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Dr. Samuel Merriweather currently serves as the Texas A&M University System Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (TAMUS LSAMP) Associate Director through the Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station (TEES), a TAMUS member. He obtained bachelor and master of science degrees in industrial engineering at Georgia Institute of Technology and a PhD in industrial engineering at Texas A&M University.

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TEES Research Scientist, Texas A&M University System
Internal Evaluator and Data Collector for TAMUS LSAMP

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Shannon D. Walton, PhD, is the Director of Recruiting for the Office of Graduate and Professional Studies and the Director of Educational Achievement for the Dwight Look College of Engineering at Texas A&M University. Holding dual positions, Dr. Walton’s responsibilities range from the recruitment and retention of a talented and diverse graduate student population to the management of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) programs, like the NSF-funded Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP), aiming at increasing the number of underrepresented minority students successfully completing high quality degree programs in STEM disciplines.

A product of one of the very programs that she currently directs, LSAMP, Shannon holds a bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering, a master’s degree in Safety Engineering, and a doctorate in Interdisciplinary Engineering, all from Texas A&M University.

With research interests rooted in engineering education, the learning styles of engineering students in particular, Shannon’s tenure at Texas A&M is and has been rooted in the mentoring of both undergraduate and graduate students. Currently an advisor for the Texas A&M National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) Chapter and an active member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, a service organization, Shannon is no stranger to mission and vision of the academic excellence and cultural responsibility.

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Karen Butler-Purry is the Associate Provost for Graduate Studies and Professional Studies as well as a Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas. Her research interests include computer and intelligent systems applications to power distribution systems and engineering education. She can be reached by e-mail at klbutler@tamu.edu.

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Judy Kelley currently serves as the Executive Director of the West Texas Office of Evaluation and Research. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics from Texas Tech University and a Master of Science degree in Statistics from SMU.

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Krystal Thomasson was born and raised in Corpus Christi, TX. She earned her Bachelor's Degree in Liberal Arts, with an emphasis in Communication, from Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi in 2007. Krystal worked with the local ABC affiliate news station KIII-TV3 until 2010 when she was hired as a Program Coordinator for the College of Science & Engineering at her Alma Mater. She has coordinated many grant programs, including scholarship programs and undergraduate research programs. She has worked with the Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP) undergraduate research program with the TAMU System from the beginning and currently coordinates the TAMU-CC LSAMP program still. In her free time, Krystal enjoys spending time with her husband and 2 year old son in Corpus Christi.

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Dr. Rausch is the Teel Bivins Professor of Political Science at West Texas A&M University in Canyon, Texas.

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Received BA in English (1974 ) and MS in Biological Sciences (1979) from the University of New Orleans, PhD in Zoology from The University of Texas at Austin (1984). Appointed Asst. Professor, Mississippi State University (1984-1987), Asst. Professor - Professor University of Louisiana-Monroe (ULM) (1988-2005); Associate Dean, College of Pure and Applied Sciences, ULM (1998-2002); Curator of Zoology, Museum of Natural History, ULM (1999-2005); Program Director, ULM/Howard Hughes Undergraduate Biological Sciences Education Program, College of Arts and Sciences, ULM (2000-2005); Director, Museum of Natural History, ULM (2002-2005); Research Associate, American Museum of Natural History, NYC, NY (2005-present); Dean and Professor of Biology, College of Science and Engineering, Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi (TAMUCC) (2006-present). More than 50 publications on the diversity and conservation of fishes, PI or co-PI for more than $16M in external funding including $14M grants for student and faculty development, and more than 100 professional presentations. Mentored one post-doc, 23 graduate students and 34 undergraduate researchers.

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Kendall T. Harris, PhD, P.E., a native of East St. Louis. Ill, was appointed the Dean of the Roy G. Perry College of Engineering at Prairie View A&M University (PVAMU) in the Fall of 2007. Dr. Harris is the sixth dean of the Roy G. Perry College of Engineering at Prairie View A&M University.
As Dean of the Roy G. Perry College of Engineering, Dr. Harris serves as the chief administrative officer of the College in all matters related to academic, faculty and student affairs. He is also responsible for fund development, policy compliance, and student recruitment and retention.
A licensed professional engineer, Dr. Harris began his tenure at Prairie View A&M University in 2005, as Associate Dean and Professor of Mechanical Engineering. Under his leadership as Associate Dean, the College implemented the College of Engineering Success Center, which focuses on the retention of engineering students by offering supplemental instruction for freshman and sophomore students enrolled in math, science and engineering courses. He also conceptualized and facilitated a program that partners freshman advisors from each academic department within the college with advisors from the university’s freshman residence complex, University College. This collaboration works through a new freshman course within the College that introduces fundamental engineering, computer science and technology concepts to first year students.
Dr. Harris has consistently held faculty appointments throughout his tenure as an educator. His external research efforts have garnered more
than $10 million in research and program funding. His research interests are in the fields of Heat Transfer, Electronic Package Cooling and Energy Conservation. He has numerous publications and conference proceedings in these areas. Dr. Harris is an active member of the faculty in both academia and in his community. Dr. Harris has worked extensively with youth, encouraging them to pursue college degrees and to major in STEM related fields. He strongly advocates and recognizes that an education is the key factor that separates the “haves” from the “have nots”.
Prior to joining the faculty at PVAMU, Dr. Harris served as Associate Professor and Associate Chairman for the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at the University of Texas at Arlington. In this capacity, he managed the departmental budget, curriculum design, fellowships, and scholarships. He graduated from the Naval Aviation Officer School as a U.S. Naval Officer and Aviator.
Dr. Harris received his masters and doctoral degrees in mechanical engineering from the University of Mississippi and he holds bachelor degrees from the University of Kansas.

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