About the Speakers

T. W. Shannon

Representative T. W. Shannon has been a familiar face on the Cameron University campus since he began taking classes in 1996, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications in the Fall of 2000. He continued on to obtain his Juris Doctor from Oklahoma City University and returned to visit Cameron’s campus as a staff member for Congressman J. C. Watts. Later Shannon accompanied Congressman Tom Cole to the university as his Field Representative. And now, we welcome him to campus as a distinguished member of the Oklahoma House of Representatives.

Representative Shannon is a true southwest Oklahoman, growing up in Lawton and attending Lawton High School before receiving his Cameron degree. He now serves as the Assistant Majority Whip, Vice Chair of the Judiciary and Public Safety Committee, and holds membership on the Aerospace and Technology, and the Transportation Committees. In addition to his commitment to act on behalf of the people of southwest Oklahoma, Representative Shannon continues to be an advocate for Cameron University.

Kay Morris

Ms. Kay Morris began her collegiate studies at Cameron University in August 2000, graduating cum laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry. She was actively involved in many campus organizations and activities. Serving as the 2003-04 Student Government Association president, she and the other officers supported the construction of new on-campus housing, known today as Cameron Village. Encouraged by faculty, she began her research career on the Cameron campus with Dr. Clinton Bryan and Dr. Danny McGuire.

After graduating in May 2004, she began doctoral studies at Texas A&M University. Continuing her campus involvement at Texas A&M, she has served as Vice President for the Graduate Student Association in Chemistry and as a board member for Women in Science and Engineering. She currently holds three Fellowships, has made numerous local and national presentations, and has co-authored several publications in major Chemistry journals. Her research focuses on the preparation of natural products which have been shown to possess anti-cancer/tumor and anti-diabetic activity.

Sanjit Bhattacharya

Mr. Sanjit Bhattacharya was born in Bangalore, India, coming to the United States with his parents in 1985. Graduating from Eisenhower High School at the age of 16, he joined the circulation department for The Lawton Constitution and began his college career at Cameron in the fall of 1994. Within two years, even as he met his added collegiate responsibilities as a PLUS scholar, he moved into a position as a Regional Director with a phone service provider.

Mr. Bhattacharya graduated from Cameron in 1999 with a marketing specialization in Business Administration. While in school, he started his own construction company, initially remodeling and selling homes, and subsequently becoming a builder and developer. In 2006, exhibiting his entrepreneurial prowess, Mr. Bhattacharya formed an oil and gas exploration company and now has drilling operations in North Dakota, Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas and Lousiana. Generously giving back to his alma mater, Mr. Bhattacharya recently endowed a lectureship for Excellence in Research at Cameron.