LU Home | LU Connect | Directory
X
Lamar University
MENU
Home »Marketing Communications »About

Our Team

We consider ourselves enthusiastic ambassadors of Lamar University and our brand.

We're focused on building awareness and increasing support for LU across the board. We achieve this by collaborating with our partners across campus to connect the University with the general public as well as targeted audiences.


MARKETING OFFICE


DEPARTMENTAL MARKETING

Natalie Rhodes 
Marketing Manager 
College of Arts & Sciences 
natalie.rhodes@lamar.edu 
(409) 880-7662

Natalie Rhodes is the marketing communications manager for the College of Arts and Sciences. She received her bachelor’s degree in dance from LU in 2014 and her master of education in instructional leadership in 2018. Prior to working in marketing, she served as an admissions counselor and recruited future Lamar University Cardinals. During this time, she also served as a High School Relations Committee member for TACRAO. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family, teaching dance, playing with her bunny, Buttercup, watching Game of Thrones, and watching the Houston Astros play.

JT Robertson 
Marketing Coordinator 
College of Fine Arts & Communication 
jennifer.robertson@lamar.edu
(409) 880-8137

Jennifer “JT” Robertson is the marketing communications coordinator for Lamar University’s College of Fine Arts and Communication. She holds a B.A. degree in mass communication with a concentration in public relations and a minor in journalism from the University of Louisiana at Monroe. Prior to coming to LU, she served as a public relations liaison for Senator Mike Walsworth and associate director of communications and marketing for the American Cancer Society. She has worked on numerous political campaigns and done freelance work for Penino and Partners Public Relations, Hill & Knowlton Strategies, Martin Productions, The Symphony of Southeast Texas and Trinity United Methodist Church. She and her husband, Lance, live in Mid-County with their two children, Randall and Reese.

Haley Strahan  
Director of Outreach and Student Services
College of Engineering 
hmeek@lamar.edu 
(409) 880-7097

Haley Strahan is the director of outreach and student services for Lamar University’s College of Engineering. Born and raised in Beaumont, she holds a B.S. in general studies with a concentration in communication from Lamar University. Prior to her position in Marketing, she worked for Lamar University Welcome Center, and as a freelance writer for several local and out of state publications. Haley lives in Beaumont with her husband, Ben, and their three girls, Phoebe, Susannah and Genevieve.

Elizabeth Newman
Marketing Coordinator
College of Business
enewman@lamar.edu 
(409) 880-7167

Elizabeth Newman is the marketing coordinator for the College of Business at Lamar University. She earned her bachelor's degree in art, with a collaborative minor in English and communications from the University of Arkansas at Monticello in 2014. Elizabeth moved from Arkansas to Texas in 2020 with her husband, Terrance, and three children, Camille, Elijah and Olivia. She has served in various communications roles for governmental and nonprofit organizations over the years. One such role included digital media manager for the Arkansas Committee of the National Museum of Women in the Arts, a non-profit organization that advocates and helps to promote women artists and art professionals in Arkansas. Prior to working at Lamar University, Elizabeth was branch manager to her local public library where she oversaw daily operations, planned events, advocated for community services, executed publicity and more. In her spare time, she enjoys photography, exercise, reading and spending time with her family.  

DIGITAL MARKETING & ADVERTISING

Daniel McLemore
Associate Director of Marketing Communications
daniel.mclemore@lamar.edu
(409) 880-8490

Daniel holds a B.S. in communication with an emphasis in broadcast and advertising and is currently studying to receive an M.B.A. specializing in marketing from Lamar University. He has worked in the television industry as a promotions and productions coordinator, as well as a graphic designer and copywriter for a local ad agency. In his current role, he is responsible for licensing, video services, social media, recruitment marketing, ad placement, digital media, brand management, content marketing and strategic messaging. He is married and has two young children. Away from work, he enjoys spending time with his family, playing piano for his church and conducting various home remodeling projects.

