FALL 2020
FAULKNER MAGAZINE
MAKING HISTORY
FIRST SPEECH LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY GRADUATES
GROWTH AND PROGRESS
COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCES SKYROCKETS IN 2020
ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT:
SELMA LAWYERS KAMEISHA LOGAN Fall 2020 1 AND DONAVON MCGUIRE
WELCOME TO FAULKNER MAGAZINE Editorial Staff
Schedule of events October Annual Don Garner Charity Golf Tournament
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The Institute of Faith and the Academy Conference
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November
Administration President Dr. Michael D. Williams Chancellor Dr. Billy D. Hilyer Vice Chancellor Dr. Wayne Baker
Vice Presidents Mark Hunt Renee Kephart Dr. Dave Rampersad Dr. Jean-Noel Thompson Dr. John Tyson Joseph Vickery Associate Vice Presidents Billy Camp Jamie Horn College Deans Dr. Jeff Arrington Dr. Charles Campbell Dr. Leslie Cowell Dr. Leah Fullman Dr. Scott Gleaves Dr. Dave Khadanga General Counsel Dr. Gerald Jones
Homecoming
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Board of Trustees
January 11
Spring Semester Classes begin
February 18
President’s Circle Luncheon
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Marketplace Faith Friday Forums
The mission of Faulkner University is to glorify God through education of the whole person, emphasizing integrity of character in a caring, Christian environment where every individual matters every day. 2
Publisher Patrick Gregory Editor-in-chief Loren Howell Designer Angela Hardgrave Staff Writer Rebecca Burylo Contributors Sarah-Elizabeth McGill Jeremy D. Smith
Faulkner Magazine
Dr. Billy Lambert, Chair Mr. Ted A. Norton, Vice Chair Mrs. Carlton Freeman, Secretary Mr. Roy Johnson, Parliamentarian Mr. Jason Akins Ms. Martha Burleson Mr. Terry Cagle Mr. Jim Campbell Mr. Joseph W. Donaldson Ms. Scherry Douglas Mr. Michael S. Eubanks Dr. Justin “Chip” Garrett Mr. Michael Gurganus Dr. John W. Hill III Dr. Mike Houts Dr. Jason Isbell Mr. Frank “Butch” Jones Mr. Dale Kirkland Mr. Bob Lee
Dr. Mansel Long, Jr. Dr. Henri McDaniel Judge Carole Medley Mr. Chuck Monan Mr. Phil Norton Mr. David Phillips Mr. Mike Pickens Mr. Tim Richardson Dr. Bud Stumbaugh Dr. Swaid Swaid Mr. Jon Sykes Sen. J.T. “Jabo” Waggoner Mr. Eddie Welch Dr. Jack Zorn
Trustees Emeriti Mr. Dewey R. Barber Dr. E.R. Brannan Dr. Charles W. Britnell Mr. Ernie F. Chappell Mr. Archie B. Crenshaw Atty. Fred D. Gray Dr. Lamar A. Harrison Mr. David Howell
Ms. Libby Jones Mr. H. Louis Lester, Jr. Ms. Glenda Major Mr. B.O. Richardson Mr. Kenneth M. Shumard Mr. Robert W. Walters Ms. Anna Weeks
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Interview with the President Growth of College of Health Sciences First SLP Graduating Class New Murals on Campus New Alumni Relations Director
Special Ops Prayer Group Faulkner Retires Jersey Numbers Community News Selma Born and Raised Alumni News Supporter Spotlight On the cover...
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Kelli Stewart Mallet and Victoria Jones (not pictured) were part of Faulkner’s first MS/MA SLP graduating class. Although they finished their degrees in May, 2020, their graduation ceremony was postponed until August 8 and Jones was unable to attend. You can read more of their story on page 9.
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Interview with President Williams by Rebecca Burylo Like many universities across the nation, life at Faulkner University was upended due to the novel coronavirus, COVID-19. In its wake, Faulkner quickly adapted to the new challenges and is prepared to finish out 2020 stronger than ever. President Mike Williams sat down to answer a few questions about the challenges facing the university, changes that have been implemented on campus to ensure a healthy learning environment and his outlook on a hope-filled future for our students, faculty and Faulkner family. Describe the challenges of this year so far in regards to COVID-19. “January began as a seemingly benign school year. We had a lot of things happening with the launch and growth of the college of health sciences. So many things were happening with student activities and then March 13 hit. We had to make a high-stakes decision to send our students home and continue the school year online. A lot of anxiety and apprehension ensued, but there were some positive takeaways from it all. I found great strength in our leaders at Faulkner who really bonded together through this experience. Everyone kept very positive and optimistic through it all. That sense of positivity has been refreshing as we worked to come up with solutions for this fall semester.”
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What would you like to say in regards to race? “This coming year we can’t afford not to walk our students through the conversation of race. I’m excited to have confirmed award-winning journalist Jerry Mitchell to come speak to our students this fall. Mitchell wrote the book, “Race Against Time” after watching, “Mississippi Burning,” a movie about the murder of three civil rights workers. In his book, Mitchell chronicles his journey in bringing the murderers of those slayings to justice. I’d like to have him participate in a community wide event as well. It will be great for Montgomery and a way for us to participate in this important conversation.” How have these challenges affected Faulkner and the Faulkner community? “One of the recurring themes I’ve witnessed is through difficult situations, lie the seeds of opportunity. One of the things I saw this community do to come together in a powerful way for our current students was a campaign by our faculty and staff to take the names of our students and call them, text them and send them Facebook messages to personally express concern and see if they needed any help. I also saw our admissions team step up and personally reach out to our prospective students and take a proactive approach of keeping in touch, checking up on them, and keeping them excited through these unprecedented experiences.”
How have these challenges affected you personally in your position as president? “I didn’t sleep from March 13 until April 13, mainly because of the uncertainty. But even in the midst of that, I drew strength from the Lord and from the people I am surrounded with. We maintained the perspective that the Lord shepherds this university and so there’s that peace with what we’ve done and how God has blessed us through this situation. I told our senior team to not think of this situation as the ‘new normal’ but rather a season. So we’ve tried to view this time of COVID as yes, a challenge, but it’s a season of time and there will be a day when this will pass. When you keep that eternal perspective it helps us deal with the more short-term challenges and has certainty helped me from a stress standpoint.”
with dignity. There is kindness and goodness and love that pervades this institution and that can’t be taken for granted.”
What is your message to students and families as students return to campus this fall? “In many ways this fall is a Faulkner 2.0. The message remains the same, that we are a community of faith, a community of learners and we come together to do this collaboratively. As we come back together, we are even more sensitive to this idea that we live in community and to live in community means to take care of the needs of others. The pause this year has given us, from what I have already heard from students is that they appreciated their Faulkner experience before, but they return with an even greater appreciation for what it means to be in community. In spite of our challenges and those things that we wish were better, Faulkner is a very healthy environment, where people are treated
Our COVID-19 Response Task Force has met all summer to make sure we have the best information available for the decisions we make to open up the fall semester. We’re participating in a mobile app designed by UAB that will inspire healthy behaviors and act as a communication tool to navigate through this semester. We are determined to tease out the best of this school year. Our academics will look different as well as our fall schedule. We plan to finish up finals by November 25. We have distancing within the classroom and reduced class sizes. We also invested in ‘lecture capture’ technology that will record each lecture to not only benefit the student who may be sick and unable to attend class in person, but this has a long shelf life behind COVID-19 to improve our quality of education. Now those who have games or are on an education trip and can’t be in the class, will still get that instruction or those who simply want to review something they missed in the class will be able to do that.”
