The Honors College at Texas A&M University-Commerce, a relatively young section of the university, is a prestigious group of carefully selected individuals committed to maintaining high academic standing.
This fall, the program kicks off its third year, adding a new freshman class to the group of over 100 returning students. Happily overseeing it all is Dr. Raymond Green, the dean of the Honors College.
Green, or “Dean Green” as some like to call him, was born and raised in Lynbrook, N.Y. He enjoyed a fairly typical youth, participating in many extracurricular activities such as track, cross country and his high school’s varsity wrestling team. Although his initial occupational goal was to play shortstop for his favorite baseball team, the Yankees, he later had an experience that reshaped his professional ambitions.
During his senior year of high school, Green was given the opportunity to take summer classes at Harvard University.
“Taking the summer classes at Harvard solidified my love of academia,” he said.
After graduating high school and exploring college options, Green decided to attend Drew University in Madison, N.J., because of its smaller size and liberal atmosphere. While enjoying his major of psychology, he managed to juggle two minors in anthropology and French, yet still found time to work on his beloved hobby: ultimate Frisbee.
Green pursued his doctorate degree at Rutgers University, also in N.J., eventually earning his title in social psychology. After graduating from Rutgers, he taught for three years at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, while his wife, Sabrina, pursued her doctorate degree. Although he enjoyed his work, it was during this time Green began seeking other opportunities.
Soon enough, a position caught his eye here at A&M-Commerce. After interviewing with the university, he was offered a position a week later. Green accepted and moved to Commerce. Though it took a bit of adjustment, Green quickly came to love the city, his favorite feature being the university itself.
“I like the fact that when you do your job well it is recognized and rewarded,” he said.
However, he had some trouble adapting to small town life, since Commerce lacks one of his favorite N.Y. staples.
“No bagels,” he said.
Still Green is full of positive comments regarding the job at Commerce.
“To me, I’m doing the dream job, where I get to interact with bright, motivated students day-to-day,” he said. According to Green, that is what college is all about. He hopes over time the Honors College will continue to grow and keep a focus on excellence, and he can see the program, as well as its alumni, being very well-known and respected in the future.
Green said he also hopes the Honors College will work in conjunction with the rest of the university to increase the prestige and stature of what is already a quality school.