Spotlights and Testimonials

trichell spikes

Hi! My name is Trichell, but I go by Princess, so, Princess Spikes. I began my academic journey at Sam Houston State University as a Communication Studies scholar. After earning my master’s degree, I served as an adjunct instructor in the Speech Department at Lone Star College. I am currently a Graduate Assistant and Lab Manager while pursuing my PhD at Louisiana State University, with an emphasis in interpersonal communication.

It was my first communications class at Sam Houston State University that helped me decide what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. While it was just an introductory speech course, I realized just how much I enjoyed learning about communications topics. Like many freshmen entering a new collegiate space, I had no clue what I really wanted my major to be. The more communications courses I took, the more I began to realize the joy it brought me to learn how to navigate life by connecting with others and understanding how they were trying to connect with me. I began using the knowledge that I gained to improve my relationships with friends and family members. Before I knew it, I had graduated, and I still wanted to learn more.

I honestly didn’t think I would graduate at all. Being a first-generation college student navigating a poverty-stricken life and being a caretaker to my younger sister wasn’t easy. I didn’t think I was smart enough or even good enough to continue my education. It was Dr. Frances Brandau and Dr. Terry Thibodeaux that pushed me to continue my education. I can attribute where I am today to them. They pushed me to do better when I failed, didn’t scrutinize me when I missed the mark, and provided me the feedback I needed -not just pass - but excel.  They allowed me to see the impact professors can make on people who might be struggling with the thought of failure and taught me how to push past life’s adversities. They put it in my head as a master’s student that I could receive my PhD if I wanted to. I’m glad their words stuck.

I didn’t make the decision to follow in their footsteps right away. Being a communications major opened opportunities in fields outside of communications as well. For a few years I maintained food service management positions, and my employers stated my knowledge of organizational communication and interpersonal communication is what made me an appealing candidate. Ultimately, my time in management increased sales and led to greater employee satisfaction and retention. While I am no longer in food service management, I still utilize these skills to connect with new people and help others launch their own small business.

If I could do it all over again, I would tell myself, “Just lean in”. Sometimes the idea of work can be exhausting, sometimes pressure can be exhausting, sometimes life is just exhausting! But when I discovered if I just did it, I could succeed, nothing stood in my way. You can do anything you want in this life, no matter where you come from, what people say, or what your past is. Just lean in.  

tiffany venekamp

Returning to college as a non-traditional student wasn't easy, but earning my degree from Sam Houston State University changed both my career and my confidence.

When I decided to go back to school in 2022, I was working as the Program Coordinator at Family Promise of Lake Houston. I knew that if the Executive Director position became available, my years of professional experience alone wouldn't be enough—I needed a degree to be seriously considered. SHSU was my seventh college, and after a 15-year journey, I was determined to finish what I started.

I was promoted to Executive Director before completing my degree, which made balancing work, family, and school even more challenging. There were moments when I wanted to quit, but I had learned that progress matters more than perfection. I had to let go of the idea that every semester had to be perfect and focus on reaching the finish line.

One of the biggest reasons I succeeded was the support I found at SHSU. Professors like Dr. Dahlgren and Dr. Brandau encouraged me every step of the way. Dr. Brandau reminded me that her goal wasn't to make the journey harder—it was to help me graduate. That support gave me the confidence to ask for help when I needed it and keep moving forward.

As a working professional and parent, staying organized was essential. I reviewed every syllabus as soon as classes opened, planned assignments around my work schedule and my family's calendar, and intentionally managed my time. That preparation allowed me to balance competing priorities without losing sight of my goals.

Studying Communication Studies has had a direct impact on my role as Executive Director. The program strengthened my understanding of how people communicate, build relationships, and connect with others. Those skills help me work more effectively with clients, community partners, donors, and staff every day. In the nonprofit world, we often talk about "friend-raising" instead of fundraising, and SHSU prepared me to build those meaningful relationships.

One of the most rewarding parts of my Bearkat experience was sharing it with my daughter, who began her freshman year at SHSU during my final semester. Even as an online student, I felt connected to the university's welcoming culture, and seeing my daughter become a Bearkat made the experience even more meaningful.

My advice to other non-traditional students is simple: don't give up. You don't have to take a full course load to make progress. One class at a time is still moving forward. There is no single "right" path to earning a degree. Finishing is what matters, and every step brings you closer to your goal.

amanda lee

Amanda Lee is a senior at Sam Houston State University majoring in Communication Studies. Aside from being an upstanding student, she is involved in a variety of organizations both on and off-campus. Lee grew up in Jacksonville, a small East Texas town, and originally moved to Huntsville to pursue a degree in business. However, after realizing her true passion for communication, she changed her major and hasn’t looked back since.

Recently, Lee was appointed by Governor Greg Abbott as a Student Regent for the Texas State University System, which is a prestigious position with a rigorous application process. “A Student Regent is a non-voting member of the Board of Regents who governs the institutions in the Texas State University System,” Lee said. “I get to go to all the meetings where they’re talking about business that is being conducted at each university.”

Because of COVID-19 restrictions, the Board of Regents is operating slightly differently, with less travel and more meetings hosted virtually. Nonetheless, Lee said her experience has been nothing but exciting and informative. “Day to day is a little bit different, because our board meetings got pushed back, so there’s a little bit of more leeway just because they’re going to be over Zoom,” Lee said. “Overall, as a Student Regent, I get to represent about 86 thousand students.”

Since freshman year, Lee has worked as a Student Lead in the Vice President’s Office for Student Affairs under the direction of Frank Parker. Through her role in this position, Lee said her boss has become a mentor and a role model for how she wishes to lead. “Frank Parker is someone who encompasses the true spirit of leadership and what that looks like,” Lee said. “He is personable and actually gets to know people so that it’s fun to do work with them.”

Reflecting on the past four years at Sam Houston, Lee said she has held countless positions in a wide variety of extracurricular activities and organizations. However, two positions specifically have taught her especially well what it means to make connections with students and faculty alike. “My favorite position of course is being the past Student Body President, but also being an Orange Key, which are university ambassadors that work with university officials who love to ask for students’ opinions on certain aspects of the university.” Lee said. “Both of these allow you to represent the students, but also see a lot of how higher administration works.”

Lee has dedicated an extensive amount of time to make a name for herself on campus and leave a legacy that others will remember. Dr. Terry Thibodeaux, former Communication Studies Department Chair, said he quickly recognized Lee’s efforts to further herself in both her academics and extracurriculars. “She represents the best of a student leader,” Thibodeaux said. “She’s done a tremendous job in her studies and she’s a major in our department. People gravitate towards Amanda. She’s very confident and she knows how to get things done.”

While self-motivation can go a long way, Lee said there have been a couple of other key factors that have ensured her success throughout her college career.  “I’ve had a really good support system that’s given me that drive to continue to find out the depths of this university. I’m also a good planner. I plan things down to the hour. I know that seems excessive, but I’ve learned to plan my day around these hours to make sure I get things done, while also taking time for self-reflection.”

Looking towards the future, Lee said she plans to one day become a communications director of a company and hopes to look back on the mark she has left at Sam Houston. While Lee remained fearless in immersing herself in campus life, she understands how daunting it may be for other students looking to get involved. However, Lee said becoming involved will present numerous opportunities and be abundantly beneficial overall.

“I think it’s really cool to establish yourself in an organization because these are the people that are going to trust you and that are going to back you up when you want to run for those other positions,” Lee said. “I think it’s also a really big thing in college that we do come for academics and we do come to earn a degree, but we also come to gain connections. If you can find connections in the university by staying invested in your organization, it will help you in the long run for sure.”