College of Humanities and Social Sciences

Volume 3, Issue 1 - January 2026

Your Involvement Strengthens Our College’s Legacy—Thank You for Staying Engaged

Welcome to the latest edition of our semiannual alumni newsletter—your window into the newest stories, standout events, and inspiring achievements from the College of Humanities and Social Sciences!

We’re here to help you stay connected to the dynamic community you helped build. In this issue, you’ll discover uplifting success stories from our faculty and students, along with meaningful ways to stay involved and make an impact.

We also invite you to share your own news and milestones so this newsletter can continue to reflect the diverse experiences and accomplishments of our alumni family. Your journey with CHSS extends far beyond graduation, and your continued engagement strengthens our mission every day.

Wall of Honor 2026

Established by the CHSS Alumni Advisory Board in 2011 to acknowledge faculty and alumni who have distinguished themselves in their careers through personal and professional achievements and who have made significant contributions, thus bringing honor and distinction to our university.

The College of Humanities and Social Sciences is pleased to announce the 2026 Wall of Honor Recipients:

Distinguished Alum

Herbert H. O'Quinn

Distinguished Faculty

Donald V. Coers

Mike Yawn

The official ceremony for the Wall of Honor will be held on Friday, February 13, 2026, from 6 pm to 8 pm at the Katy and E. Don Walker Sr. Education Center. 

Dr. Marcus Boccaccini Awarded TSUS Regents' Award

CHSS is proud to celebrate Dr. Marcus Boccaccini, professor of psychology, who has been honored with the 2025 Regents’ Professor Award—one of the highest distinctions granted by the Texas State University System (TSUS) Board of Regents.

This prestigious award recognizes professors who demonstrate a sustained record of excellence in teaching, research or scholarly activity, and service at the local, state, and national levels.

Dr. Boccaccini will be formally recognized at the TSUS Board of Regents meeting in November, where he will be celebrated for his outstanding contributions and dedication to academic leadership.

Please join us in congratulating Dr. Boccaccini on this well-deserved honor! His accomplishments exemplify the highest ideals of Sam Houston State University and serve as a powerful reminder of the transformative role educators play in shaping the future.

Tiffany Thomas - Distinguished Alumni

Six Sam Houston State University alumni were recognized at the 52nd Annual Distinguished Alumni Gala for their significant contributions to their professions, communities, and alma mater. Awardees will be recognized as the 2025 recipients of the Distinguished Alumni, Outstanding Young Alumni, and Alumni Service awards during the highly anticipated annual gala.

As chair of the Housing and Affordability Committee, Tiffany D. Thomas (’03) is the first woman to represent District F on the Houston City Council. A lifelong advocate for equity and opportunity, Council Member Thomas champions policies that expand affordable housing, strengthen infrastructure, and improve the quality of life for residents in one of Houston’s most economically and racially diverse districts.

Thomas, a proud Communication Studies alumna, returned to campus to meet with our department, and we were honored to speak with her. Her leadership, insight, and commitment to community empowerment continue to inspire our students and faculty alike.

2025 National Book Foundation Internship

"Having this opportunity confirmed what I already hoped to be true: I am meant to be in the literary space, and I am meant to be a creative writer."

- Lakyndra Bridges

2024 CHSS Annual Award Winners

Pictured left to right: Dean Chien-pin Li, Dr. Michael Demson, Dr. Jeffrey Gardner, Dr. Zachary Doleshal, Dena Horne, and Dr. Tracy Bilsing.

Not pictured: Jerin Milam

CHSS Excellence in Teaching Tenure/Tenure Track

Dr. Jeffrey Gardner - Sociology

CHSS Excellence in Teaching Non-Tenure Track

Dena Horne - Communication Studies

CHSS Excellence in Scholarly & Creative Accomplishments

Dr. Michael Demson - English

CHSS Excellence in Service

Dr. Tracy Bilsing - English

CHSS Excellence in Community Service

Dr. Zachary Doleshal - History

CHSS Excellence in Staff Performance

Jerin Milam - English

Sociology Lecturer, Haitrieu Nguyen, presents at TEDxSHSU

During the pandemic, Haitrieu Nguyen realized she had the emotional regulation of a four-year-old — a moment that reignited lifelong grief from her upbringing as the daughter of immigrant parents. Instead of defeat, she developed the FLO method — Feelings, Listening, Options — and used the Mood Meter to navigate emotions intentionally. In this talk, she shows that emotional regulation is a skill anyone can learn, turning personal struggle into resilience, fostering connection, and creating communities that don't just survive, but truly thrive.

Haitrieu Nguyen is a sociology lecturer at Sam Houston State University and a certified Mental Health First Aid trainer. A first-generation Vietnamese American, she leads workshops that equip communities with tools for resilience and emotional growth. Drawing on research and personal experience, Nguyen inspires audiences to develop emotional intelligence, navigate challenges, and transform struggle into strength. Through teaching and public speaking, she empowers individuals to foster wellbeing and deepen connections in communities.

TRP Huntsville Series Book Release Party

TRP: The University Press of Sam Houston State University recently hosted its first annual Huntsville Series Book Release Party, celebrating local history and scholarship. The event featured author and SHSU Professor Emeritus Dr. Carolina Crimm from the Department of History.

Faculty, students, alumni, and community members gathered to connect, network, and show their support for local authors. The Huntsville History Series highlights the rich history of Huntsville, with additional volumes planned for future publication.

11th Annual National Book Awards Festival

If you missed the live event on October 7th, don’t worry! Watch as National Book Award-honored authors Laird Hunt, Erin Entrada Kelly, and Octavio Quintanilla discuss the porous boundaries of genre, history, and place, moderated by francine j. harris. The festival was a huge success, and you can still catch all the literary magic on replay. 

Do you know a student who could benefit from having their research published?

Get Published, Get Noticed!

The Measure is the CHSS undergraduate research journal that invites students to share the innovative and insightful scholarly papers and posters they've worked on this academic year. 

Fall submissions are due January 31, 2026

Spring submissions are due May 24, 2026

Do you know a student who wants to be a leader on campus?

This is a great opportunity for students to represent the college at university events and network with leaders across campus and the community.

If you have any events, stories, successes, announcements, or news about students, faculty, staff, or alumni please send it over!

We want our Bearkat Community to celebrate with you!

CHSS Newsletter Team

Tiffany Hubrig - Marketing and Communications Coordinator