Spotlights and Testimonials

A'shari gordon

When I first arrived at Sam Houston State University as a first-generation and out-of-state transfer student, I knew I wanted to make the most of every opportunity that came my way. What I didn’t realize then was how transformative my time here would be both academically and personally. SHSU became more than just a place to earn my degree; it became the community that helped me discover my purpose and my voice. Getting involved was one of the best decisions I made. Through organizations like the Student Government Association, Greek life, and the Bearkat Inclusion Association, I found belonging, leadership, and a sense of family that shaped my confidence and drive. Being part of these communities made all the difference, especially as a first-generation student learning to navigate higher education on my own. I have also been fortunate to work alongside professors and mentors who have deeply influenced my academic and professional goals. Dr. Dennis Weng introduced me to the realm of Taiwanese influence in global politics, inspiring me to participate in the National Model United Nations and later become a Taiwan Research Scholar. His mentorship opened my eyes to how international collaboration can drive change. Dr. Bittick’s courses challenged me to think critically and creatively about political systems, while Dr. Callaway’s courses on international human rights gave me a renewed sense of purpose and helped shape my aspirations for a career in global advocacy.

I am also grateful for Dean Li, who was always willing to meet with me on behalf of the Student Government Association to discuss the needs and experiences of College of Humanities and Social Sciences students. His openness and support reminded me that student voices truly matter and can influence meaningful change on campus. Throughout my journey, I have learned that success is not just about grades or awards; it is about connection, persistence, and growth. From interning with Politic Nation to working for the American Democracy Project in civic engagement, and earning distinctions like the Dean’s List, the College of Humanities and Social Sciences Scholar Award, and the Undergraduate Academic Achievement Scholar Award, I have grown into someone who believes in using education to make a difference. One of my proudest moments was receiving the Sammy Award for Excellence in Service from the College of Humanities and Social Sciences—an honor that affirmed my dedication to leadership, advocacy, and community engagement. As I look ahead to my future, I am committed to pursuing a career in law and international affairs, advocating for equity and justice on a global scale. My advice to new students is simple: get involved, seek mentors, and never underestimate the power of meaningful connections. Sam Houston State has countless opportunities—you just have to be willing to take that first step

alyssa newman

As a proud 2023 graduate of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences at Sam Houston State University, I am continually reminded of how my time at SHSU shaped both my academic and professional journey. I double majored in Philosophy and Political Science with a minor in Spanish, originally planning to attend law school. However, through the mentorship and opportunities I received as an undergraduate, especially my acceptance into the Ronald E. McNair Scholars Program, my path began to shift.

One of the most meaningful parts of my time at SHSU was sharing the experience with my mom, who was also earning her B.S. in Psychology with a minor in Biology. We were in the same McNair Scholars cohort, supporting each other through research projects, presentations, and graduate school preparation. Today, we are both thriving at the University of Florida. She is pursuing her Ph.D. in Neuroscience, and I am continuing my journey in higher education.

My experience in the McNair Scholars Program, along with serving as an Honors Ambassador for the Elliot T. Bowers Honors College and writing tutor at the Academic Success Center, helped me discover a passion for supporting students in their academic and personal growth. These experiences ultimately led me to pursue a career in higher education rather than law. After graduation, I joined the University of Florida Online as an Admissions Officer, where I have been able to help connect aspiring students with transformational educational opportunities.

I am deeply grateful to my mentors such as my thesis advisor, Dr. Zachary Bachman, who helped me develop independent research skills and connect with other supportive faculty members such as Dr. Jessica Elkayam. I also owe thanks to my graduate mentor, Kayli Carrillo and the director of the Ronald E. McNair Scholars Program, Dr. Lydia Fox, who encouraged my passion for research and inspired my mom and I to continue our studies.

Today, I am pursuing my M.Ed. in Student Personnel in Higher Education at the University of Florida with a projected graduation date of August 2026. The skills, mentorship, and values I gained at SHSU continue to guide me every day in my work and studies. To any student just starting out, I would say to stay open to where your curiosity leads, because you never know how your experiences may shape your passions and future path.

chris tritico

Christopher Tritico earned his Bachelor of Science Degree in Political Science from Sam Houston State University in 1983. Since then, he has accomplished many things. Today he works as a criminal defense attorney for Tritico & Rainey as well as being an active alumnus in the SHSU community and serves on the CHSS Advisory Board. This year, he is being honored with the 2024 Distinguished Alumni Award.

