Date(s): Monday, April 13 through Friday, April 17

Join us for National Student Employment Week. Treats and perks all week include popcorn and padfolios, professional headshots, snowcones, donuts and coffee, and Big Red floats—because our student employees deserve the spotlight! More information can be found .

Date(s): Now through Wednesday, April 29, 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Location: Nutrition, Hospitality and Human Services Building, Room 104

On the run? Want something nutritious and delicious for lunch? Cardinals on the Run and the Hospitality Management and Culinary Arts Program are cooking up something special for you. Limited orders are available. Pick-up will be in the Nutrition, Hospitality and Human Services building, Room 104. Check out hte menu and dates, and place your orders here.

Date: Monday, April 13, 2 - 3 p.m.
Location: Setzer Student Center, San Jacinto Room 218 or via

The Human Resources department hosts HR Support Drop-In Sessions every second Monday of the month. For the month of April, we will be doing a Worker's Comp Overview. This session will be available both in person and via Microsoft Teams on April 13 at 2 p.m. in the Setzer Student Center, Room 218.

Date(s): Monday, April 13 through Friday, April 17, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Location: Dishman Art Museum

This exhibition features works created by middle and high school students from our community. The Dishman is open to the public, free of charge, daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Date: Tuesday, April 14, 12:45 - 1:45 p.m.
Location: Maes Building, Room 107

Kevin Harren and his team from Golden Pass LNG will talk about challenges and solutions at the new facility in Sabine Pass. This a great opportunity to also network and talk about potential internship opportunities. As always, there will be free pizza.

Date: Tuesday, April 14, 1 - 4 p.m.
Location: Setzer Student Center, Cypress I & II

Please invite your students to take a free professional headshot for use on LinkedIn or other professional applications. Please remember to tell them to dress in business casual or business professional attire. Questions? Contact the Center for Career & Professional Development at (409) 880-8878, careercenter@lamar.edu, or stop by Galloway 102. More information can be found .

Date: Wednesday, April 15, Noon - 2 p.m.
Location: Setzer Student Center

Cardinals, help us show how connected our community is at our World Art Day event. Join us in creating a vibrant paper chain that stretches from one end of the Setzer Student Center to the other. We’ll have all the supplies; we just need y’all to help us build the chain, one link at a time.

Date(s): Thursday, April 16 & Thursday, April 23, 1:00 - 1:30 p.m.
Location: Setzer Student Center, Cypress 125/127

Prepping for success starts today. Learn how to boost your motivation in this final stretch with STARS. Join us this month to build unbreakable confidence, take control of your time & overcome the endless doomscrolling. See how you can build resilience and effective study skills — learn more here.

Date(s): Thursday, April 16 & Thursday, April 23, 12:45 - 1:45 p.m.
Location: Galloway Building, Landes 101

For better preparing your talk or poster presentation at the EXPO 2026, please join one of the practice sessions on April 16 or April 23 to receive constructive feedback from faculty and judges, as well as from students who won awards to the previous EXPO editions.

Date: Thursday, April 16, 2:00 - 3:30 p.m.
Location: Science Auditorium

Jesse Thompson is a senior business economist for Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas. Thompson joined the bank in 2010, where he performs research and analysis on issues affecting the Houston and Gulf Coast economy, particularly the issues surrounding area hydrocarbon industries. All faculty, staff and students are welcome to attend the lecture.

Date: Thursday, April 16, 1:00 - 2:30 p.m.
Location: Setzer Center Ballroom

Please join us in honoring the 2026 51³Ô¹ÏProProfessor Recipient and 51³Ô¹ÏProMerit Recipients at a special ceremony and reception. More information can be found here.

Date: Thursday, April 16, 4 - 6 p.m.
Location: Science & Technology Building, Room 203

Come to Game Night and join colleagues for laughter, friendly competition, and a relaxing break. Whether you’re cheering on your department or simply enjoying the company and refreshments, join CITL to connect, recharge, and celebrate collaboration across campus. More information can be found here.

