Texas A&M University-Commerce has announced the death of Assistant Director of Bands Michael Guzman. President Dr. Mark Rudin sent the announcement in an email to the university community on Friday afternoon, May 31, 2024. No specific details regarding Guzman’s passing were provided in the announcement.
The news of Guzman's death follows a troubling social media post made on Thursday morning, May 30th by a former high school student, Jackie Rodriguez. In her Facebook post, Rodriguez alleged that Guzman sexually abused her while he was her band director at Southwest Miami Senior High School from 2008 to 2011. Rodriguez stated that the abuse began when she was 15 years old and continued until she was 18 or 19, also mentioning emotional and financial abuse.
In response to the allegations, Dr. Rudin's email emphasized the university's commitment to ensuring the safety, well-being, and integrity of everyone in the campus community. The message acknowledged the distress caused by recent events and expressed sympathy for those affected by acts of sexual abuse. The university also stated that an investigation into the matter was underway.
Prior to joining A&M-Commerce in 2023, Guzman served as the director of bands at Hewitt-Trussville High School in Alabama from 2020 to 2023.
