2025 Warrior News

Texas A&M University–Central Texas has opened a new Finance Lab, integrating real-time market data, industry-standard software, and collaborative workspaces to prepare students for careers in finance, banking, and financial technology (fintech).
The Finance Lab features Telemet Finance Lab software, TekVok and Mersive technology, and a real-time financial ticker, allowing students to engage with live and historical market data in a hands-on learning environment.

Dr. Mienie Roberts, is an Associate Professor of Mathematics at Texas A&M University-Central Texas.
She watches them hesitate. It happens every semester, in every class, with every group of students. The blank stares, the shifting glances, the reluctance to even pick up a pencil. The moment of paralysis before the attempt.
“Most students don’t fail because they’re bad at math,” says Professor Mienie Roberts. “They fail because they’re too scared to even try.”
And so, she waits...

Dr. Michael Dailey, Regents Professor and Chair for the Department of Social Work at Texas A&M University–Central Texas, has published a new book focusing on social work in rural areas.
Released earlier this month, Back Home: Opportunities and Challenges of Social Work with Rural Communities, was published by Oxford University Press and is a collection of readings by leading authors in the field of rural social work. Daley authored six of the chapters and served as co-editor of the book, along with Dr. Peggy Pittman-Munke of Murray State University.

Texas A&M University-Central Texas will continue its Volunteer Tax Assistance Initiative in 2025, offering free tax preparation services to eligible community members. The program will provide tax assistance on Fridays from Feb. 21 to Mar. 13 between 12:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m., and from 4-7 p.m. on April 4 and 11. Additional sessions will be held on Saturdays March 29 and April 5 from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. All appointments will be held in Founders Hall, Room 313, on the A&M–Central Texas campus.
Under the leadership of Dr. Ran Li, Assistant Professor of Accounting, the program ensures high-quality service from IRS-certified student volunteers trained at basic, intermediate, and advanced levels.

The College of Business Administration at Texas A&M University–Central Texas has been ranked No. 54 in the nation for online, undergraduate business programs by the U.S. News & World Report. This marks the second straight year A&M–Central Texas online programs have made a significant jump in the national rankings.
The jump in rankings vaults A&M–Central Texas into the top five schools in the state of Texas. The university is tied for fourth in the state.
From 2023 to 2024, the program vaulted upward in the rankings, moving from No. 98 to No. 59 — a nearly unprecedented jump according to Mark White, U.S. News & World Report vice president of marketing. The upward trajectory is continuing with the 2025 jump to No. 54, a 10% improvement in the rankings.

