2020s

David D. Cisi, BS ’20, married Catherine C. George, BA ’20, on June 25 at Christ Baptist Church in Raleigh, NC. They currently reside in Dallas. 

Luke McKinney, BA ’20, serves as a Montana State Highway Patrol Officer.

Robert Reeder, MBA ’20, MHA ’20, was appointed as operations director at the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorder’s Center in Atlanta, GA.

2010s

Kaleigh Caver, BA ’10, developed a love for hair and makeup when she was a cheerleader at Baylor. While Kaleigh was styling for a photoshoot, a model mentioned she also worked as an airline stewardess. Soon after, Kaleigh started training to become a certified stewardess with a major airline — The Styling Stewardess officially launched. Since then, Kaleigh and crew have styled countless brides, wedding party members, models, Miss Texas and Miss Texas’ Outstanding Teen contestants and other fabulous clients. Based in Dallas, the team has traveled as far as Maui, Hawaii; Carmel, California; San Miguel, Mexico; Jaco, Costa Rica and Paris, France, to achieve the perfect look for their clients. They look forward to stamping their passports with many more event destinations in the future!

David Q. Hao, BBA ’08, was appointed the head of school at Veritas Christian Academy, a Christ-centered classical community in Houston.

Aurelia Davila Pratt, MSW ’11, MDiv ’12, authored A Brown Girl’s Epiphany [Broadleaf Books, 2022]. She will be reading in the Baylor Alumni Author Talk this fall. With the powerful voice of a woman, pastor, mother and advocate, Rev. Pratt gives us the compassionate nudge and tools we need to access our inner authority. By stepping out of harmful belief systems informed by white supremacy and scarcity, we can step into healthy paradigms of abundance, liberation and power. A Brown Girl’s Epiphany is a love letter to all of us in need of guidance on our journey. Honest, vulnerable and humble, Pratt imagines a world where the walking wounded become the fully healed and liberated, where our inner work becomes the starting point for creating heaven on earth.

Austin Whitmore, BBA ’11, joined Dallas-based McGuire, Craddock & Strother as a real estate, finance attorney. Whitmore focuses his practice on a broad array of sophisticated commercial real estate transactions throughout Texas and across the country. He has extensive experience representing clients in the acquisition, development, financing, leasing, management and divestiture of commercial real estate projects spanning multiple asset classes, including office, retail, industrial, hospitality and multifamily projects. He routinely advises clients across the industry, including REITs, private equity funds, developers and other commercial real estate owners and investors.

Maj. Emily Trop, BA ’12, a graduate of Baylor’s AFROTC program, became the Air Force and Navy Programs Officer for Defense Cooperation at the U.S. Embassy in Bucharest, Romania. She serves as the primary liaison between the U.S. Air and Naval Forces and the Romanian government.

Aaron Jones, BA ’13, married Gabrielle Wudarski on June 18. They were married in Italy, surrounded by their closest friends and family.

Mitch Snowden, BA ’13, married Wynne Bieniawski on May 6 in Hockley, TX. The Snowdens live in Katy, TX.

Marie Murray, MPH ’14, returned to Baylor as a staff member. She started in July as the program and outreach manager for the Department of Public Health.

Nole Oppermann, BA ’14, is establishing .tx as the domain for Texas, through his company, Hey tx. .tx is a decentralized top level domain that’s made possible through the Handshake (HNS) protocol. .tx establishes a brand for Texas online for all Texans and Texas businesses. This is also about empowering Internet users to control their online experience. While at Baylor, Nole founded Young Americans for Liberty (BUYAL). His life mission of ensuring freedom for humanity continues through .tx

Hilary Reeves, BA ’14, and Paulo Lopez married Nov. 20, 2021. Hilary added two degrees to her BA and is now employed as a registered nurse. Paulo is employed as an architect.

Stacey L. Gilbert, MBA ’15, MPH ’22, joined Baltimore, MD-based Capsulomics, Inc. as vice president, market access on Aug. 1.

Daniel Kay, BSCS ’16, and Danae Kay, BSME ’17, of Austin, established the Community Engagement Endowed Scholarship in Engineering and Computer Science. The endowment supports students living in ECS residential college or are actively involved in ECS organizations. 

