Dean, College of Engineering
Position Description
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Dean, College of Engineering
Lamar University (LU) invites applications and nominations for the position of Dean of the
College of Engineering. The college has been central to the major transformation of the
institution over the past decade, and seeks a dynamic and visionary leader experienced in the
development and nurturing of undergraduate and graduate programs of excellence, providing
effective support to faculty for the conduct of research and the attraction of funding from a
variety of agencies and industries to support it. In addition, experience in the creation of
entrepreneurial and fundraising activities, development of centers of excellence, the
establishment and cultivation of cross-disciplinary research and teaching initiatives and the
management of a complex academic unit underpinned by collegiality and inclusiveness is also
expected.
About Lamar University
Lamar University, a 270-acre
campus, is one of the fastest
growing universities in the
country with enrollment
steadily increasing to more
than 15,000. The university is
classified as a Doctoral
Research University in
the Carnegie Classification of
Institutions of Higher
Education and is one of only
two universities classified as
such within The Texas State
University System. LU offers
more than 100 programs of
study leading to bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees. It has been recognized nationally
for its general education core curriculum, leadership in online education, being one of the 100
most diverse campuses in the country, and selection as a member of the Honor Roll of the
Chronicle of Higher Education’s “Great Colleges to Work For.” Small class sizes and a low
student-to-faculty ratio allow students to build meaningful relationships with expert faculty who
truly care about their success. LU fosters academic achievement by emphasizing hands-on
learning at all levels, providing ample opportunities for undergraduate research and supporting
an excellent Honors College. The university is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Several LU colleges and programs hold
additional specialized certifications and accreditations recognizing their quality and expertise.
Additional information about the university is available at: http://www.lamar.edu.
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University Mission Statement
Lamar University is a comprehensive public institution educating a diverse student body,
preparing students for leadership and lifelong learning in a multicultural world, and enhancing
the future of Southeast Texas, the state, the nation, and the world through teaching, research
and creative activity, and service.
Student Life
More than 2,500 students live on campus in modern, apartment-style residence halls known as
Cardinal Village, which feature private bedrooms and nicely furnished living areas. All Lamar
University students have access to the gourmet dining hall and the spacious Sheila Umphrey
Recreational Sports Center, a showpiece facility with a 43-foot climbing wall, all the latest
workout equipment and a wide range of intramural sports. Beyond the classroom, Lamar
University students develop leadership skills and lifelong friendships in more than 180 campus
clubs and organizations. Students make an impact through nationally affiliated fraternities and
sororities, professional associations, cultural groups, religious clubs and service organizations.
Athletics
Lamar University students enjoy cheering on the
Cardinals in fifteen NCAA Division I men’s and
women’s sports. Competing in the Southland
Conference, Cardinals teams have a history of winning
championships in sports including men’s and women’s
basketball, volleyball, golf and cross country. The
baseball program has produced multiple major
leaguers. LU’s football program heightens excitement
on campus with students involved in marching band,
cheerleading, the dance team and all the fun of game-day tailgating.
The College of Engineering
The College of Engineering is arguably the
university’s most respected academic unit.
Lamar's birth was due in large part to the
demand for technically trained individuals in the
area after the 1901 Spindletop oil discovery,
making Beaumont, Texas one of the most
heavily industrialized areas of the United States.
The school was founded in 1923 as a junior
college. On September 1, 1951, the Texas
Legislature advanced it to a four-year institution,
renamed Lamar State College of Technology. The legislature specifically noted that the
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institution would emphasize engineering, technology, and science to serve the region’s large
industrial base. Lamar immediately began granting engineering degrees in 1951 and in 1970 its
history and success as a science and technology school again was a driving force in a name
change. The state authorized Lamar to offer its first doctoral degree program, the doctor of
engineering, and then a dream shared by many became a reality on May 3, 1971, when
Governor Preston Smith signed a bill changing the name of Lamar State College of
Technology to Lamar University. In 2005, Lamar's first Ph.D program was established in the
College of Engineering: the Doctor of Philosophy in Chemical Engineering.
