By Robin Nelson ‘22, Texas A&M University Corps of Cadets - June 10th, 2025
Get to know some of the Hollingsworth Center for Ethical Leadership’s upper level SOMS leadership course instructors and the ways that they’re impacting students across Texas A&M’s campus.
As the oldest, largest and most recognizable student organization on Texas A&M’s campus, the Corps of Cadets has prepared young leaders to serve our communities, our state and our nation for generations. Though the Corps experience is historically rooted in its military-based structure, service in the military after graduation is completely optional to cadets. In fact, around 60% of all graduating cadets annually pursue careers in the public, private and nonprofit sectors.
For members of the Corps not pursuing a military commission, known as Drill & Ceremonies (D&C) cadets, the Hollingsworth Center for Ethical Leadership (HCEL) offers upper-level courses designed to set them up for success in their future careers. These courses, which are listed under the School of Military Sciences (SOMS), cover a variety of topics -- to include peer leadership, organizational leadership and executive leadership -- and foster environments where cadets and other students at Texas A&M are encouraged to be and able to grow as passionate, considerate and knowledgeable leaders.
“Our courses are aligned with the Corps’ mission statement to help develop well-educated leaders of character who are prepared for the global leadership challenges of the future. We follow the Corps' leadership development model by helping students develop themselves, others, teams and, eventually, organizations,” said Dr. Dave Keller, Director of the Hollingsworth Center.
By offering these courses to all students at Texas A&M, the Hollingsworth Center is sharing the Corps’ leadership development model across campus. Students who partake in HCEL SOMS courses graduate from Texas A&M prepared to excel in the public, private, non-profit and military sectors. In fact, Keller says those who get involved with the HCEL are hired at a higher rate than the national average.
“In the end, we are helping our students — from just about every major on campus — to be highly attractive to potential employers at graduation. Our graduates come out of college far more prepared to excel in both civilian and military job markets than the average college graduate,” Keller continued.
SOMS courses are taught by instructors who represent a wide range of educational, professional and personal backgrounds, giving cadets the opportunity to hear from individuals with a variety of experiences and leadership styles. In the spring 2025 semester, the 928 students enrolled in the Hollingsworth Center’s SOMS courses were taught by five full-time HCEL staff instructors and 27 adjunct instructors.
Of these instructors, thirty percent hold doctorate degrees in leadership or a related field. Many Hollingsworth SOMS instructors also have prior military experience in addition to their extensive experience in the corporate or private sectors. In the spring 2025 semester, HCEL SOMS instructors included a former Congressional staffer, a former firefighter, former police officers, pilots, business leaders and career development specialists, among others. Experience is essential, but, Keller noted that the most important requirement is an instructor’s ability to connect with and inspire students.
“Just because someone has been a leader in industry or the military does not necessarily mean they are going to be able to connect well with undergraduate students. For example, you might be a good golfer, but that doesn’t necessarily make you a good golf coach. Being a successful leader does not automatically mean you can engage students in meaningful conversations,” Keller elaborated. “We work hard to train our instructors on advanced classroom techniques. We know they know the material, but they must be able to create an engaged learning environment in the classroom as well.”
Through their experiences and teaching styles, the men and women who teach the Hollingsworth Center’s SOMS courses help shape the future of cadets and other students at Texas A&M.
Below is a Q&A session with a few of the SOMS instructors.
Dr. Kristen Neill
Q: Tell us about yourself!
A: I am from Abilene, Texas, where I attended Hardin Simmons University and received my B.S. in Biology, M.Ed. in Gifted Education and my Ed.D. in Leadership. I was a high school physics teacher for 13 years and an Assistant Principal and Director of Instruction for eight years with Cypress Fairbanks ISD and Spring Branch ISD. I joined Texas A&M in June of 2023 as the Assistant Director of Student Affairs at the Institute of Biosciences and Technology, which is part of the College of Medicine. I came over to the Hollingsworth Center for Ethical Leadership in the fall of 2024, where I currently serve as the Associate Director for Mentorship and Personal Development.
Q: What drew you to the Hollingsworth Center and teaching a SOMS course?
A: This is my dream job! My purpose is growing the next generation of leaders so getting to serve in this capacity every day is amazing. The Hollingsworth staff teach SOMS courses as a part of their position. We all have unique large-scale responsibilities coupled with SOMS teaching responsibilities.
Q:Which upper level SOMS courses do you teach? What topics does your course cover?
A: I teach SOMS 381, which is a junior level course that’s designed to foster personal and organizational leadership development. This course helps cadets develop competence in various leadership and management practices that are applicable to an array of situations. There is a heavy focus on organizational leadership development, with specific attention to intra-group relationships and techniques for achieving group goals. It also emphasizes creating an ethical environment to develop members, lead teams and make difficult decisions. Much of our learning comes from sharing our experiences in everyday life and learning how to predict outcomes based on reliable theoretical models.
Q: What has been your favorite experience thus far as a SOMS instructor?
A: Hands down, my interaction with the cadets! I love seeing them shine in leadership roles and even without a title, learning to lead from where they are at. They are my purpose, and it is a joy to serve as their instructor. They know my door is always open to them, now and forever.
Dr. Andrew Christjoy
Q: Tell us about yourself!