GRAPHIC DESIGN

Amanda Toups
Graphic Design Coordinator
amanda.toups@lamar.edu
(409) 880-8965

Amanda Toups is a graphic designer for Lamar University Marketing Communications Department. She is responsible for the development of print and digital graphics for various entities on campus under the direction of our creative director. In addition to designing material for the university’s marketing efforts, Amanda also assists many offices and departments on campus. It is her responsibility to design flyers, posters, ads, brochures, postcards, invitations and logos while also handling graphics for social media, video, web content and emails. It is her goal to ensure her solutions are consistent with the university’s brand and visual standards. She strives to make sure that our client’s message is effectively delivered to the intended audiences — current students, potential students, alumni, faculty, staff, donors and the general public. Amanda graduated from Lamar University in 2015 with a B.S. in graphic design and a minor in advertising. She is an active member of our local chapter of the American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA), the professional association for design, AIGA Houston East Satellite. She hopes to further her career by obtaining an M.A. in graphic design and visual experience. She lives with her husband, Tyler, in Orange.

Morgan Hill
Graphic Designer
morgan.hill@lamar.edu
(409) 880-7835

Morgan Hill is a graphic designer for Lamar University's Marketing Communications Department. She is a proud LU Alum and graduated in 2017 with a B.F.A. in Graphic Design. Her goal is to keep a cohesive and consistent brand identity for Lamar University by creating a number of print and web graphics. She hopes to pursue her education further by getting her M.B.A. with an emphasis in marketing. In her free time, Morgan enjoys reading, painting, and spending time with her husband and her dog, Willow.

 

WEB COMMUNICATION

Charla Pate
Director of Web Communication
charla.pate@lamar.edu
(409) 880-7805

VISIT WEBSITE

Charla manages web strategy and the development of web-based projects and applications for LU websites and university initiatives. She also assesses and continuously works to improve the performance of the LU web environment. An alumna of LU (B.S. '95, M.S. '00), Charla has worked for the university since 1995 and in addition to her various roles, she has participated in faculty technology training, software training, video conferencing, instructional design and web development. Charla has more than 10 years of web experience, and she and her multi-disciplinary team work to ensure that our web pages provide meaningful and innovative experiences that are user-centric, meet the evolving needs of Lamar University academics and business, and are visually appealing.

Stacey Haynes
Web Editor
stacey.haynes@lamar.edu
(409) 880-7538

An LU staff member since 2000, Stacey works with web content owners to help continuously improve the university’s web presence. She develops templates and guidelines for creating, managing and publishing web content throughout the university’s content management system and provides training for system users. Stacey has more than 20 years experience in design, coding, responsive sites and development. Her years of web experience allow her to help arts organizations in the Beaumont area develop web solutions for which she has received awards from the Press Club of Southeast Texas. Prior to joining web communications, Stacey spent many years doing on-air fundraising and marketing for LU's NPR radio station. In her spare time she works to restore and renovate her mid-century modern home.

Mohammed Abdelkarym
Software Engineer
mabdelkarym@lamar.edu
(409) 880-7374

Mohammed holds a bachelor’s degree in computer and information science from Ain Shams University in Egypt. He also holds a master’s degree in computer science from Maharishi University of Management in Fairfield, Iowa. Mohammed works on projects related to CMS, CRM, designing and developing APIs and services integration. He has experience in web development, designing, web security and mobile development. He also has experience simplifying, automating and enhancing complex business processes for organizations in diverse industries.

Christy Swanson
Digital Communications Coordinator
christy.swanson@lamar.edu
(409) 880-7748

Christy has a B.A. in communications from Stephen F. Austin State University. She works with clients across campus to create online stores through LU Marketplace. She also develops web forms and accepts submissions for the University Event Calendar. Christy has more than ten years experience with Lamar University where she previously served as the executive associate for the senior associate provost. She spends her free time leading worship at her church and performing in community theatre. 

Shane Price 
Digital Content Editor
sprice6@lamar.edu
(409) 880-8438

Shane holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism and a master’s degree in sport management from West Virginia University. He has over five years of experience in copy writing, copy editing, and web content in the newspaper industry. At Lamar University, he’s responsible for planning, creating, editing and publishing information on the university’s website, as well as other writing for online and print that complies with university style, search engine optimization strategies and marketing and web communication policies and procedures.