A&M Texarkana Officially Dedicates the New James C. Morriss Business, Engineering, and Technology Building
Texas A&M University Texarkana dedicated its newest academic building, the James C.
Morriss Business, Engineering, and Technology Building on October 2, 2026, in front of a large crowd in the Barbara and Howard Glick Family Atrium inside the new facility. Community members, students, faculty, and staff filled the open-air atrium space to capacity and moved onto the second floor where many watched the event from above.
The $45 million academic building has been in use since the beginning of the Fall 2026 semester. The three-story, 50,000 square foot building supports growing demand for programs in business and technology- related fields, houses the RRCU Center for Financial Literacy, numerous laboratories for mechanical engineering and design, classrooms, and the Regent Emerita Judy Kelley Morgan Auditorium, that can be used for lectures, presentations, and other events. The building is home to the University’s College of Engineering and Computing, the James C. Morriss Division of Engineering, the Anita and Truman Arnold College of Business, and the Anita Arnold Division of Business Administration.
Speaking at the event were University President Dr. Ross Alexander, Texas A&M University System Chancellor Glenn Hegar, and several members of the Morriss family, who reflected on the late James C Morriss’ love of East Texas, the field of engineering, and his desire to help grow and train engineering talent locally.
The naming of the building was made possible by a gift from Cynthia Goerke, daughter of the Late James C. Morriss.
The naming of the Division of Engineering was made possible by a gift from Jim and Cindy Morriss, son and daughterin- law of Mr. Morriss. The James C. Morriss Family Foundation funds the annual James C. Morriss High-Achieving Engineering Scholarship. The Scholarship is awarded to one junior and one senior engineering student who excel academically and are leaders outside of the classroom as well.
“It is with a tremendous amount of pride that we officially dedicate the world-class James C.
Morriss Business, Engineering, and Technology Building,” said A&M Texarkana President Dr.
Ross Alexander. “I would like to offer my personal thanks to the Morriss family for their tremendous support of Texas A&M University Texarkana and its students, and for being here today for this special occasion. I would also like to thank Chancellor Hegar and his leadership team for being in attendance this morning. This is an amazing day in the life of our university.”