President Williams models one of the Faulkner University branded masks that were provided to the Faulkner community
What is your outlook for Faulkner University as we finish out this year? “We’re taking a very balanced approach to our response to the pandemic to create a safety zone for our students and our more vulnerable population. That sensitivity is going to be on the rise as we are going to be living in a mask required environment and our policies are going to be responsive to that situation. It comes down to personal responsibility. We’re not making mandates, but we do want our community taking responsibility for our health and for the health of the people that we come in contact with.
What is a positive message of hope you’d like to share to inspire everyone as we look forward? “Obviously the venture of our college of health sciences is something we have been talking about for multiple years and although we’ve added our first program and have been adding faculty and directors, it’s been invisible to the broader community. Now with our first graduating class for speech and language, physician assistant beginning this fall with physical therapy having their site visit and occupation therapy right after, the purchase of a new building to house them all is the culmination of all those years of work. That will be extremely exciting to witness along with the undergraduate programs that will grow because of it.”
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Faulkner University President Mike Williams announces the purchase of Montgomery East Plaza Shopping Center for the use of the college of health sciences to the media and university members on June 25, 2020
Growth of Faulkner’s College of Health Sciences Skyrockets in 2020 by Rebecca Burylo Although the COVID-19 pandemic crippled the forward progress of many organizations around the nation and the world, Faulkner University experienced growth both geographically and academically in regards to its new college of health sciences. This July, Faulkner University officially added the second of four programs to the college of health sciences, physician assistant (PA) that will begin this fall. The new PA program, which will allow students to earn a Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies (MSPAS), was granted Accreditation-Provisional status by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant, Inc. (ARC-PA). “The accreditation is a validation of all the hard work we’ve put in,” said PA Director Paul Jordan, “especially all the work Lora-Emily Banks, Kathryn Werner, and the rest of our team has done in the last few weeks leading up to our site visit to secure our clinical sites and make everything come together.” “Securing this accreditation allows Faulkner to continue to advance the dream and vision of a truly
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interprofessional education environment where the four proposed disciplines will interact frequently,” Jordan added. On June 25 Faulkner University President Mike Williams announced the 13-acre purchase of the Montgomery East Plaza Shopping Center, which will become the new site for the College of Health Sciences. Renovations of the empty anchor storefront, formerly housing Burlington Coat Factory, will create a stateof-the-art science center that will house large virtual touch-pad cadaver tables for PA students that have been shown to enhance practical learning in anatomy. PA students will also have access to Baptist Health South’s 22,500 square-foot Institute for Patient Safety and Medical Simulation facility, one of the largest and best equipped training centers for new and experienced healthcare professionals in the country. Located east and directly adjacent to Faulkner’s Montgomery campus, the purchased shopping center property totals 151,000 square feet in store front property. “The acquisition of this property provides a tremendous
Faculty and staff of the PA program stand in front of the artist rendering of the new college of health sciences. l-r Tabitha Humphries, Kathryn Werner, Stacey Whitaker, Paul Jordan and Lora-Emily Banks
opportunity for Faulkner University to expand our institutional footprint and reinvest in our city,” said Williams. “As we begin to reimagine this property, the first stage is to repurpose the former Burlington Coat Factory building. This facility will be transformed to house our new college of health sciences. The positive influence it will have on the community is astronomical.” Renovations will also include all new frontage and signage, along with interior classrooms, offices and clinical labs. Subsequent renovations will be completed in phases. The PA program will join the university’s first health program, speech-language pathology. The first PA cohort will begin October 1 and is approved for a maximum entering class size of 35 students in the first class of students, 50 in the second class, and 50 in the third class. All faculty and staff have been secured. More than 200 qualified student applications have already been processed. According to current estimates from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), 16 of the top 30 fastest growing occupations are in health-related fields. Specifically,
physician assistant employment is expected to grow five times faster than average through 2026, with a national employment change of 37.3%. There are projected to be over 39,000 new jobs for physician assistants (PAs) over the next ten years. And, in 2018, the median annual salary was $108,610 and is expected to continue to increase. (BLS Employment Projections.) Likewise, Alabama data indicates a comparable growth rate (36.7%) for PAs. (Alabama Rate of Job Growth.) Graduate students in Faulkner’s program will have a total of seven semesters. Four of which will be on site classroom studies and lab work. The other three semesters will be dedicated to nine rotations of clinical work in the areas of family medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics, emergency medicine, general surgery, women’s health and behavioral and mental health. Additional health programs to be added in 2021 and 2022 include physical therapy and occupational therapy. Leah Fullman, who spearheaded the development of the first health science offerings: the BS in
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Leah Fullman
Communication Sciences and Disorders and the MA/ MS in Speech-Language Pathology, was appointed interim dean of the university’s college of health sciences on June 1. Fullman was the university’s first health sciences hire in August 2016. She witnessed the first speech and language pathology cohort participate in a delayed graduation ceremony on August 8. Twenty eight graduates received their diplomas in May, which is a 100 percent graduation rate. “In the ensuing years since her initial hire, it became readily apparent to us that we needed to look no further than Dr. Fullman to fill the role of dean in the college of health sciences,” said Dave Rampersad, vice president of academic affairs. “She possesses an exemplary work ethic, exhibits sound temperament and judgment, works collaboratively across divisions, and is well-liked and respected by her colleagues. We have the utmost confidence that the college is in good hands and I look forward to our partnership in this critical and needed work.” The overall vision for the property and the Faulkner University College of Health Sciences is to create an interdisciplinary learning model for students and to offer the community a fully operational autism center. “The college of health sciences is founded on two principles: interprofessional practice and the integration of faith in clinical practice. Our students
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are trained to improve patient outcomes through a collaborative team-based approach to healthcare that holistically promotes patients' physical, emotional, and spiritual health,” Fullman said. “I am honored to serve among Faulkner University's elite faculty and students who have answered the calling to further the healing ministry of Jesus. Together, we are building the new college of health sciences to promote wellness in our community at the intersection of physical and spiritual health.”
If you are interested in learning more about our new college of health sciences programs visit https://www.faulkner.edu/find-yourmajor/college-of-health-sciences/. If you are interested in learning how you can support Faulkner’s growing college of health sciences facility and health programs or would like to make a donation to name one of our classrooms, labs or educational halls in honor of a family member or loved one, please call the Faulkner University Advancement Office at 334-3867257. The ARC-PA has granted Accreditation-Provisional status to the Faulkner University Physician Assistant Program sponsored by Faulkner University. Accreditation-Provisional is an accreditation status granted when the plans and resource allocation, if fully implemented as planned, of a proposed program that has not yet enrolled students appear to demonstrate the program’s ability to meet the ARC-PA Standards or when a program holding Accreditation- Provisional status appears to demonstrate continued progress in complying with the Standards as it prepares for the graduation of the first class (cohort) of students. Accreditation-Provisional does not ensure any subsequent accreditation status. It is limited to no more than five years from matriculation of the first class. The program’s accreditation history can be viewed on the ARC-PA website at http://www.arc-pa.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/ Accreditation-History-Faulkner-U.pdf. Graduation from a physical therapist education program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 1111 North Fairfax Street, Alexandria, VA 22314; phone, 703-706-3245; accreditation@apta.org is necessary for eligibility to sit for the licensure examination, which is required in all states. Faulkner University is seeking accreditation of a new physical therapist education program from CAPTE. The program is planning to submit an Application for Candidacy, which is the formal application required in the pre-accreditation stage, on December 1st 2020. Submission of this document does not assure that the program will be granted Candidate for Accreditation status. Achievement of Candidate for Accreditation status is required prior to implementation of the professional phase of the program; therefore, no students may be enrolled in professional courses until Candidate for Accreditation status has been achieved. Further, though achievement of Candidate for Accreditation status signifies satisfactory progress toward accreditation, it does not assure that the program will be granted accreditation.
