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Copeland named LU alumni affairs director

Shannon CopelandShannon Copeland has been named director of alumni affairs for Lamar University, officials said today.

“A great example of a passionate learner, Shannon holds three degrees from Lamar University and has significant experience in all facets of the university,” said Juan Zabala, vice president for university advancement. “We are extraordinarily fortunate to have someone with her background, energy and creativity leading this important area of Lamar University. Generations of students and alumni will benefit from Shannon’s appointment to this position.”

“Lamar University has been my second home since I entered here as a freshman in 1998,” Copeland said. “I love Lamar and I am excited to have my career here and to be working with alumni who are such an important and vital part of our university community.”

“I know that I will be building on a strong foundation,” Copeland said. “Alumni Affairs and our wonderful Alumni Board have accomplished great things in the past. I am looking forward to what we will be able to do together in the future.”

The Nederland native has a long record of service to the university, most recently as director of advancement services, a position she has held since 2011. She was coordinator of advancement information systems, 2008-2011, employee relations coordinator and career counselor, 2007-2008, and administrative assistant sr. in the Office of Alumni Affairs, 2004-2007. She has also served as served as the College Panhellenic Advisor since 2009.

She will retain supervisory responsibility over the advancement services department.

“I see this role as an opportunity to connect alumni with each other and with our current students,” Copeland said. “Our alumni are the ambassadors of the university, helping us recruit new students and helping our university continue to grow.” The greater pride alumni take in their alma mater, the greater value their degrees hold, Copeland said.

In her earlier role as employer relations coordinator in the Career and Testing Center, she worked with young alumni who were returning to Lamar to recruit for their companies.

“I have a real passion for student engagement and student leadership,” she said. “Leadership and empowering students is my passion as well as alumni engagement.”

Copeland taught a Lamar 1101 University Success Seminar this fall and learned better the challenges many students face and the determination they have to be successful in college. “They were so hungry to learn and excited about their future careers because they did a lot to get here,” Copeland said. “Being able to share the stories of some of our alumni who also faced incredible struggles and ultimately succeeded, some beyond their wildest dreams, is inspiring.”

Copeland holds a MBA, 2007, Bachelor of Business Administration, 2003, and B.A. in psychology, 2002, all from Lamar University.  She was a graduate of Lamar’s Honors Program, and a member of Apha Delta Pi Sorority, Order of Omega, and Psi Chi psychology honor society, and the Finance Association.

She was a peer advisor, and a member of the Pi Delta Phi National French Honor Society and Alpha Lambda Delta National Freshman Honor Society. She currently serves as president of the Texas Alpha Delta Pi Alumnae Association. Active in the Junior League of Beaumont since 2007, she has served on or chaired several of the organizations projects and committees.