MAGAZINE EASTERN NEW MEXICO UNIVERSITY
Rock ‘n’ Roll Doctor
Dr. Gizelka David-West
DECEMBER 2O23
Green&Silver
Green&Silver MAGAZINE
Features
EASTERN NEW MEXICO UNIVERSITY
04 Dr. Gizelka David-West: Rock ‘n’ Roll Doctor 07
Remembering Major Ron Milam
08 2023 Homecoming Honorees 11
Desiray Anderson’s Career Dream Changed for the Better
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Dr. Gay Su Pinnell Education Building Dedication
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One Family’s ENMU Tradition
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Storytelling Leads to Educational Text by Dr. Susan Bennett
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Dr. Bob Schneider is ENMU’s Veteran Champion
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Dr. Tracy Carr Named Among Oboe Elite
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ENMU Athletics News
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Class Notes: People You May Know
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Class Notes: In Memory December 2023 Publication Managing Editor Noelle Bartl Design Editor Todd Fuqua Contributing Editors Shaun Banther, Gwyneth Cappel, Victoria Carman, Kemet Gatchell Writers and Contributors ENMU Communication Services, Noelle Bartl, Todd Fuqua, Kemet Gatchell, John Houser, Grant McGee, Sean Patterson, Times Remembered Photography, Zoe Winfield New address, questions, comments or story ideas? Contact the ENMU Foundation toll-free at 888.291.5524 or enmu.foundation@enmu.edu. Looking for a past issue? View all past issues of the Green & Silver Magazine online at enmu.edu/Magazine
Green & Silver | December 2023
Photo by Kemet Gatchell
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FROM THE PRESIDENT Dear Greyhound Family, By the time you read this letter, I will have reached my one-year mark as a Greyhound. I promise to stop marking time as we continue our years together, but it is important to note the milestones of a first year. What a year it has been! Stephanie and I have experienced the events and activities of ENMU through the fall and spring semesters. We found a wonderfully engaged student body, faculty and staff, alumni, and community around rich culture and traditions. We are grateful for everyone who makes the University and community special. We have several activities in progress on campus. The most expansive is my vision and initiative to continue ENMU on a path of growth and innovation called One Eastern. There are a number of elements involved that will be achieved in three phases. Overall, the goal is for ENMU and the ENMU System to be “Your higher education resource…for life…” to be that place to begin your career, enhance your career, change your career, or provide life enrichment courses. I will share our successes and progress on this initiative in future issues of this letter. Here, too, I will say how grateful I am for all who have embraced this initiative and are working hard to see it come to life. Many of you have heard me use the word “family” regularly and often regarding ENMU. I come from an extensive family, and family is important to me. As I reflect on this past semester, from Dawg Days to the Holidays and all the beautiful experiences of the year, I hope you have time this holiday season to spend time with family and friends. Stephanie and I wish you the very best of the holiday season and the beginning of the new year. Thank you to all who helped make this a very successful year and for welcoming us to the Greyhound Family. All the best, and GO HOUNDS!
James Johnston, Ph.D. President and Chancellor
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ROCK ‘N’ ROLL DOCTOR
By Todd Fuqua
Dr. Gizelka David-West (BS 04) strives to heal body and soul in the clinic and on stage. Treating cancer and fronting a rock band might seem unrelated, but Dr. David-West has combined them to be an inspiring healer of both body and soul. Dr. David-West is a gynecologic oncologist for Phelps and Northern Westchester hospitals, part of Northwell Health, the largest healthcare provider in New York State. She specializes in surgical and medical management of cancers arising in the reproductive tract and complex noncancerous and pre-invasive conditions. What sets Dr. David-West apart is her commitment to providing a whole-person approach to the care of her patients, knowing that the therapy for patients goes far beyond physical well-being. “I’m heavily involved in the additional care and treatment the patients need before and after surgery,” Dr. David-West said. “It takes a lot of time, but it’s very fulfilling. We follow all our patients from diagnosis through their treatments, survivorship, and for many years to the end of their lives. We help connect the dots to ensure that the cancer is being treated and that the person receives the supportive care they need. A cancer diagnosis is life-altering, and having continuity of care and a focus on wellness in that journey is essential to my patients.” Dr. David-West’s surgical expertise, holistic and compassionate care, and commitment to the community she serves have earned her recognition on several prestigious physician lists. She is also dedicated to raising awareness and education about gynecologic cancers, stating, “We need to go into communities and educate our most vulnerable populations and make them aware of the many resources available for prevention and treatment.” That makes Dr. David-West’s other calling seem natural.
Rock ‘N’ Roll Doctors Since 2019, Dr. David-West has been the lead singer for No Evidence of Disease (N.E.D.), a band named for the “three words every cancer patient wants to hear,” according to the band’s website nedtheband.com. The five band members are gynecologic oncology surgeons from across the country. Since starting the band in 2009, N.E.D. has released two full albums and was featured in the 2013 documentary “No Evidence of Disease: 6 GYN Surgeons On a Mission to Save Women’s Lives.” Their music is available through Spotify, iTunes and Amazon, including their latest single, “Life as it Was,” featuring guitarist Tom Morello of the band Rage Against the Machine. (continued page 6)
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(Dr. David-West, continued from Page 5)
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“The band came about as an outlet for patients and doctors,” Dr. David-West said of N.E.D. “Cancer has a ribbon, OBGYN cancer has a band. I knew the bassist (Dr. Robert Burger from the University of Pennsylvania) from a previous conference. We all meshed and connected, and it was a way for me to bring back my musical talent and incorporate it into my profession. I’ve sung my whole life, and it disconnects you from the routine and stress of life.”
The ultimate mission of the band is to spread awareness of and education about OBGYN cancers. Initially, the CDs all came with a pamphlet detailing the band’s mission, which can now be found online Cancer survivors join No Evidence of Disease (N.E.D) on stage during a show. Survivors are encouraged to participate during concerts and share at nedtheband.com. N.E.D. has performed at numerous events, medical conferences, and local clubs and even partnered with the National Basketball Association.
their stories.
“We play all original music written by the band and an occasional cover song or two.” Dr. David-West said. “Corporations tend to hire us, and we perform at all types of venues, not only at medical conferences.”
School of Opportunities Dr. David-West was born in Nigeria and moved to New York, New York, with her family when she was nine. As the daughter of an academic family, she visited many parts of the United States before transferring to ENMU in 2002 when her father, Dr. Haig David-West, took a professorship and was named chair of the ENMU visual arts department. She credits several life-changing experiences presented to her while studying at ENMU, including being hired as a President’s Ambassador, where she recruited future
students to attend ENMU. She also took a summer internship at the Office of the Medical Investigator at the UNM Health Sciences Center in Albuquerque, New Mexico. It was an experience her Eastern professors worked hard to provide. “That was something that had not been done before at ENMU. That they got it all set up for me is a testament to the dedication of the faculty,” Dr. David-West said. “There was overwhelming support at ENMU. They guided, supported and motivated me to help get me where I wanted to go. There were no major barriers or limitations.”