Back row l-r: Dr. Leah Fullman, Elizabeth Meadows, Ragan Knotts, Mollie Carter, Brittany Cooper, Kelli Mallett, Kandice Cleckler, Kelsie Ulrich. Front row l-r: Dr. Amy Ogburn, Caitlyn Barnes, Emily Hadley, Tabitha Hendrick, Kristin Williams, Kaitlyn Hale, Lindsey Mullino, Hailey Loria, Dr. Cara Tyson
Faulkner’s First SLP Graduating Class Makes History by Rebecca Burylo
Sitting down at the computer, Victoria Jones said a prayer and took a deep breath before taking the PRAXIS examination. Her test results would determine whether or not she could become a licensed speechlanguage pathologist.
Although receiving their diplomas in May, Faulkner University students had the opportunity to celebrate their accomplishments in person at a special ceremony on August 8, 2020, including the university’s inaugural speech-language pathology cohort.
The next thing she remembered, she was jumping up and down in the testing center parking lot with her parents, filled with relief and excitement. She had successfully passed the exam on her first try.
Jones M.S., CF-SLP was first introduced to speech and language pathology as a child when she needed a speech therapist to help her work on articulation. She didn’t realize SLP targeted so much more than articulation until her mom connected her with the speech therapist who was working at her school at the time. She had the opportunity to shadow her for a day and instantly fell in love with the field.
Jones along with fellow graduate Kelli Stewart Mallett were two of 28 students to make history by being the first to graduate with a Master of Science and Master of Arts in Speech Language Pathology (MS/MA SLP) from Faulkner’s college of health sciences. Although it was not the end they had envisioned for their two years of studies to become licensed clinicians, Jones and Mallett are honored to represent their class and make Faulkner history. COVID-19 disrupted the lives of Americans across the nation including Faulkner University’s 2020 graduates.
“I was drawn to this field because of the diverse disorders targeted and the science behind it all and I wanted to choose a profession that allowed me to interact with people on a personal level and make a positive difference in their lives,” Jones said. The 24-year-old Mississippi native graduated from Jackson State University with a Bachelor of Science in
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Victoria Jones
of the structure of the academic and clinical rotations. Faulkner’s program allowed her to have two full semesters to complete her independent pediatric and adult internships in her second year, while allowing her to focus on the science and research during her first year. Her first year was focused on classroom instruction and hands-on experience at the Faulkner University Speech-Language Pathology Clinic where she received encouragement from Dr. Cara Tyson and prayed with Dr. Sheela Stuart to become the therapist she is today. The clinical environment offered Jones a wide range of disorders to assess and treat, which helped her during her independent internships. “My professors were supportive and encouraging. They challenged me often and I think it’s important to note that we all grew together,” Jones said. “At the end of the program, I do feel that ultimately, I am prepared because of the knowledge and support I was given. When I began my internships, my placement supervisors were impressed that I had worked with a variety of areas.”
Communicative Disorders, before discovering the graduate program at Faulkner. “The program at Faulkner fostered my personal and professional growth. I was challenged and encouraged to step outside of my comfort zone and as a result, I have a higher level of confidence as a clinician,” Jones said. “I also grew as an advocate for the field and my clients. I am so blessed because of the friendships that I have made and the network of speech-language pathologists that I am forming. However, my favorite thing about the program were the experiences I was offered. During my matriculation, I attended the National Black Association for Speech-Language and Hearing Convention and was awarded a scholarship from the organization, was accepted to present my thesis project at the American Speech-Language and Hearing Association Convention, and completed and published a thesis.” She was also attracted to Faulkner’s program because
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Jones was able to return to Mississippi where she completed her adult and pediatric internships. She finished her adult clinical placement at Lakeland Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. During her time at that facility, she enjoyed working with neurogenic and cognitive disorders. Unfortunately, her time at her pediatric clinical placement of Jackson Public School District was cut short due to COVID-19. “The few months that I did experience allowed me wonderful insight into how school-based therapists operate. I was fortunate to work alongside my first mentor in the field and gain experience working with preschool to high school aged children,” Jones said. “My internship was an experience that I will forever cherish.” Her classmate, Mallett, a 23-year-old Birmingham native, studied and graduated with a degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Harding University before she was drawn to Faulkner’s graduate SLP program. She said it was an answer to prayer. “Initially, like any other under graduate student I was not sure where I wanted to go to graduate school so I
themselves. After continuous prayer, I felt like being an SLP would help me help those who needed a voice,” Mallett said. As challenging as the program was, Mallett said studying in the program was one of the most rewarding times of her life and she was grateful for the opportunity. She was also grateful to study at Faulkner’s SLP clinic where she gained critical hands-on experiences working with patients. “As graduate clinicians we performed expressive and receptive language, articulation, and fluency therapy sessions,” Mallett said. “We were also able to develop lesson plans, management plans, and monitor therapeutic progress with both the geriatric and pediatric population.” Like Jones, Mallett decided to return home to continue her second year of internships.
Kelli Stewart Mallett
began praying. One day at church I spoke with Mr. and Mrs. Mike Williams about the new program they were starting in the fall,” Mallett said. “As the conversation continued, it became abundantly clear that Faulkner’s program was where I wanted to attend. It was obvious that they both were very passionate about helping others and had already poured their hearts into this program that had not even begun yet. Seeing someone care as much as you do about giving others a voice, especially the president of a university, allowed me to see that it wasn’t just another academic program but a mission. I knew Faulkner would do great things and I wanted to be a part of it.” Mallett was drawn to the field of speech language pathology initially because of the diversity of opportunities speech therapy provides. It allows an SLP clinician to help all stages of life in multiple settings.
“One thing that appealed to me about Faulkner’s program was in our last year you are able to choose where you perform your clinical rotations,” Mallett said. “I performed my first externship at Green Valley Elementary School and my second at Grandview Medical Center. While conducting my internship I was able to experience a wide variety of patients and settings which allowed me to focus my energy and passion on a specific population.”
Both Jones and Mallett took and passed the PRAXIS on their first attempt. Currently, the SLP program boasts a 100 percent pass rate and a 100 percent graduation rate. Jones immediately accepted a clinical fellowship offer at a local elementary school, while Mallett is employed with the Hoover City Schools in Birmingham. “I am honored to be a part of the first class of a program that will have a long lasting effect on so many lives,” Mallett said. “I am looking forward to being an advocate to those who are unable to stand up for themselves and helping change lives one patient at a time and will forever be grateful for the knowledge and the relationships that I have gained through Faulkner’s SLP program.”
“I have always had a passion for helping others and giving a voice to those who are not able to speak up for
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Welcome to Faulkner! by Sarah-Elizabeth McGill You can’t make a first impression twice; so, Faulkner University gave their first impression a face lift. Faulkner leaders, Patrick Gregory, John Tyson, and Mark Hunt worked together to bring a new look to the foyer of Faulkner University’s Harris College of Business. Prospective students coming to tour Faulkner walk into the Harris Building and take a right to meet with their admissions counselor, but first they get a glimpse of Faulkner University’s student life. On one side, a beautiful mural features Faulkner’s campus and photographs of students that showcase an array of Faulkner’s student life. On the other side, another mural shows an image looking at downtown Montgomery towards the Capitol, with acrylic photographs of Faulkner’s impact on the River Region. “We hope that prospective students and their parents will stop to appreciate the images and ask their admissions counselor questions about anything on the wall that interests them,” said Gregory, the director of marketing at Faulkner. The face lift did not stop at the entrance. There is a new mural in the admissions office, which features Faulkner’s iconic Freeman Tower and the new Faulkner logo. All three murals create ideal backdrops to snap a selfie, or pose with Baldwin the Eagle. The new murals represent the family of Faulkner University. Showcasing every aspect of Faulkner life from Jamboree to Study Abroad and everything in between. The murals feature Faulkner’s vision and mission statement. They are works of art, which tell the story of Faulkner. An important part of the Faulkner story is the generous contributions made by the Harris family, which the Harris College of Business is named for. A portrait of the Harris’ was moved to make room for the murals. “The portrait of the Harris’ is being moved to a more prominent location in the atrium and a plaque describing their contribution to the school will be added,” Gregory said. The murals were installed on July 24, 2020 by Jim Harding, the artist behind the murals. Harding is the president of Harding Creative, Inc., based out of Nashville, Tennessee. Harding also took the background photographs featured in the murals.
