Cameron Magazine Fall 2023

FALL 2023

MAGAZINE

FESTIVAL XII Care and Health: A Generational Approach

Inside This

ISSUE Message from the President Featured in this edition is a preview of this year’s Academic Festival theme – Care and Health: A Generational Approach. This will be Cameron’s 12th tri-annual festival, designed to take a multi-faceted and deep look at an important topic throughout the course of an entire academic year. This year’s topic will explore mental health issues from the stand point of three distinct life phases – childhood and adolescence, adulthood, and those receiving and providing caregiving. I hope you will join us throughout the year as we explore the varying ways mental health impacts us throughout our lifetimes.

We also explore the life and career of Ed Goeas, Cameron’s Distinguished Alumnus of 2019. Goeas’ rise from a 12-year-old volunteer on President Johnson’s reelection bid in 1964 to a highly respected political strategist and bestselling author is a powerful example of the impact Cameron’s alumni have on their nation. I’m also pleased to share in these pages the successes of Cameron’s athletic teams and the honors the student athletes and their coaches have earned. Last year was an exciting time for CU’s athletes, and next year promises even more excitement on the court, field, and track. Additionally, we celebrate renaming the Cameron Library for Eugene D. McMahon in recognition of the McMahon Foundation’s enduring support for student excellence. We also get an update on our efforts to support business and economic development in the region as well as celebrate the achievements of Cameron’s students, staff and faculty members.

Whether it be via a traditional classroom setting, hybrid learning models, or exclusively online offerings, Cameron University continues to deliver exceptional student learning opportunities with highly qualified faculty and staff at an outstanding value. We look forward to reinforcing our connections with our students and with you during the Fall 2023 semester. In the interim, please stay safe, stay healthy, and keep learning.

Sincerely,

John McArthur President

Fall 2023 Volume 20 Issue 2 President: John McArthur Director of Alumni Relations: Jonna Turner

Dear Alumni and Friends: Welcome to the Fall 2023 edition of Cameron Magazine. While the past three years have been challenging, Cameron University employees and students continue to strive to meet our Core Values – student learning; excellence in teaching, scholarship, service and mentoring; community leadership; shared governance; diversity; and responsible stewardship of resources. As Cameron supporters, you help us realize these values in real-time as we endeavor to be a driving force in the cultural and economic development of the region.

MAGAZINE

Senior Director of Public Affairs: Keith Mitchell Managing Editor: Janet E. Williams Graphic Designers: John Kindred Alex Zakharchenko

12 Festival XII: Care and Health: A Generational Approach CU’s triennial academic festival welcomes speakers Michele Borba, Nii Addy and Leighann Lord.

Editorial Assistant: Rhonda Young Photographers: John Kindred Alex Zakharchenko

FEATURES 2 Campus Update Learn about the latest happenings at Cameron University.

6 The Eugene D. McMahon Libary Thanks to the McMahon Foundation, CU’s library has a new look and a new name.

8 Ed Goeas How lessons from his father shaped his career as a political strategist.

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Commencement 2023 Comanche Nation chairman Mark Woomavovah inspires the Class of 2023.

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Artifacts turn back the clock to 1959 Marlene James Reynolds donates her valued Aggie memorabilia.

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Cameron University Foundation celebrates endowed donors The positive impact endowments have on CU students.

20 Comings and Goings Getting to know Dr. Dakota Kaus, Director, CU-Duncan, as Susan Camp shares her fondest memories 22

Aggie Athletics Recapping the success of CU’s tennis and men’s golf teams

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Alma Matters/In Memoriam

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by Cameron University’s offices of Public Affairs and Alumni Relations.

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Accommodations on the basis of disability are available by contacting the Office of Student Development at (580) 581-2209 or by e-mail at student_development@cameron.edu.

(10/2023)

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Campus Update Cameron-FISTA partnership recognized by Oklahoma higher education regents Cameron University’s collaboration with the Fires Innovation Science and Technology Accelerator (FISTA) has been recognized by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education with its Regents Business Partnership Excellence Award. Through the partnership, local entities collaborate to meet workforce needs in southwest Oklahoma.

Oklahoma State Regents Steven Taylor (far left) and Courtney Warmington join Chancellor Allison Garrett in presenting a Regents Business Partnership Excellence Award to Tiera Cole and Clarence Fortney, representing FISTA, and Dr. John McArthur and Albert Johnson Jr., representing Cameron University.

FISTA is expected to generate 150 high-tech jobs within two years of its opening, with an estimated 275 service, retail and other ancillary jobs added to the Lawton-Fort Sill community. The total economic impact is expected to be $50 million.

Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs reaffirms accreditation of business degree programs Accreditation of degree programs offered by the CU Department of Business has been reaffirmed by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP), certifying that the teaching and learning processes within the business degrees and programs meet the organization’s rigorous educational standards.

Accreditation is granted for 10 years. During the intervening years, a quality assurance report is required to be filed every two years. Cameron’s programs have been accredited since 2001.

“Maintaining degree program accreditation by ACBSP is a critical factor in our commitment to providing quality educational opportunities for business students,” says Dr. Krystal Brue, chair, Department of Business. “Undergoing the reaffirmation process – preparing a self-study and hosting a site evaluation visit – is an excellent tool by which we hold ourselves accountable to ensure our students are receiving the highest quality education possible and are prepared for success in the business community.”

Phillips named to the NASPA James E. Scott Academy Board Dr. Jerrett D. Phillips, Vice President for Enrollment Management and Student Success, was selected to serve a two-year term on the James E. Scott Academy Board of the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA).

The primary role of the board is to provide advice and thought leadership on critical issues in student affairs and higher education and to advise the NASPA president 2

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and staff regarding these issues.

Additionally, the board plays a key role in identifying principles of effective student affairs practice for recognizing and responding to the trends and challenges present in the field and in higher education more broadly.

Cameron-WOSC agreement expands degree options for Southwest OK early childhood education majors Western Oklahoma State College and Cameron University have entered into an agreement that will enable students majoring in early childhood studies to earn their associate degrees at WOSC, then more easily work toward bachelor’s degrees at Cameron.

The agreement allows Western students who complete associate degrees in early childhood to be admitted directly

into Cameron. They can work toward a bachelor’s degree without losing any college credit earned at WOSC. Specifically, students working toward an Associate in Science degree in Early Childhood will seamlessly transfer into CU’s psychology program after they graduate from Western. There they can work toward a Bachelor of Science degree in Family and Child Studies, which offers concentrations in child development or family studies.

Early childhood education student named DaVinci Scholar Naomi Robinson, an early childhood education major from Indiahoma, has been named a DaVinci Scholar by The DaVinci Institute, a private partnership of leaders in higher education across Oklahoma. One of four DaVinci Scholars selected in the state, she will receive a monetary award from The DaVinci Institute in her first year of teaching in Oklahoma.

