Beyond 1894

Dr. John Worsencroft recently became the director of Louisiana Tech University's School of History and Social Sciences. In this new role, he's learned to get the most out of both his passion for teaching in the classroom and his administrative duties to the School and to the College of Liberal Arts. He spends this episode discussing his educational background, his time in the United States Marine...

When Louisiana Tech President Jim Henderson took office at the start of 2024, his longtime UL System office colleague Cami Geisman and her family joined in the journey to Ruston, Louisiana. Geisman, Tech's executive VP for external affairs, spends this episode talking about the move to Tech being her first ever move from her hometown of Baton Rouge, the sense of community in Ruston that made it so...

Students Cade Jordan and Reagan Patrick, the current LA Tech Union Board president and vice president, are both involved, dedicated, and hardworking students with bright futures. Managing their extracurriculars on top of their busy senior years isn't always easy, but they take the time on this episode to explain why Union Board and the events they're tasked with putting on for the University are s...

Let Dr. Heath Tims reintroduce himself in his new engagement-focused role and break down the ideas behind the latest iteration of Louisiana Tech's Homecoming. He discusses the community-focused mindset behind the structure of this year's events, the details of some of the highlights of Homecoming Week, and the goal of the Alumni Association to connect with the Tech Family near and far. LA Tech Hom...

Associate Professor Joanna Ward was born into a Louisiana Tech lineage. Ruston, LA was always going to be her first and only choice to pursue her education. It's no surprise, then, that she now dedicates her time to enriching the lives of her students and pushing the health informatics and information programs at Tech further into the future. She discusses her personal journey in the healthcare se...

Dr. Gary Kennedy, now the dean of LA Tech's College of Applied and Natural Sciences, is a Tech alum that's been at the University for 27 years. He spends this episode talking about ANS's growth and change over the decades, the special status of programs like nursing, biology, and forestry within the college, and the upcoming Forest Products Innovation Center project that will change the landscape...

Interviewed by guest host LeAnn Waldroup from the College of Business, Dean Chris Martin recounts the stops in his career that brought him to Louisiana Tech and talks about all things COB. He shares details on the College's sky-high placement rates and the sustained growth and success of their programs. He gets excited about new features and updates within the College (like a café area in the buil...

Finishing his first full year as dean of the College of Engineering and Science at Louisiana Tech, Dr. Collin Wick has his eyes on the future. Even so, a 17+ year history at the University means he's seen and done a lot within the College's walls and beyond. He discusses the early fork in his educational road between music and science, and he recounts the career moves that led to his current role...

Dr. Henrietta Williams Pichon may be a new dean at Louisiana Tech University, but her Bulldog roots run deep. Joining the podcast during her second month on the job, she talks about taking the "scenic route" to explore her love for education and leadership in different parts of the state and country before coming back to Tech. She shares her excitement for the future and part of her vision for the...

Over four years have passed since then-director Karl Puljak was a guest on Beyond 1894. Now, two years into his role as dean of the College of Liberal Arts, he joins the podcast again to talk about his leadership position and his reasons for taking the job. He discusses studying and traveling all over the world before ending up in Ruston and the family ties that have kept him in the city. He menti...

Louisiana Tech alum and current Senior Associate AD Kyle Kavanaugh bleeds Tech blue. He's lived through a career that's led him to athletics marketing, but his background in coaching and teaching is what's laid the groundwork for his success. In this episode, he discusses lessons learned from leading and the importance of "the people" in all that he does. He talks about family and managing time, a...

For the special 100th episode of Beyond 1894, Mayor of the City of Ruston Ronny Walker sits down with Louisiana Tech President Jim Henderson to discuss the strength of the unique partnership between the city and the University. The two talk about the value of Tech students within the community, the potential for hand-in-hand growth of Tech and Ruston, and why Ruston is a perfect place to pursue an...

Louisiana Tech Class of 2019 graduate Merix Gooden has more than made a name for himself in the photography and videography scene. He's made connections that have allowed him to put his camera on subjects like star NBA players Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving and iconic musicians Drake and Lil Wayne. His self-published content has earned him millions and millions of social media views and an ever-grow...