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New Director Says Alumni Relations Begins on Day One by Rebecca Burylo That’s easy to do when you have Wiginton’s infectious smile and easy laugh. His positivity, energy and longtime love for Faulkner make him the perfect candidate to fill the director of alumni relations and regional advancement position. Officially taking the post in 2019, Wiginton has been hard at work implementing the new vision he has for the alumni department. A vision that includes fostering personal connections with alumni all over the state with lunch gatherings and personal visits. “For a long time in alumni relations, we haven’t done the best job in keeping up with our alumni and we want to work harder to support them and keep those relationships strong,” Wiginton said. Joey Wiginton
For Joey Wiginton, fostering a relationship with Faulkner’s graduates doesn’t begin the moment they step off the stage with their diploma. It begins with their first step on campus. While most alumni offices focus on getting to know their alumni after graduation, as the new director of alumni relations and regional advancement, Wiginton and the alumni and advancement office are working to get to know Faulkner’s graduates while they are still freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors. “We want to be visible to our students from day one when they come on campus,” Wiginton said. “To do that, we’re very involved in campus events including Homecoming and Marketplace Faith Friday Forums and being visible at events all year long.” Wiginton and Robin “Bird” Bradford are making the effort to greet students at every opportunity. That means collaborating with the admissions office and student life to be at student activities and events at high schools and youth rallies all year long. What better way to form a bond with Faulkner’s best and brightest than in the very beginning of their college journey? Fostering those relationships early will build trust and longevity in the future.
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“One of my jobs is to keep in touch with our graduates and alumni and be more involved. One idea is to contact our local alumni and get together for lunch on campus once a quarter and learn from them how we can serve them and become better partners together.” Meeting with alumni throughout the state on a regular basis would also allow alumni to voice their opinions and make suggestions on not only alumni relations but university matters as well. Where does Wiginton get his drive? Not only is Wiginton an alumnus himself, he’s a proud father of five Faulkner graduates and has worked at Faulkner for 36 years. He’s held roles in Admissions including director, he’s served in student life, athletics, and as vice president prior to his current role. He’s seen the children of students he once recruited to come to Faulkner as students themselves. Becoming more involved with campus events for Wiginton means creating activities with a purpose where alumni can bring their children and grandchildren to and generate excitement in Faulkner’s future generations. “There’s never been a time when I was more excited for the future of Faulkner than I am right now,” Wiginton said. “With our recent plans to build the college of health sciences into the old Burlington store, we are moving in an exciting direction for Faulkner and this city.”
Special Ops: Infiltrating Darkness One Prayer at a Time by Rebecca Burylo During a time when tensions are high around the nation, prayer is needed now more than ever. In Birmingham, a group who calls themselves Special Ops, is making a difference in the Woodlawn neighborhood through the power of prayer and love. Faulkner Birmingham lecturer Buddy Parker joined the prayer walk ministry in January. “The Lord led me to join around the first of the year,” Parker said. “Birmingham is my hometown and I love my town. I want to serve the people here the best way I can.” “It is really something I have wanted to do all my life for my city - and the stories are amazing,” he said. Special Ops leader, Lisa Roxanne Richardson is a friend of Parker’s who first introduced him to the group. “Roxanne is a good friend who invited me to join. Their group has been meeting for about ten years and it’s been very peaceful,” Parker said.
to reach women in sex trafficking, but expanded to men as we encounter so many men who are addicted to drugs and alcohol or are homeless,” Richardson said. “Now we offer resources to men and women and hand out Bibles, protein and hygiene kits.” At any given time, the group can vary from 10 to 45 participants. They’ll meet for an hour, take prayer requests and fellowship with one another before walking to motels and truck stops to minister to those they encounter. “It’s been life changing, both for the group members who call each other family, and for the women rescued from sex trafficking, and the men we encounter and give hope and sometimes shelter and treatment through our contacts,” Richardson said. “Some on the street are believers, some aren’t, but most are very receptive to a smile and prayer.” “We’re just a group of Christians who pray together and for others,” she added. “Jesus loves, so we want to love.”
Parker began teaching speech and theater at Faulkner Birmingham in 1997. Five years ago he was hired as a full time instructor teaching psychology, counseling and Western culture. Before coming to Faulkner, he worked as a radio announcer for WLPH Radio (gospel music) and WYDE (country) and was retired from 39 years as the industrial account manager at Alabama Power. Parker is a street minister of 30 years who began the 10th Ave. Church of Christ to minister to the elderly, mentally ill and prostitutes in Southside in Birmingham. Through his radio connection, he met Richardson, a morning personality at WDJC, a Christian radio station in Birmingham. Richardson said she began Special Ops as a way to “infiltrate the darkness.” “We started out as all women who attempted
Buddy Parker, left, and two other Special Ops prayer warriors talk and pray with a man who they found struggling on the streets during one of their prayer walks in Birmingham’s Woodlawn neighborhood. They prayed with him and provided him with a protein pack and a Bible
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Faulkner Retires Numbers of Three Former Student-athletes by Jeremy D. Smith For the first time since 2009, the Faulkner University Athletics Department has symbolically retired the jersey numbers of former studentathletes, honoring three athletes across three different sports. Nicole Fownes Mackenzie, wore jersey number 10. She is the first Faulkner female student-athlete with a retired number. In 1996, Fownes became the first Faulkner athlete in any sport to be an NAIA First Team All-American. She took Second Team All-American distinction in 1997. Fownes still holds numerous pitching records in Hal Wynn's softball program, having made her mark the moment she arrived on campus. She won 20 games as a freshman, the opening to a career that saw her log 127 victories with a sterling 1.17 career ERA.
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Nicole Fownes Mackenzie
are honoring with the hanging of these banners excelled in unique ways in programs that were still just getting started at our school." "Retiring an athlete's number is one of the greatest honors that we can bestow. It is not something we do very often, which is why this is the first time we've done it in 11 years," Wynn said. "These three former student-athletes excelled in tremendous ways in athletic and academic venues. We are proud to honor them in this way."
Nikki Jagt
Former women's soccer standout Nikki Jagt (number 15) starred from 2006-2009 while playing in 63 games and scoring a program record 111 goals. She was a three-time NAIA All-American honorable mention and is still 12th all-time in career goals in NAIA history. She led the country in goals (39) and points (85) during her freshman season in 2006. A three-time all-conference selection, she earned All-Region honors in 2006.
