President

Sidney E. Valentine, Ph.D., President of Lamar Institute of Technology (LIT) assumed office August 16, 2022. Since 2015, Dr. Valentine has served as chief academic and student services officer at South Florida State College. While at the university he, “provided academic leadership for the college’s transfer, vocational, technical, adult and community education, and workforce education programs.”

Valentine also served as the associate vice president of industrial and engineering technology at York College in South Carolina. Before that, he was the director of workforce and economic development at the West Virginia Community and Technical College System.

Dr. Valentine earned his doctoral degree and Master of Science degree in computer engineering from the University of South Carolina in Columbia, S.C and his Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering from the WVU Institute of Technology in Montgomery, W.V.

Interim Vice President of Finance and Operations

Leanna Odom, Interim Vice President of Finance and Operations, provides collaborative leadership across all business, finance and physical resource functions to support the College’s vision of transformative continual innovation in education. She is responsible for the management and oversight of financial and business services, including accounting, finance, budgeting, audit, payroll, purchasing, contract management, information technology, inventory control, investments and facilities.

Prior to this role, Leanna served as Vice President of Business Services for Lamar Institute of Technology, Lamar State College Orange and Lamar State College Port Arthur. Leanna brings 29 years of experience and institutional knowledge, having dedicated many years to higher education and the shared services initiatives within the Texas State University System. She holds a Master of Business Administration, a Master of Science in Accounting and has been a Texas Certified Public Accountant for 25 years.

Provost/Vice President of Instruction

Dr. Angela Hill, Provost and Vice President for Instruction has been with Lamar Institute of Technology (LIT) since 2009. She has nearly two decades of K-12 and higher education expertise. Prior to joining LIT, she taught business education in Beaumont Independent School District to at-risk high school students.

Dr. Hill has leadership experience in student services, academic affairs, online learning, and faculty and staff development. She has held positions such as Computer Information Systems Instructor, Executive Director for Teaching and Learning Center, Faculty Liaison, Dean of Student Success and Associate Vice President for Student and Academic Success.

In addition, she has earned two bachelor degrees from Lamar University: B.B.A., Management Information Systems and a B.B.A., Finance in 2001. Additionally, she holds a MS in Educational Administration from Prairie View A&M University and a PhD in Educational Leadership from Hampton University.

Associate Vice President of Student Services

Tasha Morales, Associate Vice President of Student Services with Lamar Institute of Technology (LIT) has been a student ambassador since she began in higher education. In her nine years of service, she has been a part of TRiO, HSI-STEM, and the Director of Quality Enhancement Plan and Student Success. Understanding the struggles students face from her own personal experience, Ms. Morales strives to help student and student processes to break down barriers to better serve our students. In her five years as director of HSI-STEM, she became an advocate for using technology platforms to help bridge communication of student issues and provide more holistic student assistance.

Ms. Morales holds a Masters of Business Administration in Business Administration from California Southern University, a Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies from Hodge University, and an Associate of Arts Degree from South Florida State College.

Dean of Strategic Initiatives and Accreditation

Kenneth Mason, Dean of Strategic Initiatives and Accreditation, has been with Lamar Institute of Technology (LIT) since 2007. His experience includes both academic instruction and adult continuing education. He has leadership experience in the LIT Regional Police Academy and as an academic department chair. He has held positions as a Criminal Justice instructor, Assistant Director of the LIT Regional Police Academy, Public Service and Safety Department Chair, and Dean of Instruction.

Mr. Mason earned both a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science in Criminal Justice from Lamar University.