INNOVATION IN EDUCATION
A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT
Dear Bearkat Community,
At Sam Houston State University, we’re continually exploring innovative approaches to empower our students, faculty and staff. In this issue of Heritage, we’re excited to showcase how these efforts are shaping the future of education and strengthening our ties with industry and the community.
One of the most exciting is the launch of our ninth college, SHSU’s Polytechnic College, or SamPoly, which will redefine workforce preparation with industry-focused, industry-guided curriculum to allow students to develop skills and earn stackable credentials. We’re also advancing healthcare education with the soon-to-open Health Professionals Building, a cutting-edge facility designed to equip future healthcare leaders with the knowledge and tools they need in an interprofessional healthcare education environment.
This issue also celebrates the remarkable achievements of our students and faculty who are making an impact in their fields and communities. Their passion and determination truly embody the Bearkat spirit.
I hope these stories leave you as inspired as they’ve left me.
With Bearkat Pride,
Alisa White, PhD President, Sam Houston State University
Texas State University System Board of Regents
Alan L. Tinsley, Chairman Madisonville
Dionicio (Don) Flores, Vice Chairman • El Paso
Charlie Amato, Regent San Antonio
Duke Austin, Regent Houston
Sheila Faske, Regent Rose City
Russell Gordy, Regent Houston
Stephen Lee, Regent Beaumont
Tom Long, Regent Frisco
William F. Scott, Regent Nederland
Olivia Discon, Student Regent Huntsville
Brian McCall, PhD, Chancellor Austin
Sam Houston University Foundation Board of Trustees
Russell Molina, Chairman Houston
Joel Michael, Vice Chairman • Friendswood
Charles Jones III, Secretary Dahlonega, GA
Ferne Frosch, Treasurer Huntsville
E. Brooke Beierle Stafford
Mia Gradney Richmond
John Hoyt, Jr. Woodway
Brian Starr Houston
DeeAnn Thigpen Houston
Christopher Tritico, Sr. Houston
Ryan Weber • Houston
Matthew Bethea (Ex-Officio) Huntsville
Amanda Withers (Ex-Officio) Huntsville
Chief Marketing Officer and Public Information Officer
Jeff Harris
Editor Emily Binetti
Writers Campbell Atkins
Emily Binetti
Mikah Boyd
Ruth Chisum
Brittany Foreman
Emilee White
Creative Direction & Design
Zack Jones
Photography Justin Calhoun
Associate Director of Print Services
Lori Proctor
Heritage Online
Mikah Boyd
Every effort has been made to ensure the information contained in this issue is accurate. We apologize for any errors or omissions and ask that you bring them to our attention.
Please report any corrections to: Integrated Marketing Communications Box 2105 Huntsville, TX 77341-2105 936.294.4406 heritage@shsu.edu
Redefining Job Readiness
INSIDE SHSU’S INNOVATIVE
POLYTECHNIC COLLEGE
With
tomorrow’s burning questions requiring industryaligned solutions today, Bearkats are uniquely positioned in the higher education field to deliver immediate, effective results for employers near and far.
Through its groundbreaking Polytechnic College, SamPoly, Sam Houston State University is providing students with cutting-edge curricula and redefining what it means to be job-ready in the modern age.
“SHSU has always been focused on service and rising to the needs of society, Texas in particular,” said Chad Hargrave, vice president for research and partnership at SHSU. “This opportunity allows us to align with what the workforce needs are as well as provide a population of students looking for employment with relevant, tangible skills.”
Hargrave and his team have worked tirelessly to launch SamPoly in response to three major workforce disruptions in recent years, including vast learning losses as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic as well as the great resignation, a trend from 2021-22 that saw a generation of Americans enter retirement. Simultaneously, a flurry of new technologies continues to alter the landscape of various industries.
“We find ourselves in a period of technological advancement, and it’s happening rapidly,” Hargrave said.
that helped the university address similar industry shortcomings in the aftermath of World War II. Established in 1947, the Josey School of Vocational Education equipped SHSU’s veterans with the training and skills necessary for employment to rejuvenate the workforce.
Nearly eight decades later, the same piece of legislation remains on the books and aims to accomplish similar results in a way no other four-year institution can.
“The vision for SamPoly is pretty broad and we are rolling it out in phases,” Hargrave said. “This starts with programming that meets our immediate needs in the region, allowing us to address critical workforce shortages and establish industry partnerships.”
The Polytechnic College will initially feature four programs: Practical AI and Intelligent Automation, Computer Information Systems and Security, Computer Support Specialist and Paralegal Studies. Each program has been intricately designed with input from an advisory council of industry leaders to ensure graduates are properly equipped.
In the spring of 2025, there were nearly 10,000 open positions in practical AI and intelligent automation in Texas alone. SamPoly’s program is crafted for those looking to gain immediate, practical knowledge for high-impact roles in this space. As AI and automation become essential across industries, this certificate creates versatile, futurefocused candidates for a fast-evolving tech landscape.
“We have seen advances in the workplace and a shift towards more automative, technicallyadvanced processes in all aspects of industry. We need to upskill the existing workforce to fill those types of jobs.”
The work began in response to the Talent Strong Texas initiative, which charges higher education institutions to offer more credentials of value to the state’s postsecondary population. The movement led to the rediscovery of legislation
“With SamPoly, SHSU is asking the right questions and understanding the problems that we need to prepare students for in the future,” said George Stephenson, industry partner and chief operating officer at Forward Edge AI in San Antonio. “This curriculum is not abstract, it’s tangible. It allows the student to quickly apply what they are doing in a classroom to what they will be doing in the field.”
NEW PROGRAMS
Paralegal Studies
Computer Information Systems & Security Computer Support Specialist
Practical AI & Intelligent Automation
The programs focusing on computer information systems, as well as computer support specialists, are designed to equip students with the skills and knowledge necessary to provide technical assistance to computer users in various settings. Through hands-on labs, applied coursework and industryrelevant projects, the curriculum covers a wide range of topics in system support and cybersecurity, preparing students for the growing demand for information security professionals in various industries such as government, healthcare, finance and technology.
“SHSU has stepped in to harness some of that technical training knowledge and started applying it to the collegiate process,” said Kevin Dixon, industry partner and chief executive officer of Anthem Technology in Huntsville, located minutes from SHSU’s main campus. “These students will come out with hands-on knowledge, which is currently hard to find in the labor force. This curriculum will give them the skills that myself and the people who will hire them are looking for.”
SamPoly’s paralegal program provides a strong foundation in all aspects of law as well as immersive research and client interactions. Upon completion, students will be prepared to enter the workforce as competent paralegals or legal assistants, or to continue their studies in law or related fields. They will also gain a
realistic expectation of where they will start out and the specific duties they will be expected to perform.
“It was very important to me that, if this program was going to exist and feed into our job pool, that it would teach the skills that I know my colleagues and I value and are looking for in new hires,” said Kate Bihm, industry partner and managing shareholder of The Bihm Firm, PLLC in Conroe, Texas. “There is a wealth of jobs out there for local people that can be quite lucrative if they are trained through a program like SamPoly.”
Regardless of a student’s career path, SamPoly boasts an application process as quick and seamless as their transition to the job market is sure to be.
“Our vision is for this to be as simple as pressing a button,” Hargrave said. “One hurdle in higher education is the complexity of the application and the time it takes to actually get into a program. We wanted a different model.”
The simplicity factor includes as many points of entry as possible. The condensed semesters last five to seven-and-a-half weeks with multiple openings throughout the year, removing
another potential barrier and providing open accessibility to all who desire a workforce credential.
“Starting college Sept. 1 might not be ideal for everybody,” Hargrave said. “SamPoly is the perfect answer to students who are not sure whether or not college is the right move for them. It offers them the opportunity to explore higher education in a relatively low-risk environment.”
The future of SamPoly will continue to be fueled by feedback from its industry-powered advisory councils as well as the tireless groundwork conducted by its leaders. Officials currently envision future programming delving deeper in the technical space as well as advanced manufacturing and healthcare.
“SHSU has always been outward looking. I think it’s part of our nature to do so,” Hargrave said. “SamPoly has strengthened our connection with industry; it will continue to strengthen the more we listen to our industry partners and satisfy their needs.”
