News Release for Dec. 6, 2011
TSUS CHANCELLOR MCCALL SUL ROSS COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER DEC. 17
Dr. Brian McCall, Chancellor of the Texas State University System, will deliver the address during Sul Ross State University’s fall commencement exercises, Saturday, Dec. 17.
Sul Ross-Alpine Campus ceremonies will be held at 10 a.m. in the Pete P. Gallego Center. Rio Grande College exercises will be held at 7:30 p.m. in the Uvalde High School Auditorium. Sul Ross graduate Stephanie Rinaldi, founder of QuadRin Land and Energy Services, Inc., will deliver the RGC commencement address.
As chancellor of the Texas State University System, McCall heads the oldest and third-largest university system in Texas, comprising eight institutions with more than 77,000 students and 15,000 faculty and staff.
He previously served in the Texas House of Representatives, first elected in 1991 to represent the areas of North Dallas, Frisco, Allen, and Plano. As a representative, he served as chairman of the House Calendars Committee and as a member of the Higher Education Committee. Texas Monthly named McCall one of the "10 Best" legislators of the 2009 session.
McCall wrote and passed one of the largest tax-cut bills in the history of Texas and during his last session secured $5 million in funding for The University of Texas at Dallas' Center for Values and Medicine. Other legislative accomplishments include authoring and passing key bills in the areas of health care, biotechnology, high technology, identity theft, and tax and budget policy.
He was President of Westminster Capital Corporation, an investment firm focused on acquisitions primarily in software and technology. He also serves on the board of View Point Bank and, along with his brother David, operates Snow Hill Farm north of Dallas.
McCall holds a bachelor’s degree from Baylor University, a master’s degree from Southern Methodist University, spent a year as a visiting post-graduate student at Oxford University, and earned a doctor of philosophy degree from University of Texas at Dallas.
He wrote “The Power of the Texas Governor: Connolly to Bush,” published by University of Texas Press, which examines how various governors have overcome the institutional limitations of the office to achieve significant political power.
A long-time civic and community volunteer, McCall is founder and chairman of the board of The Empowerment Project, a non-profit organization which has sent more than $10 million worth of math and science books to disadvantaged schools in the Republic of South Africa, and helped construct a library in Vietnam through the Libraries of Love organization. The Empowerment Project also raised more than $350,000 to provide direct support for the medical needs of children in north Texas.
SUL ROSS REGISTRAR ROBERT CULLINS TO RETIRE DEC. 31
 Registrar Robert Cullins’ first day on the job coincided with the first day of Sul Ross State University’s Fall Semester registration in 1994.
“I didn’t see my office for the first three days I was here,” he recalled. “I went straight to the frying pan (registration in Graves-Pierce).”
Cullins, who will retire Dec. 31 after 17 years at Sul Ross and 38 in higher education, has experienced changes from long-hand to on-line registration during his career.
“The first registration I ever ran, we used yellow-lined writing tablets,” he said. “Later, we had computers with key-punch cards, but we still hand-separated class listings and put them in envelopes.”
Sul Ross students were introduced to on-line registration in 2004 and arena registration was totally eliminated a few years later. Consequently, Cullins’ student-faculty contact has been greatly reduced.
“We’ve come a long way from the long lines,” he said. “Now, I see very few students and faculty.”
A native of Tyler, Cullins came to Sul Ross from Westark Community College, Fort Smith, Ark., where he spent four years as director of Admissions and Records. From 1975-1989, he worked in various positions at Tyler Junior College, including: assistant to the Dean of Admissions; instructor of Education and Drafting Technology; Technology counselor and placement director; director of Institutional Studies and Reports; director of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships; and registrar.
From 1974-75, Cullins was coordinator of the Office of Veteran’s Affairs at Northwestern State University of Louisiana in Natchitoches. Earlier, he worked as a part-time instructor of Industrial Education and was an assistant housing director at Northwestern State.
He attended Tyler Junior College, receiving an associate degree in Drafting Technology in 1968 and an associate’s degree in Criminal Justice in 1977.
Cullins enrolled at Northwestern State, where he received a B.S. (1970) in Industrial Technology and M.Ed. (1974) in Student Personnel Services. He also spent two years in the military service and did post-graduate study at East Texas State University.
Although he once did not consider a position at Snyder because it was too far west, “I have enjoyed Sul Ross. I fell in love with the place 10 minutes after I got here,” he said.
“It has been a unique experience working at a small institution like Sul Ross. You learn more about the operations of an institution and you do more things because of its size.”
