Seven New Alumni Board Members

Seven graduates will serve three-year terms on the Eastern Alumni Board of Directors beginning July 1, 2010. They include Janet Ainsworth, Portales; Kurt Hixson, San Antonio, Texas; David Jenkins, Muleshoe, Texas; Draco Miller, Portales; Terry Othick, Albuquerque; Sarah Pelley, Amarillo, Texas; and Thomas Poole, Washington, DC. The new members were selected at the board’s winter meeting in Ruidoso following nominations submitted by ENMU graduates and friends.

Janet Ainsworth (BS72 MS93) is retired from Portales Municipal Schools. She was a special education teacher in Bledsoe, Texas, as well as Dora and an educational diagnostician in Clovis and Portales. She was a member of the Zeta Tau Alpha sorority at ENMU. Jan was a member of the Milnesand Community Center for 20 years and wrote a community block development grant.

Kurt Hixson (BS96) has been in the marketing business for 13 years. Kurt is working at MDI, Incorporated in San Antonio, Texas, where he manages all aspects of marketing communications. MDI, Inc. is a publicly traded NASDAQ company. As a student, he served as director of public relations for the Associated Students of ENMU. Kurt serves as marketing communications director for the Mexican American School Board Association.

David Jenkins (BBE69 MBE74 EAC78) is the public relations director for the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life in Muleshoe, Texas. He serves on the Muleshoe Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture Board and is vice president of the Muleshoe Country Club Board. He was a secondary school administrator for 24 years in Portales and Muleshoe. David was honored as the Texas Classroom Teachers Association’s Administrator of the Year.

Draco Miller (BS04 MS06) is an instructor in the Health and Physical Education Department at ENMU. He is the screen and run coordinator for the Greyhound football team offensive line and serves as a recruiter and the team’s travel coordinator. While at Eastern, Draco played for the 1999 and 2000 Lone Star Conference South Division football championship teams. He serves as a public school and college mentor in Portales.

Terry Othick (BBA68 MBA70) is the executive director of operations for the Los Lunas School District where he is responsible for the management and oversight of information technology, student nutrition services, transportation and maintenance and construction. He served as division director and chief information officer for the Department of Workforce Solutions. While employed at the University of New Mexico, Terry served as project manager for a major software upgrade of the SunGard HE Banner application.

Sarah Pelley (BS04) is an associate attorney for Mullin Hoard & Brown, LLP in Amarillo, Texas. While at ENMU, she was a member of P.A.D. Pre-Law Fraternity and served as justice of University Supreme Court. Sarah completed her Juris Doctor at Baylor University School of Law. She is a board member for the Amarillo Montessori Academy.

Thomas Poole (BME65) is currently the vocal coach for the United States Army Soloists in the Military Chorus in Washington, DC. He is a retired full professor from the University of Northern Colorado where he was the department chair for the College of Performing and Visual Arts. He has had concert performances in 14 countries on 4 continents. Thomas was also the chair for the George Umberson Choral Room Dedication Fundraising at ENMU.

Eight directors are continuing on the board. Current board members re-elected to three-year terms include Suzi Cammon, Jose Castanon, Sara Hall, Buster Hodges, Shannon Osborne, Rita Skinner, Gary Tonjes and Al Whitehead.