On the cover:
Student doctor Brianna Castro researches AI-driven innovation in education to improve medical students' communication skills.
Through our enhanced digital version of Heritage, designed to complement our print version, you will find even more information and interactive features, such as videos and web links to keep you up to date on university news and your gifts at work.
Available at: shsu.edu/heritage
TIn 2024, Chacon received the Librarian of the Year award from the School Library Journal for her extraordinary work as a K-12 library professional.
INSPIRING THE NEXT GENERATION
BY AMANDA CHACON, MLS
he year was 1998. Titanic dominated the box office; boy bands ruled the airwaves and the internet was the Wild West of innovation. Four years earlier, my family had acquired our first computer, and I was instantly hooked. At just 14 years old, I fell in love with tinkering—upgrading hardware, teaching myself to code and learning how software worked. By the time I graduated high school, I was confident that computer science was my future.
But college quickly introduced me to a harsh reality. Computer science in the late 1990s was very much a boys’ club. I was often the only woman in my classes, and both professors and classmates treated me differently—like I wasn’t capable of understanding the material. One moment stands out vividly: I visited a local store to buy parts to build my own computer. The young man helping me repeatedly suggested I purchase a pre-built system because “building computers is really hard.”
ALUMNA REFLECTION
Despite my enthusiasm and aptitude, the gatekeeping and microaggressions wore me down. I changed my major to biology and then to English, searching for a space where I felt more supported.
Today, as a school librarian, I’ve found a way to rewrite that narrative—not for myself, but for the next generation of girls. That’s why I created STEM GEMS, an all-girls STEM club at the elementary level. We explore STEM through a variety of challenges, from no-tech and low-tech projects to high-tech experiments.
STEM GEMS isn’t just about science and technology; it’s about creating a safe, supportive environment where girls can see themselves as capable problem-solvers and innovators. We invite female STEM professionals to share their stories, showing our students what is possible.
The impact of STEM GEMS is profound. Several students initially joined the club because a friend dragged them along or they just enjoyed spending time with me. By the end of the year, many of those students applied to our district’s STEM academy. One standout is Renata, a student from one of my first cohorts. She’s now a senior in high school, still in the STEM academy, and plans to major in
computer science. Knowing I helped spark that interest is one of my proudest achievements.
Integrating STEM into programming doesn’t involve elaborate or complex projects. Librarians can start small, weaving STEM concepts into everyday activities and building students’ confidence step by step.
The theme that emerges from my work is clear: empowering girls to become comfortable and confident leaders in STEM. As school librarians, we are uniquely positioned to lead this charge. We’re not just custodians of books; we’re cultivators of curiosity and innovation. By integrating STEM into our programming, we inspire students and create holistic impacts on the broader computer science and STEM communities within our schools.
I’m a proud graduate of Sam Houston State University’s Master of Library Science program, and I firmly believe that librarians have the power to shape the future of STEM education. Let’s build spaces where young girls explore, experiment and excel in STEM fields without fear of judgment or exclusion. Together, we can ensure that all girls— whether in 1998 or 2028—feel like they belong.
The theme that emerges from my work is clear: empowering girls to become comfortable and confident leaders in STEM.
A NOVEL APPROACH
Professors Team Up to Inspire Creative Writing
When two creative minds with complementing strengths come together as one, the results can be revolutionary for those aspiring to make their voices heard. Sam Houston State University works to ensure its students have access to the most dynamic guidance possible by encouraging innovative collaborations between its prestigious faculty members.
“It’s about broadening their conception of what is possible in terms of their work process,” said Ginger Ko, assistant creative writing professor. “In general, creative writers emphasize and encourage students to develop a conversation with other writers and creative types; to not create in a vacuum or a dark cave by themselves.”
One would be hard-pressed to find a topic in the creative writing realm that hasn’t been explored extensively by either Ko or fellow assistant professor Katie Jean Shinkle. During the Spring 2024 semester, the two harmonized their vast skillsets to inspire a symphony of ideas and challenge the next generation of writers through their forward-thinking graduate workshop.
“We are firm believers in the pedagogy that we do not teach things that we do not do ourselves as artists,” Shinkle said. “It was the first time a class of its kind had been offered in our department. We had never had two creative writing professors teach a collaborative workshop to graduate students.”
Shinkle, who has authored or co-authored 14 books or chapbooks, was no stranger to partnering with other writers. She serves as creative nonfiction editor of the Texas Review as well as contributing editor for New Michigan Press and copoetry editor of DIAGRAM, among other roles with numerous publications. Her areas of expertise include, but are not limited to contemporary fiction and nonfiction, 21st century American literature, experimental writing and cross-genre writing.
“My work relationship with Dr. Shinkle really began from a place of admiration, because she had already engaged in many collaborative efforts that I revered,” Ko said. “Most of my work up to that point had been based on collaborating with other readers. She opened that new way of thinking for me in terms of working with another writer.”
Ko has taught courses related to writing or women’s studies since 2012. Her broad research spectrum spans everything from new media writing to activism and art. She currently teaches graduate courses in poetry and poetic theory at SHSU and has authored three full-length collections of her own, as well as four chapbooks.
"It was the first time a class of its kind had been offered in our department. We had never had two creative writing professors teach a collaborative workshop to graduate students.
GINGER KO, ASSISTANT CREATIVE WRITING PROFESSOR
"Our university offers support for fun, innovative methods for delivering content in the classroom. That was important for us, because it takes many hands on deck to collaborate.
KATIE JEAN SHINKLE,
ASSISTANT CREATIVE WRITING PROFESSOR
“Dr. Ko was already publishing books by the time she got here, which was very impressive,” Shinkle said. “When we started talking about how she was collaborating with the world at large, and how I was collaborating with singular authors, we decided that our graduate students would really benefit from the marriage of both of our research specialties in the classroom.”
Since both authors write creative nonfiction as a secondary genre, they decided to meet in the middle of their specialties and build their collaborative workshop around this theme using experimental essays.
“All of the students that came in were either poetry or fiction specialties, so we were all sort of meeting in this new genre space,” Shinkle said. “The students got so much out of the opportunity to be in the classroom with two professors at the same time. Creative writing is not a discipline that is known for that level of collaboration, so it was instrumental for both the college and department.”
The generative creative nonfiction workshop explored lyric essays, personal essays and memoir writing. Students engaged in writing experiments and prompts, while also responding to and connecting with both published works and peer feedback. The course emphasized the creative process and the role of collaboration within the world of nonfiction writing. Through shared effort and reflection, it worked to deepen the students' understanding of these genres and the unique space they occupy in creative writing.
“Something I tend to do in all my classes is seamlessly encourage students not to be passive in their writing or
learning,” Ko said. “They cannot expect to just show up to the classroom and sit through a lecture the whole time. We always made sure to give them out-of-the-box exercises to move their bodies as well as their minds.”
The process allowed the students to explore new avenues of creativity while destabilizing the mundane activities they are required to perform on a daily basis. It also helped raise both professors’ work to new heights along with their collaborative relationship.
“Working with Dr. Shinkle made my prose-writing voice much more dynamic and animated than I was anticipating,” Ko said. “We would meet on our Google Doc and it felt like an unrelenting, creative process. It felt like one of the most inspiring things I’ve ever done as a writer.”
Just as seamless as their collaboration with one another was SHSU’s encouragement throughout the entire process.
“We feel like our pedagogy is seen, heard and appreciated here,” Shinkle said. “Our university offers support for fun, innovative methods for delivering content in the classroom. That was important for us, because it takes many hands on deck to collaborate.”
Ko added that she never felt, or expected to feel, any resistance from within.
“I always assume that our department and college are open to the idea of pedagogy and literature, as well as creative writing in general, as being evolving fields,” Ko said. “We work to appreciate tradition while also being open to change and new developments in the field. To work with an administration that understands that is extremely gratifying.”
PURSUE YOUR EXCELLENCE
ELEVATE YOUR CAREER WITH AN ADVANCED DEGREE OR CERTIFICATION.
NEW HEALTH PROFESSIONS BUILDING
WHERE INNOVATION MEETS HEALTHCARE
Since its founding in 2013, Sam Houston State University’s College of Health Sciences (COHS) has steadily grown in both size and reputation. Now, it is reaching new heights with the construction of the Health Professions Building (HPB), slated to open in February 2026. This stateof-the-art facility will house both the athletic training and dietetics graduate programs, along with the college’s two newest departments.
