Alumni News: 2010 Distinguished Alumni Awards Recipients

Ms. Aurich served as a subject matter expert in intelligent transportation systems technology for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority.  She attended graduate school at George Washington University receiving the Master of Science in Information Systems Technology and the Chief Information Officer certification from the Chief Information Officer’s (CIO) Council of the U.S. General Services Administration. Donna resides in Washington DC  is a Chief Program Manager  with nMomentum, a consulting firm specializing in providing expertise to transit authorities across the United States.  She now manages multiple ITS projects for various transit authorities across the nation while frequently returning to Houston to visit family and friends.

Calvin R. Brown is a graduate of the Department of Airway Science and Technology, Airway Science Management program and the School of Business MBA graduate program. Mr. Brown enlisted in the United States Air Force where he served from July 1987 until 1991, where he was stationed at Lackland AFB in San Antonio, TX; Kessler AFB Biloxi, MS; and Carswell AFB Fort Worth, TX. While in the Air Force, he worked as an Air Traffic Controller. After the Air Force, Mr. Brown enrolled at Texas Southern University (TSU) in January, 1992.While at TSU, he participated in a cooperative education and training program with the Federal Aviation Administration ( FAA)  in the Northwest Mountain Region. As a co-op, he worked at the Seattle Air Route Traffic Control Center in Seattle, WA in alternate semesters until he completed my undergraduate work in Airway Science Management. As a co-op, he gained valuable knowledge of the Air Traffic Control field. After graduating from TSU, Mr. Brown worked as a full performance level air traffic controller in Salt Lake City, UT for 4 years. Since July, 1999, he has worked as a full performance level air traffic control specialist at the Houston Route Traffic Control Center. Mr. Brown is a Member of the National Black Coalition of Federal Aviation Employees (NBCFAE).  Mr. Brown and his wife Kim have been married for 15 years and they are the proud parents of twins, Baileigh and Barron.

Jenna Brown–Ford is a graduate of the Department of Industrial Technology Construction Management program.   She also holds a Master of Architecture degree from the University of Houston in 1997. While in graduate school, she had internships in TSU’s Construction and Planning Department and for Heights Venture Architects. Jenna Ford has spent her professional career in architecture, working with architecture firms in Houston over the course of a decade.  During this time she has served on Texas Southern University’s College of Science and Technology Construction Advisory Committee, she has been a critic on several architectural student review committees for both the University of Houston and Prairie View A&M University. 

In 1997, Jenna joined PGAL, an Architecture and Engineering Firm with 10 regional locations throughout the US and Mexico.  As an architectural designer, Jenna Ford has the responsibility for the production of projects from programming and space planning to design development and construction documentation.  She has worked as project manager and team leader on several projects including, Harris County Civil Courthouse, Harris County Criminal Justice Center, Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas-Houston Branch, Redstone Bank, McCarran International Airport-Terminal 3 (Las Vegas), Texas Department of Transportation Border Safety Inspection Facility-Zaragoza (El Paso), Texas Southern University Spurgeon Gray Hall School of Pharmacy, Rice University Martel College, Metro Administration Office Building, University of Texas Medical Branch Victory Lakes, HISD Lovett Elementary School and many more. Jenna is married to Lloyd Ford and they have two children, Amaia and Lloyd.

Llayron L. Clarkson is a graduate of the Department of Mathematics, receiving both Bachelors and Masters Degrees.  He served in the Armed Forces, where his tour of duty took him to parts of Africa, Italy, France, Germany, and England.  He was honorably discharged in 1945.After receiving the Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees; he was a Shell Merit Fellow at Stanford University and studied in the Academic Year Mathematics Institute at the University of Texas at Austin, where he received his Ph.D. degree in mathematics. Dr. Clarkson taught mathematics at Yates Senior High School and began teaching in the Department of Mathematics at Texas Southern University in 1954.  In spring, 1973, he was Visiting Professor in Mathematics at Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

During his tenure at Texas Southern University, he held several academic administrative positions, including Head of the Department of Mathematics, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, Vice President of Academic Affairs, Executive Vice President, Director of Campus-Wide Academic and Information Systems, and Director of Institutional Research.  He was also named Pierce Professor of Mathematics and Education at Texas Southern University.  He is a member of several professional organizations and has an impressive list of publications.

Dr. Clarkson retired from Texas Southern University in 1994 but continues to serve TSU, the community, the State, and this country lending his expertise wherever he can. During the past several years, he has provided funds to the Texas Southern University Mathematics Department for the L.L. Clarkson Mathematical Research Experience: a Summer Program for Undergraduate Students.

Robert Morgan is a graduate of the Department of Transportation Studies receiving a Master of Science in Transportation. Robert Morgan Jr. is the Maritime Academy Manager at the Port of Houston Authority.  Serving as the principal contact person responsible for coordination of the Port of Houston Partners in Maritime Education which includes but is not limited to Texas Southern University, Texas A&M at Galveston, Houston, Galena Park, Deer Park, La Porte, Pasadena and other area Independent School District’s, Houston Community College and San Jacinto College as well as other maritime industry leaders. The primary focus of the program is to encourage area students to pursue career opportunities in the maritime transportation or affiliated fields including logistics/freight, security and environment.  The program acts as a conduit from public school through college for bringing young people into a broad array of maritime careers and serves to inform area students about and educate them for employment opportunities in the maritime industry.