Drawn to Patient Care While in Albuquerque, she was inspired to explore patient care further. But the field of gynecological oncology wasn’t Dr. David-West’s first calling. “When I started med school (at the University of Miami), I thought I’d do forensic pathology. But then I was introduced to women’s health through various clinics we offered at the school,” Dr. David-West said. “One of the clinics served at-risk communities in the Miami area.” “I was exposed to a variety of disciplines,” she added. “The more engaged with patients and specialists in the field, the more I was drawn to it,” she said. Now, as a rockin’ gynecological oncologist, Dr. DavidWest said she’s inspired by reactions to N.E.D. from fans and patients.
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“When my patients find out I’m in a band, they get excited. It gives them something to be happy about while they deal with a cancer diagnosis hanging over their heads,” she said. “A patient came to one of our shows to share her story. The concert was a highlight for her amid the struggles.”
Dr. Gizelka David-West, second from left, with fellow gynocologists and No Evidence of Disease (N.E.D.) bandmates at a recent concert.
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“It’s feel-good music and a feel-good environment,” she added. “That’s another purpose of the band, to find the positive light in all of this. It’s motivational to see other long-term survivors come to these shows and share their stories.”
A Hero’s Remembrance
By Todd Fuqua
Twenty-two years after the tragic events of Sept. 11, 2001, took the life of Major Ron Milam (BUS 91) at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., the esteemed alumnus was honored in a ceremony attended by family and dignitaries.
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New Mexico State Senator Stuart Ingle, sponsor of the legislative resolution, captured the gravity of the moment, expressing, “We pass things sometimes on the Senate floor that are truly meaningful, and this is one of them. The mission is here to recognize and acknowledge the sacrifice of Major Ron Dutrell Milam.” The ceremony featured the presentation of the New Mexico State resolution to Ron’s family and announced permanently endowing the Major Ronald D. Milam Memorial Scholarship. Thanks to the support from the ENMU Greyhound Club contributions and memorial gifts received since 2001, the scholarship has already impacted 14 students with a total disbursement of $35,800. To continue this vital tribute, the ENMU Foundation Board of Directors allocated an additional Former New Mexico State Senator Stuart Ingle, left, reads the New Mexico State Resolution honoring the memory and sacrifice of ENMU Alumni, Major Ronald D. Milam, as Ron’s brother Steven, father Tommy and mother Effie look on.
ENMU Athletics
The spotlight of the occasion shone on two significant resolutions — one from the State Major Ron Milam of New Mexico Senate and the other from the ENMU Board of Regents — formally recognizing and celebrating Ron Milam’s impactful life.
Steven Milam reflects on his brother, Major Ron Milam, during the ceremony held in the Campus Union Ballroom on the ENMU Campus.
$25,000 in February 2023, transforming the scholarship into a permanent endowed fund. Donations to honor Major Milam’s legacy can be made at enmu.edu/Donate. His brother Steve Milam reflected on Ron’s character, saying, “If you asked him to do something, Ron would do it. He was in that meeting in the Pentagon on that day because that’s where God wanted him to be.” Despite the persistent grief, Steve found solace in recognizing his brother on Eastern’s campus, stating, “Ron was so much more than my big brother. He was a father figure and all-around inspiration to me.” Earl Diddle, Ron’s coach at Panhandle State and ENMU, shared fond memories, recalling Ron’s determination and motivation. “He was a quirky guy, but he knew what he had to do to motivate people,” said Coach Diddle. Even after Ron’s graduation and military service, he remained connected, offering guidance to his former coach and teammates. Coach Diddle expressed the privilege of honoring Ron’s legacy, “To do something like this is a real privilege, and I wouldn’t have missed it for the world. He would have been a great coach, but he loved the discipline of the military and was good at it.” The enduring resonance of Major Ron Milam’s story, marked by these resolutions and a dedicated scholarship, ensures that his legacy will continue to inspire and uplift the ENMU community.
ENMU Communication Services
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Photo by Todd Fuqua
2023 HOMECOMING HONOREES
BUSINESS OF THE YEAR
Honorees at this year’s Homecoming breakfast were (L-R) Dr. Corey Cole and Dr. Bob Schneider representing the ENMU College of Business, Dr. Michael W. Moffitt, Pam Richards, Jim Thrash, Dr. Sandra Williamson, and Patrick Lucero of the Xcel Energy Foundation.
EDUCATOR HALL OF HONORS
PAM RICHARDS
The Xcel Energy and the Xcel Energy Foundation have contributed over $108,000 to various ENMU programs. Since 2002, the Xcel Energy Foundation primarily focused its annual $5,000 grants on the ENMU Alliance for Minority Participation (AMP) Program, awarding over $82,000 to STEM-based minority students enrolled at Eastern New Mexico University. In 2022, the Xcel Energy Foundation granted $4.4 million to 426 nonprofits, 43 percent of which went toward working on diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. Xcel Energy and the Xcel Energy Foundation have also generously supported other ENMU programs, including KENW-TV public television, student-athletics, the Alumni Affairs golf tourmnament, and scholarships. Through its Foundation, Xcel Energy donates millions of dollars that address needs unique to the communities in the eight states where Xcel Energy serves. In 2022, 15 New Mexico organizations received $100,000 from the Xcel Energy Foundation. The Xcel Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization that awards charitable grants to nonprofit organizations and sponsors the volunteer programs of Xcel Energy and its subsidiaries. The majority of Xcel Energy Foundation funding comes from Xcel Energy shareholder dollars.
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While attending ENMU, Pam Richards (BS 76) worked in New Student Relations and played basketball with the first ENMU women’s team. In addition to having her name commemorated on a plaque, she also had a name change. Pam met and married the love of her life – Lecil Richards – while at Eastern. Pam and Lecil moved to Lovington, New Mexico, to begin their education careers. Pam taught English and enthusiastically coached a variety of sports. Fort Sumner schools successfully recruited Pam, Lecil, and their boys. Always an advocate for students, Pam created the highly successful student leadership program “Youth to Youth” while in Fort Sumner She retired from teaching in 2011 but remains highly active in educational initiatives across the state. Pam Richards touched thousands of lives in her 34 years of service. She is an exemplary model of dedication, enthusiasm, and encouragement. She notes, “I loved being with students and miss it every day.”
PHILANTHROPIST OF THE YEAR
DR. SANDRA C. WILLIAMSON During her 26 years in the University of Northern Iowa (UNI) Athletics Department, Dr. Sandra Williamson (MS ED 69, BS 64) was at the forefront of amazing change and growth for women’s sports and advocated for women’s equality in athletics.
She was hired in 1978 as UNI’s associate director and director of women’s programs. In 1992, Dr. Williamson became the senior woman administrator, holding that position until her retirement in 2004. She served in many volunteer leadership roles for the AIAW Indoor Track and Field Championships, NCAA Tournaments, and Missouri Valley Conference Athletic Administrators. In 2009, Dr. Williamson updated her estate plans to include the ENMU Foundation as a beneficiary. Six years later, in 2015, Dr. Williamson established the Dr. Sandra C. Williamson Endowed Scholarship in Physical Education. To date, she has contributed over $58,000 to her scholarship, benefitting 12 female ENMU students. The endowment will continue to award scholarships for many years to come. Over the years, Dr. Williamson contributed to a number of volunteer organizations, including serving as a member of the Foundation Board of a hospital in Cedar Falls, Iowa, volunteering at the Stonecroft Christian women’s organization, countless food banks, the Salvation Army, and an all-woman Habitat for Humanity construction team. She earned the American Red Cross Humanitarian Award in 1975.
