Exhibition on Display: Sept. 9–Dec. 14, 2025 Tues.–Fri. 9 a.m.–8 p.m.; Sat.–Sun. Noon–6 p.m. Since 1989 when the Runyon family donated a fantastic collection of 19th and 20th century art and decorative art, the Forsyth Galleries has set about amassing a fantastic collection that we enjoy sharing with the community. Those who love and appreciate the collection have, in turn, donated or loaned a significant number of items including paperweights, Asian art, early American pewter, American Brilliant Cut Crystal, 19th century quilts, small furniture items, as well as additional paintings, works on paper and art glass. This exhibition celebrates their generosity and, we hope, will inspire others to share their treasures with the University. THANK YOU! To inquire about donating works of late 19th and early 20th art or to make a contribution to the Forsyth Galleries, contact Assistant Director and Curator Elizabeth Appleby at eappleby@tamu.edu (mailto:eappleby@tamu.edu).

Registration and completion of the personality measure are needed three business days prior to the workshop. Register at tx.ag/UHSworkshops (http://tx.ag/UHSworkshops).

Counselor Connect offers Texas A&M University students an opportunity to familiarize themselves with the counseling process and resources within University Health Services. Students can pick from various activities to participate in while interacting with counselors, creating an informal and laid-back environment. During these 15-minute sessions, students learn strategies for self-care that can improve any area in their lives! Counselor Connect aims to reduce the stigma around mental health and create a safe space on campus for connection. Although this is NOT an individual counseling session, it is an opportunity to engage with a mental health professional and discuss strategies for self-care to give students the tools to achieve their academic goals. By attending a Counselor Connect event, students acknowledge that University Health Services cannot guarantee the confidentiality of the conversations that occur during each event.

Fair attendees will have access to services and experiences such as:
Free vision exams
 Blood pressure screenings and wound care education provided by student-led groups
 A limited edition, health-themed sticker designed specifically for this event
 A special appearance by Reveille, Texas A&M's First Lady

 View full event details at uhs.tamu.edu/prevention/health-fair.html (https://uhs.tamu.edu/prevention/health-fair.html).

Join R. Ethan Braden, Vice President and Chief Marketing and Communications Officer, for an inside look at how Texas A&M is elevating its reputation and impact on the national stage through disciplined brand building. Based on the principles of his signature Keynote presentation, Building a Brand That Matters, discover how the university is translating its core values into bold storytelling, innovative partnerships, and creative expressions that make Texas A&M impossible to overlook. Learn how staff across campus play a vital role in shaping the Aggie story, from the everyday choices we make to the way we share our work with the world. This session will connect you to the vision behind our brand, highlight recent successes, and offer practical ways you can help Texas A&M be recognized not just as the best in the nation, but the best for it.This will be aone-hour presentation before the USC Meeting. The series can be attended in person at the General Services Complex in Room 101A or via Zoom. For nearly two decades, R. Ethan Braden has built brands and teams that people love and trust. Today, he serves as Vice President and Chief Marketing and Communications Officer at Texas A&M University, where he and his team are shaping the national narrative around one of America's most storied and consequential institutions. Ethan leads the effort to position, promote, and protect the largest land-grant university in the nation, elevating Texas A&M's reputation, relevance, and reach. Prior to Texas A&M, Ethan served as Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer at Purdue University and Purdue Global, where he helped transform Purdue into a nationally recognized marketing powerhouse. Under his leadership, Purdue earned three Fast Company "Brands That Matter" honors and was named #1 in education on Fast Company's 2023 Most Innovative Companies list, the only university included. A sought-after speaker and thought leader, Ethan has spoken at Salesforce's Dreamforce and Connections, Adweek's Brand Week, Google Marketing Live, and keynoted Content Marketing World, where he was named B2C Content Marketer of the Year (2023). He was also named "Marketer of the Year" in higher education by the American Marketing Association (2020), and his work has been featured in Ad Age, The Washington Post, Morning Brew, and NPR, which dubbed him "the top dog in higher ed marketing." Before entering higher education, Ethan spent nearly a decade at Eli Lilly and Company, leading global marketing efforts for billion-dollar brands including Cymbalta and Jardiance. He holds a BA from Willamette University, an MBA from the University of Notre Dame, and lives in College Station, Texas, with his wife and three children.

Staff are encouraged to attend the next University Staff Council (USC) meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 21, at 2:30 p.m. (immediately following the Common Grounds Series) in person at the General Services Complex in Room 101 or via Zoom. The vision of the USC is to help staff feel supported, included and valued at Texas A&M University, where we live the Aggie Core Values of respect, excellence, leadership, loyalty, integrity and selfless service. Come to the meeting and let your voice be heard or learn more about what the USC is doing for you. You may access full meeting minutes from previous meetings on the USC website.

With their concert entitled "PEACE," the multi-Grammy® and Emmy Award®-winning SOWETO GOSPEL CHOIR returns to North America to perform a joyful program of South African freedom songs, traditional spirituals and some classics. The inspirational concert will also feature the spirited music of Aretha Franklin, Harry Belafonte, Leonard Cohen and more! Formed in 2002, the Choir was created to celebrate the unique power of African gospel music and quickly established itself as a group that is "undeniably synchronized, appears unshakable, and simultaneously expresses universality and individuality" (San Francisco Classical Voice). Heralded by Nelson Mandela, Desmond Tutu, and Oprah Winfrey, SOWETO GOSPEL CHOIR excites audiences worldwide, uplifting the soul and spreading joy through its earthy rhythms, rich harmonies, brilliant costumes, and infectious spirit. It's perfect for the entire family! Visit Soweto Gospel Choir - Peace (https://www.opastickets.org/soweto-gospel-choir-peace/) for more information about this program. Order tickets now at the Box Office. To see all of the shows coming to OPAS Season 53, visit our full schedule page (https://www.opastickets.org/2025-2026-full-schedule/).