Alumni Accomplishments
Leadership Academy Alumni
Dr. Mary Funck, Associate Professor, promoted to Chair of the Department of Finance & Banking,
Sam Houston State University
2023-2024
Jessica Gorbett, named Director of Online Marketing
and User Experience, University of Houston
2023-2024
Michael Hardges, selected as Parole Commissioner for
the Angleton Board Office, Texas Department of Criminal Justice
2023-2024
Damon Andrews, promoted to Deputy Director of the
Facilities Division, Texas Department of Criminal Justice
2022-2023
Angela Chevalier, promoted to Region IV Director of
the Correctional Institutions Division, Texas Department of Criminal Justice
2022-2023
Casey Cox,
Director of
Development at SHSU, elected to Huntsville City Council
2022-2023
Armon Irones, selected as Senior Urban Planner, Freese
and Nichols
2022-2023
Lindsay Lauher, promoted to Director of Membership
and Engagement, Sam Houston State University
2022-2023
Mary McCaffity, promoted to Human Resources Division
Director, Texas Department of Criminal Justice
2022-2023
Kasey Shelton promoted to Director of
Admissions Recruitment at Sam Houston State University
2022-2023
Dr. Rachel Valle, Promoted to Executive Director of
Student Engagement at Sam Houston State University
2021-2022
Dr. William Wells, Chair of the College of Criminal Justice at SHSU, collaborated with a
community organization to create a Community Engaged Scholarship
2021-2022
Jeanine Bias, now serving as Associate Vice President
for Student Experience and Chief Retention Officer, Sam Houston State University
2020-2021
Dr. Ricardo
Montelongo, Associate Professor of Educational Leadership, honored with the 2022
Outstanding Graduate Mentor award from SHSU and the Robert H. Shaffer Distinguished Alumni Award
from Indiana University
2020-2021
Tracy Rikard, City of Huntsville Tourism Manager,
received the 1st Place Award for Community/Local Engagement Campaign
2020-2021
Dr. Melinda Miller Holt named Dean of the
College of Science and Engineering Technology
2019-2020
Dr. Chelsea Smith, Promoted to Assistant Vice
President and Dean of Students at Sam Houston State University
2019-2020
L. E. Townsend IV, selected at Deputy Division Director
of the Correctional Institutions Division, Texas Department of Criminal Justice
2019-2020
Jeremy Bryant, promoted to Deputy Division Director of
Human Resources – Recruiting, Texas Department of Criminal Justice
2017-2018
Dr. Emily Roper, named Dean of the College of Nursing
and Health Professions, Drexel University
2017-2018
Matthew Olmstead, selected as Assistant Dean of
Business Operations, Weiss School of Natural Sciences, Rice University
2016-2017
Gene Roberts, JD, EdD, selected as one of the
world’s leading practitioners in the Who’s Who Legal: Commercial Mediation 2024 report
2015-2016
Ann Theodori, selected as Vice President for Strategic
Enrollment Management, University of Houston-Clear Lake
2015-2016
Katy Pelton, Assistant Director of Residence Life, Sam
Houston State University, Serving as Chair of the Awards Committee for the Association of College
and University Housing Offices – International
2014-2015
Bobby Lumpkin, promoted to Chief Operations Officer,
Texas Department of Criminal Justice
2013-2014
Ryan Zapalac, named dean of the College of Health
Sciences, Sam Houston State University
2013-2014