VOLUNTEERS OF THE YEAR EASTERN NEW MEXICO UNIVERSITY
While the College of Business faculty and students provide these services free of charge, the tax preparation service also allows the students to gain firsthand experience with tax rebate filing while the faculty earn volunteer hours serving their fellow community members.
tax services offered to the community focus primarily College of Business “The on individual tax returns,” explained Dr. Corey Cole The ENMU College of Business provides student-focused business education to prepare individuals for professional careers, graduate studies, and lifelong learning. Most may not know that the College of Business exceeded traditional expectations for the past seventeen years by providing free tax services to many Roosevelt County citizens, including senior citizens, as part of their partnership with the local AARP branch. The College of Business volunteers offer their expertise to prepare between more than 250 tax returns annually.
(MBA 13, BBA 12), assistant professor of finance and tax preparation site coordinator, “Every year, our certified students are exposed to new challenges, and since they’re supervised by College of Business faculty, they can problem solve in a learning environment while helping others.” Since 2018, the service has processed an estimated $676,000 in net refunds to Roosevelt County residents. It proudly offers its free services to those who meet the basic requirements and can offer the services to Spanishspeaking customers with a bilingual member on-site to assist.
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2023 HOMECOMING HONOREES OUTSTANDING ALUMNUS AWARD
OUTSTANDING ALUMNUS AWARD
JIM THRASH
DR. MICHAEL W. MOFFITT
Jim Thrash (BS 69) earned a basketball scholarship and played for legendary coach Harry Miller (BA 51) on two highly successful teams. After ENMU, Jim coached junior varsity and varsity boys basketball for seven years at Manzano High School in Albuquerque, New Mexico. During Jim’s tenure, the Monarchs compiled a 141-31 record, won seven district titles and two State Championships, and Jim won a Coach of the Year award.
Dr. Michael W. Moffitt (BS 68) earned a dental surgery doctorate in 1972 from Baylor University College of Dentistry. Dr. Moffitt served in the U.S. Navy Reserve for two years at Camp Pendleton, California. After his time in the Navy, Dr. Moffitt received specialized training at the University of Missouri in prosthetic dentistry, where he taught as an assistant professor, and received his certification as a specialist in prosthodontics in 1976.
The following year, Jim was an assistant coach at Fresno State University in California, helping lead the Bulldogs to four Pacific Coast Athletic Conference championships, three NCAA tourney berths, and an NIT Championship. Five players Jim recruited were drafted and had successful NBA careers.
He and his wife Reba (attended) relocated their family to Eagle Grove, Iowa. They founded a dental practice where he built an extensive referral business renowned for its exceptional cosmetic and implant restorative work. In 2022, Dr. Moffitt reached the 50-year milestone in the dentistry profession. He is semi-retired but continues to see patients seeking his specialized skills. He is a prosthetic advisor for 55 dentists with the Iowa Academy of Comprehensive Dentistry.
Jim later coached for the highly successful College of Southern Idaho. In his second year, the Golden Eagles compiled a 28-4 record, won the Scenic West Athletic Conference championship, and Jim was named Conference Coach of the Year. While Jim was coaching at Purdue University, the Boilermakers made it to the NCAA Men’s Sweet 16 and, in his second year, made it to the Elite Eight. Jim then became an NBA talent scout for the Golden State Warriors and later the Charlotte Hornets with owner Michael Jordan. Jim spent eight years with the Hornets, scouting approximately 100 games per year. Jim concluded his scouting career with the Atlanta Hawks but still welcomes calls from NBA personnel about college basketball prospects.
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Dr. Moffitt has been a leader in Iowa’s organized dentistry, serving on the Iowa Dental Association board and chairing three councils. He was a lead in 20 Mission of Mercy events in three states helping to provide over $18 million in free dentistry, and was honored as Iowa’s specialist of the year in 2019 for his donated dentistry. He has also appeared as a speaker at dental meetings for many years.
A Dream Redefined Desiray Anderson (BS 19) is pursuing a career she never envisioned
By Sean Patterson and Todd Fuqua
Editors Note: This is a revised story version initially appearing on the George Fox University website. Sometimes, the dream you’ve held onto your entire life isn’t necessarily what will bring you fulfillment. Just ask Desiray Anderson.
From there, she was attracted to ENMU thanks to her family. Her uncle – ENMU Director of Enrollment Services Cody Spitz (MED 10, BBA 99) – and mother, Shonna Spitz (attended), are former students. Coming to Eastern meant coming home for Desiray.
Change of Heart It all seemed so clear that a career in athletics was Desiray’s destined path when she began training as a PT student at George Fox University in Newberg, Oregon, in the fall of 2019. “When I got there, I was all about sports,” she said. “That was my identity for as long as I can remember.” Her decision to change came partly due to a conversation with a professor at George Fox, who mentored her and encouraged her as she wrestled with the difficult decision to give up her lifelong dream of working in athletics. “He sat down and had coffee with me several times, and we even cried together in conversations surrounding this tough decision to let go of everything I knew for what I could become,” she said. “At the bottom of all his emails to me, he wrote, ‘The important thing is this: to be able, at any moment, to sacrifice what we are for what we could become.’ I continue to read and be inspired by this daily.”
A Rewarding Career Desiray had to inform her clinical education team at George Fox that she changed her mind about a career course and would not participate in a clinical rotation at a top-quality sports performance training facility. Her doubts subsided when she made a medical service trip to the African nation of Uganda as part of the program. “It was a chance to serve a population different from the athletes I had been working with and to get more experience,” Desiray said. “There were a lot of free healthcare and physical therapy clinics, and we saw patient after patient, giving care and advice.” She also performed a rotation at the University of New Mexico Hospital in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and Gallup Indian
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She began playing volleyball at age 6, was later a three-sport athlete in high school, and an ENMU Greyhound volleyball player in college. Desiray had her sights set on a career helping athletes train and improve performance. The passion to do so was sparked by her high school basketball coach, a physical therapist, who introduced her to physical therapy (PT) through a one-month job-shadowing assignment.
Desiray Anderson, right, celebrating a child’s progress during a medical service trip to Uganda.
Medical Center in Gallup, New Mexico. She helped underserved populations in both cases and felt drawn to that need. One example came in Gallup when Desiray encountered a young person with a neurological condition that gave them Parkinson’s disease-like symptoms – involuntary movement, shaking, stiffness, and difficulty with balance and coordination. Desiray, wishing to prescribe effective and practical treatment, suggested an unorthodox solution: riding a horse with the help of her clinical instructor. “We reached out to an organization in New Mexico that allows people to ride horses therapeutically,” she explained, “and it worked out well for the patient, who was happy to do something they enjoyed. I’m always trying to come up with exercises that are meaningful and functional to the patient.” Desiray works at Providence St. Mary Medical Center in Walla Walla, Washington, where she did her final clinical rotation. The clinic focuses on giving patients a more direct route to the care they need without bouncing them from doctor to doctor and hospital to hospital. There is also a commitment to using PT pro-actively to treat chronic pain rather than as a reactive treatment for a specific injury. “We want to keep people from a lot of unnecessary work and spare them the runaround,” she said. “Something like back pain can be helped with simple exercises, and the patients love how much that works for them.” Desiray’s career may have changed, but she is truly living out her dream – even though it looks a lot different than the dream she originally envisioned. “With PT, you’re able to spend so much more time with patients and to dive into their lives,” she says. “You don’t just see your patients for 30 minutes before kicking them out the door. As physical therapists, we get to know our patients as we develop an environment of trust. I want to give back and be a part of something bigger than myself. That’s healthcare.”
