SERVING Christ FALL 2020
SNU MAGAZINE | FALL 2020 1
SNU MAGAZINE A PUBLICATION OF SOUTHERN NAZARENE UNIVERSITY ISSUE 14 | FALL 2020
PRESIDENT Dr. Keith Newman, MA '94 VICE PRESIDENT OF UNIVERSITY RELATIONS Dr. Brent LaVigne, '04 EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF ALUMNI RELATIONS Todd Brant, '94 ALUMNI RELATIONS Marcia Mosshart, ‘77 DIRECTOR OF ADVANCEMENT SERVICES Annette McElroy GRAPHIC DESIGNER Tyler Thomas PHOTOGRAPHERS/VIDEOGRAPHERS Todd Brant, '94; Ian Weston, '15; Sydney Jones, '19; Hailee Thompson, ‘21; Lizzette Casas, ‘20, Harrison Molloy, ‘22 CONTRIBUTORS Dandi Alexander; Cheryl Crouch, ’91; Margaret Farmer, Michaele LaVigne, Claire Tillis, ’22; Jessica Vernier, ’20; Emma Wright, ‘20 TELEPHONE: 405-491-6312 WEBSITE: bridge.snu.edu/magazine EMAIL: alumni@snu.edu
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Tabl e of C on te n t s
Serving Up Transformational Love
12
Message From The President
11 14 22
Capturing the Faces of the Kingdom
20
24
An Unconventional Path Leads to an Eternal Impact
26 28 31
Beyond The Degree
A Legacy Wrapped in Love Frontline Service
Professional & Graduate Studies Alumni News & Updates
Sharing Christ on the Ice 4
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Fr o m t h e P r e sid ent
NEW STUDENT INSTITUTE CANDLE LIGHTING CEREMONY OF STUDENT GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT JAMES UDO & SNU PRESIDENT DR. KEITH NEWMAN
Serving Christ
“I
love SNU!” These words rushed out of her mouth as she seated SNU’s Board of Trustees Chair, Dr. Terry Rowland, and myself when we met in a favorite Oklahoma City breakfast spot. Though she knew neither of us, she spotted an SNU logo affixed to a journal I carry. Her connection to SNU? Grandkids. As a single grandmother, she was raising these elementary-age grandkids in the Tulakes area of OKC. Her grandchildren were being impacted for good through the service of our Men’s and Women’s Basketball teams partnering with the Tulakes Church of the Nazarene. Though I don’t remember what I had for breakfast that morning, the testimony of our studentathletes’ service still encourages my heart. Our 2020 global pandemic has created a host of often-used phrases like essential workers. The classification of essential has elevated some assignments and left others wondering about their value. What qualifies a person, a job, a company, or an organization as essential? With a mission to make Christlike disciples through higher education, I am more convinced than ever that SNU is essential. Now in our 122nd year, serving Christ in the arena of higher education continues to be our priority. We are purposefully different in our commitment to send graduates near and far in the service of others. Two of those serving in a far off place are Sean and Darla. They met at SNU as pre-med majors and began dating as a result of a Bachelor Bake-Off contest organized by Darla in her role as Social Life Chair for the Student Government
Association. One of the highlights of my time at SNU was a recent Zoom call with these two gifted and gracefilled servants. Another SNU alum had connected us because she was certain I needed to hear their story. While the complete, amazing story is too long to tell in this article, here’s a sneak peek. Dr. Sean (’91) and Darla (’89 and ‘93) Grinovich are shining light in the darkness (John 1:5) at the Kanad Hospital in the United Arab Emirates. Sean serves as an ophthalmologist, providing healing and hope to patients visiting their clinic. Like Sean, Darla serves the people of the UAE through clinic management and an infectious smile and love for Jesus. To learn more about their work, click on the following link: Kanad Eye Clinic. Sean and Darla’s heart for serving Christ developed and grew during their years at SNU where they participated in Commission to Mexico and a mission trip to Guyana. Professors, Drs. Gene Heasley, Robert Judd, Sharon Young, and Leo Finkenbinder, along with staff, Mike Brooks and Linda Gresham, invested in their lives. They both credit them for fanning the flames of their passion for serving Christ. While I shared a tiny snippet of the Grinovichs’ story, there are hundreds and hundreds of SNU alums serving Christ in classrooms and hospices, courtrooms and high-rises, churches and hospitals around the world. We celebrate their work and are reminded that our mission at SNU continues. Speaking of essential servants, you are one of those! Thanks for your continued prayers and support. Your investment is greatly needed and deeply appreciated. Keep serving and smiling, even behind the mask!