On top of these exciting developments, the college recently named Ryan Zapalac as its new dean. Zapalac joined the university in 2006, two years after earning his PhD in Kinesiology from the University of Houston. As a key contributor to COHS’s success, he has served in many different leadership positions to help develop programming that attract students from the Piney Woods and beyond.
“What’s exciting for me coming into this role is that I’ve been here since the college’s inception and have witnessed our significant growth and evolution. I am excited to see what amazing things we’re going to achieve together in the future,” Zapalac said. “That’s one of the reasons I applied, because I want to continue to work with our team to help us maximize our impact for our students.”
The completion of the HPB is key to Zapalac’s goals of advancing the college and its offerings. Located conveniently in Conroe, Texas, the new structure will neighbor the College of Osteopathic Medicine (SHSU-COM), promoting collaboration between the university’s student doctors, nursing students, athletic training students, dietetic interns, physician assistants, physical therapists and other specialties housed within the two colleges. Despite their collaborative spaces still being under construction, COHS students of all the college’s disciplines came together for an interprofessional education (IPE) event on providing mental healthcare to patients.
“That’s an important piece of what any healthcare provider is going to offer a patient,” Zapalac said. “Thus, if we have an athletic trainer sitting next to a nursing student and maybe even a dietician or two in this IPE event, they are all learning how to best help their patients. Through these collaborative efforts, they’re learning that when forming a care team to meet the needs of a patient, they can approach it from a multidisciplinary perspective. This is another reason why we are also excited to partner with our colleagues in the College of Osteopathic Medicine as they also bring another valuable partnership to this care equation.”
The location of the new Health Professions Building will also prove advantageous for COHS students participating in clinical rotations. Roughly five miles down Interstate 45 are multiple major healthcare network hospitals and clinics. Additionally, the positioning of The Woodlands Center, the HPB and SHSU’s main campus provide access to a tremendous amount of rural, suburban and urban clinical and internship placements.
Aside from the thrilling construction of a new state-ofthe-art facility, the COHS has had exciting developments academically. In February 2025, the Texas State University System Board of Regents approved the creation of the Department of Physical Therapy and the Department of Physicians Assistant Studies and Athletic Training, as well as a new Master of Healthcare Administration degree program. The departments will house the current Master of Science in Athletic Training as well as the planned Doctor of Physical Therapy and Master in Physician Assistant Studies programs. While some of the programs’ specialties are widely varied, Zapalac emphasized how the college’s mission is to train students in utilizing a multifaceted approach.
“Collaboration is one of our core tenants, as well as a purposeful focus on community engagement. We take that as a core piece of who we are; we collaborate with others and
look for ways to win together, then go out into the community to effect real change,” Zapalac said in reference to Academic Community Engagement (ACE), a teaching method that combines community engagement with academic instruction.
Among the college’s other community engagement initiatives is the SHSU Food Pantry. The pantry supports students and community members through regular distributions at its Huntsville campus, with smaller locations at SHSU-COM and The Woodlands Center. As part of its expansion, the new Health Professions Building will include a dedicated pantry space to better serve Bearkats in Conroe and The Woodlands.
“Kathleen Gilbert (Director of the SHSU Food Pantry) has been a trailblazer with finding ways to help battle food insecurity among our students and surrounding communities. The food pantry makes a tremendous impact in all our current locations, and we are excited to open our fourth location soon when the HPB is completed to extend that impact even further,” he said.
To Zapalac, as well as his faculty and staff, the driving force behind all innovations, past and present, is service to students. His time spent as a professor and faculty member showed him the university has a spirit of giving that reaches out to its students and the greater community. This level of care has made Zapalac a Bearkat for life and will serve as his guiding star as he leads the COHS into new frontiers.
“Our faculty, staff and students embody the spirit of our university motto, ‘The measure of a Life is its Service.’ What’s important to me as the leader of this college is that we continue to show the ways that we provide service and real impact to people in the State of Texas and beyond,” Zapalac said. “That’s why I got into education in the first place, because the chance to do that is really important to me and all of the folks in our college. I’m exactly where I want to be, doing exactly what I want to do.”
Proposed Rendering
A PHILOSOPHY OF SERVICE & INNOVATION: THE SHSU ONLINE STORY
SHSU Online has embraced a philosophy that prioritizes agility, forward-thinking solutions and an entrepreneurial spirit.
“The department’s approach is not defined by any single project but rather by a culture that encourages excellent customer service, creative problem-solving, technological innovation and research in the field of distance education,” said Bill Angrove, who serves as chief online education officer of SHSU Online and the Texas State University System (TSUS).
SHSU Online is dedicated to supporting the university and TSUS by providing top-notch service, whether it's through fostering digital learning, pioneering workforce training initiatives, or responding to a crisis. In short, innovation arises when new ideas meet a need, are made possible by available resources and are developed through creativity, collaboration and the desire to solve problems or improve existing solutions.
In collaboration with Strategic Enrollment & Innovation, Integrated Marketing and Communications and Information Technology, SHSU Online is now expanding its call center’s role beyond technical support, proactively reaching out to prospective and newly accepted students.
Jonathan Kinsey, executive director of Online Professional Learning, has firsthand experience with this process, having earned four degrees from SHSU.
“It can be overwhelming to know what to do when you’re first accepted,” Kinsey said. “Being able to provide clear, personalized guidance, we assist students with the application and registration process and help resolve enrollment holds.”
Daniel Walker, executive director of Online Engagement and Learning Technologies Support, believes this expansion is a natural fit for SHSU Online’s support services.
“Our Support Desk serves as a bridge, helping
students navigate everything the university has to offer. Whether they are online or on campus, we make sure they feel supported every step of the way,” Walker said.
To operationalize this effort, Kinsey has developed an app that facilitates the personalized approach between SHSU Online callers and prospective students. Early results of the outreach have been promising, with over 50% of contacts resulting in course registrations.
“Many students have expressed gratitude for the assistance and personal touch,” Kinsey said.
Since its inception in 2009, SHSU Online has been at the forefront of innovation, continuously evolving to meet the needs of students, faculty and the broader academic community. What began as a mission to develop and
offer graduate degrees online has now expanded into undergraduate education, making SHSU Online a multifaceted hub for academic support, workforce development and institutional resilience.
Over the years, SHSU Online has spearheaded initiatives of impact. In 2009, they partnered with faculty to develop fully online degree programs and enhance online courses using innovative instructional design. The department also launched a Media Services team to provide professional video production and graphic design
to enhance online courses. Faculty training in online teaching also became a priority, with workshops and certification programs helping instructors transition to digital learning.
By 2011, SHSU Online had launched a 24/7 Technical Support Center, initially designed to assist faculty and students taking online courses. The service has since expanded to multiple TSUS institutions, handling over 18,000 support cases annually. In 2012, they introduced the Digital Education Summit, a conference focused on best practices in online education.
In 2017, SHSU Online introduced TSUS Faculty Development Days. This initiative provided hands-on training for educators to improve online course design. SHSU Online demonstrated its ability to support students during crises, implementing an academic continuity plan in response to Hurricane Harvey. The plan allowed students to continue their education through compressed course formats and flexible learning options.
In 2019, SHSU Online launched the TSUS Shared Services Initiative, creating a centralized system for Blackboard, accessibility tools and
instructional design to improve efficiency across multiple institutions. When the COVID-19 pandemic struck in 2020, SHSU Online’s Academic Continuity Plan became a national model, providing a framework for remote learning that was adopted by more than 260 institutions.
Recognizing the growing demand for continuing education, SHSU Online established an online professional learning unit in 2021. This initiative streamlined workforce education, enabling over 18,000 adult learners to access professional training and
development opportunities. In 2023, SHSU Online partnered with the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to develop the OERTX Digital Instruction Hub, a statewide platform offering free, high-quality open educational materials.