The DaVinci Scholar award is designed to honor pre-service teachers whose academic accomplishments and service to the university are deemed notable.

Stringer named Top Oklahoma Coach of the Year by Oklahoma Intercollegiate Forensics Association Katie Stringer, CU's speech and debate coach, was named Top Oklahoma Coach of the Year by the Oklahoma Intercollegiate Forensics Association. Stringer was recognized for her service to speech and debate events throughout the state.

Stringer joined the CU faculty in Fall 2019. Under her tutelage, CU’s speech and debate team was named Oklahoma State Champion in 2020, 2021 and 2022.

Additionally, she has coached members of her team to numerous individual titles at local, regional and state tournaments.

Johari earns Master Reviewer certification from Quality Matters Dr. Abbas Johari has earned certification as a Master Reviewer from Quality Matters, a global organization leading quality assurance in online and innovative digital teaching and learning environments.

Master Reviewer for QM-Managed, Subscriber-Managed, or SubscriberManaged by a Certified Course Review Manager.

The Master Reviewer certification entails an intensive course preparing QM Peer Reviewers to serve in the role of QM 3

Campus Update

Staff awards for exellence presented Three Cameron employees have been honored with the university’s Staff Awards for Excellence. Nominations were made by CU students, faculty and staff. In order to be eligible, nominees must have been employed full-time at Cameron for at least one year.

Tom Arnold, who operates the university farm utilized by the agriculture program, is responsible for managing and maintaining livestock, pastureland, crops and the community garden. The nomination cites the countless hours that Arnold spends helping agriculture faculty and students with research preparation and progress as well as his commitment to improving farm infrastructure and processes.

Sarah Frederick, a CU alumna who serves as accounts receivable supervisor in the Office of Business and Finance, was honored with the Staff Award for Excellence in Student Success. The nominator wrote, “Sarah assists students who are trying to enroll for various reasons. Most people owe money or have made mistakes in their career.

She reaches across campus, working with several departments to help make enrollment possible. This not only helps Cameron, but it helps students who sometimes need a second chance. She is hard working and very pro-Cameron.”

Mary Pettit, technician in the Department of Agriculture, Biology and Health Sciences, is responsible for maintaining a wide variety of equipment, coordinating services with external vendors and internal departments, and the hiring and training of student workers.

Her job requires specialized knowledge in biology, chemistry, and personnel management.

One nominator wrote, “Though not her primary task, in completing her long lists of assignments that keep some of the largest labs on campus going, she becomes a mentor to the students she supervises and trains. She has also been phenomenal in collaborating with the Department of Chemistry, Physics and Engineering and Great Plains Technical Center.”

Dr. E. Ann Nalley, professor in the Department of Chemistry, Physics and Engineering, was selected to receive the Bhattacharya Research Excellence Award. Nalley successfully applies for both internal and external research grants to purchase research supplies and support her students as research interns. A recent example is her successful application for INBRE grants, which allowed CU students to conduct research over a 10-week summer research program.

Other successful grant proposals support student presentations at state, regional and national meetings.

Dr. Matt Jenkins, professor in the Department of Communication, English and Foreign Languages, received the Faculty Award for Excellence and Innovation in Teaching. One nominator said of Jenkins that he “never fails to go above and beyond,” explaining that Jenkins asked students in his Mass Media class what they would be interested in learning about mass media that related to their majors and the career fields they wanted to pursue so he could tailor specific lesson plans to feature topics of interest.

The Faculty Award for Excellence in Service was awarded to Dr. Krystal Brue, associate professor and chair of the Department of Business. The nomination documented Brue’s history of service to Cameron University, to the community, and to state, national and international organizations. Brue is heavily involved in Human Resources-related initiatives throughout the region. She has sponsored student research, has provided pro bono HR assistance to numerous business and civic entities, and has served in leadership positions for state and regional HR organizations.

Dr. Rajesh Nayak, assistant professor in the Department of Chemistry, Physics and Engineering, is the recipient of the Faculty Award for Excellence in Mentoring Student Research. One nominator wrote, “Thanks to him, I have learned so much about the projects that multiple graduate schools have invited me to come and tour after hearing me present at American Chemical Society meetings …. I love the work we do in the lab, and I am very thankful to have him pushing me to achieve my goals.”

Faculty awards for excellence presented Dr. Dana Lee, associate professor in the Department of Agriculture, Biology and Health Sciences, is the recipient of the 2022-23 Harold and Elizabeth Hackler Award for Teaching Excellence, Cameron’s highest faculty honor.

Lee was referred to as “one of the most impactful teachers I have interacted with during my college career” by one nominator, who cited Lee’s outstanding communication with students and her ability to make learning fun. He also wrote, “Dr. Lee has played a large part in my academic success.”

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Megan Culbert is the honoree for the Adjunct Faculty Award for Excellence and Innovation in Teaching. An adjunct professor in the Department of Psychology, she works to foster an environment that encourages discussion through the process of active learning. “The foundation of my teaching revolves around genuine care and acceptance of students,” she says. The nominator said of Culbert, “She makes sure her lectures are related and even pulls a lot of stories from her personal life to relate with the class … I love her classroom environment. I enjoy her class and hope to have her in the future.”

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a library are continual, and they do not end with education.

Cameron students will be better equipped to lead and excel in their chosen careers because they had access to a quality building like this.”

Alumni and former faculty and staff who visit the Eugene D. McMahon Library (formerly known as the Cameron Library) may struggle to recognize the facility, thanks to a $1.25 million dollar renovation funded by the McMahon Foundation. In recognition of the foundation’s ongoing support of Cameron University, the library was renamed to acknowledge gifts of more than $20 million provided by the McMahon Foundation, which continues to support an evergrowing number of Cameron University initiatives.

The latest gift was used to add an atrium and bistro – Aggie Books & Brew – to the library building, as well as additional collaboration spaces for students and faculty and meeting rooms that are available for public use.

In March, McMahon Foundation trustees Phil Kennedy, Kenneth Bridges, Todd Bridges, Kenneth Easton, Mark Henry, David Madigan and Mike Mayhall toured the renovated facility prior to the naming ceremony. They joined CU President John McArthur and student Marshall Sadler for the official dedication.

Sadler, the vice president of the Cameron Student Government Association, delivered keynote remarks on

McArthur reflected on the McMahon Foundation’s history of university support. “Without the support of the McMahon Foundation, Cameron University’s growth over the past 60 years would have been greatly impeded,” he said. “For generations, the trustees of the foundation have embraced Cameron’s vision of academic success and state-of-the-art facilities. As the hand of the McMahon Foundation has touched literally every aspect of our campus, it is fitting that we recognize foundation co-founder Eugene D. McMahon in this way. This is a better facility for the students of today and the students of tomorrow.”

behalf of the student body.

He is the grandson of the late Gale Sadler, the longestserving trustee in McMahon Foundation history.

