Faulkner Magazine Spring 2022

SPRING 2022

FAULKNER MAGAZINE

INTRODUCING PRESIDENT-ELECT MITCH HENRY ALUMNUS OF THE YEAR JOE BEAM

WELCOME TO FAULKNER MAGAZINE Editorial Staff

Schedule of events April

Jamboree

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May 6

Annual Commencement Exercises Law School Commencement

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June 21-24

Men’s Soccer Camp

24-25

Alabama Christian College Summer Reunion

July 18-22

Great Summer

August White Coat Ceremony for College of Health Sciences

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October 6

Benefit Dinner

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Institute of Faith and the Academy

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

Administration President Dr. Michael D. Williams Chancellor Dr. Billy D. Hilyer Vice Chancellor Dr. Wayne Baker

Vice Presidents Mark Hunt Renee Kephart Dr. Dave Rampersad Dr. Jean-Noel Thompson Dr. John Tyson Joseph Vickery Associate Vice Presidents Billy Camp Jamie Horn College Deans Dr. Jeff Arrington Dr. Todd Brenneman Dr. Charles Campbell Dr. Leslie Cowell Dr. Leah Fullman Dr. Dave Khadanga General Counsel Dr. Gerald Jones

Board of Trustees

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 Mrs. Wilma Phillips Mr. Tim Richardson Dr. Bud Stumbaugh 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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CHS Service Club Is On a Mission of Hope

Mitch Henry Selected as Faulkner’s 9th President

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Faulkner Offering Full Tuition Scholarships to Bible Majors

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Students Find Hope and Connection at the ACE

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Great Books Council

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Using Law to Serve the Underserved

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Running to Remember

Marching in Step with the Faulkner Eagles

Community News Alumni Spotlight Alumni News Supporter Spotlight

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Farewell Letter from the President It is with great sadness that I pen this final letter as the president of Faulkner University. Faulkner will forever hold a special place in my heart and in the hearts of my family.

It is true when I wrote to the board on October 27 of my resignation to become the 6th president of Harding University that the decision essentially ripped Lisa and me apart emotionally.

We dearly love the people at Faulkner. We love her mission. We love the vision we have cast for the future.

We know God has blessed her heritage and He will shepherd her future.

Over the last six years, we have accomplished so much.

It has been a remarkable journey where this university has come together to envision a robust, bold future. We have launched a myriad of new programs. The creation of the College of Health Sciences is a transformative effort to catapult the trajectory of the institution. As I depart in May, I am excited that the second phase of the facility will be completed with the addition of the autism center.

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The autism center will join a number of community partnerships in which we attempt to make a profound difference in the world. Faulkner continues to demonstrate our Christian mission through service to our city. This institution has a tremendous legacy of living out the teachings of Jesus.

Despite the accomplishments of the last few years, Faulkner’s future is even more promising. I hope you will join me in prayer for our board of trustees, administration, faculty, and staff. As I pass the baton to the 9th president of Faulkner University, I will wait in eager expectation for what God is going to accomplish through this great university.

Soar Eagles! Never Fail!

Michael D. Williams

President elect Mitch Henry speaks following the announcement of his selection as Faulkner’s 9th president

Mitch Henry Selected as Faulkner’s 9th President

by Rebecca Burylo Mitch Henry sat in his office in Greer Hall enjoying white cake topped with red icing following a morning teaching law classes. His office suite coworkers with Faulkner’s Legal Studies and Criminal Justice program brought this sweet treat to celebrate Henry becoming the 9th president of Faulkner University.

The day before, in an auditorium filled with loved ones, friends, family, law partners, professors, coworkers and students who had taken his classes, Henry was announced as Faulkner University’s next president.

Faulkner’s Board of Trustees Chair Dale Kirkland, Chancellor Billy Hilyer, and President Mike Williams made the announcement in the E.L. Cullom Rotunda on March 9, 2022.

Henry never meets a stranger. Those who know him tell you he genuinely cares, and he’s a man of prayer. He desires what is best for people, his students, his family, and his clients. He loves telling them the good news of Jesus Christ.

While enjoying his cake, students filed in eager to congratulate him and share in the celebration.

“Come on in here and enjoy some cake,” he said to each one while giving them a hug or a hearty handshake and asking them about their internship, their family or their plans for spring break.

As an associate professor teaching law to undergraduate and graduate students, it is apparent Henry encourages his students and nurtures their wellbeing. In addition, he has taught dispute resolution as an adjunct law professor at Faulkner’s Thomas Goode Jones School of Law. Henry knows the Faulkner community firsthand and shares the university’s mission to glorify God in all things.

“As president at Faulkner, I want to continue to encourage young people to identify careers where they can serve the greater good, where they can share the gospel of Jesus Christ,” Henry said. “At Faulkner we develop young people prepared for Christ-centered

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Board of trustee members, President Mike Williams and his wife Lisa Williams lay hands on President-elect Mitch Henry and his wife Cindy Henry in prayer

will need to be successful. Most importantly, Mitch will be the spiritual leader of our institution as the president must be. Mitch and Cindy are both dedicated servants to the Lord, they love His word, and they are very much involved in their congregation.”

Growing up on a dairy farm in Hope Hull, Alabama, Henry said much of his character was forged from the disciplines he learned there. That same hard working, common sense, and nurturing approach served him well as a 29-year attorney who served most of those years as managing partner. It will serve him well as Faulkner’s president. Henry seeks to minister to students both educationally and spiritually.

careers. We encourage them in truly intangible ways you can’t teach in a book.”

Out of 26 candidates, Henry was unanimously accepted as president-elect by the university’s board of trustees on March 8, 2022.

Hilyer, while introducing Henry, shared that Henry and his wife Cindy had prayed for a way to become more involved in ministry even before Faulkner began looking for a new president. By faith, they began the process of disengaging from their family farm and Henry’s legal practice. While they thought their future in ministry would be from behind a pulpit, Hilyer suggested Henry view Faulkner as his new mission field.

“I shared with them my long-held belief that higher Christian education is a ministry, one that affords endless opportunities to influence people for Christ,” Hilyer said. “After my call they prayed, discussed it and allowed their names to be considered.”

“When we invite individuals to become a part of this Faulkner family, we are looking for those who not only have the ability to perform well the tasks by which they are assigned,” Hilyer added. “But more importantly we are looking for those who have character and desire, the heart and the passion to help us accomplish this mission to glorify God. In light of this mission, they must be individuals who love God, His word and who endeavor to walk with Him each day. When Mitch takes on a job he gives himself wholly to it. And he has in Cindy the support and encouragement and the help he

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“The soil here is fertile and rich. Only about twentyfive percent of the students that come to this Christian university identity themselves as members of the Churches of Christ,” Henry said. “Many of our students are from other religious backgrounds. And there are a great number of students that come to this Christian university who don’t have a Christian background at all. We have students from thirty-six different states and thirty-five different countries, and we’re all here to minister to each one. That’s what we do. That’s what we’re called to do.”

Henry’s goals include not only growing Faulkner’s partnerships in the community, but strengthening Faulkner’s relationships with schools, foundations, charities, and especially with Churches of Christ across the Southeast and the nation.

Henry said his goals are to listen, grow the student body in person and online, increase the number of desirable fields of study available to students, and continue Faulkner’s growth as a premier Christian educational institution. However, most importantly, Henry hopes to create vocational ministers and disciples of Jesus Christ who serve others.

“We teach, we train, we launch, and we support ministers. Not just preaching ministers, but ministers who are vocational ministers, who minister in their work. How do we do that? How do we teach and launch these folks to be ministers in their vocations?” Henry asked.

“By encouraging students to choose a career where they can serve, to be a vocational minister in the name of Jesus, giving them world class training, giving them a group of people who surrounds them and encourages

Mitch Henry stands on stage with his students, Quanterio Stokes, Jonathan Villa and Travis Pate

them,” Henry said. “Everyone on our staff knows they’re here to encourage students. We have in this university the opportunity to do something more, not just to share knowledge, but to share the gospel.”