Cason Murphy, MFA ’16, received the 2022 Arts Educator Award from the Ames Community Arts Council in Ames, IA. Murphy was nominated for the award by the Department of Music and Theatre at Iowa State University, where he is an assistant professor of theatre.

Shane Fitzgerald, BA ’17, earned an LLM in Taxation from the University of California, Irvine, School of Law and was admitted into the State Bar of California. 

The Hertel Family Endowed Scholarship was established by Randall C. and Gwenn A. Hertel of Greenwood Village, CO, in support of students from the state of Colorado. The Hertels have three children: Annie, BBA ’18, Jonathan, BBA ’21, and Mary, a current member of the Baylor University class of 2022.

Sarah Foote, BSN ’18, graduated with her Family Nurse Practitioner master’s degree on Aug. 13 at the University of Texas at Arlington.

Lee Matthew Joy, BSN ’18, was re-elected to Sunnyvale ISD board of trustees in May and is recently promoted to administrator/CEO of an ASC with USPI.

Kendyl Schreiber, BS ’18, earned a degree in May from Drexel University College of Medicine. She began pediatric residency at Cleveland University Hospitals, Rainbow Babies and Children’s in July.

Ryan Snitzer, BBA ’18, graduated with his MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management and will return to Ernst & Young Parthenon in Dallas.

Alison Gage, BBA ’19, MAcc ’19, and Austin Weynand, BA ’18, were married in Dallas Dec. 20, 2021. Alison works as an auditor at Deloitte, and Austin is pursuing his MD at UTMB in Galveston. The couple met during their freshman year while both living in the Honors Residential College in Memorial and Alexander.

Christopher Hardister, BA ’19, was accepted to the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences’ (UAMS) medical school. 

Drew Phillips, BSEd ’19, and Hannah Hill, BA ’20, married May 22. The pair met at Baylor and were friends all four years while attending the University. They began dating following graduation, and the rest is history! 

2000s

Aaron P. Graft, BA ’00, JD ’03, and Kimberly Graft, BBA ’00, of Dallas, established the Kimberly and Aaron P. Graft Professorship in Christian Leadership in Business. This professorship supports a distinguished faculty member in the Hankamer School of Business who teaches and researches business leadership principles consistent with a Christian worldview.

April McAdams, BSEd ’00, was named the Scripps National Spelling Bee Teacher of the Year. She currently teaches 3rd grade at South Bosque Elementary in Midway ISD. Previously, she was an instructional specialist at Waco ISD. Currently, McAdams is in her 23rd year in education.

James Michael Stanton, JD ’02, of Dallas, established the Gerald Reading Powell Chair in Advocacy in honor of Professor Gerald Powell. The award supports a distinguished faculty member in Baylor Law School in the field of advocacy. 

Anne Claire Andaya-Nauts, BA ’03, is currently the Consular Chief at the U.S. Embassy in Rangoon, supporting all U.S. citizens in Myanmar. Her prior overseas assignment was as the special assistant to the executive office at the U.S. Embassy in Kabul. Andaya-Nauts was one of the last diplomats to leave Afghanistan in August 2021, after evacuating from the U.S. Embassy in Kabul and working the Noncombatant Evacuation Operations (NEO) at the Kabul airport. After the NEO, she served as the chief of staff in the Office of the Coordinator for Afghan Relocation Efforts (CARE) in Washington, D.C., continuing to move U.S. citizens and at-risk Afghans out of Afghanistan.

Becky Dean, BA ’03, authored her debut young adult contemporary novel, Love & Other Great Expectations [Delacorte Press, 2022]. Her book follows a girl competing in a literary-themed scavenger hunt that takes her to the locations of classic novels throughout England. The book was named a Junior Library Guild selection.

J Kellie Corti, BA ’04, was named dean of the School of Liberal Arts, Education and Vocational Ministry at Crown College in St. Bonifacius, MN. 

Susan Kirkpatrick, BSEd ’04, was named Yates Elementary Teacher of the Year for the 2021-22 school year. She is the lead third-grade teacher at Yates Elementary in Newport News, VA, where she lives with her husband and three children.

Shelly Spaulding, BA ’04, returned to McKinney High School as new principal of the district’s longest-tenured high school. 

Mackenzie Causey, BA ’05, was named in the Dallas Business Journal’s 2022 class of 40 Under 40 Award winners.