In 2024, SHSU Online expanded its impact by launching several key initiatives. A partnership with Google introduced free career certifications in high-demand fields, equipping students with valuable workforce credentials. Additionally, a collaboration with Quanta Services led to the development of 14 industryaligned online project management courses designed to prepare students for career success. SHSU Online also expanded its reach in digital media, making educational content more accessible through podcasting services on platforms like Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
Further strengthening its commitment to innovation, SHSU Online partnered with the College of Arts and Media to enhance SHSU’s broadcasting capabilities through KSHU7 TV & Radio. This collaboration resulted in student-led production
"Being able to provide clear, personalized guidance, we assist students with the application and registration process and help resolve enrollment holds."
Jonathan Kinsey,
Executive Director of Online Professional Learning
teams, new streaming services and award-winning programming. The partnership has already earned two silver Telly Awards for productions such as Office Hours, a faculty spotlight series and a live Q&A with U.S. Census Bureau Director Robert Santos.
SHSU Online’s 15-year journey is more than a series of projects—it is a testament to the department’s commitment to innovation, service and excellence. As SHSU continues this commitment, it remains poised to support the university and the TSUS.
Creating Space for Divergent Thinking
by:
In an era ruled by rapid and unpredictable change, universities must foster an environment that nurtures creative ideation and divergent thinking to better prepare students, faculty and staff to solve tomorrow’s complex challenges.
Traditional academic environments, by necessity, work within constraints of disciplinary foundations, accreditation requirements and organizational and regulatory bureaucracy that often prioritize efficiency and structure but leave little time or capacity for innovative thinking. Sam Houston State University has a faculty and staff with the mindset to be creative, and we strive to cultivate an ecosystem in which creativity can thrive.
So how can Sam Houston foster and sustain an innovative mindset? It begins with setting the expectation that faculty, staff and students
should not only feel free to pitch unconventional ideas, but that their ideas should be heard. It encourages the question, “what else?” Alex Osborn, often called the father of brainstorming, said that the best ideas are not always the first to emerge and that continuing to think about issues and proposing solutions is more likely to produce a breakthrough. Asking “what else,” helps us avoid grasping at the first solutions offered without considering less obvious ideas.
Divergent thought is often revealed in unexpected places. Big ideas are a
byproduct of collaboration. This kind of creativity doesn’t have to be formal or complicated. Sometimes, it’s as simple as listening to people we don’t usually hear from - hearing their stories and perspectives and making space at the table for those who haven’t always had one, including our students.
Innovation flourishes when people are empowered to speak up and share. Some of the best ideas come in casual conversations. Our Coffee and Conversations series and Open Forums give faculty and staff a space to explore ideas, raise concerns,
Innovation flourishes when people are empowered to speak up and share.
and talk through solutions together. Meeting with student groups formally or even having game nights at the president’s residence help build relationships so that people feel free to offer suggestions.
Another key component of cultivating a creative culture is making room for trial and error. Another word for error is failure. No one likes to fail, and surely, we have to manage risk. That said, challenges and opportunities in our rapidly changing world will not be met if we only keep doing what we’ve always done. These times we’ve never seen before call
for creative solutions we’ve never used before. How do we build confidence in the creative process?
It starts by creating a culture where ideas can flow freely without being dismissed too quickly. Ideas may not always work exactly as first imagined, but once spoken aloud, they can evolve. They may spark an idea in someone else. That’s the beauty of the process and the path to innovation.
When we embrace divergent thinking, we are open to not only what we’ve accomplished, but to what’s changing around us in higher education and beyond. Sam Houston State is a place where bold thinking can address the world’s biggest challenges in an environment that actively invites and encourages new ideas.
Sam Houston State is a place where bold thinking can address the world’s biggest challenges.
Sometimes the issue isn’t time, it’s culture. People may come from environments where bold ideas weren’t welcomed. That’s why creating space to listen truly matters. Even when an idea seems far-fetched, it’s the act of imagining something new that matters. That spark of creativity is where real change begins.
STAY CONNECTED TO THE PEOPLE AND THE PLACE THAT CHANGED YOUR LIFE FOREVER.
BECOME A LIFE MEMBER TODAY!
FROM IDEA TO IMPACT: STUDENT'S PASSION TAKES ROOT
At the core of everyone’s being lies a calling they cannot deny, and there are many different ways a person can answer that call. Sometimes, finding the right path takes a little guidance and a leap of faith. Recent Sam Houston State University graduate, Triniti Martin, was called to better the lives of children and benefitted from the guidance of family, friends and instructors.
Throughout her high school career, Martin grappled with what path to take to fulfill her calling. She could be a pediatrician and provide children with medical care as they grow up. She could also be a teacher and shape young minds with knowledge that brings about bright futures.
“I knew I wanted to work with kids. I have a lot of teachers, principals and administrators in my family,” Martin said. “I talked to my mentor about what I wanted to pursue. She, of course, encouraged me to go ahead and pursue education, so I did.”
Martin followed not only her mentor’s advice but her own footsteps by studying at Sam. As Martin progressed through her degree in English with a minor in secondary education, she was drawn deeper into the field, which inspired her to change her major to education with a focus on early childhood learning. Despite finding joy at the prospect of teaching future generations, something was missing.
“I knew that I always wanted to open a youth or community center and that I wanted to give back, but I also knew I needed to first finish school and figure out my life,” she said. “I talked to my god-sister as I was going into my senior year and she asked me, ‘Why wait, why
don’t you get your foundation started, so by the time you graduate you can pour more into it as time permits?’”
With that sage advice, Martin forged a new path to answer her calling to serve young Texans and set about establishing her nonprofit, Holistic Roots. Juggling her seniorlevel coursework while laying the groundwork for the organization was an arduous task but rewarding all the same. By the summer of 2024, she officially launched Holistic Roots. Two months later, she co-hosted a backto-school bash where she provided 50 backpacks full of school supplies for local children in need.
Upon returning to school herself, Martin found further inspiration for her nonprofit through an Academic Community Engagement course she participated in. In the class, students were tasked with assisting a local pediatrician who was in the process of opening a clinic while also informing parents of the importance of reading to children at an early age.
“I had just launched Holistic Roots in June, held my first event in August, then school started and we met this
pediatrician who was talking about the same things that I want to do. I saw this as a sign, so it was more inspiration for me to keep doing what I’m doing,” Martin said.
As she and her classmates worked with the pediatrician, Martin developed the idea of hosting educational workshops for parents and caregivers
"To reach this audience, she’ll need all the experience and knowledge she can get, which is why Martin plans to enter a master’s program after spending this year adjusting to life leading a classroom and a nonprofit. Martin knows that another crossroads may lie ahead with her longterm goals of being a professor and
I know that there’s no manual for parenting, but I feel like if parents had more resources to help them, then it would shape the way their child’s future unfolds.
to learn how they can contribute to their student’s learning and development from home.
“My focus is to bridge the gap between children and their families, because I feel like everything starts at home,” Martin said. “I know that there’s no manual for parenting, but I feel like if parents had more resources to help them, then it would shape the way their child’s future unfolds.”
opening a community center looming on the horizon, but for now, she is content knowing that she is making a difference.
“I ultimately plan to keep participating in different events to give back to the community, not just in schools,” Martin said. “That’s my vision, but I’m going to take my time. I am going to give back by finding needs and providing any resources that I can.”
EXTRAORDINARY STUDENTS DRIVING CHANGE
While Barry Hinds believes that variety is the spice of life, there is no harm in knowing where your talents lie and leaning into them. He is leaning into his skills as a custom motorcycle builder to convert a 1972 Honda CB500 into an electric vehicle (EV) for his capstone project in Sam Houston State University’s mechanical engineering technology program.
The 33-year-old husband and father developed an interest in motorcycles during his teen years by watching his
own father tinker with project bikes in their garage. After repairing his first motorcycle at 16, he saw he could bring new life to these machines, deepening an interest into a passion that he would later turn into a career.
“Out of high school, I had gone to college and was pursuing engineering, and I wasn’t ready for it,” Hinds said. “I couldn’t commit to learning the information, so I dropped out and did my own thing for a couple of years.”
Following his departure from the university, Hinds found work that
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appealed to another passion of his, helping others. This path led him to Cambodia, drilling water wells with Wine to Water, an international nonprofit that develops water, sanitation and hygiene solutions in partnership with local leaders. It was there that Hinds was formally introduced to customized motorcycles.
