Faulkner Magazine Fall 2021

FALL 2021

FAULKNER MAGAZINE

SHERIFF ALFONZO WILLIAMS HERE TO SERVE

COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCES

FAULKNER ADDS DOCTOR OF PHYSICAL THERAPY PROGRAM

FAULKNER ESPORTS

COMPETITION TO BEGIN FALL 2022

WELCOME TO FAULKNER MAGAZINE Editorial Staff

Schedule of events October 7

Annual Benefit Dinner Featuring Mike Pence

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Annual Don Garner Charity Golf Classic at Arrowhead Country Club

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Institute of Faith in the Academy Conference

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Homecoming Weekend

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Giving Tuesday

February Marketplace Faith Friday Forums Alumni Honors Luncheon

May 6

Annual Commencement

June 24-25

Alabama Christian College Summer Reunion

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.

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Administration President Dr. Michael D. Williams Chancellor Dr. Billy D. Hilyer

Board of Trustees

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Publisher Patrick Gregory Editor-in-chief Loren Howell Designer Angela Hardgrave Staff Writer Rebecca Burylo Contributors Dr. Todd Brenneman Madelyn Furlong Ben Tomlin

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. Todd Brenneman Dr. Charles Campbell Dr. Leslie Cowell Dr. Leah Fullman Dr. Dave Khadanga General Counsel Dr. Gerald Jones

Faulkner Magazine

Mr. Dale Kirkland, Chair Mr. Michael Eubanks, 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 Gurganus Mr. Ken Harris, Jr. Dr. John W. Hill III Dr. Mike Houts Dr. Jason Isbell Mr. Frank “Butch” Jones Mr. Bob Lee Dr. Billy Lambert Dr. Mansel Long, Jr.

Dr. Henri McDaniel Judge Carole Medley Mr. Chuck Monan Mr. Phil Norton Mr. Ted Norton Mr. David Phillips Mrs. Wilma Phillips Mr. Mike Pickens Mr. Tim Richardson Dr. Bud Stumbaugh Dr. Swaid Swaid Mr. Jon Sykes Sen. J.T. “Jabo” Waggoner Mr. Eddie Welch

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 Mr. David Howell

Ms. Libby Jones Mr. H. Louis Lester, Jr. Ms. Glenda Major Mr. Kenneth M. Shumard Mr. Robert W. Walters Ms. Anna Weeks

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Letter from the President

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Faulkner Law Graduates Serving Alabama as District Attorneys

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Esports Team Coming to Faulkner

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Elementary Ed to the Navy: Zanesha Rhodes

Faulkner Adds Doctor of Physical Therapy Program

Grace Note Show Choir Faulkner Film Society

Finding a Home at Faulkner Cyd Howard Pursuing MBA to Help Birmingham’s Underserved

Community News Alumni Spotlight Alumni News Supporter Spotlight

On the cover...

Burke County Sheriff Alfonzo Williams stands at attention outside the Faulkner Dinner Theater, where inside, he talked with current students and answered questions about his role in law enforcement during the 2021 Marketplace Faith Friday Forums (MFFF). He was honored as the MFFF College of Arts and Sciences’ Criminal Justice Department Young Alumnus of the Year.

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Letter from the President As we launched this academic year, I was reminded just how much our success relies on each other. I have been encouraged recently by the story of Erik Weihenmayer, an American athlete, adventurer, author, and motivational speaker, who reached the summit of Mount Everest on May 25, 2001.

That fact alone is not what landed him on the cover of Time Magazine or why I find his story inspiring.

Weihenmayer is blind.

Weihenmayer could never have conquered the treacherous and deadly ascent to reach the world’s tallest summit at 29,032 feet without the support of his team – men who trained him, guided him and walked every step beside him.

His climb to the top of Mount Everest is astonishing, but it’s really a metaphor for life. If we’re honest, we’re all engaged in a blind climb. We all strain to envision a future through the fog. Given our mutual disability to see the future, there’s really only one way to the top.

As we forge our way through this academic year, we go to the summit together. We are certainly not perfect, but God has trained us and he continues to train us to learn how to walk and to climb in the dark.

In this Fall 2021 edition of the Faulkner Magazine, you will find examples of our students, staff and alumni who have anchored their faith in God and have linked arms with one another in order to climb to accomplish greatness.

You will read about one of our recent graduates, Zanesha Rhodes who, with the support of her family, fellow education majors, teammates and devotional group, crossed the graduation stage and pursued a role serving the United States Navy.

You’ll read how our resident director, Peggy Oliver, serves the needs of our female students and encourages them with a smile, a kind word and freshly baked goods; as well as stories of nine Faulkner Law graduates who, with the support of their professors, are currently serving Alabama communities and fighting injustices as duly elected district attorneys.

Faulkner University is the sum of all of our parts.

We can accomplish much because we are not alone in this journey. We were designed by God to live in community. Let’s recognize that the pathway to the greatest potential is with our arms locked together and if we fall, we will rise together.

No Eagles left behind.

Michael D. Williams

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Faulkner Officially Adds Doctor of Physical Therapy Program to College of Health Sciences

by Rebecca Burylo Fall 2021

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l-r Ashley Walton, Cindy Laporte, Heather Mount & Chris Ireland

Making your way through the entrance into Faulkner’s newly renovated 85,000 square foot Health Science Center, you will find yourself in the student commons area. From this space you enter the expansive main hallway that is flanked on either side by classrooms, a computer lab and skills lab, and end at the office suites of the four College of Health Science programs which includes speech-language pathology (SLP), physician assistant (PA), physical therapy (PT) and occupational therapy (OT).

Faulkner completed the purchase of the Montgomery East Plaza Shopping Center in summer 2020 and began Phase I renovations that Fall. In only five months, Marshall Design-Build LLC completed Phase I which included student commons, classrooms, teaching and research labs, a simulation center, speech clinic, and faculty offices. Among the first to move into the new space were the faculty and staff of the physical therapy department which is the third of the four health science programs Faulkner is adding to its repertoire of graduate programs. The Doctor of Physical Therapy program was granted ‘Candidate for Accreditation’

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status by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) on April 27, 2021.

Classes for the inaugural cohort of 36 students in the PT program began on August 25th. The Doctor of Physical Therapy program is eight semesters long and culminates with students being prepared to sit for the National Physical Therapy Exam to obtain licensure in the profession. The program’s didactic teaching begins with foundational content including anatomy, exercise physiology, biomechanics, kinesiology, and basic examination skills. Students are then challenged as they advance through the program with ProblemBased Learning curriculum where they will work collaboratively on simulated patient case scenarios within the classroom setting. Once through the didactic curriculum, students will experience 32 weeks of fulltime clinical internships which include a variety of settings, patient populations, diagnosis, and geographic locations.

In order to make it all happen, Heather Mount, the PT program director, assembled faculty for the program

who are committed to providing an excellent education experience interwoven in a Christian environment where students will have the opportunity to live out Faulkner’s mission of being the hands and feet of Jesus Christ.

“It’s been a long journey to get to where we are now,” Mount said. “There was a lot of research to develop a strong program that meets the needs of the community and the needs for our future PT professionals. God provided the perfect people to partner with, and I’m blessed every day to work with such supportive and qualified faculty.”

Mount, Professor Cindy LaPorte and Chris Ireland, director of clinical education, have worked painstakingly to create a robust and unique PT program for Faulkner and the community over the last few years including space development, and they are eager to begin this next chapter.

“Having a dedicated space outfitted to train PT professionals was essential to the program. We have been approved for up to 50 students in each cohort and we wanted to be sure our teaching labs were state of the art,” said Ireland.

The physical therapy labs were designed and built with all the necessary equipment to create an environment similar to what students will experience when they enter the workforce and become clinicians. That equipment includes hi-lo tables, resistance training and balance equipment, cardiovascular equipment, wound care supplies, wheelchairs, anatomy models, ultrasound and e-stim machines, and the tools necessary to perform research.

place for our students to work and give back, because it’s important for them not only to find purpose as a PT professional but also to be a person who invests in their community.”

If you are interested in learning more about the new College of Health Sciences programs visit https://www. faulkner.edu. If you are interested in learning how you can support Faulkner’s growing College of Health Sciences facility and programs, or would like to make a donation to help 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 334-386-7257.

Graduation from a physical therapist education program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), is necessary for eligibility to sit for the licensure examination, which is required in all states.

Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) 3030 Potomac Ave., Suite 100, Alexandria, Virginia 22305-3085. Telephone 703-706-3245. accreditation@apta. org. Effective April 27th 2021, Faulkner University has been granted Candidate for Accreditation status by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), If needing to contact the program/institution directly, please call 334-386-7378 or email physicaltherapy@faulkner.edu.

Candidate for Accreditation is an accreditation status of affiliation with the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education that indicates the program may matriculate students in professional courses. Achievement of Candidate for Accreditation status does not assure that the program will be granted Initial Accreditation.

Phase II renovations will include a student library, expansion of classroom space, research labs, additional faculty offices, and over 20,000 square feet of dedicated space for expanding Faulkner’s pro bono clinic which will not only be for speech services, but also for pediatric and adult occupational and physical therapy services.

“In our program, we create a unique Christian environment where our focus is person-centered, interprofessional and community-service oriented, which set us apart,” Mount said. “Having practiced in rural Alabama, I know our state has a need for therapy services and when we have our pro bono clinic up and running, we’ll be able to fill that need. It will also be a

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Nine Faulkner Law Graduates Serving Alabama as District Attorneys

by Rebecca Burylo Faulkner Law strives to train individuals to be successful in the law, to serve and to do both excellently. This is evident across the state of Alabama as nine Faulkner Law graduates currently serve their communities and defend justice as district attorney (DA) in their county. The job of a DA is to represent crime victims and the community against those who break the law and prosecute criminal cases ranging from traffic violations to felony and capital cases.

Charlotte Tesmer Charlotte Tesmer, serves as district attorney for the Second Judicial Circuit which includes Butler, Crenshaw and Lowndes Counties and was in the first graduating class of Jones School of Law in 1985. At that time, Jones was meeting on Huntingdon College’s campus before the school moved to its permanent home on Faulkner’s Montgomery campus.

“At Jones, we had many good professors who were actively practicing in different areas of law,” Tesmer said. “I discovered early on that I wanted to be a prosecutor in criminal law and was always encouraged by my professors at Jones.”

After Jones, Tesmer worked in insurance until an assistant district attorney position opened up in the Second Circuit. She worked as a prosecutor for more than fourteen years, before going into private practice in Greenville. After ten years in private practice she was appointed as district attorney to fill the remaining unexpired term of John Andrews. Upon completing that term, Tesmer was elected for her current term as District Attorney.

“We take pride in our office being a victim-based office,” Tesmer said. “We guide victims through the system the best we can and try hard to get justice for them.”

In June, Tesmer was elected to serve on the Executive Committee of the Alabama District Attorneys Association.

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T. Kirke Adams One simple letter in the mail from then Jones School of Law Dean Wendell Mitchell changed the trajectory of Adams’ life, opening the door to a career in law. Now serving as district attorney, Adams’ diploma from Jones hangs in his office in Dale County where he represents his hometown and neighboring Geneva County for the 33rd Judicial Circuit.

Adams’ childhood goal was to play Major League Baseball, but after playing at Huntingdon College and realizing that wasn’t feasible, his father, an attorney, suggested law. It wasn’t until he took his first class at Jones that he became excited about the prospect of a legal profession.

“My professors opened my eyes to how many different avenues a law degree could send you down,” Adams said. “Every professor really seemed to care about teaching us and it made me want to pursue law more and more.”

Adams was admitted to the Alabama State Bar in April 1997 and practiced law in the firm of Adams, Spivey & Adams from 1997 until January 2005. He later defeated four opponents in his election as district attorney for the 33rd Judicial Circuit.

“As a DA, the most rewarding aspect is being able to help those who can’t help themselves,” Adams said. “When a child is abused, we’re able to provide justice for them. That’s a different level of satisfactionknowing you’ve done something to help children.”

Jeremy Douglas Duerr Getting justice for those who cannot defend themselves, especially children, is why Duerr is passionate about the law and why he serves as district attorney for the citizens of Tallapoosa, Macon, Chambers and Randolph Counties in the 5th Judicial Circuit.

“One of my first trials was a child sex case. I saw firsthand how that traumatic experience affected the life of the victim and how they were looking to me to bring closure to the situation,” Duerr said. “After we found the suspect guilty, that child looked at me and said, ‘Thank you for believing in me and for getting justice for me.’ I’ve never looked at a case the same way again.

I knew then and there this was what I was supposed to be doing.”

Duerr graduated from Jones in 2003. Jones offered an evening program that enabled Duerr to work full time and still earn his law degree. Duerr managed his family’s convenience store during the day and commuted to Montgomery in the evenings for classes.

“Looking back on that time, I realize working with my customers helped me in the profession I am in now and am better equipped to communicate with clients and jurors,” Duerr said.

After graduating and passing the bar exam, Duerr was hired at the DA’s office in Alexander City as assistant DA and he’s been with the office ever since.

“I thought that I would work in the DA’s office, get experience and move on to something else,” Duerr said.

“It didn’t take long to realize that this was what I was meant to do. Seventeen years later and I’m still here.”

Daryl Bailey Bailey is Montgomery County’s district attorney for the 15th Judicial Circuit.

He graduated from Jones in 1996 and was elected Student Bar Association president while he was a student. He tried 23 jury trials as a third year law student and interned with the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office.

“I am a very proud alumnus of Jones School of Law. The education I received from this awesome institution fully prepared me to practice law and made me a better person,” Bailey said. “The faculty is top notch and invested so much in me not only as a student but as a person.”

After graduation, he worked as a trial attorney, served as supervisor of Violence Against Women Prosecution Unit, and then as deputy district attorney. Bailey was then hired as executive assistant to the district attorney and then as chief deputy district attorney in 1997.

When former Montgomery County District Attorney Ellen Brooks announced her retirement in 2014, she was replaced by Bailey following his appointment by Governor Robert Bentley.

Joseph Willoughby Willoughby thought he was going to pursue baseball, but his career journey took him down another road. One that would lead to becoming the district attorney of Etowah County with the 16th Judicial Circuit.

An elbow injury prevented Willoughby from pursuing a professional career in ball. He considered pursuing business but decided to take the Law School Admission Test and was accepted into Faulkner Law. After receiving his law degree from Jones in 2006, Willoughby began his law practice and was appointed municipal judge in Southside and Glencoe, where he served as defense counsel for Gadsden Municipal Court. He was later appointed by Governor Robert Bentley as district attorney, after the death of District Attorney Jimmie Harp.

Patrick Jones III Jones is the district attorney of the 20th Judicial Circuit for Houston and Henry Counties.

Jones enrolled at Faulkner Law in 1994. He graduated and passed the bar exam in 1998. He then began working as an assistant district attorney of the 20th Judicial Circuit, prosecuting cases in both Henry and Houston Counties.

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Jones worked in the district attorney's office from May 1998 until February 2000. In March of 2000, he went into private practice as a solo practitioner until 2005.

He remained a shareholder of Sherrer, Jones & Terry P.C. and was the managing member of Patrick B. Jones LLC until he was elected as the district attorney in 2016.

Stephen Billy Billy started out as a florist, working in a flower shop during college and later opening his own shop, The Flower Box, in Brewton, Alabama.

It was during this time when he decided to enroll at Faulkner, complete his undergraduate degree and continue his education at Faulkner Law. He graduated from Jones in 1997.

He worked in the district attorney’s office after graduation around the time the office received a domestic violence grant. He was offered the job to be prosecutor for that department.

In 2005, Billy was sworn in to succeed Mike Godwin as district attorney.

Billy currently serves as district attorney for Escambia County in the 21st Judicial Circuit.

Andrew Hamlin Hamlin graduated from Jones in 2006 and is now the district attorney for the 24th Judicial Circuit of Alabama that serves Pickens, Lamar, and Fayette Counties.

Governor Kay Ivey appointed him to the position in November 2018.

Before the appointment, Hamlin served as an assistant district attorney and chief assistant district attorney for more than 12 years under his predecessor, the Honorable J Chris McCool.

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After graduating with a degree in public relations, Hamlin began looking at law schools and toured Faulkner’s campus at the time Jones was undergoing accreditation. He was impressed by what he saw.

“I knew they were godly men there and that Jones would be the best place to prepare me for practicing law,” said Hamlin.

“My professors knew my name, where I was from and they created an environment where I felt comfortable and prepared for a career in law and taught me how to communicate in adversarial situations,” said Hamlin.

After earning his Juris Doctor and passing the bar, Hamlin was hired to work for the DA office under McCool.