Due to the reputation and success of the College of Engineering, Beaumont was recently
ranked 2nd in the U.S. among the “Best Cities for Chemical Engineers” and the college was
ranked 11th for “Top ROI Schools for Engineering Majors.” It contains five academic
departments (Chemical, Civil, Electrical, Industrial and Mechanical Engineering), and 10
research centers, coordinated under the Texas Centers for Technology Incubation (TCTI) (three
for environmental research, Center for Fuel Cell and Energy Systems, Green Composite
Research Center, Center of Transportation/Ports and Waterways, Center for Process and
Information Technology, Aldredge Air Quality Modeling Center, Material Instrumentation Center,
Renewable Energy Center) has 38 full-time faculty, 15 full-time staff, more than 800
undergraduate majors and 300 graduate students, and attracts approximately $3.5 million
annually in external funding. Programs in the college have been designated by the State as
well as by the university community as initiatives of excellence. The college is accredited by the
Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, and the date of the next ABET comprehensive
review is 2018-2019. For more information please visit:
nttp://main.abet.org/aps/AccreditedProgramsDetails.aspx?OrganizationID=395.
College of Engineering Mission Statement
Our mission is to provide an environment and infrastructure to support the educational
objectives of the College of Engineering programs. The college establishes an interface to the
university and the entities external to the university to provide and prepare engineering students
to be leaders and problem-solvers. The college supports a foundation of strong theoretical
emphasis, the development of practical engineering skills, experience in interpersonal
communication and teamwork, and an emphasis on ethics, professional conduct and critical
thinking. We offer strong and varied academic programs to a diverse student population that
prepares our graduates for the challenges of lifelong learning.
Dan F. Smith Department of Chemical Engineering
Chemical engineering is the profession in which a knowledge of mathematics, chemistry, and
other natural sciences gained by study, experience, and practice is applied with judgment to
develop economic ways of using materials and energy for the benefit of mankind. The chemical
engineer is a fit for almost every modern industry. From petroleum to synthetic rubber, from
semiconductor to medicines, the chemical engineer engages in design, research, development,
production, sales, and management. Among the fields in which the chemical engineer is of
prime importance are petroleum, petrochemicals, metals, plastics, paints, drugs and foods,
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paper, glass, dyes, synthetic fibers, and a host of
others.
Mission
The Chemical Engineering Department will
provide the program, environment, facilities,
faculty, and staff to prepare and educate each
student to be a leader/problem-solver for industry,
academia, or government.
Program Educational Objectives
The following broad statements describe what the department’s undergraduate chemical
engineering graduates are fully expected to attain a few years after graduation.
1. Successfully pursue a chemical engineering career in traditional and non-traditional
industries and/or pursue an advanced degree;
2. Engage in lifelong learning and advance the practice of chemical engineering in a
socially, environmentally, and ethically responsible manner; and
3. Advance professionally with increasing leadership and responsibility beyond entry level
Student Outcomes
The student outcomes used by the chemical engineering program are those published in the
ABET “Criteria for Accrediting Engineering Programs” document. Those outcomes are as
follows:
Ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, science, and engineering;
Ability to design and conduct experiments, as well as to analyze and interpret data;
Ability to design a system, component, or process to meet desired needs within realistic
constraints such as economic, environmental, social, political, ethical, health and safety,
manufacturability, and sustainability;
Ability to function on multidisciplinary teams;
Ability to identify, formulate, and solve engineering problems;
Understanding of professional and ethical responsibility;
Ability to communicate effectively;
Broad education necessary to understand the impact of engineering solutions in a
global, economic, environmental, and societal context;
Recognition of the need for and an ability to engage in life-long learning;
Knowledge of contemporary issues; and
Ability to use the techniques, skills, and modern engineering tools necessary for
engineering practice.
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Program Criteria
The Chemical Engineering Program criterion as listed in the ABET "Criteria for Accrediting
Engineering Programs" is as follows:
The curriculum must provide a thorough grounding in the basic sciences including chemistry,
physics, and biology, with some content at an advanced level, as appropriate to the objectives
of the program. The curriculum must include the engineering application of these basic sciences
to the design, analysis, and control of chemical, physical, and/or biological processes, including
the hazards associated with these processes.