“From the time that I was young, I heard of the impact of the projects that McMahon supported,” Sadler said. “The Eugene D. McMahon Library continues this long-lasting support.”

CU student Marshall Sadler

He said the library renovation thanks the McMahon Foundation Board of Trustees for their is “vitally important to the continuing investment in education and mission at Cameron University Cameron University and continues the legacy of the McMahon family. The library helps foster a student-centered academic environment with quality educational opportunities, and this renovation has impacts for the Cameron student community."

Opened in 1965, the library building initially housed the university’s administrative offices on the first floor, with the second floor serving as the library facility. With the completion of the Administration Building in 1969, the first floor offices were converted to much-needed library space. In the early 1980s, a construction project added more space to the building, allowing for the expansion of the facility’s academic collection and services. The recent construction is the first renovation of the building in approximately 40 years, although computer facilities and audio/ visual enhancements had been added.

The facility honors Eugene D. McMahon, the only child of Lawton businessman and attorney Eugene P. McMahon and his wife, Louise. The elder McMahon passed away in 1935, leaving a substantial estate to his widow. With no children of his own, Eugene D. McMahon recommended to his mother that they use their considerable assets to establish a charitable trust to preserve his father’s memory. Mrs. McMahon and her son, who amassed a fortune in oilfield investments, established the McMahon Foundation in 1940 “to improve the social well-being of the community.”

Eugene D. McMahon took an active role in the foundation’s activities. In a 1945 letter to the trustees, he wrote, “It is my wish that the trustees at all times pay particular attention to the educational objects of the foundation.”

After her son’s death in July 1945, Mrs. McMahon assumed an active role in the foundation, often providing personal funds to Cameron students to help pay tuition. In April 1963, at Mrs. McMahon’s behest, the foundation made its first “large-scale” gift to Cameron with a $1,200 donation earmarked for scholarships for music majors. It was the first in a long line of generous donations. To date, the McMahon Foundation has provided an estimated $20 million in support to Cameron University, making it the leading donor in the university’s history.

“This significant investment reflects the importance of immersion in education and the reading that it requires,” Sadler continued. “The positive effects of the investment in

Celebrating the dedication of the Eugene D. McMahon Library were (l to r) McMahon Trustees Mark Henry and David Madigan, CU student Marshall Sadler, Trustees Mike Mayhall, Phil Kennedy, Todd Bridges and Kenneth Easton, CU President John McArthur and Trustee Kenneth Bridges.

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When novelist Umberto Eco wrote, “I believe that what we become depends on what our fathers teach us at odd moments, when they aren’t trying to teach us. We are formed by little scraps of wisdom,” he might well have had Edward A. Goeas Jr. in mind. The beliefs and experiences of Goeas, a veteran of the U.S. Army, have certainly had a lifelong impact on 2019 Distinguished Alumnus Ed Goeas III. “My father taught me early on that respect is not about color of skin, gender or sexual preference,” the younger Goeas says. “His belief was if you are American, you deserve respect from other Americans – just because you are American. Learning that from my father was part of what drove me through the years.”

That drive led Ed to a career in American politics – as a campaign worker and then a nationally renowned pollster and strategist – that put him in the company of the country’s movers and shakers for more than 45 years.

He was just 12 years old when he volunteered for his first political campaign – Lyndon B. Johnson’s 1964 bid to be re-elected to the White House. “My father was in Vietnam, and I wanted to know why he was there. I was ‘adopted’ by five college girls, who thought, 'Poor little guy, his dad’s in Vietnam.' I had a speech impediment and was very shy, but they pulled me into their interest in politics.”

The elder Goeas’ career as a soldier resulted in Ed attending 15 schools in 12 years. Among the four different high schools he attended was Lawton’s Eisenhower High. After graduating from Heidelberg (Germany) High School, he had every intention of following in his father’s footsteps.

President John McArthur (right) congratulates Ed Goeas on being named a CUAA Distinguished Alumni.

backgrounds. I ended up having a panic attack and ran out of class. I was thinking this was not going to work and maybe I should go back to Heidelberg and wait a year for college. Dr. Hicks called me in and asked me what happened. I told him, and he said, ‘If you come to class every day and try, I’ll give you an A in the course.’

So, I did.”

At the end of the semester, Hicks offered him another opportunity. “He told me that he thought I had talent and that if I would change my major to communications, he would mentor me through college.”

And just like that, Ed became a communications major.

He was very involved in student politics, serving in the student senate for four years and participating in the Oklahoma Intercollege Legislature (OIL).

“Rick Shelby, an ex-marine who went back to school, was the OIL governor. He encouraged me to run for Secretary of State, and I got it. A couple of years later, I ran for OIL governor and was the first twoterm governor. While serving in that position, I met Frank Keating, who was at that time a member of the Oklahoma Legislature. He asked me to run his Originally majoring in political science, he still aspired Congressional race in 1976, so I left Cameron seven to a career in the service, using his ROTC scholarship credits shy of graduating. I planned to go back to and entering CU’s Army ROTC program.

Cameron when the race was over. Frank lost to Jim Inhofe in the primary, and the day after he lost, I got a “During my first semester, I took the required speech call from the Republican National Committee (RNC) course – I just wanted to get it out of the way,” Ed says. saying that they had been watching me. They hired me “Dr. J.C. Hicks, head of the speech department, was my professor. On the first day of class, he had three people at to run their presidential campaign phone banks in all of Oklahoma and a large portion of Texas – when Gerald a time stand up in front of the class to talk about their “I applied to West Point, nowhere else,” he recalls. “I got selected as an alternate but did not get in. Then I got a ROTC scholarship to The Citadel, but I decided instead to go back to Oklahoma to go to Cameron.”

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Ford was running for president. Talk about changing direction very quickly!”

with me until I calmed down, then he’d ask, ‘What do you have for me?’”

After Ford’s loss to Jimmy Carter, Ed got a call from Eddie Mahe, the executive director of the RNC. “Out of 15 or 20 of us working nationwide on the phone bank program, the RNC was reaching out to five of us, offering a salary for six months if we would try to get another job in politics because they wanted to keep us involved. That’s when I moved to Washington, D.C., where I went to work for the Republican National Committee covering state local elections/state legislative races in the Local Elections Program at the RNC.”

Looking back on those early days, Ed says, “Being in the field was like the wild, wild West. It was the right time, the right place. I was extremely lucky and always seemed to get people’s attention. I like to think it was because of my focus on being the good guy, not one of the bad guys.

I didn’t like negative campaigning. I always tried to play the good guy, whereas so many people in elections try to be tough and mean. Because of that, I ended up working for a lot of good people through the years.”

By 1979, Ed went to work at the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC), working with targeted congressional races in 11 states. After the 1980 election, he went to Capitol Hill and served as chief of staff for U.S. Rep. John Hiler in 19811982. However, after Republicans suffered the historic loss of 26 congressional seats in the 1982 election, Ed was asked to return to the NRCC as the national campaign director, serving in that position for both the 1984 and 1986 elections.