SEAN (’91) AND DARLA (’89 & ’93) GRINOVICH 6
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WHAT QUALIFIES A PERSON, A JOB, A COMPANY, OR AN ORGANIZATION AS ESSENTIAL? WITH A MISSION TO MAKE CHRISTLIKE DISCIPLES THROUGH HIGHER EDUCATION, I AM MORE CONVINCED THAN EVER THAT SNU IS ESSENTIAL. SNU MAGAZINE | FALL 2020 7
S e r v in g C h r ist
I
n Spanish the term is fronterizo. It’s the claimed identity of those who live in border towns, the ones who are constantly stretched between two worlds and two realities. They are the people who are familiar with the complexities of in-between spaces. But being a borderlander isn’t just about where you find yourself on a map. It’s an intentional commitment to engage and identify with two cultures, and be a conduit of connection between them. While Rev. Liliana Reza (’08) certainly is a fronteriza now, this is an identity she has grown into. The first of her family to be born in the United States, she learned from an early age to navigate both sides of her Mexican-American identity. On campus she worked to “codeswitch” by joining in the shared cultural language and practices of her majority white peers and professors. But when she traveled the few miles home, she switched back to the food, language, and shared cultural experience of her MexicanAmerican neighborhood in Oklahoma City. “While I was a student, there were very few students that looked like me,” Reza recalls. “It was not easy to find my place, and some days I wanted to quit. But I knew I wasn’t just doing this for myself; I was doing this for my parents who had made so many sacrifices to make this possible for me.” Now, looking back, she also realizes she was doing it for the people she now serves and other students in her same position. “Continually crossing these borders shaped me in ways that I didn’t even fully recognize until later,” she says. During her time at SNU she crossed other borders, too, joining Commission Unto Mexico (COM2MEX) trips in what became an annual pilgrimage for her. Beginning in 1989, SNU students, faculty and staff have traveled to Mexico during
LILIANA REZA: Leading & Serving as a Borderlander
"CONTINUALLY CROSSING THESE BORDERS SHAPED ME IN WAYS I DIDN’T EVEN FULLY RECOGNIZE UNTIL LATER."
BY MIC H AELE L AVIGN E
TIJUANA/SAN DIEGO BORDER WALL
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the winter break to learn, build relationships, and serve. Each year there are new projects in a different city. It was in these settings that Reza began to realize that her own experience of a fronteriza extended beyond herself, and could be used to offer guidance to others. Her gifts of cultural and language interpretation continued to develop while studying in seminary at Nazarene Theological Seminary, and then serving for four years as a missionary in Argentina. Today Rev. Liliana Reza serves proudly as the lead fronteriza for SNU’s sister school Point Loma Nazarene University in southern California. As a Campus Pastor and Associate Director of International Ministries, she leads cross-cultural service and learning opportunities for college students within the San Diego-Tijuana border region. As part of the Ministry With Mexico program, these trips allow students to explore and better understand their relationship within the San Diego-Tijuana border region. Rather than helping students answer all the questions that rise up in these experiences, Reza creates space for cognitive dissonance and guides participants as they grapple with paradoxes and uncertainties. “This is an opportunity for students to learn about the complexities of an intercultural relationship,” she says. As she has found her own footing in this in-between space, she is able to guide her students to find theirs as well. The identity of fronteriza is multi-faceted and multi-layered in Reza’s life. Within her role at PLNU, and even in her former role as one of SNU’s campus pastors, she is between two cultures without ever going anywhere. Many of her students resonate with this reality. Her presence widens students’ perspectives of who can serve as a minister, who can work in a university office, and ultimately – who can belong there.
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SNU COMMISION UNTO MEXICO TRIP
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BEYOND THE DEGREE: Investing in Future Servant Leaders
F
or English major Anah Rackley, SNU has provided opportunities far beyond her coursework and study sessions. As the oldest child in her family - and the first to leave home - college proved challenging for Anah in ways she didn’t expect. Although gifted with excellent study skills and a love for learning, she realized that forming new professional relationships had a huge learning curve. SNU offered the solution through mentorships. Anah outlined this important aspect of her educational experience: • Intentionality. “I meet with my mentor, Brianne Morrow, on a weekly basis.” • Unexpected conversations. “Pam Beals is the Administrative Assistant of the Education Department. She has shared life experiences with me and given me advice, and that’s been super impactful. • Classroom application. “Dr. (Gina) Weaver has shown me many amazing ways to look at the world through literature. She looks at things from academic and faith viewpoints and really encourages us to research on our own and ask questions…it’s such a beautiful thing.” • Long-term impact. “The English department as a whole has shown me a new way to look at the world. Being immersed in this culture has absolutely, positively impacted my life.” After graduation, Anah hopes to teach secondary English while pursuing a Master’s degree in Education Administration. “There’s such a ministry to be had in the classroom. Every student has a story to tell, and I’m a lover of stories and words. I want to use my love for stories and English and combine the two in my teaching. I want people to feel comfortable in their differences and embrace them, by celebrating their stories.” And with the skills gained both in the classroom and through invested relationships, Anah is ready to write her next chapter.
BY DAND I AL E X AND ER
“THERE’S SUCH MINISTRY TO BE HAD IN THE CLASSROOM ... I WANT PEOPLE TO FEEL COMFORTABLE IN THEIR DIFFERENCES AND EMBRACE THEM.”