“I’ve been with the office, going on 15 years,” Hamlin said. “I fell in love with the fact that our job is to do the right thing. I don’t care about conviction rates, I only care about reaching the right outcome where justice is best served. That’s our job and I know God led me here for that reason.”

After eight years, he became chief assistant and was later appointed DA. Steven Wadlington Wadlington is the district attorney for the 35th Judicial Circuit, which includes Conecuh and Monroe counties. He graduated from Jones in 1978.

Wadlington came into his position after the former DA, Tommy Chapman, stepped down. Wadlington was serving as Chapman's chief assistant at the time and was appointed by Governor Robert Bentley to fill out Chapman's term as district attorney which ended in January 2017, and continues to serve the area today.

Esports Team Coming to Faulkner

by Rebecca Burylo Faulkner University is excited to announce plans for a new esports team scheduled to begin competition in the fall of 2022!

Esports, organized video game competitions, is exploding in popularity at high schools, colleges and universities around the country. Since competitions are virtual, they can be broadcast online for viewers to watch around the world.

Faulkner has recognized esports as a great opportunity to attract prospective students and hopes to be a part of building it into an established competitive collegiate sport.

Much like early college football, esports is growing from a grassroots effort where gaming guidelines, competition schedules and player formats are agreed upon with mutual cooperation between opposing teams.

Organized under the Faulkner athletics department, Faulkner esports is scheduled to launch by the fall of 2022. Renovations and development of the new esports arena should be completed by December 2021.

Faulkner’s plans are to establish an official esports varsity team. Unlike traditional sports, esports is a participant sport that anyone can play.

“Esports is in high demand right now among high schools, and it’s growing at an incredible rate among colleges and universities,” said Mark Hunt, vice president for enrollment management. “Esports is something you can participate in from anywhere in the world, and we already have a large number of students on campus who have expressed interest in participating and growing the sport.”

In addition to baseball, basketball, football and other sporting games, students participated in Nintendo’s Super Smash Bros. and Mario Kart as well as traditional esports games such as League of Legends, Overwatch, and Rocket League.

“Getting in on the ground level of esports is a good draw,” Colquitt said. “Esports has blossomed over the pandemic and is becoming a really big deal. There are large monetary prizes at the tournament levels, which have been featured on ESPN.” Faulkner’s esports arena would also be able to host other esports tournaments for local high schools and surrounding areas. A space inside the Multiplex has been designated for the arena and will include new computers, monitors, gaming chairs, desks, special lighting, production equipment and a live viewing area along with outside viewing areas.

Esports teams can include up to six players at a time, smaller teams or individual tournaments, depending on the game.

According to NewZoo, a gaming analytics company, the fan base for esports is expected to include nearly 729 million people by the end of 2021, a 10% increase from 2020.

Prospective students interested in esports should contact the admissions office at 334-386-7200 or inquire by email to admissions@faulkner.edu.

During the spring 2021 semester, students on Faulkner’s Montgomery campus organized small local esports events and hosted esports tournaments with cooperation from Caleb Colquitt, resident director.

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Students Anna Wakefield, Angelina Guilbert, Scott Richardson, Caleb Harris, Ken Turrentine, Peyton Osborn, Emma Wilber, Abigail Sikes and Sarah Hardgrave participating in Homecoming Jam

Grace Note Show Choir

by Rebecca Burylo Melding their passions of music and theater with their love for the Lord, a group of students calling themselves Grace Note banded together to form Faulkner’s first ever student-led show choir.

Finding a place like Faulkner where she was encouraged to boldly proclaim her faith while also exploring her interests was what first appealed to Guilbert when coming to campus.

Emerging during a time when events and activities were being canceled one after another, Grace Note filled the void and provided an outlet for students to do what they love: perform.

Since Grace Note is student-organized, they schedule their own practice times, pick their own songs and brainstorm their own choreography. However, they do have a faculty sponsor, Faulkner’s Marching Eagles band director, Stephen Foster.

Playing off the name of the musical notation, the group chose its name for its literal ties to music composition as well as its allegorical reference to grace.

“Grace note is a musical term, but it also points to the grace we find as Christians in Jesus Christ,” said Angelina Guilbert, the organizer of Grace Note. “We’re all about Jesus, so it all tied in.”

Typically, show choir combines song and harmony with fun and synchronized choreography and the art is becoming more and more common in school competitions.

Guilbert loved singing and theater in high school and wanted to continue those interests when she enrolled at Faulkner. Although she joined the Faulkner Chorus, she also wanted to form a group that could perform more contemporary songs and pull in her love of the stage.

The group currently has nearly a dozen members. Her hope is to grow the group in order to perform larger numbers, similar to those found in popular Broadway musicals.

“We were looking to do something different. Show choir is not like a regular choir. We move around on stage, use props and incorporate some theatrics,” Guilbert said.

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“Angelina approached me in the past year about starting a show choir because it’s a different kind of music they can’t get anywhere else on campus,” Foster said.

“Students need opportunities to express themselves in as many ways as possible. A show choir gives them variety in genre.”

“I told her if she got a group together, I would help them get the music and let them sing in our regularly scheduled concerts,” Foster added.

Guilbert gathered a group from those already singing with her in the chorus and who were interested in branching out into other genres of music. They debuted at the Swingin’ Eagles Sweetheart Concert where they got the crowd involved by tossing a beach ball into the audience.

They have since performed in the Faulkner Spring Concert as well as Homecoming Jam. The group is looking forward to expanding this year. Grace Note is open to anyone on campus who is interested in joining. They are also accepting any interested musicians.

Email Guilbert for more information at angelina. guilbert@faulkner.edu.

Faulkner Film Society

by Ben Tomlin

The Faulkner Film Society was founded to create an environment of entertainment and interaction on campus for students beyond the classroom.

Jason Jewell of Faulkner’s humanities department began the Faulkner Film Society approximately sixteen years ago. “I was interested in starting [a film society] because when I was a graduate student at Florida State University, I taught a film class,” Jewell said. He was disappointed when he learned Faulkner students had no way of experiencing classic cinema and wanted to change that. After discussing his hopes with a number of different faculty members of the fine arts department, they decided to put together their own film society for Faulkner students.

When the society began, Jewell said it “focused on films from the Golden Age of cinema—stuff from the 30s and the 40s primarily.” No matter the conditions under which they met, Jewell and the film society leaders have always aimed to create an experience for Faulkner students where they were not just watching and learning about classic films but discussing them as well.

Movies showcased in past years include: “Casablanca,” “The Philadelphia Story” and “The Wizard of Oz.” “Hitchcock is always good,” Jewell said when recalling the film society’s showing of “Strangers on a Train.”

During fall semesters, the society has shown classic monster movies, such as Universal Studios’ “Dracula” (1931). Jewell includes a classic short film for his students before the feature film. “Sometimes it’s

something like a Bugs Bunny cartoon … but then also I would show something like a Charlie Chaplin short.”

In recent years, with a renewed interest in the society, Jewell and his colleagues have broadened the society’s showcase. Since they have been able to meet more often, the society has expanded its offerings. “This past fall,” Jewell explained, “a documentary from the American Enterprise Institute on Christians in politics that was called ‘For Love of Neighbor’ [was shown].”

Jewell said the film was suited to the political climate of 2020. Jewell assured that the goal of the Faulkner Film Society has been to “acquaint the students with classic film, especially those who probably have not had a lot of exposure [to them] before.”

The film society staff are currently discussing which classic films to show this fall and spring.

Although not directly connected, Jewell also encouraged students to participate in the Faulkner Film Festival, an event held during the spring semester of 2021, which showcased short films created by Faulkner students. The films were viewed and judged by faculty and students during the event. The event was successful in bringing students together to make and view each other's films. Hopefully, next year's film festival will attract even more students, because above all, these events bring a sense of community and entertainment to the Faulkner campus, something Jewell, his film society and everyone at Faulkner hopes to foster among students.

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Finding a Home at Faulkner

by Madelyn Furlong Oliver is known for these small personal touches, and she continues to foster a caring environment throughout the school year. She often sits at the desk in the lobby to let students know she’s there for them and wants to get to know them better. As each student passes, she greets them with a smile and asks how their day is going, always willing to provide a listening ear or words of wisdom.

Students quickly learn they can come to her when they have a problem, need advice or simply want to talk.

Her friendly face alone is enough to brighten their day.