In 1991, Goeas was a co-founder of The Tarrance Group, serving as CEO and president for one of the most respected and successful Republican survey research and strategy teams in American politics. In recognition of the number of winning campaigns conducted by The Tarrance Group, the American Association of Political Consultants (AAPC) honored Ed and his partners Brian Tringali and Dave Sackett as Republican Pollster of the Year in 2010 and 2014.

He is also widely recognized as one of the country’s leading political Ed Goeas and public opinion researcher/strategist Mark Mellman strategists, serving as were inducted into the American Association of Political Consultants program director for John Hall of Fame in 2023.

“One of my best friends McCain for the 2008 I developed in those four years, Ed Rollins, was the Republican National Convention. As a 25-year board political director at the White House under President member of AAPC, he focused his efforts on campaign Reagan. Rollins had me come over every couple ethics and promoting increased youth participation in of months to brief Reagan on key Congressional the industry. Earlier this year, he was inducted into the campaigns. I was scared to death every time I went to AAPC Hall of Fame. meet with him. Reagan was … I don’t know that I’ve met anyone since like him. He had such a sense for Retiring from the Tarrance Group at the end of 2022, people. He could tell I was really nervous, so whether it Goeas is now focused on an initiative that he became was for five minutes or 20 minutes, he would just chat passionate about in 2018 – civility. He co-authored “A 10

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Question of Respect: Bringing Us Together in a Deeply Divided Nation,” with Democratic pollster and strategist Celinda Lake, publishing the book in November 2022.

His association with Lake started when they met in Hungary, where they had each been asked to oversee that country’s first democratic election. They quickly discovered they were both pollsters, were the same age, and each changed political parties in 1972. They decided to do a national poll together, launching the Battleground Poll in 1991. In 2011, they were awarded the Distinguished Service to the Profession Award for their body of work on the Battleground Poll.

In 2018, Ed accepted a fellowship at Georgetown University, choosing civility as the topic. When the fellowship ended, he knew that not only was it a subject he wanted to focus on in the long term, but he also wanted to write a book. He invited Lake to join him in the task. After spending two years writing, they were ready to publish. Three weeks after its release in November 2022, the book landed a spot on the Wall Street Journal’s bestseller list.

“Civility is the language of respect,” Ed says. “We decided to explore what was driving the lack of respect, because respect for our institutions was at an all-time low. We wrote about the problems before we wrote the last chapter, which focuses on our youth being the hope for our future. What we found was that all the youth we interviewed – whether college-educated or not, different genders, different races – all answered the same way: ‘I’ll respect someone else when they respect me first.’ What we learned from that is that we need leaders to stand up to light the way for young people.”

Ed’s focus on civility doesn’t end with the publication of a book. He has hopes for a major civility initiative that will have a positive impact across the nation.

Throughout the retelling of his successful career, Ed intersperses his own experiences with those of his father, who was born and raised in Hawaii.

“When my father was walking home as a young teenager, he saw the smoke coming up from Pearl Harbor. After that, all he ever wanted to do was be in the military,” Ed says.

One of the strongest memories from his childhood came while the family was on a ship travelling to Germany for his father’s military assignment there.

“We heard the news that Hawaii had been made a state,” Ed recalls. “My father had packed a U.S. flag in his suitcase because he knew it was coming, so as a family, we sewed a new star on the American flag in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. During that trip, my father also had a cigar box in his suitcase. When my brother was about to be born in Germany, my dad took the cigar box filled with dirt to the hospital. He asked the nurse to put the dirt under the mattress so his child could be born on American soil. That’s how much being an American meant to him.”

Clearly, that scrap of wisdom, like so many others imparted by his father, has stayed with Ed. You can’t blame him if he borrows the words of writer Clarence Buddingham Kelland, who wrote, “My father didn’t tell me how to live; he lived and let me watch him do it.”

-Janet E. Williams Ed Goeas was a popular fixture in bookstores following the 2022 release of “A Question of Respect: Bringing Us Together in a Deeply Divided Nation.

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FESTIVAL XII Care and Health: A Generational Approach

Michele Borba, Ed.D. Thursday, September 14

The McCasland Foundation of “Care and Health: A Generational Duncan is the primary sponsor of Approach” is the theme for Tickets for “Care and Health: A Generational Cameron’s 12th triennial academic Academic Festival XII: Approach.” Over the years, financial festival, a dynamic, privately funded For ticket information, please visit the Cameron University website at year-long symposium that explores support has also come from https://www.cameron.edu/festival. the McCasland/Amquest Bank a topic worthy of in-depth study.

Endowed Chair, established by the Through a series of presentations McCasland Foundation in 1989. by nationally recognized speakers, Additional funding for the festival Cameron will consider three distinct aspects of the festival theme: child and adolescent comes from the Cameron University Foundation and the Cameron University Lectures and Concerts Series. mental health, adult mental health and mental health support for caregivers and the individuals they support.

“Care and Health: A Generational Approach” continues Cameron’s popular series of academic “Every day, news outlets report stories focusing on festivals. The first academic festival, “Year of the bullying, mental health issues and the challenges Renaissance,” took place in 1991-92. Themes of faced by those who need full-time care, as well as their caregivers,” says CU President John McArthur. “I previous academic festivals have included cultural diversity; predictions for the new millennium; the daresay that every individual will be forced to deal with at least one of these issues during their lifetime. We are effect of globalization on the human experience; Afghanistan; sustainability; the American identity pleased to present engaging speakers to address these concerns as part of Festival XII.” and, most recently, interpersonal communication.

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An internationally renowned educator and awardwinning author, Michele Borba, Ed.D., addressed child and adolescent mental health. Borba is a parenting child expert recognized for her solution-based strategies to strengthen children’s character, resilience, and reduce peer cruelty. She is recognized globally for her work in bullying and youth violence prevention.

Borba is a former classroom and special education teacher with a wide range of teaching experience, including work in a private practice with children with learning and emotional disabilities. She received a Doctorate in Educational Psychology and Counseling from the University of San Francisco, an M.A. in Learning Disabilities and B.A. from the University of Santa Clara, and Life Teaching Credential from San Jose State University.

Engagement initiative, Disney Influencer, and Goodwill Ambassador for M.I.T.’s One Laptop per Child project. Board memberships include Parents, Character.org, Child Safety Network, Boys & Girls Club of America, and USTA Sportsmanship Committee. Her proposal: “Ending School Violence and Bullying” (SB1667) was signed into California law in 2002.

Awards include the National Educator Award (presented by the National Council of Self-Esteem), National Child Safety Award of 2016 by Child Safety Network, Santa Clara University’s Outstanding Alumna Award, Outstanding Contribution to the Educational Profession by the Bureau of Education and Research and a 2016 SHORTY nominee for “Best Social Media Influencer in Parenting.”