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SNU faculty and staff care deeply for each student they meet. Your SNU Fund gift provides scholarships that make possible life changing relationships like those that mean so much to Anah. Thank you for your financial support and prayer for students as they become equipped for lives of Christian service at Southern Nazarene University. bridge.snu.edu/give
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➜ Serving Up
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Transformational Love
T
here is something beautifully transformative that takes place in the lives of people who are in deep and consistent relationship with those whose backgrounds are different from their own. Kaylee (Couchenour) Vaughn (’13) has experienced this love through the impact of a ministry based at Oklahoma City First Nazarene - Our Neighborhood Empowered (ONE). Kaylee is the Executive Director of ONE, a nonprofit organization serving neighborhoods in OKC by developing, enriching, and empowering families and individuals through programs designed to meet the holistic needs of the community. The mission of ONE is to break the cycle of generational poverty, and the fruit of this mission can be seen in the lives of those impacted by the ministry and its servant-leaders like Kaylee. After graduating from Southern Nazarene University with a degree in Exercise Science, Kaylee felt very unsure of what she would do next. She had come to SNU with the intention of attending for a single year; however, during her time at SNU, Kaylee found a community that changed her life. The words “Character, Culture, Christ” were more than a motto to her – it was a call to serve. So, when a friend connected her with ONE, Kaylee knew that the door had opened for her to be able to serve the community in a way that SNU had prepared her for perfectly. Kaylee has been serving neighborhoods in OKC ever since, and she believes that it is an honor to be in Christ-like relationships with others, saying, “I love getting to be a consistent
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BY CL AI R E TI LLI S ’ 2 2
“I LOVE GETTING TO BE A CONSISTENT PERSON IN THEIR LIFE ... THE WAYS THEY SHOW UP FOR ME WHEN I HAVE SOMETHING TO CELEBRATE OR MOURN, AND THE WAYS I AM PRIVILEGED TO BE ABLE TO CELEBRATE AND SHOW UP IN THEIR LIVES, MEANS SO MUCH.”
person in their life. So just some of the ways they show up for me when I have something to celebrate or to mourn, and the ways I am privileged to be able to celebrate and show up in their lives, means so much.” For Kaylee, simply showing up has gotten a lot more difficult with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the challenges that have presented themselves in these difficult times, ONE has found new ways to support the community, from a WIFI and laptop drive, to calling to check on families that are experiencing the effects of isolation at this time. Reflecting on the impact of ONE that Kaylee has witnessed, she said, “I have been able to see so much individual growth, especially in how families have been able to persevere through a pandemic. To be able to talk to families that I have been in relationship with for years and say, ‘Remember when you were a single mom with 3 kids all under five and you were barely making it. - but now, look, your kids are thriving in school, you’re enjoying your job and regaining your identity!’ ” Kaylee Vaughn’s mission to deeply love others, especially through her work at ONE, and the impact that she is having on the families in her community will continue to reveal itself over the years to come. Transformational love through service comes, as Kaylee has shown, from being in authentic, consistent relationship with others. ■ Find out more about Our Neighborhood Empowered at oneokc.org. SNU MAGAZINE | FALL 2020 13
S e r v in g C h r ist
GROUNDED IN SERVICE TO SNU Dr. Randall Spindle Retires BY E M MA W R I GH T ’ 2 0
DR. RANDALL SPINDLE 1974
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Dr. Randall Spindle,
professor of History and Business at Southern Nazarene University (SNU), recently announced his retirement after a remarkable 44 years of service. The majority of Spindle’s adult life has been invested in SNU as a student, administrator, and faculty member, while also contributing greatly to his community as a pastor and mentor. Dr. Spindle quite literally helped build SNU from the ground up. In 1962, he and his family moved from Texas to Bethany where he attended Bethany Public Schools. At the age of 13, he secured his first job: digging the footings for Snowbarger Hall. “Some other boys and I worked for a dollar an hour digging ditches to lay the foundation of Snowbarger Hall parking… I earned my first paycheck from SNU 58 years ago,” Dr. Spindle remarked. His connection to SNU continued as he worked at odd jobs on campus in his early high school years, mainly washing dishes in the cafeteria. He began his high school years at Bethany High School and later graduated from Putnam City High School. “Most of the members of my class were Bethany First Nazarene kids who went right across the street, so it was just the logical step. I went across the street to college!” During college, he had a diverse set of interests: “I took history, I took speech, I took religion, I took an accumulation of courses.” Rather than earning a degree in a single subject, Spindle graduated from SNU in 1974 with a “functional degree,” a liberal arts degree equivalent. Not only was he academically driven, he was also engaged in campus and community life: “I started out slower, but by my senior year, I was heavily involved in student government and continued doing well in school. I worked full-time driving a school bus for the Putnam City School District, and my college experience was incredibly rewarding for me,” Dr. Spindle shared. After graduating from SNU in 1974, he served as Resident Director of Snowbarger from 1976-1979 while earning his Masters degree. He taught History at SNU from 1977 to 1992. He earned a doctorate in higher education from Oklahoma State University in 1981. He also attended law school where he earned his Juris Doctorate at the University of Oklahoma in 1991. It was then that he transitioned out of the History Department and began teaching Business Law in the SNU School of Business. Spindle said, “I really had two careers - the first 15 years in History and the last 28 in Business.” Spindle continued to serve SNU both as a professor and as an administrator. “I was the first Director of General Education at SNU from 1985 to 1992… I was chair of the History Department and, for a short time, chair of the Business Department. I felt called to be in the classroom, though. I didn’t like administrative work, doing budgets and carrying out policy. I’d rather be in the classroom with students; that’s where I find my greatest joy,” he remarked. In addition to his extensive educational background, he is an ordained Elder in the Church of the Nazarene. From 1992 to 2015, Dr. Spindle served as a parttime minister for Westminster Presbyterian Church in Oklahoma City, pastoring and teaching in both SNU’s community and the greater Oklahoma City community, explaining, “I’ve preached often and done lots of church activities, weddings and funerals… I think I’ve done over 500 of each.” Dr. Spindle summed up his calling and career when he said, “I found home early.” Throughout the decades: the construction of Snowbarger Hall, assisting veterans in their transition from Vietnam to SNU, being part of university history as Bethany Nazarene College became Southern Nazarene University, he was always seeking the balance between continuing tradition and welcoming progress. Through this Christlike service, he has impacted Southern Nazarene University - raising up buildings, students, colleagues and his community - from the ground up. ■
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Prof. Spindle was my “Dorm Dad” who saw me for who I was. He welcomed me, an unsettled outsider without a penny to my name. But he saw a heart hungry for a spiritual and social connection. So, he blessed me with an anonymous financial gift to fund my opportunities for friendship and fellowship. In Prof. Spindle, I witnessed the embodiment of Christian campus compassion. ROBERT CANINO (’82) Acting Deputy General Counsel for the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) Washington D.C.