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Legacy Giving
Empower the Future With the ENMU Foundation Unlock the potential of tomorrow by supporting the ENMU Foundation through legacy giving. As you consider your end-of-the-year charitable gifts, please also consider making a lasting impact by exploring these easy ways to contribute without affecting your current financial situation.
Beneficiary Updates:
Charitable Bequests:
• Designate the ENMU Foundation as a beneficiary of your life insurance policy. • Update your retirement accounts (IRA, 401(k), etc.) to include ENMU Foundation as a beneficiary.
• Include ENMU Foundation in your will, leaving a percentage or specific amount to support future generations.
Transfer on Death (TOD): • Choose ENMU Foundation as the recipient through TOD on your bank accounts, investments, or real estate.
Appreciated Stock Donation:
Charitable Gift Annuities: • Provide a gift that gives back with a charitable gift annuity, receiving fixed payments for life.
Real Estate Gifts: • Donate residential or commercial property to ENMU Foundation for a meaningful contribution.
IRA Charitable Rollover:
• Gift stocks or securities to the ENMU Foundation • If you’re 70½ or older, make tax-free and enjoy potential tax advantages. distributions of up to $100,000 directly from your IRA to ENMU Foundation.
Contact us to discuss your legacy gift, or go online at ENMUGIFT.org to learn more, download brochures, and access user-friendly online tools. Your enduring support transforms lives and builds a brighter future. Together, we shape the legacy of ENMU for the next chapter.
EASTERN NEW MEXICO UNIVERSITY 888.291.5524 enmugift.org
575.562.2412 Noelle.Bartl@enmu.edu
A Fitting Tribute to an Education Theorist By Todd Fuqua and Noelle Bartl
College of Education Building Named for Dr. Gay Su Pinnell Editor’s Note: This arcticle originally ran in the Eastern New Mexico News in August.
Photo by Kemet Gatchell
It’s not every day a building on the ENMU campus is named for an actual human being. Many rooms and areas are named for them – Buchanan Hall in the Music Building, Dallan Sanders Pavilion behind the Campus Union Building, and Becky Sharp Auditorium in the College of Business. But there have been only two entire buildings named for important people: The Golden Student Success Center, named for legendary university president Floyd Golden and his wife Elsie in 1983, and the Jack Williamson Liberal Arts Building (JWLA), re-christened in 1995. As of Aug. 24, 2023, there are now three. On that day, the Education Building – erected in 1969 – got a new name when it was re-dedicated as the Dr. Gay Su Pinnell Education Building. All three of these dedications make sense. Dr. Golden was the longest-tenured president in the school’s history, having served in that position from 1941 to 1960. In that time, he guided Eastern as it transitioned from a community college to a four-year university and the expansion of the campus with the construction of seven new facilities. Dr. Golden’s influence extended far beyond the physical campus, of course, as he was a tireless champion of ENMU and was dedicated to establishing it as the preeminent regional university in eastern New Mexico.
Dr. Gay Su Pinnell (center, in green), cuts the ceremonial ribbon with ENMU Chancellor Dr. James Johnston at the dedication of the Dr. Gay Su Pinnell Education Building. Left to right: Roosevelt County Chamber of Commerce Director Karl Terry, ENMU Foundation Director Noelle Bartl, ENMU Regent Lance Pyle, ENMU First Lady Stephanie Johnston, Dr. Johnston, Dr. Pinnell and her husband Jeff Forster, and ENMU Education Dean Dr. Lee Hurran.
Jack Williamson needs no introduction, at least not to those well-versed in science fiction and its history. Dr. Williamson was a prolific writer, getting his start in the pulp magazines so prevalent in the 1930s and eventually writing many books and inspiring countless readers and writers to this day. He was also a dedicated professor, still teaching at 87 years of age when the JWLA was dedicated.
Dr. Gay Su Pinnell (BA 66) is a Portales native, graduating from ENMU with an education degree in 1966 and teaching in the School of Teaching and Learning at the Ohio State University. She is a professor emeritus at OSU, is a member of the Reading Hall of Fame, and was inducted into the ENMU Educator Hall of Honor in 2014. She is best known for her work with Irene Fountas on literacy and guided reading, laying the groundwork for the Fountas and Pinnell reading levels. She is also a generous donor to her Alma Mater. Earlier this year, she established the university’s second endowed chair in education – officially known as the Professor Gay Su Pinnell Endowed Chair for the Literacy and Language Education of Young
Children – with a $1 million contribution. She has also contributed as much to ENMU’s College of Education and Technology Coteaching Project and more than $310,000 to enhance the Child Development Center facility. In 2017, Dr. Pinnell purchased Casa Del Sol, the adobe home designed by John Gaw Meem and located across from the ENMU tennis and pickleball courts, intending to renovate it to host events and dignitaries. It was dedicated in 2022. She was named the ENMU Foundation’s Philanthropist of the Year in 2019 and given the ENMU Alumni Association’s Distinguished Service Award in 2022. In total, Dr. Pinnell has contributed more than $3.18 million to Eastern. Given all she has done for ENMU, naming a building after Dr. Pinnell was the least the university could do for the most significant supporter in the institution’s history. Her contributions will now prepare and inspire many future educators and innovators for decades to come.
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A Family’s History With ENMU
By Todd Fuqua
Since opening its doors as Eastern New Mexico Junior College in 1934, Eastern New Mexico University has considered itself a “family.” The family of brothers Reydecel “Rey” Coss (MA 22, MED 16, BA 13, BS 13) and Adrian Coss (attending) take that moniker seriously. “I have many cousins, and they all came here, but I was the first to attend,” Rey said. “There has to be more than 10 of us, I don’t even know. There are so many.”
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Among the extended family that attends or has attended ENMU is Rey’s nephew Luis Chafino (attending), a United States Marine stationed in Japan and taking classes online, step-brother Kevin Mendiola (BA 22), sister Alondra Coss (AA 21), and cousins Roberto Ponce (BS 16), Jessica Ponce (BA 16), Laura Ponce (MA 22, BS 20) and Angelica Saenz-Fernandez (BSN 16) and her husband Michael Fernandez (MBA 22).
A small portion of the Coss family that considers ENMU as its home. (L-R), Adrian Coss, Reydecel Coss, Sr., Kevin Mendiola, Reydecel “Rey” Coss, Jr., and possible future Greyhound Chevy Coss.
The family journey began when Rey came to Eastern from Hobbs, New Mexico, where his high school agriculture teacher encouraged him to attend ENMU. Rey visited the campus and met Michael O’Connor, an agricultural education instructor at the time. Michael promised Rey that scholarships would allow him to attend Eastern, and Rey was convinced. “I got here and never left,” Rey said. It’s been 10 years since Rey earned his first degree from Eastern, and he’s happy he’s stayed. “At first, I thought I’d be in ag education: Get a degree and go back to Hobbs to teach,” Rey said. “But then I got very active on campus at Eastern. I was student body president for a year. I was a student senator since my freshman year, Homecoming King, and active in Kappa Sigma. I worked in the multicultural affairs office and was a graduate assistant in the campus life office. I just loved the higher education scene here.” Rey loved it so much that he began collecting degrees like some collect stamps or coins. He received two bachelor’s degrees in agricultural science and Spanish – he’s fluent in Spanish – earned two Master’s degrees, one in education and one in counseling, and is currently working on an MBA. “I’m a life-long learner. Education keeps my mind working, and I can pick up new skills and possibilities,” Rey said. “I’m exposed to different perspectives.” That different perspective and experiences have helped Rey in his professional career at ENMU. In addition to being director of campus life, he teaches a first-year experience class for firstyear students, introducing them to the skills and techniques they need to succeed in college. Rey said the actual point of all this education is to be as well-rounded as possible when serving the students.