Degree Programs
Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering
Master of Engineering (Ch.E.) (non-thesis)
Master of Engineering Science (Ch.E.)(thesis)
Doctor of Engineering (Ch.E.)(thesis)
Ph.D. (Ch.E.)
For more information please visit: http://engineering.lamar.edu/chemical/
Department of Civil Engineering
Civil engineering is a people-serving
profession and as such is vital to the world’s
economic, political, and social well-being. The
many areas to which civil engineers make
substantial contributions include bridges,
dams and levees, harbors, waterways and
irrigation facilities, buildings, airports,
highways, pipelines, railroads, power lines,
water supply systems, and waste treatment
facilities. Civil engineers engage in a wide
range of activities such as research, design,
development, management, and the control
of engineering systems and their
components. With today’s fast-paced technological changes, civil engineering provides unique
and unlimited career opportunities that can only be met by professionally educated people.
The civil engineering program is designed with a broad base to prepare men and women for
careers in various phases of civil engineering and to enable them to perform other managerial
and technical functions that require scientific and engineering backgrounds. The curriculum
embraces a sound core of humanities and social studies courses in addition to those in physics,
chemistry and mathematics, which form the substructure of engineering sciences. Areas of
study include geo-technical, structural, water resources, environmental, transportation, and
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construction engineering. Electives are available to fit the individual interest of the civil
engineering student.
Mission
The mission of the Department of Civil Engineering is to provide quality education and career
skills for both undergraduate and graduate students. We produce highly qualified graduates with
potential to assume positions of increasing responsibility in the civil engineering field. The
department will achieve its mission through: (1) employing a faculty with the professional
credentials and experience to deliver quality academic programs that meet student and societal
needs; (2) serving a diverse student population by offering strong and varied academic
programs that will prepare graduates for the challenges of life-long learning; (3) offering
contemporary curricula that combine a foundation of general education and disciplinary
preparation for current practice; and (4) providing both formal and informal learning resources to
support instructional and scholarly/creative activities.
Vision
Lamar University’s Department of Civil Engineering strives to become recognized as a
regional/national/international leader in engineering education as well as in the analysis, design,
and management of civil and environmental engineering systems. To support this endeavor, the
department will seek to conduct, disseminate, and apply relevant research to influence
engineering practice and the advance of engineering education and knowledge. This will be
accomplished through strategic efforts that allow the department to effectively adapt to the ever-
changing aspects of higher education. The net effect will be that Lamar University’s civil
engineering graduates will be empowered with the knowledge, skills, and innovative thinking to
facilitate discovery in numerous existing and yet-to-be-discovered fields of endeavor.
Civil Engineering Program Educational Objectives
The objective of the BSCE program is to educate students for professional engineering practice
in the analysis, design, and construction of civil infrastructure systems. We expect our students
to attain within a few years after graduation:
Technical competence and professional development that meet the emerging and
evolving demands and increasing responsibility of civil engineers;
Communication and project management skills for effective problem solving; and
Understanding on professional ethics, public safety, cost constraints, environmental
impacts, and policy implication of civil engineering projects.
Outcome Assessment
The Civil Engineering Department has developed an assessment process to demonstrate that
the outcomes important to the objectives of its program are measured. This process is based on
input from the department’s various constituencies: alumni, employers, industrial practitioners,
CE Advisory Council members, students, and CE faculty. The process used in program
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educational outcomes assessment for quality assurance includes:
1. Choose outcomes for direct measurement;
2. Identify performance criteria;
3. Develop rubrics and standards for evaluation;
4. Perform evaluation and direct measurement for 1 through 3;
5. Collect data from other outcome assessment instruments;
6. Collectively assess for program outcome achievement using collected data; and
7. Recommend implement improvement.
The Civil Engineering Department has used a mixed mode of assessment for program
educational outcomes, which includes:
