Alumni

Jyric Sims (BS Kinesiology 05) serves as president and CEO of Medical City Plano and Frisco, a health system within HCA Healthcare, that includes a 603-bed level 1 trauma medical center, 92-bed level 3 trauma medical center and more than 3,200 employees. He previously served as President and CEO of Medical City Fort Worth, COO of Tulane Health System in New Orleans, Louisiana, COO of St. Lucie Medical Center in Port St. Lucie, Florida and in executive roles in Houston, Texas and Little Rock, Arkansas. Prior to HCA, he worked as an administrative fellow and director of operations at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center.

Shelly Mullenix (MS Social Work 2019) serves as Senior Associate Athletic Director of Health and Wellness at LSU Athletics, a first-of-its-kind leadership role she assumed after earning her Master of Social Work and spending more than 30 years as a certified athletic trainer. Her 2019 promotion expanded her impact beyond athletic training, enabling her to lead holistic health and wellness initiatives across the department. Mullenix oversees the development and implementation of healthcare policies that draw on decades of clinical experience and evidence-based best practices, many of which have become national models in collegiate athletics. Her expertise spans injury prevention, mental health, substance use treatment, nutrition, and leadership development, giving her a comprehensive understanding of the student-athlete experience. Earning her MSW further strengthened her expertise in behavioral health and social justice, allowing her to provide specialized support not only to student-athletes but also to coaches and staff throughout LSU Athletics. 

LaKeitha Poole (MA Educational Leadership & Research 2012) is the Assistant Athletic Director, Sport Psychology & Counseling at LSU Athletics. Recognized by the Baton Rouge Business Report as a 2025 40 Under 40 honoree, Poole has built a career centered on expanding access to culturally responsive mental health care and creating environments where athletes can thrive both on and off the field. In addition to overseeing sport psychology and counseling services for LSU Athletics, she is an educator and founder and CEO of Small Talk Counseling & Consulting, a private counseling practice dedicated to serving historically underserved communities. Drawing on her background as a therapist, educator, and counselor, Poole develops programs that promote resilience, leadership and holistic well-being while mentoring the next generation of mental health professionals. 

Kaleigh Stallings (BS General/Special Education Grades 1-5 2022) is a special education teacher at the Academy of Choice at Hunters Creek in Texas' Spring Branch Independent School District, where she was named the 2026 Campus Teacher of the Year in just her fourth year of teaching. Stallings is recognized for creating inclusive, student-centered classrooms that prioritize both academic growth and emotional well-being. Drawing on the extensive classroom experiences she gained through LSU's teacher preparation program, she builds trusting relationships with students, adapts instruction to meet diverse learning needs and fosters confidence, empathy and resilience. In addition to her work in the classroom, Stallings serves on the Dean's Advisory Council for the LSU College of Human Sciences & Education, continuing to support and strengthen the next generation of educators.