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Each month, Texas State University President Dr. Kelly Damphousse sits down with faculty members, staff, students, alumni, and community members for a conversation about all things TXST — the past, the present, and the bright future of the university.
Part of the TXST Podcast Network: https://www.txst.edu/podcast-network.html
- Thank you for everything you do for the Alumni Association too. What drove you to want to do that? I mean, many people think of their undergraduate degree as being their university, but you did this for this online program that for your graduate program. What drew you to want to serve Texas State like that?
- You know, I got my undergrad from the University of Texas. And their fan base and alumni is very engaged. But I didn't have that relationship with the professors.
- Yeah. Oh, so that was it.
- You know, did my time, left. And at Texas State, it was, they communicated with me even after graduation to check on me, how am I doing. And so that support, I was like, "I've got to give back."
- One of the things I love about our podcast is that we're not just looking at the university from the lens of just students or faculty and staff, but we also involve our alumni. Because our alumni in many ways are reflections of the university. In fact, I think that when people think about Texas State, the first thing they think about is someone that they knew that went there and someone who's been accomplished, they say, "Oh, something great must be happening at university because someone has done something really good and they came from Texas State." And so we like to celebrate our alumni as much as possible and engage them in this podcast so they can share a little bit about their story. And I'm excited about today having Abel Guevara here, who's going to share with us a little bit about his story and then about something I think's pretty interesting that you did this past year that really ties our alumni to our school in a unique way we've never done before. And so Abel, thank you for being on the podcast. And why don't you tell us a little bit about how you got to Texas State.
- Yes, so I've been a healthcare executive for well over two decades. As I was climbing the corporate ladder, I needed some additional education and I decided to pursue a master's degree with the College of Health Professions, Master's of Health Information Management. Did a lot of research. The HIM program at Texas State was well-known.
- Yeah.
- And so I applied, got in, did my two years, graduated, and I was just dedicated to the professors. I mean, they gave me so much knowledge and so much help, allowing me to basically work, turn in work, you know, assignments late. And so.
- Because you were a working professional, right?
- Because I was working full-time and, you know-
- Yeah.
- Staying up late at night, answering my questions late at night. I mean, they were just responsive.
- Without the help of AI back then?
- No, no. No AI back then, you know?
- Yeah.
- So lots of reading, lots of research, and lots of fun stuff that I actually enjoyed doing. And so wanting to give back after my graduation. You know, I wasn't a millionaire, so I was like, "Let me find a way to give back to the university." And so then I applied for the board of directors for the Alumni Association and was welcomed in. So now I'm on my fourth year with the board of alumni.
- And that's where you and I first met.
- Yes.
- Yeah.
- And so as much as I love Texas State, I wanna do as much as I possibly can to bring alumni engagement, university advancement, and recognition to Texas State University, mainly because I'm so grateful for the professors that helped me through my time here.
- You know, we always talk about, you know, how can alumni help the university, and you can boil it down to three things: time, talent, and treasure. And time and talent, I always say first. Like if you can just give us your time or if you can help us do something, and treasure's last. And typically, treasure does come towards the end of peoples' careers. They've started to develop, you know, some extra resources and they wanna say, "Oh, I wanna, I'd like to give a scholarship or whatever." But giving of your time and your talent is really the first way for alumni to start giving back to the university that gave them so much. And in your case, it was a master's degree. Did you take those classes in Round Rock or was it here in San Marcos?
- It was a hybrid environment.
- Okay.
- So online and here on this campus.
- On this campus. Yeah.
- Yes. This was pre the transition to Round Rock. So we had our-
- Okay, so when was that? When did you graduate?
- 2019 with my master's degree.
- Okay. So tell us a little bit about the HIM program. So what are you learning when you're in HIM?
- So in healthcare, I work as a non-clinical executive specializing in healthcare accreditation, compliance, medical billing, rev cycle, and HIM. So part of the process of the healthcare rev cycle to get claims paid, we have to do a lot of digging into medical records to support medical necessity for the services or products that we're receiving. HIM professionals are becoming high in demand because most of our HIM professionals are now data-driven. And so in healthcare, in the health administration, all of us in the back, we're making decisions with all the data. And who am I going out to reach to is HIM professionals, 'cause they know how to go into our EMR systems, which are electronic medical record systems, find the data we need so we can make decisions for the hospital systems or the medtech or the technology firms, biopharm, biopharmaceuticals, pharmacy. So we're using these HIM professionals to support us. I've also given back. So we talk about supporting Texas State, and one of the more important things is creating pipelines from graduation into the career force.