Previously, Robert served in the U.S. Navy as commander of two Military Sealift Commands in the Republic of Korea and the Republic of Panama.  He is a graduate of the National Defense University and served as a Joint Staff Officer over transportation, logistics and communications for the Middle East, Central America, South America and Eastern Africa countries. He served as a Logistics Officer at the American Embassy in El Salvador, a Port Operations Officer in Guam, and a Communication Security Officer at the American Embassy in Kenya.

A native of Donaldsonville, Louisiana, Robert holds a degree in Accounting from Southern University in Baton Rouge, a degree in Data Processing from Panama Canal College in the Republic of Panama, and a MBA from National University in San Diego, California.  Certified in Transportation and Logistics, Robert teaches at the University of Houston and Texas Southern University.  He is a life member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., serves as the current president of the NDTA – The Association for Global Logistics and Transportation – Houston Chapter and an active member of the Good Hope Missionary Baptist Church.

Dr. Edward Patten was born and raised in Houston, Texas and attended Jack Yates High School.  Dr. Patten then went on to graduate from Texas Southern University where he excelled in his studies.  From there he studied medicine at Baylor College of Medicine and Affiliates.  Dr. Patten’s residency was completed in General Surgery at St. Joseph Hospital.  He is a member in good standing of the Harris County Medical Society, the Texas Medical Association, the American Medical Association and Michael Debakey Internal Cardiovascular Society.  He has also published several papers, such as the “Bullet Embolization to the Pulmonary Artery- A Rare Occurrence” in the Journal of Trauma. Dr. Patten is recognized by a variety of community organizations and educational institutions for his outstanding commitment to medicine.  Currently, he is practicing his profession as a General Surgeon at Riverside General Hospital and was university physician for the Student Health Center at Texas Southern University.

Edward L. Patten, lovingly known as, (Eddie P), joined Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. while attending Texas Southern University.  Over the years his love for his fraternity and his community had proven to be one of the many highlights in his life of service.  He is an International Life Member #226, a Gulf Coast Regional Life Member and served as Chapter President from 1985 to 1986.  His love for Sigma and his dedication to Alpha Beta Sigma Chapter is outstanding, as proven by his many works, community activities and personal contributions. Dr. Patten is married to Mary Patten, D.D.S., and he is the loving father of Erin Lynae, Edward, Jr. and the late Erika Patten.

Derrick Wilson is a native Houstonian born to Gregory Wilson and Carolyn Hailey.  He graduated from Texas Southern University in 2003 and 2010 with his B.S. in Electronic Engineering Technology and M.S. in Management Information Systems.  Derrick is an employee of Texas Southern University, and a member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.  He is married to Tiffany Wilson and the father of SaRon, DeAvion and Derrick II.  Derrick’s goals include becoming a University President and impacting the lives of our youth.

Carla Wyatt received a Bachelor of Science and Masters of Science in Biology from Texas Southern University. In 2007 Carla received her Ph.D. in the Environmental Toxicology also from Texas Southern University.  Carla worked for the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality as an investigator in the air program for several years before being hired as the TreeScape Coordinator for, The Park People, Trees for Houston and Scenic Houston for period of three and a half years. Also for a portion of her time as the TreeScape Coordinator she served as the Tree Advocate for the City of Houston’s Planning and Development Department. After leaving both TreeScape and the City of Houston, Carla was hired as a Professional Development Trainee and Projects Coordinator by the Harris County Public Infrastructure Department. Over the years Carla has served in several capacities at Harris County she is currently a Special Projects Executive for the Harris County Public Infrastructure Department. Carla serves on the Houston Area Urban Forestry Council Board, Scenic Houston Board, Houston Spark Park Program Board, Clean Houston Commission (Keep Houston Beautiful), and many others. Some of her non-professional affiliations are Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc. and Texas Southern University Alumni Association (Life Member).

Dr. Sam Wyllie is a graduate of the Department of Chemistry receiving both the B.S. and M.S. degrees. He received the Ph.D. Degree from the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston. Dr. Wyllie did postdoctoral work at Baylor College of Medicine and served as an Assistant Professor at Baylor College of Medicine from 2001 to 2006 where he successfully competed for grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and The Methodist Hospital Foundation.  During his stay at Baylor he published numerous manuscripts in peer reviewed journals and served as a reviewer for several internationally recognized journals such as Hepatology, British Journal of Haematology, Journal of Leukocyte Biology, Journal of Surgical Research, and the World Journal of Gastroenterology.

  Dr. Wyllie also served as an Editorial Board Member of the World Journal of Gastroenterology and is also the recipient of the Welsh Foundation Scholarship, MBRS scholarship, Toxicology Training Fellowship, American Association for Cancer Research Travel Award, National Research Service Award (NCI), Molecular Surgeon Research Achievement Award (Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery), and the Virginia and Ernest Cockrell, Jr. Award (The Methodist Hospital Research Institute). Dr. Wyllie served as Adjunct Professor in the Chemistry Department at Texas Southern University and currently serves as a Forensic Chemist at the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences (HCIFS).