Class Notes

1950s

Robert Flynn, BA ’54, MA ’57, was listed in The International Who’s Who, published by Routledge, an imprint of the United Kingdom publishing group Taylor and Francis.

Daniel Mac Brown, BS ’56, is in search of other 1956 alumni who studied physics. He received his PhD in physics in 1971 from Catholic University in Washington, DC.

Esther Read, BA ’58, authored After the Blessing [TCU Press, 2022], in which Hispanic World War II veterans and others tell of their experiences before and after the war. Available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble and other booksellers.

James Tipps, BBA ’59, of Houston established the James and Barbara Tipps Family Endowed Scholarship Fund, which supports Baylor students majoring in accounting.

Frances Reagan Wheat, BS ’59, of Midland, TX, established the Wheat-Reagan Endowed Scholarship in memory of her late husband Walter Lee Wheat, BBA ’59, who died in 1994. The scholarship supports Baylor students.

1960s

Roland G. Eichelberger, BA ’62, and Marilyn Cooper Eichelberger, BA ’64, of Woodway, TX, established the Eichelberger Family Endowed Scholarship in Management Information Systems, which supports Baylor students majoring in management information systems.

Carol Hildebrand, BA ’65, MA ’68, of Dallas established the David Charles Hildebrand and Carol Ann Jamison Hildebrand Endowed Scholarship Fund, in memory of David Hildebrand, BA ’65, DMD ’69. The scholarship supports Baylor students in pre-medicine or pre-dentistry programs. The Hildebrands’ children are Brody Jamison Hildebrand, BS ’95, Sloan Wesley Hildebrand, BS ’96, Jed Cummins Hildebrand, BS ’99, and Katherine Spencer Hildebrand.

Cody Hunter Phillips, BA ’66, and Kathy Payne Phillips of Fair Oaks Ranch, TX, established the Cody Hunter and Kathy Payne Phillips Endowed Scholarship, which supports Baylor students.

Sam P. Boyd, BBA ’67, of Horseshoe Bay, TX, established the Sam P. and Cheryl Boyd Endowment for Baylor Golf, which supports the Baylor’s men’s and women’s golf programs, and the Sam P. and Cheryl Boyd Endowed Dean’s Excellence Fund for Hankamer School of Business, which supports Baylor’s Hankamer School of Business students and faculty.

Andrew Pittman, BS ’68, PhD, authored Grandy: A Year in the Life of a 12 Year Old Boy [LifeRich Publishing, 2022]. The children’s book is based on a daily diary he kept in 1957 while living in Walnut Ridge, AR. Pittman also authored several college sports law-related textbooks over the past 20 years. He taught at Baylor from 1981 to 2009.

1970s

David M. Holley, BA ’70, PhD, authored Changing Your Mind Without Losing Your Faith [Cascade Books, 2022]. Completed during the  COVID-19 pandemic lockdown, the book is for people who find themselves no longer able to accept the version of Christian faith they have learned but have difficulty imagining other options. Using autobiographical reflection on his own journey from fundamentalist beginnings, Holley models a process of letting go of what has become unbelievable and replacing it with a faith that is more believable and ultimately more satisfying. Holley taught philosophy for more than 40 years at universities in Kansas, Arizona and Texas. He retired from full-time teaching in June 2018. He now lives with his wife Joyce, 10 miles west of Salado, TX, near Stillhouse-Hollow Lake.

Sarah Jean Williams, BS ’70, PhD, of San Antonio established the Dr. Sarah Jean Williams Endowed Scholarship Fund in Nursing, a Hord Challenge Scholarship, which supports students in Baylor’s Louise Herrington School of Nursing.

David McCullar, BME ’71, MM ’77, and his wife Caia Kent McCullar, BME ’72, PhD, live in Denton, TX. David retired in 2017 after 17 years as fine arts director at Denton ISD, completing 43 years as a university professor, public school music educator and fine arts administrator. He continued adjunct teaching for the Dallas Baptist University College of Fine Arts until 2021. Caia retired in 2021 as music education program director and professor of voice and music history at Dallas Baptist University, completing 47 years in public school, private school and higher education. They would love to hear from Baylor friends. Contact at macs50@verizon.net.

