Class Notes
1950s
Philip Martin, BA ’52, of Waco celebrated his 100th birthday May 4. He is a Baylor Professor Emeritus of German, which he taught for 32 years. His wife Dr. Janya Martin, BA ’63, has served a German professor at Baylor for more than 50 years.
Robert Lopez Flynn, BA ’54, MA ’57, of San Antonio is the recipient of a 2019 Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award for “career longevity and unwavering excellence.” Contact at rflynn@earthlink.net.
Baylor Law School dedicated The Charles E. Wallace Family Courtyard at the Sheila and Walter Umphrey Law Center April 26 in the memory of distinguished Waco lawyer Charles “Chuck” Wallace, BBA ’55, JD ’60. The Wallace Family Courtyard was named in appreciation for a $2 million gift from Sherri W. and Robert “Bobby” L. Patton Jr. of Fort Worth in memory of Sherri’s father and in honor of her mother, Sandra Stoesser Wallace. In addition to enhancements to the courtyard, The Charles E. Wallace Endowed Fund for Legal Writing supports programming in Baylor Law’s Legal Writing Center and the Baylor Law Review. The Sherri W. and Robert L. Patton Jr. Endowed Fund for Pro Bono Clinics and Programs provides overall support for the award-winning pro bono clinics and initiatives at Baylor Law. Wallace had a distinguished legal career as a partner in the Waco law firm Wallace and Smith, which later became Wallace, Fisher and Neville. Charles was a businessman and served as an adjunct professor at Baylor Law and in the Hankamer School of Business. He also was involved in numerous civic and charitable causes. Sherri Wallace Patton, BS ’84, retired from a successful career in law that included serving as an assistant district attorney in Dallas. The Pattons are involved in many joint business ventures, including being part owners of the Los Angeles Dodgers. They have two children: Robert and Rachel Patton.
Virginia DuPuy, BA ’56, MA ’62, who served as Waco’s mayor from 2005 to 2010, was presented with the Greater Waco Chamber of Commerce’s Legacy Award. DuPuy was the first woman to serve as chair of the chamber. Her family has long operated DuPuy Oxygen & Supply. She served a two-year term on the Waco City Council and co-founded Prosper Waco.
Greta Chodorow Kost, BA ’56, of Holliston, MA, writes, “I transferred to Baylor from the University of Texas since it was my brother’s turn to go out of town for his schooling. I loved Baylor. The faculty were very gracious to me and my family (Nate, my father Max, and Jack Chodorow were well known and appreciated). I will always deeply appreciate Baylor’s care and concern for my welfare. The faculty were superb.”
The Waxahachie [TX] ISD Board of Trustees voted to name a district elementary school after Max Simpson, BA ’56, MSEd ’58. Simpson served from 1958 to 1967 as a teacher and a principal for Waco [TX] ISD. He moved to Waxahachie in 1970 to be an assistant superintendent for Waxahachie ISD. He retired as the superintendent of personnel and instruction in 1991.
Joseph Cudd, BBA ’58, resides at 24822 Packsaddle Trail, San Antonio, TX 78225. Contact at jcudd8@gmail.com.
Drayton McLane Jr., BBA ’58, Temple, TX, businessman and Regent Emeritus at Baylor, was appointed chairman of the Texas Economic Development Corporation Board of Directors by Gov. Greg Abbott. The corporation’s goal is to help market Texas as a place for businesses to grow and prosper. McLane is chairman of the McLane Group.
Kendall Gardner, BBA ’59, writes, “My childhood home was 2922 S. 3rd St. in Waco. I spent three years in the U.S. Army, beginning in 1959, before opening Fort Bend Muffler Shop in Rosenberg, TX, while living in Richmond, TX. I enjoyed having my own business, thanks to my Baylor education. I’m 81 and have had a wonderful life.” Gardner and his wife reside at 6454 E. Ptarmigan Circle, Wasilla, AK 99687.
Robert Medcalf, BA ’59, writes, “My wife Judy [Hunt], ’61, and I had our first trip to Baylor last November with one of our sons. We enjoyed watching football and volleyball games and reminiscing; it was our first time back to Waco since 1959. We are ever grateful for the education, fun, friendships and memories. Our years since Baylor have been spent in Indiana and California, pastoring Baptist churches.” Contact at 2493 Presidential Dr., Tulare, CA 93274 or bob.medcalf@icloud.com.
Thomas Wedel, BS ’59, was a Baylor AFROTC member. He performed seven years active duty flying (mostly) tankers. Wedel was a United Airlines pilot for 30 years and retired in 1997. He now restores pre-settlement flora on a southwest Wisconsin farm. “A great way to live,” he writes. Contact at 446 Richmond Lane, Village of Lakewood, IL 60014 or tomneva@sbcglobal.net.
1960s
Dr. Ervin Zvolanek, BA ’60, moved from Longview, TX, to be near family. Contact at 5455 La Sierra Dr. #807, Dallas, TX 75231 or ervinzvolanek@aol.com.
Bob Adam, JD ’62, a lifelong resident of the Cypress, TX, area, has always looked for ways to give back to the community. As a trustee of the Cy-Fair Educational Foundation since 1971, he and his wife Linda, BA ’61, have given more than $1 million to help fund scholarships for Cy-Fair ISD students and teacher excellence grants. In February, the Cy-Fair community honored the Adams with a celebration of their philanthropic efforts.
Robert William Rucker, ’63, of Leesville, LA, writes, “I’m a 77-year-old minister. Sic ’em, Bears, and congratulations to Coach Mulkey on winning another national championship! Romans 8:28, Isaiah 54:10, Numbers 6:24-26.”