The last such occasion saw Faulkner honor former men's basketball standout Paul Little with the retiring of his No. 44 in 2009. That move left only four retired numbers in school history with three of those having belonged to men's basketball players Little, Mike Jones, and Charles Russell. Shane Reynolds, baseball, was the only Faulkner athlete outside of men's basketball to receive such an honor. Sean Thom
Sean Thom, jersey number 33, starred on the early Faulkner football teams. Thom led the NAIA in tackles in 2008 and 2009. The linebacker was First Team All Mid-South Conference in 2008 and 2009. Thom was an AFCA NAIA All-American in 2009 as well as a Victory Sports Network All-American in 2008 and 2009. Thom finished his career with 386 total tackles in 31 games played. He still holds the Faulkner records for most tackles in a single game, most tackles in a single season and most career tackles. "For a long time, our athletic department consisted primarily of two sports. Over the last 30 years, we have become a much more diverse athletic department in terms of the sports and opportunities that we offer," Faulkner Athletic Director Hal Wynn said. "The three individuals we Fall 2020
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COMMUNITY NEWS
l-r: Montgomery Rotary Club President, Graham Champion, presents a check to Mila Stevens and Dr. Leslie Cowell along with several members of the Montgomery Rotary Club in attendance
Pre-K teacher Mia Stevens (3rd from left) tells two students and their mother that the Chromebook they used for online school is theirs to keep
Members of the Montgomery Rotary Club presented a generous donation to Faulkner University’s pre-K program to provide students this fall with new books The check, totaling $500 was presented by Montgomery Rotary Club members to Cowell and Faulkner pre-K lead teacher Mila Stevens on June 26. For more than 100 years, the Montgomery Rotary Club has supported community projects large and small. When they were asked to help the students at Faulkner’s pre-K classrooms, they immediately agreed.
Faulkner Pre-K Gets Chromebooks and Book Donations When Faulkner pre-K students and their parents came to return their Chromebooks this spring the faculty gave them a big surprise; the Chromebook was theirs to keep. Leslie Cowell, pre-K director and dean of the college of education, worked with Build Initiative (https://www. buildinitiative.org/) to provide Chromebooks to all of the 2019-2020 students as well as for the students in 2020-2021 school year. “The Chromebooks will be invaluable to these children as they begin kindergarten and will allow parents to have the option for online learning for the fall if they need it, said Cowell. “The Chromebooks for next year’s students will help the PreK provide at home learning options.”
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“One of Rotary International’s six goals is supporting education,” said Graham L. Champion, president of the Montgomery Rotary Club. “We support education for all children and literacy for children and adults. Supporting these classrooms that are a vital part of Alabama’s award winning First Class Pre-K program compliments our club’s efforts in supporting education. We appreciate the opportunity to be a small part in the support of this great program.” “We want to thank the Montgomery Rotary Club for their generosity and willingness to help our pre-K students,” Cowell said. “Being able to offer a pre-K program to this area of the city is a perfect opportunity to serve the community where the need is so great. Especially during this time, whenever you have the community come together for our children, it’s a beautiful thing.”
College of Education Interns Pass the edTPA Faulkner University’s College of Education had a 100% first time pass rate on the edTPA for all interns in Fall 2019 and Spring 2020. “The edTPA is an assessment required for licensure in the state of Alabama and it is a very big deal to pass it the first time,” said Leslie Cowell, dean of the college of education. The national edTPA pass rate is 72%.
Campbell Named Dean of Jones School of Law Charles Campbell was named as the permanent dean of the Jones School of Law in May of 2020. Campbell served as interim dean for the last two years. Campbell joined the faculty in 2007.
their ranking of the Top 25 Online Executive MBAs for 2020. Faulkner was ranked 2nd in the state and 24th overall. Faulkner University’s executive MBA online program includes ten five-week courses that are completed one at a time. The classes included in Faulkner University’s online executive MBA program includes classes in Managerial Economics, Organizational Behavior, Strategic Management, and Quantitative Analysis. Faulkner’s Executive Master of Business Administration graduate degree program is designed to equip students with a solid foundation in key business areas. The program focuses on modern day managerial practices and decision making, marketing and quantitative reasoning, and strategic thinking. Students will develop a strong understanding of corporate operational and management strategies essential in today’s business environment. Classes at Faulkner provide a blend of current business theory with relevant industry practice. The emphasis is on providing practical curriculum where students work on solving real world business problems and understand the reasoning behind plausible solutions.
“Dean Campbell has Charles Campbell successfully shepherded the school through a rigorous accreditation process, developed a more robust bar preparation program, instituted a more selective admissions policy, and developed a new executive program to be launched this fall,” said Faulkner University President Mike Williams. “Charles is a talented, hard working, mission-aligned leader. We are blessed to have him at the helm.”
Executive Master of Business Administration Degree Program in the Top 25 in the Nation Faulkner’s Executive Master of Business Administration online degree program was recently ranked one of the top in the nation by Best Master’s Programs. Best Master’s Programs featured Faulkner University in
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with Faulkner athletic department officials, coaches, trainers and players. “This is something we have wanted to do for a long time at FSN, but we kept running into hiccups,” said Jeremy Smith, Faulkner’s director of sports information and marketing. “With the athletic world all but shut down due to Coronavirus, we realized that our stakeholders have a lot of questions about the state of the department and collegiate sports in general. Given that, we figured this was an apt time to launch the show.” Talon Talk’s debut episode featured Athletic Director Hal Wynn as well as Head Trainer Rachael Alterio.
Faulkner Launches Alumni Experience on the University’s Mobile App Faulkner University’s mobile app got an upgrade to include the Alumni Experience. You can keep up with news and events at Faulkner, order a transcript, update your information, visit the campus store online and much more. Once you download the app, select My Campus, then you can select Alumni to get started. You will need to use your Faulkner email account to register.
Talon Talk will focus on team and season previews in the coming weeks and will seek to incorporate interviews with Faulkner student-athletes in addition to coaches. “I’m pretty excited about the endeavor not only because of what it can do to connect our stakeholders with our athletic department personnel, but also because of the opportunities it offers to our Faulkner Sports Network student staff,” Smith said. “We have a group of more than 40 students involved with FSN, many of whom aspire to learn sports media and broadcasting either as a hobby or a career option. This vehicle gives them the chance to hone their broadcast presence and interview skills.” Talon Talk is one of two web-based vehicles FSN seeks to launch in the coming weeks. The other is an in-season show entitled FSN Now in which Faulkner Sports Network staff will briefly cover schedules, highlights and statistical superlatives each Monday and Friday. All episodes will be housed at YouTube.com/ FaulknerSportsNetwork. New episodes are scheduled to be uploaded each Wednesday. Links to individual episodes will be shared across Faulkner athletics and FSN social media platforms.
Faulkner Sports Network Launches Weekly YouTube Show The Faulkner Sports Network (FSN) staff released the first edition of FSN Talon Talk on July 31. The initiative is set to be a weekly YouTube based interview show
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Faulkner Unveils New Look for Basketball, Volleyball Court For the first time in a decade, Tine W. Davis Gymnasium has a new look. Faulkner recently unveiled the re-imagined court that houses its volleyball and men’s and women’s basketball programs.
“Our gym is a big part of our athletic department and campus community. To be able to put our new branding on the floor does a lot for not only the basketball and volleyball programs, but also for our student body as they attend games and chapel,” said Faulkner University Athletic Director Hal Wynn. The center design of the court features Faulkner athletics’ primary logo while the corners of the court boast other markings from the athletic department brand guide including wing tips in each corner and the F-Wing logo on each sideline. “Anytime there are facilities upgrades it is a shot of adrenaline for the programs that use it,” said Faulkner Women’s Basketball Coach Reed Sutton. “It shows our current players and recruits that Faulkner University is committed to providing a first class facility for them to practice and play in during their career.”
“The new floor will bring a sense of pride and uniformity under the new logo and brand. While it may be a superficial change, it’s one that unites and redirects the focus on who we are really playing for,” Faulkner Volleyball Coach Tori Bartels said. “It allows a fresh new start on a floor that holds a tremendous amount of history in the foundation of all our programs while instilling pride and ‘Never Fail’ spirit.” The court design comes courtesy of Greg Hahn who created the brand identity for both the athletic department and the university at-large. While Hahn produced the floor concept, Jim Mullins of Jymz Floorz made the artistry a reality. Mullins has done gymnasium floors for 17 years, launching his own business in 2013. Over the past five years, he has done more than two dozen high school and collegiate courts.