- Yeah.
- And so as alumni, it's important for us to come back and say, "Hey, Professor, I have an internship or externship-"
- Yeah.
- "Or an opportunity for your graduates to come and work with me." Giving back and being able to do that for alumni was important.
- So you mentioned getting involved with the university as a member of the Alumni Association. And but this past fall semester, we had something kind of interesting happen at Texas State. I happen to have a friend who runs the Ol' Crimson flag for Washington State, and they fly the flag, I think, 300 episodes now of "College GameDay" where they've been flying the Washington State Cougars flag. I asked him about, "Are you all going to Ireland for the first 'College GameDay?'" He said, "Of course we are. We've never missed one in 300 weeks or whatever." And I said, "Would you fly the Texas State flag?" And he said, "Sure, if you get me a flag, I'll do it." So we actually happened to have a flag up at Collin College. We did an event up there and they're flying our flag. And it's a big flag that we had to custom order. It was maroon and had a gold SuperCat on it. And he said, "Send me the biggest flag you have." And I said, "Well, the biggest flag I can find is that one." So one of my vice presidents was going up there for a meeting, so he went up there. He pulled the flag down. We overnighted it to Ireland, and some Washington State guys flew our flag there for the first time. And that kind of took off. Like people were saying, "What is the Texas State flag doing there?" Well, it turns out, it wasn't the best flag for TV coverage because it was kinda hard to see the SuperCat in the background. So we had to buy a new flag, and we had to custom order it and so on. But then, "We gotta do this again next week." And so we started like casting about, trying to find people to wave the flags. And we were lucky that a couple of the "College GameDays" were actually in Texas, so we thought we could find someone kinda locally to do this. And you actually volunteered to wave the flag. Were you at College Station or at Austin?
- I was at Austin, College Station.
- You were in Austin?
- Yes, for "GameDay."
- Yeah.
- So I was gonna be on campus to go to the game.
- Yeah.
- And when our executive director for the Alumni Association, Kristi, reached out, I was like, "You know, I'll be there, but I know it's gonna be a lotta work, you know? I'd love to fly it, but if there's anyone who really, really is passionate about it and wants to take my spot, they can do it." And Kristi was like, "No, no, you do it. We want someone from the board to do it." And I was like, "Absolutely, so I'll be there." She was like, "Do you know what time you have to wake up?" And I was like, "3:00 a.m.?"
- Yeah. Yeah, so talk about that process here, 'cause I don't think people understand exactly what all goes into getting that flag there.
- Oh my gosh. So "College GameDay" is one of the places where all the students wanted to be.
- Yeah.
- So UT had a section, The Pit, and it was already full when I got there at about 4:30 a.m.
- Yeah.
- I had seen people had, you know, their blankets and they stayed the night, their sodas, I mean, it was just going. The music was going at 4:00 a.m.
- Yeah.
- I was like, "Oh my gosh, this is a party." And so-
- And you don't wanna be in The Pit, right? You wanna be behind The Pit, 'cause that's where all the action is.
- Yes.
- There's maybe some action you don't wanna be part of, so.
- It was a little claustrophobic, but I was like, "You know what, I'm gonna be in front of the cameras." So I grabbed the flag and grabbed Jeff, who was an alumni who supported me as well, because the flag is big.
- Yeah.
- And waving it was a lotta work.
- It takes-
- It's taxing on the shoulders.
- It takes practice. One of the things we discovered, and we're still not there yet, is that if you make a flag out of traditional material, it's super heavy.
- Yeah.
- And we have it on these big poles. And we make figure-eights trying to make it flow. And it could wear you out after a while, right?
- Yes.
- So anyways, you get there at 4:30 in the morning. How do you get connected with the Washington State people?
- I looked for their flag.
- You saw their flag and said, "Hey, I'm here from Texas State."
- I was like, "Yeah, I'm Abel. I'm here from Texas State."
- Yeah.
- And so that's how I found 'em, 'cause it was so crowded.
- Yeah.
- But we all connected and eventually we're all waving together, and that was fun. And basically, when you were in The Pit, you didn't leave The Pit.
- Yeah.
- So we were waving it 'til about 11:00 a.m.
- Yeah. So the show runs, I think, from 8:00 to 11:00. There's like a pre-show.
- Yes.