Betty Graham Hassler, BA ’67, of Matthews, NC, authored Trophies of Grace: Three Novellas in One Volume (LifeRich, 2019). The fictional stories, set in Nashville, TN, feature a grandpa’s trophy case filled with memories of God’s grace in the lives of three generations. Hassler served 16 years at LifeWay Christian Resources, the last five as editor of Open Windows. She is married to Dr. Sim Hassler, BA ’68.
Charles C. “Charlie” Ledbetter, BA ’69, wrote Unexpected Conversations with Teenagers: A Spiritual Journey with Young Minds, a memoir of his 33 years teaching Sunday school. The book is for those interested in youth spiritual development. Contact at 1011 S. Valentia St., Unit 143, Denver, CO 80247 or charlieled143@gmail.com.
1970s
Kay Wheeler Moore, BA ’70, wrote the script and score of a musical drama, Becoming Garland Avenue, that was performed to a sellout crowd April 13 at the Plaza Theatre in downtown Garland, TX. The drama was the story of Garland’s early days. She and her husband Louis Moore, BA ’68, are retired career journalists, publishers and authors. Now community activists, they live on the street in Garland on which Kay grew up. The Moores spearheaded the neighborhood’s listing on the National Register of Historic Places. Contact at kaymoore2000@yahoo.com.
Jean Tumlinson, BA ’70, MS ’73, of Cameron, TX, writes, “Upon acceptance to Baylor, I was 39 and leery of returning to college. I graduated from Stephens College, Columbia, MO, in 1949. It became necessary for me to return to college to support my five children. I enjoyed class tremendously as the younger Baylor students accepted me. I drove an hour to Waco every day, leaving my children to get themselves to school. I was featured in the Taurus issue of Iscani magazine in 1970. As an 88-year-old great-grandmother of 13, I enjoyed watching the Lady Bears championship. Sic ’em, Bears!” Tumlinson taught Spanish and history over her 25 years at Cameron Yoe High School.
David “Pup” Moore, BBA ’71, MBA ’76, retired June 30, 2018, after a 40-plus-year career in healthcare information systems. He worked with Nadacom, Antrim Corp., Labcorp, Spectrum/Solstas Labs, and finally as chief information officer for Sonora Quest Laboratories (2010). David and his wife Elizabeth Young Moore, BA ’73, enjoy playing golf, training their standard poodles and traveling. Contact at davidandbeth@cox.net or 11207 N. Patridge Place, Fountain Hills, AZ 85268.
Thomas Redwine, BBA ’70, JD ’71, writes, “I’m honored to have my granddaughter Emory Redwine continue the family tradition as a Baylor freshman entering fall 2019. I know she will have the same wonderful college experience I did as a Baylor Bear.” Contact at 112 S. Crockett St., Sherman, TX 75090 or taredwine@hotmail.com.
Mark Bass, BBA ’73, was selected by Forbes magazine as one of its Best-In-State Wealth Advisors. Bass, CFP, CPA, AIF, is a principal of Pennington, Bass & Associates, a financial planning firm in Lubbock, TX, which he joined upon graduating from Baylor. Contact at mbass@penningtonbass.com or 3310 20th St, Lubbock, TX 79410.
J. Marc Lewis, BBA ’75, of Waco was celebrated at Institutional Investor Magazine’s Ninth Annual “Americas Most Honored Companies Awards” dinner in New York City. He was honored as the No. 1 public company engineering and construction investor relations professional and for having the best investor relations program. Lewis, MasTec Inc.’s vice president of investor relations, has been highly ranked by Institutional Investor Magazine since 2013.
Godfrey Sullivan, BBA ’75, was appointed to the board of directors of RingCentral Inc., a provider of global enterprise cloud communications, collaboration and contact center solutions. Sullivan has served as chairman of the board of directors of Splunk Inc., an enterprise software company, since 2011, and he was president and CEO from 2008 to 2015. Sullivan has served as a member of the board of directors of CrowdStrike Inc. since 2017 and Citrix Systems Inc. from 2005 to 2018. He is the former president and CEO of Hyperion Solutions Corp.
Roy Moran, BA ’76, of Liberty, MO, planted Shoal Creek Community Church in Kansas City, MO, in 1995. This journey led him to write Spent Matches: Igniting the Signal Fire for the Spiritually Dissatisfied (Thomas Nelson, 2015). Moran is chairman of the board of two leading church planting organizations: Beyond and New Generations.
Charles “Gregg” Stevens, MHA ’77, Deputy to the Commanding General, Army Medical Department Center and School (AMEDDC&S), Health Readiness Center of Excellence and Chief of the AMEDD Civilian Corps, retired from senior executive service Jan. 31. In addition to his years of service as an AMEDD civilian, Stevens served nearly 30 years on active duty, receiving his commission as a medical service corps officer.
Herb Bristow, BBA ’78, JD ’81, joined Andy Tindel, BBA ’79, JD ’82, and Mark Mann, JD ’81, for an intellectual property practice in Waco, which has become a burgeoning destination for IP lawsuits. Waco’s Haley & Olson, a business and commercial litigation firm that also represents about 75 governmental entities, and Mann, Tindel and Thompson, a specialized patent litigation firm with offices in Tyler and Henderson, have opened a new office at 913 Franklin Ave.
Texas Lutheran University (TLU) named Debbie Cottrell, BSEd ’79, its 16th president. Cottrell previously served TLU in Seguin, TX, as vice president of academic affairs. She received her master’s and PhD in history from the University of Texas at Austin. Cottrell served in various roles at a number of colleges and universities, including provost at William Peace University in Raleigh, NC, associate dean and director of graduate programs at Smith College in Northampton, MA, and professor of history and assistant dean of the faculty at Cottey College in Nevada, MO.