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“I deal with many students in my job. I can’t take care of all their needs, but I know enough to point them in the right direction,” Rey said. Adrian’s path to Eastern was a bit less direct than his brother’s, having come to Hobbs first from California, where he lived with his mom, and beginning his collegiate career at New Mexico Junior College. Once he had the credits to transfer, he came to ENMU at Rey’s encouragement. “I initially figured I’d go straight into the workforce, but Rey kept trying to convince me to go to college,” Adrian said. “I’ve switched my focus on what I want to do, but now I’m focusing on agricultural science and culinary arts. It’s all about farm-to-table.” Adrian is considering establishing his own food truck to utilize the many recipes he’s learned and perfected in his ENMU culinary arts courses, but knows his future has many possibilities. “I’m still young and want to explore what the world has to offer,” Adrian said. “I’m happy I get my education here at ENMU to prepare me for that journey. It’s given me a solid background in several different fields.” Many other families have history intertwined with ENMU, and many more have yet to journey to Portales. Rey said it’s an easy sell to families like his. “I love the community here and how we interact,” Rey said. “Several students from small schools and communities can relate to this. There are small class sizes, and the professors know you by name.” Adrian concurs. “It’s a wonderful campus,” he said. “Everyone is willing to help each other, and you can’t get that support at a bigger school. I have a great bond with my classmates.”
The Power of Storytelling By Zoe Winfield and Todd Fuqua
Dr. Susan Bassett
In a 50-year career as a nurse and instructor, Dr. Susan Bassett learned the power of storytelling when caring for the ill and afflicted.
U.S. Air Force Nurse Corps, Dr. Bassett saw many different cases and has plenty of stories to share. These stories inspired her book, which discusses the importance of storytelling in nursing school.
She has turned that experience into a book, Spotlighting Narrative Pedagogy in Nursing Education, now available through Cognella Academic Publishing.
After retiring from the Air Force, she started teaching at ENMU and has been here for nine years.
During her years as a nurse practitioner and serving with the
Dr. Bassett believes that storytelling can be beneficial for teaching and on-the-job experience. Bassett knows that nursing can be a physically and emotionally taxing job. It is important to remind people of why they became nurses in the first place.
Eastern’s Veteran Champion By John Houser
ENMU College of Business Dean Dr. Bob Schneider was named one of the 2023 Veteran Champions of the Year in Higher Education by G.I. Jobs Magazine in their fall edition.
day without anyone even knowing they are veterans. Most will say they don’t want special treatment but pay attention to how we act and speak. Remembering that freedom isn’t free is a daily thought for every veteran.”
Being named a Veteran Champion of the Year in Higher Education means that Dr. Schneider is one of the advocates who goes above and beyond to help student veterans and their families succeed in education.
Dr. Schneider, who spent 20 years in the US Army, first as a combat medic, then as a drill sergeant, and later promoted to first sergeant, is involved with the ENMU Student Veteran’s Organization on the ENMU main campus. “We are extremely proud of Dean Schneider as an administrator for receiving this recognition,” said Dr. James Johnston, ENMU Chancellor. “We are also grateful for his military service. ENMU continues its long tradition of being a Military-Friendly University and extends our thank you to all our active-duty military personnel and veterans.”
Dr. Bob Schneider
He was among 40 Higher Education administrators recognized nationwide for being a 2023 Veteran Champion of the Year in Higher Education.
“Our veterans deserve our support. Working in a university that supports veterans is a must for me,” Dr. Schneider said. “Many of the veterans at ENMU function throughout the
Dr. Carr Named Among Oboe Elite In late July 2023, Carr was named a Marigaux Oboe Performing Artist by the Mariguax Paris company. “I am extremely honored and grateful to be part of this group and appreciate Marigaux’s ongoing support for my career.” Carr said.
Times Rememered Photography
Oboist Dr. Tracy Carr, Professor of Music at ENMU, is active as a soloist, chamber musician, orchestral musician, clinician, and educator. As a founding member of Duo and Trio Encantada, Carr has performed in Austria, England, Italy, Spain, and China and has presented at universities worldwide.
Carr’s work with Duo and Trio Encantada allows her to perform with her husband and fellow ENMU music professor, Dr. Mark Dal Porto. They frequently premier and perform works Dr. Dal Porto has composed.
Duo Encantada, Dr. Mark Dal Porto and Dr. Tracy Carr.
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ENMU ATHLETICS NEWS ENMU ATHLETICS HALL OF HONORS 2023 INDUCTEES DANA ALTMAN
KAMAL CASS
KRISTEN CRUICKSHANK
Dana Altman (BBA 80) is one of the top NCAA Men’s Basketball coaches in the nation, and is one of three active coaches with 25 consecutive winning seasons. He is now in his 14th season at the helm of the University of Oregon Ducks, having led his team to a Final Four appearance in 2017.
Arguably the greatest running back to ever don an ENMU jersey, Kamal Cass (BS 18) holds seven career program records including rushing yards, all-purpose yards, touchdowns scored, and total points scored. Currently, Cass is a coach for the Staubing Spiders of the German Football League.
Kristen Cruickshank (BS 11) was dynamic in the batter’s box and pitching circle for the Greyhound softball team. Her name is scattered throughout the ENMU record books, finishing her collegiate career with a .362 batting average and 183 hits. As a pitcher, she is the all-time leader at Eastern in complete games and second in wins.
ALBERT FLINN
MIKE HOWARD
CECIL JACKSON
Albert Flinn (MBA 70, BBA 68) was a notable bareback and bull riding member of the Greyhounds, helping the team to a National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association (NIRA) Southwest Regional title in 1965 and an NIRA reserve championship in 1968. In 2008, Albert was named head coach, and has guided 25 national qualifiers, six individual national champions, and one reserve all-around team championship.
Mike Howard (Staff) began his journey at ENMU as the Greyhound offensive coordinator in 1997 and served in that position for 15 seasons. Later, he joined the financial aid office and finished his career with 20 years of dedication to Eastern. Howard earned a Spirit of Eastern award in 2007 and spent several years teaching classes in the Health and Physical Education Department.
A dual sport athlete, Cecil Jackson (BS 99) thrived on the football field and track. As a linebacker, he made an immediate impact on the Greyhound defense, helping the team reach the NAIA playoffs in his freshman year. In 1987, Cecil earned recognition as one of the top 15 outside linebackers in the country, landing All-Conference and All-American honors.
