alphonso Jackson picked to head Department of HUD

To head the federal housing agency, President George W. Bush recently turned to Alphonso Jackson, a man who is both a longtime expert in the field and a friend.

He also is a former student at A&MCommerce, having chosen to come here in 1966, in part because of the track team. He was one of the first African- Americans to do so [“Close to Home,” spring ’02 Pride].

In making his selection, Bush said that Alphonso, the No. 2 for the past three years at the Department of Housing and Urban Development , “knows the issues facing HUD and knows how to get things done.”

Alphonso succeeds Mel Martinez,

Alphonso Jackson speaking at the White House in the Roosevelt Room after President George W. Bush announced he was nominating the former A&M - Commerce student to become the 13th Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.

who resigned to run for a U.S. Senate seat from Florida.

Alphonso and Bush are old friends from Texas, and Alphonso often accompanies Bush for rounds of golf in Washington.

“I used to drop by for an occasional cup of coffee, sometimes unannounced,” Bush said of their days living in the same neighborhood in Dallas.

The president referred to Alphonso’s roots as the youngest of 12 children, “a housing challenge unto itself,” Bush noted with a laugh.

The primary reason Alphonso came to school at A&M Commerce was because his father was suffering through the end stages of cancer. Alphonso had a full track scholarship elsewhere, but the school’s location was distant, and he was determined to be near his family. In looking for a college closer to home, he heard that A&M Commerce had a stellar track coach, Delmer Brown, and Alphonso made his way here.

He said he still remembers the kindness of his ET teammates and coaches who helped him see his father every weekend. His father passed away that spring, and Alphonso then transferred to Truman State University, where he earned his degree. He earned his law degree from Washington University.

Alphonso said the sacrifices his parents made for him made him all the happier to accept the new assignment.

“Along with education, my mother and my father instilled in me early the importance of giving back,” he said. “Today I have been blessed with an opportunity to give back in a way I could never have imagined.

”Alphonso is now chief of a $32 billion agency charged with helping to provide affordable housing and promoting community and economic development. Before being confirmed unanimously in 2001 by the Senate to be HUD’s deputy secretary, Alphonso was Texas president of American Electric Power in Columbus, Ohio. Previously, the Dallas native served as chief executive officer of the Dallas Housing Authority from 1988 to 1996.

A&M-C secures important accreditation

When the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools reaffirmed its accreditation of the University, President Keith McFarland said A&M - Commerce had achieved its top priority for 2003. Accreditation was an intense, twoyear process to determine how well the University is educating students, conducting research, and serving the region and state. “Without the SACS accreditation, students would have trouble getting federal financial aid and transferring courses from another institution to A&M-Commerce,” Dr. McFarland said. The accreditation is for a 10-year period concluding in 2013. A&M-Commerce has been accredited by SACS since 1925. While colleges within the University and several academic programs have their own accrediting bodies, SACS is the accrediting body for the entire institution.

New VP for Business & Administration hired

A Texas A&M University administrator is the new vice president for Business and Administration at A&M-Commerce. Terry Pankratz, assistant vice president for Student Affairs at A&M in College Station, started work at A&M-Commerce in March. In his post in Student Affairs, he developed and led the strategic planning, budget review and resource allocation process for an $80 million budget, which is comparable to the budget for all of A&M-Commerce. In addition to his work with financial matters at A&M,

Terry Pankratz
Pankratz

Pankratz had supervision responsibilities for special event facilities, student health services, and university art collections and exhibitions. A Certified Public Accountant, Pankratz earned a bachelor of business administration degree in accounting from A&M in 1987. President McFarland thanked comptroller Rex Giddens (BBA ’73, MBA ’76), for his work as interim vice president.

KETR broadcasting NPR programming

We are so pleased to be bringing National Public Radio back to KETR and the Northeast Texas area,” said Vicki Holloway (BS ’89), KETR station manager. The new programming includes “The Parents Journal,” “Fresh Air Weekends,” “Car Talk” with Click and Clack, “World of Opera,” “SymphonyCast” and “Fresh Air Weekend.” In addition to the new programming, KETR is also bringing back its membership program that allows listeners to become members of public radio at KETR.

MBA to be offered in Beijing

A&M-Commerce is taking its master of business administration program to Beijing, China. The program is an extension of an existing partnership between A&M-Commerce and China University of Geosciences-Beijing. Since 2001, A&M-Commerce has offered classes in Beijing and encouraged students there to pursue an MBA or other graduate degree in Commerce. Known internationally in the geology field, CUGB also has established partnerships with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the University of California-Berkley. “An American graduate degree is significant in China,” said Dr. Hal Langford, dean of the College of Business and Technology. He added, however, that “since 9-11, it has become increasingly difficult for students to come into the country.”

University forges wildlife conservation agreement

Wildlife conservation in northeast Texas took a step forward with a partnership between A&M-Commerce and The Nature Conservancy of Texas. The partnership will focus on the 86-acre Cowleech Prairie Preserve located south of Greenville, Texas. Owned by the Nature Conservancy, the Cowleech preserve is a globally imperiled prairie wetland located within a meander of the Cowleech Fork of the Sabine River, and it has never been plowed. A&M-Commerce faculty and students in the new Wildlife and Conservation Science program will conduct studies at the preserve, an opportunity President McFarland called “phenomenal.” Plans also call developing public outreach activities for teachers, students, and area residents who could visit the habitat.

North Texas Alumni invite all to cowgirl up

Members of the North Texas Alumni Chapter of the A&M-Commerce Alumni Association are inviting Alumni to the Cowgirl Hall of Fame in Forth Worth.

There the chapter will convene for a social on Tuesday, April 27, from 5 to 6 p.m. as the cowgirl museum presents its “Faces of Texas” exhibit.

“This is a great opportunity to tour the museum, renew old friendships and become acquainted with the North Texas Chapter of the Texas A&M - Commerce Alumni Association,” said chapter member Kimberley Garrett Redditt (BS ‘91). “Everyone is welcome to attend, so bring your family and enjoy.”

Tommy Swiderski (BS ‘77), chapter president, and Brian Peterson (BS ‘70, MBA ‘71) from Buyers Voice Real Estate are picking up the cost of the tickets. Catered meals will be available for those wishing to purchase one.

If you wish to attend or have any questions about the North Texas Alumni Chapter, you can contact Tommy at tommys@fidelisbuyersvoice.com or 817-938-6305.

The North Texas Chapter includes Alumni of Tarrant and surrounding counties. For more information on their next meeting, visit the Alumni Association Web site at www.tamu-commerce.edu/alumni/ and look for the link to the chapter site.