Date: Monday, April 20, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Location: Setzer Student Center, Ballroom A

The annual Graduate Research Conference, scheduled for April 20, will showcase graduate student research in the form of posters and paper presentations. Awards will be announced at 5 p.m. for 1st and 2nd place conference winners.

Date: Tuesday, April 21, Noon - 1 p.m.
Location: Setzer Student Center, Cedar Room 160

James Hromadka, a certified financial planner with Corebridge Financial, will discuss how Social Security fits into your retirement, including claiming ages, tax impacts, and key considerations for spousal benefits. More information can be found here.

Date: Tuesday, April 21, 12:45 - 1:45 p.m.
Location: Maes Building, Room 107

The Biology Department is hosting plant biochemist Dr. James Moroney (LSU) to talk about how algal cells gather carbon dioxide to support photosynthesis. Free pizza will be available at this lecture.

Date: Tuesday, April 21, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Location: Wayne A. Reaud Building, Room 120

Connecting Southeast 51³Ô¹ÏProexperiences with national and international research on justice systems, resilience, trauma recovery, reintegration, and the rule of law. The program brings together scholars, practitioners, judges, law enforcement professionals, attorneys, and advanced graduate students. More information can be found here.

Date: Wednesday, April 22, 10:30 - 11:30 a.m.
Location: Setzer Student Center, Sabine I

At our next Roundtable, we'll discuss how gamification can energize learning and boost student engagement. Faculty are invited to share experiences, questions, and ideas with peers and subject matter experts. We’ll discuss practical approaches and small changes to energize student learning. More information can be found here.

Date: Thursday, April 23, 3:00 - 4:30 p.m.
Location: CICE Building, Room 113

Join us for the 2026 51³Ô¹ÏProFaculty Retirement Ceremony as we honor our retiring faculty and celebrate their lasting contributions to the university community.

Date(s): Friday, April 24 & Saturday, April 25, 7:30 - 10:00 p.m.
Location: University Theatre

This concert will feature performers pushing boundaries and bringing innovative ideas to the table for people to enjoy and relate to. The audience can expect to see different genres of dance including modern, contemporary, tap, and jazz. More information can be found .

Date(s): Friday, April 24 & Saturday, April 25, 7:00 - 10:30 p.m.
Location: Rothwell Recital Hall

Lamar Opera Theatre will present Le Nozze di Figaro, a comic opera in four acts by W. A. Mozart. The opera will be performed in Italian with projected surtitles of English translations and take place at the Rothwell Recital Hall, 51³Ô¹ÏProcampus at 7 p.m. Admission is free.

Date: Tuesday, April 28, 9 - 10 a.m.
Location: Setzer Student Center, Cedar Room 160

Retirement Advisor Angela Bryant will explore whether your Teacher Retirement System benefits alone can support your ideal retirement. We'll cover how TRS works, common gaps, and simple ways to build additional security and confidence for the future. Registration is required. Breakfast will be served.

Date: Wednesday, April 29, 9:30 - 11:30 a.m.
Location: Sheila Umphrey Recreational Sports Center

We're Raisin' Awareness About Fentanyl for National Fentanyl Awareness Day. Fentanyl is a dangerous opioid that everyone should be aware of. The CDC reports that 52.7% of all drug overdose deaths are caused by illegally made fentanyl. Remember, if it's not from your doctor, don't take it! More information can be found here.

Date: Friday, May 1, 3 - 5 p.m.
Location: Cherry Engineering Building

Senior Design Symposium is where our seniors get to show LU faculty, staff, their families and friends, and the public the real world engineering problems they have been solving over the past year. They will have their research where people can stop by and ask questions.

The First-Gen Awards Celebration is Friday May 1. The purpose of this event is to recognize first-gen students and supporters of first-gen for accomplishments and persistence. Please nominate using this link.