She was named Honorary Chairperson for Self-Esteem in Hong Kong, consultant for the U.S. Department of Education’s Character Education and Civic 13

Nii Addy, Ph.D.

Leighann Lord

Monday, November 6

Tuesday, February 27, 2024

Neuroscientist, mental health advocate and an associate professor at Yale University, Dr. Nii Addy will offer strategies for adults who struggle with mental health issues. Addy engages audiences through his expertise in the brain biology of anxiety, depression and addiction, his familiarity with effective psychological interventions, his perspective as a black scientist in the midst of ongoing racism and racial injustices, and as a person of faith.

Addy is an Associate Professor of Psychiatry and of Cellular and Molecular Physiology at Yale University. At the Yale School of Medicine, he directs a federally funded research program investigating the neurobiological bases of depression, anxiety, and substance use disorders. He and his team also investigate new potential therapies for mental health challenges.

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As the creator and host of powerful town hall events, he has built unique partnerships between scientists, clinicians, educators, faith leaders, entertainers, professional athletes, and community and mental health advocacy groups. In these engaging town hall conversations, panelists discuss topics at the intersection of neuroscience, mental health, faith, culture and social justice.

Addy is the host of “The Addy Hour” podcast, where he explores the same subjects with community leaders, scientists, professional athletes, entertainers, faith leaders and mental health experts.

He serves on the editorial boards of multiple scientific journals, reviews grant applications for the National Institutes of Health, and serves on the Board of Trustees for The Carver Project.

Stand-up comedian, keynote speaker and author Leighann Lord will bring a realistic yet humorous perspective to her presentation on mental health support for caregivers and the individuals they support, as she draws on her personal experiences as a caregiver for her own parents.

the Center for Inquiry. She is the creator of “Hanging in There with Leighann Lord” on YouTube and has a daily social media post called #LightheartedHistory, which takes a humorous, tongue and cheek approach to random events in history.

When launching her podcast, “People with Parents,” Lord referred to the role reversal she has undergone with her parents as “scary, exhausting, enlightening and funny.” “People with Parents” has been named to the Wall Street Journal’s list of “10 Podcasts for Older Adults that Promise to Entertain – and Enlighten!"

Lord also co-hosts “Point of Inquiry,” the podcast for

With a beautiful blend of grace, charm, humor and intellect, Lord has become one of the hottest public speakers working today. Whether discussing caregiver survival tips or describing the sights and sounds enountered as a caregiver, Lord is known as an intuitive and engaging speaker who leaves her audiences enlightened and entertained.

Depression-era memorabilia fills a gap in Cameron’s recorded history.

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COMMENCEMENT

ARTIFACTS TURN BACK THE CLOCK

TO 1959

Members of the Cameron University Class of 2023 celebrated the successful completion of their chosen degree programs during Commencement, a ceremony representing the culmination of untold hours of hard work, dedication and academic achievement.

Mark Woommavovah, chairman of the Comanche Nation, saluted the graduates during his Commencement address. “If you are going to be successful at the next level, you will have to level up.

That means you have to hustle and grind,” he said.

“Knowing your time in life is limited, think carefully about how to spend it,” Woommavovah advised.

“Don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition.”

Woommavovah was happy to share his philosophy: “Find what you love to do and get someone to pay you to do it.”

After acknowledging the hard work required of each member of the Class of 2023 as they attained a college degree, he imparted some wisdom to help them succeed in their future endeavors.

“When you are struggling and you start thinking about giving up, I want you to remember something that has served me since I started this journey as chairman,” he said. “And that is the power of hope – the belief that something better is always possible if you’re willing to work for it and fight for it.”

He continued his inspirational message by saying, “If we work hard enough and believe in ourselves, then we can be whatever we dream, regardless of the limitations that others may place on us … when people see us for who we truly are, maybe – just maybe – they too will be inspired to rise to their best possible selves … One person can change the world by giving people hope.”

In closing, Woommavovah posed a question to his audience. “There are two great days in a person’s life: the day they were born, and the day they figure out why. Graduates, have you figured out your WHY?”

Three items recalling student life at Cameron State Agricultural College in the 1950s found their way home this summer, thanks to an alum.

Marlene James Reynolds attended Cameron her freshman and sophomore years, graduating in 1959 with an associate degree in business.

The 1959 Wichita shows just how active Marlene James was on campus. She was a Pep Pirate, a member of the Aggiettes drill team, a member of the Commerce Club and a homecoming queen attendant.

Now in her 80s, Marlene recently donated the letter from her cheerleading uniform and the tie she wore as a student senator representing business majors. The items will be placed in the university archives.

Asked why she chose to donate these items, Marlene said, “I’m getting up in age and I wanted the college to have them. I didn’t know if my children would be interested in them, but they were sentimental to me and I thought the school should have them.”

CAMERON UNIVERSITY

“We traveled to Hutchinson, Kan., when the boys played in the national junior college basketball tournament. I had never been that far from home.” [The Aggies finished as national runner-up to Weber College.]

As a member of CSAC’s student senate – the equivalent of today’s Student Government Association, Marlene noted that “we were part of the decision-making process for anything that pertained to students. I'm not sure we had a lot of clout, but I think they listened to us.”

“We wore white shirts and ties at meetings, and pins on our coats,” she recalled. Her lapel pin and black-and-gold tie bearing a “CA” monogram – for Cameron Aggies – were among the items she donated.

-Keith Mitchell

Marlene has fond remembrances of her time at Cameron. “I remember all of the football games and the events we had on campus … the dances and most everything that went on at school. I know it wasn’t a whole lot compared to today, but it was a fun time and I met lots of people.”

“I liked living away from home … even though Duncan was only 35 miles away,” she continued.

“Mother was an LPN and, bless her heart, it was stretching our budget for me to go to Cameron.

She sacrificed a lot.”

16

Being an Aggie cheerleader gave Marlene the chance to make one very special road trip in 1958.

Aggie cheerleader Marlene James (fourth from left) is seen wearing the patch she recently donated to Cameron University.

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C A MERON U N I V E RS I T Y F O U N D AT I O N C E L E B R AT E S E N D O W E D D O N O R S John F. Kennedy once said, “Philanthropy, charity, giving voluntarily and freely … call it what you like, but it is truly a jewel of an American tradition.” Taking that to heart, the Cameron University Foundation filled the McCasland Foundation Ballroom with shimmering “jewels” last spring in the way of donors whose generosity has resulted in endowed scholarships and endowed faculty positions that pave the way for Cameron students and faculty to pursue their academic dreams.

The foundation hosted its Endowed Donor Appreciation dinner to express gratitude for the selflessness of individuals and organizations that have provided funding to establish more than 200 endowments. Endowed faculty positions are integral to the quality education that Cameron students receive and allow Cameron faculty to expand on what is learned inside the classroom through field trips and experiences for students that wouldn’t otherwise be possible. Endowed scholarships contribute to a student’s ability to complete a degree with as little financial stress as possible.

