LU Moment

Dr. Tilisa Thibodeaux shares the mission and vision for the Reaud Honors College and the Texas Academy of Leadership in the Humanities, two programs uniquely LU and now under Thibodeaux’ leadership.  For updates on the latest news and events at Lamar University, visit lamar.edu/news. 

One of Lamar University’s all-time great basketball players is now back as Coach of the men’s basketball team – Alvin Brooks. Brooks joins Shelly on the LU Moment to talk about the glory days, coaching at his alma mater, top priorities and his preference, sushi or tacos. For updates on the latest news and events at Lamar University, visit lamar.edu/news. 

David J. Beck Excellence in Teaching Award winner, Dr. Ken Young, joins Shelly Vitanza on the LU Moment to discuss the career significance of the award, his efforts to help teachers, schools and districts during the pandemic and the new partnerships he’s creating between school districts and doctoral students.   For updates on the latest news and events at Lamar University, visit lamar.edu/news. 

The co-coordinators of the LU’s April 9 Resilience and Recovery Summit join Shelly Vitanza on this week’s LU Moment to talk about the agenda and purpose of this year’s free summit. Discussions will range from weather and flooding to COVID-19 and mental health, and the community is invited to attend. For updates on the latest news and events at Lamar University, visit lamar.edu/news. 

This week on the LU Moment, Shelly Vitanza visits with LU alumni, certified mediator, legal trial consultant and the principal personal injury attorney of The Wallace Law Firm, Belashia Wallace. Wallace talks about what it takes to be one of a few Black female attorneys in the country. Hear her story of perseverance, hard work and a commitment to always do the right thing.  For updates on the late...

This week’s LU grad Julie Wenah is a Nigerian-American lawyer, executive, filmmaker. She has worked at NASA, The White House, the Department of Commerce and Airbnb. Additionally, her "Mixtape" (purpose) is founding and leading "the Album & the Mixtape" a collective of dreamers, doers, storytellers, and music lovers creating community and content centered around healing and...

What inspires Ginger Gummelt, LU’s program director and assistant professor in social work? Find out on the LU Moment when Shelly Vitanza interviews Gummelt, a woman who inspires and encourages others on the Lamar University campus. For updates on the latest news and events at Lamar University, visit lamar.edu/news. 

Two-time Paralympic and LU’s Academic Advisor, Jennifer Mutz, kicks off Women’s History Month, with the inspirational story of her life’s challenges and how she overcomes them daily to live life in the fast lane of success. This week’s LU Moment is the first in a four-part series featuring women who have a positive impact on Lamar University in celebration of Women’s History Month. For updates on...

The Center for First-generation Student Success, an initiative of NASPA – Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education and The Suder Foundation, recently announced Lamar University as one of the 2021-22 First-gen Forward cohorts. Dr. Wilma Jackson joins Shelly Vitanza on the LU Moment to share how LU achieved this distinction. For updates on the latest news and events at Lamar University, vi...

On this week’s LU Moment, LU’s Athletic Director Marco Born tells why LU moved to the Western Athletic Conference and what it will mean for players and fans.   For updates on the latest news and events at Lamar University, visit lamar.edu/news. 

Erica Edgerly tells Shelly Vitanza how an LU degree and a little trial by fire made her a boss at the age of 23. For updates on the latest news and events at Lamar University, visit lamar.edu/news. 

Dr. Teresa Simpson talks about the N.E.S.Ts LU’s Office of Community Relations, Economic Development and Student Access, have been building in BISD schools. For updates on the latest news and events at Lamar University, visit lamar.edu/news. 

Dr. Andrew Victores, class of 2006, shares his experience attending LU’s Texas Academy of Leadership in the Humanities, earning his bachelor’s degree at LU and then attending medical school. He’s an LU ENT, who inspires others to pursue their passions at LU. For updates on the latest news and events at Lamar University, visit lamar.edu/news. 

Two members of Lamar University’s web communications team – Charla Pate and Stacey Haynes – detail the new and exciting electronic tools and website that LU is rolling out. For updates on the latest news and events at Lamar University, visit lamar.edu/news. 

Dr. Stefan Krause is offering new and exciting anthropology classes at Lamar University. He tells how LU students can now gain knowledge and skills to be crime scene investigators and why the study of anthropology is valuable for every profession.  For updates on the latest news and events at Lamar University, visit lamar.edu/news. 

This week on the LU Moment, Marie Murray, Assistant Director of Health Education Services at the Student Health Center, talks Covid-19 vaccine distribution, staying aware of mental health and how the LU community can stay safe as we prepare to return to campus for the spring 2021 semester. For updates on the latest news and events at Lamar University, visit lamar.edu/news. 

LU graduate and CEO and Founder of KLV Ventures, Fred Vernon, talks to Shelly Vitanza about growing a business from the ground up, becoming an Amazon partner and the role of the CICE in his business’ success. For updates on the latest news and events at Lamar University, visit lamar.edu/news. 

In addition to reviewing some of the biggest and best news of LU’s 2020 year, we continue the series, “What can you do with your LU degree?” talking with 2019 LU grad Cade Johnson. Cade, who has finished his first semester of medical school, shares why LU is a great place to go for pre-med. He also talks about some of his favorite LU moments.  For updates on the latest news and events at Lamar Uni...

When Sharita Gardner graduated from LU in 2012, she decided to make Beaumont home. She talks about the challenges getting connected in a small, tight-knit town and how she overcame to be one of Beaumont’s biggest advocates, well-known social citizens, not to mention using her LU degree to be gainfully employed doing something she loves. For updates on the latest news and events at Lamar University...

One of the LU Moment’s first guest, two years ago, Hannah Rumsey, a 2020 LU grad, kicks off a new LU Moment series, “What can your LU degree do for you?” Ramsey talks about her years at LU, her research in Spain and her new job at ExxonMobil. She also passes on some wise words for current students. For updates on the latest news and events at Lamar University, visit lamar.edu/news. 

LU has much to be thankful for this holiday season. Juan Zabala, vice president for University Advancement and CEO of the Lamar University Foundation, shares what’s tops on the Big Red gratitude list.   For updates on the latest news and events at Lamar University, visit lamar.edu/news. 

This week on the LU Moment gamers take over. Dr. Timothy Roden, an associate professor of computer science, talks about LU’s new unique degree that teaches students how to program videos games, and Jason Chambliss, LU’s Esports president, shares details about gaming for sport and for dollars.   For updates on the latest news and events at Lamar University, visit lamar.edu/news. 

LU’s nurses beat the national average on the nursing exam. Find out how the JoAnne Gay Dishman School of Nursing has continued to excel during the days of COVID-19 when Shelly Vitanza visits with Chair of the Department of Nursing Dr. Cynthia Stinson on this week’s LU Moment. For updates on the latest news and events at Lamar University, visit lamar.edu/news. 

According to Dr. Brendan Gillis, LU’s cultural historian of law and government, elections were won in the 1800s by whiskey bribes. How does that compare to elections today? Dr. Gillis gives a historical perspective of the presidential election. For updates on the latest news and events at Lamar University, visit lamar.edu/news. 

Welcome Center Director Tracie Craig explains how virtual recruitment, required due to the COVID-19 pandemic, is now an exciting new tool helping LU reach more students. Craig also explains changes in admissions, such as the normalization of GPAs and no-test requirements.  For updates on the latest news and events at Lamar University, visit lamar.edu/news.