HUNTSVILLE, TEXAS––Sam Houston State University’s Summer 2026 commencement ceremonies will take place on Saturday, Aug. 1, at the Bernard G. Johnson Coliseum. Degree candidates and their supporters will be addressed by SHSU graduates and leaders in their fields, Stacey Arrambide and Candice Williams. Ceremonies will be held at 9:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.
For full run-of-events information, visit shsu.edu/commencement.
Kicking off the month of August and SHSU’s commencement ceremonies will be Stacey Arrambide ’97 & ‘99, who will address students from the College of Criminal Justice, the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, the College of Science and Engineering Technology, and the Polytechnic College.
Arrambide is a visionary clinical development executive with nearly 30 years of experience driving innovation across diverse therapeutic indications, clinical phases, and outsourcing models. His rapid rise to the position of vice president of statistics and data management for the Woodlands-based medical statistical analysis company, SYNERGOS, and track record of excellence earned him the honor of being SHSU’s first-ever Distinguished Young Alumnus in 2006.
Recognized for his strategic foresight, he is known for building and scaling high-performing global teams that deliver exceptional service across multiple market segments.
Beginning his career in biometrics, Arrambide rapidly advanced through senior leadership roles across several prominent contract research organizations (CROs). After years of handling statistics and analytics for these CROs, he has worked his way up from statistician in 2001 to his current role as the senior vice president of clinical development operations at Advanced Clinical. Beyond operational excellence, his true passion lies in fostering collaboration, championing patient-centric solutions, and bringing hope to the broader product development ecosystem.
A proud alumnus of SHSU, Arrambide earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees while competing as a four-year letterman for the Bearkat Football Team
Candice Williams ’11 & ‘17, a licensed professional counselor, mental well-being architect, and performance executive, will address the graduates of the College of Arts & Media, the College of Business Administration, the College of Education, and the College of Health Sciences.
Williams currently serves as the director of mental wellness and performance for the Houston Texans, leading the organization’s strategies for supporting players’ overall well-being and performance. Adding to her impressive resume is her time working as the director of mental health and wellness for the Boston Celtics during the franchise’s 2024 National Basketball Association Championship run.
The proud Huntsville native received her Master of Arts in Counseling in 2011 and doctorate in counselor education in 2017, with her dissertation exploring the lived experiences of student-athlete mothers supported by a National Collegiate Athletic Association grant. She launched a career centered on the intersection of identity, mental health, and performance.
Following her time at SHSU, Williams supported former National Football League players navigate life beyond football through her role in the NFL Players Association (NFLPA). Between her time at the NFLPA and the Boston Celtics, Williams spent time at Ohio State University’s Department of Athletics to serve as an athletic counselor for the Division I student-athletes.
In addition to her work with the Texans, Williams travels as a nationally recognized speaker and thought leader who advances a human-centered approach to achievement and well-being. She is passionate about helping organizations create environments where psychological safety, authentic connection, and human development are valued as highly as performance. Her expertise in supporting people so they can be their best selves, as well as outstanding athletes and students, has been featured in Forbes, USA TODAY Sports, and ESPN College GameDay.