Calhoun elected to Southside boards of directors
Southside Bancshares, Inc., the holding company of Southside Bank, on May 15 announced the election of Dr. Kirk A. Calhoun to the company’s board of directors. Dr. Calhoun was also appointed to the bank’s board of directors, effective May 15.
Dr. Calhoun has served a combined 22 years as the president of The University of Texas (UT) at Tyler and The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler (UTHSCT). He plans to retire effective May 31. Calhoun led UT Tyler since the university merged with UTHSCT in 2021. He began his presidency of UTHSCT in 2002, making him the longest serving acting president in the UT System.
Calhoun first began his medical career in Internal Medicine and Nephrology private practice and subsequently pursued his passion in academic medicine. Over his 40-year career in the field, he has held many different roles including Corporate Medical Director of UT Medical Branch at Galveston HealthCare Systems, Senior Vice President of Parkland Hospital, the Associate Dean of Clinical Affairs at the UT Southwestern Medical School, and is subsequently serving as President of UT Tyler and UTHSCT.
Dr. Calhoun serves as chair of the UT Health East Texas Board of Directors, is on the executive committee of Teaching Hospitals of Texas, and is the immediate past chair of the American Association of Medical Colleges Board of Directors. Throughout his many years of service in the medical community, Dr. Calhoun has received numerous awards for his work and leadership in healthcare, public health, higher education, and community service, including the T.B. Butler Citizen of the Year Award and was an inductee to the prestigious Doctor Luke Society in 2021. In 2023, Calhoun was awarded the Chief Executive Leadership Award from The Council for Advancement and Support of Education District IV.
“We are proud to welcome Dr. Calhoun to Southside’s boards,” said Lee R. Gibson, President and Chief Executive Officer of Southside. “He has led UT Tyler and UT Health Science Center through extraordinary change and growth and is well-respected across the state. Dr. Calhoun is a true visionary and I have no doubt he will bring great contributions and depth to Southside’s boards. We look forward to the impact his contributions will have on the Bank, our communities, clients, customers, and shareholders.”
Southside Bank is headquartered in Tyler, Texas, with approximately $8.35 billion in assets as of March 31. Southside currently operates 54 branches, one loan production office, and a network of 73 ATMs/ITMs throughout East Texas, Southeast Texas, and the greater Dallas/Fort Worth, Austin, and Houston areas.
Three TJC professors recognized for teaching excellence
Three Tyler Junior College professors have distinguished themselves as endowed teaching chairs for the 2024-25 academic year.
The TJC Endowed Chair for Teaching Excellence program enables professors to nominate and reward their peers who demonstrate excellence as educators.
This year’s recipients include:
• Dr. Keith Eppich, history/anthropology professor – The Watson W. Wise Foundation Endowed Chair for Teaching Excellence
• Willace Johnson, surveying and geomatics department chair/professor – The Dorothy Fay and Jack White Endowed Chair for Teaching Excellence
• Dr. Deb Kelley, psychology/sociology professor – The Dorothy Fay and Jack White Endowed Chair for Teaching Excellence
Winners were surprised during their respective classes with a fanfare of applause and balloons, followed by presentations of certificates and checks from Dr. Deana Sheppard, TJC provost and vice president for academic and student affairs.
“We congratulate this year’s recipients, Dr. Keith Eppich, Dr. Deb Kelley and Willace Johnson, and thank the TJC Faculty Senate and its selection committee for their focus on identifying and recognizing excellence among our remarkable faculty members,” Sheppard said. “They are truly among some of the finest educators anywhere.”
Endowed teaching chair recipients receive $2,000 for each of two years ($4,000 total), which includes a $1,500 cash stipend and $500 for professional development for each year. The professional development portion may be applied toward a personal professional development plan, including travel, books, conferences and equipment.
Twenty-three full-time TJC professors were nominated by their peers to apply for the award. Of those nominees, 15 professors chose to participate in the intensive application process.
Those nominees were: Eddie Airheart, assistant director of bands/professor of woodwinds; Janet Booth, professor, medical office management; Patricia Coplan, professor/coordinator, paralegal; Gigi Delk, professor, CIS/gaming and simulation development; Brian “BJ” Duplechain, professor/department chair, biology; Dr. Keith Eppich, professor, history/anthropology; Kristi Franks, professor, dance; Dr. Jill Johnson, professor, English; Willace Johnson, professor/department chair, surveying and geomatics; Dr. Deborah Kelley, professor, psychology/sociology; Rachel Miller, professor/department chair, medical laboratory technology; Khristie Prince, professor, education/speech; Silvana Vierkant-Waller, professor, English; Deborah Welch, professor/department chair, business/business management; and Jennifer Wilson, professor, vocational nursing.
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