Litzmann graduates SHSU with master’s of arts

On May 9, 2024, commencement ceremonies were held at the Bernard G. Johnson Coliseum on the campus of Sam Houston State University. Among the graduates was Matthias Joseph Frybert Litzmann receiving his Master of Arts in Counseling, with a 4.0 GPA, upon completion of the threeyear counseling program.

Matthias has been working as a graduate student for the Center for Assessment, Research, and Educational Safety (CARES), on SHSU’s campus for the past two years. During his third graduate year while completing his coursework, Matthias added his double semester internship where he began his career in behavioral mental health therapy by counseling clients at Serenity House Counseling, located in Livingston, Texas.

Along with his internship, when the need became evident, Matthias volunteered to be the only counselor available to incarcerated males awaiting trial at the Polk County jail. Eventually, this led to Matthias conducting group counseling of separate sessions for female and male prisoners where he runs “SMART”—Self-Management and Recovery Training, an addiction and recovery program.

Matthias’ most recent endeavor is his development of a pilot program, “SMART Habits, Strong U,” which shares some elements of SMART. This program was designed by Matthias, and through his work with SMART at the jail, as well as previous work with the SHSU Counseling Center for students, he is creating “Smart Habits, Strong U” to be available to both SHSU students and the Huntsville community. Since earning his master’s degree, and then obtaining his license, Matthias became a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) Associate and is employed as an LPC Associate at Serenity House Counseling under the supervision of Dr. Shawna Munson, LPC-S, LMFT-S. Matthias also continues to work twice weekly at the Polk County jail.

On Saturday 20 July, Matthias was honored by his parents, his brother Zane, and his girlfriend Myrah Mendez, with a gathering of family and friends for a graduation party in his honor at Bonnie’s Hideout in Huntsville. Everyone enjoyed an afternoon of fun and games, including a catered meal and cake.

Matthias was the Salutatorian of the Class of 2018 of Sealy High School and graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science: Psychology in 2021 from SHSU. Matthias is the son of Mark Wm and Barbara Frybert Litzmann of Sealy, and the grandson of Kay Frybert & the late Joe F. Frybert of Eagle Lake, and the late Ruby Mae & Elton Wm Litzmann of Alleyton.