Toward the end of the announcement, Faulkner President Mike Williams, who will be stepping down on May 6, 2022, passed a gold-colored baton to his successor who takes office June 1, 2022. Vice Chancellor Wayne Baker will serve between them as interim president.

“As I view academic presidency, it’s not a marathon, it’s not a sprint, it’s a relay race,” Williams said. “Mitch, I’m glad you understand that you cannot take the presidency of Faulkner University and not feel deeply committed to ten individuals who met on April 13, 1942 at the Panama Street Church of Christ when they decided to launch the Montgomery Bible College. And it’s not just a linkage backward, it’s a linkage forward.

The baton reminds me that the decision made in this moment is not just about today, but it has deep implications for the future.”

On October 27, 2021, Faulkner began the search for a new president following Mike Williams’ announcement to step down as president of Faulkner University at the end of the Spring semester to start his new role as Harding University’s president in June.

Henry is a former elder of the Vaughn Park Church of Christ where he continues to teach Bible and serve.

He is a founding member of Webster, Henry, Bradwell, Cohan, Speagle, and DeShazo, P.C. His practice has specialized in insurance defense, business litigation, estate planning, and agriculture law. He’s previously worked closely with Faulkner University’s legal counsel.

He was a Professor of Practice with Auburn University.

Henry and his wife Cindy have three children, Mitchell - wife Rebecca Mann Henry, Lauren - fiancé Chase Thigpen, and Ashby. Mitch and Cindy reside on Prairie Oak, their family farm located in Hope Hull, Alabama.

“As your new president, with the blessing of this board of directors, I’ll invite you–the students, the faculty, the staff, the churches, and the greater community around us–to do all that we can together to bring about God’s plan and purpose, to train, equip, launch, serve, and support vocational ministers who will serve people in this world,” Henry said. “We are called to glorify God. To glorify God in the midst of chaos, to glorify God day in and day out, no matter what the weather, no matter what the climate, no matter what the persecution, we’re going to glorify God and do things that bring about His divine, wonderful, amazing will. If you’ll allow me to do so, if you’ll allow me to lead just a little bit, we’re going to walk together and do amazing things.”

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CHS Service Club Is On a Mission of Hope

by Rebecca Burylo l-r, College of Health students, Jenna Bazil, Michelle Liu, Jessica Witherspoon with Family Sunshine Center, Tevri Tayip, and Hannah Beckett pose with their artwork from Painting with a Purpose event. Paintings were donated to victims of domestic violence.

Kelsey Bryant, her mother and her younger brother escaped from a home rife with domestic violence. They escaped to find hope.

they can reach out and partner with nonprofits and community organizations already serving families and individuals in the area.

That’s one of the reasons why she decided to pursue a career in health sciences; to give back and to provide others with a similar hope. A hope of emotional and physical healing.

One organization the CHS Service Club partnered with in October was the Family Sunshine Center, which provides services for victims of domestic violence, family violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking in the River Region.

Bryant, who is now 22, is currently enrolled in Faulkner’s College of Health Science’s speech-language pathology (SLP) program and has joined 60 of her health science peers to form the College of Health Sciences (CHS) Service Club. Together, they spread hope and service to others, bring awareness of local health services to Jenna Bazil Montgomerians and foster inclusion of Montgomery’s underserved communities.

Established in August 2021, the CHS Service Club has run toward the brokenness of humanity in the Montgomery community to find areas where

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Bryant was among those who participated with the center’s Painting with a Purpose event for Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Students took paint and canvas to capture vibrant messages of hope, love and encouragement that were donated to victims and their families currently living at the center’s emergency shelter and transitional housing facilities.

“Painting with a Purpose touched me personally because I was able to connect with what they were going through,” Bryant said. “I was in high school when my family and I experienced domestic violence and we got out. We didn’t stay at a shelter, but it was a tough situation for all of us. I was the first of my family to graduate from college and now I’m here as a grad student.”

Bryant’s story goes beyond her own personal success.

Her mother recently bought a home and her younger brother graduated from high school and is enrolled in community college.

“Being a part of the SLP program and this club is about giving people hope like I have seen in my own family,” Bryant said. “Showing people that it is possible to change your situation or to get the medical help you need. Yes, those families are in the shelter now, but that’s the first step to bettering their situation.”

Likewise, one of the club’s inaugural founders, PA student Tevri Tayip, came into the program with a background in social work. She views their roles as servants to the community, not only as future health care professionals, but as people who care and who are invested in the needs they see around them.

“I find purpose in serving others and the community,” Tayip said. “Yes, we are health science students and have a lot going on with our grad school studies, which is not easy, but carving out time to serve in these ways brings us all back to our purpose and why we wanted to become health care professionals in the first place.”

be the PA Service and Diversity Club, evolved into the CHS Service Club, now with representatives from both PT and SLP. Serrano, Tayip along with McKenzi Mayfield and Abby Peterson were instrumental in bringing their vision of a service club to life.

Since growing to include the other health disciplines of PT and SLP, as a club they have also served the Montgomery Area Humane Society by walking dogs that are up for adoption, collecting 20 boxes of food for a local food bank, Feeding Hope Across Alabama, and partnering with the Montgomery Health Department to provide health services and community education.

Rima Momin

Kodee Harrison, one of the inaugural members of the physical therapy (PT) program, wanted to pursue PT in order “to be the hands and feet of Christ” while being in a career she’s passionate about. PT provides her with an avenue to minister to people while assisting and educating them on how to improve their quality of life, she said. As a member of the CHS Service Club, she gets to do that and more.

“College is a busy time and it is really easy to get caught up in the chaos of tests, quizzes, presentations, studying, and stress,” Harrison said. The CHS club offers opportunities to serve the community while establishing relationships. It keeps school in perspective and keeps me grounded on my purpose for being here.”

Dennis McMillian

For Josh Serrano, who came from Texas to be a part of the PA program, helping Montgomery’s Hispanic community overcome barriers is where he finds his passion through serving.

“I’ve met many here in the Hispanic community who are unaware of or afraid to seek out the free medical services Montgomery has to offer,” Serrano said. “I think it has a lot to do with the language barrier or simply fear.”

The CHS service club originated as a PA advancement project assigned to cohort 1 their very first semester. As Faulkner College of Health Sciences brought in more students and acquired their own building, what used to

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Faulkner Offering Full Tuition Scholarships to Bible Majors

by Rebecca Burylo In honor of Faulkner alumnus and Lads to Leaders founder, Dr. Jack Zorn, Faulkner University has announced it will be awarding full tuition scholarships to traditional undergraduate Bible majors beginning with those enrolling in the fall 2022 semester. This scholarship will be known as the Jack Zorn Scholarship, and students who receive this scholarship will be known as Zorn Scholars.

Zorn died August 12, 2021 at the age of 86. He was a preacher and the founder of Lads to Leaders, a youth leadership training program in the Churches of Christ.

He was a member of Faulkner University’s board of trustees and was named Faulkner University’s Alumnus of the Year for 2021.

“The Zorn scholarship is an exciting opportunity to make ministerial education more cost effective and less of a financial burden on students,” said Todd Brenneman, dean of the V.P. Black College of Biblical Studies and the Kearley Graduate School of Theology.

“Our hope is that this endeavor will encourage more students to consider pursuing education in the Bible and will help parents see the value of Christian education. Honoring Dr. Zorn this way highlights how we share the same vision as he had of raising up the next generation of godly leaders.”

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Students who apply for the Jack Zorn Scholarship will be required to live on campus, participate in ministry events throughout the year, and will still be responsible for room and board and other fees. Students must also submit a letter of recommendation from the elders or leaders from the church where they attend.