“The custom motorcycle scene in Cambodia is really big, everyone had custom bikes,” he said. “I just saw all these cool motorcycles all over the place, but when I got back, I knew I
wanted to start doing that, so I did.”
Once he was relocated to North Carolina in 2017, Hinds continued working for Wine to Water and began custom-building motorcycles in a small garage in the nonprofit’s basement by merging the styles and techniques he witnessed in Cambodia with the methodology and skills he learned from his father. His work was a hit, and Hinds quickly had friends lining up to have their rides decked out.
But in 2019, his father’s health declined, and Hinds moved to Texas to be closer to his family. Now equipped with unique skills and a reputation for excellence, Hinds landed a job at a motorcycle shop in Austin, where he continued to hone his craft.
“After working in that shop for a couple years, it just wasn’t going anywhere. I maxed out how much money I could make and really wanted to commit to going back to school, because I felt like I needed a degree to get a good job,” Hinds said. “I moved to Conroe and talked to my sister, who had graduated from Sam, and she told me I should check it out. I was immediately interested in the engineering technology program because of its focus on practical, hands-on learning.”
Hinds completed his core curriculum at Lone Star College before transferring to Sam and diving into his engineering studies, which also meant diving into his senior design project.
"a challenge,” Hinds said. “I’ve always had it in the back of my mind that I wanted to build an electric motorcycle at some point because of the way the environment’s going, and the need for sustainable transportation.”
While he originally planned to make conversion kits for multiple motorcycle models, Hinds quickly realized just how daunting converting one bike would be and dialed back the scope of his project. As he began laying the groundwork for the herculean task, he struggled finding the funds to purchase the Honda CB500 that he would customize and retrofit, as well as finding a battery and electric motor that could match the original machine’s power.
“The whole goal is to have it meet the performance of the original motorcycle. It’s not like an electric bicycle; this thing is going to go 120 mph and accelerate from zero to 60 in seconds,” he said.
When he found himself in need of assistance, Hinds turned to his community. He raised funds by hosting a vintage motorcycle show at his current employer, B52 Brewing Company in Conroe, and received support from other local businesses and groups. Hinds then began building the battery from scratch and incorporating the electric power plant into the bike’s original frame by utilizing the knowledge and techniques he has garnered over his academic career.
I’ve always had it in the back of my mind that I wanted to build an electric motorcycle at some point because of the way the environment’s going, and the need for sustainable transportation.
The EV motorcycle conversion project will be a culmination of his formal education in mechanical engineering and informal training in mechanics. While he could have decided to simply rebuild a motorcycle for the project, Hinds decided to challenge himself by rebuilding the Honda and making it run on electricity.
“I’ve been building custom motorcycles for almost 10 years, so I knew I wanted to incorporate them into my project. But since I already build them, that wouldn’t be much of
With his project slated to be finished by May, Hinds is confident that he can complete the work in time using the knowledge instilled in him by his professors and his original teacher, his father.
“The big inspiration for really knocking this project out of the park is my dad, who passed away last semester,” Hinds said. “I’m doing this project in honor of him, because he is the one that taught me everything I know about mechanics and was always backing me up.”
ADVANCING PUBLIC HEALTH THROUGH COLLABORATION
On their own, Bearkats have been known to be changemakers and inspire greatness in their fields. When two Sam Houston State University students combine forces, the impact they have is limitless. Debra Balandran and Stephanie Georges are using their shared passion for public health to improve the lives of Texans, even before receiving their Master of Public Health (MPH) degrees.
Balandran, a non-traditional and first-generation student, came to SHSU in the summer of 2021 after spending eight years working at St. Joseph Health Regional Hospital in her hometown of Bryan, Texas. Despite being able to move up the ladder, she found that her growth would be limited without a college degree when she applied for leadership roles within the hospital.
“I hit a roadblock trying to advance in my career, and that's when I started searching for programs that aligned with what I had experienced working in healthcare and with the courses I’d taken in community college," Balandran said. "That's how I discovered Sam Houston State, and although it's an hour drive for me, I gladly make the commute because I know it's necessary to earn a degree that will fit me and my future career.”
She entered the university studying bilingual healthcare studies with a minor in Spanish. This was tied directly to what she had observed in her previous roles as a receptionist and medical assistant—a significant lack of translation services.
Through her experience, a major hurdle was the different education levels of the community members she
assisted. Balandran recalled instances where she was filling out documents for patients who lacked the ability to read and write.
“What really impacted me was the first time I translated for a patient who was going to be diagnosed with prostate cancer,” Balandran said. “After I was done relaying the diagnosis and answering their questions, the patient and their family were really thankful that they had a person there translating for them. I realized that I have a voice I could use to help the provider care for their patient, while also helping the patient understand what is going on and next steps.”
Despite her long drive to and from college, Balandran continued translating for patients in Bryan as a volunteer at mobile clinics and eventually became involved in health promotion at SHSU by joining the first cohort of the Student Wellness Peer Health Ambassadors.
“When I was in the peer health ambassador role, I was able to experience a different side of public health and how education can impact students, community members and other individuals on how to prevent prostate cancer, diabetes or other health topics,” she said.
Her work continued to grow through participation in the McNair Scholars
"
Program. The elite program prepares high-achieving undergraduate students for doctoral studies by offering mentorship and research opportunities.
Balandran’s research during her time as a McNair Scholar centered around healthcare hesitancy, a topic she has continued to study, and has led to her participating in numerous undergraduate and graduate research programs, including roles as a graduate research assistant on two large grants from prominent public health organizations. It was during her time working on the first of these grants that Balandran first met Georges, her fellow public health graduate student.
While the two worked together on the grant and now both hold the title of graduate assistant for a larger public health organization, their college experiences have a few more similarities as well as a fair share of differences.
Both children of immigrant parents and transfer students from local community colleges, the pair realized the importance of having patient advocates available to those whose first language is not English to ensure the standard of care is maintained. For Georges, an experience receiving routine childhood vaccinations with her sister stands out in her mind.
“An hour or two after getting our
It was so much work, but along the way Debra and I learned so much when it comes to healthcare hesitancy, motivational interviewing and how AI is being incorporated into the field.
STEPHANIE GEORGES
shots, my mom got a call from the doctor, who told her they had given us the final part of a vaccine instead of the first part. My mom wasn’t understanding what they were saying and worrying if my sister and I would be alright,” Georges said.
The incident left Georges with a passion for providing children and their families with the best care possible, no matter their native tongue. She initially started to pursue this dream by studying nursing. After knocking out some of her core curriculum courses at Lone Star College, she transferred to SHSU with a bit of a rocky start to her Bearkat journey.
Georges had been waitlisted for entry into the competitive nursing program and was accepted just before the start of the semester. As her first semester wore on, the rigorous coursework began to wear on her. She found herself overwhelmed and
wondering if she had chosen the wrong path. When she took an introductory course on public health, she found a new road to travel.
“When I took that course, I was like, ‘Whoa!’ It showed that there’s this big umbrella, and yes, nursing falls under that because you can become a public health nurse, but there are so many other little things that fall under the public health umbrella,” Georges said. “I’m more than happy to continue with this degree because there’s always going to be something to do in public health.”
As a first-generation student like Balandran, Georges sought to find a support system for her time in college and joined multiple public health-related organizations such as Eta Sigma Gamma and PULSE Student Action Group. On top of her involvement in these organizations, Georges made connections with
professors who enriched her life not only through the knowledge they imparted on her, but through their support and mentorship.
The relationships she forged with her professors and peers during her undergraduate studies benefitted her when she took the next step toward her goals by entering the master’s of public health program in spring 2024. One of those connections was with Balandran, who Georges has looked up to since working together as graduate research assistants on the first grant.
Together, they created three different learning modules presenting fellow health educators, professionals and public health workers with the findings of research that Christine Cardinal, associate professor of public health, and her students gathered. Entering the project at this stage left the duo with a mountain of information they were tasked with compressing
Stephanie Georges
into a presentation-friendly package that also adhered to the organization’s strict guidelines.
“It was so much work, but along the way Debra and I learned so much when it comes to healthcare hesitancy, motivational interviewing and how AI is being incorporated into the field,” Georges said. “We also learned about our own Texas healthcare landscape, when it comes to where parents, the elderly and young adults stand with their care needs and preferences.”