Sometimes she leaves baked goods at the desk to give them an extra boost of encouragement. “I just want them to know we’re here for them, and we want to see them succeed,” Oliver said.

Peggy Oliver

“Home sweet home” is what Peggy Oliver hopes the freshman girls call the Margaret Berry Harris Residence Hall. Resident director of Harris dorms for eight years, Oliver goes above and beyond to welcome students to their new home.

Much thought and planning go into making freshmen girls feel comfortable and cared for as they undergo this major life change. Before students step foot on campus, their doors are decorated with nameplates, and goody bags are packed with highlighters and pens, coupons from local restaurants and even homemade chocolate chip cookies. “We just want to help them get started,” Oliver said, hoping these practical, everyday items will give them a head start.

One of Oliver’s favorite parts about a new school year is seeing the new students excited about coming to Faulkner. Making students feel at home and forming relationships with them is why she became a resident director in the first place and why she continues to enjoy her job.

At the beginning of each school year, Oliver and her resident advisors decide on an encouraging theme. This year’s theme, “humble and kind,” was incorporated into t-shirt designs, water bottle logos, and notepads, all of which were included in their goody bags on move-in day.

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Even though the school year is busy with homework and athletic events, Oliver and her resident advisors coordinate activities, plan game nights and paint parties, and other fun events to help the girls get to know each other. For the residents’ birthdays, Oliver helps them celebrate with cupcakes at the end of the month, and at Christmas, they always have a holiday party with Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus as their special guests.

When the school year draws to a close and the girls get ready to leave for the summer, Oliver and her resident advisors throw a party to reflect on the past year and say goodbye to their new friends and community.

Oliver considers building a strong sense of community one of the most important aspects about her role as resident director, and she wants to give freshmen every opportunity to get involved, make new relationships, and flourish.

Cyd Howard Pursuing MBA to Help Birmingham’s Underserved

by Rebecca Burylo Cyd Howard, front row, second from the right, sits among women with the Keep On St3pping with Quiet Storm LLC

Cyd Howard is determined to further her education and earn her Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree from Faulkner in order to advance her career and help the underserved of Birmingham. She is on track to achieve her goal as the proud recipient of ZONTA International’s Jane M. Klausman (JMK) Women in Business Scholarship & Philanthropic Educational Organization (PEO) Program for Continuing Education Grant.

Zonta International’s (JMK) Women in Business Scholarship program was established in 1998 to help women pursue undergraduate and master’s degrees in business management and overcome gender barriers from the classroom to the boardroom.

The PEO Program for Continuing Education Grant is a need-based grant program providing financial assistance to women whose education has been interrupted and who find it necessary to return to school to complete a degree or certification that improves their marketable skills for employment to support themselves or their families.

Howard enrolled in Faulkner’s Executive MBA program after earning her Bachelor’s Degree in Business with an emphasis in Health Administration from Faulkner in May 2021.

“My education is one of my top priorities; I refuse to quit,” Howard said. “I believe that the proper educational credentials will aid me in advancing my career as well as continuing to break the glass ceiling and rising as a successful female business owner.”

She is currently an administrative coordinator for the

marketing department at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama and is in charge of the nonprofit, Keep On St3pping with Quiet Storm LLC (KOSQS). KOSQS provides help centers in the underserved areas of Birmingham. Service is a main reason why Howard decided to pursue her MBA. “Recognizing the need for volunteer help centers in Birmingham, I decided to get up, get educated and get active,” Howard said. “I saw the need for safe havens for domestic violence victims and the increasing need to recognize and help rescue human trafficking victims. I began to provide well-being, vocational, and quality of life services to help participants manage diabetes, heart disease, and arthritis through diet and exercise coupled with their current treatments.”

Howard returned to school after 35 years of taking classes intermittently to complete her bachelor’s degree at Faulkner. As a single mother, her undergraduate degree was put on hold to raise her family.

“While I know that I cannot help everyone, I would like to reach as far as my knowledge, education and determination will take me,” Howard said.

“I appreciate being affiliated with a Christian university.

In other schools, I felt my desires to include Christianity in my studies were smothered. Here at Faulkner, I experienced the welcoming of Christian-based learning.”

“The instructors are inviting and approachable and the curriculum is relevant to real work environments,” she added. “The instructors do not leave me feeling on my own with online classes; the feedback and allaround interaction has confirmed that I can acquire the education needed to make a positive impact in my business and personal life and not be afraid to call on the name of Jesus, for fear of offending others.”

She hopes that her story will encourage others who are unsure about pursuing higher education because of their age, finances or life-situation.

For more information on Faulkner’s one-year, 100% online MBA program where working adults focus on one five-week-long course at a time, visit https://www. faulkner.edu/mba.

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Zanesha Rhodes

Elementary Ed to the Navy: Zanesha Rhodes’ Journey to Becoming a Child Advocate

by Rebecca Burylo Even though 22-year old Zanesha Rhodes is the youngest of her siblings, she has a fighting spirit and a desire to protect the ones she loves that is beyond her years.

Her fierce desire to protect and defend the defenseless, especially children, has led her down a unique educational journey. One that weaves its way around elementary education, studying the law and the United States Navy.

As a May 2021 Faulkner graduate armed with her Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education, she’s been asked often how she went from elementary education

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to joining the Navy as a E3 Seaman. She was officially sworn in a week before she graduated.

“I’ve wanted to be a child advocate lawyer since I watched my first Law and Order episode,” Rhodes said. “It was about the special victims unit and portrayed courtroom scenes with a female judge and, at a young age, I knew that’s what I wanted to do.”

“Since you can go into law school with any degree, I decided a degree in elementary education would help me later on. As a student intern, I loved working in the local classrooms with children from all different backgrounds. They would share things with me about

their home life, and they found that they could rely on me. Interning at the schools really opened my eyes to children’s behaviors due to family issues, growing up in a single-parent home and other factors. The children fueled my passion even further and I know those experiences will benefit me as a child advocate later on.”

Rhodes came to Faulkner after graduating from Autaugaville High School. Once she visited campus, she saw herself as an Eagle. She played on the Junior Varsity Women’s Basketball team her freshman and sophomore years and was a part of a women’s Bible study group on campus where she learned to put aside distractions, strengthen her relationship with Christ and invest herself in her studies.

“I have friendships from Faulkner and the basketball team that will last a lifetime,” Rhodes said. “My teammates, my peers in the education department and I were all able to develop as individuals because of the connection and bonds we formed. My professors really pushed us to put our best foot forward. They really cared and wanted the best for us. It was like gaining the second family God knew I needed.”

what I wanted. The Navy will teach me life skills and it can help pay for law school.”

The Prattville native has grown up around family who love and support her and her decisions. She realized not all children are so fortunate.

“I definitely tend to put others before myself. Being in a first-responder role really changes your perspective,” Rhodes said. “I want to become the best advocate I can because I want to see children get the best out of life they can.”

Rhodes shipped out July 13 for Navy Basic Training in Illinois followed by “A School” in Texas to become a Navy Hospital Corpsman.

Zanesha Rhodes poses in her graduation regalia outside Johnson Hall, where she spent much of her time as a College of Education student

Rhodes’ family and professors were also supportive in her pursuit of a career in the military as another component to help her along her legal career. That and the fact she has always been inspired by her father, a retired fire department medic. When the opportunity to join the military came along, she saw it as an answer to prayer.

A Navy recruiter reached out to Rhodes just when she was considering a military career. The recruiter showed her the possibilities of a Navy Reservist job with the opportunity to travel and learn law enforcement.

“It was meant to happen,” Rhodes said.

“I met with her, and I felt right about it.

She really cared and seemed to know

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COMMUNITY NEWS

sustainability, environmental protection and more.

“In many ways I believe this partnership takes Faulkner right to our missional core as a distinguished Christcentered university and law school,” said Williams.

“As I think about agricultural law, it’s the foundation of a flourishing society. Ag law plays an important part in Alabama’s economy. This new pathway will allow students to explore courses in Ag law, have great research opportunities and fellowships and internships.”

Starting in spring 2022, first-year students at Faulkner Law may apply for admission to the Ag Law Pathway.

The partnering entities will select one or two students as inaugural participants in the program. Those students will begin the pathway with an internship in the summer of 2022 at the Alabama Farmers Federation.

l-r Commissioner Rick Pate, Federation President Jimmy Parnell, Faulkner President Mike Williams, and NALC Director Harrison Pittman

Faulkner Law Establishes Alabama Ag Law Pathway Faulkner University’s Thomas Goode Jones School of Law entered into an agreement with the Alabama Farmers Federation, the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industry (ADAI) and the National Agricultural Law Center (NALC) on June 1, 2021, to provide Faulkner Law students with opportunities and resources to enter the field of Agricultural Law (Ag law).