- And they switch over at nine o'clock to ESPN1. And so but you really have to get, you gotta be committed to this process, 'cause you gotta get up early. And we had one that was in Oregon, I think, or somewhere on the West Coast. They basically had to get there at 2:00 in the morning their time.
- Yeah.
- And it was a chore and a half to get there. But tell me about your experience there waving the flag. What was it like?
- Oh my gosh, it was so much fun. The energy and people actually recognizing the Texas State flag. They're like, "Y'all have been to every 'College GameDay.'"
- Yeah.
- And we're like, "Yes, we haven't missed one yet."
- And we're gonna keep it doing it. Now it's become a thing now.
- Yeah.
- And I've had so many people say, "You know, I get up in the morning on Saturday now and I look and I'm trying to see it." And so many people are posting pictures of the flag, and there's a lotta pride in seeing your flag flying over, you know, the "College GameDay" hosts' heads and people love seeing it out there. Because it's just one way of representing the university, again, trying to get our name out there and build our reputation nationally of the university.
- 'Til the whole world knows our name.
- 'Til the whole world knows our name, look at you. You absolutely are bought in, huh? So you get there at 4:30 in the morning, you find the Washington State guys, and you get your flag flying. And then, you just start waving it, right? And so and there's these big monitors, so you can kinda see when you're on camera-
- Yes.
- When you're off camera. So when they go to commercial break, you can kinda take a little bit of a break. You had someone join you, did you say?
- Yes, Jeff Walker.
- Yeah.
- Out of East Texas, one of our Texas State alumni as well, joined me.
- Did you all know each other before?
- No, we did not.
- Yeah.
- But it was wonderful to connect. We shared our Bobcat stories. And I recommend having someone, maybe two other people, so that we can rotate the flags. It was hard to, you know, kinda push through the people to get to the bathroom break or grab a soda.
- Yeah.
- And then push our way back in. But, you know, having someone to alternate with was really important.
- Oregon State, Washington State, and Texas State are like the three schools that are always there now.
- Yes.
- It's kinda nice to be connected with those schools that are on the West Coast, and again, trying to get the national brand out there. But it's almost like you're in a new club now, the club of the wavers, right? Yeah.
- That OMG wavers?
- Yeah, the OMG wavers. Yeah, that's, by the way, we have, so Washington State calls themselves Ol' Crimson.
- Okay.
- And the guy that is my former student who runs that, he said, "We gotta come up with a name for your flag." And he said, "How 'bout the OMG flag?" And I said, "OMG? I mean, that's short for oh my gosh." And he said, "No, that's Old Maroon and Gold." I said, "That's brilliant."
- Perfect.
- And so he's a super innovative guy anyways. And so it has become a fixture now, and people are super excited about being involved. And what's important for us is to be able to, you know, find out, first off, they make the decision to where "College GameDay" is very late in the game.
- Yeah.
- Like typically, either late Saturday or sometime on Sunday, they say, "Okay, we're gonna be in such and such a place." So we might know the first couple weeks where we're gonna be, 'cause you know where the first "College GameDay" is gonna be is the first game of the year or whatever. But then, as the season progresses, it's like last-minute. And so then we're like, I'm tweeting something, and the Alumni Association's trying to get people to sign up and we send emails out. And sometimes I get a little sweaty about, you know, is anyone gonna show up? We actually had at one case like nobody sign up. Well, the Washington State and the Oregon State people waved the flag for us, which was great. And I actually flew the flag at a Texas versus Texas A&M game, my best friend and I, who lives in College Station. He and I met, we went over there at 4:30 in the morning and got lined up and got the whole flag. And the Oregon State guys couldn't find someone to wave the flag, so I just waved the flag for Oregon State. So it's become, it's kinda like a camaraderie now between the groups.
- Yes.
- Like, it's almost like we're all in this together, and if you can't make it, we'll cover for you and you'll cover for me at a different time, so.
- Yes, and I think the excitement's gonna continue on to this next year and we're gonna have beaucoups of people.
- I hope so and I think that, you know, you're setting a great example of someone who says, "You know, I'm just gonna volunteer my time." There's no pay, right?
- No.
- And you gotta get up early.
- Four-day notice, no pay.
- Yeah. Four days notice, yeah.
- Wake up super early. Yeah. And so then you're going to the game after that, right?
- Oh, absolutely.
- So it turns into a real long day. What we always do is ask people to take pictures with the Washington State and the Oregon State guys.
- Yes.
- And gals who are doing this. And then we post pictures about it. So you get some glory associated with it, like you were the waver for that.
