Beyond 1894

Elected by their peers in the recent University ballot, new Student Government Association (SGA) leaders Elizabeth McKinney (President) and Gabe Freeman (Vice President) have plans for their administration to build on the successes of those prior while championing the voices of the student body. They discuss their roles in SGA and why they chose to take on their current leadership positions, as well as their hopes and goals for the upcoming year. But first, they have to finish helping new Bulldogs become acclimated to their new home during Summer Orientation. These two Orientation Student Leaders (OSLs) also talk about how important it is to each of them that they play a part in making Louisiana Tech feel as much like family for others as it does for them.

Louisiana Tech SGA: https://orgs.latech.edu/sga/site/

Website: https://1894.latech.edu/beyond/

Email: [email protected]

Louisiana Tech's new head football coach, Sonny Cumbie, sits down to talk about the season ahead as the Bulldogs ramp up summer practice. He reminisces about growing up in Snyder, Texas, and playing quarterback at Texas Tech. He talks about his penchant for coaching and the lessons instilled in him over the years. He mentions how he's taken the Tenets of Tech to heart and uses them to help build his new team's identity. The coach discusses family, togetherness, and how well Ruston has treated him since his arrival. He even dishes his thoughts on what makes a perfect Frito pie. It's time to get excited about the 2022-23 season.

Bulldog Football Tickets: https://latechsports.com/tickets

@LATechFB on Twitter: https://twitter.com/LATechFB

Website: https://1894.latech.edu/beyond/

Email: [email protected]

In this episode, Dr. Mary Caldorera-Moore from the College of Engineering and Science talks about the history of the Biomedical Engineering program at Louisiana Tech, her "typical" route to becoming a member of the Tech Family, and the focuses of her work and what it could mean for the future of the field. She discusses her love for hydrogels and their practical applications in her work, and she helps us connect the dots by drawing comparisons to a certain classic candy snack.

Biomedical Engineering: https://coes.latech.edu/undergraduate-programs/biomedical-engineering/

Website: https://1894.latech.edu/beyond/

Email: [email protected]

In a matter of days, hundreds of students from around the world will descend on Ruston to put their civil engineering skills to the test in the ASCE Concrete Canoe Competition. Dr. Elizabeth Matthews and graduate student Katya Opel have played big roles in bringing this epic contest to our city. In this episode, they discuss the magnitude of the event, the science behind crafting a canoe made of concrete, and their personal and professional ties to the group of engineering students that will put their best paddle forward on June 3-5.

ASCE Concrete Canoe Competition: https://www.asce.org/communities/student-members/conferences/asce-concrete-canoe-competition

College of Engineering and Science: https://coes.latech.edu/

Website: https://1894.latech.edu/beyond/

Email: [email protected]

Dr. Amber Burdge wears many hats. Her primary role as Associate Athletics Director of Student-Athlete Success Services is to foster the classroom achievements of the never-ending flow of Bulldogs and Lady Techsters that call our campus home. She also teaches these same students and more, working as an adjunct professor on top of these other duties. Recently voted "Office Parent" by the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), she's a constant champion of the idea that competing in the classroom is just as important as competing on the field, and the recent accolades from the LA Tech Sports family proves it. In this episode, she talks about her journey to her doctoral degree, the challenges of her and her team's work in the Athletics Department, and the upcoming Student-Athlete Success Center that will break ground sooner rather than later.

LA Tech Sports: https://latechsports.com/

Student-Athlete Academic Success: https://latechsports.com/sports/2018/7/20/academics-academic-center-html.aspx

Website: https://1894.latech.edu/beyond/

Email: [email protected]

Cathi Cox-Boniol is a Louisiana Tech legacy who pours her heart and soul into the University. She's the Director of the Region 8 LaSTEM Center, part of a group of partners across north Louisiana focused on meeting the critical need for science, technology, engineering, and math learning and job skills in our region. She talks about the way LaSTEM is transforming the future of the industry, how the STEM way of thinking can influence everyday lives, and even why her love for Elvis has affected her teaching style.

Region 8 LaSTEM: https://community.latech.edu/scils-region-8-lastem-center/

College of Education: https://education.latech.edu/

Website: https://1894.latech.edu/beyond/

Email: [email protected]

Dr. Kirk St.Amant from the School of Language and Literature specializes in Technical Communications, and that encompasses so much more than it may seem. His expertise is in the areas of health and medical communication and usability and design, and he studies the communication of complex topics and how effectively technologies can be used by their intended audiences. In this episode, he breaks down how all disciplines at Louisiana Tech contribute to this field, he explains the impact of the local Center for Health and Medical Communication (of which he's the Director), and he talks about why usability is foundational to teach in ways that create a greater understanding between a thing and the person using it. It's all about the end user.

College of Liberal Arts: https://liberalarts.latech.edu/

Usability and Design Symposium: https://usability-conference.weebly.com/

Website: https://1894.latech.edu/beyond/

Email: [email protected]

Dr. Bill McCumber keeps his finger on the pulse of the finance world, and his roles at Louisiana Tech make him an important figure in the ever-evolving College of Business. In this episode, he talks about the Student Managed Investment Fund (pronounced "smif" for fun) and the growth it has experienced thanks to the efforts of his students. He discusses financial technologies and how they're shaping the realm of banking, and he recounts his journey from the big city to the Ruston countryside, even telling us along the way why It's a Wonderful Life might be the best banking movie he's seen.

College of Business: https://business.latech.edu/

School of Banking: http://business.latech.edu/banking/

Website: https://1894.latech.edu/beyond/

Email: [email protected]

As Associate Dean of Research and Graduate Studies in the College of Applied and Natural Sciences, Dr. Jamie Newman is at the forefront of much of the research being done at Louisiana Tech. She's a leader, a mentor, and a voice that speaks to the challenges and successes in her field. In this episode, she talks about her students and the core changes they go through while learning in the lab. She also discusses their work, as well as the VISTA program's harmonization of art and science, the tall task of research communication, the school's innovative new Virtual Anatomy Lab, and more.

School of Biological Sciences: https://www.latech.edu/biology

Newman Lab on Twitter: https://twitter.com/NewmanLATech

Website: https://1894.latech.edu/beyond/

Email: [email protected]

Every year, the ARCH 335 class of junior architecture students spends countless hours at Camp Alabama in Choudrant, designing and building larger-than-life projects from scratch that impact the lives of the special-needs campers at MedCamps each summer. And every year, these students are led by Professors Robert Brooks and Brad Deal, who act as instructors, mentors, colleagues, and coworkers throughout the duration of these near-impossible challenges. On this episode, Brooks and Deal talk about the magic behind the annual design-build experience at MedCamps and the dynamic they share that's kept them going strong for nine years now. They touch on the motivation, impact, and rewards that come from such meaningful processes, and they discuss the transformative effect these projects have on their students.

ARCH335 on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arch335

Hero's Landing (2021 MedCamps Project) Photo Gallery https://latech.smugmug.com/Community-Engagement/Heros-Origin-Dedication

ARCH 335 Videos by Brad Deal: https://vimeo.com/user55489561

Website: https://1894.latech.edu/beyond/

Email: [email protected]