Collegian T he Cameron University
www.aggiecentral.com
Monday, September 8, 2025
Volume 113 Issue 1
A Warm Welcome for ... President
Shane Hunt Photos by Amanda Purser
Amanda Purser
among other local endeavors to ensure our community’s future is bright and strong for generations to come. “We want Lawton Public Schools to be thriving, and we want to be a part of supporting that,” Hunt said, “We want FISTA to be thriving, and we want to support that. I was just at Goodyear for half of the day yesterday, and we want Goodyear to be thriving.” Known for being a fundraiser and marketing professional, Hunt has wasted no time networking within our community and sharing the importance of what financial support can do for our school and inevitably the local economy. Hunt wants to ensure that Aggies are provided with the best technology and resources available and make education a reciprocal experience for those who pour into this institution. “We want all of our constituent areas — we want to design and have curriculum and produce students so that they can come out and support these companies in Southwest Oklahoma or these entities in Southwest Oklahoma,” Hunt said, “But also, where our students have the opportunity to live and work and raise their families here.” Establishing a strategic plan for Cameron is one of Hunt’s main objectives this year. His planning will be guided by listening sessions with each constituency group from students, staff, alumni, the local community, CU’s Duncan campus, along with our military and tribal partners. “I think as a campus community deciding what we’re going to prioritize; what we want to be known for,” Hunt said. “What we want to be able to tell every student who’s coming here, ‘this is what is unique and awesome about Cameron,’ that’s going to be a really big thing over the next nine months.” Many things will happen along the way to creating and implementing the strategic plan, and raising money will always be a part of Hunt’s approach, as he understands the importance and necessity of these donations.
Managing Editor
On June 30, 2025, Dr. Shane Hunt assumed his presidential role for Cameron University, ushering in a new era of leadership and reform. Hunt had many reasons to believe becoming Cameron’s 18th University President would be beneficial for him and his wife Jenifer, but that was in theory before this summer. It wasn’t until they relocated and became immersed in the Aggie family, when Hunt determined how fondly they would be embraced — confirming that Cameron was the perfect choice. “It’s been incredible,” Hunt said, “As positively as I felt about the university before I got here, it is significantly more today. The people are even better than I thought, the students are even better and the dedication of our faculty and staff is even more remarkable than what I thought coming in.” Social media regularly displays Hunt’s active presence at speaking engagements and local events, seizing every opportunity to share his vision and working to create strong relationships within the community. “I would say, if you’re around our students, if you’re around our faculty, if you’re around our staff — you feel the positive momentum that’s going on at Cameron — and so I get to show that.” Hunt finds it important to depict the unique learning environment fostered by Cameron University, to prospective students and sponsors. The intimate nature of CU's education experience with small class sizes, individualized attention and professors who know us by name is worth sharing. There's a significant renovation on the horizon for the future of Howell Hall, which will be dedicated extensively to Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) disciplines. Cameron has also partnered with Lawton Public Schools to prioritize STEM camps and learning opportunities for the area’s youth,
“I would love this year for us to find a naming gift for one of our schools,” Hunt said, “That would provide — you know, that’s a sevenfigure gift — that would provide lots of dollars for scholarships, for endowed professorships, for facilities.” Finding willing donors isn’t always an easy task, but Hunt’s unique approach of leading by example could help these efforts. This year the Hunt family established and funded a scholarship for first-generation college students to have education opportunities for years to come at Cameron University. This endeavor is a point of pride and passion for Hunt, who is vocal about his personal experience. He said that attending college changed the trajectory of his life and he wants to pay that foward. “At both of my previous two institutions, I endowed a scholarship,” Hunt said. “I did the one at Idaho State in my mom and dad’s names to honor them and all they made possible for me. I wanted to do the one
here specifically for first generation students because it would be my hope that there’s somebody that’s maybe a first-generation student here, that thirty years from now is the President of Cameron.” Hunt was drawn to this endowment for another reason, which depicts his method of leading by example. “I also wanted it to be something where I didn’t want a donor to ever think that I am asking them to do something that I wouldn’t do myself,” Hunt said, “that I am asking you to give money, but then I’m not going to give money myself. I wanted them to know, when I ask you for an endowed scholarship gift, that I personally believe in it enough. My wife and I believe in it enough that we’re (also) doing that.” Hunt came into this role as president with the stipulation that he could still teach at least one class each semester and that promise has been kept and already put into motion. “I’m doing PLUS this fall and Sports Marketing in the spring, Monday/ Wednesday at 11 a.m.; we already got it on the schedule,” Hunt said. “I’ve taught Sports Marketing before and have some connections in that industry. We’re probably going to do a field trip in that class, and we’re going to do some really cool things. So yes, I think that will be the plan going forward. I’ll teach the PLUS Freshman class every fall and then I will teach a marketing elective every spring.” The Hunts are settled into Lawton and are truly overcome with how the community has embraced and welcomed them. “We love it, we absolutely love being here. We love being home,” Hunt said. Service members and veterans who have discussed living all over the world and still choose to stay and establish roots in Southwest Oklahoma is endearing to Hunt. “I think the warmth of that and the people saying 'I’ve been to these places, and I choose here,'” Hunt said. "I think it is a great testament to the genuineness and resilience of our community.” The Presidential Investiture ceremony will be coming up on Sept. 9, with events and activities to celebrate the significance of this custom occurring before and after the service. More information on the investiture and why students are encouraged to attend can be found on page 2.
What’s Inside Genes vs. Jeans Page 3
SGA Updates Page 4
New Reader Incentive! Page 5