LU announces new dean of Reaud and TALH
March 22, 2021 | by Shelly Vitanza
Lamar University is pleased to announce that Dr. Tilisa Thibodeaux has been named the dean of the Reaud Honors College and Texas Academy of Leadership in the Humanities.
Thibodeaux is an award-winning educator, celebrated teacher and distinguished researcher who joined the
Lamar University faculty in 2015 as an assistant professor in the Digital Learning and Leading M.Ed. program in the Department of Educational Leadership in the College of Education and Human Development. In 2018, Thibodeaux became the coordinator of the program while simultaneously serving as the director of digital literacy for the Reaud Honors College beginning 2017.
“The Reaud Honors College and the Texas Academy of Leadership in the Humanities students are passionate and persistent. I have been uniquely inspired by their intrinsic capacity to learn and impact the world around them,” said Thibodeaux. “As dean, I will connect and build a relationship with every student. I will motivate every student to turn challenges into opportunity. I will bolster and promote undergraduate student research, rigorous academic learning experiences and support service leadership on our campus and in our community. We will take advantage of the opportunity to work cohesively as a college and academy to construct meaningful relationships on and off campus, collaborate with our community and industry partners, establish solid alumni networks, and help each student graduate and reach their fullest potential.”
Thibodeaux has been an educator at every level of education. After earning her bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Valparaiso University in Valparaiso, Ind., Thibodeaux began her career as a kindergarten teacher in Florida. While pursuing her master’s degree in special education from Florida Gulf Coast University in Fort Myers, Fla., Thibodeaux continued teaching and was honored with the Golden Apple Teacher Award - the most prestigious award given in Southwest Florida. She was named the Chamber of Commerce Teacher –of –the Year and was the sole teacher recipient of the Florida Educational Data Systems Award. During this time, Thibodeaux was nominated for the State of Florida Teacher of the Year Award for her active involvement with community partnerships such as the Take Stock in Children event and for her “out of the box” teaching and learning methods for advanced level students in Lee County. Thibodeaux was also inducted into the Academy of Teacher Leaders and was acknowledged in the top 100 teachers’ group in a district of more than 5,000 teachers.
In 2009, Thibodeaux accepted the position of district interventionist/coach to assist teachers and administrators in 22 schools in Florida on the No Child Left Behind Response to Intervention Act. The following year, while earning her educational leadership degree from Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Thibodeaux accepted a position as campus academic coach at Villas Elementary School in Fort Myers. Thibodeaux went on to earn her doctorate from Nova Southeastern University in instructional technology/distance education & educational leadership. Toward the end of her doctoral journey, Thibodeaux was offered a position as an English language arts instructor for Bridge City Intermediate School in Bridge City, Texas. She was also asked to be one of four digital design coaches/instructional technologists for the Bridge City Independent School District.
During her time as assistant professor in the Digital Learning and Leading M.Ed. program, Thibodeaux co-founded the CSLE+COVA learning approach used in many schools around the country. She developed the STEM+COVA Community of Practice, an alumni network group that co-writes grants, books and assists with online blended learning labs. She was also the director of professional learning for the Community Education Initiative (between Apple and Lamar University’s Center of Innovation and Digital Learning) where she assisted educators in building innovation plans that engaged students through coding and project-based learning.
Thibodeaux also served as the director of digital literacy for the Reaud Honors College where she created the Honors Leadership Community online, established the ePortfolio initiative, led Peer Consultants and worked to pilot the Capstone high impact project in the College. Thibodeaux has co-presented at national conferences and co-published several articles with Lamar University’s honors students.
Thibodeaux’s research focus is creating significant learning environments that give learners choice, ownership and voice through authentic (COVA) learning opportunities; leading organizational change, ePortfolios for learning, and digital learning. Thibodeaux can be reached at www.tilisathibodeaux.com
“We’ve been so fortunate to have Tilisa in her previous roles here at LU,” said Brenda Nichols, senior provost and vice president for academic affairs. “Tilisa is an innovative, creative and dynamic educator. She is an educational leader and instructional coach, the ideal candidate to develop the Reaud Honors College and TALH program, two very distinct and important programs here at Lamar University.”