Janie Markham, BS ’73, is a retired educator and lives in northern Michigan.

Lenora F. Stewart and David W. Stewart, MA ’73, PhD ’74, of Spring Hill, TN, established the Lenora F. And David W. Stewart Marketing Endowment, which supports the marketing program in Baylor’s Hankamer School of Business.

Randy Patterson, BA ’74, JD ’75, and Phyllis Patterson, BA ’74, of San Antonio established the Les and Vicki Hollon Endowed Scholarship, which supports students at the San Antonio campus of Baylor’s George W. Truett Theological Seminary. Les Hollon, BA ’76, retired in April after 13 years as senior pastor at San Antonio’s Trinity Baptist Church.

Melody Brown Bahr, BM ’75, authored Who Am I?: My Journey of Identity [Covenant Books, 2020]. She recently finished writing Wisdom for the Young, which is yet to be published and accessible to all ages. Visit melodybahr.blogspot.com for more information.

Neal Jeffrey, BBA ’75, of Highland Village, TX, and Jay Jeffrey, BBA ’82, of Lorena, TX, established the James N. “Jeff” Jeffrey Endowed Scholarship in Truett Seminary in honor of their father James N. Jeffrey, BBA ’51. The scholarship supports students in the sports ministry program at Baylor’s George W. Truett Theological Seminary.

Rhonda Stephens, BA ’75, and Joe Stephens of Fort Worth established the following endowments: the Rhonda Bowen Stephens and Gwendolyn Lane Stephens, BA ’06, Endowed Scholarship, which supports Baylor students from Woodville County, TX; the Rhonda Bowen Stephens and Gwendolyn Lane Stephens Endowed Scholarship, which supports Baylor students from Haskell County, TX; the Rhonda Bowen Stephens and Gwendolyn Lane Stephens Endowed Scholarship in Museum Studies, which supports Baylor students majoring in museum studies; the Rhonda Bowen Stephens and Gwendolyn Lane Stephens Endowed Scholarship in History, which supports Baylor students majoring in history; and the Rhonda Bowen Stephens and Gwendolyn Lane Stephens Equestrian Endowed Fund, which supports Baylor’s equestrian program.

Dan Wilhite, BBA ’75, of Birmingham, AL, established the Dan Wilhite and Family Endowed Scholarship, which supports students in Baylor’s Hankamer School of Business.

Gary Kennedy, BBA ’76, retired Aug. 31, 2021, after 45 years with State Farm Insurance. He and his wife Debbie live in Gruene, TX.

Joy Cobb, BSN ’77, and Steve Cobb of Midland, TX, established the Joy and Steve Cobb Endowed Scholarship in Nursing, a Hord Challenge Scholarship, in memory of Mary Helm Marek, BA ’65. The scholarship supports students enrolled in Baylor’s Louise Herrington School of Nursing.

William Rod Compton, BSEd ’77, authored Because God Is Love: A Daily Walk In God’s Love [Westbow Press, 2022], his first book. It is available at Amazon and other booksellers.

Barry Pound, BA ’78, was promoted to director of public relations at Androvett Legal Media & Marketing in Dallas. With more than 40 years of experience in public relations, Pound has spent 16 years at Androvett as a legal and crisis communications expert. He is adept at handling high-profile matters involving contentious litigation, public policy and crisis communications as well as state and federal investigations.

Courtenay L. Bass, BA ’79, JD ’82, of Dallas received the 2021 Justice Frank Evans Award from the State Bar of Texas Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Section. It is the highest award given by the section, recognizing contributions and excellence in the ADR field.

Paul Darr, BBA ’79, is a member of the San Antonio Quarterback Club. The club hosts Baylor programs most years. Visit www.saqbclub.com for more information.

1980s

Liz Palacios, BA ’80, MSEd ’91, PhD, and the Palacios family of Waco established the Robert and Elizabeth Palacios Endowed Scholarship Fund, which supports Baylor students. Robert Palacios, BSEd ’82, MSEd ’93, worked at Waco’s La Vega High School for 28 years. Liz Palacios, who worked at Baylor for 40 years, retired this year as special assistant for diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging to the University’s vice president of student life.