This scholarship is available for a maximum of five years. Those who are current Bible majors returning in fall 2022, who meet the requirements, will also be eligible for the scholarship.

Tuition for study abroad is included in the scholarship as well.

Scholarship recipients must take a minimum of two Bible courses per semester. Classes are limited to those required as part of the degree plan for Biblical Studies or Youth and Family Ministry degrees.

Space is limited, so those wishing to take advantage of the scholarship should apply early.

For more information, contact admissions@faulkner. edu or (334) 386-7200.

Students Find Hope and Connection at the ACE

by Ben Tomlin struggling? There are so many students that are just drowning and they’re not reaching out for help.”

l-r Certified student tutors Emily Gilbert, Megan Wilkinson, Sam Moore and Sydney Watson gather in the ACE in Brooks Hall

Faulkner University’s Academic Center for Excellence (ACE) provides free on-campus tutoring to all students looking for help with their studies and achieving their collegiate goals. Located in Brooks Hall on the Montgomery Campus, the ACE tutoring center allows students to make appointments for one-on-one sessions with trained student tutors, all of whom are officially certified by the National Tutoring Association. Students can likewise come in and use the ACE’s library of course textbooks, its computer and printing services, or just drop by for a quiet space to study.

Savannah Dockins, a Faulkner graduate, has served as director of the ACE for three years and teaches developmental English. “I would call the ACE a safezone or a refuge, because everyone in here is kind and compassionate, and when you come in here, you can feel that, regardless of why you’re coming in, even if it’s just for coffee or printing.” As she continues to cultivate the ACE’s tutorial offerings, she expresses a greater hope. “I would love for the ACE to grow, because it’s a lot more than a place to come and get help with academics. It’s about getting more people together, forming bonds, and connecting and hanging out,” she adds. Dockins hopes the ACE will one day grow to be the center for every area of student success and community development at Faulkner.

The ACE’s goal is to aid students in becoming independent learners. “Being an independent learner doesn’t mean that you’re always going to have all A’s,” Dockins says. “Being an independent learner means you can fight through adversity and learn skills that will help you not only academically but will end up helping you in your career.” Dockins assures that when you become an independent learner, you gain confidence, something she hopes students will leave with most of all. “This is the only job where you want to get fired!” she joked. “You want the student you are tutoring to eventually say, ‘You’ve done your job, and I don’t need you anymore.’”

To students who are anxious about seeking help at the ACE, Dockins encourages, “You have no reason to be nervous. The tutors are understanding and willing to work with you on anything. They’re students, too, and they struggle just like you.”

“Your time at Faulkner is whatever you make it out to be. I think the ACE is definitely a place where you can form long lasting relationships, and as you continue to get help, you will see yourself improve as a learner, as a student, and as an individual.”

The ACE is located in Brooks Hall and is open Monday through Thursday from 9:00am-5:00pm and Friday from 9:00am-2:00pm.

Savannah Dockins

Dockins shares that her biggest concern has been how to spread the word and get more students into the ACE for the help they need. “How do I get more students to realize how important it is to get help when they’re

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Great Books Council

by Madelyn Furlong & Ben Tomlin

l-r back row Nicolette Connelly, Katelyn Lape, Emma Revels, Benjamin Tomlin l-r front row Abigail Sikes, Madelyn Furlong, Crystal Klose are a part of the Great Books Council

The Great Books Honors program is a shining example of academic excellence at Faulkner University, encouraging students to read, write, think and discuss with purpose.

Andrew Jacobs has been director of the Great Books program since 2015. In 2018, Jacobs created a studentled council that would ultimately help promote and grow the program.

Jacobs said, “We knew we wanted to do something to benefit the students, and we wanted to give passionate Great Books students as much advantage, power and opportunity so they could then bless the rest of the students.”

Reflecting on the thriving Great Books Council and the program as a whole he said, “When the program is doing really well, it’s doing well because the students are shining, not necessarily because the faculty is doing anything. The students themselves actually build the best energy and in many ways are more adept at attracting students who would flourish in Great Books.”

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Jacobs is especially grateful for the council’s role in recruiting new students for the program during events such as College Bound and Scholar’s Day. When asked about the council’s future, Jacobs said, “My biggest hope is that they will be able to aid in the work of strengthening and developing Great Books.”

Every council member does their part in contributing to the cultivation of the Great Books program. They work alongside Great Books faculty members to coordinate events. In past semesters, the council has organized movie nights, Christmas parties and a trivia night, which encourage opportunities for friendship outside the classroom.

Emma Revels, who is rounding out her second year as president of the Great Books Council, also hopes to foster a strong sense of community within the program.

“The most important thing we can do is make sure we’re supporting the faculty and students as much as we can,” Revels said. “I hope the council continues to cultivate these relationships after we graduate.”

The council implemented and continues to maintain a mentorship program which helps upper-classmen and freshmen develop a bond.

Revels encourages students to join. She is especially grateful for each council member and their willingness to serve.

Great Books Council students gather for a regular meeting

The Great Books Council provides support to honors students by offering encouragement and allowing them to voice new ideas.

“We want students, and especially freshmen, to know we’ve been through this, and the reason the council was created was to be a resource for them,” Revels said.

Benjamin Tomlin, Treasurer As treasurer, I manage all of the council’s funds and budget when we plan events and Benjamin Tomlin promotional endeavors.

In the past, I have monitored funds for ventures such as t-shirt orders, keeping track of who has put in an order and then collecting the funds for the program.

Being a part of Great Books has certainly been the highlight of my time here at Faulkner.

I am so thankful for every opportunity GB has given me to further my excellence both academically and personally. Reading and understanding literature and philosophy initially seems like something that needs to be reached for on your own, but truthfully, with such great leaders and classmates in the program, it’s more like being lifted to greatness. And arriving at such a new level of learning and experience is something for which I’m certainly thankful. Moreover, I am grateful for all the wonderful people I have met in the program. If it weren’t for Great Books, I never would have met all of the amazing friends I have now, and above my academic accomplishments, I treasure each and every one of them.

“If we can answer students’ questions or if they need to talk or have ideas they’d like to share with us, we’re here to help.”

Not only is the council an organization that allows members to learn more about leadership and further participate in the Great Books program, but it serves the student-body and leaves a lasting impact. Members work alongside one another as well as the Great Books faculty to improve the program and help create a sense of community.

Madelyn Furlong, Vice President As vice president, I help the president and preside over Great Books Council meetings Madelyn Furlong in her absence. I’m also the social media coordinator and oversee the Great Books Instagram account, which I especially enjoy.

I’m so thankful I joined Great Books when I came to Faulkner. Not only has it helped me flourish academically, but I found some of my best friends through the program, and we’ve walked through personal and academic challenges with one another. We’ve bonded through late-night texts about authors such as Plato and Hume and have offered encouragement whenever an interpretive essay is due.

Although some of the topics we discuss in class can seem overwhelming and even daunting, the Great Books professors and my classmates have pushed me to ask thoughtful questions and consider opposing viewpoints. We learn to think and argue well, which are skills I’ll carry with me after I graduate. My time in Great Books has taught me to aim for becoming a good student but an even better person.

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Marching in Step with the Faulkner Eagles

by Madelyn Furlong For high school band students, March with the Eagles at Faulkner University provides a unique opportunity to be a part of a university marching band for a day.

Hosted during Homecoming week, March with the Eagles is an avenue Stephen Foster, director of band at Faulkner, uses to provide a fun and enjoyable experience for potential students.

High school students from all across Alabama are invited to participate in March with the Eagles. The eleventh March with the Eagles event took place at Homecoming on November 6, 2021 with about 35 high school students in attendance. Students from fourteen schools, including one school from Tennessee, attended the event. These students perform alongside the Faulkner University Marching Eagles in the stands as well as in their pregame and halftime shows on the field. Not only do they participate in an exciting college game day, but they also meet Faulkner’s marching band director and students in order to learn more about the program.

