New Faculty Join TAMIU This Fall

The Texas A&M International University faculty is growing to keep pace with the University's enrollment increases.

This Fall, 16 new faculty join the University's full-time group of scholars.

New faculty members and their respective Colleges are as follows:

College of Arts and Sciences

Dr. Melvin Charles Smith, visiting assistant professor in European History. Dr. Smith holds both a Ph.D. and an M.A. in History from Auburn University in Auburn, Alabama. His B.A. in History was earned at Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama.

Most recently, he finished a one-year sabbatical replacement appointment as assistant professor of history at the United States Military Academy, West Point. His research interests include studying the British military as a subculture, the transformation of the Victorian military at the turn of the century and "Small Wars" of the late Empire period.

Dr. Daniel C. Bloomingdale, visiting assistant professor of speech and communications. Dr. Bloomingdale holds a Ph.D. in Communication and Rhetorical Processes from Wayne State University. His M.A. in Language and Culture and B.A. in Speech Communication were at the University of Nebraska.

Most recently, he served as visiting assistant professor and interim director of forensics at Lewis and Clark College. His research interests include argument strategies in public controversies.

Dr. Chihiro Oshima, assistant professor of mathematics. Dr. Oshima holds a Ph.D. in Mathematics from the University of Iowa. His M.A. in Mathematics was earned from State University of New York at Buffalo. His M.A. in Science and B.A. in Science were earned at the International Christian University in Tokyo, Japan.

Most recently a teaching assistant at the University of Iowa, Dr. Oshima's research interests include mathematical logic, universal algebra and lattice theory.

Dr. Daniel Joseph Mott, associate professor of zoology and chair of the Department of Biology and Chemistry. Dr. Mott holds a Ph.D. in Zoology from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. His M.S. and B.S. in Zoology were earned from Eastern Illinois University.

Most recently chair of the Department of Biological and Physical Science at Lincoln Land Community College in Springfield, Ill., Dr. Mott's research interest is in spider systematics.

Dr. En-Bing Lin, professor of mathematics and chair of the Department of Math and Physical Sciences. Dr. Lin holds a Ph.D. in Mathematics from Johns Hopkins University and a B.S. in Mathematics from National Taiwan University in Taiwan.

Most recently a professor at the University of Toledo, in Toledo, Ohio, Dr. Lin's research interests include applied mathematics, wavelet analysis and applications, mathematical physics and complex geometry.

Hector Rivera, instructor of computer science. Rivera earned his M.S. in Computer Information Systems from Texas A&M International University. His B.A. in Weather Communication was earned at St. Thomas University in Miami, Fla.

Capt. Rubén Irizary-Guzmán, assistant professor of military science. Capt. Irizary-Guzmán holds an M.S. in Engineering Management from the University of Missouri. His B.S. in Mechanical Engineering was earned at the University of Puerto Rico.

Alma Rosamond Haertlein, visiting assistant professor of studio art. Haertlein holds an M.F.A. from the University of Texas at San Antonio and an M.A. in Agriculture from Sam Houston State University. Her B.F.A. was earned at the University of Nebraska.

Dr. Archibald Laud-Hammond, instructor of political science. Dr. Laud-Hammond holds a Ph.D. in philosophy from the University of Virginia as well as a M.A. in philosophy. He also holds a M.A. in liberal studies, from University of North Carolina at Charlotte, a M.A. in political science from Duquesne University, Pennsylvania, a M.A. in education from Saint Joseph’s University, Pennsylvania, and a M.A. in philosophy from Villanova University, Pennsylvania. He earned his A.B. in political science from Lincoln University, Pennsylvania.

He most recently served as assistant professor at Whitney Young College at Kentucky State University. He has also served on the faculties at Prairie View A&M University and Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte, North Carolina. His research interests include political philosophy, moral philosophy and international law.

College of Business Administration

Dr. Tagi Sagafi-nejad, Killam Professor of International Business, acting chair of the Department of Management, Marketing and International Business and director of the Ph.D. program in International Business. Dr. Sagafi-nejad holds a Ph.D. in International Relations from the University of Pennsylvania. His M.A. in International Relations was also earned at Penn while his B.S. in Economics was received at Pahlavi University of Shiraz, Iran.

Most recently a member of the Seton Hall University faculty, his research interests include transnational corporations, international business strategy and investment policy review. He has also served on the faculties of Loyola College, the University of Texas-Austin and The Wharton School.

Dr. Roderick S. Barclay, assistant professor of Accounting. Dr. Barclay holds a Ph.D. in Accounting from Kent State University. His M.B.A. was earned at the University of Louisville and his B.A. at Golden Gate University.

Most recently a member of the Texas A&M University-Commerce faculty, his research interests include operational accounting, process improvement and change management. He has also served on the faculty of the University of Texas at Dallas, University of Dallas, Paul Quinn College and Cleveland State University.

Dr. Richard C. Hicks, assistant professor of Management Information Systems. Dr. Hicks holds his Ph.D. in MIS from the University of Texas at Austin. His M.B.A. in Finance was earned at Boston University while his B.S. was earned at Troy State University.

Most recently a member of the faculty at Florida Atlantic University, his research interests include artificial intelligence, including a relational intelligence management methodology. He has also served on the faculty at Southern University of New Orleans and the University of Nevada-Las Vegas.

Dr. Nereu Florencio Kock Jr., associate professor of Management Information Systems. Dr. Kock holds his Ph.D. in Management from the University of Waikato, New Zealand. His M.Sc. in Computer Science was earned at the Institute of Aeronautical Technology in São José dos Campos, Brazil and his B.E.E. in Electronics Engineering from the Federal Center of Technological Education at Curitiba, Brazil.

He most recently served on the faculty of Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. and his research interests include electronic communication behavior, e-collaboration and electronic commerce strategies. He has also served on the faculty at Temple University, the Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, New Jersey and the Pontifical Catholic University of Parana in Curitiba, Brazil.

College of Education

Maria Thelma Solis, instructor. Solis holds her M.Ed. from Texas A&M International University and B.S. from Our Lady of the Lake University.

Her research interests include exploring how the new Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) in Mathematics compares to the previous Texas Assessment of Academic Skills (TAAS) Test in Mathematics.

Julissa Liendo, instructor Project RIO. Liendo holds B.I.S., and M.S.Ed. degrees from Texas A&M International University

Cordelia Martinez-Nava, instructor Project RIO. Martinez-Nava holds an M.S.Ed from Texas A&M International University and a B.S. from Southwest Texas State University.

Sue and Radcliffe Killam Library

Jeanette Hatcher, reference/special collections librarian. Hatcher holds her M.L.S. from Texas Women's University. Her M.P.A. was earned at the University of Texas at Austin as was her B.A.

For additional information, please contact the Office of the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at 326.2240 or visit offices in Killam Library 269.

University office hours are from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday-Friday.