Lisa Schwartz, BA ’80, was selected by the Spring Branch [TX] Education Foundation as the honoree for its gala celebrating 75 years of the Spring Branch Independent School District. She was honored for her 18 years of service as a member of the foundation’s board of directors and for her unprecedented three terms as board chair.

Steve Hickerson, BBA ’81, and Carol Hickerson of Georgetown, TX, established the Hickerson Family Endowed Scholarship in Apparel Merchandising in honor of their daughter Holly, BS ’18, and supporting Baylor students majoring in apparel merchandising. Steve and Carol also established the Hickerson Family Endowed Scholarship in Aviation Sciences in honor of their son Colby, BS ’15, and supporting Baylor students majoring in aviation sciences.

Sue Johnson, BA ’81, MBA ’82, and Scott Johnson of Fox Island, WA, established the Sue and Scott Johnson Endowed Scholarship, a Hord Challenge Scholarship, which supports Baylor students.

John Smistad, BA ’81, hosts The Quick Flick Critic on his YouTube Channel. He recently posted his interview with Baylor Film and Digital Media department chair and award-winning filmmaker Chris Hansen.

Randy Grimes, BS ’83, authored Off Center: A Memoir of Addiction, Recovery, and Redemption in Professional Football [Spiritus Communications, 2022]. The book is a bestseller, ranking No. 1 in more than seven categories. Grimes, who played 10 seasons with the National Football League’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers, is a member of the Baylor Athletics Hall of Fame and the Baylor Line Foundation Hall of Fame. He regularly speaks about substance abuse, pain management, mental health, suicide prevention, trauma and related topics, and he has worked with the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), Texas Department of Transportation and the NFL.

Ken Surley, BME ’83, was awarded the American Guild of Organists Colleague Certification. Qualifications for the certificate include a comprehensive examination in organ literature, choral accompaniment, vocal solo accompaniment, harmonization of a given tune, sight-reading from a three-stave score, transposition, modulation and improvisation. Surley will celebrate his 30th anniversary as organist at Plymouth Park United Methodist Church in Irving this fall.

Mark Petersen, MBA ’84, and Aubin Petersen, BA ’74, Arlington, TX, established the Paul Eddie Dwyer Scholarship, which supports students in Baylor’s Diana R. Garland School of Social Work.

Blake Appleby, BBA ’85, and Alana Appleby of Aspen, CO, established the Blake and Alana Appleby Endowment for the President’s Excellence Fund. The endowment supports University needs at the President’s discretion. Their son Benjamin is a member of Baylor’s Class of 2023.

Gary Walker, BBA ’85, and Jerry Crenshaw, BBA ’85, are part of the continual growth in downtown Waco. Skywalker Property Partners LLC and SRH Hospitality Holdings Inc., a veteran developer of top-tier hospitality brands, had a groundbreaking ceremony on their AC Hotel by Marriott, the first full-service hotel to be developed in downtown Waco since the early 1980s. The 182-key AC Hotel Waco is slated to open in spring 2023 and is located in the Silos District, across the street from Magnolia Market.

Shelby Davidson, MPPA ’87, and Amanda Davidson will celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary July 26.

Mark Clark, BA ’88, was appointed dean of faculty affairs at the University of Virginia’s College at Wise in August 2021. He is also the Kenneth Asbury Professor of History and Philosophy. Clark earned master’s and doctoral degrees from the University of Georgia.

Members of Cliff Temple Baptist Church in Dallas established the Cliff Temple Baptist Church Endowed Student Scholarship in Truett Seminary in honor of Baylor’s George W. Truett Theological Seminary Dean Todd Still, BA ’88, PhD, and his service as the church’s interim pastor during the past two years. The scholarship supports Truett Seminary students.

Mark P. Yablon, BBA ’88, founded Yablon Law PLLC in February and opened his offices on Allen Parkway between River Oaks and downtown Houston. His statewide practice helps fellow entrepreneurs and individuals with commercial/civil litigation, probate, bankruptcy, family law and real estate. Yablon previously was a commercial real estate developer and financial representative when he went to law school in 2015.