Dr. Matt Jenkins, a professor in the Department of Communication, English and Foreign Languages, related how students benefit from endowments that have provided equipment and resources utilized by students on a daily basis.

“Both the R.H. Drewry Endowed Lectureship in Telecommunications and the John C. Paynter Endowed Lectureship in Communications are instrumental in providing needed support, encouraging students to explore, develop and hone professional skills necessary for success in their careers,” Jenkins said.

He shared a text he received from 2022 graduate Dalynna Wood just a few days after she began working as a multimedia specialist for the City of Lawton.

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CAMERON UNIVERSITY

“That’s all I need to hear,” Jenkins said. “CU graduates are prepared for careers in their chosen field.”

Jenkins also noted that thanks to the university’s ability to connect graduation data with census data, the majority of CU graduates are employed and remain in Oklahoma five years after graduation.

“Our students are staying and

contributing to the state and local economy,” he said.

“That is a nice return on investing in our students.”

Dr. Krystal Brue, associate professor and chair of the Department of Business and an assistant dean, related how experiences beyond the classroom allow faculty members to provide students with learning opportunities outside of a traditional classroom.

Brue spoke directly to the donors in attendance when saying, “Your generosity allows us to move beyond our regular normal classroom and to expose students to people, places and events that would not normally be possible. You help us make our students not just ready for the workplace but also educationally prepare them for success in the workplace.”

After describing the many collegiate activities she has experienced, Hill touched on the difference that donors have made to the campus landscape.

“Evidence of your support and generosity can be found all across our campus, from Aggie Books & Brew … to the McMahon Centennial Complex where we sit now. Students can be found at all hours of the day working on homework and projects or hanging out with friends. Places like these are the heart of campus and function as a second home to students who commute to classes each day.”

Hill expressed her gratitude to those in attendance Student Makenna Hill, a senior English education who made her collegiate experience possible. “I major from Frederick, shared her excitement at speak for myself and the other students present receiving the Presidential Leaders and University tonight as I thank you for Scholars (PLUS) supporting us in our educational scholarship. “In my journeys here at Cameron. Without eyes, I had just won the your support, some of us might not lottery – the academic be sitting here right now. I know lottery, that is. that the scholarships I received were This scholarship the determining factor in deciding made it possible for to attend college. Thank you again me to attend college for investing in us, in Cameron, without the worries of and allowing our dreams to become money to pay for my Makenna Hill, a PLUS scholar from Frederick, thanked the donors a reality.” education. Because of in attendance for making a difference in the lives of CU students. this scholarship, I focused on taking the time to participate in the college experience.”

Morrison and Davis: CU Distinguished Alumnus Lonny Morrison and President Emeritus Dr. Don C. Davis are two of the many donors who were celebrated during the event.

A member of Cameron’s 1961 national championship football team, Morrison was instrumental in the 2011 establishment of the Endowed Scholarship of the 1961 Junior Rose Bowl and National Championship Football Team. Davis and his wife Beverly, along with the Brewer Trust, established the Davis Family Endowed Lectureship in Communication in 2015.

19

Getting to know Dr. Dakota Kaus, Director, CU-Duncan

conversations with students. I want to meet with students one-on-one who need guidance or simply have questions.

By being present, a relationship can be built that will result in success for students and success for CU-Duncan.

organization and processes that help make jobs easier to navigate and accomplish. I plan to continue these in my positon and build on technology to also help processes be more efficient.

Your predecessor, Susan Camp, had been the only director of the CU-Duncan campus. What’s your approach to making the position your own?

There is no denying that there are large shoes to fill. Susan has done a phenomenal job at growing CU-Duncan. She was an advocate for the Duncan community, and I think it is essential for that to continue.

Susan and I are a lot alike in the sense that we enjoy

What are you most looking forward to?

I am looking forward to building relationships with my colleagues, CU-Duncan students and the Duncan community.

Cameron has provided me an amazing career filled with ever-evolving opportunities and challenges. Any success in my career is directly attributed to the amazing colleagues, faculty, staff, community members and supporters whom I have had the pleasure to work for and with over the past 29 years. I appreciate the dedicated and caring people who trusted, challenged and respected the importance of our work across campuses.

CU alumna Dr. Dakota Kaus is the new director of CU-Duncan, taking over from longtime director Susan Camp, who retired at the end of June. Kaus comes to CU-Duncan from Empire Public Schools, where she served as assistant principal for the middle school and high school following five years as a teacher.

What motivated you to apply for the position of director of CU-Duncan?

After graduating from Cameron with a Masters in Educational Leadership, I had an overwhelming desire to work in higher education. I wanted to be a piece in the puzzle that works to build a better learning experience for students who are seeking higher education.

A semester out from graduating with my doctorate in Educational and Administrative Leadership, the job opening for the director position at CU-Duncan was posted. I knew this position would be in line with my degree and also allow me to build a better learning experience for all Cameron University students, especially CU-Duncan students and the Duncan community.

How will you draw on your experiences as a teacher and administrator to steer CU-Duncan?

My work and experience in K–12 education taught me that education is always evolving. As educators, we have to be willing to be flexible and adaptable – skills I plan to used to ensure that CU-Duncan meets the needs of its students.

My time in K–12 education also taught me that building relationships with students is essential for student success.

CU-Duncan is centered on its students, and that will continue. We want all students to succeed; therefore, our students are at the heart of our decision-making.

How do you plan to connect with CU-Duncan students?

My plan is to be visible. I want to walk campus and I have

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CAMERON UNIVERSITY

My fondest memories are the landmark events that symbolize the growth of a newly constructed building, then called the Duncan Higher Education Center, into what is now an official branch campus with complete degree programs, technology-rich spaces, academic services and student activities. The first classes began in Fall 1994. As students entered the building, their expressions were those of amazement and excitement, as if they were saying, “We really are in college now!” Ten years later, Cameron University-Duncan was officially recognized as a branch campus via state legislation.

Another landmark event includes major renovations that converted existing space into science laboratories to serve the growth of students majoring in allied health sciences and other related majors.

CU-Duncan serves students as diverse in age as they are in goals, preparation and life responsibilities. It was an honor to support and guide such a diverse student body on a journey made possible by great faculty and staff who were committed to their success. I appreciate the various opportunities to engage with the community on behalf of CU. We learn through serving others, and it was a pleasure to learn from and serve with the many volunteers and leaders in Duncan, Stephens County and branch campus leaders in Oklahoma and the nation.

I am confident and excited about the future of CU-Duncan under the leadership of director Dakota Kaus. She brings relevant experiences, education, and the enthusiasm that will foster continued growth and development!

- Janet E. Williams

Susan Camp

21

Cardona was selected to the all-LSC Sportmanship Team.

Duleba and Mercier were picked as All-LSC First Team Doubles, and Mercier garnered All-Conference Second Team Singles, as did Kristian Kubik. Kubik and doubles partner Emilio Seelback earned AllConference Second Team Doubles.