I always enjoyed having Dr. Spindle as a professor. Aside from his teaching topics that I found interesting, I always enjoyed hearing his anecdotes, stories and life experiences. I’m sorry that future SNU students won’t have the opportunity to be in his classroom like I did. KIM EMMERT (’08) METCALF Owner of The Hair Boutique Bethany, OK
When I came to SNU in 1984 as a first generation college student from the Texas southern plains, Dr. Spindle became both a professor and mentor to me. He has continued to serve as a role model in various capacities over the past nearly 36 years. His passion for great narrative continues to inspire me, as it did so many others. Randall inspired me to earn a Ph.D. in history, to return to SNU, and to make my career here. I am better for having met him, learned from him, and served alongside him. DR. DENNIS WILLIAMS (’87) VP for Strategy & Innovation Southern Nazarene University
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S e r v in g C h r ist
Capturing the Faces of the Kingdom
S
BY J E S S I C A VER NI ER ’ 2 0
outhern Nazarene University Class of 2017 alum Jonathan Hane was born into a missionary family that gave him a heart for serving God’s people. After graduating from SNU with a Bachelor of Arts
in Mass Communication, Jonathan moved back to Thailand where he began teaching at MediaLight Asia, a school designed to train students to tell the stories of others using digital media. People and their stories are the center of Jonathan’s mission. He sees their faces and stories as testimonies of God’s love, which is why he decided to pursue a degree in Mass Communications. He wanted to be able to capture those stories through photography and videography to show how God is working in the lives of others. “Something that I feel so strongly about is that every person is dearly created in the image of God, and deserves love and respect. Every time I get to take someone’s photo, it really is such a joy and honor because they are made in the image of God.”
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Jonathan now also works at The Justice Project, an
Jonathan. He strives to make his relationships more intentional,
anti-human trafficking organization, traveling and telling the
spreading the love of God one person at a time, one conversation
stories of the people who are impacted by human trafficking.
at a time, and one photo at a time.
The people who Jonathan records and takes photos of are so
His journey has shown him that God’s love does not
much more than subjects in a frame to him. They all have a story
discriminate based on class or status, and that he can learn
that tells about the Kingdom of God, each strengthening the
about God through the lives of others. “It continues to be such
passion that he has for recording their testimonies and everyday
a beautiful reminder that the Kingdom of God is for everyone,
lives. In the midst of his participation in police rescue raids and
that the love of God reaches further than we could ever dream or
traveling, Jonathan is particularly inspired by the mundane and
imagine. His love for the rubber farmer deep in the mountains
the blessings that God places in it.
