Island University Fall 2022 Commencement to be held Dec. 10, Dr. Rebecca Palacios ’76 to Give Keynote Address

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi will hold its Fall 2022 Commencement Ceremony on Saturday, Dec. 10, at the American Bank Center in downtown Corpus Christi. Two ceremonies on Dec. 10 will honor graduates from the Island University’s six academic colleges. Ceremony times are as follows:

10 a.m.

• College of Education and Human Development
• College of Liberal Arts
• College of Science

2 p.m.

• College of Business
• College of Engineering
• College of Nursing and Health Sciences

This year’s commencement speaker is Dr. Rebecca A. Palacios ’76, who earned a Master of Science in Curriculum and Instruction with an emphasis in Early Childhood when the university was called Corpus Christi State University. Palacios went on to earn a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction from The University of Texas in 1996. She taught in Corpus Christi Independent School District for three decades and worked with preschool and early elementary students.

Palacios says her keynote address will focus on practical skills that graduates likely learned as children.

“I am so honored and excited to have been invited to address fall 2022 graduates at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi,” Palacios said. “On a momentous day for the graduates and their family and friends, I hope to share my congratulations on their hard work and dedication and wish them well through their careers, and indeed their lives.”

Palacios became the first Latina to be inducted into the National Teachers Hall of Fame and has been a senior curriculum advisor and a member of the curriculum board for Age of Learning since 2009. As an internationally renowned expert in early childhood education, Palacios has worked on strategic curriculum planning along with the design of age-appropriate learning activities for ABCmouse.com. She is also a founding member of the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. Over the years, she has given more than 300 presentations on teacher professionalism development, dual language programs, and early childhood education.

“For this keynote address opportunity, I hope to make it short, impactful, and memorable,” Palacios said. “I plan to use a puzzle as a metaphor for this microcosm of learning.”

The ceremony will also include six Outstanding Islander Graduates who have been selected by the TAMU-CC Office of the Provost for their individual achievements. They include:

• Samantha De La Cruz – College of Education and Human Development
• Alyssa Hinojosa – College of Nursing and Health Sciences
• Kimberly Lopez – College of Engineering
• Alana Mangan – College of Science
• Jeffrey West – College of Business
• William Whitworth – College of Liberal Arts

The ceremony is free and open to the public and does not require tickets for entrance. Seating for guests is available on a first-come, first-serve basis and arena doors will open one hour prior to each ceremony.

For those who are unable to attend, both ceremonies will be livestreamed at tamucc.edu. For more information, visit www.tamucc.edu/commencement/.