Record-Breaking TAMU-CC Summer Commencement; Dana Sisk ’01, Rally President and CEO, to give Commencement Speech

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi will hold its Summer 2023 Commencement Ceremony on Saturday, Aug. 12, at the American Bank Center in downtown Corpus Christi. The ceremony will begin at 10 a.m. and will honor graduates from the Island University’s six academic colleges. The ceremony is breaking records with 740 students earning their degrees, making it the largest summer class in the university’s 76-year history.

The commencement speaker is Dana Sisk ’01, who earned a Master of Accountancy from Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. Sisk is President and CEO of Rally, the largest credit union in South Texas. She also is the co-owner of She Leads Consulting and has held numerous positions in the financial services and banking industries for over 25 years. Sisk is a member of the National Islander Alumni Association board of directors and was the 2023 Outstanding Alumni Award honoree at the Homecoming Honors Banquet. Her husband and daughters are also Island University alumni.

In delivering her speech, Sisk hopes to bring the graduates fun stories and practical tips for scoring quick wins in their new careers or advanced studies.

“I am honored by the invitation to speak to Islander graduates and to be part of their celebration,” Sisk said. “At the same time, I feel a deep obligation to make sure that my remarks offer the graduates something memorable and inspiring as a footnote to this special occasion.”

Her message will be one of optimism and hope through life’s unexpected challenges and opportunities. 

“I want Islander graduates to know that plans and goals are important, but so are flexibility and resilience,” Sisk said. “A strong combination of persistence and adaptability will take these students places they can’t even imagine today.”

This ceremony will also highlight Outstanding Islander Graduates who have been selected by the TAMU-CC Office of the Provost for their individual achievements. These graduates include:

• Kristin Gutierrez ’23 – College of Liberal Arts
• Amado Lazo ’23 – College of Engineering
• Eliza Mills ’23 – College of Science
• Sydney Sandoval ’23 – College of Nursing and Health Sciences

This ceremony is free and open to the public and does not require tickets upon entrance. Seating for guests is available on a first-come, first-served basis, and arena doors will open one hour prior to the ceremony.

For those who are unable to attend, the ceremony will be live-streamed at tamucc.edu. For more information, visit tamucc.edu/commencement.