Thibodeaux is an award-winning educator, celebrated teacher and distinguished researcher who joined the
Lamar University faculty in 2015 as an assistant professor in the Digital Learning and Leading M.Ed. program in the Department of Educational Leadership in the College of Education and Human Development. In 2018, Thibodeaux became the coordinator of the program while simultaneously serving as the director of digital literacy for the Reaud Honors College beginning 2017.“The Reaud Honors College and the Texas Academy of Leadership in the Humanities students are passionate and persistent. I have been uniquely inspired by their intrinsic capacity to learn and impact the world around them,” said Thibodeaux. “As dean, I will connect and build a relationship with every student. I will motivate every student to turn challenges into opportunity. I will bolster and promote undergraduate student research, rigorous academic learning experiences and support service leadership on our campus and in our community. We will take advantage of the opportunity to work cohesively as a college and academy to construct meaningful relationships on and off campus, collaborate with our community and industry partners, establish solid alumni networks, and help each student graduate and reach their fullest potential.”
Thibodeaux has been an educator at every level of education. After earning her bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Valparaiso University in Valparaiso, Ind., Thibodeaux began her career as a kindergarten teacher in Florida. While pursuing her master’s degree in special education from Florida Gulf Coast University in Fort Myers, Fla., Thibodeaux continued teaching and was honored with the Golden Apple Teacher Award - the most prestigious award given in Southwest Florida. She was named the Chamber of Commerce Teacher –of –the Year and was the sole teacher recipient of the Florida Educational Data Systems Award. During this time, Thibodeaux was nominated for the State of Florida Teacher of the Year Award for her active involvement with community partnerships such as the Take Stock in Children event and for her “out of the box” teaching and learning methods for advanced level students in Lee County. Thibodeaux was also inducted into the Academy of Teacher Leaders and was acknowledged in the top 100 teachers’ group in a district of more than 5,000 teachers.
In 2009, Thibodeaux accepted the position of district interventionist/coach to assist teachers and administrators in 22 schools in Florida on the No Child Left Behind Response to Intervention Act. The following year, while earning her educational leadership degree from Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Thibodeaux accepted a position as campus academic coach at Villas Elementary School in Fort Myers. Thibodeaux went on to earn her doctorate from Nova Southeastern University in instructional technology/distance education & educational leadership. Toward the end of her doctoral journey, Thibodeaux was offered a position as an English language arts instructor for Bridge City Intermediate School in Bridge City, Texas. She was also asked to be one of four digital design coaches/instructional technologists for the Bridge City Independent School District.
During her time as assistant professor in the Digital Learning and Leading M.Ed. program, Thibodeaux co-founded the CSLE+COVA learning approach used in many schools around the country. She developed the STEM+COVA Community of Practice, an alumni network group that co-writes grants, books and assists with online blended learning labs. She was also the director of professional learning for the Community Education Initiative (between Apple and Lamar University’s Center of Innovation and Digital Learning) where she assisted educators in building innovation plans that engaged students through coding and project-based learning.
Thibodeaux also served as the director of digital literacy for the Reaud Honors College where she created the Honors Leadership Community online, established the ePortfolio initiative, led Peer Consultants and worked to pilot the Capstone high impact project in the College. Thibodeaux has co-presented at national conferences and co-published several articles with Lamar University’s honors students.
Thibodeaux’s research focus is creating significant learning environments that give learners choice, ownership and voice through authentic (COVA) learning opportunities; leading organizational change, ePortfolios for learning, and digital learning. Thibodeaux can be reached at www.tilisathibodeaux.com
“We’ve been so fortunate to have Tilisa in her previous roles here at LU,” said Brenda Nichols, senior provost and vice president for academic affairs. “Tilisa is an innovative, creative and dynamic educator. She is an educational leader and instructional coach, the ideal candidate to develop the Reaud Honors College and TALH program, two very distinct and important programs here at Lamar University.”