1980s
Nelda Luce Blair, BA ’80, of The Woodlands, TX, was named an advisor to the board of directors of Spirit of Texas Bancshares Inc., the holding company for Spirit of Texas Bank. Blair’s legal and professional experience includes: president/owner of The Blair Law Firm since 1987; a legal consultant, local counsel, government liaison and expert witness; fundraising campaigns for educational awareness; and periodic legal commentator on FOX News, CNN, MSNBC, Court TV and Houston FOX 26.
Dr. Jobeth Winsett Pilcher, BSN ’80, of Poetry, TX, was awarded the 2019 Louise Herrington School of Nursing Distinguished Alumni Award for her national and international contributions to nursing and nursing education through research, publications and presentations. Pilcher retired from Baylor Health Care System after 40 years of service. She is a part-time faculty member for Capella University’s doctoral nursing education program. Contact at jobethp@att.net.
Roth Capital Partners named Dr. Charles “Tony” Butler, BS ’81, as a managing director, senior equity analyst, and head of biotechnology research for the firm’s healthcare research team in Newport Beach, CA. He also will be a partner. Butler previously was a senior healthcare analyst and managing director at Guggenheim Securities, where he focused on both biotechnology and biopharma. Butler also was a senior healthcare analyst at Lehman Brothers/Barclay’s Capital for 18 years.
Cindy Green, BA ’81, started her business after working for the founder of the Michaels store. Her brand, Neurons Not Included, targets scientific mindsets with her sales doubling each year with marketing visibility and order fulfillment help from Amazon.
John Martin, BA ’81, was elected managing partner of Baker Botts, one of Houston’s oldest and largest law firms. For the past five years, he led the firm’s growing operations in Silicon Valley.
Dr. Steve Currall, BA ’82, was selected president-elect of the University of South Florida. Currall, provost and vice president for academic affairs at Southern Methodist University, will be USF’s seventh president when his tenure begins July 1. At SMU, he was the David B. Miller Endowed Professor and held academic appointments in the Cox School of Business, Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences and the Lyle School of Engineering.
Brad Beam, BA ’83, was honored with the Herb and Marian Weston Humanitarian Award, given by the Beatrice [NE] Humane Society, for his outstanding service as a volunteer caring for shelter animals and serving as an animal advocate.
John L. Grayson, JD ’83, was inducted into membership of the Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel. He was also named a panelist on the American Arbitration Association National Roster of Arbitrators for commercial and construction matters. John is a principal with the firm of Cokinos Young in Houston. Contact at jgrayson@cokinoslaw.com.
Great American Group Advisory & Valuation Services, a provider of advisory and valuation services and a subsidiary of B. Riley Financial Inc., announced that Stephen Shelton, BBA ’83, joined as managing director with the firm’s appraisal business based in New York. Shelton has more than 30 years of experience in banking, investment banking and financial consulting.
J. Jeffrey Springer, BA ’83, JD ’85, with Springer & Lyle LLP, was elected to membership in the Fellows by Texas Bar Foundation. Each year the top one-third of one percent of Texas attorneys become Fellows. Springer has practiced law in Denton, TX, for over 30 years.
Ann Caulkins, BA ’84, is senior vice president of Novant Health and president of Novant Health Foundation, headquartered in Winston-Salem, NC. Caulkins served 12 years as president and publisher of The Charlotte Observer and before that served as president and publisher of The State newspaper in Columbia, SC.
Laura Harmon, BA ’84, was promoted to senior associate at the Cushman & Wakefield Thalhimer’s Greenville, SC, office. Harmon specializes in office sales and leasing in Upstate South Carolina, including commercial property sales, leasing and management.
Christopher Knighten, BMEd ’86, director of bands and associate professor of music in the music department at the University of Arkansas, was elected to the American Bandmasters Association. Knighten previously was a faculty member at Baylor.
Dr. Melissa “Missie” Barker Neathery, BA ’86, BSN ’87, has taught in Baylor’s Louise Herrington School of Nursing as clinical assistant professor for 10 years. Melissa and her husband Jim and sons Thomas, BA ’15, and Andrew, a Baylor senior, served as missionaries in Albania from 1999 to 2004. Upon their return, Melissa began teaching health assessment and psychiatric mental health nursing in lecture and clinical settings. Her research focuses on spiritual care and mental health recovery. “I enjoy teaching students who are sons and daughters of people I knew at Baylor,” she writes. Contact at Melissa_Neathery@baylor.edu.
Robin Russell, JD ’86, was named deputy managing partner of Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP. She previously was managing partner of its Houston office and for many years co-chaired its national bankruptcy and restructuring practice. Russell became deputy managing partner in 2018. At Baylor, she was the highest-ranking graduate.
Burnet [TX] County judges appointed Karin A. Smith, BA ’87, to serve as Burnet County auditor. Smith began a two-year appointment Feb. 4. She had served as Anderson County auditor in Palestine, TX, since 2011.
Brian Summerall, BA ’87, of Dallas has been a staff member for Young Life for more than 30 years. He leads the Todd Bush Training Center in Dallas and is also a StoryBrand expert. He has combined his adventures into a book, Telling Stories: God’s Grace Revealed through Adventures, Awkwardness, and a 1981 Monte Carlo. See more at tellingstoriesthebook.com.
Brent Veach, BBA ’87, of Scottsdale, AZ, was featured on Franchising.com. He is the largest Del Taco franchisee, operating 50 quick-serve restaurants — 21 in Colorado and 29 in Arizona. He and his wife Maria have three children: Craig, 23, Megan, 22, and Jacob, 19.
Victor Carrillo, MS ’88, corporate board director for Energy Hunter Resources in Dallas, was named to the list of Top Latinos in Energy, Oil and Gas for 2019 by Latino Leaders Magazine.