Faulkner President Mike Williams, along with Alabama Farmers Federation President Jimmy Parnell, NALC Director Harrison Pittman and Alabama Agriculture Commissioner Rick Pate gathered on campus to sign a memorandum of understanding that establishes a three-year Alabama Ag Law Pathway.

Covering a diverse spectrum of law disciplines, Ag law is a critical component of Alabama agriculture. It encompasses property law, water law, administrative law, food law and clean energy law among others in order to address crop and livestock production, food safety, land use, resource management and

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“State and federal laws have an impact on our farmers, from property law and taxation to transportation and environmental regulations,” said Parnell. “We feel confident the students selected for this program will gain lots of experience during their internship with us, and we know their knowledge and expertise will, in turn, help our farmers.”

During their second year of law school, the selected students will complete a remote research fellowship with the NALC, based in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

“This partnership is a win-win for all concerned, and not just for the partners, but for the students and the broader agricultural industry in Alabama and beyond,” said Pittman.

In the third year, the pathway will offer an internship with the ADAI in Montgomery, which may be used as a field placement credit required for graduation.

“We are excited to know that a few future law students will be given some specific training on the complexity of how laws and regulations impact our rural communities,” said Pate. “Agriculture is one of the more regulated industries and having attorneys trained in Ag law will help us all sift through what has often become confusing laws and regulations.”

Faulkner Law will offer an Agricultural Law seminar as part of the curriculum, available to law students. The Alabama Ag Law Pathway will open for applications every spring semester.

Alabama Power Foundation Awards Grant for College of Health Sciences’ Clinical Center The Alabama Power Foundation awarded Faulkner University a generous grant toward its new College of Health Sciences and the l-r Wayne Baker, Mike Jordan, Leslie Sanders future autism and Mike Williams clinical center through its Health and Human Services, The Energy to Thrive grant.

The grant was presented to Faulkner President Mike Williams on April 20, 2021 by executives of Alabama Power Company, Leslie Sanders, vice president of the Southern Division and Mike Jordan, external affairs manager.

Since 1989, the Alabama Power Foundation has supported Alabama communities, educational institutions and nonprofits through more than 20,000 grants and scholarships using non-ratepayer dollars.

The grant funds will be used to build, equip and furnish Faulkner’s pro bono clinical center including the clinic simulation lab in order to increase the quantity and quality of the free therapy services provided.

“As a result of this grant, Faulkner University will expand our pro bono clinic services by building a larger clinical facility and purchasing equipment so that we can provide free services to underserved individuals throughout central and southern Alabama,” said Faulkner Vice Chancellor Wayne Baker.

A comprehensive, interdisciplinary autism center will be established when all health science degree programs are in place. Currently, the speech-language pathology program is providing a daily clinic to patients and their families free to the public. With the addition of physical and occupational therapy programs the university will provide free services to patients of all ages with a wide range of diagnoses along the autism spectrum.

In June 2020, Faulkner purchased the Montgomery East Plaza Shopping Center on Atlanta Hwy to house the Health Science Center, including the clinical center and

future autism center which will offer speech therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and physician assistant services.

The clinic, operated by the College of Health Sciences, serves two purposes- educating students to become healthcare providers and serving the community with pro bono healthcare services. The healthcare services are provided by students, under the mentorship and watchful eye of professors who are licensed healthcare practitioners.

In order to properly prepare students to treat patients in the Faulkner Clinic, Faulkner has also built a clinic simulation lab. This space allows professors and students to run healthcare simulations prior to the student seeing a patient.

Kearley Graduate School of Theology to Explore Innovation with Lilly Endowment Funding Faulkner University recently received a $50,000 grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. through its Pathways for Tomorrow Initiative.

The Indianapolis-based foundation established Pathways for Tomorrow to help theological schools strengthen and sustain their capacities to prepare and support pastoral and ministry leaders for Christian churches. Leaders with the university’s Kearley Graduate School of Theology (KGST) will direct the planning effort, which will support KGST in identifying the school’s most pressing needs and potential innovations to help meet them.

“The grant provided will be used to help KGST explore challenges and opportunities that theological programs accredited by the Association of Theological Schools (ATS) face,” said Todd Brenneman, Ph.D. dean of Faulkner’s V.P. Black College of Biblical Studies and director of research and professional development. “The grant will also help provide a foundation for improving our programs, increase student recruitment, and better prepare future and current ministers.”

Through the three-phase Pathways initiative, Lilly Endowment seeks to assist theological schools in the United States and Canada accredited by ATS in exploring emerging challenges and opportunities facing their institutions, gaining clarity about mission,

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assessing the effectiveness of their educational strategies and financial operations and designing and implementing plans to address those challenges and opportunities.

Cambridge University Press Publishes New Book by Faulkner Law Professor Faulkner Law’s Jeffrey B. Hammond and Helen M. Alvaré of George Mason University’s Antonin Scalia Law School had their newest book, “Christianity and the Laws of Conscience: An Introduction,” published by Cambridge University Press. The book is the latest volume in the “Cambridge Studies in Law and Christianity” series.

Hammond and Alvaré’s book explores the topic of conscience in Christianity from historical, theoretical, and topical perspectives. It works to define conscience, which remains a foundational theme in both Christian ethics and law. In exploring this topic, this volume reveals similar and different understandings among several Christian traditions.

This latest publication is an edited collection of cuttingedge chapters by a heavy-hitting lineup of authors. In addition to co-authoring an introduction, Hammond and Alvaré authored separate chapters, and Faulkner Law’s Michael J. DeBoer, associate dean for academic affairs, also contributed a chapter.

“Professors Hammond and Alvaré have assembled a volume that scholars will consult for many years to come regarding the subject of conscience.” said Charles B. Campbell, dean of Faulkner Law. Hammond is an associate professor of law at Faulkner Law. He joined the law school faculty in 2007.

Faulkner University Welcomes New Chief of Police Faulkner leadership announced David Fowler as the university’s new chief of police. He began his new role on June 1, 2021.

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David Fowler

The announcement follows Phillip Calvert’s decision to step down after serving as chief of police for three years.

He will remain a part of the campus safety and police team at Faulkner Huntsville.

“During his 3-year-tenure as chief, Calvert has significantly enhanced several key areas within our police department such as the hiring of additional and highly qualified officers, enhancing resources, and improving safety protocol and campus communications,” said Jean-Noel Thompson, vice president of student services. “We are truly grateful for the commitment, leadership, and countless hours Philip Calvert has given toward providing safe campuses for all of us to enjoy.”

Fowler has served as a police officer for Faulkner and has more than 25 years of experience as a professional law enforcement officer, most of which has been served in various positions of leadership for the City of Prattville Police Department.

“Chief Fowler is a man of faith who enjoys engaging with and serving all members of our community,” Thompson said. “Chief Fowler’s vast experience as a high-ranking supervisor, trainer and investigator, combined with his highly personable demeanor, brings much to our safety efforts within our Faulkner campus communities.”

The Faulkner Police serve the Faulkner community by providing professional law enforcement and emergency response services around the clock, every day of the year. In close cooperation with the Montgomery Department of Public Safety, professionally trained officers are continuously available to answer calls for service and to respond to any emergency on campus.

Brenneman Appointed as Dean of V.P. Black College of Biblical Studies Todd M. Brenneman was selected as the new dean of the V.P. Black College of Biblical Studies after Scott Gleaves stepped down from serving as dean at the end of the spring 2021 semester.

“I am excited for this new opportunity. The college is a vital part of Faulkner University's aspiration to be a leading Christian university. I see this as a great challenge filled with tremendous opportunity,” Brenneman said. “The Todd Brenneman V. P. Black College of Biblical Studies touches the lives of all Faulkner students. It represents what Faulkner was, is, and can be. I look forward to building on the excellent work of previous deans and taking the college to greater successes. Knowledge of and love for the Word of God is important now, just as it has always been.”

Brenneman previously served as undergraduate department chair of Bible and professor of Christian history in the V. P. Black College of Biblical Studies and the Kearley Graduate School of Theology. He received a master’s degree in Christianity from Harding University Graduate School of Religion (now Harding School of Theology). He also received a master’s degree and Ph.D. in American religious history from Florida State University.

