Founders’ Day and Honors Recognition Convocation

Dear PVAMU Students, Faculty, and University Community,

As we gather to celebrate Prairie View A&M University’s Founder’s Day and Honors Recognition Convocation, we reflect on our rich history, enduring legacy, and the extraordinary achievements of our students—the scholars, leaders, and innovators who embody the spirit of PVAMU.

Today, we honor the academic excellence, dedication, and perseverance of our students who have distinguished themselves through outstanding scholarship, leadership, and service. Your hard work and commitment to success uphold the legacy of our founders, who envisioned PVAMU as a beacon of opportunity and excellence in higher education.

To our honor students, you represent the very best of PVAMU—your passion for learning, intellectual curiosity, and unwavering determination set the standard for achievement. Your success is a testament to your resilience and a reflection of the support from faculty, staff, families, and mentors who have guided you along this journey.

As we celebrate this moment, let us also reaffirm our shared commitment to academic excellence, innovation, and community impact. PVAMU continues to be a place where potential is realized, dreams are nurtured, and futures are transformed.

On behalf of the Office of the Provost, I extend my heartfelt congratulations to each of you for your remarkable accomplishments. May you continue to strive for excellence, uplift those around you, and leave a lasting impact on this university and beyond.

With Panther Pride,
Aashir Nasim

On November 5, 2024, the citizens of Fort Bend County re-elected Eric Fagan as their 45th Sheriff, reaffirming their trust in his leadership and vision. Upon first taking office in January 2021, Sheriff Fagan assembled an award-winning Command Staff bringing more than 200 years of collective, honorable law enforcement experience to Fort Bend County. Together, they have implemented policies and procedures that champion equity and inclusion, reflecting the rich tapestry of one of America’s most diverse counties.

Sheriff Fagan stands on a record of proven leadership, demonstrated through significant accomplishments during his first term. Since taking office, the Sheriff’s Office Grants Team has secured more than $17.8 million in funding, the highest amount in the agency’s history, to acquire critical safety equipment and strengthen public safety operations.

To combat crime in Fort Bend County, the Sheriff’s Office has collaborated with the District Attorney’s Office, County Attorney, and multiple law enforcement partners to execute numerous arrests, rescue victims, and dismantle more than 30 human trafficking operations. Enhanced narcotics enforcement efforts led to major seizures, including more than five pill presses, over one million pills, and multiple grams of fentanyl and methamphetamine. The amount of fentanyl confiscated by the Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Unit alone was enough to claim the lives of every resident in Missouri City, Rosenberg, and Richmond combined. In partnership with the U.S. Marshal’s Office, deputies have arrested violent felony defendants and gang members while removing a significant number of illegal weapons and ammunition from Fort Bend County streets.

Sheriff Fagan has also established and strengthened several critical initiatives, including the creation of the Juvenile Justice Advisory Council, Police Reform Transition Team, Gang Task Force, Crime Reduction Unit, Citizen Review Panel, and Human Trafficking Task Force. He founded the Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Foundation to deepen community partnerships and support the mission of the Sheriff’s Office. Under his collaborative leadership style, the agency has earned consistent recognition from local media as a regional leader in law enforcement. His leadership also earned him an appointment to the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) program, where he served as Chair in 2024.

In 2023, under Sheriff Fagan’s direction, construction began on the Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office Regional Training Facility, which will include the county’s first dedicated firearms training center, an investment in preparedness and professional excellence.

Sheriff Fagan earned a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice, graduating first in his class, and a Master of Science in Juvenile Forensic Psychology, both from Prairie View A&M University. Known for building mutual trust, listening thoughtfully, and finding common ground, Sheriff Fagan believes deeply in principled leadership. As he states, “The Sheriff’s Office should stand for justice. My beliefs, education, and work experience have taught me that justice must be blind. Race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, or political affiliation should never factor into a sheriff’s decisions or actions. I am here to serve and protect all residents of Fort Bend County.”