Summer 2026 54:2

In physics, we spend a lot of time talking about static friction, the initial resistance we need to overcome just to get an object to budge. Once it’s moving, we can rely on Newton’s First Law, which assumes that an object in motion will stay in motion.

When asked about his career, Roland Rodriguez ’74 described it as a story in three chapters: from the barrio, to the boardroom, to travels around the world. Today, he is focused on creating a legacy at Lamar University by providing the same opportunities for current and future Cardinals.

Like many young children, Valeria Perez ’20, wanted to be a veterinarian when she grew up. While for most this noble career goal is a passing fancy born of a child’s love for animals, Perez has never wavered in her passion for veterinary medicine and has been actively working towards making her childhood dream a reality since middle school.

Across the U.S., the healthcare industry is suffering from severe staffing shortages driven by an aging population, longer lifespans and increasing employee burnout—an issue that has only worsened since the COVID-19 pandemic.

Known as America’s energy gateway, the Sabine-Neches Waterway is home to Southeast Texas’ four local ports—Port of Beaumont, Port of Orange, Port of Port Arthur and Port of Sabine Pass—all of which are led by Lamar University alumni: Chris Fisher, port director/CEO for Port of Beaumont; Lorrie Taylor, executive port director/CEO for Port of Orange; Larry Kelley, port director/CEO for Port of Port Arthur; and Mark Viator, port manager for Port of Sabine Pass.

Former LU Ambassadors look back at the road that led to success: Mariah McCoy, Darien Phillips, Long Nguyen, Jesi (Courville) Jones

We express our deep gratitude to the alumni and friends of Lamar University who have recently established endowments or made plans to endow gifts through estate plans. These gifts encourage students to pursue a college education and support faculty in creating innovative learning environments. An endowment creates a legacy that becomes a permanent part of Lamar’s history.

Jamie Karthein says the primary focus of her research is to understand “the fundamental building blocks of our world.” Much of her work consists of studying the smallest particles, quarks and gluons, that are found inside of atoms and “make up everything around us.”

When it comes to entertaining the troops, the legendary Bob Hope has nothing on a group of young women from Beaumont. For 30 years the Melody Maids, under the direction of local music teacher Eloise Milam, sang their hearts out for thousands of American servicemen stationed around the world.

Diane (Keating) Woodcox’s journey began in Baytown, Texas, where she graduated from high school and took her first steps into higher education at Lamar University. “It was a great experience,” she recalls. “I really enjoyed the classes and the people I met.”

Lamar University hosted a naming ceremony Feb. 12 to honor former speaker of the Texas House of Representatives, Dade Phelan, for his transformative contributions to the University during his tenure as a member of the Texas House.

Dubai is the part people notice. From a distance, the skyline looks like the future arrived early. But for Alaric Harrell ’99, Dubai isn’t a postcard. It’s his Tuesday.

Recognizing the achievements of LU alumni never grows old. It’s always with great pride that their successes appear on the pages of Cadence, and learning that Nick Carter ’75, B.B.A. accounting, was recently recognized as Citizen of the Year by the Lumberton Chamber of Commerce is no exception.

Matches made at LU include Caroline (Olson) '65 and Carl Wiggins '64, Nia (Williams) and Anthony Alex '18, Nancy (Duhon) and Michael Webb '78, Tonya (Manuel) '13 and Steven Srader '09, and Rena (Sutton) '19 and Timothy Stewart '19