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Monday, Feb. 26, 2024

Dear University Community,

I trust everyone enjoyed the bright, sunny weather and continuation of the Washington Birthday Celebration festivities this weekend.

  • Last week, we welcomed Congressman Henry Cuellar and Texas A&M University System Chancellor John Sharp to campus as we announced TAMIU’s Center for Countering Human Trafficking. The Center conducts research focused on producing evidence-based curricula to help future educators and healthcare workers likely to encounter human trafficking victims here and beyond.
  • This week, our celebration of Black History Month continues with a lecture by Dr. Asligul Berktay titled “Carnivalizing Slavery: African Diaspora Festival Celebrations and Black History” Monday, Feb. 26, at 3:20 p.m. in Student Center 230. On Wednesday, Feb. 28, Dr. Celine Jacquemin will lead “Reconstructing Identity to Fight Genocide Ideology in Rwanda,” at 3:20 p.m. in AIC Room 128. All lectures are free of charge and open to the public.
  • Congratulations to the TAMIU Alumni Association for being selected for a $250,000 Endowment by the Rio-South Texas Education & Community Development Foundation. The Endowment Award was part of an overall award allocation of $1.3 million to nine initiatives focused on advancing postsecondary education and workforce development.
  • In Rhizome news... A Bead-A-Thon, happening March 1 and 8 from 1 – 3 p.m., will show students how to make ceramic beads used in the Rhizome installation. The Bead-A-Thon is free and open to all TAMIU students. For additional information, contact Emily Bayless, assistant professor of Art, at emily.bayless@tamiu.edu.
  • TAMIU will host its Spring 2024 Graduate School Open House on Thursday, March 7 from 5 – 7 p.m. in the Senator Judith Zaffirini Student Success Center. Prospective graduate students will have a chance to meet with program advisors, faculty, and Graduate School representatives to learn more about the application process. Admission is free and open to the public. Open House attendees can also enter their names for a chance to win a $2,000 scholarship. More information is here.
  • Students, the TELUS App offers you a way to prioritize mental health...in the palm of your hand. It’s available for free download today.
  • Completing and submitting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is now easier. Our series of free FAFSA Drives, “FAFSA For U,” to help students navigate the new application continues through April. Details are here.

Have a great week and Go Dustdevils!

- Pablo Arenaz, Ph.D., President

Rep. Cuellar, Chancellor Sharp Announce New TAMIU Center to Counter Human Trafficking

TAMIU ushered in its new Center to Counter Human Trafficking with two of the Center’s stalwart champions: Congressman Henry Cuellar, Ph.D. (TX-28) who secured the $1 million to develop the human trafficking research program, and Texas A&M University System Chancellor John Sharp.

TAMIU Presents Series of Lectures Honoring Black History Month

A series of events honoring Black History Month will take place at TAMIU this February. Organized in conjunction by students and faculty, the events are free and open to the public.
  • Carnivalizing Slavery: African Diaspora Festive Celebrations and Black History | Monday, Feb. 26, from 3:20 - 4:20 p.m. in Student Center, room 230.
  • Reconstructing Identity to Fight Genocide Ideology in Rwanda | Wednesday, Feb. 28, from 3:20 - 4:20 p.m. in AIC, room 128.

TAMIU Alumni Association Selected for $250,000 Endowment by RSTEF in Support of 'Closer Than Ever' Program

TAMIU's Alumni Association was named a recipient of a $250,000 Program Endowment by the Rio-South Texas Education & Community Development Foundation. The Endowment Award was part of an overall award allocation of $1.3 million to nine initiatives focused on advancing postsecondary education and workforce development.

TAMIU Continues Free 'FAFSA for U' Sessions on New Application

We're hosting a series of free FAFSA Drives to help students navigate the U.S. Education Department’s new Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Our next drive is happening Thursday, Feb. 29 in the Senator Judith Zaffirini Student Success Center Testing Center Lab 201.

Rhizome @ TAMIU

“Rhizome” is a multidisciplinary contemporary art project organized by Artist and Visiting Assistant Professor Crystal Wagner that will be created at TAMIU this Spring 2024. It involves the collaboration between faculty and students in the music, art, dance, theater, and humanities and the community at large.

Several opportunities will be offered for public participation, including Open Build Days.Starting March 2, Open Build Days will be held on Fridays and Saturdays, from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., through March 23. Participants will meet at the TAMIU Center for the Fine and Performing Arts (CFPA) main lobby.

‘Las Castañuelas' Performance Highlights TAMIU's 'Music on the Menu' Feb. 28

Leading the performance of “Las Castañuelas” will be Altagracia Azios García, legendary Laredo dancer and instructor who has long championed the art of Spanish flamenco dance. The performance is free of charge and open to all..

Next IBC Bank & Commerce Bank Keynote Speaker Series at TAMIU Focuses on A.I., Social Life March 6

Artificial Intelligence (A.I.) and its intersection between technology and society will be discussed during the upcoming IBC Bank & Commerce Bank 2023-24 Keynote Speaker Series. Dr. Mona Sloane, assistant professor of Data Science and Media Studies at the University of Virginia, will present a lecture titled "The 'Social' in A.I." on Wednesday, March 6, at 6 p.m. in the Student Center Ballroom. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. 

Graduate School Open House Scheduled for Thursday, March 7

TAMIU will host its Spring 2024 Graduate School Open House on Thursday, March 7 from 5 – 7 p.m. in the Senator Judith Zaffirini Student Success Center. Admission is free and open to the public.

TAMIU Athletics Update

TAMIU is a member of the Lone Star Conference and competes in 11 sports: volleyball, men's and women's basketball, men's and women's cross country, softball, baseball, men's and women's soccer, and men's and women's golf.

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TAMIU News Hub

At Texas A&M International University our faculty, students, and staff know how to Go Beyond. Every day, they lead change, solve problems and advance thinking. Through instruction, faculty and student research and public service, TAMIU improves the quality of life for citizens of Laredo, the border region, the State of Texas, and national and international communities. We proudly share their stories through our weekly news distributions, online News Hub, digital and traditional publications, and our Trailblazer Weekly Bulletin. Share Our Beyond.

View our complete News Hub at https://go.tamiu.edu/newshub.

Small Business Management Program

TAMIU Offers Tax Prep Assistance