TSUS Regent, Texas State Alumna Nicki Harle to address fall 2021 commencement

Veronica R. "Nicki" Harle, a member of the Texas State University System Board of Regents and a 1971 graduate of Texas State University, will be the keynote speaker at one of six commencement ceremonies to be held at Texas State on Dec. 10-11 in the University Events Center.

Harle will speak during the 6 p.m. ceremony Dec. 10, to be attended by degree candidates from the College of Fine Arts and Communication, College of Health Professions and Graduate College.

Degree candidates from the College of Education, University College and Graduate College will attend the 10 a.m. commencement ceremony Dec. 10.

Degree candidates from the College of Applied Arts and Graduate College will attend the 2 p.m. commencement ceremony Dec. 10.

Degree candidates from the McCoy College of Business Administration and Graduate College will attend the 10 a.m. commencement ceremony Dec. 11.

Degree candidates from the College of Science and Engineering and Graduate College will attend the 2 p.m. commencement ceremony Dec. 11.

Degree candidates from the College of Liberal Arts and Graduate College will attend the 6 p.m. commencement ceremony Dec. 11.

More than 2,900 students are candidates for undergraduate and graduate degrees at Texas State this fall.

The Sights and Sounds of Christmas festival will be ongoing Dec. 10-11, and the Jingle Bell Run will be held the morning of Dec. 11. Commencement attendees should allow extra time for traffic congestion and parking delays. Parking information for all commencement attendees is available at

Harle earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in speech with a minor in journalism in 1971 from Texas State. During her time as a student, she served as president of Associated Students (now known as Student Government). Following graduation, she was director of Alumni Affairs at Texas State. She maintained ties to her alma mater as a Past President and Lifetime Member of the Alumni Association and as a former member of the advisory council for the College of Fine Arts and Communication. She received the Alumni Achievement Award in 2008 in recognition of personal and professional achievements. In 2019, she was appointed to the TSUS board of regents by Gov. Greg Abbott.

Harle is co-founder of Texas Midwest Community Network (TMCN) for which she served 20 years as executive director. TMCN is the premier regional organization in Texas providing resources, training and networking opportunities related to community and economic development for local leaders in more than 50 small cities in West Texas. For her work in the region, she was awarded the Regional Service Award by West Central Texas Council of Governments.

Prior to launching TMCN, Harle helped establish the first veterinary clinic in Callahan County with her husband, Dr. Robert P. Harle. She then pursued her own business, training young students in dance and performance. This led to a teaching position at Cisco College followed by a position as host/producer for local affairs talk show on KRBC-TV in Abilene. Along the way, she published the West Texas Travel Guide to promote amenities in rural communities. Her commitment and passion to help rural communities continued after retiring from TMCN when she started “Moving Rural Forward!” a leadership training initiative in rural counties.

For more information, visit www.txstate.edu/commencement/.