On the women’s side, Vasilisa Polunova finished the season ranked 18th, and teammate Anastasia Uspenskaia was ranked 40th. The duo ranked 18th in doubles.

Polunova was also named an ITA AllAmerican and was voted to the AllLSC First Team Singles, and All-LSC Academic Team. She and Uspenskaia were named to the All-LSC Second Team Doubles. Uspenskaia also received All-LSC Honorable Mention Singles.

Kateryna Rudenko received All-LSC Second Team Singles after finishing conference play with a perfect 10-0 record.

Teammate Jenna Goessel was voted LSC Sportsmanship Player of the Year.

Heading into the 2023-24 season, Cameron welcomes Nathan Martell as head volleyball coach. He comes to the program from Colorado State University-Pueblo, where he spent six years as an assistant coach.

“History-making.” “Lone Star Conference Champions.” “South Central Regional champions.” “Top 10 national ranking.” “All-American players.” “Coach of the Year.” These are just some of the descriptions used when reporting the accomplishments of Cameron’s men’s and women’s tennis teams in 2022-23.

“I’m so incredibly proud of our tennis teams this year,” says Jim Jackson, CU athletic director. “Coach Josh Cobble has certainly found the formula for success – and that’s no small feat considering he coaches both the women’s and men’s teams.

Not only is he a great coach, he’s an incredible strategist and analyst who communicates effectively with his players.”

Both the men’s and women’s teams made the trip to Orlando, Fla., for the NCAA Division II National Championship tournament. The men advanced past the first round for the first time since 2015, marking only the second win in program history at nationals. The ninth-seeded women also took their opening match against number eight-seed University of Charleston to advance to the Elite Eight of the tourney.

22

CAMERON UNIVERSITY

Even though both teams fell to their next opponents, each had much to celebrate.

Cardona earned a ranking of 32nd.

As a team, they closed out the year as the ninth-ranked doubles team.

Aggies duo Joao Duleba and Baptiste Mercier ranked 18th.

The 2023 slate for the Aggies will open with scrimmages before the season. They will open the year with three tournaments before conference play begins on September 22.

Almeida and Cardona were also named ITA All-Americans. Almeida was named to the All-Lone Star Conference First Team Singles.

Josh Cobbie,Women’s Tennis Coach of the Year (Lone Star Conference and South Central Region)

Both teams finished the season ranked ninth in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association National Rankings, and Cobble was named both LSC Coach of the Year and the South Central Region’s Wilson ITA Coach of the Year in women’s tennis for the second consecutive year. He led both teams to Lone Star Conference championships and to the top of the rankings for the South Central Region.

Tomas Almeida finished the year as the eighth-ranked singles played in the country, while teammate Thomas

Tennis wasn’t the only sport taking the spotlight and setting records in 2022-23. The Aggie men’s golf team was selected as the second seed for the South Central Region as it headed to the NCAA DII West/South Central Regional in Rohnert Park, Calif.

The appearance marked the second straight season that Head Coach Austin Phillips led the Aggies to the postseason. The Aggies finished the tourney in 10th place out of 26 teams.

In individual play, the Aggie’s Hamish Murray scored an eagle and 14 birdies to finish in eighth place among the 108 competitors. Teammates Chris Somerfield and Preston Holmes finished in 26th and 52nd, respectively. Holmes led the field with 16 birdies to set the mark for the school record at 303. Hunter Drotts

connected with 10 birdies to finish in 66th, while Trevor Mierl ended play in 76th place after landing 13 birdies.

Murray turned in a record-breaking season for the Aggies this year. He shot an average score of 71.95 over 37 rounds, breaking the school record set in 2004. He also set the single-season record of 128 birdies this year. Murray was named to the PING All-South Central Region team and earned All-Lone Star Conference postseason honors and was named LSC Academic Player of the Year. He was also named All-LSC Second Team.

Somerfield was named LSC Freshman of the Year and All-LSC Honorable Mention.

23

ALMA MATTERS

Alumni who received more than one degree are listed by year of most recent degree. Those who attended but did not graduate are listed under the year they would have graduated; or in some cases, the last year they attended. If you have changed your address, have a new job or have other news to share, contact the CU Office of Alumni Relations, 2800 W. Gore Blvd., Lawton OK 73505, 580-581-2988; alumni@cameron.edu; or on the web at www.cameron.edu/alumni.

1960s

1990s

Mark Doan (BS ’98, AAS ’96), Lawton, has been promoted to assistant network administrator at Cameron University. He was previously network technician.

Bob McCormack, Duncan, was one of 16 longtime bankers to be inducted into the Oklahoma Bankers Association’s 50 Year Club. He has been involved in banking since 1962 and is the President and CEO of McCormack and Associates.

1980s Michael Babb (BS ’84), Arlington, Texas, has been inducted into the Pratt Community College Athletic Hall of Fame, where he competed in men’s basketball. He then played for the Aggies while completing his degree.

R. Darrell Weaver (BACC ’86), Moore, has written and published “The Ashley Weaver Story: A John the Baptist Moment.” The book reflects on his experience after losing his 15-year-old daughter, Ashley, to brain cancer. Weaver is a member of the Oklahoma Senate and is also the author of “Undercover Drug Agent: A Walk of Faith.”

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CAMERON UNIVERSITY

Sheila Treadwell (MEd ’02, BS ’97), Snyder, received the Team Still-Oklahoma Pride 2022 Excellence in Education Award.

A National Board certified teacher, she teaches Pre-K at Snyder Public Schools and was a finalist for Oklahoma Teacher of the Year in 2022.

Oaunita Wallace (BS ’91), Cache, has retired from Cache Public Schools, where she taught special education.

2000s Arlie Hampton (‘BS ’91), Lawton, was honored with the Make Democracy Work award from the League of Women Voters Oklahoma in May. A retired nurse, she is the president of League of Women Voters Lawton and serves on numerous boards of directors in Lawton.

Chad Hance (BS ’96), Cache, was named 2023 District 13 Superintendent of the Year by the Oklahoma Association of School Administrators. He is in his eighth year assuperintendent of Cache Public Schools.

Dr. Smith Steigleder (BA ’14, AS ’13), Duncan, is now the superintendent of Bray-Doyle Public Schools. He was previously the principal at Horace Mann Elementary in Duncan.

John Cunningham (BS ’14), Lawton, is now the help desk coordinator for the ITS department at Cameron University. He will continue in his role as the university’s eSports coach.

Misty Neal (BA ’14, AAS ’09), Lawton, has been awarded a Ph.D. in Criminal Justice from Nova Southeastern University.

In June, she successfully defended her dissertation, “Living a Nightmare: A Study on the Reluctance of Native American Women to Report Violent Crimes to Police.”

