A&M-Texarkana Hosts First Civil Discourse Series Event
Texas A&M University- Texarkana held the University’s first Civil Discourse Series event on Wednesday, April 15th in the Anita and Truman Arnold University Center building on the A&M-Texarkana Campus. The event, designed to strengthen respectful dialogue, civic understanding, and the ability to engage across differences, was titled “Modeling Respect: Leadership in Dialogue.” Texas State Representative Gary VanDeaver gave the keynote address for the forum, which also included a panel discussion. Panelists included Dr. David Orr, Texarkana, Texas City Manager, Kristina Rivas, Director of TAMUT’s EagleLEAD Presidential Leadership Program, and Dr. Daniel Mintun, A&M-Texarkana Assistant Professor of Political Science. This spring, several universities across the A&M System are hosting a series of Civil Discourse Symposiums. Each symposium reflects its campus while advancing a shared A&M System priority: preparing students to navigate disagreement with respect and confidence. Programming includes student-led discussions, conversations with public leaders, and opportunities for students to practice engaging constructively with differing viewpoints. The initiative builds on the A&M System’s commitment to developing leaders of character and extends that tradition into the way students engage in public life.
“We are pleased that the Texas A&M University System allowed Texas A&M University-Texarkana to be one of the first universities to participate in the new Civil Discourse Series,” said A&M-Texarkana President Dr. Ross Alexander. “I would also like to personally thank Representative Van-Deaver for keynoting this important event. His decades of service in the public arena, both in education and as an elected official, allowed him to provide our students with valuable insight.”
