 Economics and Finance professor Srinivas Nippani and Chemistry professor Ben Jang were both awarded the Regents Professor Award in 2015, given by TAMUS to outstanding faculty who "have made exemplary contributions to their university or agency and to the citizens of Texas".Business Administration professor Edgar J. Manton won the same award during the 2009–10 academic year.Also in 2015, A&M–Commerce's theatre program became newly independent as the Department of Theatre.