Elaine Goddard, BS ’89, authored 60 Days of Prayer [Rockridge Press, 2021]. The book takes a deeper look into the familiar words of the Lord’s Prayer. Goddard writes at highway2Him.com and is a lay prayer leader at Friendswood [Texas] Methodist Church. Her book is available at Amazon, Target and other booksellers.

Allyson Johnson, BA ’89, is children’s pastor at First Baptist Church of Denton, TX. She previously was with Timberline Church in Fort Collins, CO. Johnson is also a food writer and media blogger for Sip Savor Sisters, an Instagram account (@sipsavorsisters) with more than 16,000 followers.

Scott Wilson, BBA, ’89, and his wife Amy Jo celebrated their one-year wedding anniversary March 6, when they officially tied the knot and blended their three respective children to become a modern-day Brady Bunch. They enjoyed a fun year of highs and lows as a new eight-member family, approaching everything as a team by cheering for each other. Scott joined Unisys in August 2021; as global vice president of advisory services, he builds a global digital transformation strategy practice with teams in the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico and the United Kingdom. Amy Jo earned her master’s degree at Southern Methodist University in December 2021; she is a licensed professional counselor associate, specializing in grief and loss, relationship dynamics, life transitions, communication, anxiety and depression. Scott can be contacted at wscottwilson@gmail.com.

1990s

Lori Ellison Coward, BA ’90, Debbie Easton Tilger, BSEd ’90, and Susanne Siefert Loquet, BA ’90 formed a lifelong friendship on the second floor hallway of North Russel during the 1986 fall semester. They live the ups and downs of life together — not always close in proximity but close at heart as they “fling their Green and Gold afar” and “onward they go.” They gathered over spring break with a set of their sons, all close in age and interest. One son will attend Baylor this fall as a member of Baylor’s Class of 2026.

Kelly Farris Mazade, BBA ’90, authored and self-published Dearest Babe: Letters from a World War II Flight Surgeon, which she says would not have been possible without the education she received at Baylor. Mazade researched her family’s history for several years, and her daughter Kate joined as a research assistant and writing partner during the pandemic. The book is primarily centered around the wartime stories of U.S. Army Medical Corps Capt. Joe W. King, Kelly’s grandfather. Dearest Babe is available at Barnes & Noble, Amazon, Walmart and other booksellers. Visit www.dearestbabe.com for more information. Contact at kellymazade@gmail.com and katherinemazade@gmail.com.

Derek Smith, BBA ’90, and Jennifer Smith, BBA ’91, of Tulsa, OK, established the Derek and Jennifer Smith Family Endowed Scholarship, a Hord Challenge Scholarship, which supports students in Baylor’s Hankamer School of Business. Their children are Mason, BBA ’17, and Addi, BBA ’21.

Nelson Barnes, JD ’91, left the McLennan County District Attorney office to become project director for the Border Prosecution Unit under Operation Lone Star, a state grant program. Barnes is a special prosecutor for the 452nd judicial district, a five-county region in Texas Hill Country. He coordinates the border prosecution program among 17 border counties as a liaison with multiple state agencies, including the Governor’s Office, the Department of Public Safety and the Office of Court Administration.

Carie S. Tucker King, BA ’91, PhD, is managing editor of publications for Sigma Tau Delta, an international English honor society. She is a clinical professor at the University of Texas at Dallas, where she established the university’s first Sigma Tau Delta chapter.

Todd Cione, BA ’92, and Elizabeth Cione, BS ’92, of Austin established the Cione Family Endowed Fund for Professional Selling, which supports Baylor’s Hankamer School of Business Center for Professional Selling’s commitment to producing high-performing professional sales leaders across the globe.

Tim Fenn, BBA ’92, and Sharalynn Fenn, BBA ’91, of Houston established the Tim and Sharalynn Fenn Family Chair in Materials Science as part of Baylor’s Illuminate Chair Matching Program. The chair supports Illuminate’s materials science academic initiative.