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Green & Silver | December 2023
A Lifetime of Giving Basketball
Al played four football seasons with the Greyhounds in 1948-1950 and 1954. His education was placed on hold for three years while he served in Korea with the U.S. Army. Al was elected to the ENMU Athletics Hall of Honors in 1996. He and his wife, Lacy, prioritized ENMU funding, giving more than $1 million to his Alma Mater through the years. They have provided theatre and marketing scholarships and supported Eastern student-athletes via the Greyhound Club. “Al and Lacy’s love for ENMU runs deeper than a list of all the scholarships and programs they supported over the 55 years of giving. It has been generationally transformative. Al left his mark on our hearts and future generations,” said Noelle Bartl (BS 92), executive director
Tickets Available
File Photo
A titan in the oil and gas exploration industry and a significant benefactor of ENMU Athletics, Al Whitehead (BS 55) died Oct. 28, 2023. Al had a long and distinguished career in the oil exploration industry, working across the United States and the world, and was the co-founder, CEO, or director of several public and private gas and petroleum companies.
Lacy and Al Whitehead at a Greyhound football game in 2019.
of the ENMU Foundation. “He served on the Alumni Association board of directors for more years than we can count, which also meant a big commitment for Lacy too.” The couple made a $500,000 contribution for the construction of Greyhound Stadium. At the stadium’s inaugural game in 2016, the field was named Al Whitehead Field at Greyhound Stadium in his honor. “Seeing Al wearing his football jersey and the biggest grin on his face at the first home game played on Al Whitehead Field on September 10, 2016, warmed all our hearts,” Noelle said. “That weekend demonstrated how his love for ENMU came full circle.”
Basketball season has started at ENMU, and Greyhound fans can purchase game tickets online at goeasternathletics.com. Tickets are available for single games at Greyhound Arena. There’s also a flex pass option for those who wish to attend multiple games. There’s no need to preselect games, just scan the flex pass at games you can attend. Fans and alumni can also see the Greyhounds play at any time with a subscription from the Lone Star Conference (LSC) Digital Network. The LSC Digital Network offers singlegame passes for $15, a monthly pass for $30, and a yearly pass for $140. Viewers still have the option to download archived broadcasts for $10 each. Purchase passes and archive downloads at LoneStarConferenceNetwork.com on mobile devices and computers. Viewers can also tune in to games through OTT apps available on Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, and Roku by searching for “LSC Digital Network.”
SCAN TO PURCHASE TICKETS
File Photo
SCAN TO VIEW THE GAMES
Al watches from the sidelines at Greyhound Stadium’s inaugural game in 2016.
For more news, please visit GoEasternAthletics.com Green & Silver | December 2023
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Class Notes
People You May Know Cary Gross (BBA 89) has been a nurse practitioner for 19 years and a neonatal nurse since 2012 in hospitals around Los Angeles, California. His most recent position is at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, where he took on neonatal duties in May 2023. Dan Volz (BS 95) has a 19-year career with the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in Denver, Colorado, and was promoted to deputy director in February 2023. He has direct responsibility for leading CBI’s investigation section, operating a $25 million budget.
Courtesy photo
Charlie Ragle (BS 98) was named assistant football coach and special teams coordinator at Arizona State University for the 2023 season. Charlie had been the head coach at Idaho State and spent a decade as a special teams coordinator at the University of California and the University of Arizona.
Monte Singleterry (BBA 63) and wife Rosie celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on Sept. 21, 2023, with a dinner hosted by their children in St. Petersburg, Florida. After successful careers in banking and real estate in Albuquerque, New Mexico, the couple enjoys their retirement in Florida.
Greg Hogue (BS 78) retired from football coaching and teaching at the high school and collegiate levels after a 38-year career in the Austin/Round Rock area of Texas, selling sporting goods for eight years after that. In response to a teacher shortage, Greg returned to coaching, leading the team at Grisham Middle School in Austin. Christopher A. Holland (BBA 82) re-joined the law firm of Sutin, Thayer & Browne in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in July 2023 after serving five years as chief counsel for the New Mexico National Guard. While with the guard, Christopher advised the commanding general and staff on government contracts, employment and labor law, and state-federal relations.
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Dr. B.J. Brooks (BME 98) is the director of West Texas A&M’s School of Music in Canyon, Texas, since Aug. 1, 2023, taking the reigns from the program’s inaugural director, Dr. Robert Hansen. Dr. Brooks joined the WT faculty in 2008, and has written shows for the school’s marching band since 2010, and has written shows for area high school bands since 1998. He was named director of the WT marching band in 2021. Yvette Critchfield (BBA 01) is the communications director for Big Red Barn Retreat in Blythewood, South Carolina, a program dedicated to helping soldiers and first responders address their mental health. In April 2023, Lesley Wassam (BBA 02) was promoted to chief financial officer for Oakwood Real Estate Partners in Denver, Colorado, overseeing all accounting matters and regulatory compliance. She also supervises annual audits and tax compliance.
Cory Spencer (BUS 11) is a coordinator with Community Force of Central Texas as of January 2023. Community Force is a not-for-profit organization providing reproductive health services, adult literacy education, and other human services for low-income communities in the Austin, Texas, area.
Forbes Magazine recognized Alan Kinlund (BBA 12) as the leading “NextGen Wealth Advisor” in all of New Mexico in its August edition. Alan is a financial advisor with an Edward Jones office in Clovis, New Mexico, and a board member for the ENMU Alumni Association. Billy Dicken (MS 12) is a sales development representative for ClassWallet, a digital financial procurement service for companies and organizations in Raleigh, North Carolina.
In September 2023, the athletic career of Alba Ontiveros (BS 18) took a positive turn, as she took over as head athletic trainer (AT) for Eastern New Mexico University athletics. She spent the last two years with the Greyhounds as an assistant athletic trainer, overseeing the volleyball, women’s
Courtesy photo
Travis Chrisman (BS 12) has had a successful first season as the head coach and athletic director at Ingleside High School in Ingleside, Texas, leading the team to a 9-1 record and a spot in the Texas UIL State playoffs. He has 11 years of coaching experience at schools across Texas.
The ENMU Foundation recently received a $40,000 donation from the Dr. Karen M. Trujillo Memorial Foundation for the Dr. Karen M. Trujillo Memorial Scholarship at the Golfing for Educators Scramble at the New Mexico State University Golf Course in Las Cruces, New Mexico. Pictured are (l-r), Sharon Trujillo-Kolosseus, secretary of #BeAKarenNM.org; Dave Williams (BS 94), ENMU Alumni Assocation Board Member; Miss New Mexico 2023 Lianna Hartshort; Ben Trujillo, president of #BeAKaren.org; Noelle Bartl (BS 92), ENMU Foundation Executive Director; and Rico Gonzales, board member of #BeAKaren.org. The scholarship is provided for aspiring teachers at ENMU.
Greg McFarland (BS 14) is the chief operating officer for Hillcrest Healthcare System based in Tulsa, Oklahoma, since being promoted in March of 2023. In April of 2023, Owen Schilling (MBA 20) was promoted to senior business systems analyst in salesforce for Sphero, a robotics and engineering company providing equipment and kits for STEAM education nationwide. Owen has been with Sphero since March of 2022 and is based in Boulder, Colorado. Liam Hurley (BS 23) spent the summer 2023 season with the Santa Fe Opera in Santa Fe, New Mexico, earning a Technical Apprentice Award for his efforts.
soccer, and softball programs. Hannah Floyd (MS 18) is a speech-language pathologist at San Joaquin Valley Rehabilitation Hospital in Fresno, California, and recently published a cookbook, “Tastes Like Schitt: The Unofficial Schitt’s Creek Cookbook,” featuring recipes inspired by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation sitcom Schitt’s Creek.
WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU Submit your story ideas, news, and memorials to us at alumni.affairs@enmu.edu, or call 575.562.2125.
Green & Silver | December 2023
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Class Notes
In Memory
40s Dr. Calvin “Carl” Richardson (BA 48) died Aug. 16, 2023 at the age of 102. Dr. Richardson was a mainstay in ENMU athletics, playing and coaching five sports across four decades and serving as director of the School of Health and Physical Education before retiring as a professor emeritus in 1986. He led the baseball team to a 52-12 record over four years, was 59-31 over 17 years as the football coach, including an undefeated season in 1957, and led the tennis team to a 113-32 record and four NAIA District 7 titles. He also coached the ENMU golf team to four district titles in the 1970s.
50s Mildred Bostick (BA 50) died Oct. 17, 2023. Mildred followed her husband, Mack Bostick, around the globe as he was stationed in many places through his military and computer science careers. In that time, she became a teacher of English as a Second Language. David Stratton (BA 51) died May 26, 2023. He was a professor emeritus of history at Washington State University in Pullman, Washington, and also taught at the University of Wyoming, and Baylor University in his 47-year career. James W. McBee (MA 64, BA 52) died Nov. 18, 2022. After his service in the U.S. Navy near the end of World War II, he earned his education degrees and devoted 33 years of service to the students and youth of Farmington, New Mexico. Truett Lynn Hilliard (MA 59, BA 58) died June 6, 2023. Truett taught history in Alaska shortly after it became the 50th state, later taking a fellowship at the University of Utah and teaching philosophy at San Antonio College in San Antonio, Texas. He later taught for 35 years at Odessa College in Odessa, Texas.
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Laurie Wright (BA 56) died Aug. 14, 2023. Laurie wrote for newspapers in Dallas and Parmer County, Texas, before moving to Clovis, New Mexico, in 1960. She and her husband, Gerald Wright, operated Clovis Auto Parts for many years before Laurie started a career as a custom quilter. She owned Contempo-Quilt and Yarn in Clovis from 1985–1999, then quilted from her home workshop. Donald Fitzner (BA 59) died Oct. 17, 2023. Don was a vocational electricity instructor at the Albuquerque Indian School from 1959–1967, when he volunteered to go to Vietnam and help create a refugee vocational program. He returned to the U.S. and taught electrical trades at the Honor Farm in Belen, New Mexico. He later ran his own electrical business. Jimmy Joe Robinson (MS 64, BA 59) died June 11, 2023. A multi-sport athlete in high school and college, Jimmy Joe enjoyed a 43-year coaching and teaching career in Clovis, Melrose, and Grady, New Mexico, and Lubbock, Texas. Many teams he coached won state championships. Jimmy Joe is a member of the New Mexico High School Coaching Hall of Honor and ENMU Athletics Hall of Honors.
60s Delman Shirley (MED 65, BS 60) died Oct. 31, 2023. Delman began his career as principal of Cimarron, New Mexico, schools, and later taught in schools in Raton, Portales and Clovis, New Mexico. He retired in 1995 after a 35-year career and was inducted into the ENMU Educator Hall of Honor. Jackie “Jack” White (BS 60) died Sept. 24, 2023. Jack was a jeweler in Eufaula, Oklahoma, for seven years. He later worked in real estate and insurance. Elbert “Ebb” Shoemate (BS 63) died Aug. 14, 2023. Ebb had a 30-year career as an electromagnetic pulse test engineer with EG&G and served in the U.S. Army National Guard, receiving the rifle sharpshooter accommodation.
Norris Conklin (BS 62) died Oct. 13, 2023. Norris had a military career spanning 20 years, piloting transport
missions worldwide and retiring from the United States Air Force as a Lieutenant Colonel. He later farmed in the Muleshoe, Texas, community. Jerry Trout (BA 70, ME 63, BME 62) died Oct. 12, 2023. Jerry taught mathematics at Tatum High School in Tatum, New Mexico, and Aztec High School in Aztec, New Mexico, all while serving in the New Mexico Army National Guard. He was named Teacher of the Year at Aztec and was awarded the Army Commendation Medal in the National Guard. Dr. Richard (RJ) Johnson (BS 65) died April 23, 2023. He had a distinguished education career in Colorado and California, teaching and serving Jefferson County Schools in Lakewood, Colorado, and teaching at the University of Colorado-Boulder, University of Colorado-Denver, Denver University, and Colorado State University. Glen Howl (EDSP 79, MS 70, BS 65) died Aug. 21, 2023. Glen began a long career in education, teaching history and social studies while coaching football and wrestling in Los Alamos, New Mexico. He later held administrative positions in various New Mexico and Texas communities, retiring in 2006. Dennis Criswell (MED 71, BS 65) died July 18, 2023. Dennis taught at Springlake-Earth High School in Earth, Texas, and later at Bishop Heelan Catholic High School in Sioux City, Iowa. Dennis transitioned to marketing in 1983, working for several power cooperatives until retiring in Tucson, Arizona. In retirement, he remained active as an ENMU Alumni Board member. His wife, Carol Lynn Criswell (attended), died Oct. 10, 2023, after serving as a medical billing specialist for several different medical practices before retiring in 1994 to become a full-time grandmother. Mike Gladden (BS 66) died in September of 2023. Mike taught elementary school in Ojai, California, before finishing his Master’s degree and moving to Ruidoso, New Mexico, in 1973, where he served as principal at White Mountain Elementary School
until 1982. He then served as associate superintendent and superintendent of Ruidoso Schools until retiring in 2003. Lii Montgomery (MBA 71, BBA 66) died June 28, 2023. Lii Montgomery had a varied career, including bank examiner, real estate agent, ENMU and Clovis Community College professor, and Volvo mechanic.
Gerry (Quisenberry) Lightwine (MED 68, BS 66) died July 27, 2023. She was a foreign-student advisor at ENMU for 20 years before completing a theology degree to begin a 17-year career as a minister in the United Methodist Church. Dr. Michael Shannon (BS 66) died Aug. 13, 2023. Dr. Shannon began his practice in pediatrics in Mission Viejo, California, in 1973, eventually moving to Laguna Hills, California, in 1996. He ended his 45-year career at Sea View Pediatrics, retiring in 2017. Wiley Teel (MED 72, BS 66) died Aug. 7, 2023. Wiley taught industrial arts in the Albuquerque, New Mexico, school system for 34 years before retiring. Wiley and his wife Barbara (BS 69) returned to Roosevelt County in 2000, where they both served as EMTs in Milnesand, New Mexico. Marilyn Chumbley (BS 68) died July 12, 2023. Marilyn was a fourth grade teacher in Clovis, New Mexico, before moving in 1969, where she served as a school librarian and taught mathematics in Lake Jackson and Huntsville, Texas. She retired in 2007. David Jenkins (MBE 74, BBE 69) died Sept. 6, 2023. David was a teacher, coach, and principal at Portales Junior High and Portales High School in Portales, New Mexico, before retiring in 1994. He moved with his wife Sharry (MBE 70, BBE 68) to Muleshoe, Texas, where he began a new career as a school administrator, retiring again in 2007. He was named to the ENMU Alumni Board of Directors in 2011.