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Fifteen-year-old Eagle Scout, Tucker Black completed his capstone Eagle Scout project by providing Faulkner University’s campus with an Eagle hangout spot for students to tie up their portable hammocks. Locating an area tucked away in the wooded area behind Brooks Hall, the Brewbaker Technology Magnet High School freshman organized his Troop 307 and his family to dig holes, haul ten-foot logs and pour concrete in order to create the hangout spot one
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Saturday morning before students returned to campus. Positioned to create three triangles and hang a total of nine hammocks, the poles and chains can hold up to 1,000 pounds each. Tucker was inspired with the idea after visiting a campground in Tennessee that had a similar arrangement. Tucker is the son of Faulkner College of Business professor and department chair, Rayla Black.
Alumni Spotlight
Selma Born and Raised
Two Lawyers Navigate Justice Reform and Community Service by Rebecca Burylo Born and raised in Selma, Alabama, Faulkner Law graduates and attorneys Kameisha Logan’s and Donavon McGuire’s roots go deep into the Southern clay of the historic town. It’s where the civil rights movement Donavon McGuire met a turning point on the Edmund Pettus Bridge decades ago and where they continue the work of criminal justice reform, legal education and advocating for their neighbors inside the courtroom.
“I make sure every client is treated like they’re my family. I want to represent them in the same way I would want any lawyer to represent my family member; with passion and with everything I Kameisha Logan have. Many times, the people who come to me are not as privileged as other people and just because they don’t have a large income doesn’t mean they should forfeit the right to justice and proper representation.”
It’s this setting that lends a backdrop to their work in continuing to provide legal services for the underserved and provide a voice to the voiceless.
Working with Legal Services Alabama allowed Logan to take part in forums that teach citizens about tenant laws, elder law and how to understand the law to their benefit and protection. She hopes to continue that with her own firm.
“When I decided to go to Faulkner Law, my passion was criminal defense work and reform and helping be a voice for those who are wrongly convicted so everyone is treated equally,” Logan said. “Practicing law now for a year has not dimmed my passion, it has only broadened my view of law and the need for family law and mediation. What’s the point of having a law degree if I can’t make a difference in someone’s life?” In August, Logan successfully opened her own law firm at the age of 26, after working for the nonprofit organization, Legal Services Alabama in the Selma office where she represented clients in civil matters at no cost. Opening the doors of her own office will allow her the freedom to take cases where she is needed most. “As a lawyer, you see people at the lowest point of their lives and they are in need of our help,” Logan said. “What I learned working in Selma, is how to help people who are less fortunate so they are not taken advantage of by the system and they can go home at night and not worry about a big legal bill.”
“Forums are a great way to educate people on voting rights, what a will is and power of attorney and give them insight into estate planning, what to do in a traffic stop and what they should do in case a police officer insists on searching their home. I don’t want them to be taken advantage of just because they don’t know the law and what their rights are,” Logan said. Legal Services’ Selma office is where 31-year-old McGuire also got his start as a new attorney right out of law school. Providing legal representation at no cost and educating his community on civil matters is what he loves most about working there. “It has been a great experience for me and I’m so humbled to work here, especially as a new attorney. Legal Services has provided me a great mentor in my managing attorney, Elizabeth Hollie. Legal Services continues to cultivate my legal career and provide me with courtroom experience right away,” McGuire said. “I really hit the ground running.”
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With Legal Services, McGuire has a lead role in their Rural Economic Improvement Program (REIP) where he travels across several counties in rural Alabama providing access to legal representation and educating citizens of their rights. “We want to break those barriers to civil representation,” McGuire said. “The Constitution grants you legal representation in criminal matters, but not so much in civil matters. That’s where we step in and help those who are indigent and in need of representation and legal services. Through REIP and other seminars on wills and trusts, healthcare directives and other matters we empower the people. Even if the information we provide doesn’t affect someone personally, it affects their neighbors, a church member they know or a friend. I’ve been fortunate to be a part of that.” McGuire also takes part in Legal Services’ Lawyer for a Day program that allows him to go to court and provide someone’s legal representation for the day free of charge. “That is a very rewarding program because it’s hard to go up against another attorney by yourself and we want our community to make sound and informed decisions,” he said. As a student at Faulkner Law, he was president of the law school’s Ernestine S. Sapp Chapter of Black Law Students Association (BLSA) when the chapter was named the National BLSA Medium Chapter of the Year in 2019. BLSA at Faulkner was established to address the community and political concerns surrounding minority law students. “I thoroughly enjoyed my time at Faulkner, working with the administrators and seeing how they embraced BLSA and diversity,” McGuire said. “Faulkner was not only close to my home in Selma, but everyone there made it feel like a home from the supportive staff, to the librarians, the custodians and the people running the Coffee Cup. They became like family to me. I could walk past the library and they would tell me, ‘It’s going to be ok. You can do it.’ It was just a great, encouraging experience.” Becoming an attorney is a long and strenuous journey, but it’s one Logan and McGuire were willing to make. It’s a dream they held since they were young, and they’ve been able to fulfill it with hard work, passion and faith. Logan always had a dream of becoming an attorney and her passion was ignited the moment she stepped into the Equal Justice Initiative in Montgomery during a trip her ninth grade year. Through the tour, she heard about those who were arrested for multiple convictions without counsel and the injustices done. She knew then she had to pursue law to do her part in reforming the justice system. In her undergraduate years, fear began to grip her as she neared her decision of which law school to attend. The thought overwhelmed her and the uncertainty of her success held her back.
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“My drive never left, but doubt and fear got a hold of me. I believe God puts people in certain positions for a reason,” Logan said. “I went to a job
fair and a representative from Faulkner Law invited me to sit in on a class. I researched the school and their bar passage rate and was very impressed. The moment I stepped into the class I instantly felt at home. I knew that I wasn’t just a number there. The professors were amazing and anytime I had a question, they were extremely approachable.” Likewise, a young McGuire held visions of becoming a judge early in his childhood. Becoming a lawyer is one step closer to that dream. “I look at the judicial system and there are plenty of gatekeepers to administer justice fairly, but a judge is the chief of gatekeepers and as a judge you want to make sure you treat people with respect because it is intimidating being in a courtroom,” McGuire said. “I want to be a face of justice, of fairness, of goodwill and all those things rolled into one. It’s more than the pay for me. My biggest concern coming from Selma is being an example to the young gentlemen from there. I want to let them know that they can achieve anything and everything they want in life.” He’s already had opportunities to go back to his middle school and high school to talk with students about his life growing up in Selma, his journey through law school and his current practice. “Coming from an area like mine, I want them to know you can overcome and become somebody the younger generation can relate to and look up to. That’s everything to me,” McGuire said. McGuire attended Tipton Middle School and Southside High School in Selma before earning a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice with a focus in legal studies from Auburn University Montgomery. He graduated from Faulkner in 2019 with a Juris Doctor and passed the Bar exam shortly after. Logan graduated from Faulkner in 2019 with two degrees, Juris Doctor and a Master of Law. She earned associate of arts and associate of science degrees while still at Selma High School in addition to earning a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice with a concentration in Juvenile Justice and a master’s in criminal justice. She interned with the District Attorney’s Office in Montgomery and the Public Defender’s Office in Montgomery and worked with the mediation clinic, elder law clinic and family violence clinic at Faulkner. She was a part of BLSA, Women Legal’s Society, Public Interest Society, Public Interest Fellow, Section B 2L senator, & Student Bar Association at Faulkner. Her faith encouraged her throughout her journey and especially in opening the doors to her law firm. “At Faulkner, I was able to take my God and my Christian faith with me and he has led me in the direction I have needed to go,” Logan said. McGuire’s Christian faith, church family and his servant’s heart have been foundational pillars as well as he navigates his legal career. “I don’t know what God holds for me, but I’m enjoying the work I’m doing. I want to gain as much experience as possible to sharpen my craft,” McGuire said. “To be a great lawyer, you need to be a better lawyer every day. As my fraternity and I like to say, service is the price you pay for the space you occupy. My heart is wrapped up in service. That’s just who I am.”
