Beyond 1894

In this special episode, students and campus leaders La'Dereka Christian and Max Broussard, along with alum and TOPS coordinator Donovan Turner, sit down to have an open discussion about their experiences. They talk about finding their way as minority students on campus, their journeys to leadership roles, and how important it is for our University to keep pushing forward when it comes to equality and representation. They shout out the Office of Multicultural Affairs and the faculty/staff behind its mission, and they also mention how crucial black student leaders can be to helping new Bulldogs feel at home at Louisiana Tech.

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

Email: [email protected]

The Louisiana Tech Bulldog Baseball squad looks to run it back after a year full of historic highs, and Head Coach Lane Burroughs joins this episode ahead of their season opener at the Love Shack. He's got a lot of praise for his team, and he speaks to the importance of college education amidst a demanding baseball schedule. Hearts will be warmed as he mentions his secret weapon and biggest supporter, Susan Burroughs. He recounts his path from player (to truck driver) to head coach and raves about how important the Bulldog faithful are to the success of the boys in Ruston. It's almost time to play ball.

LA Tech Baseball: https://latechsports.com/sports/baseball

Tickets: https://latechsports.com/tickets

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

Email: [email protected]

From the Louisiana Tech Academic Success Center in Bossier City, with a perfect view of the blossoming construction of the Louisiana Tech Research Institute (LTRI), Warren Ward and Rachel Garcia join Teddy Allen for this episode. They've both had unique journeys to their current roles, and they discuss how critical the work being done— work that's sometimes classified— serves the greater goal of the LTRI. They give us the details on a special place where education, research, opportunity, and partnership intersect on a worldwide scale. A place that's closer to home than many people may know.

LTRI: http://ltri.org/

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

Email: [email protected]

School of Design Professor Joey Slaughter likes skateboarding so much that he's spearheading a project to bring the community of Ruston a special spot: a public skate park. It's a grand project full of challenges, but while Joey tells us about his personal journey as an artist and how he ended up at Tech, he also mentions how important the Ruston Skatepark is to everyone involved. With help from his colleagues, support from the community, and even the approval and assistance of skateboard legend Tony Hawk, this chapter of Joey's life has got him pumped for the future.

Ruston Skatepark: https://www.skateparkofruston.com/

School of Design: http://design.latech.edu/

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

Email: [email protected]

On this year's final episode of Beyond 1894, the University Communications crew sits down to recap some of the best stories of 2021. From research and collaboration to sports triumphs. From campus improvements to student opportunities. This year was full of noteworthy highs for Louisiana Tech, and while it's impossible to cover them all here, you'll get a glimpse of the 2021 we've had and of the promising future that awaits us in 2022.

Several stories mentioned in this episode are tied to previous episodes of Beyond 1894. To hear more, you can listen to:

Todd Castleberry and Meredith Fisher: Good Health and Gratitude

Patrick Scott: Keeping it REAL

All Roads Lead to Ruston: Bulldog Baseball's Big Weekends

Maddie Patton: The Good of Giving Day

Adam McGuirt: Pressure Makes Diamonds... and a Soccer Pitch

Gergana Nestorova: Future Farmers of Our Solar System

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

Email: [email protected]

The Louisiana Tech Department of Aviation is world-class. And being a part of the program comes with a fair share of challenges for both professors and their students. Dr. Jordan Lyons and student Gage McClinton join us for this episode to discuss the highs, lows, and even higher highs of our Aviation program. Jordan touches on celebrating AVFEST, different avenues his students take after graduation, and what makes Aviation at Tech so special. Gage tells us how he balances being a student, flight instructor, and SGA Vice President and why a King Air turboprop might just be his favorite way to take to the skies. They've both got lots of love for the Department of Aviation. It shows here.

Department of Aviation: https://liberalarts.latech.edu/professional-aviation/

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

Email: [email protected]

Teddy Allen sits down with Dr. Todd Castleberry and kinesiology student Meredith Fisher on this Thanksgiving week episode. They talk about how their research is helping those who protect our community to be healthier and how our Department of Kinesiology is always on the go. Meredith discusses her background in musical theater and her life as a kinesiology student. And Todd tells the story of why his miracle baby— born over three months early— is giving him reason to be extra grateful this Thanksgiving.

Department of Kinesiology: https://latech.edu/kinesiology/

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

Email: [email protected]

The head coach of the Lady Techsters, Brooke Stoehr, joins us for this episode just in time for the 2021-22 basketball season. A Techster through and through, Coach Stoehr talks about transitioning from a player under the legendary Leon Barmore to a head coach and what lessons she's taken from both those periods of her life. She discusses the balance between coaching and family and how important it is to be there for her players. She even mentions that she wanted to be a Lady Techster her whole life, and she has the handwritten letter to prove it. Being a leader isn't easy, but Coach Stoehr has a lot of wisdom that she imparts on the current generation of Lady Techsters. And in this episode, we get to hear it too.

You can watch the feature-length documentary Coach: The Leon Barmore Story in its entirety for free by clicking here.

2021-22 Lady Techsters: https://latechsports.com/sports/womens-basketball

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

Email: [email protected]

Former Skate Country DJ— and current College of Liberal Arts Associate Dean and Professor of Art History— Dr. Bryan Zygmont is our guest for this episode. He discusses leading students through study abroad adventures and his love for Dante's Divine Comedy. He comes to terms with his fear of sharks and describes some pretty scary artwork from different centuries in honor of Halloween. This episode plays out a lot more like one of his classes than you might think... in the best way.

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

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

Email: [email protected]

College of Business professor Dr. Patrick Scott joins Tonya Oaks Smith on this week's episode to talk about everything from growing up as a drummer to creativity in the field of economics. He also discusses the annual Regional Economic Analysis of Louisiana (REAL) Report, an in-depth quarterly project completed by economics students and faculty that provides collaborative, hands-on learning, making students under Dr. Scott's leadership much more than simple vessels for information.

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

The REAL Report: https://business.latech.edu/realreport/

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

Email: [email protected]