Shelley Harper, BBA ’92, and Jack Harper, BBA ’93, of Midland, TX, established the Harper Family Research Assistant Endowment in Business, which supports the undergraduate research assistant program in Baylor’s Hankamer School of Business.

Thomas Mayes, BA ’92, was appointed the vice-chair of the Iowa Board of Law Examiners. He offers general counsel to the Iowa Department of Education.

John Reid, BA ’92, is in his fifth year as the morning drive radio host on WRVA-AM in Richmond, VA. Last year, he broadcasted his popular Reid on the Road travel show from historic sites in seven Midwestern states; the World Expo in Dubai, United Arab Emirates; and Central America. Reid has now visited all 50 states, thanks in part to last year’s travels. He has worked in and/or traveled to 90 countries and all seven continents. It has been more than a decade since Reid visited Waco, and he looks forward to possibly returning in 2023.

Robert Nische, BBA ’93, of Giddings, TX, established the Nitsche Family Hankamer Endowment, which supports the undergraduate research assistant program in Baylor’s Hankamer School of Business.

James Perry, BBA ’93, and Lydia Perry, BA ’93, JD ’96, of Dallas established the James and Lydia Perry Endowed Fund in Football, which supports Baylor’s football program.

Phil Thames and Cindy Thames, BBA ’93, of Richardson, TX, established the Phil and Cindy Thames Endowed Fund in Information Systems and Business Analytics, which supports the information systems and business analytics department in Baylor’s Hankamer School of Business. Their daughter Sarah is a member of Baylor’s Class of 2023.

Becky Wade, BBA ’93, received four Christy Awards, which honor quality in the writing and publishing of fiction written from a Christian worldview. She will be inducted into the Christy Awards Hall of Fame in November. Wade’s 11th novel, Turn to Me [Bethany House Publishers, 2022], features characters who receive a string of treasure hunt clues in a will, initiating a story of love and redemption. Visit BeckyWade.com for more information.

Taekuk Cho, BA ’94, was promoted to deputy special agent in charge for Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), El Paso/West Texas. HSI is the principal investigative arm of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Charles “Chuck” Pope, BA ’94, retired from a distinguished career in the U.S. Foreign Service and is now chief international development officer with a global talent management firm. He lives on a horse farm that operates as a therapeutic riding center in Mason Neck, VA, a suburb of Washington, D.C. He is happy to connect with other Bears on LinkedIn.

Mike Wright, BA ’95, is vice president and general manager of WAAY-TV, an ABC affiliate in Huntsville, AL. The station was named the 2022 Alabama Broadcasters Association Television Station of the Year and received five additional awards for broadcasting excellence. Wright previously was vice president and general manager of KWTX-TV in Waco and KBTX-TV in Bryan-College Station. He is a past recipient of the Texas Association of Broadcasters Texas Broadcaster of the Year award.

Jonathan Shibley, BBA ’96, authored Marketplace Miracles [Global Advance, 2021]. The book recounts experiences from Shibley’s travel to 60 countries. He journals faith-building stories of God’s intervention in people’s lives and businesses from numerous countries and industry contexts with practical applications to ignite a person’s faith in the marketplace and life. Shibley is president of Global Advance, an organization that equips and empowers leaders in the developing world to advance God’s mission. Visit globaladvance.org/marketplace-miracles-book for more information.

Jeff Stubbs and Jennise Stubbs, BA ’98, of Houston established the Walker Stubbs Family Baylor Built Endowment, which supports programming for the Baylor Built program in Baylor’s Student-Athlete Center for Excellence.

Daniel Williamson, BBA ’98, PhD ’05, and Jennifer Nivin Williamson, MSEd ’98, PhD ’05, were named diplomates in Adlerian Psychology by the North American Society of Adlerian Psychology.

Veronica D. Riojas, BA ’99, was named chief marketing officer with Pepsico Latin America and is currently an expatriate in Mexico City for the company.