of Thailand is just as much as it is for the employee at the Nike
“The regular day-to-day life is, I think, where the light of
store in Norman,” Jonathan said. “And what a joy that we get to participate in His work by sharing His love with every
Christ can shine the brightest. Sometimes we can get so caught
person we encounter.” ■
up in trying to focus on doing these great big things for God,
http://www.thejusticeprojectkc.org/
we forget that He’s actually called us to do the little things,” said
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S e r v in g C h r ist
An Unconventional Path Leads to an
BY CL AI R E T I L L I S ’2 2
SNU Alumna and Texas State Teacher of the Year, Karen Sams, is shaping young lives even in the midst of a pandemic
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aren (Echard) Sams graduated from Southern Nazarene University in 1999 with a degree in Human Relations, yet found herself looking to the future with very little direction for her life. She spent several years searching for a job that would fit into the calling on her life. Even in the uncertainty, two things were clear: SNU had equipped Karen with a strong foundation and she had a burning desire to serve her community, eventually leading her into education. She will admit the journey she took to become a teacher was somewhat unconventional, but it is overwhelmingly apparent to her now that there was a plan all along. Today, having taught 16 years in public schools, Karen Sams, the current Texas State Teacher of the Year, is living out a calling that touches the heart and soul of her community, Weatherford, Texas, every day, even in the midst of one of the most challenging situations public school systems have ever faced. Karen is a 3rd grade teacher at David Crockett Elementary School in Weatherford. Her passion for public education and her committment to serve students at Title 1 schools has earned her national recognition. In October 2019, when the Texas Education Agency announced that Karen would represent the state as the 2020 Texas State Teacher of the Year, it was widely recognized as an honor that was well deserved for all the ways that Karen goes above and beyond for her students. It’s the mission that she knows God has called her to. In March 2020, teachers across the nation faced the challenge of COVID-19 and received the news that schools would be going online for the remainder of the semester, a transition that would rock the lives of both students and their teachers. Karen remembered the moment when she knew that the students were going home for an extended and unknown duration. “It was so weird and bizarre. I did not know when
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I would see them again. Every child, as I put their work in their backpack, I said a prayer for them. Really, the only way that I felt like I could stay connected to each student was to lift them up in prayer every day and continue to reach out to their families.” This exemplifies the way Karen lives out her calling to show God’s love in a public school setting. Her mission of demonstrating love to each student while also supporting them in practical ways, is something that Karen has purposed to do for years. Even as students have returned to the classroom, with new challenges and guidelines due to the pandemic, Karen employs innovative ways to make her classroom a warm and loving place, complete with “air hugs” and waving at the door as students come in. While her class can no longer participate in forms of community outreach such as visiting the local nursing home, Karen has found ways to encourage and empower her students to show love to one another despite the limitations caused by distancing and masks. When she thinks back on her time at SNU, and the influence of her peers and beloved professors, such as Dr. Linda Wilcox, there is no denying that God knew what she needed to be equipped for her ultimate calling. Even when her future wasn’t clear, God was leading her and used her time at SNU and the people who invested in her there to prepare her for a ministry - impacting lives as a public school teacher. ■
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A Legacy Wrapped in Love T BY CL AI R E TI LLI S ’ 2 2
wenty-five years ago, on the
the hardships we face, “Life is still wonderful.”
morning of April 19, 1995, Laniece
She believes that every moment we face in
Watkins (’94) stood in the office of a
life, prepares us for the next. Twenty-five years
downtown Oklahoma city building, just a
after one of the most devastating and impactful
block and a half from the unimaginable blast
moments of her life, Laniece Watkins is walking
that would forever change the fabric of
through another trial.
America. Moments later, in complete shock,
Late last year, Laniece was diagnosed with
among other horrified bystanders in a sea of
breast cancer. In the year to come, she faces
was silent, waiting for first responders at the site
despite this, she has remained a constant light to
shattered glass tinted pink with blood, Laniece
surgery, chemotherapy, and other treatments. Yet
where 168 men, women, and children lost their
those around her, deeply impacting those close
lives in the bombing of the Afred P. Murrah
to her as well as the culture of her department in
Federal Building.
Post-Graduate Studies and the SNU campus as
In a moment that undoubtedly changed
a whole.
Oklahoma forever, Laniece Watkins was among
Johnna Vanover, Vice President for
the many who were marked by the horrific
Professional and Graduate Studies, writes that
later, SNU alumna and Post-Graduate Studies
her loving and Godly spirit. She is always striving
act that took place that morning. Now, years
“Laniece shines a light everywhere she goes with
Academic Advisor Laniece Watkins has shared
to do her very best to support our learners and
her story so that the memory of that day, along
her teammates. Laniece is a wonderful asset to
with all that it carries, can be passed on to those
SNU and everyone who knows her!”
who were not there.
Dayna Stark, PGS Academic Advisor, writes,
Laniece’s story, she remarked, “is for
“EVERY CHANCE YOU GET...IF YOU LOVE SOMEONE...TELL THEM. IF YOU LIKE SOMETHING ABOUT SOMEONE...TELL THEM. IF YOU LOVE THE LORD...TELL EVERYONE. THIS GOOD STUFF DOESN’T LAST LONG ENOUGH. ENJOY IT ALL YOU CAN!”
educating others.” She does not have to share it for herself, yet in her sharing, she has seen
many people, including an officer who had never spoken of what he witnessed as a first responder on the morning of the bombing until after
OKLAHOMA CITY NATIONAL MEMORIAL AND MUSEUM OKLAHOMA CITY, OK
vitality to all who interact with her on and off
others. Laniece Watkins’ story represents the
“Every chance you get...If you love someone...tell
power of openness and vulnerability, and the
them. If you like something about someone...tell
impact of her life, though forever marked by the
them. If you love the Lord...Tell everyone. This
tragic morning of April 19th, 1995, has surpassed
good stuff doesn’t last long enough. Enjoy it all
SNU MAGAZINE | FALL 2020
Laniece Watkins is a source of love and
a force for the encouragement and growth of
For Laniece, the legacy is wrapped in love.
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holds tight to the quote, ‘God is bigger.’”
moment, her life has been transformed into
memory and legacy of that day.
Laniece holds firm to the belief that despite
I know. No matter what she may be facing, she
of SNU’s campus. Through the impact of one
reading her story, freed to be able to confront the
you can!”
