VOL. 49, NO. 1 | SUMMER 2021 CARDINAL CADENCE RESEARCH INDUSTRY SOLUTIONS the magazine of lamar university CAPABILITY + PARTNERSHIPS = VOL 49, NO. 1 | SUMMER 2021 Cardinal Cadence is published by Lamar University, a member of The Texas State University System and an affirmative action, equal opportunity educational institution. Research, a necessary component of a vital educational Kate Downing, Executive Editor, Special Assistant to the President and Director of institution and an innovative society, thrives Marketing Communications Farewell Welcome at Lamar University. Cynthia Hicks ’89, ’93, Editor, Creative Director his summer issue of Cadence am incredibly excited to join Lamar Amanda Toups ’15, Graphic Design Coordinator Magazine focuses on one of my University as its 16th president. My This issue tells a few of the many stories of faculty CONTRIBUTORS favorite topics, research. I encourage wife, Stacy, and I are looking forward collaboration—and faculty-student collaboration—as Writing Tyou to read some of the articles featuring Ito meeting everyone in the LU community Mandy Arceneaux ‘10, Brooke Barnett, Amy Elizabeth, outstanding scholarly work and innovation as we settle into Southeast Texas and they develop solutions to industry challenges and Daniel Houston, Thomas Kalb, Elizabeth Newman, coming out of Lamar University right into our new roles. Let me also say how Natalie Rhodes ‘14, J.T. Robertson, Kristina Scott, Haley explore new horizons. Strahan ‘05, Shelly Vitanza now. Research such as corrosion-reducing grateful I am to President Evans for his materials helping industries reduce costs help in making the transition as smooth as Photography Mattie Bergeron, Evie Clifton, Hannah Hudgins ‘20, and improve durability, paleontology in possible, and to Chancellor McCall for his Daniel McLemore ‘09 Utah’s badlands and affordable hearing aids support, and warm introduction to the folks Circulation includes more than 90,000 copies distributed that cost less than a dollar. in the Texas State University System. I want to alumni, faculty, staff and friends of Lamar University. Other articles highlight some of our faculty and students who to give a special thank you to the faculty and staff who have already LU PUBLISHED If you have received more than one copy of this have participated in undergraduate research at LU. This is one of gone out of their way to make this campus feel like our home. publication, please let us know. the unique offerings by the university providing mentoring and And what a campus it is! The beautiful trees, buildings, and ARTICLES Changes of address may be sent to: hands-on experience to students. Students like Elisabeth Maxwell, artwork are incredible. This issue of Cadence certainly highlights 226 University Advancement who did research as a biology student at LU, went on to pursue her that beauty and is a marvelous introduction for me to the talent, IN 2020 P.O. Box 10011 Beaumont, Texas 77710 true passion of combining marine biology with marine policy at the passion, and commitment of our students and faculty. or [email protected] University of Maine. I’m excited to read about Elizabeth Long, assistant professor Additional alumni featured in this issue used the knowledge in the Joanne Gay Dishman School of Nursing, who coordinated DIVISION OF UNIVERSITY ADVANCEMENT GRANTS RECEIVED Juan J. Zabala ’07, Vice President they learned while at Lamar University to become entrepreneurs in a program with long-term care residents and nursing students to related fields. Alumna like Vanlam Nguyen who majored in biology, write letters to the older adults who were suffering from loneliness Shannon Copeland Figueroa ’02, ’03, ’07, Director 19 36 of Alumni Affairs and Advancement Services earned her MBA then opened a modern apothecary called Down and social isolation throughout the past year. I also appreciate FY19 FY20 RESEARCH FUNDING to Earth in Nederland and Beaumont, or Lyndsey Brantley with a reading how the community has developed a number of creative P.O. Box 10011 35-40 INCREASED Beaumont, Texas 77710 degree in civil engineering who created her own retail boutique and approaches to doing the work of the disciplines safely. English FY21 (409) 880-8419 or fax (409) 880-8409 spa in downtown Houston called Camellia Alise. faculty read their published poems at a virtual poetry festival, while PROJECTED >100% BETWEEN LAMAR UNIVERSITY ALUMNI OFFICE As we look forward, there is an exciting change on the horizon Rebekah Covington, an American Sign Language graduate, directed When visiting campus, you’re invited to stop by the for Lamar University - new president Dr. Jaime Taylor. He and and produced an ASL film, Do You Believe? And since everyone FY19 & Alumni Office at the John Gray Center, Rudy C. his wife, Stacy, come to