Student band President Jolie Tucker, and Drum Major Angelina Guilbert, were once such students and are grateful they decided to participate in March with the Eagles when they were freshmen in high school.

Tucker was sure she would leave the band scene after she graduated from high school. Because of the pressure that accompanied her high school band, she had no intention of joining Faulkner’s. Her entire mindset changed when she met Foster and the students at the March with the Eagles event. She immediately knew participating in Faulkner’s band was a completely different and more positive experience than in high school.

“I couldn’t imagine what my college experience would be like had I not joined band,” she said. The people surrounding her at March with the Eagles quickly became like her family when she enrolled at Faulkner, and band continues to provide her with a sense of unity.

Tucker has a passion for music and has cultivated her talent every day at Faulkner. “If I had to live through college with no music, I would be so depressed,” she said.

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High school marching band students pose with Faulkner’s Marching Eagles

For Guilbert, Faulkner’s band also changed her experience at college. Because of March with the Eagles, she knew people in the band and already formed a friend group before her first day of classes. From day one, she felt a connection and sense of belonging.

They were excited and welcoming, ultimately treating her like she was one of them. While many of her fellow freshmen were trying to form friendships at the beginning of the school year, she already knew she had a place to call “home” and people with whom she could depend on and trust.

how supportive bandmates and a good leadership team make all the difference.

Tucker especially hopes March with the Eagles will expose these students to what college band is like in comparison to high school. She thinks this introduction will encourage them to continue playing. Likewise Foster hopes March with the Eagles will showcase what Faulkner’s band has to offer and encourage them to join and make their time at college even better.

Whenever she has a problem or is feeling discouraged, band provides a sanctuary and a means of support.

“When I come to band, I know they have my back and will be there for me,” Guilbert said. When she walks into the band room, smiling faces greet her, and she is able to let her problems and stress melt away.

Both Guilbert and Tucker encourage students to take advantage of March with the Eagles and see for themselves

Several high schools from around the southeast join the Faulkner Marching Eagles to perform during halftime

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​ sing Law to Serve the U Underserved

by Rebecca Burylo Danyel (Carolyn) Peters came to Faulkner Law to make a difference.

Her desire to further public good and make an impact on her community inspired Danyel Carolyn Peters her to join the Jones Public Interest Law Foundation (JPILF), an active student organization that serves the community through pro bono clinics and other service opportunities.

Over the years, JPILF has led the way in volunteering at legal clinics offered by the law school’s Public Interest Program in the River Region and Selma, conducting estate planning and wills seminars for the elderly, and assisting with the local Montgomery Volunteer Lawyers Program’s civil legal clinics, which provide no-cost legal assistance to community members.

Peters, an Auburn native who is in her last semester at Faulkner Law, currently serves as president of JPILF. “Becoming an advocate for others through the practice of law has provided me the opportunity to stand up and fight for the rights of others when they cannot,” Peters said. “My hope is that after graduation I will have the opportunity to do just this and make an impact on my community through the practice of law.”

“I joined JPILF my very first year of law school because I was interested in public service. As a new law student, I didn’t really know all of the ways I could get involved and JPILF was a fantastic source for promoting public service work available to students,” she added.

Peters, and many other law students at Jones, pursue law in order to serve others. Service is imbedded in

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the very missional fabric of Faulkner Law. Janey Whitney

Janey Whitney, JPILF treasurer and second year student, commutes from Birmingham to attend Jones. She learned about JPILF her first day on campus.

“I came across the Jones Public Interest Law Foundation table and loved the mission of the organization,” Whitney said. “I signed up and have been involved with the organization ever since.”

“This program has made an impact on me because it has shown me the importance of volunteering in the legal profession,” she added. “As a lawyer, I feel being involved is very important in maintaining a close connection with those in your community in order to better represent them. I hope to be a lawyer who will be there for those in their time of need, and remaining involved with pro bono work will be a huge part of establishing that throughout my legal career.”

Professor Kelly McTear, faculty advisor of JPILF and director of Public Interest Programs, came to Faulkner in 2013 because of her deep interest in public service and her well-established connections in the community. Before coming to Faulkner, McTear spent many years in pro bono and public service legal work.

“The foundation’s goal, and the goal of our Public Interest overall, is to provide legal assistance and information to those in our community with the least resources and the least access, which aligns with Faulkner’s mission,” McTear said. “It also helps introduce students to pro bono work early on and provides a pathway to intentional pro bono service habits now and after they graduate.”

When McTear was a student at University of Alabama Law School, she was deeply involved in service activities, which instilled in her a discipline to give back to her community and underserved individuals. When she graduated, she worked for Legal Service Alabama, a nonprofit that serves low-income people by providing civil legal aid and by promoting collaboration to find solutions to problems of poverty.

Kelly McTear

“I always had a heart for volunteerism and it made sense to use my legal education to give legal services to those who couldn’t afford lawyers and to represent domestic violence victims in civil cases,” McTear said.

Once McTear began working for Legal Services Alabama, she met and connected with other legal professionals who were also heavily invested in pro bono work. She began working on nonprofit boards and Alabama State Bar committees and task forces.

Before coming to Faulkner, McTear was appointed to serve as president of the Montgomery Volunteer Lawyers Program, a position she has held for the past five years.

Because of her involvement in pro bono work and connection in the field throughout the state, McTear was a natural fit for Faulkner Law, and she has inspired and helped facilitate numerous pro bono activities at the law school including in-person and virtual community clinics for law students through JPILF within the local area and across the state.

As a part of JPILF’s student organization, Peters had the opportunity to attend several networking events with various legal organizations and attorneys in the area including the Alabama State Bar Board of Commissioners. There they were able to network with attorneys from all over the state of Alabama and also joined the Autauga County Court Appointed Special Advocate volunteer network (CASA). CASA trains volunteers to act as non-legal advocates for

disadvantaged children in Alabama’s juvenile court system.

“CASA has given me the chance to represent two children who have been under the care of DHR in court,” Peters explained. “Public service is such an important part of being a lawyer. Having the opportunity to join these programs while in school has given me the chance to meet and work with many influential attorneys who practice within the public service arena.”

“Our students come to law school because they want to help people,” McTear said. “There’s no reason why they should delay that until after they graduate. Let’s make it happen now while they’re still students. That’s why I help connect our students, through JPILF and other law school initiatives, with those who are already doing pro bono work in the community including lawyers who are influential in legislative advocacy and private attorneys doing pro bono work.

These legal lions have been so willing to come speak to our students and show them what volunteerism looks like after law school. It’s rewarding, it’s fun and they can start right now.”

In addition to direct community assistance, JPILF students fundraise to provide students interested in summer pro bono work with a public interest summer stipend program. Students interested in benefiting from the program must apply and awards are given on a competitive basis.

“Giving back is a very rewarding experience, and helping others in need is the core part of the legal profession,” Whitney said. “I would encourage everyone to get involved with JPILF and get involved with different volunteer opportunities in your community, in government, and in the legal profession.”

Faulkner Law’s JPILF is open to all law students.

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Overcome with emotion, Laurie Brookshire, right, is comforted by another runner after both crossing finish line of the Rock&Roll Marathon

Running to Remember

by Rebecca Burylo photos by Wear Blue Staff photographers Dan Speicher and Justin Merriman

Inhale. Running shoes hit the asphalt in solid rhythm.

Arms pump. Exhale.

Mile upon mile slip behind her.

The run is hard, yes. Twenty six point two miles is a challenge for anyone, but that’s not what Laurie Brookshire is thinking about. She’s not thinking about her screaming calves or the fire burning in her lungs.

She’s thinking about her brother.

Then she’s there. The Blue Mile. She sees hundreds of American flags waving. Runners ahead of her are stopping to pay their respects. And then she sees his picture.

He is among thousands of portraits framed in patriotic blue that spread out into a sea of fallen heroes before her. Each frame bears the brave portrait of a loved one, a brother, a sister, a daughter, a son, a mother, a father who sacrificed themselves in service to their country.