A: I just finished my PhD here at Texas A&M in the field of Communication. I study resilience for individuals and organizations, which is a great fit to instill those same values in cadets. I taught high school for seven years and have been teaching at A&M for five years, with two years of those in SOMS with cadets.
Q: How did you become a SOMS instructor? What drew you to the Hollingsworth Center and teaching a SOMS course?
A: I went through the Corps as an older cadet in my 40s (2017-21) and rose to become the Deputy Corps Commander. Through that process, I found great purpose in the SOMS instructors, curriculum and experience. It became my goal to be a SOMS instructor because I’m passionate about leadership and I want to do my part to help foster the next generation of emerging leaders. So, I “annoyed” Dr. Dave Keller every semester until he finally gave in and hired me. I’m so grateful he did!
Q: Which upper level SOMS courses do you teach? What topics does your course cover?
A: I teach SOMS 380 and strive to make the course material relevant to cadets’ daily life as much as possible. One of my key focuses in the course is teaching students how to understand and apply the communication process so that information, rewards, critique and trust is disseminated as efficiently as possible.
Q: How will your course help cadets post-graduation?
A: Students learn that each person has a different format of engagement that best works with them so that leaders can capitalize on those modes to enable a deeper bond that forges a connection that lasts through the triumphs and times of crisis.
Q: What is the biggest piece of advice that you would give your students as they prepare for their future as leaders?
A: Never take the opportunities we have for granted. It is so easy for life to be normalized as we go about the day to day business of putting one foot in front of the other. That can quickly become mundane and uninspiring. But we must choose every day to see the world for what it truly is – a massive gift and opportunity to say thank you, view the moment as precious and strive to lift up the people around us who need it so desperately.
Captain Ray Ivie (USN, Retired)
Q: Tell us about yourself!
A: I graduated from Texas A&M in 1981, where I received my degree in Industrial Distribution. At graduation, I was a Distinguished Naval Graduate and commissioned into the Navy. I served 23 years in the Navy flying off aircraft carriers around the world, with combat tours in Desert Storm and Bosnia. I also served as flight instructor, on Joint Staff, as Congressional Fellow for Texas Senator and Deputy for Navy Congressional affairs. I saw 9 total deployments throughout my career. I received my graduate degree from the US Naval War College in National Security and Strategic Studies and was also a Georgetown University Congressional Fellow. Following my retirement from the Navy, I worked in business development in several fortune 500 companies. I am currently the Director of Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service (TEEX)‘s Testing & Innovation Center.
Q: How did you become a SOMS professor? What drew you to the Hollingsworth Center and teaching a SOMS course?
A: As a corporate leader, I recruited heavily from the Corps for interns and full time positions. I hosted several R U Ready? Events* and really enjoyed working with the Hollingsworth staff. I specifically returned to Aggieland to teach and share my military and corporate perspectives.
*R U Ready? events are events sponsored by the HCEL outside of the classroom. During these informational sessions, various companies and organizations provide cadets the opportunity to explore and gain insight into different careers, companies, organizations and employment opportunities.
Q:Which upper level SOMS courses do you teach? What topics does your course cover?
A: I focus on SOMS 281 and 380. I like helping students (cadets and non-cadets in my classes) learn who they really are and their dominant personalities, strengths and weaknesses. SOMS 380 helps them discover their individual leadership styles and teaches them how to adapt to different variables that may impact their ability to lead. I want them to use techniques and work on their leadership styles while still in the Corps.
Q: How will your course help cadets post-graduation?
A: The cadets have a huge advantage by receiving leadership education and hands-on leadership. Many do not appreciate what they are learning and experiencing on a daily basis, but I saw it clearly when I had Aggie cadets as interns. They were always chosen by the other interns to lead the intern teams. These teams consisted of MIT, Stanford, Georgia Tech Research Institute and other prominent engineering schools, and the Aggies always held their own in engineering and were a clear cut above in leadership.
Q: What is the biggest piece of advice that you would give your students as they prepare for their future as leaders?
A: First, know what you want to do. Too many have no idea what they actually want to do. It is hard to focus on achieving success if you don’t know where you want to go. Choose something and go for it. You can always change course, but you must aim for something. Second, no one is truly a born leader. You must use your strengths, develop a style that works for you and continuously educate and adapt yourself to the circumstances. There are wrong things to do, but there are numerous right ways to lead. You must be yourself.
Shaping Tomorrow, Today.
Through the Hollingsworth Center’s course offerings, students from across Texas A&M’s campus can gain invaluable experience and unique insight from experienced leaders. When partnered with the Corps of Cadets experience, cadets can immediately apply the lessons they’ve learned in the classroom to their roles within the organization. This cycle of insightful learning, practical application and active reflection ensures that each cadet leaves Texas A&M with the tools they need to make positive contributions to their communities, the state and the nation.
“We think it’s important for cadets to be exposed to multiple voices and role models across their leadership journey. Each of our instructors brings a unique perspective to the classroom. Over the five semesters of the Hollingsworth program, we hope our students get exposed to as many of those perspectives as possible,” said Keller.
Through SOMS courses, cadets and all students across campus are empowered to develop a greater depth of thought, expand their critical thinking capabilities and gain experience with a variety of perspectives. Each of these qualities will help students navigate the ever-evolving challenges of today’s global workforce in ways that make lasting impacts.
