Texas State prepares for summer commencement

Posted by University News Service

Aug. 3, 2012

Texas Railroad Commissioner H.S. “Buddy” Garcia will be the keynote speaker at one of three commencement ceremonies to be held at Texas State University-San Marcos on Friday, Aug. 10, in the university’s Strahan Coliseum.

Garcia will speak during the 10 a.m. ceremony, to be attended by degree candidates from the College of Liberal Arts, the College of Science and Engineering and the University College.

Degree candidates from the McCoy College of Business Administration and the College of Applied Arts will attend the 2 p.m. commencement ceremony.

Degree candidates from the colleges of Education, Fine Arts and Communication, and Health Professions should attend the 6 p.m. ceremony.

Texas State President Denise Trauth will deliver remarks at the 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. ceremonies.

More than 1,600 students are candidates for undergraduate and graduate degrees at Texas State this summer.

Garcia was appointed to the Railroad Commission by Gov. Rick Perry last April. He has worked more than 21 consecutive years for the state of Texas. Before becoming Railroad Commissioner, Garcia served as Commissioner at the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality from 2007 until 2012, where he was chairman for two years. Garcia previously served as Texas’ deputy secretary of state and border commerce coordinator. He is a former senior advisor to Gov. Perry and legislative director for State Senator Eddie Lucio, Jr.

Garcia serves on the Border Security Council, the Texas Coastal Land Advisory Board, and the Gulf of Mexico Alliance. Garcia is also an ex officio advisory member for the Texas Water Foundation and serves as co-chair for the Blue Ribbon Resilient Communities effort created by America's Energy Coast, an initiative of the America's WETLAND Foundation.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from Texas State.