So that we might be free.

Among the faces, Brookshire finds the portrait of her younger brother, Staff Sergeant Michael Wesley Hosey and takes a moment to remember his smile, his laugh and his ultimate sacrifice. He is the reason why she runs. She runs to honor his service. She runs so others might remember.

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“He always knew how to make people laugh,” Brookshire said. “He never met a stranger. He could talk with someone for hours or he could listen for hours.”

Hosey knew even at a young age that he wanted to serve his country. He joined the United States Army with his parent’s permission after graduating high school. He was 17. Two days before he graduated boot camp in Fort Jackson, South Carolina, terrorists flew into the New York City World Trade Center on September 11, 2001 and his world changed forever.

He served 10 years in the Army’s Special Forces, which included four tours in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Brookshire, who works in Faulkner’s registrar’s office as the transcript services representative, began running soon after her brother joined the service nearly 21 years ago. Her runs began with short distance races, which then led her and her husband David Brookshire to run in the Peachtree Road Race 10K in Atlanta, Georgia every July 4th.

Brookshire is grateful that even though Michael was serving in the military, he was always able to come home for Christmas. The last holiday they shared together with their families in Birmingham, it snowed.

Laurie Brookshire, center, runs along the Blue Mile in the Rock & Roll Marathon

Roll Marathon in San Antonio, Texas. It was her first marathon.

She first submitted her name to the Wear Blue committee and was chosen among twenty other athletes to run in the race.

“I wouldn’t run if it weren’t for him,” Brookshire explained. “I never imagined I would be running a marathon, but there I was with 20 other family members who had also lost someone. Children who lost fathers and mothers. Brothers and sisters who lost a sibling. Mothers and fathers who lost a child. It was powerful to see.”

“That made our last Christmas together so special,” Brookshire said.

Nine months later, military officials arrived at the home of Brookshire’s parents in Clay, Alabama to deliver the news of Michael’s death. He was killed in the line of duty during a tour in Afghanistan.

Michael was 27 when he died September 17, 2011 while serving as an Intelligence Specialist during Operation Enduring Freedom. He was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group, Joint Base LewisMcChord, Washington. According to Military Times, Michael died from his injuries after insurgents attacked his unit.

He was awarded the Bronze Star Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal and the Purple Heart for his actions in combat.

Brookshire continues to run in Michael’s honor, but she is not alone. Each year she joins more than a dozen runners, who also run to honor a loved one who died in the line of duty. They are members of the Wear Blue: Run to Remember team.

As a part of Wear Blue events, American flags are lined along a mile swath of race course to honor the fallen, a tribute called the Wear Blue Mile. Each flag along the mile is hand-held, making it a true living memorial.

Placed in front of these flags are large posters with photographs of fallen heroes.

Most recently, on December 5, 2021, Brookshire, joined Wear Blue and Gold Star families to run in the Rock &

Brookshire ran a half-marathon in 2013 in Michael’s honor in Seattle, Washington where he was last stationed. She ran alongside two soldiers who served with Michael on his last deployment. It was there where she first saw the Wear Blue Mile. She began to research and learned Wear Blue: Run to Remember is a nonprofit organization that serves as a support network for people in all states of deployment, including healing from loss sustained during a deployment.

After that race, Brookshire began running races on behalf of Wear Blue for Michael.

Running in December’s marathon is something Brookshire will never forget.

“It was so breathtaking not only to see those posters, but to know that Michael was on that mile,” Brookshire said. “To find his flag with his name ... it was all for him. All the training to run that marathon was for him. Just to know that thousands of others running by were stopping to see his picture and see his name and to know that he is not forgotten was special. It was truly breathtaking to see the red, white and blue of freedom in that mile and to know that it is because of Michael and those men and women alongside him that we enjoy our freedoms David Brookshire holds a flag in honor of Laurie’s today.” brother, SSG Michael Hosey

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COMMUNITY NEWS

American students prepared for and seeking majors and careers in the STEM disciplines.”

“The Formula Grant is geared to improving retention and program completion rates of African American and low-income students in the Executive and Professional program,” Rampersad added. “Particular focus is on dedicated academic advising and retention services, improving the virtual and in-class learning environment, and training faculty on the latest teaching technology to enhance and improve existing on-line coursework.”

Faulkner Awarded $4.25 Million in Grants for African American, Minority Students Faulkner University is proud to announce its reception of two substantial grants: the Predominantly Black Institution Competitive Grant and the Predominantly Black Institution Formula Grant. These grants are the largest grants the university has ever received and they pave the way for significant strengthening of support programs for minority students, in particular our African American students. Through these grants’ fiveyear lifespans, the Competitive Grant will provide the University $3 million of funding and the Formula Grant will provide $1.25 million to establish and strengthen support programs to improve the educational outcomes of African-American students.

In partnership with Marygrove Consulting, Faulkner began working on the proposals and applications for these grants in the spring of 2021. Award notifications were received in the fall of 2021 and work began immediately to implement the programs. Hiring of strategic personnel to support the grant has already begun and significant progress has been made in the planning and development phases of program implementation.

“The Competitive Grant is geared to improving retention and graduation rates of traditional African American students via an integrated student support system from their first day on campus through graduation,” said Dave Rampersad, vice president of Academic Affairs. “Particular focus is on enhanced academic coaching, supplemental instruction, peer-topeer tutoring, and instituting a series of university-wide special initiatives to increase the numbers of African

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In order to qualify as a Predominantly Black Institution, institutions must meet the following criteria: (1) serve at least 1,000 undergraduate students; (2) have at least 50% low-income or first-generation degree-seeking undergraduate enrollment; (3) have a low per full-time undergraduate student expenditure in comparison with other institutions offering similar instruction; and (4) enroll at least 40% African-American students.

Alan Kaye Retires as Director of MSM Program Alan Kaye, director of Faulkner’s Master of Science in Management (MSM) program, retired on September 30, 2021.

During Kaye’s nine years as program director, he oversaw the program’s transition from in person Alan Kaye classes to hybrid, online/ in person classes, and finally to all online MSM classes.

Kaye said his favorite part of the job has been “knowing that I can help people, because when you get into a graduate program, it’s easy to get in a jam. Being able to work with and get them to the finish line, that’s very rewarding.”

Kaye shares that his plan for retirement is to enjoy all the small things in life that work often pushes aside.

“I’ve been telling people,” he says, “I don’t have any big plans. I have a lot of little plans.”

As he moves on from Faulkner and into a new chapter of his life, Kaye says, “I am satisfied that I have made a

difference and that this university has made a difference in me.”

the hire. “He’s very knowledgeable when it comes to broadcasting, streaming, and all of the things needed for esports. That was very important.”

Loye Moorer Retires from Office of the Vice President for Finance

Colquitt, a native of Marbury, Alabama has served the university most recently as the head resident of Davis Hall, a role he will continue moving forward.

Loye Moorer

For the past fifteen years, Loye Moorer has worked in the office of the vice president for Finance until she officially retired from her position in December 2021.

Moorer has been connected to Faulkner University for over thirty years and has enjoyed watching the university grow and thrive. She first began her career at Faulkner in August 1995 where she worked part-time in the curriculum lab in the Department of Education, now the College of Education. Before her departure in March 2000, she also spent time serving in the library at the Jones School of Law and with Dr. Cecil May in the College of Biblical Studies. In 2007, Moorer returned to Faulkner where she began her position in the office of the vice president for Finance.

Even though Moorer has moved on from Faulkner, she said she will always cherish the relationships and friendships she has made with her co-workers and students.“I enjoyed the daily interaction with other employees whether it be business related, chapel, our ‘lunch bunch,’ or just catching up when we passed in the hall,” she said. “It’s like one big family!”

