Dr. Ginger Gummelt
Department Chair in the Department of Sociology, Social Work, and Criminal Justice
Began working at Lamar University in 2012
Interviewed by Vidisha Barua Worley on 06/21/2023
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‘There are so many things that Lamar offers the greater community.’
'I started working here in January of 2012 and I began as an instructor of social work. Since then, I have had one child graduate from here and one who is currently attending here and my husband as well. So, we are a huge Lamar family. I came in as an instructor. I was offered the opportunity to do my Ph.D. using the Grow Your Own Program. I did my Ph.D. in Houston. Then moved into tenure-track, then into Program Director, and now begin as chair in the Fall. Lamar University has affected my whole family. It is the education, but more than that it is the athletics. Eleven years ago, my son was attending summer camp at Lamar. He did the baseball, basketball, and the STEM camps. So, he was very active in the summer. We also try to go to the art shows. There are so many things that Lamar offers the greater community. Our middle daughter graduated from here in 2021. She was employed with and involved with the sororities and fraternities. So, I got a whole another perspective, the student services side. …I have worked in public education and it is very demanding. I loved it. This job has got all those benefits, and we are dealing with adults at this point. Once the students have chosen their major and they know where they belong, to watch students how they blossom and grow…it ignites their passion…they get an understanding of how education is something that will continue throughout their lives. I love that. I love keeping up with the students. When we are doing some work in the community, it’s our students who are representing the agencies in this area. Now when I need to call an agency, I am calling one of our former students. And that’s really cool.'