“It is a great honor and something that so few alumni are bestowed with,” Mr. Tritico said. “I have spent my life trying to live up to the things my parents taught me; honor, ethics, dignity, and caring for others. Sam’s motto plays right into that and my life as a lawyer.” Mr. Tritico has since shown great interest in representing professional educators. This is shown in his love for the Bearkat community. He strives to keep up the same levels of community as he had back when he was a student. “Sam Houston’s sense of community always struck me as a true selling point for the university. From the day I first walked on campus through to today, 45 years later, that sense of community is still there,” Mr. Tritico said. “We are a family, a Bearkat network, ready to help each other at any time.”

He recognizes that being a student at SHSU played a major role in where he is today, as he has served on the Alumni Board, President of the Board of Directors, and now also has a seat on the Sam Houston Foundation Board. His time in the political science degree at Sam helped prepare him for every case, every appeal, every client since his graduation. “I studied political science, because I love politics. I knew I was going to law school. Going through the political science department, the great debates we had in class,” Mr. Tritico said. “It was wonderful preparation for a career in law. I learned from Sam how to make an argument without losing my temper. A skill that is absolutely necessary in law.” As he serves on the CHSS Advisory Board, he gets to assist the College of Humanities and Social Sciences in coming up with and implementing new ideas and ways that help keep the college moving forward and keeping present and future students satisfied and focused on their open educational endeavors. In regard to his seat on the Foundation he said, “...we have the best job, we approve of the money coming in!”

Christopher Tritico is proud of his alumni status and his ability to keep serving the SHSU community. “Never forget the university that did so much for you. The alumni association is only as strong as the active members,” he said. “Our university has one of the best and is the most affordable alumni association in Texas. We can keep it that way by our active dues paying members. A strong and active alumnus makes the university better for all the students.” He aims to keep the school as driven to student success as it was in his time at the university. His continued service is welcome and appreciated by all students, faculty, and staff here at Sam Houston State University. The award is well deserved and well earned!

francisco sanchez

In 2022, Francisco Sanchez was chosen by President Biden to be the Associate Administrator for the Small Business Administration’s Office of Disaster Assistance. Making preparations to uproot his life in Texas, where he was born and raised, to serve in Washington, Sanchez is “honored to be called to serve in the administration.” When asked if he was anxious at all to leave his life-long home of Texas, he expressed a worry about finding authentic, quality Mexican food in DC, but remarked he was glad he could get Whataburger ketchup in stores now.

In his new position at the SBA, Sanchez will focus solely on disaster prevention, recovery, and resilience. With the Corona virus still an active factor in the workplace, Sanchez helps connect small business owners with the governmental programs that can help keep their business resilient to disaster, as well as help them recuperate losses caused by disasters. Mr. Sanchez expressed that he was happy his new position allowed him to focus on helping Americans during times of unexpected duress, and displayed genuine passion when discussing plans to not only tackle natural disasters as they arise, but also tackle the climate circumstances that are escalating these disasters. Sanchez was chosen for this position on account of his service to the people of Harris County.

One year ago, when the rest of us were huddled in the dark under blankets, Francisco Sanchez was at work with his action committee crafting public messages and directing aid. While many of us were taken by surprise by the winter storm, it’s been Mr. Sanchez’s job to make sure that Harris county is always prepared. Francisco recalls being hired for his position in the Harris County Department of Homeland Security and Disaster Prevention in 2007, having been asked to come and work for just a year there in the department. Mr. Sanchez calls what followed, “the longest year of my life.” During his tenure as the Harris County Deputy Homeland Security & Emergency Management Coordinator, which would end up lasting 15 years, Sanchez led action committees through floods, hurricanes, winter storms, the world series and two Super Bowls. During the years of 2007 to 2022 when Sanchez was working for the city, Houston faced a presidentially-declared disaster on an average of every nine months, including four of the nation's top ten most costly disasters.

