NEWS

The Louisiana Tech University Foundation chose Dr. Jamie Newman for its annual Professorship Award. Newman earned the recognition for her dedication to research, teaching, and student mentorship.

“The singular mission of the Louisiana Tech University Foundation is to support our University. The Foundation Professorship Award is one way that we recognize and support outstanding faculty for their teaching, service, and scholarship,” said Lisa Bradley, interim vice president of the Division of University Advancement. “Dr. Newman exemplifies excellence in each of these areas, and we are proud to honor her. I look forward to hearing about her continued success.”

Newman is the associate dean for research and graduate studies and an associate professor within the College of Applied and Natural Sciences. Throughout her career, she has spearheaded efforts to create unparalleled learning experiences and research opportunities.

“As faculty, we are asked to wear many hats, and at any given moment we may be focused on an aspect of research, teaching, service, or another initiative to promote the mission of the University,” Newman said. “In each aspect of my career, students remain at the heart of every decision, every research project, every initiative, and every accomplishment, including this one. This recognition from the Foundation Board confirms for me that I have been able to achieve my professional goals, matter to others, and indeed am living a life of consequence at Louisiana Tech University.”

Dr. Donna Thomas, provost and vice president of academic affairs, presented the award and $3,000 stipend to Newman at the 2024 Benefactor’s Dinner. Thomas has witnessed firsthand the impact Newman continues to make across the campus community.

“Congratulations to Dr. Newman, a dynamic leader with a long list of remarkable achievements and exceptional contributions to Louisiana Tech University,” Thomas said. “Her dedication, passion, and commitment to excellence are demonstrated by her impressive scholarly record and the countless students and colleagues she has inspired. The balance among teaching, research, and service activities is sometimes difficult to maintain. Jamie seamlessly integrates all three into her daily work.”

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Newman’s research efforts focused on tracking the virus through sewage in the Ruston Wastewater Treatment Plant. Through a project funded by the Rockefeller Foundation where she assisted as a co-principal investigator, these efforts grew beyond state lines.

In addition to her teaching and research activities, Newman has a strong commitment to service and supporting activities on campus, as well as at the state level. She was the driving force behind the concept and creation of the Virtual Anatomy Laboratory, housed in Carson Taylor Hall, and established the New Frontiers in Biomedical Research seminar series that brings world-renowned researchers from a variety of fields to Tech’s campus, allowing students, faculty, and administrators to learn and interact with experts representing a variety of disciplines in the health sciences.

At the state level, she was a key facilitator in the collaboration between the Louisiana Art & Science Museum and Louisiana Tech University’s VISTA Program. Newman has also been an integral part of the University of Louisiana System Academic Summit for three years as the Undergraduate Research Council representative for Louisiana Tech.