Aaron McMillan, MBA ’05, was announced as Texas regional manager for Bowman Consulting Group Ltd. McMillan joined Bowman from 1519 Surveying where he was president and co-owner for 10 years. Bowman acquired 1519 in December 2021. McMillan now leads Bowman’s more than 120 professionals who work from the company’s seven Texas offices for clients focused on renewable energy, public works, oil and gas, and land development. 

Mildred F. “Mimi” Perreault, BA ’05, an assistant professor in the ETSU Department of Media and Communication, had her work featured on The JWord: A Podcast by Journalism Practice. Her work was honored at the Social Justice & Media Symposium earlier this year as an honorable mention. Perreault discussed the methodological and philosophical means by which to hold journalists to their own words through their metajournalistic discourse. Perreault teaches journalism and public relations courses in the department. She also is the advisor for Overlooked in Appalachia, a student-led regional publication that focuses on the region.

Hannah C. Shoss, BA ’05, joined Bell Nunnally as an associate. Shoss is a transactional attorney, focusing on corporate and securities, mergers and acquisitions and real estate. She is a graduate of Southern Methodist University’s Dedman School of Law (JD, magna cum laude, 2017) and Baylor University. Prior to joining Bell Nunnally, Shoss represented clients across a wide range of industries, including real estate, health care, insurance, retail, agriculture and education.

Keri Jackman, BA ‘06, owner of Connie’s Frozen Custard, located in Houston, was named No. 1 ice cream shop in Texas by Yelp.

Matt Benton, BFA, ’07, was named senior associate director of foundation relations at Baylor College of Medicine. Working in the Office of Advancement and Alumni Affairs, Mr. Benton is directly responsible for supporting the development, evaluation and implementation of a portfolio consisting of regional, national and international foundations in support of BCM’s groundbreaking scientific research initiatives. He directly oversees the critical relationships between philanthropic grants and sponsored research contracts activity. Mr. Benton is pleased to help lead vital philanthropic relationships in service to Baylor College of Medicine’s visionary strategic objectives.

T. Hunter Lewis, BA ’07, JD ’10, was voted to Best Lawyers in America 2023 in the category of Family Law. Hunter@d-elaw.com

Erin Greneaux, BA ’08, authored and published The Enchanted Garden, a story that creates a fantastical world that captivates the imagination of young girls. The book is the perfect early chapter book for girls ages 4-9 with engaging storytelling and stunning full-color illustrations on every page spread. The Gold Feather Gardeners series empowers children to understand deep spiritual truths on a personal level. Parents will love using this gospel allegory to spark conversations with their kids about embarking on the greatest adventure of their lives!

Hannah Moore, BBA ’08, was named by Barron’s as one of ten people to watch in wealth management in 2022, and Investopedia named Hannah one of the top 100 financial advisors in the country in 2022.

Samuel Chen, BA ’09, MA ’11, was named to City & State Pennsylvania’s Top 50 Political Consultants Power List. Chen is the founder and director of The Liddell Group, a firm that specializes in innovative campaign, policy and communication strategies.

1990s

April F. Robbins, JD ’90, joined Cantey Hanger as a partner in the litigation section. Robbins has practiced insurance defense litigation for more than 30 years. She represents clients in personal injury, premises liability, products liability, subrogation, general tort liability, employment, construction defects and commercial litigation. She has successfully handled numerous lawsuits representing individuals, product manufacturers, pilots, aircraft leasing companies, aviation instructors, mobile home industry and commercial businesses. In addition, she has represented domestic and international insurers, including underwriters participating in the Lloyd’s of London insurance market. She handles first-party and third-party insurance claims and coverage issues. Robbins also is a qualified mediator in the State of Texas. In the community, she has volunteered with Legacy Boxer Rescue and is a guitarist with her church’s praise team.

James Gregory Schwartz, BA ’90, was promoted to director of chaplaincy at Baptist Hospitals of Southeast Texas in Beaumont, TX. He’s served as a chaplain there for 25 years.

The John Cheng Memorial Endowed Scholarship was established by KOT and Baylor Friends of Dr. John Cheng, BA ’91, in celebration of his heroism and courage, as well as his professional accomplishments. This scholarship supports students enrolled in the pre-medicine program.

Conrad Quintyn, BA ’91, authored Biotechnology: Scientific Advancement versus Public Safety [World Scientific Publishing Co Pte Ltd, 2022] in which he argued biotechnology is used today to prevent and repair ‘defects’ in all humans has ushered in the age of the new eugenics. Additionally, he considered whether genetic engineering will exacerbate social injustices and/or lead to a public safety issue.