Following months of grueling work and numerous rounds of intensive editing, the research project was complete, and it was time for Georges and Balandran to take their knowledge to the people. The pair set out on a presentation circuit at symposiums in Houston, Dallas and San Antonio. While presenting their work as newly-minted master’s students was intimidating, the positive reception provided a significant confidence boost.
“After that, I knew if I can do the research position then I can be a graduate assistant, too,” Georges said. “Debra is a graduate assistant, so I’m looking up to her because we’ve been through a journey together and I thought, if she can do it, I can do it, and we can work together.”
Balandran is preparing to move on to the next chapter of her journey towards pursuing a doctoral degree in public health to become a healthcare or higher education administrator while also tackling projects for the DHS and continuing her volunteer work in her hometown. Georges also expressed an interest in returning to the academic world as a professor, but following graduation, she plans to move to North Carolina with her fiancé and begin working for the state’s public health department.
"
When I was in the peer health ambassador role, I was able to experience a different side of public health and how education can impact students, community members and other individuals on how to prevent prostate cancer, diabetes or other health topics.
DEBRA BALANDRAN
No matter what paths the two Bearkats take, both will continue the work they began as research assistants.
“There’s always going to be barriers to healthcare and there’s always going to be hesitancy there, but hopefully, the information we created will help Texans or people in any state feel more inclined to learn more about the care they’re getting before they get it, because everyone’s opinion matters,” Georges said.
Debra Balandran
FUELING CHANGE: MEDICAL STUDENT EXPLORES NUTRITION’S ROLE IN HOLISTIC HEALTHCARE
For Sandi Assaf, a second-year medical student at Sam Houston State University’s College of Osteopathic Medicine (SHSU-COM), research isn’t just about discovery—it’s about impact.
Named SHSU-COM’s Student Researcher of the Year, Assaf has dedicated her academic career to studying the intersections of dermatology, nutrition and public health. Her innovative work on lycopene-rich diets and their potential to mimic the effects of Ozempic in weight loss earned her the opportunity to present at the World Obesity and Weight Management Congress, where she shared research on natural approaches to managing weight without the adverse side effects of pharmaceutical interventions.
Assaf’s passion for medicine is deeply personal. Growing up in Los Angeles with parents who were both dentists, she was drawn to healthcare at an early age.
“My mom went to Russia from Syria to become a dentist,” Assaf said. “She had to learn a new language, adapt to a completely different culture and go through dental and medical school all at once. When I was younger, I would shadow her and see her helping people and just knew I wanted to be like her. I want to help people.”
However, her inspiration to pursue dermatology stems from a more intimate experience—her grandfather’s battle with skin cancer. Witnessing his journey underscored the importance of early detection, effective treatment and patient-centered care. Now, as she advances through her medical training, she envisions a future where she can provide specialized dermatological care to underserved communities, ensuring that patients receive the attention and treatment they deserve.
A natural innovator, Assaf has never shied away from challenging conventional wisdom. In her research, she explored the potential for lycopene—a nutrient found in tomatoes and watermelons—to act as a natural GLP-1 receptor agonist similar to Ozempic, a drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for treating type 2 diabetes that has surged in popularity for weight loss. While the drug has been effective for many, it also presents challenges such as nausea, muscle loss and high costs. Assaf’s work aims to provide an alternative—using dietary strategies to achieve similar benefits without the associated risks.
“I’m very big on the holistic part of medicine,” Assaf said. “The basis of being healthy is just eating well and exercising. We learn all about these
04
drug mechanisms, but so many foods do the same things naturally.”
Her research extends beyond metabolic health, delving into both topical and dietary approaches to UV protection. Inspired by a social media trend promoting beef tallow as a natural sunscreen, Assaf partnered with SHSU-COM faculty to test its efficacy, formulating and analyzing various sunscreen compositions to provide evidence-based recommendations. She also explored how diet and nutrition influence skin resilience against UV damage, leading to a published study in Nutrients. This hands-on approach to problem-solving reflects her research philosophy—one driven by curiosity, scientific rigor and a commitment to improving patient outcomes.
As she looks ahead, hopeful for her future in dermatology, Assaf remains steadfast in her mission: to bridge the gap between research and patient care, advocate for preventative dermatology and extend specialized services to those who need them most. Whether she ultimately practices in Texas or returns to her hometown of Los Angeles, one thing is clear—her innovative spirit and dedication to patient well-being will leave a lasting impact on the field of medicine.
MORE THAN WORDS: TRAINING THE NEXT GENERATION OF DOCTORS WITH AI
Growing up in San Antonio, Brianna Castro always knew she wanted to be a doctor, but it was her uncle’s battle with heart disease that cemented her path. Watching him regain his independence after a life-saving procedure showed her the profound impact that skilled, compassionate physicians could have on their patients and their families.
“It made a huge difference in his life and in ours,” she said. “I knew I wanted
to provide that same kind of care for others.”
The desire to treat patients holistically is what led her to osteopathic medicine.
“I love that being a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine means looking at the whole patient—not just their symptoms, but their overall well-being,” she said.
The mission of Sam Houston State University’s College of Osteopathic
Medicine (SHSU-COM) is to serve rural and medically underserved communities, which also resonated with Castro. She saw firsthand the gaps in health care access around San Antonio’s suburban and more rural neighborhoods. Now, as a third-year medical student, she is navigating her clinical rotations in Victoria, Texas, gaining hands-on experience, and is hopeful for a future in pediatrics, a field she was drawn to thanks to her own positive experiences with her pediatricians growing up.
Beyond learning in the classroom and on rotations, Castro has embraced opportunities to contribute to medical education through research. She was drawn to a project exploring the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in training medical students on one of the most challenging aspects of their future careers: delivering bad news.
“I had already been using ChatGPT as a study tool, and I started wondering if AI could actually help us develop our communication skills, as well,” Castro said.
Taking advantage of SHSU-COM’s summer research program after her first year, she joined a team of other student doctors led by faculty mentors Dr. Yuan Zhao, Dr. Karen Nelson and Dr. Paul Zarutskie to investigate AI possibilities.
Their study had students engage in simulated doctor-patient conversations with ChatGPT, using AI to role-play difficult discussions. The results were eye-opening. By practicing their wording in a low-pressure environment, students felt more prepared for real-life scenarios, allowing them to focus on refining their tone and body language
when speaking with actual patients. However, the study also revealed a key limitation: while this AI could help students structure their conversations, it lacked the ability to provide the emotional depth necessary for real life interactions.
“It’s a great tool for getting comfortable with the words, but it’s no substitute for human experience,” Castro said. Her research has shaped the
way she approaches patient care, reinforcing the importance of not just what a doctor says, but how they say it.
“Body language, tone, even just sitting with a patient in their moment— it all matters,” she said.
She hopes the team’s research sparks conversations about how AI can be responsibly integrated into medical education, particularly in training future physicians on the art of compassionate communication.
With a bright future ahead, Castro remains committed to serving her patients and blending innovation with human connection to provide the highest standard of care. Through her dedication to research and patient-centered medicine, she is already shaping the future of medical education and, one day, the lives of countless patients.
Remembering
John R. Ragsdale '5�: A Lifetime of Generosity and Bearkat Spirit
John R. Ragsdale’s legacy at Sam Houston State University is one of unwavering generosity, vision, and devotion. From his humble beginnings in Humble, Texas, to his success as an entrepreneur and philanthropist, Ragsdale’s story is a testament to hard work, loyalty and a deep love for his alma mater. His impact on SHSU is not just measured in the gifts he gave, but in the lives he touched and the future he helped build.
A proud Bearkat, Ragsdale earned his Bachelor of Business Administration from SHSU in 1959. As a student, he found camaraderie and purpose through his involvement in ROTC and as a member of Sigma Chi, originally known as Caballero. These formative years shaped his lifelong commitment to leadership and service.
After graduation, Ragsdale answered the call to serve his country as a First Lieutenant in the U.S. Army. Following his military service, he embarked on a remarkable business career, achieving success while never forgetting the institution that helped shape him.
