Coming Together, Coming Home
Inaugural Baylor Black Alumni Alliance Reunion Weekend Celebrates Achievement and Renews Friendships
The Baylor University Black Alumni Alliance celebrated its first reunion weekend this fall, filled with events and activities including their Achievement Awards Ceremony.
The Awards event, which benefited the Dr. Vivienne Malone-Mayes Scholarship Endowment, included the presentation of the highest award given by the Baylor Black Alumni Alliance: the Rev. Robert L. Gilbert Distinguished Baylor Black Alumni Award. The award recognizes Baylor Black Alumni who, through service, have earned the respect and approval of peers and colleagues in their communities, professions and vocations.
The 2022 recipients of the Rev. Robert L. Gilbert Distinguished Baylor Black Alumni Award are:
Col. Patrice Holmes, B.S. ’97
Col. Holmes is the commander of the 28th Mission Support Group, Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota. She leads a group of nearly 2,000 military, civilian and contractor professionals in planning, organizing, coordinating and implementing installation services and support to more than 7,740 military and civilian personnel and their families. She has received numerous major awards and decorations, including the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal, National Defense Service Medal and Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal, among others.
Larry W. Coffer II, B.S.Ed. ’00, M.S.Ed. ’06
Coffer is a research administrator at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, where he manages the research activities for the Department of Breast Medical Oncology and the Morgan Welch Inflammatory Breast Cancer Research Program and Clinic. At MD Anderson, Coffer also serves as a guest lecturer for the Cancer Research Administration and Management Certificate Program and volunteers to assist with fundraising and diversity efforts. He recently was recognized with a Citation for Excellence Award for Laboratory Research, a top honor at MD Anderson.
Marie Brown, B.A. ’92 (R) presents the Distinguished Black Alumni Award to Pearlie Beverly (L).
Pearlie Beverly, M.S.Ed. ’01
Beverly is director of the Department of Multicultural Affairs within Student Life at Baylor. Her team encourages students to celebrate their personal heritage and embrace the cultures of others through education, communication and involvement in the various student organizations, as well as helping with the presentation of cultural awareness programs on campus. Beverly loves students and has seen the population of minority students grow from 11 percent to 38 percent since her arrival at Baylor in 1988.
The ceremony also recognized the 48 recipients of the University’s Trailblazer Scholarship and the two recipients of the Dr. Vivienne Malone-Mayes Scholarship.
Panelists (L-R): Isaac Hardy, B.B.A. ‘80; Shawneequa Harris, B.S. ‘78; Bennie Lambert, B.B.A. ‘83, M.A. ‘90, Ph.D.; Michael Heiskell, B.A. ‘72, J.D. ‘74
Other events throughout the weekend included a kick off with local food trucks, campus tours, a Family Reunion tailgate before the Baylor vs. OSU football game, and a hospitality reception. The weekend ended with a breakfast and worship experience featuring the Heavenly Voices Reunion-Student choir at George W. Truett Theological Seminary.
The Baylor Black Alumni Alliance, formerly The Baylor Black Alumni Club, was chartered by a small group of alumni in 1980. The organization was officially recognized and chartered by Baylor in 1985.
For more information about the BBAA, visit baylor.edu/alumni.