Cullins has a number of hobbies, including hunting, fishing and photography, to keep him busy in retirement.
“I miss the fishing out here, but I intend to start making up for it,” he said. “I am looking forward to the dogwoods blooming at the Toledo Bend Reservoir.”
In addition, he is active in the Alpine Lions Club, is a Past Master of the Frontier Masonic Lodge and serves on the board of directors of the West Texas Lions Eye Bank Alliance.
His wife, Melinda, works as a Financial Aid systems specialist in the Office of Enrollment Services. He has two sons, Carlton Rob and Luke Wallace, both Austin residents.
SUL ROSS SLATES HOLIDAY MUSIC PERFORMANCES DEC. 8, 11
Sul Ross State University will host a wind ensemble and concert choir concert Thursday, Dec. 8 and the Alpine Community Band will perform Sunday, Dec. 11. Both events are free and open to the public.
The wind ensemble and concert choir will perform Thursday, Dec. 8, 7:30 p.m. in Marshall Auditorium. Each group will present a variety of holiday favorites. Chris Dobbins will conduct the wind ensemble and Dr. Donald Freed will direct the concert choir.
Dobbins will direct the Alpine Community Band in a 3 p.m. concert Sunday, Dec. 11 in Marshall Auditorium. The band will perform a mix of holiday tunes, including a piece for narrator and band featuring Kendall Craig.
For more information, contact Dobbins, (432) 837-8018 or cdobbins@sulross.edu.
SUL ROSS’ KUENSTLER NAMED TO STATEWIDE RURAL HEALTH, EC. DEV. COUNCIL
In an effort to enhance the quality of life in rural Texas, Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples announced the formation of a nine-member Texas Rural Health and Economic Development Advisory Council. Donna Kuenstler, director/instructor of the Vocational Nursing Education program at Sul Ross State University, was appointed to the council.
The council is tasked with identifying rural policy priorities and reviewing the effectiveness of existing rural programs. The council also is responsible for developing a Rural Policy Plan to be submitted to the Texas Legislature on or before Dec. 1, 2012.
“Rural Texas is a strong partner in creating jobs, advancing technology and improving health care services and careers,” Commissioner Staples said. “While only 12 percent of our population calls the rural areas home, 100 percent of Texans enjoy the benefits that occur in these areas rich in food production and natural resources. Improving rural communities will benefit the state’s overall economy and quality of life.”
According to state law, Texas Lt. Governor David Dewhurst and House Speaker Joe Straus have appointed State Senator Craig Estes and State Representative Chuck Hopson, respectively. “Addressing rural Texas health needs requires strong local leadership and collaboration across multiple stakeholders within rural communities,” said Sen. Craig Estes.
“I am honored to be a part of this advisory council and look forward to working with this group to do what is best for rural Texas,” said Rep. Chuck Hopson.
In addition to Kuenstler, Sen. Estes and Rep. Hopson, the council is comprised of: Polk County Judge John Thompson; Raymondville Mayor Orlando Correa; Uvalde city councilman Jay Carnes; Childress city manager Bryan Tucker; Advocacy and Communications director Don McBeath of the Texas Organization of Rural and Community Hospitals; and Brady Community Development director Kathi Masonheimer.
The council’s Rural Policy Plan will include strategic initiatives for economic and community development; rural health care improvements; and recommendations for the use and allocation of Community Development Block Grant funding, which is used to make improvements in rural communities.
The council will create a Rural Health Task Force from within the council’s membership, which will look for ways to expand and improve access to health care in rural areas, and offer recommendations for legislation and program development or revision.
The first meeting is being planned for January 2012.
38 SUL ROSS STUDENTS NAMED TO “WHO’S WHO”
Thirty-eight Sul Ross State University students - 30 undergraduate and eight graduate - have been selected for the 2010-2011 edition of “Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges.”
The annual publication recognizes those students who have a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher, attend college full-time and have been active in campus and/or community activities where they have displayed evidence of leadership qualities.
Qualified students are selected by a committee of Sul Ross faculty, staff and students appointed by the dean of Student Life for inclusion in the publication.
