A GROUNDBREAKING EVENT FOR TEXAS A&M INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY’S HEALTH SCIENCES EDUCATION & RESEARCH CENTER APRIL 5, 2024 • 10 A.M.
The Board of Regents of The Texas A&M University System Bill Mahomes, Chairman Robert L. Albritton, Vice Chairman David C. Baggett John W. Bellinger James R. “Randy” Brooks Jay Graham Michael A. “Mike” Hernández, III Michael J. Plank Sam Torn Elizabeth “Annie” Valicek John Sharp, Chancellor
LEADERSHIP Dr. Pablo Arenaz, President Dr. Claudia E. San Miguel, Provost & Vice President for Academic Affairs Juan J. Castillo, Vice President for Finance & Administration Rosanne Palacios, Vice President for Institutional Advancement Juan Gilberto García, Jr., Vice President for Enrollment Management Rosalinda García, Vice President for Student Engagement
AGENDA Welcome and Introduction of Guests: Dr. Pablo Arenaz, President Remarks: State Senator Judith Zaffirini State Representative Richard Peña Raymond James R. “Randy” Brooks, Regent Texas A&M University System Board of Regents Jenny Jones, Texas A&M University System Vice Chancellor for Governmental Relations Closing Thoughts and Groundbreaking: Dr. Arenaz
JUDITH ZAFFIRINI TEXAS STATE SENATOR, DISTRICT 21 Senator Judith Zaffirini is the first Mexican American woman elected to the Texas Senate in 1986 and in 2023 became the first woman Dean of the Senate in the history of the State of Texas. A native Laredoan and descendant of her hometown’s founder, Don Tomás Sánchez, Senator Zaffirini is a trailblazer who has shattered barriers in her public service and profession. Her work ethic is reflected in her passing a record-breaking 1,388 bills, more than any legislator in Texas history—as well as for maintaining a career-long, perfect voting record, having cast 72,132 consecutive votes as of 2023—a state and national record. An educator and businesswoman, she is an award-winning Communication Specialist, amassing more than 1,200 awards and honors for her legislative, professional, and civic accomplishments, including more than 600 statewide and national communication awards. Her inspiring journey from supporting herself since she was 17 and marrying at 18 to earning B.S., M.A., and Ph.D. degrees from The University of Texas at Austin and breaking barriers in the Texas Legislature reflects her persistence and dedication to excellence. Judith and Carlos Zaffirini, Sr. married for 56 years, have one son, Carlos Jr.; a daughter by marriage, Audrey; and two grandsons, Asher Maxwell (6) and George William (4).
RICHARD PEÑA RAYMOND STATE REPRESENTATIVE, DISTRICT 42 Richard Peña Raymond was born in nearby Alice and raised in Benavides, TX (population 1,900) graduating from the high school there. He got involved in politics as a very young man fighting political corruption in his home county of Duval. Representative Raymond received a B.A. from The University of Texas at Austin, majoring in Government and minoring in History. He later received a J.D. from the University of Texas School of Law. Before being elected to the Texas Legislature, he worked for United States Senators Lloyd Bentsen from Texas and Paul Simon from Illinois. He also worked for Texas Land Commissioner Garry Mauro and Texas Railroad Commissioner Bob Krueger. In 1992,Raymond first ran for and was elected to the Texas House of Representatives, where he would represent a rural South Texas District that included the counties of Duval, Jim Wells, Live Oak, Wilson, Atascosa, McMullen and La Salle. After serving in the Texas House for six years, he then ran for Texas Land Commissioner. Although he received nearly 1.5 million votes as the Democratic Party nominee, he lost to Republican David Dewhurst. Two years later, in January 2001, Mr. Raymond was once again elected to the Texas House of Representatives, this time by the voters of Laredo,TX, and has served in the House since. He now serves as Chairman of the Defense & Veterans’ Affairs Committee while also serving on the State Affairs Committee. Representative Raymond has authored and passed many bills during his career regarding job creation, higher education, transportation, health care and public safety. He also passed bills putting the words “In God We Trust” in the Texas House of Representatives Chamber and on Texas License plates. He is a proud father and lifelong, die-hard Dallas Cowboys and Texas Longhorns fan.
JAMES R. “RANDY” BROOKS, TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY SYSTEM BOARD OF REGENTS Randy Brooks of San Angelo is a Partner in BNB Ventures, which owns and operates FM Fuel & Resources and other entities. He is the former partner in Jack’s Convenience Stores and former COO of Town & Country Food Stores. He is Past Chairman of the Board of the San Angelo Chamber of Commerce and is a former board member of the City of San Angelo Development Corporation. He serves as a Civil Leader for Goodfellow Air Force Base and the U.S. Air Force Air Education and Training Command. He has served in various leadership roles with the San Angelo YMCA, Cornerstone Christian School, and First Presbyterian Church. He was a member of the Texas A&M Corps of Cadets and he also served in the U.S. Army Reserve. He received his Bachelor of Science in Economics degree from Texas A&M University in 1986. Mr. Brooks was appointed to the Board of Regents by Governor Greg Abbott in 2021. He serves as Chairman of the Committee on Buildings and Physical Plant and is a member of the Committee on Audit. He has served as a member of the Committee on Academic and Student Affairs. He serves as Chairman of the Special Committee on the Texas A&M Corps of Cadets. He also serves as a liaison to the Texas A&M University Corps of Cadets and System Military Training Programs and to the 12th Man Foundation. His term expires on February 1, 2027.
ABOUT THE HEALTH SCIENCES EDUCATION & RESEARCH CENTER The state-of-the-art Health Sciences Education and Research Center (HSERC) will be the newest addition to the 300-acre Texas A&M International University. Funded in part through capital construction assistance project funds appropriated by the 87th Legislature, this new construction will help drive continued and relevant program growth and expand impactful teaching, service, and research opportunities. At just under 60,000 square feet, the three-story HSERC will be an interactive clinical building that promotes learning and research within the health sciences, one of our fastestgrowing study areas, through interaction with the public by TAMIU faculty and students. It will be a home for greater clinical/ demonstration appointments for the community through publicfacing communications disorders, kinesiology research, and public health. It will also house two new programs funded in the 88th Legislative Session—Clinical Lab Sciences and the Doctor of Physical Therapy programs. The approximately 27,000 square-foot, two-story addition to the Western Hemispheric Trade Center will consist of office and classroom space, along with instructional and research laboratory spaces to the west of the existing building. This addition will create a public interface by housing business outreach programs, including the Center for the Study of Western Hemispheric Trade, the Texas Center for Economic Development, and the Small Business Development Center. Construction of these projects is scheduled for substantial completion in Fall 2025. The total project budget is $71,200,000.
PROJECT CONTRIBUTORS Architects: Ayers Saint Gross and Alta Architects Contractors: Barlett Cocke
You are here Senator Judith Zaffirini Student Success Center Tennis Complex at TAMIU
To support the programs and students of the College of Nursing and Health Sciences visit https://go.tamiu.edu/CONHSscholarship or open camera, scan now, get more! Join us for Discover TAMIU, a free, fun-filled day for all ages at TAMIU, Saturday, April 6 from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. sponsored by: Celebrate the debut of “Rhizome,” a large-scale, multi-disciplinary art installation Friday, April 12 at 7 p.m. Open camera, scan now, get more Open camera, scan now, get more
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