On Friday, October 27th, Texas State’s annual “Distinguished Alumni Gala” took place in the LBJ Student Center Grand Ballroom. The Alumni Association and Texas State University hold this event to honor the recipients of the prestigious Distinguished Alumni Award which recognizes alumni who have made an impact on the lives of others through their professions, accomplishments, affiliations, and service to society and the university. This award was first presented to Senator Lyndon B. Johnson, who later served as the thirty-sixth President of the United States of America.
One of the honorees at the event was Barbara J. Smith, who in 2001 graduated with an M.A. degree from the Political Science department. Currently the vice president for peace programs at The Carter Center, Barbara oversees more than 70 staff members and the development and implementation of some 30 program initiatives for the nonprofit Carter Center, which former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and his wife, former First Lady Rosalynn Carter, founded in 1982. Smith stays connected to the university and has met with President Damphousse, attended alumni events, and mentored students to help them succeed.
The department was represented at the awards banquet by many current and former faculty members, including Drs. Sherri Mora, Ed Mihalkanin, Paul Kens and Robert Gorman, and Student Development Specialist Melissa Rendon.
The Political Science department also hosted a luncheon in honor of Smith at Palmer’s, attended by several faculty members including Professors Ed Mihalkanin, Franziska Newell, Thomas Doyle, Ben Arnold and Lynn Crossett, as well as eight POSI students. One of those students, Morghan Armenta, remarked that the honoree “generously shared insights into her early career, emphasizing the internships and strategic steps that paved the way for her successful international journey. I strongly recommend all students explore her impactful work, including her role as the director for Afghanistan with the UN Security Council, where she orchestrated the first elections after the defeat of the Taliban in 2004.”
