Category: Features

This week on Connecting with Cardinals, we sat down with Luis Arevalo, chemical engineering major, to chat about his favorite LU moments, the importance of Latinx/Hispanic heritage month and how he became a cofounder of the LU Hispanic Society.

If there is power in words, someone who enables another to speak, must be a superpower. Lamar University has such a superpower. Lekeitha Morris, associate professor in the Department of Speech and Health Sciences. Lekeitha empowers individuals with communication disorders to communicate and best of all, she shares her superpower with her students.

As the first director of Lamar University's Center for Midstream Management & Science, Thomas Kalb shares his knowledge and experience in the energy industry with LU students.

As Lamar University's Director for the Center for Teaching and Learning Enhancement, Amy Smith leads the way in creating innovative online courses while students learn at home during the pandemic.

In 2001, Kaye Shelton was one of 33 people in the United States to get her master’s degree in online learning, completely online. The accomplishment, achieved on a laptop from the bleachers of her three sons’ baseball games and between loads of laundry, making dinner for her family and consulting in the technology industry, ignited Kaye’s passion for online learning and teaching and positioned her to be a pioneer in the online educational space. Kaye then went on to pursue her Ph.D. From the comfort of her home, and as her husband drove her to see her sons play baseball all over the country (One son played for the Los Angeles Dodgers.)

For Melissa Baldo, the greatest challenge of teaching online during the pandemic has been missing face-to-face interactions with her students.

Lindsay Simon continued to support Lamar University students through the pandemic by researching regulations at home for online education.

Each year Ryan Lee awards millions of dollars to Lamar University students. Well, not personally and not without help from his colleagues, but as LU’s assistant director of operations in LU’s Financial Aid Department, Ryan certainly plays a critical role ensuring students get the funding they need for their educational pursuits. A native of Illinois, Lee finished his bachelor’s degree in economics eight years ago and entered the career field of financial aid where he enjoys the technical side of job.

As the client computing lab specialist in Lamar University’s Office of Information Technology, Holden Gray helped faculty and staff transition to online learning and working from home during the coronavirus pandemic.

Yatara Martin finds fulfillment providing security for the students, faculty and staff of Lamar University.

From flowers to floors, the ambiance of Lamar University is the pride of the men and women who work in Facilities Management. The largest department on campus, comprising more than 100 employees and responsible for the grounds, custodial services and overall maintenance of the campus, they work tirelessly to keep their customers - the students, faculty and staff of LU – happy, safe and productive, even during a pandemic.

When Aaron Capps learned to sign the alphabet as a child, he found his life’s passion and a career. Now he’s one of just a few on the LU campus who can communicate in American Sign Language “stratified squamous epithelium.”

One of LU’s newer hires is a super soccer sensation home after a stint in Sweden, but she’ll never tell you that. Neither will Tara Austin share that she recently qualified for the Boston Marathon or that she raised $5,000 for local organizations impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the accomplished athlete does get animated when talking about LU athletics, her role as an academic specialist for the Lamar Cardinals and what she looks forward to when the pandemic is over. Tara, a Beaumont native, graduated from Kelly Catholic High School where she was an award-winning soccer player. She attended Belmont University in Nashville, playing soccer for the Bruins.

As the assistant director of scheduling, operations, & event services of the Setzer Student Center, Paula McNeel is a truly essential worker of Lamar University.

Since he was five years old, Kevin McGee has had a passion for making videos. Now, storytelling is part of his career as the video coordinator for Lamar University.

As the HVAC Supervisor, Troy Parker has been keeping Cardinals cool for nearly 14 years. He and his team have been working to complete maintenance work on campus during the pandemic as essential employees.

Yinka Jenmy brings students together in and out of the Lamar University residence halls, leading student disaster response teams in hurricanes and in the coronavirus pandemic.

Robin Woodard brings peace and passion to her work as a beloved custodian while pursuing her degree at Lamar University.

As the face of the LU Undergraduate Advising Center, Missy Barnes is passionate about helping students grow and succeed at Lamar University.

Lamar University Associate Buyer Marc Paine shares his experience with maintaining essential orders during the coronavirus pandemic.

Lamar University’s Student Health Center celebrated receiving a state accreditation.

Two Lamar University Moot Court teams participated in the University of Louisiana-Lafayette Invitational Moot Court Tournament.

Chelsea Boling shares how Lamar helped guide her and her journey to where she is now.

Reaud Honors College Students continue the legacy of volunteering by spending the weekend at the Southeast Texas Food Bank.

The office of Global Diversity and Inclusive Excellence hosted an event to honor and celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Lamar University Alum donates 96 oil maps to Special Collections.

Jeff Forret, Lamar University history professor and Distinguished Faculty Research Fellow, is making headlines regarding his new book, “Williams’ Gang: A Notorious Slave Trader and His Cargo of Black Convicts.”

Lamar University donated 165 books to its three N.E.S.Ts.

KFDM Anchor Greg Kerr hopes that by imparting real-world broadcasting knowledge with Lamar University students, some of them will do what he’s done - take some risks and build a career they love.

Freshman students Quinton Haynes and Elie Germain never saw themselves attending a university. Now, having overcome homelessness and poverty, their determination and work ethic remind us what it is to be a Cardinal, and why We Are LU.

With a background in political science, Lynn Maurer, new dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, is focused on working to empower LU's underserved populations. “I’m dedicated to the idea of inclusive excellence in the diversity of education, by recognizing varying financial needs and helping students at-risk academically,” Maurer says.

As a faculty member of Washington State University, Associate Professor Ashwini Kucknoor had a desire to mentor students far more than possible at such a large institution. The search for greater student interaction led to her coming to Lamar University. “At LU, we professors get to teach at the undergraduate and graduate levels,” she says. “This allows me to develop relationships with my students that last for years."

In 2017, Hyattye Simmons received one of three LU Distinguished Alumni Awards for mentorship of at-risk students and his work towards keeping them on the path to graduation. He enrolled at Lamar University in 1977, just two weeks after making history as the first African-American male valedictorian to graduate Burkeville High School. He credits LU as “the bridge that helped him prepare for the outside world.”