Brenneman is the author of “Homespun Gospel: The Triumph of Sentimentality in American Evangelicalism” (Oxford University Press, 2014) and additionally has written book chapters on children and religion, as well as, book reviews in the journals Church History: Studies in Christianity and Culture, the Journal of American History, the Journal of Southern History, and others. His teaching and research interests are the study of the history of Christianity (particularly in the United States), religion and emotion, religious thought, and children and religion.

Three Esteemed Faculty Members Retire Faulkner University recently said goodbye to three retiring faculty members, Barbara Kelly, Don Myers and Al Schlundt.

Kelly served in various roles at the Gus Nichols Library for 25 years. She celebrated her retirement from Faulkner as director of libraries surrounded by her friends, colleagues and family on May 21, 2021 as

guests signed large library cards, and gave thoughtful well-wishes.

Kelly also served as a tenured professor and taught informatics with Faulkner’s Department of Computer Sciences from 2012 – 2018.

“I’ve loved the people, the students and working in such a loving and caring environment. You can’t ask for a better environment to work in,” Kelly added.

Barbara Kelly

Now that Kelly is retired, she plans to spend more time volunteering at her church in Highland Home, teaching a ladies’ class and spending time with her siblings and her children and five grandchildren.

Myers retired after 18 years teaching Biblical studies.

“At the end of the semester I would tell students if they wanted to give their lives to the l-r: Scott Gleaves, Don & Judy Myers one we’ve been discussing all year, the Lord, then all they had to do was seek the Lord in repentance, give their lives over to Him and be baptized in the name of Christ,” Myers said, “and many students did.”

His work with students, training them as preachers, was the precursor to the Vanguard program, a way for Myers to prepare aspiring preachers with practical skills and equip them with mission field experience they would need in the ministry.

Looking back on his time at Faulkner, Myers is proud to have worked with such esteemed colleagues who inspired him, he said.

“Being around my fellow professors has always been a wonderful experience,” Myers said. “Our Bible department is full of intelligent, wise, godly men.”

Myers holds a bachelor’s degree in history and sociology and a Master of Science degree in college counseling from the University of Southern Mississippi, and a Master of Arts in Bible from Amridge University.

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Myers and his wife Judy plan to move to Mississippi to spend time with their children and grandchildren.

Myers intends to write in his retirement and continue serving the Lord.

Schlundt served on the faculty of Faulkner’s Department of Natural and Physical Sciences since 1995, serving as chair of the department from 2002-2016 and as interim chair from 2019-2021. Schlundt retired in April.

Jeff Arrington & Al Schlundt

He enjoyed his work at Faulkner and helped build the university’s science department from a staff of two to the robust and competitive department that it is now.

The department helped lay the foundation for the university’s College of Health Sciences.

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“When I came, it was only Dr. Rampersad and I with E.J. Turner teaching part-time as an assisting professor. Rampersad taught chemistry and I handled biology and until Brooks Hall was renovated, we were working with equipment from the 1950s,” Schlundt said. “It’s been nice to have had a hand in the growth of the department over the years, bringing in more faculty and expanding our areas of science to include biochemistry. Growth has come in the form of students who are interested in medical fields and now here we have speech-language pathology, physician assistant and physical therapy to offer them.”

The Schlundts have three grown sons, Walter, Walden and Westley who all have families of their own. They all graduated from Faulkner. Schlundt and Terri plan to move back to Orlando, Florida where he looks forward to sailing on Lake Bessie, traveling and spending time with his children and soon to be four grandchildren.

Schlundt also has plans to finish his adventure saga for Christian young adults he began writing over a decade ago during his summer breaks at Faulkner.

Alumni Spotlight

Alfonzo Williams

Sheriff Alfonzo Williams: Here to Serve, Not to Be Served

by Rebecca Burylo Eight-year-old Alfonzo Williams looked outside his window in public housing and could see his neighbors fighting. He then watched in awe as the police officers who were dispatched to his neighborhood garnered respect and restored order.

in Christ, the support of his mother and a Faulkner education to being the man he is today.

At an early age, Faulkner alumnus Williams knew he wanted to wear the uniform and walk the thin blue line.

“Becoming a sheriff has been a lifelong dream for me,” Williams said. “I grew up poor as one of seven kids to a single mother and all throughout my life, I watched my mother, who made mistakes, turn her life around. I adopted her personal outlook on living a life of service.”

From growing up in a single-parent home where indoor plumbing and casual comforts were in short supply, then moving to the city surrounded by domestic violence, to finally achieving his dream of becoming sheriff, Sheriff Williams attributes his faith

“She brought us up in the admonition of the Lord,” Williams added. “No matter how little we had, it was enough to say grace over, she would say. When we were struggling to make ends meet, we always said grace and went to church. Growing up, we knew

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His experience that comes from over three decades in law enforcement was called upon during the violent riots in the summer of 2020 following the death of George Floyd and the shooting death of Rayshard Brooks. Williams reached out to news outlets to provide candid insight into law and order and justice and how he promotes community policing in his department. His voice has been broadcast several times on CNN, Fox News and other media outlets as one of reason and truth during a time of racial unrest.

“I have a saying in the agency, that our job in the community starts before the crisis ever begins,” Williams said. “In community policing, we are building relationships and partnerships up front, being transparent and establishing trust and showing commitment to one another.

We are not here to be served by people, but to serve people. If we keep that the focus, it becomes evident to others that we do care.”

His ideology stems from those early days of seeing how the officers served his housing complex and how his mother raised him to be accountable to a higher authority. He says he’s blessed to be in such a career.

Christ died so we could live eternally. And like Christ, my mother has a servant-heart and attended daily to the needs of others. I remember the pound cakes she would bake to uplift those who were down and out, even when she had nothing.”

In his career and in his life, Williams adopted the same purpose - to serve others. He’s even been known to bake a pound cake or two.

His service-before-self attitude has garnered respect and trust among the police department and his community.

As the first African American sheriff of Burke County, Georgia, Williams is not only making history and making his community safer, but he is also using his platform to be a strong voice of reason and justice in an age when law enforcement officers are under fire.

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Prior to becoming sheriff, Williams was also the first African-American chief of the City of Waynesboro Police Department. He has 31 years of law enforcement experience, starting with the Augusta Police Department and Richmond County Sheriff ’s Office.

After graduating from high school, he completed the police academy and was soon promoted to detective. Throughout his career, he has received six Police Officer of the Year awards from various civic organizations and law enforcement agencies.

He graduated from Faulkner in 2019 earning a master’s degree in Criminal Justice Administration.

He earned an Associate of Applied Technology Degree in Criminal Justice from Augusta Technical College, a Bachelor of Science Degree in Organizational Management from Voorhees College and a Master of Education Degree (Instructional

Technology) from American InterContinental University.

After Williams took office as police chief, he and his chief deputy took a class in Atlanta where Faulkner University was represented at a conference advertising half-off tuition for law enforcement officers. As a big proponent of education, Williams thought the offer was too good to be true.

“I picked up the phone and called Alison Cahoon, director of graduate and adult enrollment at Faulkner and introduced myself,” Williams said. “She echoed what I had read, and she drove to Georgia to speak with our department. I and several of my colleagues enrolled in classes and had a tremendous experience.

It was like becoming a part of a family and it was unlike any type of college experience I had had before. Faulkner offers a quality education and the people have shown that they truly care.”

Since graduating from Faulkner, he’s had more than 15 of his employees with the department enroll at Faulkner. Likewise, he’s given back to the university, is a part of the President’s Circle and regularly attends the university’s annual Benefit Dinner. He was honored at the 2021 Marketplace Faith Friday Forums as the College of Arts and Sciences’ Criminal Justice Department Young Alumnus of the Year and delivered the 2021 commencement address.

the importance of service to mankind. Just as the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve, we in uniform, serve and give our lives for others.”

“As a servant leader, we should be working toward the betterment of mankind, one person at a time, which is keeping with Faulkner’s mission,” he added. “We are called to be good stewards and great ambassadors for Christ. I appreciate the fact that Faulkner gave me a Christian education and now I encourage my officers to do the same.”

Williams is married to Shirleta Williams, and has two daughters. He is a member of the Forest Hill Baptist Church where he formerly served eight years as chairman of the deacon board ministry.

In 2020, Williams wrote three books: “Not Here to be Served,” “Police on Policing: The Unsung Consensus,” and “Murder In Augusta.” His fourth book, “Truth Has No Color,” was published in July 2021.

