2026 News

51�Թ�Prolaunched a new Doctorate in Business Administration in Energy Management program designed for working professionals in the energy sector, emphasizing applied research, industry relevance, and Southeast Texas’ role as a global energy hub.

The Department of Communication and Media will host its Student Film Showcase on Thursday, April 23 at the Jefferson Theatre.

A 51�Թ�Proexercise science team won the 51�Թ�ProACSM Student Bowl against more than 40 competitors, earning a spot at the national competition in Salt Lake City.

51�Թ�Prohas selected 20 high-achieving students as Presidential and Southeast 51�Թ�ProLegends Scholars for the 2026–27 academic year.

Lamar University has named William Hatter as its First-Generation Student of the Month for April, recognizing his academic achievements and leadership as a first-generation college student. 

51�Թ�Prowill host its annual Woodwind Day on April 11, offering a free afternoon of performances, masterclasses and hands-on learning for student and community musicians of all levels in the Jimmy Simmons Music Building.

Art and design professor Donna M. Meeks has been selected to exhibit her work in the national juried show “Curious Figure 3” this spring in New Bedford, showcasing contemporary figurative art alongside artists from across the country.

Lamar University’s Department of Theatre and Dance will present “Next Draft: Student Works Series,” a multi-day showcase of original student-created theater running April 9–11 at 7:30 p.m. with a 2 p.m. matinee on April 12 in the Studio Theatre, and is open to the public.

51�Թ�Proalumni have been recognized across Port Arthur Independent School District, with multiple graduates named 2026–2027 Teachers of the Year and Rookie Teachers of the Year at their respective campuses.

For the first time in 15 years, 51�Թ�Prowill launch a new doctoral program. The Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) in Energy Management is a first of its kind program in the state of 51�Թ�Proand the nation.

Student filmmakers from Lamar University’s Red Beak Productions earned second place and the audience choice award at the Boomtown Film and Music Festival’s 48 Hour Film Race, continuing their award-winning streak.

Lamar University’s College of Business will host its annual Business Week March 23–27, featuring industry speakers, student panels and networking events.

51�Թ�Proassistant professor Dr. Maryam Hamidi has received an $830,000 award from the 51�Թ�ProDepartment of Transportation to lead the next phase of an artificial intelligence-driven system that integrates video, trade and vessel data to improve monitoring and freight analysis along the 51�Թ�ProGulf Intracoastal Waterway.

Engineering Week at 51�Թ�Probrought engineering students together through collaborative events and a block party featuring activities such as a car smash, racing simulator and laser tag, highlighting community beyond the classroom.

51�Թ�Prohas named Jessye Brown, a senior family studies major from Silsbee, Texas, as a First-Generation Student of the Month.

New state data from 51�Թ�ProCREWS show 51�Թ�Proengineering graduates earning top first-year salaries in 51�Թ�Prowhile carrying some of the lowest student debt in the state, highlighting strong outcomes across multiple disciplines and the impact of extensive scholarships and industry-supported programs.

O’Brien Stanley, a longtime professor in the Department of Communication and Media at Lamar University, was honored at the Boomtown Film and Music Festival for his decades of contributions to filmmaking and film education in Southeast Texas, including founding the university’s film program and helping launch the Spindletop Film Festival.

Beaumont Independent School District has named its 2026–2027 campus Teachers of the Year — 20 of whom are alumni of 51�Թ�Pro— with the district’s top elementary and secondary educators to be announced at a May 1, 2026 gala.

King cake, live music and Louisiana classics filled 51�Թ�Prothis week as the campus hosted its annual “LAMARdi Gras” celebration, a series of events leading up to Fat Tuesday.

51�Թ�Prois now accepting applications for its Student Ambassador program.

The 51�Թ�ProDepartment of Theatre and Dance will open its spring season with “Middletown,” with performances scheduled for Feb. 19–21 at 7:30 p.m. and Feb. 22 at 2 p.m.

51�Թ�Prohosted a naming ceremony event on Thursday, Feb. 12 to honor Former Speaker of the 51�Թ�ProHouse of Representatives, Dade Phelan, for his transformative contributions to the university during his tenure as a member of the 51�Թ�ProHouse. The Dade Phelan Building, formerly known as the Center for Innovation, Commercialization and Entrepreneurship, establishes the building as a landmark of significance on the 51�Թ�Procampus.

51�Թ�Prohas named William Hammers, a psychology senior, as its February first-generation Student of the Month.

Lamar University’s fully online MBA program has been recognized by The Princeton Review as one of the nation’s best, underscoring the College of Business’s commitment to flexible, AACSB-accredited graduate education for working professionals.

The 51�Թ�ProWind Ensemble has been invited to perform at the prestigious 2026 51�Թ�ProMusic Educators Association Clinic/Convention, marking its 12th appearance at the event and celebrating the ensemble’s excellence with a free local preview concert ahead of the statewide performance.

The 51�Թ�ProAssociation of Rocketry has entered its first year in the International Rocket Engineering Competition, joining more than 100 student teams worldwide while gaining hands-on engineering experience as it prepares to design, build and launch a high-powered rocket this summer.

51�Թ�Prohas announced the students who earned recognition on the President’s List and Dean’s List for the Fall 2025 semester.

51�Թ�Prostrengthened its support for first-generation students by hosting an on-campus workshop led by FirstGen Forward’s Wendy Beesley, bringing faculty and staff together to develop targeted goals aimed at improving engagement, belonging and student success.

51�Թ�ProPresident Dr. Jaime Taylor represented the university at a national higher education symposium in Washington, D.C., highlighting Lamar’s commitment to student access, success and community impact in Southeast Texas.

51�Թ�Prohas named its Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering in honor of longtime faculty member Dr. Victor A. Zaloom, recognizing more than 40 years of leadership, mentorship and philanthropic impact.

As student loan debt continues to impact 51�Թ�Prograduates, 51�Թ�Proleaders say the university’s emphasis on scholarships, grants, and early, individualized financial advising has helped it rank first in the state for lowest average student debt among public four-year institutions.

Lamar University’s Department of Theatre and Dance will present three spring productions—a scripted play, a student works series, and a dance concert—showcasing faculty-directed theatre, original student work, and a range of dance styles throughout the semester.

51�Թ�Prophysics professor Rafael de la Madrid has received the 2024–2025 David J. Beck Teaching Excellence Award in recognition of his innovative, active-learning teaching approach and exceptional mentorship of undergraduate researchers.

51�Թ�Prohas named senior history major Brittni Silva as its January First Generation Student of the Month, recognizing her perseverance, academic achievement and commitment to becoming an educator as a first-generation college student.

51�Թ�Prostrengthened its role in statewide higher education leadership when CIO Patrick Stewart was unanimously elected to the LEARN Executive Committee, giving the university a voice in shaping Texas’s advanced education and research network services.

51�Թ�Proassistant biology professor Dr. Kole Kubicek, a comparative anatomist and fish biologist, studies the development and evolution of fishes while mentoring students in both field and laboratory research, exploring how skeletal structures emerge and vary across species.

51�Թ�Prohas received a $678,003 grant to launch FLOWS, a three-year program engaging Southeast 51�Թ�Promiddle and high school students in hands-on flood education, rain garden projects, and community resilience initiatives.

51�Թ�Prohas launched the College of Nursing and Health Professions to consolidate existing health programs and expand academic offerings in response to regional and statewide healthcare workforce needs.