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ALUMNI NEWS
Carter, Franco, Cole and Black. Terinna (Tina) Moon (‘05) was recently elected as an Alabama State Bar commissioner for the 19th Judicial Circuit. Moon is a Prattville attorney with law office of Moon and Melvin, LLC.
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1990’s Wade Clark (‘93) is the author of “Winds Through the Mulberry Tree,” which was recently published by Christian Faith Publishing. Terina Gant (‘94) was named principal of Demopolis High School. Gant was previously the assistant principal at Pike Road High School. Bacarra Sanderson Mauldin (‘98 & ‘07) was selected as the CEO/ executive director of Chatham Area Transit in Savannah, Georgia. Prior to her selection she was the director of policy and innovation with the New Orleans Regional Transit Authority.
Bacarra Sanderson Mauldin
Allena Friday (‘99) recently completed the necessary counseling hours to become a Licensed Professional Counselor.
2000’s Carolyn Campbell-Golden (‘00), Ph.D. is the new vice president of development and alumni engagement at Washington & Jefferson College in Washington, PA. Adam Donaldson (‘01) is the director of financial aid at Faulkner University. Felicia A. Long (‘03) was recently elected as an Alabama State Bar commissioner for the 15th Judicial Circuit. Long is a Montgomery Adam Donaldson attorney with the firm of Hill, Hill,
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William Cooper
William Cooper (‘06) is the director of the MBA program at Faulkner University. For the last 12 years, Cooper served in central China as an overseas minister for the Landmark Church of Christ, and worked in higher education as a visiting instructor.
Neil Scott (‘07) completed his Ph.D. in leadership studies from the University of the Cumberlands in August 2020. Scott accepted a job with the Alabama Community College System where he serves as the director of strategic enrollment management. Michelle Kauble (‘07) the owner and director of Apple Tree Counseling, LLC, a mental health counseling private practice for children and adolescents in Northern Virginia. She is a supervisor for licensure in the state of Virginia and an active member of Northern Virginia Licensed Professional Counselor Association. Brett Thomas (‘08) spent 12 years in youth ministry before becoming a full-time firefighter at Springville Fire Department in Springville, Alabama. Joseph VanZandt (‘09 & ‘13) was recently included in the Law360 Rising Stars rankings. Law360’s Rising Stars profiles the top legal talent nationwide, younger than 40. The winners are comprised of top litigators and dealmakers practicing at a level usually seen from veteran attorneys. VanZandt is a lawyer with Beasley Allen in Montgomery.
2010’s Amanda (Thurman, ‘10) Gaines is the manager of human resources and accreditation for the Presbyterian Home for Children in Talladega, Alabama. Gaines also serves as the executive assistant for the president and the vice-president of program operations and services.
Do you or someone you know have news to be included in the next edition of the Faulkner Magazine? Send updates and photos to Robin "Bird" Bradford at rbradford@faulkner.edu. Lance Winstein (‘10) married Krista Orcutt on August 1, 2020.
Lance & Krista Winstein
Northport, Alabama.
Matthew Phillips (‘10) works with the Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services Children’s Rehabilitation Services. Phillips got his Clinical Social Work license in April. Phillips, wife Lacee, and their son live in
After serving in a contract role with the Baptist Health Care Foundation Advancement team, Haley (Itson, ‘11) Scott accepted a permanent position with Baptist Health as communications coordinator.
and senior project manager for the Alabama NAACP GEN Z initiative. In her current role, Foster is responsible for increasing the footprint of the Alabama NAACP by establishing new relationships and nurturing longstanding relationships that benefit Terra Foster the community and state at large. Ruben & Jenna Seibert
Christopher Myles (‘11) is the new principal at Calera High School, in Calera, Alabama. Previously Myles was the assistant principal at Helena Middle School. Myra Armstead (‘11) published her book “Divine Purpose” in September. Armstead is also the founder of Trunk Ministry, a nonprofit organization that provides clothes, shoes and other items to people in need. Leslie Pescia (‘13) was recently elected secretary of the American Association for Justice (AAJ) New Lawyers Division. Pescia is one of the youngest principal attorneys at Beasley Allen in Montgomery, Alabama and is the firm’s first pro bono coordinator. She has received the AAJ’s New Lawyer’s Division Excellence Award every year since 2015. Joshua Clinton Milam (‘13) is the new general counsel at Gray TV based in Montgomery, Alabama. Robert & Melissa Foster
Sam & Alexa Boshell
Sam and Alexa (Parker, ‘18) Boshell were married July 25, 2020. Alexa is the daughter of Floyd Parker, Bible professor at Faulkner, and Angel Parker, secretary for the criminal justice and legal studies department at Faulkner.
Alexa is currently working on her master’s degree in Speech and Language Pathology at Faulkner. Khalil Pope (‘18) is the new offensive quality control coach at the University of Southern Mississippi. Will and Rosemary (Tidwell, ‘18) Lewis were married May 2020. Rosemary is working as the office assistant at Gardenia Cove Mental Health in Montgomery.
Robert and Melissa (Halbert, ‘14) Foster were married on February 15th, 2020. John Mark Stephenson (‘14) is the young adult minister at the Prattville Church of Christ.
Ruben (‘18) and Jenna (Devenport) Seibert were married August 1, 2020. Ruben is the graduation representative at Faulkner. Jenna is in her last year at Faulkner as a communication sciences and disorders major.
Will & Rosemary Lewis
Terra Foster (‘15 & ‘18) was hired as the first executive director of the Alabama State Conference National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). Before assuming the role as executive director, Foster was the state political action chair
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Alfonzo Williams (‘19) is the author of “Not Here to Be Served,” which was published in 2020. Williams is the sheriff of Burke County, Georgia.
2020’s
Hahna Burney (‘19) is a legislative attorney with the Alabama Legislative Services Agency. Jonathan (‘19) and Olivia (Hatcher, ‘19) Sargent were married May 30, 2020.
Dave & Laney Chesterman
Dave (‘20) and Laney (Eden, (‘19 & ‘20) Chesterman were married on August 7, 2020, and graduated together the next day. Dave works as a sales consultant at TruValue Homes in Alexandria, Alabama. Laney teaches 4th grade at Coldwater Elementary in Oxford, Alabama. The couple resides in Pell City.
Jaycy Nail
Jaycy Nail (‘20) is a student accounts representative at Faulkner University.
Jodie Rae Monosky
Jodie Rae Monosky (‘20) is a second grade teacher at Jefferson Christian Academy. Monosky accepted the job in May of 2020.
Jonathan & Olivia Sargent Andres & Kinsey de Torres
Andres (‘19) and Kinsey (Fickling, ‘19) de Torres were married June 27, 2020.
photo by Milly Photography
Amanda Gardner (‘19 & ‘20) is a secretary at Faulkner Birmingham.
In Memory Amanda Gardner
Megan Lee (‘19) began a new job as a victim service officer with the Montgomery District Attorney’s office on July 16, 2020.
