Alumni News

ALUMNI

2000’s Cedric Anderson ('04) is the Auburn police chief in Auburn, Alabama.

2010’s

Autumn A. Caudell (‘13) has been named assistant ethics counsel for the Alabama State Bar in the Office of General Counsel.

Taylor (Bear, ‘13) O’Neal married Warren-Nichols Jones O’Neal on April 27th 2019.

Camille (Kingsley, ‘14) Rock is the executive recruiter for Warren Averett’s Birmingham Accounting office.

Laura Jean (Plunkett, ‘14) Bell has a new podcast, Y’all: Stories about Jesus, Life and the South. You can find the podcast on Spotify, Apple podcasts and Overcast, or LauraBellWrites.com.

Morgan Ledbetter (‘15) married Jeremy Portwood October 26, 2019.

David Brown ('05) teaches 7th grade honors math at Floyd Middle Magnet in Montgomery and coaches girls' volleyball and coed soccer. His volleyball team finished the 2019-2020 season 11-0 and were named city champions for the third year in a row. They also won the Providence Christian School Tournament in Dothan for the fifth year in a row. His soccer team finished their 2019-2020 season undefeated.

Kyle Ferguson ('08) graduated with his Masters of Science in Nursing Education from Union University Germantown.

Megan (Orr, '09) Lasseter is an attorney with McManamy Jackson, PC, in Richmond Hill, Georgia.

Joseph VanZandt ('09 & '13) was appointed to serve on the Plantiffs Steering Committee for the JuuL MDL.

David Withun (‘15 & ‘19) is the head of school at Jacksonville Classical Academy, a classical model charter school set to open in the fall of 2020.

Jared Nicholas Palmer (‘16) recently accepted a senior software developer position at FullSteam LLC in Auburn.

Vashti (Rampersad, ‘16) Palmer was recently hired to teach chemistry and physics at Alabama Christian Academy in Montgomery.

Ethan Widen (‘18) is working for Divine Technology Systems out of Kansas City as a remote web developer and part time as ministry assistant in IT.

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.

Samantha Merritt (‘18) is the academic secretary for the College of Business at Faulkner University.

In Memory

John Allen Nichols (‘19) serves as agriculture counsel at the Alabama Farmers Federation.

Donald Paul Brannan, Sr. (‘65)

of Montgomery, Al, died January 2, 2020. Don was a student at Alabama Christian College (ACC) in the 1960s and taught at ACC in the 1970s and 1980s as a member of the mathematics faculty. Brannan and his family have been a part of our school through the decades, and we appreciate their loyal support and love.

Future Eagles

Jonathan(‘08) and Nia Johnson and their son Joshua welcomed Nathan Joel to the family on May 6, 2019. Jonathan is the youth minister at Deerfoot Church of Christ in Pinson, Alabama. Daniel and Jenna (Lupo, ‘07) Bell had a baby boy, Cooper James, born July 5, 2019.

Chris (‘11) and Kari (Gatlin, ‘10) Kelly had a baby girl, Cora Jean, born February 13, 2020.

John and Amber E. (Staten, ‘13) Persons had a baby, Sophia Rose, born October 24, 2019. Sophia was welcomed by older sister Liliana Elizabeth.

John (‘16) and Beth Cooper had a baby boy John Jackson, born July 19, 2019.

Dustin (‘14) and Ashlyn Shea (Maples, ‘13) Spruiell had a baby girl, Emily Grace, born May 9, 2019.

Future Eagles

Hinton Horn (‘16) and wife Kaylan had a baby boy, Leonidas, born May 30th, 2019. Jared and Kelsey (Bell, ‘14) Rand had a baby boy, Fletcher Davis, born August 19, 2019. Austin and Andrea (Kelly, ‘12) Overman, and big brothers Luke and Lincoln welcomed a new baby boy, Landon Wayne to their family on March 13, 2020.

John David and Holly (Smith, ‘16) Free had a baby boy, Eli Blue, on November 27. Eli joins big sister Riley.

Billy (‘12) and Shelby (Vega, ‘14) Camp had a baby boy, Roman, born June 2019. Roman joins older sister Kinley.

Joshua Mark (‘16) and Morghan Anna Posey had a baby girl, Anna Capri, born March 26, 2019.

We are looking for Baby Eagles!

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” Bradford rbradford faulkner.edu

Davis Elementary Teacher Uses Her Faulkner Education in the Classroom

Katrina Hayden found that her education from Faulkner University, although challenging at times, has served her well in her own classroom.

Now a third grade teacher at E.T. Davis Elementary School in Montgomery, Hayden has taught in Montgomery Public Schools for 12 years since graduating with her elementary education degree from Faulkner’s College of Education in 2007.

Hayden recently returned to Faulkner’s campus and joined other College of Education alumni to speak to current students at the university’s annual Marketplace Faith Friday Forums. There she was able to provide education majors with professional advice and confidence as they embark on their teaching careers.

“At the time I was a student, it seemed that the load of work was too much, but now in my career as a teacher, that load has helped me to balance classroom management and organizational skills,” Hayden said. “Faulkner did not teach me everything I needed to know in my career, but Faulkner gave me the tools necessary to further my abilities in my career.”

During her time as a student, Hayden was able to confidently talk to her professors and adjuncts about any questions or concerns she had. It was that encouragement that built up her confidence in her career choice as well as her Christian faith.

“The education I received at Faulkner allowed me to seek out questions of my faith that re-emphasized that God is my teacher and is my everything. I cannot accomplish any successes in life without God, and I cannot overcome any struggles in life without God as well,” Hayden said.

At Faulkner, Hayden was a member of the Lady Eagles Volleyball team, Kappa Delta Pi Education honor society, a work study student for the College of Education, a member of Who’s Who and a member of the Diversity Committee. While a student, she also hosted a Bible study for Faulkner girls called Redeemed Princesses.

Katrina has taught in Montgomery Public Schools for 12 years. She first taught at Dannelly Elementary School and then at Highland Gardens Elementary before teaching at Davis Elementary. She has won numerous awards such as the High Stepper Coordinator, Model and Master Classroom Accelerated Reader teacher, DIBELs Team, PBIS Support team, Instructor for MPS Summer Professional Development and Teacher of the Month numerous times.

She has also mentored Faulkner interns and enjoys time with her Alma Mater.

l-r Faulkner alumni Brent Hatcher, Kristin Hatcher, Tom Tabor, Tyler Dunaway and Tim Lee pose for a group picture after speaking to students at the 2020 Marketplace Faith Friday Forums on February 28

Calling all coaches!

We're looking for all Faulkner grads who are also athletic coaches. If you or someone you know fits that category, please contact us at pr@faulkner.edu.

June 26-27, 2020 Alumni Summer Reunion

Join our Alumni Association Renew your membership Update your information www.faulkner.edu Click on Alumni & Friends rbradford@faulkner.edu | 334-386-7492