The international student population at Louisiana Tech is crucial to the University's culture and mission. Director of International Affairs Jay Ligon spends this episode discussing the enrollment and growth of students from other countries, the international recruiting strategies he and his team adhere to, and the impact of the international students on campus. The Office of International Affairs...

An Le is one of two professors leading the charge for this year's ARCH 335 Design-Build course. Junior architecture students spend two full quarters' worth of time bringing a project to life from concept to reality at MedCamps, and with the program entering its tenth year, there are lots of monumental builds that stand as a testament to 335's efforts. Le was part of the design-build course as a st...

A dynamic duo from Louisiana Tech's Division of Nursing, Dr. Sherry Peveto and Dr. Melissa Madden, spend this episode discussing the choices that led them to nursing, the evident potential and early results of Tech's new RN to BSN program, and the quality and preparedness of the high-caliber students that earn their pins in the Tech nursing program. RN to BSN: https://online.latech.edu/programs/nu...

From one LA to the other, Emmy-winning entertainment marketing professional Lori Shefa's time at Louisiana Tech laid the foundation for a successful career. She discusses the almost-accidental choices that led to her life in the entertainment industry, the frenetic energy that comes with working on projects like CBS Super Bowl ads and primetime television trailers, and the joys of constantly findi...

After a record-setting showing for 2023's Louisiana Tech Giving Day, the 2024 event is shaping up to be another example of the strength of the Tech Family. Director of Annual Giving Lindsey Murry joins the podcast for this episode to talk through the impacts of the University's million-dollar Giving Days past, the best ways to rally to the cause on the big day (April 18), and the rewarding aspects...

This episode features Dr. Lindsey Vincent, a loyal blue Louisiana Tech grad who has let the University guide her professional and personal paths for years. The associate dean of research, outreach, and innovation and director of SciTEC recounts the decisions that led her to Ruston, the exciting work and special people in the College of Education and Human Sciences, and the recent successes that we...

Not too many people leave their educational fate up to chance, but Dr. Judith Roberts ended up at Louisiana Tech because of a coin toss. It's a gamble that paid off, as the communication professor spends this episode discussing how transformative her experiences in Ruston have been and the joys of the program she teaches and the students she serves. One of those students, senior Madeline Kalmbach,...

Three Louisiana Tech students, each from a different cohort of the UL System's Reginald F. Lewis Scholars program, join together to discuss the background of their scholarship, experiencing international cultures abroad, becoming young black male leaders on campus, and how their sense of community is impacted through outreach and service. Jayden Johnson (cohort 3), Joseph Johnson (cohort 2), and D...

Dr. Marcia Dickerson, the Francis R. Mangham Endowed Professor of Management in the College of Business, knows that management is a make-or-break area of business for all entities. She discusses her 20-year Louisiana Tech career, her passion for human resources and her beginnings in HR, and how the students she serves and the faculty she works with inspire her daily. Louisiana Tech MBA: https://bu...

One special area of the University is both a public component of campus and a private haven for partnerships. Hear from Tommy Perkins of Louisiana Tech's Enterprise Campus as he discusses the challenges and joys of managing daily activity in that sector, the lessons learned from the building process of Tech Pointe II, and the impact of the partners that call Tech's campus home base. Enterprise Cam...

Louisiana Tech University's 15th President, Dr. Jim Henderson, has just begun his time in the office, but he's focused on hitting the ground running. President Henderson spends this episode speaking on the Louisiana Tech ties that have inspired him since his childhood, the journey that led him to the University of Louisiana System presidency and then to our University, and the unique and unmatched...

With quite a few big stories and high points decorating Louisiana Tech's 2023, the University Communications crew touches on some of the biggest wins of the year in this annual recap episode of Beyond 1894. Hear about some newsworthy endeavors in leadership, growth, grants & giving, and triumphs throughout the year. Louisiana Tech news: https://www.latech.edu/news/ Website:  https://1894....