Beaumont from Marshall University in couldn’t crowd into the theatre during the past year, LU theatre and FY21 Williams Building, Suite 102, 855 Jim Gilligan Way. West Virginia and I know you will all welcome them the way you dance students brought the stage to you as they performed their EXTERNAL P.O. Box 10005 welcomed me and Nancy into your community eight years ago. I choreography across campus in Dancers Among Us. RESEARCH $1,277,370 Beaumont, Texas 77710 wish you all the best in the years to come. The research and creative activity-related articles in this issue FY19 (409) 880-8921, or (800) 298-4839 DOLLARS [email protected] of Cadence showcase what Lamar University is all about—its PROPOSALS SUBMITTED Sincerely, RECEIVED lamar.edu/alumni people and what we can do for those in our community and local $2,145,691 FY20 industries. The stability of LU as a key educational and economic 62 90 LAMAR UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION FY19 FY20 Juan J. Zabala ’07, CEO anchor with its forward-thinking strategic plan and exciting $2.5-3M Karen Nichols ’83, COO endeavors is truly one of a kind. I cannot wait to be a part of the FY21 >100 future of this great university. PROJECTED FY21 P.O. Box 11500 Kenneth R. Evans, President Emeritus PROJECTED Beaumont, Texas 77710 I look forward to seeing you during the fall semester. (409) 880-2117 [email protected] Sincerely, lamar.edu/foundation PUBLICATIONS Cardinal Cadence (USPS 017-254) is published ARE ON THE RISE by Lamar University, 211 Redbird Lane, Beaumont, Texas 77710. Lamar University is an equal opportunity/affirmative 91 178 226 action educational institution. Jaime R. Taylor, President 2011 2015 2020 CONNECT WITH US! TABLE OF CONTENTS • 4 Surface scientists create corrosion-reducing coating • 5 Days vs. months; saving millions • 6 LU partners with Iron Horse Terminals • 7 Strengthening offshore safety THE TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM BOARD OF REGENTS • Brian McCall, Chancellor | Austin Share your LU experience by tagging 8 LU dancers take campus by storm • 10 Down to Earth remedies • 12 LU team to help NASA get closer to building a habitat on the Moon • 13 Business Snapshot • 14 Published faculty read works Charlie Amato, Chairman | San Antonio • Duke Austin, First Vice Chairman | Houston • Garry Crain , Second Vice Chairman | The Hills #WeAreLU or @LamarUniversity in at virtual poetry festival • 15 Arts & Sciences Snapshot • 16 Making big dreams possible • 18 Engineering Snapshot • 19 Westgate, students explore badlands • 20 To hear, again • 21 Fine Arts & | El Paso | Baird • | Beaumont • | San Antonio your photos, tweets and posts. Communication Snapshot • 22 Lian named Faculty Mentor of the Year • 24 Screen Skills: Deaf alum directs and produces first ASL film 26• Students connect with long-term care residents Don Flores • Nicki Harle David Montagne Dr. Veronica Muzquiz Edwards 27 Education & Human Development Snapshot • 28 LU News • 30 Elisabeth Maxwell ‘13: Diving deep for the greater good • 32 Class Notes • 42 Curiosity fuels discovery William F. Scott | Nederland • Alan L. Tinsley | Madisonville • Camile Settegast, Student Regent | Horseshoe Bay | RESEARCH | DAYS VS. MONTHS; SAVING MILLIONS ENERG-ID SOLUTIONS TEAMS UP WITH LU’S CENTER FOR MIDSTREAM MANAGEMENT AND SCIENCE SURFACE SCIENTISTS CREATE by Thomas Kalb nerG-ID Solutions Corp. of Denver, Colo., teamed up with The big data developed during the sampling and testing is the Lamar University Center for Midstream Management and automatically loaded by wi-fi into a database maintained by CORROSION-REDUCING COATING EScience to pursue EIDS’s Data Advancement Program. EIDS EIDS for the proprietary use of the operator. By visiting the by Shelly Vitanza uses this disruptive technology of rapid DNA analysis in real company’s data analytics portal anyone with operator’s approval time to identify microbes which harm hydrocarbon production, can use the collated and archived big data to solve individual transportation, storage, refining and consumption. problems or review the health and safety of the operator’s According to the National Association of The team has designed and fabricated a variety of nano/ “When we learned of EIDS’s new, man portable, rapid entire system. microstructured surfaces. For example, the team created DNA technology and its potential to help dramatically reduce “To ensure that the broadest range of microbes are detected, Corrosion Engineers International, the superhydrophobic nanograss-like structures with enhanced microbe driven corrosion in hydrocarbon systems, we wanted to we partnered with a select group of companies and universities cost of corrosion to industries surpasses corrosion resistance for various engineering applications such know more,” said Thomas Kalb,