Greg Davis, BBA ’92, through Art Center Waco, curated the art exhibition Oaxacan Gold. The exhibition highlighted the beauty and uniqueness of Oaxacan culture through his ethereal photography and a stellar collection of Oaxacan folk art. Davis is a contributing photographer for National Geographic/Disney and was represented by the National Geographic Image Collection for over a decade. A fourth-generation Baylor alum, Davis credits an Art Center Waco gallery talk for inspiring his current artistic journey. He has worked his way from local festivals to international exhibitions and his works now hang in private and institutional collections worldwide. In 2016, Art Center Waco exhibited Davis’ photographs that followed the stories of individual pilgrims to the 2013 Kumbh Mela, the largest religious pilgrimage in history. Davis completed his first short documentary film, Cloth Paper Dreams, about this journey. The exhibition was well-received, and the opening celebration is still talked about today.

Jeffery D. Price, BBA ’92, was recognized by two leading finance publications. He was named to the 2022 Barron’s Top 1,200 Financial Advisors list and the 2022 Forbes Best-in-State Wealth Advisors list. This is the 10th consecutive year Jeffery was named to Barron’s Top 1,200 Financial Advisors list and the 5th consecutive year he has been recognized on the Forbes Best-in-State Wealth Advisors list. Jeffery and his wife, Cara, live in Flower Mound, TX. Their son, Connor, BA ’20, is a graduate of Baylor and their daughter, Catherine, is currently enrolled as a junior at Baylor.

Jeff Vosburg, BBA ’92, and Shelley Vosburg, BBA ’92, of Flower Mound, TX, established the Jeff and Shelley Vosburg Family Endowed Scholarship, which supports students enrolled in Baylor University. 

Doug Butler, MBA ’93, started the beautiful journey of adoption with his family five years ago along with their friends and community. They learned along the way, and are still learning today, four years after bringing their daughter home from Haiti. During their amazing journey, God gave them a tremendous desire to help others by bringing greater awareness to the need for orphan care and the adoption process. They found that many families want to adopt but do not feel they can because of the high financial costs. They also met other families eager to help children in the adoption process through prayer, giving  and other types of support. In response to this calling, in 2017, they formed a 501(c)3 nonprofit charity called the Anna Cheri Foundation, in honor of the story God wrote and is continuing to write in their lives. Each year, they work to give scholarships to families who have been called to adopt in order to live out James 1:27.

Saad Ehtisham, BS ’93, earned his Doctor of Health Administration degree from Central Michigan University in May. His dissertation topic was Exploring the Relationship between Leadership Styles and Practices with Subordinates’ Job Satisfaction and Intention to Leave a Community Hospital.

Charles Golden, BA ’93, MA ’96, was recently named the new principal at Blue Valley High School in Overland Park, KS. In this role, he will continue to grow as a visible leader and share with the school community his passion for motivating students and staff. Golden has been with the Blue Valley School District since 2001 when he began his teaching career at Blue Valley North and Blue Valley Northwest high schools. He spent several years as a teacher before transitioning to an associate principal outside of the school district. He returned to Blue Valley in 2019 to work as an assistant principal of curriculum and instruction at Blue Valley West.

Christopher A. King, BA ’93, performed a direct commission into the U.S. Army Reserve as a Captain in Civil Affairs (CA). He is part of a unique skill identifier created for Heritage and Preservation Officers (38G/6V), historically tied to the Monuments Men officers of WWII. He is a Certified IRB Professional (CIP) and owns his own business called Pacific Bioarcheology and Forensic Services, LLC. He lives on the island of Saipan.

Elizabeth Maddox Benton, BA ’94, was appointed dean of English and reading at Montgomery College in Rockville, MD. Montgomery College is among the most diverse community colleges in the United States, serving roughly 17,000 credit and 18,000 non-credit students each year across four campuses in Montgomery County, MD. Elizabeth lives in Bethesda, MD, with her husband Robert Benton, BA ’94, and their two children.

Kevin Schweers, MSEd ’94, was named the athletic director at Bytown Christian Academy. 

