Â鶹ÊÓƵ

University Advancement

Juan J. Zabala, Vice President for University Advancement and Executive Director of the Â鶹ÊÓƵ Foundation, (409) 880-8419, juan.zabala@lamar.edu
Uliana Trylowsky, Interim Associate Vice President, (409) 880-7030, uliana.trylowsky@lamar.edu
Cynthia Hicks, Creative Director and Editor of Cardinal Cadence, (409) 880-8421,  cynthia.hicks@lamar.edu
Audra Bendy, Business Manager, (409) 880-8419, audra.bendy@lamar.edu

Advancement Services

Shannon Figueroa, Director, (409) 880-7819, shannon.figueroa@lamar.edu
Thanh Tran, Assistant Director, (409) 880-7986, thanh.tran@lamar.edu
Peggy Frazier, Gift Processing Specialist, (409) 880-8519, peggy.frazier@lamar.edu
JoAnn Trahan, Development Research Analyst, (409) 880-7894, joann.trahan@lamar.edu
Angela Collins, Administrative Assistant II, (409) 880-7027, angela.collins@lamar.edu
Shelandria Lee, Administrative Assistant III, (409) 880-7936, shelandria.lee@lamar.edu
Debra Joseph, Data Entry Assistant, (409) 880-7990, dajoseph@lamar.edu

Alumni Affairs

Shannon Figueroa, Director, (409) 880-7819, shannon.figueroa@lamar.edu
Evie Clifton, Coordinator, (409) 880-8921, evie.clifton@lamar.edu
Laurie Ritchel, Travel Programs Coordinator, (409) 880-8922, laurie.ritchel@lamar.edu

Development

Vacant, Major Gifts Officer, (409) 880-8423
Jason W. Morton, Major Gifts Officer, (409) 880-7895, jason.morton@lamar.edu 
Kim Steinhagen, Major Gifts Officer, (409) 880-8413, kim.steinhagen@lamar.edu
Vacant, Annual Giving Officer           
Vacant, Stewardship Coordinator
Ester Holloman, Administrative Assistant I, (409) 880-7590, eholloman1@lamar.edu 

Juan J. Zabala

Vice President for University Advancement and Chief Executive Officer of the Â鶹ÊÓƵ Foundation

Juan became Vice President for University Advancement on July 1, 2014 after serving as Associate Vice President of University Advancement since July 1, 2012. He began serving as interim in that position on September 1, 2011. Additionally, he became the C.E.O. of the Â鶹ÊÓƵ Foundation in June 2013.  He directs the activities of the foundation, development, alumni affairs and advancement services. Juan joined Â鶹ÊÓƵ as director of alumni affairs in January 2003 when Lamar created the Office of Alumni Affairs to expand upon the work of the former LU Alumni Association. Through the Office of Alumni Affairs, the institution works to engage alumni in all aspects of the life of the university. Supervision of the Advancement Services department was added to Juan’s portfolio in November of 2007.

Prior to his appointment at Â鶹ÊÓƵ, Juan served as assistant dean of the University of Texas School of Law.

Juan has a Master's Degree in Business Administration from Â鶹ÊÓƵ as well as degrees from Sul Ross State University (Alpine, Texas) and BYU Idaho (Rexburg, ID). Juan has more than 30 years experience in administration, university development and alumni relations.

Uliana N. Trylowsky

Interim Associate Vice President for University Advancement

Uliana has worked at Â鶹ÊÓƵ since 2015. Initially serving as a Major Gifts Officer in LU Advancement, she has worked closely with the colleges of Business and Education and Human Development to raise major gifts in support of student scholarships, faculty research, and other priorities of the colleges. In her role as Interim Associate Vice President for Advancement, she is responsible for supervising Development staff, planning and managing major and annual giving efforts, including corporate and foundation relations for the University, as well as managing Â鶹ÊÓƵ's comprehensive campaigns.

Uliana came to Â鶹ÊÓƵ from a non-profit management background with 20 years of experience, most recently having led Habitat for Humanity of Jefferson County for over a decade. She is very involved in the local community, as a long-time member of the Beaumont Rotary Club and past member of the Press Club of Southeast Texas, drawing on these community connections to enhance her success in supporting Â鶹ÊÓƵ. A native of Canada, Uliana worked for more than five years overseas with grant-making organizations before moving to Texas.

Uliana holds a master’s degree in Soviet and East European Studies from Carleton University (Ottawa, Canada) and a bachelor’s degree in International Relations from the University of British Columbia (Vancouver, Canada).

Shannon L. Figueroa

Director of Alumni Affairs and Advancement Services

Shannon joined Â鶹ÊÓƵ in December 2004 as administrative assistant, sr. for the Office of Alumni Affairs and starting in July 2007, she served as coordinator for employer relations and career advisor for the Career and Testing Center. She joined Advancement Services in February 2008 as the coordinator of advancement information systems before being named director of Advancement Services in October 2011. She was later named director of Alumni Affairs in February 2015. She oversees University Advancement’s information services and gift processing and reporting, and alumni affairs. She also serves as the advisor to the Â鶹ÊÓƵ Ambassadors. She previously served as the advisor for the College Panhellenic Council from 2009-2016 and Order of Omega Greek Honor Society from 2010-2016.

Prior to her arrival at Â鶹ÊÓƵ, Shannon served as a substance abuse counselor intern. She is a trustee of the board of directors of the United Way of Beaumont and North Jefferson County, member of the alumni committee of Leadership Beaumont, and volunteer in the children's ministry at First Baptist Church-Nederland. She is also a sustainer and past president of the Junior League of Beaumont.

Shannon holds a master’s degree in business administration, and bachelor’s degrees in psychology and business administration all from Â鶹ÊÓƵ.

Karen R. Nichols

Chief Operating Officer, Â鶹ÊÓƵ Foundation