Caleb Colquitt Named Esports Head Coach Faulkner’s newest athletic endeavor has a face after the university tabbed Caleb Colquitt to head its esports program.

“He is, himself, a gamer and he has put on a lot of tournaments here on Caleb Colquitt campus with our student body,” Faulkner athletic director Hal Wynn said of

While he is presently pursuing graduate degrees in Bible and Philosophy at Faulkner and hosting his political talk radio show, Colquitt has continued to advance his long-time hobby of gaming.

“Gaming started early for me. I was five when I got my first gaming system,” Colquitt said. “Since my degree was in broadcasting, I worked for sports radio and then moved into political talk. Then, about two years ago, I started streaming games on Twitch and YouTube for others’ entertainment. I started broadcasting video game tournaments on Faulkner’s campus for my residents. After that, the transition felt natural.”

As Colquitt prepares to tackle recruiting for Faulkner esports, he believes there is a lot to extol for potential students.

“Most universities classify esports as a student club.

They don’t treat it like a real sports team,” Colquitt said.

“Faulkner is doing this right. If you come here, your gaming is treated seriously and supported just like any other athletics program at the university.”

Prospective esports students can contact Colquitt at ccolquitt@faulkner.edu.

Faulkner Law Professor Receives Maurice Merrill Golden Quill Award Faulkner Law’s John G. Browning was recently honored by the Oklahoma Bar Association (OBA) with the Maurice Merrill Golden Quill Award. The OBA gives this award to “the author of the bestJohn G. Browning written article published this year in the Oklahoma Bar Journal.” His awardwinning article “Blazing the Trail: Oklahoma Pioneer

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African American Attorneys” was featured in the May 2021 issue.

Browning serves as a visiting associate professor of law at Faulkner Law and teaches torts, professional responsibility, and other courses. He is a partner in the Plano, Texas office of the law firm Spencer Fane, where he is a trial lawyer.

Browning has also served as a justice on the Texas Fifth District Court of Appeals. He is a prolific author and has written law books, law review articles, bar journal articles, and other pieces for national and regional publications. He has received recognition from various organizations and peers for his work as a legal professional and a scholar. “Faulkner Law is fortunate to have someone with John Browning’s experience, scholarship, and expertise as a part of our faculty,” said Faulkner Law Dean Charles B. Campbell, “and this award just confirms that.”

Browning was announced as the recipient of the Maurice Merrill Golden Quill Award at the Oklahoma Bar Association’s General Assembly on November 12, 2021. This annual award is named after Professor Maurice Merrill, an accomplished legal scholar and long-serving professor at the University of Oklahoma College of Law.

The agreement would allow Heritage alumni who graduated with a master’s degree to pursue a Ph.D. in Biblical Studies at Faulkner. If accepted for admission, they will be eligible for a scholarship to aid with the cost.

“The whole spirit of this goes back to our founders and our forefathers,” said Mike Williams, president of Faulkner University. “Both of our institutions wanted to prepare people to go into ministry and be prepared in the text and to make a powerful impact on the kingdom so today hopefully is mission attainment of what they wanted from us from the beginning.”

Heritage Christian University is a private Bible college in Florence, Alabama with a mission to advance churches of Christ by equipping servants through undergraduate and graduate programs and continuing education. HCU produces effective communicators, preachers, teachers and missionaries for real-world ministry with a focus on evangelism and a commitment to scripture.

W. Kirk Brothers, president of Heritage Christian University said, “At the end of the day we’re all on the same team. We want God to be glorified and his cause to be advanced. I think the more bridges we have and the more we work together, the better.”

Faulkner Employees Honored as Women Who Make a Difference Dr. Leah Fullman was selected as an honoree for the 2022 This is Alabama’s Women Who Shape the State recognition program for the work she is doing for Montgomery through Faulkner’s College of Health Sciences and Clinic. Fullman was among more than 200 women who were nominated through a statewide poll, which asked Alabamians to name women who have made a difference. She was then selected as one of 27 outstanding women to be recognized for “contributing to their communities and setting an example with their efforts.” She was featured at The Women Who Shape the State’s luncheon in March in alignment with Women’s History Month.

Leah Fullman

l-r Judge Carole Medley, W. Kirk Brothers, Mike Williams and Dale Kirkland sign a Memorandum of Understanding

Faulkner University and Heritage Christian University Sign Agreement Officials with Faulkner University and Heritage Christian University signed a Memorandum of Understanding that will benefit graduates seeking to complete their PhD in Biblical Studies.

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Karen Bruce, Faulkner Birmingham director, was featured in the Hoover Sun’s Women in Business issue. Bruce is among the Ladies of Leadership Class of 1920. The issue celebrated all of its Leadership Hoover Women in Business for growing “their circles of support, sources of knowledge and shared experiences, through their Leadership Hoover class-year journeys.”

Karen Bruce

Those counted among the Ladies of Leadership represent not only the businesses who call Hoover home, but also the characters and backgrounds of our community members.

Faulkner Law Professor Publishes Three Articles Faulkner Law Professor Adam J. MacLeod, an expert in property law, intellectual property, and jurisprudence, has recently added three articles to his lengthy list of published works.

Additionally, he was Adam J. MacLeod recently appointed as the State Liaison Officer to serve as the United States Coast Guard’s state and legislative liaison to the State of Alabama. He will do this while continuing to serve as a legal staff officer in the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary.

The Modern Law Review, a leading peer-reviewed jurisprudence journal, published his review article What Makes Property Liberal? In this article, he considers contemporary attempts to ground property in new liberal values such as autonomy and equality, and he argues that the mischaracterizations of property that dominate contemporary scholarship should be rejected.

Instead, he contends, scholars, judges, and lawyers should return to property’s classical justification of ordered liberty and understand how property enables people to lead lives of flourishing.

In his article, Public Rights After Oil States Energy, which was published by the Notre Dame Law Review, MacLeod explores the concept of public rights in the context of the United States Supreme Court’s decision in Oil States Energy Services v. Greene’s Energy Group.

He considers how the Court has used the term “public rights” to refer to three different concepts with different jurisprudential implications. Using insights drawn from historical and analytical jurisprudence, he distinguishes the three concepts and examines how each of them is at work in patent law.

In his article, Cyber Trespass and Property Concepts, published by IP Theory, a peer-edited, intellectual property law publication, MacLeod shows how basic property concepts such as bailment and public accommodation licenses can solve persistent problems in the law governing the Internet. He argues that property solutions can transcend national boundaries as they appeal to universal, practical reason.

MacLeod is Professor of Law at Faulkner University and a Research Fellow of the Center for Religion, Culture, and Democracy. He has been a Visiting Fellow in the James Madison Program in American Ideals and Institutions at Princeton University and a Thomas Edison Fellow in the Center for the Protection of Intellectual Property at George Mason University. He is co-editor of the fourth edition of Christie and Martin’s Jurisprudence (West Academic 2020) and author of Property and Practical Reason (Cambridge University Press 2015) and other books. He has published more than one hundred articles, essays, and book reviews in peer-reviewed journals, law reviews, news outlets, and journals of public opinion. He is an instructor in the James Madison Program’s graduate seminar on the Moral Foundations of Law, and he speaks at events and contributes to conferences, colloquia, and consultations around the world.

Professor MacLeod received his B.A. from Gordon College and his J.D. from the University of Notre Dame Law School. He served as law clerk to Chief Justice Christopher Armstrong and Justice Benjamin Kaplan of the Massachusetts Appeals Court and to Chief Judge Lewis Babcock of the United States District Court for the District of Colorado. He practiced law in the Boston area and has held appointment as a special Deputy Attorney General of Alabama.

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Alumni Spotlight

Alumnus of the Year:

Joe Beam, Walking in the Light

by Rebecca Burylo Joe Beam

At the darkest point of Joe Beam’s life, he couldn’t see his way back to God, but the way was there. All he needed was to take one humble step back into the light.