Students and their hometowns include: (*graduate student)
- ALPINE: Veronica Alvarez*, Babajide Babatunde*, Alberto Calderon, Joshua Cross, Robert Fabian, Tiffany Faulkenberry, Grace Fox, Samantha Johnson, Tomomi Kamata, Kathryn McGuire, Samantha Medina, Kimberly Morrow, Carla Parsons, Annalisa Sandate, Seth Sonnier*
- CANUTILLO: Josette Delgado
- DEVINE: Amie Haass
- ELGIN: Nijuane Winston
- EL PASO: Amber Rodriguez, Mckenna Serwatka*
- FORT STOCKTON: Kristal Ramirez
- HARLINGEN: Rosa Cruz
- HERMLEIGH: Heather Clark*
- MANSFIELD: Jennifer Walden
- MARFA: Jacqueline Gallegos, Zuleyma Hernandez, Desire Williams
- PRESIDIO: Jose Guevara, Maria Terrazas*, Jesus Villa
- SAN ANGELO: Carina Sturgeon*
- SAN ANTONIO: Johnathon Cruz
- SAN ELIZARIO: Diana Jaquez
- SANDERSON: Miriam Nunez
- SUGAR LAND: Benfard Hicks
- UVALDE: Jodi Carnes
- VAN HORN: Adrian Norman
- WIMBERLEY: Juston Weldon
“DEATH AT THE DISCO” DINNER THEATRE DEC.9 AT GRANADA
Theatre of the Big Bend will present its third annual Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre fund raising event this Saturday, Dec. 10 at 7:00 p.m. at Café Oso. Back by popular demand, this year’s theme is “Death at the Disco.”
A fun evening of murder, role playing and a return to the 1970s, guests will have the opportunity to enjoy an evening filled with festive food, music and experience improvisational theatre as a participant. Set at the House of Groove Discotheque, it’s Bitsy Crinkley’s birthday, and you can be her invited guest, participate in her disco dance competition and help solve the murder.
Advanced tickets are on sale now through www.sulross.edu/theatre or by calling the Fine Arts office at 888-722-SRSU (7778). Tickets are $35 each and contributions to the fund raising event are tax deductible.
BFA EXHIBITION BY SUL ROSS STUDENT ANTONIO GONZALEZ OPENS DEC. 12
 A BFA exhibition, “god is dirt,” by Sul Ross State University student Antonio Manuel Castillo Gonzalez, opens Monday, Dec. 12.
These recent works consist of thrown vessels and hand built ceramic pieces that explore the ability of the medium to translate the spiritual nature of artistic experience. They will be on exhibition in the Main Gallery, Francois Fine Arts Building. Gallery hours are 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday. An opening reception will be held Friday, Dec. 16, 6-9 p.m.
Gonzalez’ late youth was spent traveling between San Antonio, Texas and Monterrey, Mexico. The geographical, historical, and cultural differences and similarities of the two cities heavily influenced his awareness of place and identity while nurturing his hunger for discovery and a nascent attraction to the unknown. It is with clay that he is able to synthesize a unique visual language that draws from his familiarity with graffiti design, southwest architecture, and Native American and Pre-Columbian symbolism. By using complex patterns against simple forms, the vessels and relief carvings build an association among the creative processes, the artistic encounter, and the revelatory aspects of self-understanding.
Gonzalez’ work is held in several private collections. For more information, contact Gonzalez at (210) 289-5855 or RabbitJuiceStudio@gmail.com.
Photos: Pottery and ceramic works by Antonio Gonzalez will be on exhibit in the Main Gallery, Francois Fine Arts Building, beginning Monday, Dec. 12. The works are part of Gonzalez’ BFA exhibition.
SUL ROSS REMOVED FROM SACS PROBATION; HAS FULL ACCREDITATION
Sul Ross State University has been removed from probationary status by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).
The SACS decision, effective immediately, means that Sul Ross has full accreditation. Sul Ross was notified in December 2010 that it was placed on probation for not adequately assessing outcomes for its educational programs and demonstrating how the assessments are being used to improve its programs.
“Since that notification, we spent the entire spring and summer working extremely hard to demonstrate that we have effective processes for assessing our educational outcomes,” said Sul Ross President Dr. Ricardo Maestas. “It is very gratifying to see that the collaborative efforts of faculty, staff and administration from all our Sul Ross campuses have been successful.”
SUL ROSS RECEIVES RANCH RODEO SCHOLARSHIP DONATION
 Gary Dunshee (right), representing the Big Bend Ranch Rodeo, presented a $17,750 check to Sul Ross State University President Ricardo Maestas (left) and Rodeo coach Chance Campbell. The funds, raised from this year's Ranch Rodeo, will swell the Big Bend Ranch Rodeo Scholarship fund to over $100,000. Photo by Steve Lang.
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