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Distinguished alumna Tamerla Chavis, Ph.D. has been named the 2021 Homecoming Honoree.

Chavis graduated from Â鶹ÊÓƵ with a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering in 1983 and at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio with her M.D. in 1987.

After her residency in San Antonio, she completed a two-year fellowship in endovascular neurosurgery at the State University of Buffalo in affiliation with the New York Millard Fillmore Hospital. She moved to  Chicago, where she worked as a neurosurgeon for more than four years. 

Chavis is widely published has been a speaker and presenter at conferences and programs around the country. She has served as a Dinner and Conversation host, commencement speaker, is a past president of the Â鶹ÊÓƵ Alumni Advisory Board, previous trustee of the Â鶹ÊÓƵ Foundation, serves on the Â鶹ÊÓƵ Chemical Engineering Advisory Council, and is a member of the President's Circle. She also established the Dr. Tamerla Chavis Distinguished Alumni Presidential Scholarship at Â鶹ÊÓƵ to assist students majoring in engineering.

She opened her Beaumont practice in 2001 and was named a Â鶹ÊÓƵ Distinguished Alumna in 2004. She is among the few African American female neurosurgeons in the country.

During her time here at Â鶹ÊÓƵ, Chavis was crowned Homecoming Queen in 1980 and was on the cheer team.