Tens of thousands of people across the globe have heard of Joe Beam. They know him through either seeing him on televised talk shows, hearing him from the pulpit, reading one of his books or going through Marriage Helper, a program he founded to salvage broken marriages.

They also know of his past, because it’s from his past and God’s redeeming love that Beam is where he is today and he doesn’t shy away from telling it.

He often shares his experiences and God’s saving grace on Faulkner’s campus where he was honored as Alumnus of the Year during the 2022 Marketplace Faith Friday Forums, which annually honors alumni making a difference in the world.

“To all those reading or hearing my story, God can use whoever he wants and it is because of God that I’m alive today,” Beam said. “I don’t take any credit for where He’s brought me. It’s all His doing and I thank Him every day for His blessings, for my family and for restoring my marriage.”

Beam’s story began on the day he decided to attend Alabama Christian College (ACC), now Faulkner. He had initially enrolled in Augusta College to become an actuary. However, God had different plans for Beam and his church minister urged Beam to attend ACC in Montgomery, Alabama instead.

“That decision would change the whole trajectory of my life,” Beam said. “Going to ACC was life-altering. I became good friends with my roommate Ray Dutton and everything changed. Everything.”

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It was through Dutton’s influence that Beam decided to major in Bible. Bible professor Paul Tarence took Beam under his wing. Tarence was a popular speaker and he had so many speaking engagements that he delegated several to Beam. That’s when Beam realized he had a God-given gift of oration.

Beam married his wife Alice Hilyer Beam in 1969. A year later, Beam was hired to preach at a church in Georgia. He continued speaking at revivals all across the Southeast and eventually across the nation.

He and Alice moved back to Montgomery where he became the minister at Carriage Hills Church of Christ in 1979. It was there that Beam’s involvement with a single female congregant brought his world crashing to the ground and he was forced to resign.

He and Alice divorced. He was stripped of his good reputation, his job and his wife.

Despised and rejected, Beam moved to Birmingham, but was unable to find work. He became addicted to alcohol and drugs. His addictions bankrupted him financially, physically and spiritually and reduced him to occasional theft to get his next high. One night he overdosed. As he lay on the floor, darkness enveloped him and he thought he would never again see the light of day. Once again, God had different plans.

Beam was taken to a hospital and he was placed in intensive care for three days. His younger brother, Greg Beam took him back to South Carolina. He and Beam’s older brother gave Beam a job in their paving company.

“It was one of the messiest jobs I have ever known,” Beam said. “I burned my hands several times on the tar mixture we used, but it was a job and I was making money and I was grateful for it.”

It was then Beam returned to church. He met with a local minister and told him who he was. Despite his soiled past, Beam was invited in. That was his

marriages, so they created Marriage Helper, which is now led by his daughter and CEO, Kimberly Beam Holmes. In 2020, Beam and his team helped ten thousand marriages through courses, coaching, and workshops.

Beam is known internationally as The Marriage Expert, an inspirational speaker and best-selling author. He’s spoken to millions of people worldwide in personal appearances as well as appearances on television and radio, including Good Morning America, Focus on the Family, and NBC’s Today Show.

Joe & Alice Beam

first step back to the Lord. He never thought he would preach again, but at least he was renewing his relationship with Christ.

After three years of divorce, Beam contacted Alice, who was dating another man and asked if he could come back to her. Alice sought counsel from her family, her church leadership and friends who all told her to let her former husband go. In the end she told Beam, “Yes” and they were remarried.

“I like to say they counseled her, but I out-prayed them,” Beam quipped.

If Joe Beam can tell you two things, it would be, first, don’t get caught up in sin - ever. Second, if you do, God can still redeem you. Beam was about to see God’s grace outpoured again.

A friend of Beam’s convinced him to speak in church again. “I didn’t know what God had in store for me.

He had given me such a great opportunity before to bring hundreds of people into the Kingdom through preaching, but I messed all that up. I thought I could never go back to doing what I was doing until this friend told me I had a gift to speak and I didn’t have a right to turn it down,” Beam said. “Now through our marriage ministry God is using me to lead more people to Jesus. I take no pride in the matter, because I know it all belongs to God’s glory.”

It all began at ACC where Beam attended from 1967 to 1969. Beam later earned his bachelor’s degree from Southern Christian University, and did graduate studies in Clinical Psychology at the University of Evansville. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of Sydney.

Beam has authored many magazine articles, corporate training programs, and is the author of several books.

Beam and his family live in Tennessee where he dedicates most of his time to researching and creating methods to aid couples in crisis. He enjoys traveling across the country to speak at conferences and events and is a regular speaker at Faulkner.

“There’s only one step back to God,” Beam said. “I wish I had never made that sinful decision, and you don’t want to either. Just don’t. However, if you have sinned, if you’ve messed up, God can still use you. It just takes one step back to Him. He can redeem your mistakes and bring you out of the darkness.”

Beam and Alice knew the only way their marriage and relationship could have been restored was with God’s help. They wanted to share that message and help couples rebuild their troubled

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ALUMNI NEWS

2000’s Delmonize “Del” Smith (‘02) is co-founder and CEO of Acclinate, a digital health company based in Birmingham, Alabama, specializing in health equity through inclusive research.

Kasey Oakley (‘03) is the web manager at Faulkner University.

A L U M N I

1990’s Dorsey Morrow (‘93) is the new chief executive officer at Liberty HealthShare. Morrow took over as CEO in late October of 2021. Liberty HealthShare is the business name for Gospel Light Mennonite Church Medical Aid Plan, a Christian ministry created to share the medical costs of its members.

Terina Gantt (‘94) became the principal of Demopolis High School in 2020 and was one of three finalists for the 2022 Alabama High School Principal of the Year.

Lisa Van Wagner (‘94) is the new project manager for the Elmore County Economic Development Authority (ECEDA).

David Hilyer (‘97 & ‘01) was named the chief operating officer of the Local Government Health Insurance Board on January 1, 2022. Hilyer served as the attorney for the Alabama State Employees’ Insurance Board, which served all state, county and municipality employees throughout the state. In 2021 the decision was made to separate the divisions and Hilyer became the COO of the new division.

Wanda Turner (‘99), RN at the Rehabilitation Institute was awarded a DAISY Award For Extraordinary Nurses by North Mississippi Medical Center. The DAISY Award is an international program to recognize exceptional nurses. Turner recently received her 35year service pin.

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Kasey Oakley

Major William R. Jackson (‘05 & ‘06) was appointed chief operating officer of the Mobile Police Station.

Jackson has been with the Mobile Police Station for 26 years.

Aaron Greenwood (‘09) was hired in September as the new athletic director at Alabama Christian Academy in Montgomery, Alabama.

2010’s Christopher Nahley (‘10) joined Steptoe & Johnson law firm’s Energy Department as a member. Nahley practices mineral title and energy real estate law from the firm’s office in Charleston, West Virginia.

Kinsey Ogles (‘12) joined Northwest High School’s Lady Bruins soccer team in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Jake Mitchell (‘15) is the assistant coach for Men’s Basketball at Faulkner University.

Jake Mitchell

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.

Lauren James (‘15 & ‘19) was awarded the Montgomery County Bar Association’s Tom Methvin Award for Volunteer Lawyer of the Year.

Ross (‘21) and Izabella (Zientek, ‘21) Whisenant were married on November 6, 2021.

Ross & Izabella Whisenant

Lauren James

Lindsay Rane Carter (‘16) received a 2021 Women of Impact Award from Yellowhammer Multimedia. Carter is an attorney and director of external affairs for Great Southern Wood Preserving Inc. Esther Barahona (‘19) married Hayden Wilkes on September 4, 2021.

Hallie Christensen

Hayden & Esther Wilkes

2020’s Brent & Abigail Lorence

Abigail Collins (‘20) married Brent Lorence on November 20, 2021.

