News at Lamar University

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.

Red Beak Productions will host a guest lecture featuring film and television professional Dan Katzman on Friday, March 27 at Lamar University. The event will begin at 5 p.m. in COMM 103 and is open to all students. 

Lamar University alumni 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, Lamar University will 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 Texas and 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.

Lamar University assistant professor Dr. Maryam Hamidi has received an $830,000 award from the Texas Department 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 Texas Gulf Intracoastal Waterway.

Engineering Week at Lamar University brought 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.

Lamar University has named Jessye Brown, a senior family studies major from Silsbee, Texas, as a First-Generation Student of the Month.

New state data from Texas CREWS show Lamar University engineering graduates earning top first-year salaries in Texas while 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 Lamar University — 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 Lamar University this week as the campus hosted its annual “LAMARdi Gras” celebration, a series of events leading up to Fat Tuesday.

Lamar University is now accepting applications for its Student Ambassador program.

The Lamar University College of Fine Arts and Communication will host a screening of “The Melody Maids Movie” on Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026, followed by a question-and-answer session with director Kai Jai Conner.

The Lamar University Department 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.

Lamar University’s fully online Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) program has been included on The Princeton Review’s list of Best Online Doctor of Education Programs.

Lamar University hosted a naming ceremony event on Thursday, 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. The Dade Phelan Building, formerly known as the Center for Innovation, Commercialization and Entrepreneurship, establishes the building as a landmark of significance on the Lamar University campus.

Lamar University has 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 Lamar University Wind Ensemble has been invited to perform at the prestigious 2026 Texas Music 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 Lamar University Association 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.

Lamar University has announced the students who earned recognition on the President’s List and Dean’s List for the Fall 2025 semester.

Lamar University strengthened 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.

Lamar University President 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.

Lamar University has 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 Texas graduates, Lamar University leaders 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.