LIT Faculty Receive Hands-On Experience Through Instruction to Industry Externship Program

8/5/2026

Sixteen Lamar Institute of Technology (LIT) faculty members participated in the Instruction to Industry Externship Program.

Throughout July 2026, participants gained hands-on experience with 12 local industry partners to have a better understanding of industry needs.

“Our faculty are experts in their fields, but industries continue to innovate and modernize at a rapid pace,” said Dr. Angela Hill, Provost/Vice President for Instruction and Student Services. “This program gives instructors the opportunity to step back into the workplace, experience emerging technologies and processes firsthand and apply what they learn to their curriculum.”

Through the experience gained during the externship, faculty will be better equipped to cater lesson plans to ever-evolving industry standards.

“This experience was invaluable,” said Christopher Sams, math instructor. “It has greatly increased my ability to incorporate teamwork and explain the relevance of problem solving, critical thinking and how math can be used in the workplace.”

Sams says that the externship gave him the opportunity to implement real-world experiences into his lessons.

“I wanted to be able to better answer the question: ‘When am I going to use this?’” said Sams. “This felt like the perfect opportunity.”

Sams says that the students will benefit from career-aligned instruction, which will enhance their workforce awareness and readiness.

“Many students view coursework as a means to an end—something they do once in class and never again for the rest of their lives. However, this couldn’t be further from the truth,” said Sams. “During this program I saw history, public speaking and data-driven decisions. All the basics we teach are just the beginning and the foundation for successful careers. This is something I now know from experience and brings relevance to what we teach.”

LIT is currently accepting applications for a variety of roles. To learn more about job opportunities and to apply, please visit jobs.lit.edu.