Megan Lee
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Roianne Conner (‘87), age 68, of Pike Road, Alabama, died May 25, 2020. Conner, a well-respected Montgomery attorney, founded the Women’s Section of the Montgomery County Bar and had served as a prosecutor and Montgomery police officer, and an adjunct professor at Faulkner Law. Jess Hall, 83, of Fulshear, Texas, died August 9, 2020. Hall was a member of Faulkner’s board of trustees starting in 1990, and serving as chairman from 2003 - 2008. Faulkner awarded an honorary doctorate of human letters to Hall in 2008 for his service to the school and the community.
Future Eagles The Woodasons
We are looking for Baby Eagles!
Charles Brown
David (‘05) and Brooke (Conway, ‘07) Brown and big brother Lincoln welcomed a baby boy, Charles Oliver to the family on May 5, 2020.
Hinton Horn
David (‘13) and Emily (Irwin, ‘15) Woodason and big sister Adeline, welcomed a baby boy, Thomas Alan, to the family on May 29, 2020.
Hinton Horn (‘16) is Faulkner University’s new assistant dean for spiritual life & chapel programs. He will be the new MC for chapel services.
A Christian ministry graduate of Faulkner, and former member of Cornerstone, an acapella quartet at Faulkner, Horn is no stranger to Faulkner’s vibrant campus community. While a student, Hinton was a tech assistant for Faulkner Sports Network, led discipleship groups among students, led worship in chapel, and was a Jamboree host for several years. Prior to accepting his new role at Faulkner, Hinton served the Beltline Church of Christ in Decatur Alabama as their worship minister since 2016.
If you have recently had a baby, please send us pictures with all the details. We would love to send you a special gift and include you in the next Faulkner Magazine! You can update your information at www.faulkner.edu and click on Alumni & Friends.
Robin “Bird Bird”” Bradford rbradford faulkner.edu
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THOMAS GOODE JONES SCHOOL OF LAW
Three Faulkner Law graduates received the President’s Award at a recent Alabama State Bar meetings: Ryan Duplechin, for his work with the Alabama Young Lawyers, Peyton Faulk (‘08) for her work with the Montgomery County Bar Volunteer Lawyers Program, providing pro bono legal services to members of the Montgomery area community, and Gibson Vance (‘93) received the award for establishing the nonprofit Lawyers Render Service, Inc. which will establish an automobile tag program for the Alabama State Bar to raise funds to assist attorneys with hardships in the State of Alabama. Vance was recently selected as the Alabama Bar Association vice-president. In addition, he was one of five Faulkner Law graduates and lawyers with Beasley Allen in Montgomery named to The Best Lawyers in America©2021: Vance, Greg Allen (‘82), Andy Birchfield (‘91), Parker Miller (‘08) and Stephanie Monplaisir (‘11).
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Soldier, Cop Graduates from BCJ Program, Turns Childhood Hardships into Hope Although his childhood was full of hardships, James Stephens (‘18) has dedicated his life to serving and protecting the defenseless. His story is one of overcoming and he thanks the Faulkner Criminal Justice department for helping him on his journey. A year after he was born in Birmingham, Alabama in 1984, Stephens was abducted from his mother by his non-custodial father and kept in isolation for nearly 18 years of his life. The State of Alabama Center for Missing and Exploited Children issued a missing persons report for him. As a child he experienced poverty, primitive living conditions and emotional abuse as Stephens’ father kept him away from the public and on the run for many years. They eventually moved back to Alabama where Stephens earned his GED at 18. When he was 19, Stephens contacted the St. Clair County Sheriff ’s Office, told his story and left his father to begin working. He joined the Army and was assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division as an infantry paratrooper in Fort Bragg, North Carolina where he served for three years.
As a paratrooper, he served two deployments to Iraq. During one of his tours, his convoy was hit by an IED (Improvised Explosive Device.) Although he was uninjured from that attack, he decided to transfer into the Army Reserve in 2008 and still serves as a member of the Army Reserve. He is a platoon sergeant with the 450th Military Police Company in Birmingham, Alabama. He is currently a patrolman at the Oneonta Police Department. After attending an Alabama community college and graduating with two associate degrees, Stephens graduated from the Faulkner BCJ program in 2018 and plans to complete a master’s degree. His goal is to pursue a career as a professor in criminal justice or pursue management in security after retirement from his current position in law enforcement. He says he believes his life started the way it did for a purpose and it has enabled him to give hope and encouragement to children he’s encountered through his work in law enforcement who have endured hardships. He hopes his story gives them strength to embrace the negativity in their past and turn it into something good.
Stephens is married and has two young boys. He Despite his challenging upbringing, Stephens was counts his family as a tremendous blessing and determined to not let those obstacles prevent him support through the challenges he has encountered. from having a successful life. The Faulkner alumnus spoke to current students about his life, his career and his faith during the 2020 Marketplace James Stephens Faith Friday Forums where he was honored as the Young Alumnus by the college of arts and sciences’ criminal justice and legal studies department. “James went through trials and obstacles most of us cannot even begin to understand, but those did not define him,” said Cathy Davis, department chair of the criminal justice and legal studies department. “He knew that God had bigger plans for him! He persevered and stayed the course to complete his education. He has served our country well through both the military and the police force.”
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Supporter Spotlight: Emma Staton by Rebecca Burylo Both Emma Dunlap Staton and her husband of 56 years, Thomas Felix Staton were pillars in the Montgomery community who dedicated their lives and much of their assets to higher education. Emma Staton’s strong faith was an instrumental part of her life. As a longtime member of Dalraida Church of Christ, she was a teacher of several women’s classes and cared deeply for her church family, her Lord and the need for Christian education. Likewise, her husband was a long time faculty member of Huntingdon College and did extensive work volunteering in Alabama prisons where he counseled inmates and served on the Alabama Board of Corrections. In the 1970s a new Alabama prison was named the Thomas F. Staton Correctional Facility in his honor. Living a modest lifestyle, the Statons accrued wealth over their lifetimes, which they were able to give generously and invest in organizations they believed in. Following her husband, who passed away in 2007, Emma Staton passed away in April 2020 at the age of 94. She left much of their remaining wealth to Faulkner through four gift annuities, where she transferred cash or property to Faulkner in exchange for a partial tax deduction and a lifetime stream of annual income. The annuities were funded by the Thomas and Emma Staton Revocable Trust to which Emma Staton received annuity payments from the date of the gift until her death. The remaining money was released to Faulkner as unrestricted funds.
Born in Brinkley, Arkansas, Emma Staton lived through the Great Depression with her family. She graduated from high school and David Lipscomb College in Nashville, Tennessee, before meeting and marrying Dr. Thomas Staton. She earned her master’s degree from George Peabody College and together, she and Thomas Staton moved to Montgomery where they continued to serve young people, their church and community. Faulkner University’s Heritage program was able to help Emma Staton decide on an estate plan that would most benefit her future and financial needs after her husband passed away. Through the Faulkner Heritage program, the university offers a wide range of different taxefficient charitable strategies that will put your assets to work and take advantage of the many tax benefits of making a gift. To learn how Faulkner can help you with your future estate planning, visit www.faulknerheritage. org and sign up for our free eNewsletter. Emma Staton
“Emma and her husband saved money because of the way they lived and in turn were able to be generous to Faulkner and other Christian universities in their later years,” said Barry Buford, Faulkner University’s estate planning officer. “She was a humble, sweet lady and I would visit her often and take her to lunch at her favorite street café downtown.” “She loved coming to our annual Faulkner lectureships and would often bring several women from the Dalraida Church of Christ with her. She felt good about giving to Faulkner and told me that she was very interested in helping train young people to preach,” he added.
Fall 2020
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Faulkner Magazine