“Laniece is one of the most positive individuals
anything that she could have imagined and has LANIECE WITH DAUGHTER MADELYN BRIDGE.SNU.EDU/ALUMNI
LANIECE RECEIVES HER MASTER OF SCIENCE DEGREE
marked SNU’s campus in a remarkable and invaluable way. ■
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W
hile ice hockey is typically a sport played in the cold weather of northern states and Canada, Oklahoma City boasts a rather large ice hockey community. In the middle of the action in this community is Southern Nazarene University alum James Jalbert. For the last 14 years, he has been ministering to this lesser-known community, sharing the Gospel with hockey players of all ages and skill levels. Graduating from SNU in 2006 with a degree in business administration, Jalbert is currently working as a senior underwriter for consumer loans at a local bank. While he spends his time working this 8 to 5 job during the week, he had a desire to integrate another one of his passions into his life: ice hockey. “Hockey has always been a part of my life,” Jalbert explained. Moving to Oklahoma City from Upstate New York after his brother, Jeff Jalbert (’00), transferred to SNU, Jalbert stated that he’s “always played hockey, always been around the game, loved the game… It was just kind of in the blood to be involved in the local hockey community here in Oklahoma City.” Not only was his life-long love of the sport driving him to participate in the local hockey community, Jalbert also had an awakening when he suffered a severe health scare: “When I truly felt like God was calling me into this hockey ministry was the very moment I found out I had a brain tumor. It was through
Sharing Christ on the Ice this that God showed me He was going to make it a point: that nobody was ever going to deny who He was through me.” After making a full recovery, Jalbert was introduced to the program Hockey Ministry International by former Oklahoma City Blazers player Stacey Bauman. Through this program, Jalbert became the chaplain for the University of Central Oklahoma’s club hockey team, providing an eager ear to listen to players’ stories, and a full dinner and Bible study every Wednesday night after practice. Through this program, players have begun to be shaped and changed by the Word of God. Jalbert reminisces about one of the first players to accept Jesus, Kevin Fukala: “We have seen him go from being a guy who would fight anybody… to being a fully devoted follower of Jesus who is now in the heart of Memphis working as a pastor. He is working… in some of the roughest parts of Memphis to share the Gospel.” Jalbert, continuing his work as chaplain, began his own
BY EMMA WRIGHT ’20
hockey ministry, Apostles Hockey, about 7 years ago. This ministry was started to help people of all ages learn how to skate and has now expanded to a group of 30-40 hockey players. “This is an opportunity for dads to connect with their kids,” Jalbert explained, “for fathers and kids to grow in Christ together. Some may not have any church at all, so their church is at the rink twice a month with us.” While Jalbert may work a normal 8 to 5 job throughout the week, he gives much of the rest of his time to his community and his family. His ministry is truly a family venture as his parents provide a home-cooked meal for the club team every Wednesday, while his wife, Lori Jalbert, continually encourages and supports both James and his ministry. Jalbert’s love of the game of hockey, creatively combined with his dedication to sharing the Word of God, is a testament to his devotion to Christ in his life - serving Him and reaching others through this unique ministry. ■
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Frontline Service Serving on the front lines of healthcare during the COVID-19 pandemic has proven to be challenging both professionally and personally for SNU alum, Dr. Katie (Farmer) Smith (’00). But, she continually finds ways to tangibly serve Christ in her medical practice and administrative leadership roles at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center in Oklahoma City. Whether seeing patients at the OB/GYN clinic, delivering babies, instructing medical students at the OU College of Medicine, or advocating for women’s health through public service, on government panels and in the media, this award-winning physician effectively serves and strives to better the world around her. As both a practicing physician and a professor who teaches future physicians, Dr. Smith is well positioned to address the issues of public health and especially the healthcare needs of the underserved and economically challenged women in her home state. Her passion is to ensure that her students have the best medical knowledge so they can provide excellent care, but, at the same time, she helps them see that the best level of care comes when they determine to be ethical, compassionate physicians. She explains, “This means modeling these values, especially when it is hard: for example, when giving difficult news or dealing with an angry patient.” The unique situation at OU Medical, a teaching hospital, often allows Smith to include the Residents and students in providing services for those who otherwise could not afford it. While caring well for these patients, Smith wants these future providers to see and acknowledge disparities in healthcare, and understand barriers faced by vulnerable patients. “Ultimately,” she said, “I want their work to create a healthier state in the future - for everyone.” Smith’s passion for teaching is evidenced by having received the OU Faculty Teaching Award for Excellence in Medical Student Education 10 out of the last 11 years. Dr. Smith’s gratitude for her Christian upbringing and positive educational experiences helped develop her passion for the vulnerable. She expressed her appreciation for the great education she received at SNU, a school she chose, in part, because of the excellent anatomy lab and strong chemistry program. She said, “I knew a pre-med degree from SNU would give me an excellent chance of being accepted into medical school, and OU’s College of Medicine was my first choice.” She added, “I was supported by a loving family and never had to worry about food, shelter or healthcare, but not everyone is given those opportunities. It is my responsibility to give back and serve