Hallie Christensen (‘16) wrote “Enchanted Misadventures with Great-Aunt Poppy: Magic, Mayhem, and Monsters.” The book was published in October of 2021 by Sweetwater Books.

In the book, the three Alexander children, Ava, Nolan and Charlotte, are sent to their Great-Aunt Poppy’s house for a week, which doesn’t sound so bad until you learn that Great-Aunt Poppy is a witch. No one believes them, so they have to find a way to survive a week at a haunted house in the howling woods with Great-Aunt Poppy.

Eliza Rillion (‘20) is the director of student activities at Faulkner University.

Chase (‘18) and Abbigail (Barron, ‘20) Wilson were married on December 30, 2021.

Chase & Abbigail Wilson

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Naomi Parke Bowers, 91, of Montgomery died February 17, 2022. Bowers graduated from Montgomery Bible College in 1948. She was the Alabama Chrisitan College bookstore manager in the 1980s.

In Memory Frederick Moore (‘18), 32, recently of Woodbridge, VA, died September 17, 2021. Moore was a math teacher and assistant football coach for Woodbridge Senior High School.

Dwayne Cleckler

Dwayne Cleckler, 59, of Millbrook, Alabama, died October 5, 2021. Cleckler worked for 18 years as Faulkner’s IT services team leader with EFC, the company which provides IT services to Faulkner University.

He served the employees and students of Faulkner with dedication and excellence.

Naomi Bowers

Larry Moore (’71), 79, of Waverly, Tennessee, died February 2, 2022.

Larry Moore

Sarah Anna Rutland Cook (’97), 51, of Sheffield, Alabama, died October 18, 2021.

Sybil Taylor, 97, of Montgomery, Alabama, died October 22, 2021. Taylor was an unwavering supporter and a long-time friend of Faulkner University. Taylor deeded her farm to Faulkner for the university to sell and funds from the sale went to the Sybil Taylor university and five charitable gift annuities were set up for Taylor to live on a stable income for the rest of her life. Taylor lived on campus for many years and was well known by students and employees of the university.

Steven Hall Rose, 26, of Montgomery, Alabama died October 28, 2021. Rose was a student of Faulkner University, studying Computer Sciences.

Stentson Carpenter (‘87), 75, of Eastaboga, Alabama, died November 7, 2021, Carpenter was the founder of Rainbow Omega and was honored as the Faulkner Alumnus of the Year in 2020.

Stentson Carpenter

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Future Eagles

Charles David Sellers

Rob (‘06) and Rivers Sellers welcomed Charles David Sellers on July 14, 2021.

Lincoln Alexander Horton

Josh (‘20) and Courtney (Lovelace, ‘20) Horton had a baby boy, Lincoln Alexander, born January 4, 2022.

David Oliver

David (‘19) and Mallory (‘19) Gregor welcomed baby boy David Oliver on July 22, 2021.

Hatcher Family

Blake (‘11) and Bliss (Young, ‘11) Hatcher, and their daughter Eden Wren welcomed a baby boy, Titus Blake to their family on October 12, 2021.

Shaw Family

Abel and Natalie (Willis, ‘19) Shaw welcomed Luca Harvey Shaw on November 8, 2021.

Mitchell Blake Clifton

Blake and Maggie (Blankenship, ‘21) Clifton welcomed Mitchell Blake Clifton on September 15, 2021.

Lucy Diane Olguin

Matt and Sarah (Missildine, ‘18) Olguin had a baby girl, Lucy Diane on January 3, 2022.

Join our Alumni Association Renew your Membership Update your Information www.faulkner.edu Click on Alumni & Friends LIKE our Faulkner University Alumni page

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A L U M N I

Huntsville Alumnus: Robert Barnett

by Ben Tomlin In 2021, Faulkner Huntsville alumnus Robert Barnett, was nominated to the Board of Directors for the National Pawnbrokers Association (NPA), the only national trade association representing independent pawnbrokers.

Barnett graduated from Faulkner’s Huntsville campus in 1997, completing his Bachelor degree in Business Administration, and at the time of his collegiate completion, he was the youngest person to ever participate in Faulkner’s one-year Business Administration degree program.

Robert Barnett

In the years following his graduation, Barnett has served as the president of the Alabama Pawnbrokers Association and after opening his business, Elk River Trading Company, began serving as vice president of

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the Tennessee Pawnbrokers Association where he sits today. Barnett’s colleagues appreciate his treasury of knowledge and years of experience in the pawnbroking world.

Faulkner’s Huntsville campus has served the community for more than thirty years and seeks to provide adult students with convenient opportunities to earn a number of degrees with scheduling options to accommodate prior work and family commitments, including a number of online classes and degrees earnable entirely online.

The Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) degree that Barnett earned is designed to supply adult students with an expertise in handling the most important issues facing the modern world of business, all within a oneyear period of three semesters. Students who pursue a BBA are given the opportunity to choose one of three areas of emphasis: Business Management, Logistics Management, or Health Administration.

Supporter Spotlight: Martha Grubb

by Rebecca Burylo Sometimes blessings bloom out of sorrow and sometimes new love is found when it is least expected.

If you had told that to Martha Grubb three years ago when she lost her husband Mitch Grubb, she may not have believed such was possible. Now, Martha Grubb though, as she looks back on the journey the Lord laid out for her life, she can see the hope that came from her sadness and the generosity that God laid on her heart to give to Faulkner University.

Martha met Mitch when she returned home to Montgomery on a holiday from Harding University. She graduated from Alabama Christian Academy (ACA) and left for Searcy, Arkansas, to study for a year and a half. During this time Mitch began teaching at ACA and became good friends with Martha’s parents.

Martha’s family has been connected to ACA since 1956 when her oldest sister was enrolled in the first grade there. Her parents, Dan and Mary Myers, became avid supporters of Christian education and though not a wealthy family, found money to help the school pay its bills.

Her parents are the ones who introduced Martha to Mitch during her holiday visit and they fell in love.

They married and thus began their decades-long support of Christian education.

They moved from Montgomery and worked at Jefferson Christian Academy in Birmingham for 16 years, then at Arlington Christian School in Fairborn, Georgia for 12 years before returning to ACA in 2013. Mitch retired in 2016 after teaching and coaching for a total of 39 years.

Martha is currently in her 35th year of teaching and her 9th year at ACA teaching Algebra and Pre-Algebra.

When Mitch died, he left Martha a large life insurance policy and she knew she wanted to support Christian education with the gift Mitch left behind. She gave the entire policy to Faulkner University.

“Faulkner, just like ACA and the whole system when it was known as ACC, has always been dear to my heart,” Martha said. “My parents were strong believers in Christian education so after Mitch passed away, I wanted to do something to help Faulkner.”

“Mitch and I really believed in Christian education because we could see the results,” Martha added. “I know Faulkner turns out some really good preachers and people of character and I want to see that continue because I believe that has a profound effect on the Lord’s kingdom.”

In addition to working alongside several Faulkner graduates at ACA, Martha’s two daughters attended Faulkner as well as one of her grandchildren. Her other two grandchildren are attending ACA. Her story is not only a tale of generosity to support the mission of Faulkner, it’s one of new-found love.

Martha, who is a member of the University Church of Christ, met Ronald Honaker there, who lost his wife to cancer three months after Mitch died. As they began to navigate their grief over their loved ones, Martha and Ronald became good friends. Their friendship soon blossomed into a mutual love and affection for one another and they were married on November 20, 2021.

Just as Martha was led to donate her husband’s life insurance policy to higher education, you may find yourself in a similar situation.

By transferring a life insurance policy to Faulkner University you receive a tax benefit and it is as easy as contacting your insurance company and requesting a change of beneficiary form. Once signed by both parties and returned, the transfer is complete. To learn more about donating a life insurance policy or any number of giving opportunities along with free resources and information, please visit faulknerheritage.org or call Faulkner’s Advancement Office at 334-386-7257.

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