Note: This article was originally published Feb. 12 on the Texas A&M University RELLIS website, as a Faculty Focus article. The author, Dr. Dimitrios Koutmos, based at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, teaches and conducts research on the RELLIS Campus. He is an assistant professor of finance with research specializations in asset pricing, banking, blockchain technologies, data analytics, derivatives and risk management.

A love of exotic coffee flavors led a Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi alumna to launch an online coffee company despite the challenges of starting a business during a pandemic.

The Antonio E. Garcia Arts & Education Center, a Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi affiliate, has launched a new era with a new director who has spent much of her career as an Island University employee and alumna serving the needs of the facility and, by extension, the community it serves. Garcia Director Esmeralda Herrera-Teran ‘11, '16 began her duties on Dec. 14. Herrera-Teran succeeds Juan Sebastian Garzon ’12, ’13, who served as Garcia Center Director for three years.

Thanks in part to its strong emphasis on community outreach, the Master’s Program in Counseling at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi received the 2020 Outstanding Master’s Counselor Education Program Award from The Southern Association of Counselor Education and Supervision (SACES). The awards were announced on Nov. 16, 2020.

1,027 Islanders walked the stage at the American Bank Center in downtown Corpus Christi during the Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi Fall 2019 Commencement ceremonies on Saturday, Dec. 14. This largest graduating fall class in the University’s history joins the ranks of nearly 50,000 Islander alumni.

Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi’s Project GRAD is working to defy and debunk the myths and stigmas associated with mental health and minorities.

As a founding member of the People’s Poetry Festival, Thomas Murphy, Professional Assistant Professor in the Department of English at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, has helped the event grow from six panels of poetry with two open mics over two days to nine panels over the course of three days in the short span of six years. This year, Murphy will serve as Poet Laureate of Corpus Christi for 2021-2022, replacing poet Juan Manual Pérez, who served as the 2019-2020 Poet Laureate.

Cinthia Cavazos ’19 has always had a passion for traveling. To realize her dream, Cavazos earned a Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) certificate. According to Dr. Stephen Doolan, Associate Professor of English and TESOL coordinator, there were 36 students enrolled in the TESOL program in 2013, but by spring 2014, enrollments rose to 53 students and now approximately 55-60 students—60% of whom are not English majors—have enrolled in either the basic TESOL Certificate, which requires 12 credits, or the Advanced TESOL Certificate, which launched in fall 2019 and requires 16 credits.

Students and faculty from Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi’s College of Nursing and Health Sciences recently joined the first team of volunteers at the Regional Mega COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic in Robstown, Texas.

Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi welcomes Dr. Hassan Aziz as Dean of the College of Nursing and Health Sciences. Dr. Aziz will join the Island University on Tuesday, June 1, 2021.

The Coastal Bend of Texas is uniquely linked to the Gulf of Mexico. A lot of the history of this unique coastal community has gone untold. “The Gulf” is a new podcast and oral history project that shares these stories about people and nature along the Texas Gulf Coast.

Under the parched landscape of one of the most arid regions in the world, researchers from Texas A&M-Corpus Christi will use geophysical technology to locate a new fresh groundwater source for an Egyptian Bedouin community.

Data showing rapidly increasing COVID-19 infections at the approach of the holiday season has members of a special joint task force and the Nueces County Medical Society particularly concerned.

Researchers at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi are urging everyone to remain vigilant and continue to wear face coverings, maintain social distance, and avoid large indoor gatherings as the number of COVID-19 cases rises across some parts of Texas.

The Lone Star Unmanned Aircraft System Center of Excellence and Innovation at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi played a key role in a recent test that will help NASA work to integrate drones into everyday use in the future, both for cargo and passenger transportation.

Flights conducted over Easter weekend were centralized in downtown Corpus Christi along Cole Park and Water’s Edge Park along with various locations on North Padre and Mustang Island, areas that were closed to vehicular traffic to deter large social gatherings.

Note: This article was originally published Feb. 12 on the Texas A&M University RELLIS website, as a Faculty Focus article. The author, Dr. Dimitrios Koutmos, based at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, teaches and conducts research on the RELLIS Campus. He is an assistant professor of finance with research specializations in asset pricing, banking, blockchain technologies, data analytics, derivatives and risk management.

The Lone Star Unmanned Aircraft System Center of Excellence and Innovation at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi played a key role in a recent test that will help NASA work to integrate drones into everyday use in the future, both for cargo and passenger transportation.

Following an unprecedented winter storm, Islander students, alumni, and fans alike joined together on Feb. 27, to celebrate Islander Homecoming 2021 during the annual Kleberg Classic at Whataburger Field.

TAMU-CC and Del Mar College, partners dedicated to enhancing educational access and opportunity for students throughout the Coastal Bend, are proud to share a $650,000 grant.

The Spirit of Homecoming continues next week, Feb. 27.

The Islander tradition continues! Show your blue and green pride as students, faculty, staff, alumni, and the public celebrate Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi’s Homecoming 2021, held Feb. 14-20.