Mauri Greener, BS ’95, BSEd ’95, is an ESL Interventionist/Language Acquisition Specialist at Clark Middle School in Frisco ISD. She was awarded Teacher of the Year for her campus and was named Top 5 secondary teachers for the district.

Berhe Serekeberhan, BS ’95, played for Baylor Tennis from 1993 to 1994 and helped the 1995 team as a graduate assistant. Over the last 27 years, he’s owned one of the best tennis clubs in the Carolinas. His clubs offer tennis, fitness, swim, racquetball and programs for the whole family. Website is blakeneyclub.com and social media handle is @BLAKENEYclub

Allen Hightower, MM ‘97, was appointed director of the Houston Symphony Chorus, the choral unit of the Houston Symphony. Allen continues as professor of music and director of choral studies at the University of North Texas and on the music staff of Stonebriar Community Church, in Frisco, TX.

Gary Poon, BBA ’97, was named a recipient of Houston Business Journal’s Most Admired CEOs of 2021. Poon serves as Houston Humane Society’s executive director. The staff and volunteers are all grateful for his leadership and passion to end animal cruelty and the overpopulation of animals. He continues to grow and improve the organization’s programs such as humane education, providing pet resources, adoptions and maintaining a high-quality low-cost animal wellness clinic for the public.

Kris Harrison, BA ’98, is starting a new role as executive pastor of Grace Community Fellowship Church in Eugene, OR. He and his wife, Anne, BFA ’01, and family are excited to relocate after 11 years in Walla Walla, WA.

Rev. Dr. Neal Jones, MSCPsy ’98, PsyD ’00, retired as the senior minister of Main Line Unitarian Church in Devon, PA, to become a clinical psychologist at the Pisgah Institute in Asheville, NC, the largest private practice counseling center in western North Carolina. Jones sees therapy as an invitation to explore how one’s past informs one’s present, how one’s internal life (thoughts, emotions and aspirations) influences one’s external life (job, family and friendships), and how one’s perception shapes one’s reality. He works with adults who are facing relationship difficulties, life transitions, losses, past or recent traumas, questions of meaning and purpose, end-of-life decisions, depression and anxiety. He also works with couples to help them communicate with more understanding and empathy and to develop a more respectful, nurturing, trusting and trustworthy relationship.

Julie Morris, BA ’98, received her PhD in geography from the University of Kansas. Her research focus was on the influence of western Christian missions on the place of the Pokot, a people and place on the current border of Kenya and Uganda. She is now teaching geography at Metropolitan Community College in Kansas City and continues her relationship in Pokot through educational and missions work as a board member of Friends of Asilong, a nonprofit serving educational needs in Pokot.

Ben Dudley, BSEd ’99, was named executive director of the national nonprofit, Free Guitars 4 Kids (FG4K). FG4K believes that every child should be able to experience both the tangible benefits and the joy of owning a musical instrument, regardless of his or her ability to purchase one. Ben lives in Portland, OR, with his wife, Jamie, BSEd ’99, and their two sons, Nolan and Griffin. FG4K.ORG

Stan Harstine, PhD ’99, authored Reading John Through Johannine Lenses [Lexington Books, 2022] in February. Harstine has taught at Friends University in Wichita, KS, for 20 years and now serves as professor of religion where he teaches biblical courses in the Gospel of John and Romans. He and his wife, Deb, are active in the First Baptist Church of Towanda, KS.

Caleb Marsh, BSEd ’99, MSEd ’01, was hired as the director of Pathway Programs and Recruitment at Belmont University’s brand new Thomas F. Frist, Jr. College of Medicine.

Andrew Morgan, BSEd ’99, was named the 2022 South Central Texas Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS) Man of Year. The LLS names a Man and Woman of the Year following a 10-week fundraising campaign during which candidates build, develop and lead teams through various fundraising events. Andrew’s team, the Cancer Destroying Crew (CDC for short), raised $146,654 during the 10-week event. Andrew has previously raised money for LLS through its endurance training program, Team in Training. Andrew has been involved with LLS for 10 years following the 2012 death of his close friend and physical therapist assistant Bobby Fernandez. Bobby was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia and died nine days following his diagnosis.

1980s

Butch Riddle, BBA ’80, retired April 4, 2021, after 31 years as pastor of First Baptist Church, Ashdown, AR. Together with his wife, Glenda, they bought a farm in Arkadelphia, AR, and are completely renovating a 100-year-old farmhouse and barn. He previously pastored churches in Texas and Louisiana.