Aaron Nichols (BA ’14), Duncan, graduated from Leadership Duncan in May. Alex Robles (BS ’11), Marlow, was a member of the 27th class of Leadership Duncan. He is the general manager of Great Plains Kubota in Duncan.

Monte Brown (‘BA ’04), Walters, was named Ambuc of the Year by the Great Plains chapter in appreciation of his hard work and dedication to the organization.

Kelle Jeffrey (MS ’18, BS ’14), Duncan, was a member of the 27th class of Leadership Duncan. She is the principal at Will Rogers PreK at Duncan Public Schools.

Candie Treadwell (BS ’04), Snyder, was named Elementary Teacher of the Year for Snyder Public Schools.

Joan “JoAn” Houghton (‘BS ’99), Lawton, and her husband Jerry celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary in May.

2010s

Della Scroggins (MS ’94, BS ’82, BBA ’82), Lawton, has retired from Cache Public Schools. She formerly taught third grade.

Charlene Belew (BA ’16), Duncan, graduated from Leadership Duncan in May. She is the managing editor at the Duncan Banner.

Saranah Isenberg Linscott (BS ’16), Norman, completed the Choctaw Nation’s Family Medicine Residency Program and is eligible for board certification as an osteopathic doctor in family medicine. She has relocated to Maine where she is a practitioner for Central Maine Healthcare.

Dana Moore (MS ’12, MED ’08, BS ’94), Indiahoma, is the new principal at Cache Intermediate School. She previously served as a principal for Lawton Public Schools.

Merry Stone (MS ’10), Duncan, has been recognized as 2023 District 15 Assistant Superintendent and Central Office Administrator of the Year by the Oklahoma Association of School Administrators.

Richard Wooley (BS ’19), Lawton, has joined the staff at Cameron University. He was employed at Goodyear Tire and Rubber for more than 20 years and has also served as the high school head soccer coach at Elgin High School.

2020s Kristi Alvarado (AS ’23), Lawton, accepted a summer internship in the human resources department of the Oklahoma City Thunder.

IN MEMORIAM

Stewart Blair Avant, Beach City, Texas Patsy Lou Bard, Lawton Ernest Gerald Barton, Oklahoma City Rev. Michael Roy Bergman (’71), Sierra Vista, Ariz.

William Tennyson Berry (’76), Lawton Cathey Bias (’81), Lawton Yolanda Gale (Malone) Burt (’88), Cleveland, Ohio CW4 (Retired) Donald J. Burton (’78), Lawton Rain Reece Camacho, Lawton Thomas John “Tommy” Challacombe Jr., Frederick Kenneth Gerald Clark, Weatherford, Texas James Earl Colbert (’74), Houston, Texas Tommy Cox, Anderson, Mo. Sarita Crawford, Centerton, Ark. Kyle Russell Cunningham (’09), Lawton Cora Kay (Tomlinson) Curry, Sterling Rhonda J. Davis (’16), Chickasha Terry Dees, Calhan, Colo.

Toni Cheryl Epley, Midwest City Howard Fleshman, Anadarko

Brenna Busby (MS ’22, BS ’20), has been signed by the Oklahoma City Spark, the newest franchise in the Women’s Professional Fastpitch league. As a member of the Aggie softball team, Busby holds the school record for career runs (227) and career home runs (57). She was named LSC Academic Player of the Year in 2021.

Kalen Haynes (MBA ’23), Trophy Club, Texas, is a program coordinator with the Oklahoma City Dodgers Foundation. A member of the Aggie baseball team, he was awarded the 2023 Outstanding MBA Student award and the Southwest Economic Development Production Award earlier this year.

Kenneth Fox, Caney Delta June George (’52), Mountain View Tshante To-Shan-Mah GoingSnake Gonzalez, Lawton James Gaylon Gray, Purcell Bobby Glen Hart (’58), Temple Frankie Glenn Herndon, Marlow Venita Renee Howell, Lawton Jimmy Charles Igo, Indiahoma Corinna Diane Jarvis (’10), Lawton Barbara Jolin, Lawton Marketta LaRue Jones (’87), Lawton Larry Eugene Keas, Yukon Edith Maurine (Sanmann) (’41), Kelley, Lawton William R. “Bill” Krummrei (’87), Norman Carolyn Sue Lair (’70), Cache Robert “Bob” Clinton Lanctot (’80), Oklahoma City Tommy Guy Lane, Duncan Mackey “Randy” Marple (’73), Altus Anne Marie “Nancy” McCaffree (’83), Lawton George Francis Newberry-Davis (’80), Lawton

Madeline Muse (BS ’21), Lawton, and Logan Piña (BA ’22), Lawton, were united in marriage on November 4, 2022.

She is a cyber analyst for Cynetics and is pursuing a Master of Library and Information Science degree.

Mickey Nocelotl (BS ’22), Beech Grove, Ind., is an operations support specialist for ATI Physical Therapy.

Jose Olivo (BA ’21, AA ’20), Lawton, has been named to the list of NextGen Under 30 by Lawton Proud.

Kylee Jo Sparks (BS, AS ‘22), Walters, is now the head girl’s basketball coach at Bray-Doyle.

She is also the head softball coach and teaches physical education.

Paul Sidney Newman (’59), Claud Jack Waunah Parrish, Chickasha Roy Kenneth Peck (’61), Pauls Valley Ruby Jean Petty, Webb City, Mo. Catherine Plante (’51), Albuquerque, N.M. Mattie Lou Bledsoe Robinson, Fort Smith, Ark. Betty Loretta Simmons (’80), Geronimo Donna (Rombold) Walker Smith, Amarillo, Texas Ronnie Darnell Tyner (’95), Duncan Brandon Patrick Ward, Monroe, La. 1SG (Retired) Douglas A. Wells (’83), Lawton William “Bill” Curtis White (’80), Commerce Donna Duggan Young, Lake Frederick, Va.

CU SUPPORTERS, FACULTY AND STAFF Dr. James Klee Hawkins, Yukon Dr. Earl Logan III, Lawton Dr. Marion David Stevens, Ada 25

MAGAZINE

Attention: To submit an address change, please call the CU Office of Alumni Relations at 580.581.2988, or email alumni@cameron.edu

2800 West Gore Boulevard Lawton, Oklahoma 73505-6377 580.581.2211

How can you follow in the footsteps of Eugene D. McMahon and Louise McMahon? (see story on page 6)

You can support the Cameron University Foundation is numerous ways! · The Aggie Fund provides scholarships and faculty support and helps to provide better learning opportunities. · Support CU students through an annual gift as a member of President’s Partners. · Gifts to the Foundation’s endowment program benefit students in perpetuity. · The Cameron Aggie Response Fund assists students with immediate needs. · The 1908 Heritage Society signifies your commitment to including the Foundation in your estate planning. · Many companies sponsor a matching gift program that can double or even triple your charitable contribution.

To make a gift, contact the Office of University Advancement at (580) 581-2999 or scan the QR code.