Dr. “Jim” Larkin Page, BA ’88, is an associate professor in the Division of Education and Counseling at Xavier University of Louisiana in New Orleans. In his 12th year as a professor, he holds a PhD in reading and began his higher education teaching and research at Texas A&M University-Commerce. He is a published author in the research areas of reading comprehension, English learners and teacher education.
Emily Hutchison, BA ’89, joined Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital as the health system’s director of development. Hutchison has more than three decades of nonprofit leadership and fundraising experience. She spent the last decade in higher education development in New York.
Entrepreneur, lawyer and motivational speaker Michelle May O’Neil, BBA ’89, JD ’91, of Dallas released Wisdom from Momma: Anecdotes and Euphemisms from a True Texas Lady, a guidebook from — and homage to — her mother Sandra Verdene Crouch May. The book contains life advice from Momma, whose spirit and tenacity guided her and her family through their most trying times.
Dr. Dean Rader, BA ’89, was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship for 2019. He is a professor of English, author and an award-winning, widely published poet. The award places him in the company of 168 scholars, artists and scientists in the U.S. and Canada. Appointed “on the basis of prior achievement and exceptional promise,” the successful candidates were chosen from a group of almost 3,000 applicants. Rader’s poems have appeared in The New York Times, Best American Poetry, American Poetry Review, Kenyon Review, Ploughshares, Harvard Review and many others. He writes and reviews regularly for the San Francisco Chronicle, The Rumpus, Los Angeles Review of Books, Huffington Post and BOMB. While teaching at the University of San Francisco, Rader has won the Dean’s Scholar Award and the Distinguished Research Award. Most recently, he co-edited They Said: Contemporary Collaborative Writing (Black Lawrence) and Native Voices: Indigenous American Poems, Craft, and Conversations (Tupelo).
For the third consecutive year, Matt Schoenfeld, BA ’89, was recognized nationally as a Top Financial Advisor for Houston-based AIG Retirement (formerly VALIC). Additionally, Schoenfeld’s 20th book, Growing Through Disaster (Abingdon Press), is due for release in September. Co-author is Rev. Clayton Smith. Contact at matt.schoenfeld44@gmail.com.
1990s
BBVA Compass named Ray J. Black Jr., BBA ’90, as its head of estate settlement. He oversees the settlement and administration of estates and offer guidance and support to the bank’s trust advisors in the field. Black’s legal experience in handling probate, guardianship and estate planning situations spans more than two decades, including time as a partner for a Houston law firm from 1995 to 2005, as well as a stint running his own practice, The Black Law Firm.
Brett Graham, BBA ’90, outgoing Texoma Health Foundation board chairman, was honored with the Okay to Say Leadership Award during the Community Behavioral Health Conference in Denison, TX. Okay to Say is the award-winning mental health public awareness campaign initiated by the Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute. Graham is CEO of Graham International and a board member of the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles.
The Waxahachie Daily Light awarded Dr. Peggy Linguist, BS ’90, the inaugural Ellis County [TX]Heroes Award for her work as a physician and chief medical officer at the Hope Clinic, where she focuses on pediatric patient care.
Jenny McCumber, BA ’90, JD ’93, was appointed to the the Los Alamos [NM] Community Foundation Board of Directors. McCumber serves on the Los Alamos School Board and is a board member for the Los Alamos Public Schools Foundation.
Carolyn Muska, BBA ’90, MSEd ’98, retired April 15 after 34 years serving at Baylor. She was director of professional development at the Baylor Career Center.
Dare Lovett, BSHE ’91, joined the Houston Business Unit of the Trammell Crow Co., which develops and investors in commercial real estate. As vice president for development management, Lovett is responsible for managing the design, construction, budgeting, scheduling and overall execution of developments in the Houston area. He is a registered architect with more than 24 years of experience on commercial and mixed-use projects.
Pete Havel, BA ’92, of Dallas authored The Arsonist In The Office: Fireproofing Your Life Against Toxic Coworkers, Bosses, Employees and Cultures. It is a survival guide, management strategy and leadership call to arms for protecting careers and cultures from destructive people. Info at www.arsonistintheoffice.com. Contact at pete@pethavel.com or 6611 Elvedon Dr., Dallas, TX 75428.
Jeffery D. Price, BBA ’92, was recognized by Forbes for the seventh consecutive year as part of its annual Best-in-State Wealth Advisors list in 2019. He was also recognized in Barron’s Magazine as part of its annual America’s Top 1,200 Advisors: State-by-State. Price and his wife Cara reside in Flower Mound, TX. Their son Connor is a Baylor student. Contact at jeffery@ml.com.
Dena Dyer, BA ’93, is director of communications and development at Brazos Pregnancy Center in Granbury, TX. Previously, she served for a year as education director. The center has empowered women and families through mentoring and education for 25 years. Dyer writes, “It’s amazing to see how God has used everything in my past to prepare me for this role. I love serving Him alongside passionate women and telling our clients about the hope and healing available to them through Jesus.” Contact at denadyer@gmail.com.
Saad Ehtisham,
BS ’93, is president of Novant Health Presbyterian Medical Center in Charlotte, NC. Contact at saad_ehtisham@msn.com.
Dr. Kristi Clark, BA ’94, an internal medicine physician who served as senior medical director for HealthTexas Medical Group, was promoted to president and CEO. Clark earned her medical degree from the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine and completed her residency and internship in internal medicine at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio.
Dr. Tyler Cooper, BBA ’94, was featured in D Magazine’s Meet the Dallas 500. He is CEO of Cooper Aerobics. He also holds degrees from the University of Texas at San Antonio (MD) and Harvard University (MPH).