David Starnes, BBA ’80, and Sheri Starnes, BSEd ’81, of Sugar Land, TX, established two endowments: the Sheri and David Starnes Endowed Scholarship Fund in Truett Seminary, which supports students enrolled in Truett Seminary, and the David and Sheri Starnes Endowed Athletic Scholarship in Baseball, which supports baseball student-athletes. 

Catherine Gilkey, BSEd ’81, is the managing director at Harbor Link Group, linking business owners with strategic investors as well as talent with hiring partners.
www.harborlinkgroup.com

Bill Russell, BBA ’82, and Charlie Lipsey, BA ’90, are Bears roaming the Giza Plateau. Charlie is six years older than Bill, and they attended Baylor together. They celebrated their birthdays together with a tour of Egypt. Bill on the left, Charlie on the right at the Great Pyramids. 

Dan Brook, BA ’83, was elected by his peers into the National Sculpture Society (NSS). The NSS is a 125-year-old group of the best sculptors in America. Its members have included such giants of American figurative sculpture as Daniel Chester French and Augustus St. Gaudens and architects such as Richard Morris Hunt.

Christine Klote, BBA ’84, MBA ’96, presented the Marvin J. Leonard trophy to Charles Schwab Challenge Champion Sam Burns in May at the Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth.

Craig Underwood, BBA ’84, was the recipient of the American Gem Society’s (AGS) most prestigious honor, the Robert M. Shipley Award®. Mr. Underwood was presented with the award April 27 at the Society’s annual Conclave in Oklahoma City. Underwood received this honor based on his commitment to the jewelry industry and his community and because of his service to the American Gem Society over the years.

Phil Dodson, BA ’85, was included in the 2022 Forbes Best-in-State Wealth Advisors list. Dodson lives in downtown Houston and joined Merrill Lynch in 1988 where he is a managing director and lead investment strategist at Tactical Associates.

Carey Hendrickson, BBA ’85, and Stacie Hendrickson, BSEd ’86, of Arlington, TX, established the Hendrickson Family Endowment for Semper Pro Musica. This endowment supports the priority needs of the Semper Pro Musica Competition within the School of Music.

Gib Dawson, BBA ’87, and Becky Dawson, BBA ’87, of Plano, TX, established the Bryan G. Dawson Memorial Endowment in memory of their son, Bryan. This endowment supports the Beauchamp Addiction Recovery Center.

Barbara M. Britton, BSHE ‘86, will release her ninth book this December. Britton parts from her usual biblical fiction to launch a Christian contemporary Christmas romance with Pelican Book Group. The story will have a heroine who is a breast cancer survivor. Britton will add a short note about her cancer journey at the end of the novel. You can find out more about Britton’s books at barbarambritton.com

Laura Bartels Felleman, BA ’87, authored the book of poetry The Length of a Clenched Fist [Finishing Line Press, 2022]. The poems are about her experiences from 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Lee Mulcahy, BA ’88, served in Ukraine at an all-volunteer militia hospital in Kyiv that was responsible for rescue and evacuation. His paintings and photos of Ukraine were exhibited at the Four Seasons Mumbai in May 2022.

Phil Lakin Sr., Phil Lakin Jr., BBA ’89, MBA ’99, Adriane Lakin and Tracey Lakin, BA ’94, of Tulsa, OK, established the Janice Carolyn Cravens Lakin Endowed Scholarship in Nursing, a Hord Challenge Scholarship. The endowment benefits students of Louise Herrington School of Nursing. 

Todd Leveridge, BBA ’89, of Plano, TX, established the Leveridge Family Research Assistant Endowment in Business. The endowment supports the Undergraduate Research Assistant (URGA) program. 

Scott Terry, BA ’89, and his wife, Shirin, celebrated their 35th wedding anniversary June 19, shortly after their daughter, Jasmine, BA ’22, graduated with honors. Jasmine will begin a master’s in Arab studies at Georgetown University.

1970s

Bill Blackburn, BA ’70, stepped down in May as mayor of Kerrville, TX, after serving two terms. Blackburn, a Baptist minister, served as pastor of Trinity Baptist Church, Kerrville, for 15 years. He also served a church in Shelby County, KY, on the staff of the Texas Baptist Christian Life Commission, and was president of Partners in Ministry. He and his wife Deana have lived in Kerrville for 38 years.