2000s

Jessica Attas, BA ’00, MA ’02, was named foundation president of the Texas Association of Business (TAB), the state’s chamber of commerce. She joined TAB in early 2021 as senior vice president and foundation executive director, and she continues to serve as a TAB senior vice president. In 2021, Attas was elected to the board of directors for the Texas Lyceum, a statewide leadership organization focused on identifying and developing the next generation of leadership in the State of Texas and identifying constructive private and public sector responses to the issues facing our state. She was appointed to the Texas Lyceum Executive Committee earlier this year as vice president of stewardship, working with corporate investors and partners in the Lyceum’s mission.

Amanda Jane Kujda, BA ’00, was appointed head of the Houston office of HFW, a leading global law firm focusing in the aerospace, commodities, construction, energy, insurance and shipping sectors. HFW has offices throughout the Americas, Europe, the Middle East and the Asia-Pacific region.

Sarah Nelson, BBA ’00, and Shelley Reeves, BBA ’00, authored and self-published A Perfect Storm: Devotions During a Crisis. The 28-day devotional is written against the backdrop of a true story to encourage and inspire people who are navigating their own perfect storms.  

Peyton Healey, BA ’01, JD ’05, and Chrissy Healey, MBA ’04, of Dallas established the Melissa Burch Resilience Scholarship, a Hord Challenge Scholarship, in honor of the friendship between the two Baylor families — the Burch family and the Healey family. The scholarship supports students in Baylor’s College of Arts and Sciences.

Travis J. Odom, BA ’02, JD ’06, joined the Houston office of Duane Morris LLP as a partner in the firm’s employment, labor, benefits and immigration practice group. He previously was a shareholder at Littler Mendelson PC, headquartered in San Francisco. Odom represents and counsels clients in all types of labor and employment matters arising under federal and state laws, including unfair competition and trade secrets, discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wage-and-hour claims, unemployment benefit disputes and workers’ compensation. He appears in state and federal courts, including appellate courts, and has specific knowledge of the Texas Covenants Not to Compete Act. Odom works with financial institutions, industrial services providers, retailers and others. While at Baylor, he was senior notes and comments editor for Baylor Law Review and was a briefing attorney to 14th District Court of Appeals Justice Wanda McKee Fowler.

Mike Sander, BBA ’03, was named president of the HistoryMaker Homes Dallas-Fort Worth division. He leads the homebuilder division operations in land, sales and construction.

Cody J. Cazares, BA ’04, is national security adviser to U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul (Texas 10th), ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Cazares, who previously served in and around the Texas Legislature, earned a Master of International Affairs in national security and diplomacy from the Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M University in 2021.

Jason D. James, BBA ’04, was named vice president of operations for Optum, part of the UnitedHealth Group family of businesses. He joins a company whose mission is to help people live healthier lives and help make the health system work better for everyone. Kassidy Helms James, BS ’03, is a physician assistant practicing hospital medicine at Parkland Hospital in Dallas. Jason and Kassidy live in Flower Mound, TX, with their three children.

Amy Mitchell Kahle, BBA ’04, and her husband Tim opened Communion Neighborhood Cooperative, a coffee, restaurant, co-working and events venue in Richardson, TX, in 2017. The small business has been recognized by Dallas Observer, Sprudge, Richardson Living and other media outlets. Amy hopes to inspire other women to pursue business goals through leadership and hard work. She was also featured in Voyage Dallas, Communion and the HGTV show Building Roots. The Kahles live in Richardson with their four children: Samuel, Ruthie and twins Judah and Abigail.

Michael Bracken, BA ’05, was nominated for the Mystery Writers of America 2022 Edgar Award for Best Short Story. He and James A. Hearn co-authored Blindsided, a short story published in Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine. Bracken is an accomplished writer who has authored multiple works.

Luis D. Concepcion, BS ’08, moved to Wisconsin from Texas and married Elizabeth Gibbons in August 2021. They met three years ago and immediately fell in love. He was also promoted to Ascension National after 10 years of working for local Ascension Ministries.

Matthew K. Pierce, BBA ’09, of Atlanta established the Marsha Pierce-Tomlin Endowed Scholarship, a Hord Challenge Scholarship, which honors his mother Marsha Pierce-Tomlin and supports students in Baylor’s Honors College.