Sanchez remembers crafting messages to safely advise Harris County residents on sheltering in attics and on roofs during Hurricane Harvey, something that few residents had experience with at the time. He and his team had to make the decisions concerning what information was most important and pertinent to the citizens seeking refuge in their attics. After the crisis passed, Sanchez and his action committee helped lead the charge of disaster recovery, time and time again. In 2018, during his “very long year,” Mr. Sanchez also earned his Master’s in Public Administration from Sam Houston State University, adding to his bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of Houston. Sanchez has been making tough decisions for the better part of twenty years, and advises students to put themselves into situations where they need to make decisions. “Making decisions is something you have to practice. My advice to those heading into the workforce is to be bold, be humble, and be flexible. Students in new positions can afford to be brave and put themselves out there to get results.” Francisco Sanchez models these values, and Sam Houston is proud to call him one of our own. We join with Harris County in wishing him resounding success in his new position.

ilexus williams

In college, students are required to take a couple of political science classes including American Government and Texas Government, to complete their degree plan. Although these classes provide information about monumental historical events through textbooks and lectures, witnessing where these events took place helps students understand their significance at a deeper level. Sam Houston State University’s Center for Law Engagement and Politics works to provide educational opportunities outside of the classroom and has recently implemented a new trip that focuses on Civil Rights.  

Since 2005, a select group of students from SHSU, along with the director of LEAP, Mike Yawn, take a trip to Washington to attend the presidential inauguration. However, because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, that trip was canceled to avoid large crowds and prevent the spread of the virus. Instead, a trip to various notable Civil Rights sites in the South was planned. The group began their trip in Mississippi, where they had the opportunity to visit the home of Medgar Evers, a notable civil rights activist in the 1950’s. After that, they traveled to Louisiana to see where Homer Plessy was arrested, due to violating the state’s separate car laws. From there, the group headed to Alabama to stop by Dexter Avenue King Baptist Church, where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. served as their pastor. Next, they traveled to Tennessee to see the Lorraine Motel and then concluded their trip in Arkansas to visit Little Rock Central High School, which was the first school to allow African American students to attend. Professor Yawn said the trip was highly educational and benefitted the students tremendously.  “Everybody should have a foundation of human and civil rights, and the more education the better. I think by actually visiting these sites, particularly in a small group setting, brings the information to light in a particular way that may be more difficult to do in the classroom,” he said.

The trip aimed to broaden students’ horizons and remind them of how far we have come as a nation in terms of equal rights and justice. Ilexus Williams, a senior political science major at Sam Houston State said visiting various civil rights sites was influential to her life because she was able to travel to monumental historical sites that she might have not been able to under normal circumstances. “The most impactful site for me was the Lorraine Motel, which was the assassination site of Martin Luther King Jr. His advocacy speaks to perseverance. King saw an issue in our society and consistently worked to solve it along with other notable civil rights activists. Martin Luther King Jr.’s actions still speak volumes over 50 years later,” Williams said.

Williams herself has been actively involved in the LEAP organization on campus and spoke to how it helped develop her leadership skills over the past four years. “Right before coming to college, I made a promise to myself to ‘expand my horizons and get outside of my comfort zone’ and LEAP helped make the promise I made, as a freshman, a reality. I was able to build my leadership abilities as the Vice President of Operations for the LEAP Ambassadors and Vice President of Finance and Membership for the Pre-Law Society,” she said. According to Professor Yawn, before the Coronavirus pandemic began, the LEAP organization would normally participate in or host about 150 programs a year to give students a chance to meet and interact with political figures and attend community events. Williams expressed her gratitude towards the organization and shared how it has been fundamental in shaping her outlook on the world. “I have had the opportunity to gain valuable insight from notable political figures such as Susan Rice, Hillary Clinton, Nikki Haley, and David Kaye. Also, I have been able to learn about various cultures, cuisines, and art through educational trips to destinations such as Chicago, Illinois, Madison, Wisconsin, and Jackson Hole, Wyoming. I credit these opportunities for being the foundation and stepping stone for my future career and my development as a young professional,” Williams said.

Going forward, Professor Yawn said the organization hopes to make this trip an annual event, as well as attend the presidential inauguration in 2025, if the COVID-19 pandemic has ended. “By better understanding the struggles people have faced to fully achieve our version of democracy we can better overcome obstacles in the future. We can work together and understand each other to make for a better democracy, one that more closely resembles democratic ideals,” Yawn said.