William H. “Bill” Dietz Jr., BA ’94, was reappointed to the Texas State Affordable Housing Corporation Board of the Directors for a term that expires in 2025. Dietz is a financial advisor and president of Dietz Financial Services LLC in Waco.
Chris Fields, BSES ’94, was appointed chief technology officer of Onit Inc., a provider of enterprise workflow solutions. Fields most recently was chief technology officer for Innovative Interfaces, where he led the company’s engineering and product management.
Lillian Riojas, BA ’94, director of media relations and communications for Valero Energy, was named to the list of Top Latinos in Energy, Oil and Gas for 2019 by Latino Leaders Magazine.
Jerome Loughridge, BA ’95, of Oklahoma City was appointed by Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt as the state’s secretary of health and mental health. In 2003, Loughridge served on the White House Fellowship as a special assistant for the Office of the Secretary of Defense under Donald Rumsfeld. Loughridge served for Great White Energy Services as chief operating officer before becoming president of Black Mesa Energy Services in 2009. Since 2012, Loughridge served as president of Great Plains Oilfield Rental.
Ted Metcalf, BBA ’95, joined Compass Health Brands as western regional director, managing the sales teams in 13 states. Metcalf was the director of rehab, O&P and HME retail for The MED Group/MHA Inc. He also was national account manager with MED at both the regional and national levels. Prior to MED, Metcalf was the business development manager for Numotion and the director of national accounts for Pride Mobility for 10 years.
Matt Mosley, BA ’95, debuted April 22 as the midday host on ESPN Central Texas 1660AM and 92.3 FM. The Matt Mosley Show broadcasts weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon on the flagship radio station for Baylor Athletics.
Jennifer Johnson White, BSN ’95, was selected as a Dallas-Fort Worth Great 100 Nurse for 2019. She is a neurological ICU nurse at Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth. Contact at 1418 Hwy 59 N, Bowie, TX 76230 or signerm@hotmail.com.
Mark Cough, BA ’97, is chief financial officer for Truity Credit Union in Bartlesville, OK. He previously served as vice president of finance at Coastal Federal Credit Union in Raleigh, NC. Cough also was the senior interest rate risk advisor at USAA Federal Savings Bank in San Antonio.
USA Track and Field (USTAF) named Mike Ford, BBA ’97, associate head coach of men’s track and field at Baylor, as head coach of the USTAF men’s team competing at the 2019 Europe vs. USA Match, one of five international competitions in 2019.
Tania Patel Prontka, BA ’97, MBA ’99, was promoted to senior human resources business partner for Memorial Hermann Greater Heights Hospital in Houston. She has been with the organization since 2016 at the Texas Medical Center. Prontka is an advisor to senior level leadership and management in areas of strategic HR and talent management.
Nakia Codie, BA ’98, who works for the Dallas Cowboys to host Fuel Up mini camps, oversaw a Fuel Up to Play 60 campaign event in San Antonio, launched by the National Dairy Council and NFL in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Codie played football at Baylor and with the Pittsburgh Steelers. “This is all about teaching kids to eat the right foods — protein, vegetables, fruits and dairy — to make sure they are at their best in the classroom and also on the playing field,” Codie says.
Tim Nystrom, BA ’98, president and CEO of Newstream Companies, was featured as a Tastemaker in Southlake Style magazine. He purchased a Smoothie King franchise, which turned into several Smoothie Kings, leading to a successful real estate company and eventually a commercial development company focusing on hotel and mixed-use retail development.
Laura Thompson, BBA ’98, was promoted to vice president, trade shows at PMMI, The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, owner and producer of the PACK EXPO portfolio of trade shows. Thompson previously was senior director, expositions. She began as the PMMI receptionist 20 years ago.
April King, JD ’99, returned to Columbia County, WA, to serve as deputy prosecuting attorney. She was deputy prosecutor for Columbia County from 2003 to 2006, and she served as deputy prosecutor in variety of other Washington counties, including Walla Walla and Clallam.
The Waco City Council reappointed Esmeralda Cuate Hudson, BBA ’99, as city secretary for a second term. She is the city’s first Hispanic city secretary and has called Waco home for 20 years.
2000s
Angela Albers, JD ’00, was appointed by Gov. Greg Abbott as the Wood County [TX] criminal district attorney for a term that expires Dec. 31, 2020. Albers, of Mineola, TX, was the first assistant district attorney for the Wood County criminal district attorney’s office. She is a member of the State Bar of Texas, Texas District and County Attorneys Association, and the Wood County Bar Association. She is a child sponsor for Compassion International among other roles.
Brian Brisco, BA ’00, JD ’10, was admitted as an equity partner at Cantey Hanger LLP in Fort Worth.
Jeff Elkins, BA ’01, MDiv ’05, launched a series of detective novels, The Adventures of Watkins and Howe. The series’ first two books — Grab and Steal — were published in February and March. They are Elkins’ 10th and 11th novels in the past five years. Elkins lives near Baltimore with his wife and five kids. He is chief script engineer for SIMmersion Immersive Simulations. Contact at jffelkins@gmail.com.
When tasked with growing a presence in North Texas for Atlanta- based SunTrust Bank, Dallas-Fort Worth Market President Julia Harman, BBA ’01, recruited top talent to the firm, which led to the hiring of multiple Baylor graduates. Four of the seven commercial banking and private wealth teammates hired in Dallas over the past two years are Baylor Bears. (Pictured left to right: Austin Tabor, BBA ’14, commercial banking; Nathan Chapman, BBA ’99, private wealth advisor; Harman; Brian Losak, BBA ’04, MSEd ’05 investment strategist; and Julie Harding Woidneck, BBA ’07, commercial Banking). “While SunTrust didn’t set out to purposefully make the office bleed green and gold, a strong dedication to identifying and cultivating top talent with a particular focus on those that fit the firm’s entrepreneurial and purpose-driven culture naturally led there. Sic ’em, Baylor Family!” Harman writes.