Alfonzo & Shirleta Williams

“Ever since Sheriff Williams graduated with his MJA degree, he and I have had a wonderful working relationship,” Cahoon said. “We talk often and he is constantly recruiting for us. He is a wonderful speaker, a great leader, a huge advocate for Faulkner and one I would call a friend.”

Just like Faulkner’s mission, Williams’ goal for his department is to build up educated, servant leaders.

“I impress upon my officers the understanding of what our purpose is and why we do what we do in uncertain and difficult times,” Williams said. “When everyone might not appreciate what we do, we must fall back on our purpose, which is greater than ourselves. I stress to them

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ALUMNI NEWS

government affairs and economic development.

Josh Blalock (‘03) is the new boy’s basketball coach and intervention teacher at Samson High School in Samson, Alabama.

Paul Quintel (‘03) received the first place Army-wide OPSEC individual award for the second time in six years. Quintell is the U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command operations security program manager.

A L U M N I

1980’s Julie Daniels (‘85) is the new communications coordinator at the Jackson, Tennessee Chamber of Commerce.

1990’s Terri Bozeman-Lovell (‘95), has been selected to be the executive director of the Alabama State Bar. Lovell is the first female executive director of the organization. She is the circuit judge in the Second Judicial Circuit serving Butler, Crenshaw and Lowndes Counties.

Terri Bozeman-Lovell Lovell is married to Jeff Lovell and they have two children, Luke and Abby.

Casey Farris (‘97) was recently named the 16th president of Madison Academy.

Bacarra Mauldin (‘98 & ‘07) was selected as the new chief of staff for the Memphis Area Transportation Authority (MATA).

David Muns (‘04) is the chief operating officer for CARTI, an independent, not-for-profit cancer care provider in Arkansas.

Ryan Mitchell (‘05) is the director of diversity equity and inclusion at CBRE’s advisory services and real estate investments businesses.

Chas Smith (‘08) was named state counsel in Alabama for Stewart Title.

Drew Teel (‘08) is the new assistant principal of Auburn School in Auburn, Kentucky.

2010’s Brian Morrison (‘13), a patrol officer with the Barnstable Police Department, was honored as a Black Leader in Massachusetts by the Massachusetts Black and Latino Legislative Caucus at the 2021 Black Excellence on the Hill virtual event in February.

Morrison joined the Barnstable Police in 1997. He is the department’s youth and community officer, civil rights officer and a member of the mountain bike unit and honor guard, and the Adopt-A-School officer for Hyannis West Elementary School. Morrison recently became an instructor in Fair and Impartial Policing.

Leland Z. Hanford (‘15) graduated from the Montgomery Police Academy and received the Marvin Stanley Award for the highest overall average of 96.4.

Bacarra Mauldin

2000’s DaShana Jelks (‘00) is the new chief financial officer at the YWCA of Central Alabama, in Birmingham.

Jason Isbell (‘02 & ‘10) was selected by Regions Bank to serve as their senior vice president of state

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The Hambrights

Trent (‘18) & Autumn (Hambright, ‘15 & ‘16) Bailey welcomed a baby girl, Adeline, born April 5, 2021. Adeline joins older brother Thomas, 2. Trent Bailey recently became a territory manager for Bradford Health Services where he has worked since 2019. His territory includes

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. central and southeast Alabama. Autumn Bailey is a travel planner with Main Street and More Travel.

Maleah Kenton & Brittany Payne

Maleah Kenton (‘17) and Brittany Payne (‘13) have a podcast, Therapy with Millennials, where they share the highs and lows of millennialism and talk about relationships, arguments, personality types and more.

Zack & Brianna Glines

Zack (‘19) and Brianna (Couch, ‘20) Glines were married June 27, 2020.

Jack & Kristen Davis

Jake (‘19) and Kristen Davis were married March 28, 2021.

Zac & Hannah Giambrone

Zac (‘19) and Hannah (Beasley, ‘20) Giambrone were married May 15, 2021.

Chris Kratzer (‘17) was recently promoted to chief revenue officer at Cygnal, a polling and survey research firm in Arlington, Virginia.

Zach and Jordan (Linder, ‘17) Brantley had a baby boy, Hughston Levi, born June 25, 2021.

The Brantleys

Diego da Silva (‘17) is an assistant coach for Men’s Soccer at Faulkner University.

Ethan & Sarah Widen

Ethan (‘18) and Sarah (Bragg,‘18) Widen were married on December 12, 2020.

Kylie Sutton (‘19 & ‘20) was recently promoted to director of student activities at Faulkner University.

Kinsey (Fickling, ‘19) de Torres is now the managing editor & event coordinator for exploreMedia.

Brad & Olivia Gentle

Thomas Bradford “Brad” (‘19) and Olivia (McDaniel, ‘20) Gentle were married on August 21, 2021.

Michaela McMeans (‘18) is the digital marketing manager at SERVEPRO of Montgomery.

Harold Matheny (‘19) joins OTELCO as a procurement & inventory specialist in the company’s Oneonta, Alabama office. He has 10 years of procurement and logistics experience and served in the United States Air Force. He is a resident of Boaz, Alabama.

Erin Bryson (‘19) is a contact representative for graduate and adult enrollment at Faulkner University.

2020’s Elice Roe (‘20) is a recruiter/admissions counselor with graduate & adult enrollment at Faulkner University.

Skip Tallmage (‘20) is a recruiter/admissions counselor with graduate & adult enrollment at Faulkner University. Tallmage is currently pursuing his Master of

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Justice Administration. He served on the police forces for the cities of Montgomery and Prattville for over 28 years, retiring at the rank of lieutenant.

Julianne Wilkes (‘20) is an assistant volleyball coach at Faulkner University.

Izabella Zientek (‘21) is a developer with Divine Tech Systems.

Maken & Regan Potter

Maken and Regan (Robertson, ‘21) Potter were married May 2, 2020.

Tylor Ard (‘21) is an admissions counselor at Faulkner University.

Ross Whisenant (‘21) is a student success representative at Faulkner University’s Birmingham Center.

Skyler Slagle (‘21) is the strength and conditioning coach for all sports at Springwood School in Lanett, Alabama.

A L U M N I

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In Memory Jack Zorn (‘61), 86, died August 12, 2021. Zorn was a preacher and the founder of Lads to Leaders, a youth leadership training program in the Churches of Christ. Zorn was a member of Faulkner University’s board of trustees. He was named this year’s Faulkner University’s Alumnus of Jack Zorn the Year and was featured in the Spring 2021 edition of the Faulkner Magazine.

Faulkner University and the V.P. Black College of Biblical Studies will further honor the legacy of Zorn and his wife Frances by naming all institutional Bible scholarships as Zorn Scholarships. Furthermore, all students who are recipients of Bible scholarships, whether endowed or institutional, will be identified as Zorn Scholars. The naming of these scholarship awards recognizes Zorn’s iconic leadership and serves as an aspirational model for every graduate of the V.P. Black College of Biblical Studies.

Toriano “Tito” Baker (‘99), 47, died May 12, 2021.

Baker was the principal and athletic director of Lowndes Middle School. Baker was an educator for 21 years and coached athletics for over 15 years. While a student, Baker played on the Faulkner Eagles basketball team and finished his career as a three-time First Team All-SSC player, a two-time NAIA Honorable Mention All-American, and the second leading scorer in program history. Baker will be inducted into the Faulkner Athletics Hall of Fame on October 16, 2021.

Toni Bedgood (‘18), 27, of Montgomery, died August 20, 2021. Bedgood was a part of the Faulkner family for many years, first as a student, then as an employee. While a student, Bedgood was a member of the Faulkner University Chorus, editor of the yearbook and Toni Bedgood a volunteer with the Respite Ministry. After graduation, Bedgood worked as an enrollment systems specialist. The executive and professional enrollment suite in the rotunda will be renamed the Toni S. Bedgood Office Suite, with two bronze plaques installed in her memory.

Lamar Allen Harrison is a household name at Faulkner University. Whether you’ve enjoyed a Faulkner Eagles Baseball game at the Lamar Harrison Baseball Field or visited the Faulkner Mobile campus property donated by the Dr. Lamar Harrison Harrison family, you’ve seen the evidence of Harrison’s ardent support of Faulkner and its mission.

young age to make ends meet. His first job was driving the school bus for children older than he was.