The Dr. Jean A. Boyd Endowed Scholarship in Music, a Hord Challenge Scholarship, was established by family and friends of Jean A. Boyd, BM ’70, MM ’72, PhD, and supports students enrolled in the School of Music.

Judson Edwards, BA ’71, authored Panning for Gold: Looking Back on a Life of Joy [Smyth & Helwys Publishing, 2021].

Michael P. Heiskell, BA ’72, JD ’74, was sworn in as President Elect of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL) at the Association’s annual meeting in Palm Beach, FL. As a former state and federal prosecutor and the owner of the firm Johnson Vaughn & Heiskell in Fort Worth, TX, Heiskell focuses on criminal defense, primarily white collar. He is Past President of the Tarrant County Criminal Defense Lawyers Association and the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association (TCDLA), becoming the first African American to separately hold both posts. He is currently serving a three-year term on the Baylor University Board of Regents.

Hon. Ralph H. Walton, Jr., BA ’72, JD ’72, retired after more than 27 years of service as judge of the 355th Judicial District Court in Granbury, Hood County, TX. Judge Walton and his wife, Patsy, BA’ 70, have lived in Hood County since 1974, and they have two daughters and four grandchildren. After his retirement, the Hood County Commissioner’s Court, in recognition of Judge Walton’s years of service to the community, changed the name of the Hood County Justice Center to the Ralph H. Walton Jr. Justice Center. As a Senior District Judge, Judge Walton will continue to serve as a visiting judge.

Janie Markham, BSHE ’73, has lived in northern Michigan since 2005. 

Mr. Jimmy D. Wiethorn, BA ’73, of Sugar Land, TX, established the Wiethorn Family Endowed Scholarship. The endowment supports students enrolled in the School of Engineering and Computer Science. 

Laura Beth Cotton, BA ’75, of Midland, TX, established the Laura Beth Cotton Alpha Beta Potato Endowed Scholarship. The endowment is a tribute to a special group of Baylor friends more than five decades strong and supports students enrolled in the School of Education who are preparing to become teachers. 

Marilea Whatley Lewis, BA ’75, JD ’78, was voted to Best Lawyers in America 2023 in the categories of Family Law, Collaborative Law: Family Law, and Family Law: Mediation. Marilea@d-elaw.com

Gary Kennedy, BBA ’76, retired from State Farm Insurance as an agent after 45 years in August 2021, a company he’s been with since graduating from Baylor. He and his wife Debbie, now live in Gruene, TX. They would love to see old friends and AKPsi brothers if ever in the New Braunfels area.

Tom Myers, BSEd ’76, JD ’79, received the Kelly Frels Lifetime Achievement Award from the State Bar of Texas School Law Section. The award recognizes attorneys who have made outstanding contributions to the practice of school law and for their lifetime contributions to the School Law Section. He has practiced law since 1979 and is a shareholder with Brackett & Ellis, P.C. in Fort Worth, TX. He has been married to Cindy Ridlehoover Myers, BSEd ’77, for 43 years and they live in Arlington, TX.

Shelly Wiest’s, MM ’76, 95-year-old mother Bettie Geis Batt is a huge collegiate sports fan!  She was privileged enough to spend her first two years of college at Baylor University. Later, Shelly’s mother married her father and the two of them went to the University of Kansas and finished degrees. Both schools won the NCAA Basketball Championship. Wiest’s mother is pictured wearing her championship shirts with her various mascots. Today, Wiest’s mother lives in her own home in Marion, Kansas, and has no daytime helpers.

Philip Poole, BA ’77, and Terry Barone, BSEd ’77, were honored as life members of the Baptist Communicators Association (BCA) in recognition of their service to the association and the profession. They were honored at BCA’s annual meeting, where they were introduced by Baylor journalism alumna, Elizabeth Young, BA ‘80. Both have communications careers spanning over 40 years and both served as president of BCA; Barone in 1993-94, and Poole in 1994-95. Barone retired in December 2021 after 30 years as director of communications for the California Southern Baptist Convention. Poole retired in April after a second career teaching upper-level public relations courses for the University of Alabama at Birmingham. He retired in July 2018 after 16 years as executive director of marketing and communications for Samford University. At Baylor, both served on the RoundUp staff and worked in what was then known as the Baylor news bureau as students. Poole also served as Baylor PRSSA chapter president in 1976-77.