Dion McBay, MBA ’01, was appointed vice president of sales for Valent USA LLC. McBay leads the sales team and directs the sales process for Valent’s products and services across North America. He also serves as their executive lead to the customer channel and support global initiatives of Valent’s parent company, Sumitomo Chemical. McBay previously worked with Bayer Crop Science and Monsanto.
Matthew Nielsen, JD ’01, joined Bracewell LLP’s Dallas office as a partner in the white-collar defense group. He previously was a partner at Stanton LLP, a litigation boutique in Dallas. Nielsen joined Stanton LLP in 2017 from Andrews Kurth LLP.
Jennifer Adams, JD ’02, joined Hogan Lovells’ Houston office as a partner in its environment and natural resource practice. Adams joins the firm from Koch Companies Public Sector, where she served as chief counsel of litigation for eight years, focusing on complex environmental matters throughout the U.S.
Jaffus Hardrick, EdD ’02, was appointed as the 14th president of Florida Memorial University (FMU). The board originally tapped Hardrick to serve as interim president in July 2018. An award-winning academic executive, Hardrick came to South Florida’s only historically black university after 12 years as assistant provost for academic affairs and vice president of human resources at Baylor, followed by 10 years at Florida International University (FIU) as vice provost for access and success and vice president of human resources. Hardrick earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, a Master of Education in counseling from Prairie View A&M University, and a doctorate in educational administration from Baylor.
Brook Kibler Bell, BA ’03, of Meridian, TX, joined the estate planning and probate section of the Fort Worth law firm Harris, Finley & Bogle PC, where she assists clients in all phases of probate, heirship, and trust administration and litigation proceedings. She is also an adjunct professor teaching the Probate & Estate Planning Clinic at Texas A&M University School of Law. Contact at bbell@hfblaw.com.
Bret Hefton, BBA ’03, is moving to JLL Dallas’ tenant rep team. A former NTCAR Young Citizen Award winner and D CEO Power Broker with Avison Young, Hefton has been in commercial real estate for 15 years. He has completed $800 million in transactions.
Brandon Cope, BA ’04, MSEd ’12, was named superintendent of Riesel [TX] Independent School District. Cope is a Riesel graduate and served as principal of Riesel’s secondary school. He started teaching in 2009 at Waco’s Cesar Chavez Middle School. Cope also served as assistant principal at Waco High School, principal at Crestview Elementary School, director of the Greater Waco Advanced Health Care Academy and director of the Greater Waco Advanced Manufacturing Academy.
Michell Morris Adams, BA ’05, writes, “After losing my husband to cancer, my young children and I are moving to Waterford, Ireland, where I will be pursuing a second degree in computer forensics from Waterford Institute of Technology.” Contact at michelldadams@hotmail.com.
Will Dixon, JD ’05, was appointed Navarro [TX] County criminal district attorney by Gov. Greg Abbott for a term that expires Dec. 31, 2020. Dixon had served as an assistant district attorney for the Navarro County criminal district attorney’s office, where he was a felony prosecutor and misdemeanor chief.
Jenny Palmer, JD ’05, joined the law offices of Mike Head and Justin Weiner in Athens, TX. Palmer, a former assistant district attorney, primarily focuses her practice on the areas of family law, guardianship, wills, probate, juvenile and misdemeanor criminal law.
Brent Hockaday, BBA ’05, of Bell Nunnally & Martin LLP was named to the 2019 Texas Rising Stars list published by Super Lawyers. He is a senior associate in Bell Nunnally’s litigation and labor, employment and benefits groups.
Melissa Smith, BSEd ’05, was promoted to principal of Vanston Middle School in Mesquite, TX, where she has been assistant principal for six years.
Dr. Katie L. Treadwell, BA ’05, MSEd ’08, co-authored Crisis, Compassion and Resiliency in Student Affairs: Using Triage Practices to Foster Well-Being. Treadwell supervises student conduct and community standards at the University of Kansas.
Nicole Been, MSEd ’06, of Muscogee, OK, a former graduate assistant with Baylor Women’s Basketball, directed a free youth basketball clinic March 10 as part of Native American Heritage Day, hosted by the Big 12 Conference at the 2019 Women’s Basketball Championship Tournament in Oklahoma City. Been is an assistant professor and faculty athletic representative at Langston University and a PhD candidate at Oklahoma State University.
R. Heath Cheek, JD ’06, of Bell Nunnally & Martin LLP was named to the 2019 Texas Rising Stars list published by Super Lawyers. He focuses on trials and disputes. Cheek has served in various board or leadership positions for the Dallas Museum of Art, State Fair of Texas Development Team, Cotton Bowl Council, North Texas Super Bowl XLV Host Committee, Republican Lawyers of Dallas, Christian Legal Society, and others.
Arthur R. Mathisen, MHA ’06, is president of Memorial Hospital in Conway, AR. He is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives. Mathiesen was the president and chief executive at Copley Hospital in Morrisville, VT, for the past three years after retiring from the military.
Dr. Cara F. Wade, BA ’06, was promoted to senior vice president of Leadership Worth Following (LWF) LLC, a Dallas-based leadership consulting firm. She has more than 10 years of experience at LWF. Wade has shared her passion for studying workplace gender issues and work-life balance. Wade earned both her PhD in experimental psychology and Master of Science in industrial and organizational psychology from the University of Texas at Arlington.
Steven Einhorn, JD ’07, joined the Brown Rudnick LLP’s New York office as a partner in its tax practice group. He was previously at Proskauer Rose LLP.