Harrison, who passed away on June 17, 2021, will live on at Faulkner for his generosity toward the school’s mission and support of its students.

When his children were still young in 1972, he and his wife Marceil founded and operated Dirt Inc. Shortly thereafter, they started to invest in real estate and later went on to found and become the original owners of Gulf Hauling & Construction.

He believed in supporting all areas of the university which is evident from the Freeman-Harrison Student Multiplex and the Harrison Apartments, a four building complex, which all bear his name. Harrison is also responsible for the physical facilities of Faulkner’s Huntsville campus.

“Mr. Harrison believed in Faulkner’s mission and knew if they had a strong athletic department, they would have a strong school,” said Mike Eubanks, Harrison’s son-in-law. “He loved the school and wanted the best for Faulkner.”

Harrison believed in supporting Christian higher education in order to give aspiring young men and women the opportunity to follow their dreams.

Harrison was never afforded the opportunity of a higher education and instead overcame many obstacles to become a successful businessman.

His support began after meeting and befriending Dr. James Faulkner, a fellow businessman and longtime supporter, trustee and chairman of Faulkner University.

Faulkner University was named in Dr. Faulkner’s honor in 1985 from Alabama Christian College.

Since Harrison was only able to finish 9th grade, he made sure his two daughters, Lisha Harrison May and Tanya Harrison Eubanks, received a Christian education at Faulkner.

Harrison was born on February 21, 1935 and grew up in Andalusia, Alabama. He dropped out of school in order to help his parents and worked full-time from a

When he turned 19, he hitchhiked to Mobile, Alabama with less than $20 in his pockets and sold coffee and vacuum cleaners. He eventually began working at an international paper company, served in the Alabama National Guard and later started his own business in Wilmer, Alabama. There he built and ran a hardware store, gas station, drive-in restaurant and skating rink all in the same area of town.

“He was the smartest man I’ve ever known,” Eubanks said. “He could look at an undesirable property and turn it into a very desirable shopping center. He started many different businesses, but also started and supported many different ministries as well.”

Along with his support of Faulkner, Harrison was influential in the growth of Mobile Christian School and helped build their football and baseball fields.

He also supported Team Focus, a ministry to help fatherless boys have mentors who guide them into becoming Christian gentlemen and productive adults.

He founded Gulf Coast Bible Camp, a nonprofit summer camp and retreat facility that is affiliated with the Churches of Christ, located outside of Lucedale, Mississippi.

Harrison was a long-time member of the Azalea City Church of Christ in Semmes, Alabama as well as a long-time Faulkner University Board of Trustees member and Trustee Emeritus.

In honor of his dedication to Faulkner University over the years, Harrison was conferred an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters on December 17, 2005 for being “a devoted supporter of Christian education.”

Harrison is survived by his brother, Larry Harrison, his two daughters, two grandsons, Jeffrey Harrison May and Michael Scott Eubanks Jr., two granddaughters, Ashley May Barnes and Kristin Eubanks Hatcher, six great-granddaughters and three great-grandsons.

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Buford Oliver “B.O.” Richardson had a hand on the plow before most young boys finished middle school. In order to help his parents till their farm, he dropped out of school in 8th grade, yet, a desire to further a higher Christian education he B.O. Richardson would never obtain, budded and dug deep roots in his generous heart.

He passed on his spirit of giving, and his love of God, family and Faulkner University to his three sons and their families.

Although Richardson passed away on Sunday May 23, 2021, his legacy lives on.

“Dad always believed that you could never out-give God. Always. And so dad contributed his success of life to God. Not to himself,” said Richardson’s youngest son, Tim Richardson. “He was always a very giving person and he found Alabama Christian College, now called Faulkner, was one of the things he loved and felt good about helping. Since he only went to 8th grade, he had a tender place for Christian education because he never had the opportunity that education affords people.”

Born on December 8, 1924 in Clay County, Alabama to a pair of poor sharecroppers, Richardson is the hero of a true American success story. He went from tilling hard clay soil to becoming one of the most successful home developers in Mobile County, Alabama. However, success never dimmed his desire to give back.

When he left his family’s farm with $17 in his pocket and settled around Mobile, Alabama near the end of World War II. Richardson worked in the Navy ship yard until the end of the war. He then found other work as a carpenter and married his wife, Marie Woodard Richardson.

After buying some land, starting a farm of his own and running a gas station, he decided to use his carpentry skills and changed careers. He began a home building business and that’s when his success skyrocketed over the next 25 years. He continued in that line of work for the rest of his adult life building upon his business.

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He instilled his strong work ethic, generosity and entrepreneurial spirit into his sons, Rayford Richardson, O.B. Richardson and Tim. Richard and Tim of Rich’s Car Wash opened their first location in their hometown of Saraland and have grown their business over the last 40 years to include 24 locations across four states in the Southeast including two in Montgomery, Alabama.

All three brothers are graduates of Faulkner University and their wives Vicki and Barbara (Herren) Richardson, who are sisters, and Phyllis (Hunter) Richardson also graduated from Faulkner.

Richardson wanted his sons to have the higher education he never had. He heard about Alabama Christian College (ACC) from V.P. Black, who was the preacher at the church the Richardsons attended.

After learning about ACC, Richardson supported the university’s mission wholeheartedly and served on the Faulkner University Board of Trustees for more than 50 years.

“My dad had three passions,” Tim said. “First the church, second was his family and third was Alabama Christian College. He began serving on the board in 1968 when the school was just a junior college. He saw the growth of the school, which is now Faulkner, as a testament of God’s blessing and a validation of its mission.”

Tim followed in his father’s footsteps and is currently serving on Faulkner’s Board of Trustees.

Richardson was laid to rest on May 27, 2021 at Mobile Memorial Gardens. Funeral services were held at Regency Church of Christ.

Supporter Spotlight:

Randall and Peggie Haney

by Rebecca Burylo “Peggie and I often talked about what we would do with our estate when we died,” Haney said. “If we could leave more preachers behind that’s probably the best thing we can do. We thought Faulkner was the best choice for educating scripturally-sound preachers.”

A living trust is a legal document that places your assets—investments, bank accounts, real estate, vehicles and valuable personal property—in trust for your benefit during your lifetime, and includes details of where you'd like these things to go upon your death. If you believe a living trust would be a good fit for your estate planning goals, visit faulknerheritage.org.

Haney’s stepfather was an alcoholic and his mother was agoraphobic. It was up to Haney to find work and food.

From 12 years of age, Haney worked on neighboring farms in Florida and later in Alabama to pay for his meals.

Randall & Peggie Haney

From working on farms with only a fifth grade education to retiring from the Navy as a lieutenant commander with a doctorate degree, Randall Haney has seen how God has blessed him with opportunities to succeed throughout his life.

As a generous donor to Faulkner University, Haney and his wife Peggie have in turn blessed others with their savings, land and personal estate through a student scholarship fund and a living trust.

“I had a tough childhood, but I think God used those experiences to forge me and help me make the right decisions to get me where I am today,” Haney said.

“I know I am blessed. I try to help others with what I have.”

In 2018, Faulkner President Mike Williams presented the Haneys with a certificate of commendation for establishing the Haney Endowed Scholarship in order to train preachers at the V.P. Black College of Biblical Studies.

In addition, the Haneys also established a living trust, which would pass on a percentage of their farm in Boaz, Alabama to Faulkner upon their passing.

Haney attended 18 different schools before he dropped out after the 5th grade. He worked a variety of jobs before he joined the Navy as an E-1 enlisted sailor.

Haney’s dream was to fly. He worked hard and took advantage of the educational opportunities the Navy afforded him. He earned his way to the position of aviation maintenance logistic officer, then as an aircrew tactical instructor, and finally earned his wings.

By the time he retired from the Navy, Haney had earned a GED, an associate's degree, and a bachelor's degree. He attended the Naval Post-Graduate School.

After retirement, he earned a doctorate from University of North Florida where he wrote a policy paper that lead to a grant of more than $35 million in facilities, equipment, aircraft and funding for an aircraft maintenance school in Jacksonville, Florida.

He moved back to Alabama and began an aviation school. He also served as the assistant superintendent of education for Boaz City Schools.

Today, his love for aviation is still strong. He and his grandsons are building a plane from the bottom up. He continues to serve his community in Boaz as well as serve as an elder at Crestview Church of Christ. Peggie Haney taught a Bible class there and served as the area’s Chamber of Commerce president until 2019.

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