But Ragsdale was more than an accomplished businessman—he was a fiercely loyal Bearkat who gave back with a heart full of gratitude. His $1 million gift to the SHSU Alumni Association established an alumni enrichment endowment fund, ensuring longterm support for generations of Bearkats to come. His contributions also funded event sponsorships, enrollment management efforts, the digital sign on Sam Houston Avenue and the two prominent wall monuments that now mark the northern entrance to campus—permanent symbols of his love for SHSU. In recognition of his unwavering dedication, the Alumni Center proudly bears his name, a lasting tribute to a man who gave so much.
Ragsdale’s legacy will live on in every student who benefits from his generosity, in every alum who walks through the doors of the Ragsdale Alumni Center and in every Bearkat who carries forward his spirit of giving. His story is not just one of success, but of impact, inspiration and an enduring love for the university that shaped his life.
Susan Smith Lenamon '�3: A Legacy of Dedication, Service and Bearkat Pride
Susan Smith Lenamon’s life was a beautiful reflection of generosity, leadership and unwavering devotion to Sam Houston State University. Her journey—from her roots in Pearland, Texas, to her lasting impact on generations of Bearkats—was defined by her deep love for education, her commitment to service and her unshakable Bearkat pride.
A proud alumna, Lenamon earned her Bachelor of Business Administration in 1973, carrying the values she learned at SHSU into every aspect of her life. Her 25-year career with Pearland ISD as a teacher, principal and director of communications was marked by a passion for learning and an unwavering belief in the power of education to change lives. Later, she brought that same dedication to her family's successful real estate business, proving that her leadership extended far beyond the classroom.
Yet, her heart always remained with SHSU. As an active member of the SHSU Alumni Association, she served on the board, held the position of president and was a proud member of the President’s Circle.
But perhaps her greatest contributions were those that directly impacted future generations of Bearkats. Lenamon’s generosity led to the establishment of scholarships for
students in criminal justice and education, opening doors for those following in her footsteps. Her support of SHSU’s historic infrastructure left a lasting mark, from furnishing the Peabody Memorial Library to leading the restoration of its 113-year-old pipe organ, ensuring its music would continue to echo through campus halls.
Her legacy is deeply embedded in the fabric of SHSU, most notably through her generous gift of the President’s Home, now known as the Smith-Lenamon House. Dedicated in honor of her parents and late husband, Benjamin R. Lenamon, this home stands as a lasting symbol of hospitality and tradition, ensuring that future SHSU presidents have a place to host, welcome and unite the Bearkat family for generations to come.
Lenamon was more than a supporter—she was a force of nature, a guiding light and a true embodiment of the Bearkat spirit. Her passion for education, her belief in the power of community, and her unrelenting generosity will continue to shape SHSU and the lives of its students for generations to come. Her legacy endures in every scholarship awarded, every student inspired and every tradition she helped build.
A FAREWELL TO...
Doris Lea (Stoker) White '40
Judy Faye (Shireman) Berry '49
Steve Lewis Townley '49
Phyrne Reba (Cousins) O'Day '49
Emma Byrne (Morrison) Phillips '49
William Edward Wilson '50
C.J. "Shorty" Hagler '50
Edith Charlene (Baird) Blackstone '50
John Earl Turner '50
Patricia Hart (Elkins) Cooley '50, '58
Charlene Ann (Vaughan) Bowden '50
Charles Howard Stewart '50
Betty Louise (Sewell) Peebles '51
Una Irene (Petty) Jones '51
Patrick Jerome "Pat" Ryan '51
Virgie Marie (Charlton) Lewis '51
Doris Faye (Cameron) Moye '52, '55
Virginia L. (Humberson) Owen '52
Janette Lee (Donalson) Van Winkle '53
John Robert Mooney '54
James Byron Anderson, Jr. '54, '54
Thomas Russell Allen '54, '56
Elsie (Platner) Post '54
Janette (Lawhon) Bowers '54
Mary Ann (Maxwell) Beltz '55
Reba Juanita (McDermott) Showers '55
Jerry Ray Karriker '55
Edwin Earl Winn '55
Eleanor Ann (Stewart) Hyatt '56
Herman William Homeyer, Jr. '56
Patsy Ruy (Boland) Sanders '56
Patty Sue Davis '56, '59
Eugene Frank "Gene" Zaboroski '56
Elvin Donald Bateman '56, '64
Jimmy Balthrop Dawson '57, '62
Billy Ray Blakley '57, '66
Ralph Lewis Boyd '57
Lowe Lang Galle '57
Claudette (Miller) Stone '57
John Francis Stevens '58
Bobbye Nannette (Akin) Bartels '58
Kenneth "Ken" Ray Robinson '58
Andrea Austin Harrell '58
Charles Winford Whitten '58, '62
Helen Royce (Deggs) Wallace '58
Wendell Harrison Wilbanks '58, '65
Barbara Jean (Baker) Waisath '58
Forest Jay Wright '58
Grace Virginia (Schroeder) Holtkamp '59, '75
John Bolton Foerster '59
Donald Gene Miller '59, '66
John Robert Ragsdale '59
Robert Earl Davis '59, '64
Cora Mae McSpedden '59
James Homer Murphy '59
John Keevil Gresham '60
Ethel J. Sulkis '60
Annabeth (Purdy) Mann '60
Jerry Wade Williams '60
Hubert Burl Kaiser '60
John Oliver Taylor, Jr. '60, '62
Mary Nell (Mosley) Young '60
Alvis Roy Mueller '60, '65
Jack Don Thornton '60, '71
Edward Barney Williams, Jr. '60
Lottie Sue (Bush) Smith '60, '65
Llewellyn Cartwright Johnston, Jr. '60
Oswald Henry Ullmann, Jr. '60
Carole (Stinson) Pederson '60
John Earl Weisinger '60
Peggy Louise (Hoyler) Egger '60, '69
Mary Patricia Faltisek '60
James Carrington Maroney '61, '63
Andrew Lee Wells '61, '68
Velma Ann (Liere) Rollins '61
William "Bill" Whitman Finch, Jr. '61, '64
Mary Jane (Motl) Kaiser '61
Loyd Donald Phelps '61
Mary Gay (Garrigan) Paratore '61
Jon Charles Bright '61
Bobby Jess Huffman '62
Bobette Marie (Lawrence) McFarland '62
Patricia Ann (Novakoski) Pavelock '62
Jennings H. Hill, Jr. '62
Annie Lynn Baldwin '63
John Richard "Dick" Dial '63
Jon Edwin Loring, Sr. '63
Robbie Gene Allphin '63, '72
Patricia Lee (Matthews) Williams '63
Margaret Anne (Kainer) Mock '63
Melvin Hewitt Atkinson, Jr. '63
Richard William Pickar '64
Juanita "Nita" Louise (Cornelius) Jones '64
Terry Douglas Whitaker '64, '65
Altje Ann (Manske) Egmon '64
Bonnie Lee (Oglethorpe) Telge '64
Edgar "Benny" Sorgee '65
Barbara Ann (Ballard) Martin '65, '67
Gary Lynn Cornelison '66, '71
Richard Louis Ortiz '66, '66
Frankie Dean (Plunk) Page '66, '75
Joseph Robert Fendley, Jr. '66
Jack Don Simpson '66
Betty Ann (Stefka) Orsag '66
Billie Carrol (Mitchell) Reding '66
Pamela Jean (Collins) Waggoner '67
William Frederick "Fritz" Barnett '67
Robert Gene Boehm '67
Jesse Lewis Stephens '67
John Paul Neubauer '67, '75
Judy (Logan) Baresh '67
Roger Jack Shadix '67
Janice Anne (McFarlin) Vassigh '67
William Robert "Bob" Smothers '67
John Sanford McCord '68
Regina Jolene (Harden) Stevens '68
Albert Fred Moehlmann, Jr. '68
Beverly Lee (White) Newberry '68
Nancy Grace (Curry) Bussell '68
Glenn Allen Gray '68
Wayne Norris Cox '69, '70
Mary Elizabeth Kilgore '69
Larry Anson Jones '69