1. Rubrics and dimensions in direct measurement;
2. Surveys for alumni, employers, industrial practitioners, and graduating seniors for
indirect measurement; and
3. Individual course assessment by instructor.
Civil Engineering Student Outcomes
Student outcomes are the skills that we anticipate our students to have at the time of
graduation. The student outcomes of the Lamar University BSCE program are:
Have an ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, science, and engineering;
Have an ability to design and conduct experiments, analyze, and interpret data;
Have an ability to design a system, components, or process to meet desired needs
within realistic constraints such as economic, environmental, social, political, ethical,
health and safety, manufacturability, and sustainability;
Have an ability to function on multi-disciplinary teams;
Have an ability to identify, formulate, and solve engineering problems;
Have an understanding of professional and ethical responsibility;
Have an ability to communicate effectively;
Have the broad education necessary to understand the impact of engineering solutions
in a global, economic, environmental, and societal context;
Recognize the need for and ability to engage in life-long learning;
Have a knowledge of contemporary civil engineering issues; and
Have an ability to use the techniques, skills, and modern engineering tools necessary for
engineering practice.
Degree Programs
Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering
Master of Engineering (M.E.)
Master of Engineering Science (M.E.S.)
Master of Science in Environmental Engineering
Master of Science in Environmental Studies
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Doctor of Engineering (D.E.)
For more information please visit: http://engineering.lamar.edu/civil/
Phillip M. Drayer Department of Electrical Engineering
The undergraduate program in electrical
engineering at Lamar University enjoys
a long history of academic excellence.
The program prepares graduates for a
wide range of opportunities by providing
a curriculum strongly based in
mathematics and physics and the latest
state-of-the-art material in electrical
engineering, including photonics, image
and signal processing instrumentation,
and computer and network systems
design. The interested student has
ready access to faculty and lab facilities for research.
Mission
The Department of Electrical Engineering supports the mission of the College of Engineering
and of Lamar University through teaching, research, and service designed to provide the very
best undergraduate electrical engineering education possible. It is our goal to provide our
students with a strong theoretical foundation, practical engineering skills, experience in
interpersonal communication and teamwork, and a daily emphasis on ethics, professional
conduct, and critical thinking. We prepare our graduates for successful engagement in
commercial and industrial enterprise, research and development, and graduate study. We
emphasize and support the training necessary for practice as professional engineers.
Vision Statement
Electrical engineering has gone from the simple electrical circuits of Edison and Tesla, through
the rocket science of Bode, Evans and Nyquist, to the complexity of integrated circuits and
optoelectronics. Basic telecommunications technologies that began with Bell have blossomed
into global networks with satellites, fiber optics and the Internet. Computer technology has
grown exponentially and touches all of our lives with processors embedded into a vast array of
devices that secure our safety and add an unprecedented measure of convenience to our lives.
Electrical power systems illuminate our planet and drive our industries. As this progress
conveys us into the future with new and exciting engineering challenges, Lamar Electrical
Engineers will be ready to meet those challenges.
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Educational Objectives of the Electrical Engineering Program
The educational objectives of the Lamar University Electrical Engineering program are that we
expect our graduates a few years after graduation to attain:
Successful and productive engineering careers, with emphasis on technical competency
and with attention to teamwork and effective communication;
Successful pursuit of graduate studies and life-long learning in electrical engineering and
related fields; and
A state of professionalism with development of professional ethics, professional
licensing, and active participation in the affairs of the profession.
Student Outcomes of the Electrical Engineering Program
The educational outcomes that our students can expect to derive from the electrical engineering
program are the following:
An ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, science, and engineering;
An ability to design and conduct experiments, as well as to analyze and interpret data;
An ability to design a system, component, or process to meet desired needs within
realistic constraints such as economic, environmental, social, political, ethical, health
and safety, manufacturability, and sustainability;
An ability to function on multidisciplinary teams;
An ability to identify, formulate, and solve engineering problems;
An understanding of professional and ethical responsibility;
An ability to communicate effectively;
The broad education necessary to understand the impact of engineering solutions in a
global, economic, environmental, and societal context;
A recognition of the need for, and an ability to engage in, life-long learning;
A knowledge of contemporary issues; and
Ability to use the techniques, skills, and modern engineering tools necessary for
engineering practice.
