Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi Social Sciences Department

05/05/2026

This week is Public Service Recognition Week. The TAMU-CC Masters of Public Administration Program would like to thank our local public servants for their daily service to our communities and share this opportunity from the South and West Texas ASPA Chapter.

SWT ASPA would like to show our appreciation for public servants by offering a free ASPA membership to an outstanding public servant in our region as part of Public Service Recognition Week. We ask our community to email us nominations for outstanding public servants in South and West Texas (from El Paso to San Antonio, south to Brownsville). Please send these nominations to [email protected] by May 15th. Include the name and position of the public servant you are nominating as well as what makes them outstanding in their field. The nomination email should address the criteria for this award: (1) at least five years of public service, (2) evidence of public service engagement activities.

05/02/2026

On Tuesday, April 28, the Pre-Law Society celebrated the achievements of our future legal professionals at their Annual Banquet. Faculty Advisor Dr. Kearns and Pre-Law Minor Coordinator Dr. Shaw, joined by Dean Amano, addressed the students alongside local attorneys, judges, and community partners. It was an evening of professional mentorship, recognizing the hard work of our students as they prepare for careers in law and public service. We are proud of the growth of this organization and its impact on the Corpus Christi legal community.

04/21/2026

The TAMU-CC MPA program continues its 35th anniversary celebration through this fall with several speaker series. Last night three MPA alumni spoke to current and prospective students about their careers in public administration. We extend our appreciation to our three alumni speakers: Elvia Aguilar (c/o 2017), the Executive Director of Alumni Engagement at TAMU-CC; Ryan Gant (c/o 2021), Health Educator with Fort Bend Health and Human Services; and Doug Matthijetz (c/o 2021), Fire Chief at the City of Copperas Cove. The event was hybrid with some speakers and attendees in Bay Hall and others via Zoom. The event was co-sponsored by the South and West Texas Chapter of the American Society for Public Administration.

If you are interested in exploring an MPA or in attending future speaker series, contact MPA Program Coordinator Dr. Chuck Etheridge ([email protected]).

If you are interested in learning more about the SWT ASPA Chapter, contact SWT ASPA President Dr. Isla Schuchs Carr ([email protected] or [email protected]).

04/02/2026

Last week the Criminal Justice program hosted another successful crime scene event. This is only possible because the CJ program at TAMUCC gets amazing support from our community professionals and from other programs and colleges within the university. All of us benefit from you. Thank you!

04/01/2026

On Monday, March 30th, the MPA program inducted five new members of Pi Alpha Alpha, the Public Administration Honor Society. Pictured are four of the inductees who attended: Kwadwo Amoako-Baah, Enock Kimutai, Spencer McElwee, Paul Vandehey, (Leslie Perez-not pictured), current Pi Alpha Alpha President Ish*ta Pathak, Pi Alpha Alpha Faculty Sponsor Dr. Haroon Khan, MPA Coordinator Dr. Charles Etheridge, and DSOC Chair Dr. Isla Schuchs Carr.

04/01/2026

Missed our Criminal Justice Program's Crime Scene Event last week? Read (and watch) all about it on KIII:

Texas A&M-Corpus Christi students step into staged crime scenes for hands-on training, gaining real-world experience in investigations and teamwork.

04/01/2026

We are hiring!

Job TitleAdministrative Associate IV - Social Sciences Agency Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi Department College Of Liberal Arts Proposed Minimum SalaryCommensurate Job LocationCorpus Christi, Texas Job TypeStaff Job Description TAMU-CC is a dynamic university designated as both a Hispanic...

03/25/2026

Three DSOC faculty members, Drs. Isla Schuchs Carr, Haroon Khan, and Md Shahriar Islam, presented at the annual American Society for Public Administration (ASPA) conference in Hollywood representing the South & West Texas ASPA Chapter. Also pictured is SWT ASPA Vice President Dr. Aziza Zemrani, who served as the panel moderator and discussant. If you live in South or West Texas and work in, study, or teach in a public service profession and are interested in learning more about our SWT ASPA Chapter, contact SWT ASPA Chapter President Dr. Isla Schuchs Carr ([email protected]).

03/10/2026

Under the leadership of Dr. Kevin Kearns, this past weekend (March 6-7) the 2026 Annual Meeting of the Lone Star Conference for the Study of Political Thought was hosted at TAMUCC. This conference brought to TAMUCC scholars from not only Texas, but nationwide. The scholarship presented represented the diversity of intellectual inquiry within the field of Political Theory. The conference included scholars from Princeton University, University of Houston, Arizona State University, Texas Christian University, Southern Methodist University, Stephen F. Austin University, Texas State University, Jacksonville State University, Texas A&M University-International, University of Dallas, and University of Austin.

03/07/2026

DSOC had fun celebrating Islander Homecoming events last week. Moses Mostaghasi (Political Science graduate, with a CJ minor, Class of 2006) was honored as an Outstanding Alumnus at the Alumni Honors Banquet on Friday evening, and the MPA program was featured at the BUS Islander Alumni Toast Event in celebration for its 35th Anniversary.