Jay Allison, BBA ’78, MS ’80, JD ’81, and Jenny Allison, BSEd ’78, MSEd ’80, of Frisco, TX, established the Jay and Jenny Allison Endowed Scholarship in Law, which supports students enrolled in Baylor Law School, and the Jay and Jenny Allison Endowed Scholarship for Truett Seminary, which supports students enrolled in George W. Truett Theological Seminary.

Michael H. Reynolds, BA ‘78, retired from active pastoral ministry and is currently serving as the Bible department chair for Friendship Christian School in Suwanee, GA.

Steven D. Reece, BS ’78, was selected to receive the U.S. Fulbright Scholars Award during the 2022-2023 academic year for Poland. In addition to being a Baylor graduate, he is a graduate of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, where he earned his Master of Divinity degree. Finally, he graduated with a Doctor of Philosophy in leadership from Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Michigan. He is also a member of the adjunct faculty at Andrews University in the leadership department. Since 2010, Reece has led The Matzevah Foundation (TMF) in its work in Jewish-Christian dialogue by caring for and restoring Jewish cemeteries in Poland. He conducted his doctoral research as a case study of this work, The Third Space: The Meeting of Jew and Christian in the Act of Remembering, Restoring, and Reconciling — A Case Study of the Matzevah Foundation. Based on his experience conducting research, teaching and leading such work, Reece wanted to pursue a post-doctoral teaching and research pathway via the U.S. Fulbright Scholars Program.

Steven Guy, BA ’79, JD ’81, opened his new law firm, Steven R. Guy & Associates PLLC, in Jacksonville, Texas. Steve was previously a partner in the Norman Angle Guy & Brewer.

Charles Weathers, BA ’79, MScD ’83, DDS, of Waco, established the Robert and Melinda Creech Endowed Student Scholarship for Truett Seminary. This scholarship supports the Theology, Ecology, and Food Justice Program at Baylor’s Truett Seminary.

1960s

Roland Eichelberger, BA ’62, and Marilyn Cooper Eichelberger, BA ’66, established the Eichelberger Family Scholarship for students studying Management Information Systems in the Hankamer School of Business.

Jane Felts Mauldin, BA ’62, spoke at San Saba Museum’s annual meeting in May. She shared memories of her early years in San Saba, her art, and the interesting and surprising twists and turns her career has taken. 

Anita Cherry Arnold, BA ‘67, and Bill Arnold celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary in July.

Murray, BA ’67, and Betty Sheffield Hardy, BA ’64, celebrated their 60th anniversary on June 23. Murray and Betty’s oldest granddaughter, Joanna Hardy, has transferred to Baylor as a member of the class of 2024. Betty’s grandmother, Joanna’s great-great grandmother, graduated from Baylor in 1898.

William Sachs, BA ’69, authored his 10th book in which he worked with Tim Hightower, former NFL running back and now team executive. A Dream Worth Fighting For [Morgan James Publishing, 2022] tells the story of Tim’s four-year recovery from injury on the field where recovery becomes a spiritual journey to a new quality of life.

1950s

The Wilma Seltzer Endowed Scholarship in Nursing, a Hord Challenge Scholarship, was established by David Seltzer of Southlake, TX, and Robert Seltzer of Gilbert, AZ, in memory of their mother, Wilma Seltzer, BSN ’55. This scholarship supports nursing students.

Martha Rogers, BSHE ’57, authored Treasure for the Heart [Winged Publications, 2022] and novella, A Merry Cowboy Christmas [Forget Me Not Romances, 2022] this year. This makes over 60 novels and novellas in publication that were written by Rogers. She recently celebrated 86 years of life and is still active at First Baptist Church in Houston where she and her husband, Rex, met and married 63 years ago.

Mr. Robert B. Powell, BA ’58, and Mrs. Sue Powell, BBA ’57, of Houston, established the R. E. “Pat” and Pauline Burton Memorial Endowed Fund in memory of R. E. “Pat” and Pauline S. Burton, parents of Sue Burton Powell. The fund supports programs that address student food insecurity. 

1940s

Robert Martin, BA ’49, shares, “I have sailed the seas, climbed the heights, walked the valleys, seen the sights. Being alive at 95 is a miracle!”