BY CHER YL CR O UCH ’ 91
others, knowing that all of life is a gift and that my successes are a product of His grace and mercy.” Regarding SNU professors Dr. Nancy Halliday and Dr. Sharon Young, Smith said, “Only in hindsight can I appreciate the amount of effort and care they put into educating students like myself.” She added that she might not have finished the pre-med program had it not been for Dr. Daryl Cox’s encouragement. “He helped me see beyond my frustration with organic chemistry and focus on my long-term goals, while making it clear he believed I could achieve those goals!” Along with caring professors, the strong emphasis at SNU on the value of human life and all of God’s creation influenced Smith. She shared, “The integration of faith and science was one of the things that shaped me most for my future career. Dr. Halliday reminded us that what we saw in our anatomy dissection was the detailed, intricate work of the creator. It was as if you could imagine the time and effort that God put into creating our world…which made it seem so special and wonderful. Dr. Young was always careful to remind us that the Bible is not a science book, but that faith and science can be integrated: one can strengthen the other and vice versa.” This busy physician is also a supportive pastor’s wife and mother of two active girls. Her calling to serve through medicine has resulted in a career that is, in her own words, “very gratifying but challenging.” When asked what compels her to excellence in “transmitting knowledge to succeeding generations” she responded, “The women of Oklahoma deserve the best; educating the next generation of caregivers is one way to ensure they receive excellent care in a world where race, ethnicity, gender or socioeconomic status can influence outcomes. Also, teaching is fun. Seeing your learners succeed, whether it is on a test or by giving excellent patient care or performing a procedure perfectly, is always a reason to be excited.” ■
KATIE SMITH WITH HER FAMILY: HUSBAND JASON (’02) AND DAUGHTERS MCCALL AND BERKLEY
“IT IS MY RESPONSIBILITY TO GIVE BACK, KNOWING THAT ALL OF LIFE IS A GIFT AND THAT MY SUCCESSES ARE A PRODUCT OF HIS GRACE AND MERCY.”
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Finding Success Online
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here are plenty of reasons why someone might want to earn their degree online: convenience, the ability to study anywhere, time management, and more. For Jordan Hernandez (’19), online education made it possible to complete his degree while pursuing a life-changing career opportunity. When Jordan enrolled at SNU as an adult Organizational Leadership student, he worked full-time and went to classes one evening a week at SNU’s Del City, OK campus. “I considered other colleges; however, I liked SNU’s approach the best,” Hernandez said. “As a working professional, I felt that SNU was best suited to help me succeed.” But, after completing almost half of his classes in-person, life changed. He was offered a position in Utah, which he readily accepted, and he and his wife also had their first child. Despite these stressful life changes, Jordan was committed to completing his degree. Because SNU offered his degree program online, it gave him the opportunity to finish strong without worrying about transferring credits, finding a new degree program, or adjusting to a new university. Instead of going to class one night a week, his life took on a new routine with time for family pluse the ability to focus on his job during the day, and commit his evenings to study and assignments. “On Tuesdays,” Hernandez added, “I would work on homework from five to midnight and complete most of my assignments.” Jordan found that studying some throughout the week, along with focusing solely on his education Tuesday evenings, allowed him to spread the workload and complete the bulk of the work without getting overwhelmed. Going from studying in-person to online requires some changes in perspective and skills. One of the main differences Hernandez noted was the increased need for reading. “The biggest difference with the in-person class is that you had to come prepared to speak and work with the group,” Hernandez said. “With the online format, you had to be prepared to present those same ideas in a written format.” He noted that connecting with classmates in an online class had to be more intentional than for an in-person class, but the benefits of internet classes were perfect for his situation. With Hernandez’s experience in both online and in-person programs, he was in a unique place to compare and contrast. The biggest advice he has for someone considering an online education is to look at their skills and lifestyle. “Ask yourself if you can spend a few hours just reading about different subjects online,” Hernandez suggested. “Can you commit to your studies after getting off work or are you done for the day? If you can do those types of things, online is a great option.” Thanks to online education and plenty of hard work, Hernandez graduated with his bachelor’s degree in Organizational Leadership and was accepted into an online MBA program. Jordan Hernandez is just one of hundreds of online success stories at SNU. Find out more about earning a degree online - explore our online options. We’re here to help you find the right match for your circumstances that will get you where you want to go! ■ BRIDGE.SNU.EDU/ALUMNI
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A l u m n i Ne w s & U pd a te s
PROFESSIONAL UPDATES
YOUNG DERRICK GILLIS
“But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.” MATTHEW 23:11
We proudly serve the SNU Veteran and Military Community by assisting them with their benefits, involvement, integration, growth, and connection with the SNU Family. Visit pgs.snu.edu/veterans for more information about degree programs for Veterans.