Alexis Barboza Guzman, BS ’07, of Tomball, TX, earned a PhD in healthcare management from The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Public Health in May 2019.
Tad Allen, BA ’08, JD ’13, is a shareholder in Harrell, Stoebner & Russell PC, a law firm with offices in Temple and Killeen, TX. He focuses his practice on civil litigation, including personal injury.
Brett Bayne, BA ’08, is an attorney with McAngus Goudelock & Courie, a regional insurance defense firm in South Carolina. He was honored by SC Lawyers Weekly with Leadership in Law and Lawyer of the Year awards. Bayne is a litigation attorney and certified circuit court arbitrator based in the firm’s Columbia office. He teaches trial advocacy at the University of South Carolina (USC) School of Law and has served as the faculty advisor and head coach of the USC School of Law Mock Trial Bar, which has won nine regional and national championships.
Dr. Bobbilynn Hawkins, MHA ’08, is retiring from her role as professor at the Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University and director of spinal cord urology, urodynamics and female urology at the Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center-Downtown Division. Known for her groundbreaking urological research, Hawkins is the nation’s first African American full professor of urology and the sixth female urologist to be certified by the American Board of Urology. She also was the first female urologist in the U.S. Army and served more than 30 years as a military command surgeon.
Kristopher D. Hill, JD ’08, of Bell Nunnally & Martin LLP was named to the 2019 Texas Rising Stars list, published by Super Lawyers, for a sixth consecutive year. He is a partner, practicing in the litigation, and labor, employment and benefits practices.
Jency Allison Weeks, BSEd ’08, MSEd ’09, signed with Metropolis Artist Agency, a major acting agency in New York City. Weeks has been in shows such as TNT’s Dallas, CMT’s Nashville and REELZ’s Murder Made Me Famous. She also had a small role in Jurassic World. Find @JencyAllisonWeeks.
Scott Bullard, PhD ’09, was appointed as the 11th president of Pfeiffer University in Misenheimer, NC. He was previously senior vice president and dean of the college at Judson College in Marion, AL. Bullard holds a Bachelor of Arts in philosophy from North Carolina’s Campbell University, a Master of Divinity from Duke University and a PhD in theology from Baylor. Bullard was a teaching assistant at Duke and a development officer for the nonprofit group Stop Hunger Now before attending Baylor.
Christopher Dunn, BA ’09, was appointed global head of client satisfaction within BNP Paribas Asset Management’s newly formed client experience team in Paris. Dunn joined from Greenwich Associates, where he was a vice president within its investment management practice.
Ashley Killough, BA ’09, received an outstanding young alumni award from the Baylor Line Foundation. A reporter and producer for CNN covering Congress, she is based in the network’s Washington bureau. Killough earned a master’s degree in journalism from Columbia University and spent a year in Armenia on a Fulbright grant. Contact at ashley.killough@gmail.com.
2010s
Havana Baptist Theological Seminary provided assistance to storm survivors after a tornado caused destruction in a densely populated section of Havana. The assistance was thanks in large part to ministry spearheaded by the Waco families of Peter Dyson, BBA ’10, and Dr. L.M. Dyson, BBA ’71, MSEco, ’72, a retired Baylor business professor. The story was covered March 14 by the Baptist Standard.
Dionne B. Jackson, EdD ’10, is executive director of AR Kids Read, an organization that recruits and trains volunteers to help children improve reading skills. Jackson has been with Hendrix College in Conway, AR, since 2010, most recently serving as vice president for diversity and inclusion, as well as associate professor of education.
Susan Kincannon, EdD ’10, superintendent of Belton [TX] ISD, was honored as a Distinguished Baylor Woman in February during the 25th annual Baylor Women’s Scholarship Brunch in Temple. The event raises money for the Central Texas Endowed Scholarship for local Baylor students. Kincannon has spent 29 years as a public educator and has had a significant influence on the community. She and her husband Keith have lived in the Temple-Belton area since 1988. Their daughter Kale is a Baylor sophomore.
Alicia Myers, PhD ’10, received the 2019 D. P. Russ Jr. and Walter Jones Sr. Alumni Award for Research Excellence at Campbell University in North Carolina. She is associate professor of New Testament and Greek at Campbell University’s Divinity School. Myers authored Blessed Among Women: Mothers and Motherhood in the New Testament (Oxford UP, 2017). Her current book project is a commentary on the Gospel and Letters of John for the Reading the New Testament Series (Smyth & Helwys).
Dr. Amy Poerschke, BSEd ’10, principal of Durham Elementary School in Houston ISD, is Houston ISD’s Elementary School Principal of the Year. She was surprised by the announcement Feb. 27 in front of more than 600 of her students. Poerschke holds a master’s degree in educational leadership from the University of St. Thomas and a doctorate from the University of Houston. She served two years as a Teach for America Corps member.
Ronnie Turner Jr., JD ’10, a trial lawyer with Texas-based Provost Umphrey Law Firm, was named to the 2019 Texas Rising Stars list of top young attorneys for the fifth year. Turner also earned recognition in The Best Lawyers in America.
Lynn Wallace, BSN ’10, of Victoria, TX, authored The Heart of Everything while working part-time as a nurse. The book is about a woman’s awakening of her true self and her dealings with mystical forces.
Brig. Gen. Shan K. Bagby, MHA ’11, is chief of the U.S. Army Dental Corps and its first African American Army dental officer to be promoted to brigadier general. He has taught oral surgery at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, served in fellowships for reconstructive surgery in Houston and worked at Brooke Army Medical Center, the Army’s level-one trauma center in San Antonio. He also was commander of eight dental facilities in northern Iraq for two years before climbing the ranks in strategic leadership positions.
