1. Opening the Doors in Querétaro, Mexico
What a great day to be a Bobcat. TXST leadership attended the inauguration of our Querétaro campus in partnership with the Elisia Education Hub. This new academic space for more than 1,000 students represents a global vision to strengthen the bridges between international higher education.
2. Congratulations to Soccer SBC Champs
Congratulations to TXST Soccer for taking home the Sun Belt Conference tournament trophy! I am so proud of what they accomplished this season and how well they represented our university. It was fun greeting them when they got back from Alabama and jumping in the river.
3. Jumping In for Third Bowl Game
Congratulations (again) to TXST Football for qualifying for their third straight bowl game, and for winning! We jumped in the San Marcos River in December to celebrate this amazing accomplishment. We beat Rice 41-10 in the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl on January 2.
4. Partnering with CHRISTUS Health
What an exciting opportunity for our St. David’s School of Nursing students. They will now have access to additional nursing education opportunities thanks to our new partnership with CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Hospital-San Marcos, which will strengthen the healthcare workforce across Texas.
5. Honoring 2026 Regents’ Professors
Congratulations to TXST’s own Dr. Oleg Komogortsev and Dr. Susan Morey for being honored as Regents’ Professors by the Texas State University System Board of Regents. This designation is given to outstanding faculty members who have achieved excellence in teaching, research, publication, and community service.
6. Celebrating TXST’s Veterans Day
I enjoyed celebrating another Veterans Day on our campus, which is a very special moment for me every year. TXST has nearly 700 veterans and more than double that in military-connected students. We have also received the Veteran Education Excellence Recognition Award every year since its inception.
7. Congratulating Bobcats
The end of a semester brings another commencement ceremony for our amazing students. I am so proud of everything they accomplished during the time they were here, and now they are stepping into their career fields ready to make a meaningful impact. Congrats, Bobcats!
8. Giving Bobcats Their Rings
One of my favorite days of the semester is our Ring Celebration to celebrate students achieving academic milestones and receiving the most visible symbol of Bobcat Pride: The Official Texas State Ring. It was great to see so many friends and family gathered to watch the ceremony.
9. Partying with Staff and Faculty
Many thanks to all the elves who made our inaugural pancake and chicken and waffle holiday parties for our staff and faculty in San Marcos and Round Rock a huge success. Two ugly sweater contests helped bring a bit of fun spirit to both events. Can’t wait to do it again next year.
10. Touring Esperanza Hall
It was an exciting tour of all the progress happening at Esperanza Hall at TXST Round Rock. Esperanza is Spanish for “hope,” which is appropriate since our alma mater states that the school is the mother of hopes. The best news is that we are on track for the April 17 projected completion date.
BONUS: Watch our Holiday Video featuring VocaLibre
Our Texas State University holiday video was a shining success thanks to VocaLibre in the Texas State Choral Department, who performed a mash-up of our “Alma Mater” and “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” outdoors in the Quad with a backdrop of our holiday light installation.
I hope you and your family had a lovely holiday season and hope you have a wonderful new year!