For in every adult dwells the child that was. and in every child there lies the adult that will be. Adversity is just a phase yet what you experience through childhood is too. What sets you apart from others is how you accept reality for what it is, due to God establishing a path that is only set for you. That path is your destiny, and that destiny is your future. Since I was a kid I have been told leaders are not born, they are made but what you do in the process of establishing a leader mentality, and presence appears through actions. Be more fearless, believe in yourself, and lastly go hard to whatever it is that you want in life. Derrick M. Gillis, MBA (’20) Second Lieutenant, U.S. Army snu.edu/rotc
JUSTIN KENDRICK (‘04) Formerly Vice President of Operations for Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center, was named Senior Vice President and CEO of Memorial Hermann The Woodlands Medical Center and Memorial Hermann Northeast Hospital. PAM PRYOR (‘74) Recently named as acting Assistant Secretary for International Organization Affairs. She oversees U.S. engagement at the United Nations as well as other international organizations while leading a diverse team of foreign service and civil service professionals. DARWIN SPEICHER (‘73) Recently became Executive Pastor of Worship & Leadership at Kansas City First Church of the Nazarene in Kansas City, MO. DR. BARBIE (MCCLUNG (’92) STANFORD Recently received her Doctor of Education in Literacy degree from Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, TX. DR. BRIAN STEPHENS (‘93) After spending 18 years in private practice as an OB/ Gynecologist, Brian took a job serving the Native American population at the Claremore Indian Clinic in Claremore, OK in January of 2020. Brian was recently featured in the CMDA (Christian Medical and Dental Association) national newsletter for his testimony before the MO legislature regarding a heartbeat bill protecting the lives of the unborn.
MARRIAGES AIMEE HILL (‘97) married BRIAN MURDERS on Oct. 29, 2019
DANIELLE ROUSE (‘16) married BEN WOODWARD on Mar. 7, 2020
JONATHAN TESTON (‘21) married STEPHANIE BRESTLE (‘21) on Jun. 6, 2020
TRISTA MAE LEGRANDE (‘20) married JACOB THOMASON (‘20) on Jun. 18, 2020
GRAYSON BRANT (‘20) married CHLOE GEORGE (‘21) on Jul. 11, 2020
ROB GREER (‘20) married MELANIE VALDEZ (‘18) on Jul. 26, 2020
DRAVEN ADKINS (‘22) married KIMMY CARROLL (‘22) on Jul. 30, 2020
S N U Ve t s C e n t e r | 4 2 0 0 N . P e n i e l A v e . | B e t h a n y, O k l a h o m a 7 3 0 0 8 | 4 0 5 . 7 1 7. 6 2 9 9 30
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FAMILY ADDITIONS Emilia Grace Kazanecki (Daughter) Apr. 27, 2020 Parents—JACOB (‘17) AND CATHERINE BRIGGS (‘17) KOZANECKI Tate Kobel Drake (Son) May 13, 2020 Parents—SCOTT AND LEANN WORLEY(‘01) DRAKE Juniper Louise Thompson (Daughter) Jun. 19, 2020 Parents—CORBY (‘05, MA’12) AND SARAH STUBBS (‘05) THOMPSON
Oliver Wesley Baker (Son) Aug. 18, 2020 Parents—CLAY (‘15) AND JULIA YARBROUGH (‘11) BAKER
ROSE “MURLENE” (BELCHER) ROHLMEIER (‘60) Jan. 21, 1938—Jul. 12, 2020 Lavaca, AR
REV. GARY R. YARBERRY (‘83) Nov. 14, 1955—Aug. 19, 2020 Gulfport, MS
Nolyn Everly Hattler (Daughter) Sep. 2, 2020 Parents—TYLER (‘16) AND HAYLEY BROWN (‘17) HATTLER
LYNN (BURNETT) OWEN (‘69) Oct. 7, 1947—Jul. 22, 2020 Fairfax, VA
DORIS (BOND) KEHR (‘55) Jan. 16, 1933—Aug. 21, 2020 Olathe, KS
DR. J. MICHAEL CRABTREE (‘72) Nov. 11, 1949—Jul. 29, 2020 Bethany, OK
REV. TERRY ROEDIGER (‘73) Apr. 24, 1949—Aug. 22, 2020 Burleson, TX
IN MEMORY JANE (BOHANNAN) RIGGINS (‘61) May 6, 1939—June 17, 2020 Bethany, OK
Ella Beth Burton (Daughter) Jun. 22, 2020 Parents—ETHAN AND SARAH PRIVOTT (‘11) BURTON
WILLIAM A. MCNABB (‘59) Nov. 11, 1930—Jun. 30, 2020 Pasadena, TX
Harrison Ellen Hobson (Daughter) Jun. 29, 2020 Parents—CAMERON (‘14) AND RACHEL (‘16) HOBSON
JANE (JOHNSON) THOMPSON (‘59) Mar. 28, 1939—Jul. 3, 2020 Kingwood, TX
Oakley Knox Chesney (Son) Jul. 2, 2020 Parents—COLE AND TAWNEY EDWARDS (‘08) CHESNEY
REV. BILLY “REX” LUDWIG (‘61) Dec. 4, 1939—Jul. 8, 2020 Oklahoma City, OK
Gracie Kay Miller (Daughter) Jul. 29, 2020 Parents—ETHAN AND KAYLA THOMPSON (’14) MILLER
ABBY (MOSSHART) BROBSTON (‘05) Feb. 23, 1983—Aug. 13, 2020 Oklahoma City, OK
MARY FRANCES (NEAL) GASSETT (‘55) Sep. 23, 1933—Jul. 11, 2020 Yukon, OK
CLASS REUNIONS 1970 1980 1990 1995 2000 2010 2020
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