2010s

Friederike Bowman, MSW ’10, and Matthew Bowman of Arlington, TX, established the Mercy Lives Excellence Fund in Global Mission Leadership, which supports Baylor’s Diana R. Garland School of Social Work Global Mission Leadership Initiative.

Justin Young, BA ’10, and Erica Young married June 26, 2021, in Nashville, TN.

Emily Dickerson, BBA ’13, received the Milken Educator Award and its accompanying unrestricted $25,000 cash prize. She is a math teacher at Grand Prairie High School in Texas.

Ben Byrum, BBA ’14, is a buyer at National Oilwell Varco (NOV). He is also a devotional writer for Stand Firm magazine, a men’s devotional published by Lifeway Christian Resources.

Priscilla Escobedo, BA ’14, was elected president of the Dallas Mexican American Historical League (DMAHL), an organization dedicated to the preservation and celebration of Mexican American communities, culture and people of Dallas.

Stacey L. Gilbert, MBA ’15, earned a Master of Public Health from Baylor this spring.

Coleman Hampton, BA ’14, MA ’16, is executive director of the Bell County Museum in downtown Belton, TX. In February, the museum won the John L. Nau III Excellence in Museums Award for its Discover Bell County exhibit.

Alexandra Tolar St. Louis, BS ’16, PhD, successfully defended her dissertation — The (Virtual) Mentoring Experience: Undergraduate Students Support of K-12 Students’ Inquiry Practices — at Texas Christian University. Her husband is Dr. Blake St. Louis, BS ’16.

Shaylyn Laney, BBA ’17, MAcc ’18, and Micah Todd, BBA ’17, married May 1, 2021, in Springtown, TX. Shaylyn is a financial analyst with Southwest Airlines, and Micah is a business development executive at Gartner. They live in the Dallas area.

Jeffrey and Kristi Davick of West Des Moines, IA, established the Davick Family Endowed Scholarship in Nursing, a Hord Challenge Scholarship, which supports students enrolled in Baylor’s Louise Herrington School of Nursing. The Davicks’ twin daughters are Kiley Davick, BSN ’18, and Shelby Davick, BSN ’18.

Molly Gibbons, BSEd ’18, and John Stephens, BSEd ’19, married April 17, 2021. Molly was a member of Baylor’s national champion acrobatics and tumbling team. John cheered at Baylor and was in ROTC. Molly completed physical therapy assistant school after Baylor and works in pediatric physical therapy. John is an officer in the U.S. Air Force.

Erica Smith, BBA ’19, works for an anti-trafficking nonprofit since graduating from Baylor. She authored Catfishing Freedom, an article about the dangers of online misrepresentation in the human trafficking field for Agape International Missions. Visit aimfree.org/catfishing-freedom to read the article.

2020s

Teresa Lenling, MBA ’20, was named CEO for the Frontiers of Flight Museum at Love Field in Dallas. She is a dynamic and proven nonprofit leader with a wealth of experience in strategic management, education design and community engagement.

Christopher and Christine Kelley of Overland Park, KS, established the Kelley Family Student Success Endowment to ensure future Baylor students have the ability to fulfill their dream of a top-quality Christian education. The Kelleys’ daughter Rachel is a member of Baylor’s Class of 2023.

David and Lisa Threshie of Conroe, TX, established the D. John Barrett Endowed Scholarship in memory of D. John Barrett, a Christian counselor. The scholarship supports students in Baylor’s College of Arts and Sciences. Their son Jack is a member of Baylor’s Class of 2023.

Tamera and Guy Hatcher of Bartonville, TX, established the Reflecting the Light Endowed Scholarship, which supports Baylor students studying communications and journalism. The Hatchers’ daughters are Rachel, a member of Baylor’s Class of 2025, and Katherine.

Andre and Annelise Blom of Frisco, TX, established the Andre and Annelise Blom Family Endowed Scholarship, which supports Hankamer School of Business students. The Bloms’ daughter Aidan is a member of Baylor’s Class of 2026.

Friends & Family

Dorrel T. Hanks Jr., PhD, and Carole A. Hanks, DrPH, of Waco established the Dr. Carole Ann McDaniel Hanks Endowed Chair in English, which supports a distinguished faculty member in Baylor’s English department.