Green & Silver | December 2023
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Class Notes
In Memory
70s Kerry Bemis (BS 71) died Sept. 16, 2023. Kerry worked as a research scientist for Eli Lilly & Company in Indianapolis, Indiana, for over 26 years, inventing a system for performing calculus using a set of infinitesimal numbers. Cynthia Collins (BS 71) died May 25, 2023. Cynthia began her teaching career at Trinity United Methodist Church school in Roswell, New Mexico, and was later named the school’s director. Later, she was a home economics teacher and a preschool teacher for developmentally-delayed students, continuing that for 18 years before retiring. Sherry (Hennington) Nevins (BBA 71) died Aug. 10, 2023. Sherry worked as a medical assistant for many years and was active in both Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts. Charles McAlister (MBA 76, BBA 71) died in June 2023. Charles was the business manager at Cooper Hobbs Chevrolet for 11 years. In 1985, he became an agent for Farm Bureau Insurance, later taking a position with Soil Conservation in 1987 and transferring to the Farm Service Agency in 1989, where he remained until retiring in 1999. Steven Cocking (BBA 72) died Oct. 3, 2023. Steven had a 30-plus year career in accounting and management at Los Alamos National Laboratory in Los Alamos, New Mexico, coaching youth sports in his free time. He was later a full-time middle school and high school coach in Los Alamos Schools, serving as a coach for football and baseball for 20 years. Rebecca “Becky” Coggins (MED 73, BS 67) died in October 2023. Becky taught elementary school in Portales, New Mexico, for over 30 years before retiring to Hilton Head Island in South Carolina. Dr. William Billington (BA 73) died April 4, 2023. Dr. Billington had a varied career, including working as a stocks and commodities broker and underground miner before earning his medical degree. He established the Family Medical Clinic in West Point, Mississippi, treating more than 42,000 patients over 40 years. Benjamín González (MED 80, BA 73) died June 28, 2023. Benjamín taught elementary and middle school students in Roswell, Edgewood, and Las Cruces, New Mexico.
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Jessie Bejarano (MED 78, BA 73) died June 3, 2023. She had a 34-year career as a high school teacher and administrator at schools in Roswell, Las Cruces, New Mexico, and Lakeway, Texas. She also taught English as a Second Language to Las Cruces and Lakeway international students. Connie Lee Andrews (MED 75, BA 74) died June 22, 2023. Connie was a trained florist for many years before earning her education and library science degrees. She taught multiple grades in the Dexter, New Mexico, school system before transferring to the school’s library to serve as a media specialist until her retirement. Randy Fowler (MED 82, BS 74) died Aug. 20, 2023. Randy was an excellent athlete drafted to play baseball by the Cincinnati Reds but chose to pursue a college degree instead. He had a 40-plus-year career as a coach, assistant principal, assistant superintendent, and superintendent of schools. He was also a field service agent for superintendents at the Region 18 Education Center in Texas. Martha Watring-Ross (BS 76) died Sept. 6, 2023. Martha enjoyed a 27-year educational career with the Effingham County Board of Education in Georgia before retiring from her teaching and Future Business Leaders Association advisor position in 2010. Robert Perry (BBA 77) died Oct. 20, 2023. Robert spent his working years as a computer programmer for Phillips 66 and was a consultant for various other companies. Wendy (Mullen) Glenn (BS 77) died July 3, 2023. She taught 5th grade in Moriarty, New Mexico, for more than 27 years. Jack Stoltz (BBA 78) died in September 2023. After graduating from ENMU, Jack returned to his hometown of Farmington, New Mexico, embarking on a successful career in the oil and gas industry in the Four Corners area.
Timothy Matz (BME 79) died May 23, 2023. Timothy spent many years as a saxophonist in various Colorado, Idaho, New Mexico, and Texas bands. He also worked as an echocardiogram technician and respiratory therapist for NASA, testing U.S. astronauts and Russian cosmonauts returning from the International Space Station.
80s Sharon Stampe (MED 83, BS 80) died Oct. 27, 2023. She had a long career as a marriage and family counselor in Clovis, New Mexico, and Amarillo, Texas. Jill Vance Bukowski (BS 82) died Aug. 21, 2023. Jill was a dedicated friend, wife, and mother, who was passionate about watercolor art. Among her many works is the portrait of former ENMU Director of Housing Dallan Sanders (MA 69, BS 61), which now hangs in the ENMU Casa Del Sol Event Center. Martha Ryan (MA 83) died July 7, 2023. Martha moved to Portales, New Mexico, with her husband, Duane, who founded the KENW radio and television stations at ENMU. She was a natural teacher, leading Camp Fire Girls and Boy Scout troops, teaching drama classes and directing plays for the city’s summer recreation program, and later teaching freshman English and writing classes at ENMU. Janice (Fouts) Scharfenberg (MED 85, BS 80) died June 29, 2023. She was an elementary school teacher for 25 years in Jal, New Mexico, before retiring and moving to Midland, Texas.
Robin Simmons (BSE 89) died Sept. 15, 2023. Robert worked part-time for the McCollum Ranch and Gammill & Gunn Farm in Fort Sumner, New Mexico, when he was offered a teaching and coaching position in Fort Sumner schools. He was also ordained as a minister in the Baptist church in 2003.
90s Shawn Ammons (attended) died Oct. 6, 2023. Shawn was a beloved coach and mentor and was deeply involved with youth recreation in the Belen, New Mexico, parks and recreation community. Bill Fulkrod (BAS 97) died Sept. 16, 2023. Bill served in the U.S. Air Force as a weather observer in Texas, Illinois, Colorado, Oklahoma, Arizona, Alaska, and North Dakota before retiring in 1991. He then worked for many years with the New Mexico State Department of Transportation as a highway construction inspector before retiring again in 2019. David Griffin (BAS 98) died Oct. 15, 2023. David served in the United States Navy on board the USS John Adams until 1982, later overseeing the chillers and boilers at ENMU for the next 25 years. After retiring in 2007, he was rehired as an independent contractor to program the university’s heating and air conditioning systems, then taught about HVAC systems at several locations with TME/Bernhardt. Mark Franken (BS 98) died June 10, 2023. Mark worked as a parts manager at C&S and Big Valley auto parts stores in Portales, New Mexico, for many years.
2000s Sharon Billingsley (MSE 06, BSE 03) died Sept. 9, 2023. Sharon worked for several years with ENMRSH, Inc. in Clovis, New Mexico, guiding young people working in the community and various areas of employment. She had a 25-year teaching career in Texico, New Mexico, retiring in 2020. Jacob Hill (BOE 14) died Aug. 25, 2023. Jacob taught woodworking and welding for seven years at Clovis High School in New Mexico. Outside the classroom, he was a Single Action Shooting Society member, placing in the top ten at the 2019 World Championships in the gunfighter category. Dr. Sue Strickler (faculty) died Sept. 11, 2023. Dr. Strickler came to ENMU in 1988 as an assistant professor of Political Science and was promoted to full professor in 2004. In 2013, she was appointed to the Psychology and Political Science Department Chair and achieved Emerita status in 2014.
Green & Silver | December 2023
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90 Years of Student Success
1934-2024 April 6, 2O24 celebration. Learn more at enmu.edu/9Oth.