Date(s): Friday, May 1 & Saturday, May 2, 7:30 p.m.
Location: University Theatre

Experience the exceptional talent and artistry that have shaped two decades of leadership and impact in fine arts higher education. Enjoy dynamic performances by 51³Ô¹ÏProstudents and alumni alongside the choreographer himself, Golden Wright. More information can be found here.

Date(s): Wednesday, May 6 & Thursday, May 7, 10:00 - 11:30 a.m.
Location: CICE Building, Room 113

Human Resources will offer EPAF training on May 6 and May 7 from 10:00 - 11:30 a.m. in the CICE Building, Room 113. Employees interested in attending should submit their information using this form. An official meeting invitation will be sent closer to the training dates to those who register.

Come join us this week for . Don't forget that you can also watch the LU Cardinals on the road on ESPN+. Go Big Red!

Payment Services and Card Services has moved.

Payment Services is now located in the Plummer Building, Section A, Suite 101.
Card Services is now located in the Plummer Building, Section A, Suite 107.

Please make note of the new locations.

Extended deadline due date: Wednesday, April 15, 11:59 p.m.

All undergraduate and graduate students from all academic areas are invited to submit abstracts for oral and poster presentations at EXPO 2026, which will be held on April 30 - May 1. We will welcome plenaries, workshops, and presentations done by students from Lamar and other schools in Texas. More information can be found here.

51³Ô¹ÏProstudents have elected a new group of officers to represent them in the 2026-27 academic year.

Carsen Barrett has been elected president of the Student Government Association. Barrett is physical education teacher education major from Groves. Briley O'Connor, a political science major from Humble, is the vice president-elect.

Class senators for 2026-27 are Ashton Rainey, Senior Class; Elizabeth Brankin, Junior Class; and Brittanny Sherman, Sophomore Class.

LU students voted online Tuesday and Wednesday to choose executive board positions and class senators for the 2026-27 academic year. The elected leaders will take their oaths of office at the Toast to Leadership ceremony on April 22, and begin their terms on June 1.

The Student Government Association, formed in 1955, advocates for the interests and concerns of over 17,000 51³Ô¹ÏProstudents to enhance the student experience.

CAPTRUST Financial Advisors, the independent firm that partners with The 51³Ô¹ÏProState University System on its retirement plans, will be hosting virtual consultations on April 15, 16, 21, and 22. You can schedule your appointment through the HR Events page.

Professor Award:
Cristian Bahrim, Physics, Arts and Sciences

Merit Awards:
Abigail Dueppen, Speech and Hearing Sciences, College of Nursing and Health Professions
Sushil Doranga, Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering 
Yan Yan, Curriculum and Instruction, College of Education

Please join us in celebrating Lauren Sheffield and Janice Kelly, the grand prize winners of this year's Benefits Fair giveaway! And a big thank you to all employees who attended and participated. Your energy and engagement made the event meaningful and successful.

Sneha Jobby of Missouri City, Texas, is a Biology major with a minor in Chemistry and Pre-Optometry Concentration

Homero Tijerina of Port Arthur, 51³Ô¹ÏProis a Biochemistry major with a minor in Chemistry

Isabella Tran of Nederland, Texas, is a Biology major with a minor in Chemistry and Pre-Med Concentration

The application deadline for the Summer 2026 Grant Submissions & Expert Insights is on May 2, and the Graduate Thesis & Dissertation Resilience Fellowship is on May 1. You must apply on .

Have something to share?  (e.g., events, publications, faculty research, awards, departmental congratulations, grants, etc.) and the Office of Marketing Communications will get the word out through emails, web, social media and more. 

All approved announcements must be received by Thursday at 3 p.m. to be included in the following week's LU Weekly Update newsletter.

Sociology senior named First-Gen Student of the Month

51³Ô¹ÏPronames 20 Presidential, Southeast 51³Ô¹ÏProLegends Scholars

Exercise science team wins first at TACSM Student Bowl, advances to nationals