Charles Louis Howell, Jr. '69
Charles Edward Maerz '69
Roger Dale Lawrence '69
Elaine Faye Krischke '69
Terry Leldon Geye '69, '70
Glenda Irene (Crowhurst) Moseley '69
Ronald Dee Milliken '70
Penelope Ann (Sample) Drennan '70
Benjamin Charles Fields '70
Andrew Michael Casey '70
Bobby Lee Stewart '70
*08/28/2024 – 03/31/2025
Leslie Herman Bonham, Jr. '70
Frances Elizabeth (St. Clair) Casterline '70
LouKattie Kroll Burzynski '70
Fabian Fonseca '70, '74
August Ernest "Gus" Westhoff II '70
Krishna B. Rama '70
Patricia "Patty" (Bailey) Singleton '70
Carolyn Rae (Tippen) Casey '70
Ronald Wayne Manuel '70, '77
Gregory Lee Northrup '70
Raymond Joseph "R.J." Macha, Jr. '70, '72
Larry Van Fitzgerald '70
Frank Morgan Teague '70
David Alan Dabney '71
Gary Wayne Pochyla '71
Alfred Richard Fry, Jr. '71
Wayne Douglas Ashorn '71
Louvenia May (Horton) Brauer '71
John Elvis Lievsay, Jr. '71
Carl Gene Brassell '71
Mary Alice Koenig '72
Bruce Llewellyn Watkins '72
James Porter "Jack" Bertram '72
Donald Christy "Chris" Tracy '72
Carol Williams Cooper '72
Brenda S. (Myska) Dresner '72
Molly Ann (Richman) Schmidt '72
Kenneth Ray Coons '72
Michael Ernest Bruner '72
Bobby Ray Harris '72
Fred David Garrett '72
Donald Ray James '72
Frederic Stanley Tims '73
Monty Lynn Meier '73
Ann Marie (Garrett) Watson '73, '78
Martin Jacob Weldon '73
Skip Edward Johnson '73
Carlos Villarreal Rodriguez '73
Donna Kay (Carter) Robinson '73
James Mark Priest '73
Helen Ann (Dedek) Sosa '73
Dr. Susan Smith Lenamon '73
Ronald Dale Raska '73
Gary Lee Krone, Sr. '73
William Jewel Howard, Jr. '74
Benito Carmona '74
Gary James Schroeder '74
Troy Edwin Brumfield '74
Joop DeJonge '74
Donnie Charles Pruitt '74
Linda Joyce (Smith) Peveto '74
Timothy Elwin "Tim" Walker '74
David Clare Woolley '74
Jean Elizabeth (Walker) Stewart '74
Bobby George Stuart '74
James Thomas Aisham '74
Margaret Alene (Ellison) Wilson '75
Joe Freeman Garner '75
Pat Galan Railsback '75
Marjorie Dell (McKenzie) Sefton '75
Rosemary Elizabeth (Stutts) Coleman '75
Linda Gail (Dunn) Tate '75
David Franklin"Frank" Minton '75
Bernard Hunter '76
Robert Wyatt Simmons III '76
Margaret Ann (Wray) Kennedy '76
Steven E. Wilson '76
Richard Lee Johnston '76, '77
Patricia Ann Mathews '76
Charles Terry Herman '76
Glenda June Jones '76
Olney Bruce Swope '77
Marsha Katherine (Jones) Phillips '77
Ralph Stoney Bates, Sr. '77
David Jerome Forrow '78
Robert J. "Bob" Camps '78
Edward Holick Wagamon '78
Wayne Charles King '78
Cynthia Kay (Wofford) Acciarito '78
Betty Jean (Dickie) Skelton '79
Walter Lewis Fitzgerald '79
Ricky Ray Link '79
Bennye Sims Meredith '81
Paul Arthur Jones '81
Darrell Fred Rosen '81
Joyce Burlison '81
Keith Howard Bass '82, '84
Thomas Wayne Lawrence '82
Bonnie Jo Patrick '82
Joyce Barrow Merchant '83
John Savoie '83
Mary Lynn McCrory '83
Paula Kathleen (Gaeke) Wade '83
Roberta Jill Davidson '84
Colleen Elizabeth Dailey '84, '04
Robert Nolan Barth '85
Robert Charles Todd '85
Beverly (Baird) Hanson '87
Kevin Antony Sanders '87
Royce Lynn Creech '88
Manda Sue Lively '88
Matthew Allen Fink '89
Robert Charles Rosenkranz '89
Pamela Sue (Butcher) Sanford '89
Stephen Gibson Neal '90
Robert Wayne "Bobby" Smith '90
Roger Alan Hoos '91
Robbin Michelle (Lowe) Zettlemoyer '91
Phillip Scott McKinney '91
Karen D'Ann (Mayfield) Hudson '92
James Mark Jacobsen '93
Wendell Curtis Floyd '93
Sandra Kathleen (Timm) Miller '94
Todd Randolph Garrett '95
Tina (Reed) Till '95
Paul Lee Smith '97
Benny Z. Puente, Jr. '98
Calvin Lee Ortiz '98
Stagg Bernard Pierson '00
Helen Laverne (Smith) Teetz '00, '04
Sarah Elizabeth (Pridgen) Mangham '00
Gabriel Christian Owen Brackett '02, '04
Lisa Anne (Jablon) Dealy '02
Jeremy Heath Standefer '02
Meredith Lee (Wright) Brown '03
Kathleen Sprague Lovelace '04
Justin Ehman Adkins '05
Toni Annette (Tomlinson) Davis '07
Valerie Lynn (Mills) Fisk '08
Adam Jeronn HightowerMoreno '08
Phillip Andrew Russell '10
Kacey Elizabeth (Marshall) Oinonen '12
Ronald Kent Parker '14
Logan Malloy Hickle '15
Karen Elizabeth Lee '16
Leona Annette (Kjelland) Spann '17
Sarah Alane (Stevens) Nelson '21
*08/28/2024 – 03/31/2025
Holly A. Gruy '18, recently joined Spring, Texas business law firm, Stibbs & Co., P.C. as director of business development.
CLASS NOTES
Jimmy Sylvia ’79, announced that he will retire as Chambers County judge at the end of his term in 2026. The decision marks the end of a 34-year career in public service, including 30 years as county judge and four years as county commissioner.
Mary Gratehouse '85, was recently named to the board of directors for the New College Foundation, Inc. She will support the Foundation’s mission of supporting student scholarships, academic programs, faculty recruitment and campus enhancements for the New College of Florida.
Jaimie Langley Henson '90, '94, has been selected Kentucky Wing Commander, Civil Air Patrol (CAP), United States Air Force Auxiliary. Col. Henson has served in CAP for over 20 years. In its auxiliary role, CAP operates a fleet of 560 single-engine aircraft and 1,550 small Unmanned Aircraft Systems. It performs about 90% of continental U.S. inland search and rescue missions.
Jeffie Brewer '95 , a Nacogdoches-based sculptor released his first book in November titled “Joy Machine.” Part coffee table book and part memoir, the 160+ page retrospective documents the past decade of Brewer’s career, using his personal experiences to explore the many ways that art brings joy.
Todd Moebes '00, was recently recruited as the new athletic director and head football coach for Huntsville Independent School District (HISD). Moebes, who played linebacker for the Bearkats throughout his college career, served as the athletic director at Lockhart Independent School District before joining HISD.
Holly A. Gruy '18, recently joined Spring, Texas business law firm, Stibbs & Co., P.C. as director of business development. She brings over 30 years of professional experience to the firm, including 26 years of service to The Woodlands Area Economic Develop Partnership, where she spent the past six years as the chief operating officer.
Jamol Simon '19, is a host/producer of a news segment titled, “Culture Report” for 9NEWS Denver that provides commentary on current events. He has also worked as a news producer for KIII-TV in Corpus Christi, Texas. Simon got his start in journalism as a producer/ host for SHSU’s student-news station, Channel 7 and as a communications writer for the university’s department of marketing and communications (now known as Integrated Marketing and Communications).
Payne Andrus '21, was recently hired as the assistant coach of the Stephen F. Austin University basketball team. He is entering the position after spending the past two seasons as assistant coach for the New Mexico State University Aggies. Payne got his start as a member of the Bearkats’ coaching staff as a graduate assistant from '19-'21, and by the end of the '20-'21 season he was recognized as the Graduate Assistant Coach of the Year by the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches.
Mary Gratehouse '85
Jamol Simon '19
Jeffie Brewer '95
Sam