- Oh my gosh, yeah, family, colleagues, they were texting even while I was there, saying, "Oh my gosh, we see the flag, we see the flag." And I'm all like, "Well, I'm tiny, so you won't be able to see me."
- Yeah. Thank you so much for doing that, for supporting Texas State in kinda this unique way of doing it. And thank you for everything you do for the Alumni Association too. That's super important for our alumni to find ways to give back. What drove you to want to do that? I mean, many people think of their undergraduate degree as being their university. But you did this for this online program that for your graduate program. What drew you to want to serve Texas State like that?
- You know, I got my undergrad from the University of Texas. And their fan base and alumni is very engaged. But I didn't have that relationship with the professors.
- Yeah. Oh, that was it.
- You know, did my time, left. And at Texas State, it was, they communicated with me even after graduation to check on me, how am I doing. And so that support, I was like, "I've got to give back." And so my commitment to recognizing them and recognizing the university for that kind of, you know, mom and dad feel of taking care of their graduates as they even go into the careers of their new degrees. And so Alumni Association, we have well over 230 alumni-
- Yeah.
- Across the globe. And we are now coming back and supporting the university, especially with your energy.
- Yeah.
- And compassion for the university and dedication to our university. And so people are coming.
- Yeah.
- You know? We're recognized bowl champions. People are engaging with us. Anything that we can do to recognize the university is really what we're looking for.
- Well, you know, when you look at the reputation of the university, you can certainly use athletics to kinda open the door to people. But when people wanna know about the quality of the educational process that's happening at the university, we can share with them about the, you know, the high quality of faculty members that we're bringing here and the research that they're doing and so on. But it's really our alumni that shine a light on the university. When people see our alumni doing well in the workplace and in society and say, "Well, where'd you go to school?" "Well, I went to Texas State," that says a lot about what the university is doing. So many of our students are first-generation. So many of our students are Pell-eligible, so they're coming here with, you know, difficult financial backgrounds and educational backgrounds and so on. They face so many challenges, but they come here and the work that we put into them allows them to have a life they wouldn't have otherwise. And that's one of the things I think is special about Texas State. We take young people or older people and give them an opportunity to become more than they would be without what Texas State offers them. And so thank you for being part of the story on the education side but also on the alumni side, helping us to make it easier for young people or people who struggle going to school here to find a way to make that happen, helping them get from here to there. Thank you for doing that.
- Absolutely.
- All right. We're gonna change gears here a little bit. One of the things we like to do is ask our listeners to submit questions, and so throughout the year, we get a list of questions coming in here. And I'm gonna give you some questions here and I'll let you look at those. And you will ask me a question.
- Oh my gosh, this question. People are always asking this and I always think about it. So, "With such a busy schedule, how does he manage to stay sane and accomplish his goals?"
- Oh, that's, I don't know about the sane part. What really helps me a lot is, you know, I'm coming up on the 37th anniversary of my marriage to Beth. And I couldn't imagine having someone better for me to, first, keep me grounded, but also help me kinda keep my life organized as well. And she has allowed me through my career to manage the imbalance. People talk about the life-work balance. And there's just no balance to it when you're the president of a large university. So you have to manage the imbalance, 'cause there's work can intercede and be part of, can be all-consuming. And I've gotta have time away from it with her, but she allows me to do things with her that are also serving the university. So going to sporting events together, going to fine arts events together, going to alumni events. Today, we spoke at the Rotary Club and talked about this scholarship program that she and I created, actually she created it, for students that have aged out of the foster system that are attending Texas State. And you know, that was her idea, and I got to sit back a little bit and watch her present about what's happening at Texas State and about the importance of scholarships and endowing scholarships and how endowments work and so on. So for me, the biggest thing is having married well. And I wouldn't be where I am without her in the first place, and I wouldn't be exactly where I am now and able to do what I do without her being part of it. So I always tell students the secret to success is to find yourself a Beth.
- Yes.
- Someone who's always got your back, because you know, we're living a public, in a public space, in a little bit of a bubble, and people see everything you do. And some people are kinda critical. You know, it's almost impossible to please everybody all the time. It's hard to deal with that sometimes. But I know when I go home, I've always got someone waiting for me who's always got my back. And I've got her back too. But I need her way more than she needs me, and I'm glad to have her. Well, Abel, thanks so much for being here. And thank you all for joining us on the podcast. It's a great opportunity for us to learn more about what's happening at Texas State. I look forward to seeing you back here next time.