As the new director of , Dr. Emily Sandoz knows firsthand the impact the program can have on students’ futures.
Sandoz, who uses she/they pronouns, started as a student worker in the Honors Program in 1999 under Dr. Patricia Rickels, its first director. The mentorship, networking and experiential learning that they received through the program set them up for a successful career, Sandoz said.
“What I saw in Honors was the opportunity to connect with other students who were really interested in taking their education to the next level through extra creativity and critical thinking,” Sandoz said.
Sandoz has been a faculty member in the University’s Department of Psychology since 2010 and received the in 2022. It is among the highest honors UL Lafayette bestows on its faculty.
They received their bachelor’s degree in psychology and their master’s degree in psychology, both from UL Lafayette. They received their doctorate from the University of Mississippi before returning to Lafayette to work as a professor and clinical psychologist.
“Emily’s work as a clinical psychologist and the work that they do with students on campus is phenomenal,” said Dr. Bobbie DeCuir, dean of , which includes the Honors Program. “Their mentorship across campus has changed the lives of many students.”
First-time freshmen are admitted to the Honors Program based on their ACT or SAT scores. Once admitted, Honors students must maintain a 3.5 GPA, take one Honors course per semester and are encouraged to participate in community service.
“My favorite tradition in Honors is Honors seminar,” Sandoz said. “It’s a student-run course where at the beginning of the semester, students pitch an idea that they’re passionate about or that they’d like to learn more about. Students vote, pick what they want to learn about and then the rest of the semester is engaging in conversations about these topics.”
Since the Honors Program’s inception in 1968, it has nurtured exceptional students willing to put in the extra work. Sandoz said one of the most important parts of the director’s job is being a good listener.
“My job is to listen to students, seeing how we are or aren’t meeting their needs,” said Sandoz. “I also have to listen to faculty to know what they need to invest in this program. All these diverse perspectives help me integrate positive change into the program.”
Sandoz said they were thrilled to have the opportunity to lead the storied program and help shape its next chapter.
“It’s exciting to come back during this period of rebuilding,” Sandoz said. “We get to honor tradition, but also make changes that respect where our students are today.”
Photo caption: Dr. Emily Sandoz is the new director of the UL Lafayette Honors Program. Photo credit: Paul Kieu / University of Louisiana at Lafayette