Degree Programs
The Bachelor of Science – Electrical Engineering (BSEE)
Master of Engineering
Master of Engineering Science
Doctor of Engineering
For more information please visit: http://engineering.lamar.edu/electrical/index.html
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Department of Industrial Engineering
Mission Statement
Our mission is to provide quality
education and meaningful career
opportunities for both undergraduate and
graduate students. We develop highly
qualified graduates with potential to
assume positions of increasing
responsibility.
Our mission will be accomplished by
recruiting and educating qualified
students in an accredited curriculum of
academic course work and experiences.
Demand for graduates will be driven by frequent contact with employers through initiatives such
as advisory council meetings, continuing education, co-op programs, consultation,
research/development/publications, and student projects.
Vision
Our vision is to be the “Preferred Provider of Industrial Engineering Graduates and Technology.”
We will accomplish our vision by:
Recruiting quality students;
Developing employer-focused relationships;
Increasing supporting resources; and
Integrating academic course work and industrial engineering experiences.
Industrial Engineering Department Goals
1. Recruit high-quality industrial engineering students;
2. Prepare students with skills to compete through course work in accredited program;
3. Enhance students' career opportunities through frequent employer contracts and work
experiences;
4. Encourage students to develop leadership skills;
5. Encourage students to pursue life-long learning;
6. Develop relationships with employers of industrial engineering skills;
7. Increase department resources through growth in enrollment, development and funded
projects;
8. Conduct applied research and publish results with the ultimate goal of technology
transfer for the betterment of mankind; and
9. Provide exemplary service for the benefit of the university, the Beaumont metropolitan
community, the State of Texas and global business and industrial organizations, and the
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engineering professions.
Degrees Offered
Bachelor of Science Industrial Engineering (On Campus or 2+2 Online)
Bachelor of Science Industrial Technology (Online)
Master of Engineering (MEIE, non-thesis)
Master of Engineering Science (MESIE, thesis)
Master of Engineering Management (MEM) (On Campus or Online)
Doctor of Engineering (DEIE)
For more information please visit: http://engineering.lamar.edu/industrial/
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Mission
The mission of the Department of
Mechanical Engineering at Lamar
University is to provide high-quality
education and meaningful career
opportunities for its
graduates. Highly competent
graduates who can assume
professional positions of increasing
responsibility are the intended end
product. Recruiting and educating
students in an accredited
curriculum of course work and
experiences will accomplish the
mission. Demand for graduates of the department will be enhanced by frequent contact with
potential employers through initiatives such as co-op programs, consultations, research and
development, and student projects. The outcome of the goals of the mission will be assessed by
frequent contact with the employers, alumni, and other intended sources. Corrective actions will
be taken, as necessary, based on the input provided, to minimize deviation from the stated
mission.
Vision
The vision of the Mechanical Engineering Department at Lamar University is to be a leader in
training students for the mechanical engineering profession. The mechanical engineer may be
perceived as one who is engaged in a diverse profession encompassing the analysis, design,
synthesis, and material optimization for a wide variety of mechanical and thermal systems. The
mechanical engineer must work closely with other engineering disciplines to provide tools and
equipment components to enable them to practice their professions. In order to cover this wide
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range of requirements, the mechanical engineer needs a solid foundation in basic sciences,
mathematical sciences and engineering.
Mechanical Engineering Program Educational Objectives
The educational objective of the undergraduate mechanical engineering program at Lamar
University is that our graduates are successful, practicing mechanical engineers, demonstrating
increasing professional responsibilities within three to five years of employment as they grow
through problem solving and learning.