Ekpe Udoh, BSEd ’11, Edmond, OK, native and Utah Jazz center, was in Oklahoma City (OKC) in February to announce a partnership between Oklahoma State University (OSU) and his Edmond-based hydroponic farming company, LGR Farms. Udoh started the business in July 2018 with the hope of increasing awareness of healthy food options for OKC-area schoolchildren, while also producing enough food to supply local schools. As part of the partnership, OSU-OKC will host an LGR Farms hydroponic shipping container inside the OSU-OKC Farmers Market pavilion. Udoh’s company sells its produce from its headquarters in Edmond and at local markets. More at lgrok.com.
Hunt Whitten, BSEd ’11, of Houston is founder and CEO of Metis Tactical, which focuses on creating personalized exercise regimens for first responders to prevent job-
related injuries. Whitten is a firefighter, health and safety officer, and emergency medical technician (EMT) with the Ponderosa Fire Department. Previously, he was an outreach athletic trainer for Memorial Hermann Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation. He was featured in an April edition of the Houston Chronicle.
Dustin F. Williams, BBA ’12, of Nashville, TN, joined Vanderbilt University Medical Center as senior director of development for children’s health. He will also develop the grateful patient and family fundraising program for the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt. Williams holds the certified fundraising executive credential.
Logan Allison, BSEd ’13, a custom hat maker, won the Fashion Group Institute Rising Star Award in March. Contact @TheHeartHatter or thehearthatter.com.
Katie Martin, BA ’13, leads digital media services as digital account manager for A. Larry Ross Communications, a Dallas-based public relations agency. Martin joined A. Larry Ross Communication in 2013 as an account executive.
Jenifer Fallon Pfanzelt, JD ’14, joined the insurance defense practice of Taylor English Duma LLP in Atlanta. She also actively engages in pro bono activity with the Truancy Intervention Project and the Georgia Bar High School Mock Trial programs.
Nick Rodriguez, BS ’14, of McAllen, TX, will be the first graduate of a dual-degree program offered by UTHealth School of Dentistry and the School of Public Health. He has served in a number of leadership roles, including president-elect of the American Association for Dental Research’s National Student Research Group, president of the Hispanic Student Dental Association, and student trustee for the Hispanic Dental Association. He was named an Albert Schweitzer Fellow in 2018. Rodriguez plans to enter a pediatric dentistry residency at Harvard School of Dental Medicine/Boston Children’s Hospital. Contact at nickrodriguez114@gmail.com.
Brandi Spurlock, BS ’14, took part in a white coat ceremony as she begins her first year of medical school for health professions at the University of Texas Health and Science Center at San Antonio.
Kellie Hooker, BSEd ’15, and Aaron Harder, BA ’15, were married Jan. 20. After being friends throughout college, their love story began last year. Kellie teaches kindergarten in Garland [TX] ISD, and Aaron works for a recruiting company in Plano, TX.
Barrett Pollard, EdD ’15, was named superintendent of Gatesville [TX] ISD. He had been acting superintendent since January after serving nearly three years as assistant superintendent of academics.
Franky Burciaga, BBA ’16, and Alfonso Masso, BBA ’16, of Austin were awarded Franchisee of the Year by franchisor Restoration 1,
one of the fastest-growing restoration franchises in North America. They accepted the award at the annual convention in Las Vegas.
Ryan Sinclair, JD ’16, was appointed district attorney for the 355th Judicial District in Hood County by Gov. Greg Abbott. He previously served as first assistant district attorney for the 355th Judicial District Attorney’s Office in Hood County and has worked for district attorney offices in Texas’ Ellis and Limestone counties.
Justin Joy, BS ’17, received a master’s degree in industrial and organizational psychology from the University of Houston-Clear Lake. He moved to San Antonio to work as a change management analyst with Accenture Federal Services. Contact at justin.joy2013@gmail.com.
Entrepreneur Noelle Randall, MBA ’17, of Dallas is founder and president of FDR Horizon Enterprises, which has created top-selling brands, including her signature product, Tea More Skinny. Randall also is co-founder of Bella J Hair, a premiere hair extension brand and international hair and wig distributor. She hopes to empower more women to join the growing field of real estate investing.
Christopher Qualls, MSW ’17, of Waco has written his first book, Body and Soul: 30 Day Devotional for Spiritual Growth and Fitness.
Heather Trotter, BA ’17, was named press secretary for the Tennessee Republican Party. She previously worked in the music business as publicity manager and director of publicity for 117 Entertainment Group, where she worked on campaigns for country music stars such as Mickey Gilley, Jerry Lee Lewis and Randy Travis.
Aaron Brown, MFA ’18, temporary full-time lecturer in theatre arts in Baylor’s College of Arts and Sciences, directed WaterTower Theatre’s special limited-
engagement run of Stephen Schwartz’s musical Godspell. Brown previously served as assistant director for the WaterTower Theatre’s world premiere production of Regina Taylor’s Bread.
Jeffrey Cavanaugh, BA ’18, and Ashley Kasbohm, BBA ’19, celebrated their marriage March 11 at The Chandelier of Gruene in New Braunfels, TX. Jeffrey is a second lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force, training to be an RPA Pilot. Ashley is pursuing a Master of Accountancy and certified public accountant (CPA) accreditation.
Bianca Hill, BA ’18, was honored for her selection as a Transfer Student Ambassador at the 17th annual National Institute of the Study of Transfer Students (NISTS) in Atlanta. Transfer Student Ambassadors are selected to recognize students who embody the heart of transfer work.
Lauren O’Connell, BA ’18, made it to the finale of CBS’s Survivor. She earned her degree in medical humanities at Baylor, where she was a member of the soccer team and Pi Beta Phi.