Dr. Angie Griffin, Assistant Professor of Aviation Science at Texas A&M University-Central Texas, will headline the university’s Faculty Spotlight Series with a presentation on Wednesday, Feb. 5. This free, public event will take place in Bernie Beck Lecture Hall at Founders Hall from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Dr. Griffin’s presentation, “Resilience and High-Performing Female Aviators,” delves into the journeys of women aviators, highlighting their perseverance, achievements, and rise in a traditionally male-dominated field. Complimentary refreshments will be available.
“It’s not what you know, it’s who you know.”
That saying has been passed around so much it’s practically a career mantra — and for good reason. In today’s fast-paced, hyperconnected world, the value of a solid professional network can’t be overstated. Whether you’re looking to climb the ladder in your field or take a leap into something totally new, the people you meet along the way can be just as game changing as the skills you pick up. If you’re considering grad school, this is where it gets exciting...
Killeen resident, Vicki Lynn Cosper Wilson, 59, has always loved music. But she never could have predicted how that love would bless her in her time of need. She knows she leads a charmed life. Three sisters, all close. A harmonious and happy childhood. Three amazing sons. Career. Travel.
One glance at her, and it is obvious: large, piercing azure blue eyes, fiercely chiseled cheekbones, alabaster skin, and an unrelenting smile that suggests she might be somehow lit from within.
These days, she admits, she is more frail than she might normally be, perhaps a bit less muscular, but persistent and strong.
Master’s degree holders earn nearly 20% more annually than their counterparts with bachelor’s degrees, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. In response to the increasing demand for higher education, Texas A&M University–Central Texas is expanding its graduate programs to provide students with enhanced knowledge, personal growth opportunities, and accelerated career success.
Students now have access to a growing variety of graduate degrees designed to meet the evolving needs of today’s workforce. Many of these programs feature fully online or hybrid courses to accommodate the demanding schedules of working professionals..
Thursday marked the official start of the Spring 2025 long semester at Texas A&M University–Central Texas. Faculty and staff gathered for convocation in the Bill Yowell Conference Center on campus to celebrate excellence, learn about connections, and hear from students.
Richard M. Rhodes, Ph.D., president of A&M–Central Texas, officially welcomed those in attendance and started things off with a celebration as staff excellence awards were announced, recognizing staff members who have gone above and beyond through the course of their daily duties.
When contemplating a graduate degree, many of us picture two things: the prestige of extra letters after our name (hello, Dr. or M.A.) and the student loans lurking like Voldemort in a Harry Potter sequel. But is the journey up this academic mountain worth it? Let’s crunch the numbers, sprinkle in some real talk, and figure out if the return on investment (ROI) of grad school is more “winning the lottery” or “broke and boujee.”
Texas A&M University–Central Texas will officially kick off the Spring 2025 term with Convocation on Thursday, Jan. 16, with special guest speaker Kimberly S. Dickman, Ed.D. Faculty and staff will gather for the bi-annual start of term at 9 a.m. in the Bill Yowell Conference Center on campus.
Dr. Dickman is a legacy alum of A&M–Central Texas, graduating from the University of Central Texas in 1998. She currently serves as an assistant professor in the biology department at the United States Air Force Academy Center for Character and Leadership Development, where she leads the Healthy Relationship Education branch of the Development Division.
Texas A&M University-Central Texas invites students to celebrate the start of the spring semester with a Welcome Back Breakfast at the University Library. This event will take place during the first week of classes, from Jan. 21-23 between 9 a.m.- 11 a.m.
Attendees can enjoy a variety of breakfast foods while reconnecting with the campus community or starting new connections for the semester ahead. Food will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Texas A&M University–Central Texas invites students, alumni, and community members to its Spring 2025 Internship and Career Fair, an event designed to connect attendees with potential employers and career opportunities. The fair will be held on Wednesday, Mar. 26 from 10 a.m.- 2 p.m. at the Bill Yowell Conference Center.

Texas A&M University-Central Texas invites students, faculty, and staff to participate in its group fitness classes, designed to promote health, wellness, and a sense of community. These classes, held in the Fitness Center Studio in Heritage Hall, encourage participants of all fitness levels to explore various workout styles under the guidance of experienced instructors closer to the event date.

Texas A&M University–Central Texas invites students to the Spring 2025 Career Readiness Conference, a half-day event designed to prepare attendees for professional success. Hosted by the Career and Professional Development Office, this event will take place on Wednesday, Feb. 19 from 9 a.m.- 12 p.m. at the Bernie Beck Lecture Hall in Founders Hall. A virtual attendance option will also be available, with details to be announced closer to the event date.

Above: Dr. Laura Greenlee, an A&M-Central Texas professor working remotely from North Carolina, and Ashley Haisler, a student in the counseling and psychology program, and donated materials for hurricane victoms.
In the last month of the Fall 2024 semester, when most students are focused on studying for final exams, completing assignments, or just wrapping up the last few tasks before their winter break, the last thing on their minds is taking on another project.
Maybe in some places. In fact, maybe in a lot of places. But, for the undergraduate and graduate students in A&M-Central Texas’ Counseling and Psychology department, neither the impending end of semester pileup nor the calendar mattered. What did matter, they say, is that a hurricane had wreaked havoc on communities in North Carolina, families were still in crisis, and they had made up their minds that they wanted to help.
Spearheading the effort was graduate student Ashley Haisler, who approached the student organizations in the department with her plan.
Beloved people, exciting scholars, and community events were all part of our most-read news stories of 2024, focusing on A&M-Central Texas' past, its present, and its exciting transition to the future.