Educators empower, inspire and pave a path towards success often im- pacting many along the way. Longtime professors Dr. Marie-Anne Mundy and Dr. Lionel Hewett were no dif- ferent; their legacies will continue to impact anyone who comes across the physics and education departments at TAMUK. The university community mourned their passings over the holi- day break.
Mundy earned her Bachelor’s de- gree in education from Brandon Uni- versity in Canada, and earned her Master’s and PhD. from the University of Southern Mississippi.
Mundy worked in the Educational Leadership Department as a tenured Associate Research professor where she encouraged students to earn a PhD. Mundy had an interest in incor- porating technology in schools and in STEM Education.
“Dr. Mundy was a brilliant statisti- cian and was instrumental in research for not only this university, but also nationally and internationally. She was also the tenured faculty member repre- sentative on our AVID Site Committee. There was a time, several years ago, when we weren’t sure if we would be able to get enough support to contin- ue our demonstration site process. She believed in our commitment and met with administration on campus to rally support. She was instrumental in our present-day success,” AVID Liaison Dr. Stephanie Bain De Los Santos said.
Dr. Mundy’s persistence with the AVID program was truly showcased in 2019 when TAMUK became the first four-year AVID National Demonstra- tion Site.
Dr. De Los Santos’ relationship with Dr. Mundy went beyond the work- room.
“She helped so many students before me and I can honestly say she changed my life for the better. She encouraged myself and her other students to step out of their comfort zone and take risks in research…. I can honestly say that I love her. I do not say loved, because her memory will always be with me and just because someone is not present here on Earth, I know that I will see her on the other side,” Dr. De Los Santos said.
Dr. Mundy’s passion for education was reflected in each student she encountered. Dr. Mundy joined TA- MUK in 2010 and managed to impact the lives of everyone who surrounded her.
After Dr. Mundy’s passing, some took to social media to share about her impact on them.
“Dr. Marie-Anne Mundy, a lady who was brilliant, caring, honest, fiercely independent, and way ahead of her time. Dr. Mundy was our Sta- tistics professor at TAMUK and she went above and beyond to help us wrap our heads around statistics… she was our teacher, our mentor, our friend. We were blessed because she touched our lives,” a former student wrote.
Although, Dr. Mundy has passed, her legacy will be carried on by the students she taught.
Dr. Hewett earned his Bachelor’s degree from Texas A&I Kingsville in 1962. After graduation he pursued a fellowship at the University of Mis- souri at Rolla, where he earned his PhD.
Dr. Hewett joined the university in 1964 where he taught in the physics department for more than 55 years.
Throughout his career at TAMUK, Hewett played a pivotal role in the development of the physics depart- ment.
“Several years ago, the Texas High- er Education Coordinating Board killed the low-enrolled programs in the state of Texas. Our physics program was affected by this. Dr. Hewett along with colleagues from other universities who were in simi- lar situations formed Texas Electronic Coalition for Physics (TECP) in the early 1990s to share physics courses between independent physics pro- grams,” Dr. Subbarao Yelisetti, assis- tant professor of geophysics, said.
Hewett’s passion for general rel- ativity and cosmology went beyond his classroom. He developed phys- ics lectures and lab materials that generated funds for the department. Hewett also created instructional lab videos that are used on a daily basis.
Hewett’s lab videos have been im- plemented in physics classrooms for more than 20 years, many of them be- ing recorded on VHS tapes.
“One semester, I overheard his voice coming from one of the class- rooms in Hill Hall. When I walked over to the room I realized it was a video of him speaking to the lab stu- dents for instruction and not him in person. His memory will live on in these videos,” Department Chair Dr. Brent Hedquist said.
Hewett not only motivated his stu- dents but influenced many of his col- leagues. Hewett had the tenacity to help others and was heavily involved with his department.
“Recently one student called me, and asked if we still have the physics program at TAMUK. I said yes, but why are you asking this question? He said somebody told him that the physics program was closed because Dr. Hewett passed away. That’s the kind of impact he had on this pro- gram! The students, department, col- lege and the university will miss him. Although he is not physically with us, but as long as the physics program is here, Dr. Hewett lives on and his leg- acy will continue,” Dr. Yelisetti said.