Mechanical Engineering Student Outcomes
The purpose of the mechanical engineering program of Lamar University is to ensure that the
graduates:
Demonstrate and apply knowledge of mathematics, science, and engineering;
Design and conduct experiments, analyze data, and interpret results;
Design a system, component, or process to meet desired needs within realistic
constraints, such as economic, environmental, social, political, ethical, health and safety,
manufacturability, and sustainability;
Function in multidisciplinary teams;
Identify, formulate, and solve engineering problems;
Understand professional and ethical responsibilities;
Communicate effectively, in writing and orally;
Understand the impact of engineering solutions in a global and societal context through
a broad education;
Recognize the need for life-long learning;
Demonstrate knowledge of contemporary issues; and
Use the techniques, skills, and modern tools of engineering effectively and correctly in
engineering practice.
Degrees Offered
Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering
Master of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering (MEME, non-thesis)
Master of Engineering Science in Mechanical Engineering (MESME, thesis)
Doctor of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering (DEME)
For more information please visit: http://engineering.lamar.edu/mechanical/
About Beaumont
The university is located in Beaumont, Texas, a city of approximately 120,000 located about 30
miles from the Gulf of Mexico, 90 miles from Houston, and 40 miles from the Louisiana border.
Beaumont is the center of one of the largest refining and petrochemical complexes in the nation;
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in a region arguably the energy hub of the
country. The city is ranked 2nd in the U.S.
among the “Best Cities for Chemical
Engineers.” It serves the entire area as the
focus for government, education, business,
health care, entertainment, and culture, and is
also the gateway to the Big Thicket National
Preserve, a national eco-tourism treasure.
With a deepwater port, enviable rail
infrastructure, abundant supplies of water,
and a workforce capable of designing,
building, and operating billion dollar
investments, Beaumont has it all. For more
information please visit: http://www.beaumontcvb.com/
The Position
The Dean will hold the endowed Charles and Eleanor Garrett Chair in Engineering and is the
college’s chief executive officer, budgetary and programmatic authority and academic leader, a
member of the Academic Council of Deans, and a direct report to the Provost and Vice
President for Academic Affairs.
Qualifications:
Earned doctorate in engineering;
Record of teaching, scholarship, and service (or equivalent private sector accomplishment
and stature) sufficient for appointment as a full professor with tenure;
Evidence of successful, progressive and entrepreneurial leadership at the level of
department chair or above;
Evidence of strong interpersonal, communication, and facilitation/collaboration skills (with
specific focus on cross disciplinary teaching and research initiatives);
High academic and ethical standards and unquestioned personal and professional integrity;
Successful experience in strategic planning and fundraising;
Ability to develop and communicate a shared vision and mission within and external to the
college;
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Commitment to shared governance and to enhancing cultural diversity among students,
faculty and staff;
Knowledge of and experience with ABET accreditation; and
Demonstrated commitment to technology transfer, commercialization, and creation of
partnerships to foster regional economic development, to include the establishment of
research and professional collaborations with industry.
Salary
The salary is competitive and commensurate with qualifications and experience.
Applicant Review
Confidential applications and nominations will be accepted until the position is filled. For best
consideration, applications and nominations should be provided by November 10, 2014.
How to Apply
Greenwood/Asher & Associates, Inc. is assisting Lamar University in the search. Initial
screening of applications will begin immediately and will continue until an appointment is made.
Individuals who wish to nominate a candidate should submit a letter of nomination including
contact information for the nominee. Application materials should include a letter addressing
how the candidate’s experiences match the position requirements, a curriculum vitae or resume
and five references. Submission of materials as PDF attachments is strongly encouraged.
Confidential inquiries, nominations, and application materials should be directed to:
Jan Greenwood, Betty Turner Asher, Partners
Chris Channing, Principal
Greenwood/Asher & Associates, Inc.
42 Business Centre Drive, Suite 206
Miramar Beach, Florida 32550
Phone: 850-650-2277 / Fax: 850-650-2272
Email: [email protected]
Email: [email protected]
Email: [email protected]
For more information regarding Lamar University’s College of Engineering please visit:
http://engineering.lamar.edu/
Lamar University is an Affirmative Action, Equal Opportunity Employer, and Encourages
Applications from Women and Other Groups Traditionally Underrepresented in Engineering.
Lamar University is a Member of The Texas State University System