To all our Bearkat graduates, we celebrate you with pride and admiration. Your years at Sam Houston State University have been filled with challenges met, goals achieved, and memories made. Through hard work, late nights, determination, and the support of those around you, you’ve reached a significant milestone—one that marks both an ending and an exciting new beginning.

As you step forward into new careers, further studies, and fresh opportunities, remember the values that have shaped your journey here: perseverance, integrity, and a commitment to making a positive impact. You carry the spirit of SHSU with you wherever you go, and we have no doubt you’ll continue to represent the university with excellence.

Take a moment to celebrate your accomplishments, honor the people who helped you along the way, and look ahead with confidence. The future is wide open—and you are ready for it.

Keys of Excellence is an award ceremony hosted by the Orange Keys, the most prestigious student program at Sam Houston State University (SHSU). The Orange Keys are chosen as the official university ambassadors and host events for the Office of the President, the Board of Regents, Academic Affairs, and many other departments at SHSU. These students live out the university motto, “A measure of a life is its service”.

The Orange Keys wanted to give back to faculty and staff who have helped them succeed and reach their full potential as students. The purpose of the Keys of Excellence Award is to recognize and honor faculty and staff who have positively impacted the lives of Orange Keys. This annual ceremony was created by the Orange Keys to give thanks and honor those who have made a difference.

Keys of Excellence Winner

Jeffrey Gardner, with the Department of Sociology, is pictured with SHSU President, Dr. Alisa White, and the student who nominated him, D'Juan Fontenot.

Keys of Excellence Nominee

Douglas Contance, with the Department of Sociology, is pictured with SHSU President, Dr. Alisa White, and the student who nominated him, Pcharles Obaseki.

Keys of Excellence Nominee

Tara Clover, with the Department of Psychology and Philosophy, is pictured with SHSU President, Dr. Alisa White, and the student who nominated her, Omari Sandifer.

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.

"Johnny Pham and Kiana Nelson are SHSU English and Education double majors graduating this December. Both of these class of '26 students have been actively training within a school atmosphere this year and are ready to take on their first teaching year in The Woodlands/Cy Fair and Huntsville areas. As the Coordinator of the English Department's double majors and being an ELAR 8-12 teacher who graduated from SHSU myself, I am excited to see the love for teaching Secondary English alive and thriving in a time when public education needs it most. Being Johnny and Kiana's Methods teacher this fall has been such a joy, and I wish them all the best as they begin their teaching careers."

- Kelly Jordan, English Lecturer

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.

Shots in the Dark offers cutting-edge scholarship across different subfields in World War II history, revealing new insights into how this crucial conflict was planned, experienced, and fought. Twelve chapters demonstrate the broad scope of wartime innovation and how the war functioned as a global turning point, driving change at all levels of human society, from government institutions to individual identities.

A leading journal in its field for more than three quarters of a century, the Bulletin spans the social, cultural, and scientific aspects of the history of medicine worldwide. Every issue includes reviews of recent books on medical history. Bulletin of the History of Medicine is the official publication of the American Association for the History of Medicine (AAHM) and the Johns Hopkins Institute of the History of Medicine.

Get Published, Get Noticed!

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

Fall submissions are due January 31, 2026

Spring submissions are due May 24, 2026

Need a little something extra on your resume?

CHSS is now accepting applications to become an ambassador!

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

Reminder to complete your general application for scholarship opportunities. The priority deadline has passed, but the application is still open for scholarships that have yet to be awarded.

Don't forget to submit your FAFSA!

Colleges and career schools use the FAFSA form to determine how much financial aid you're eligible to receive, which could include grants, scholarships, work-study funds, and loans.

December 2025

CHSS wishes you a safe and wonderful winter break!

January 2026

Welcome back, Bearkats! We wish you the best of luck in the spring semester.

The university is closed during federal holidays.

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

Tiffany Hubrig - Marketing and Communications Coordinator

This email is being sent to CHSS Faculty, Staff and Students

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