ONCE A BISON. ALWAYS A BISON. Bisons Weekend builds on 77 years of Homecoming tradition. Page 18
Running of the Bison
The spectacle that is Running of the Bison began in 2005, starting as a group of rowdy students running along the neighborhood streets surrounding campus before the annual Battle of the Boulevard basketball game against Belmont University.
In the coldest time of year, hundreds of students gathered in the late evening in their Lipscomb gear, toting thunder sticks, fog horns, pom-poms and drums to run around the block cheering and whooping to raise spirits before the biggest game of the year.
Not rain or snow or 30-degree temperatures could stop the moving pep rally. Some students wore costumes and body paint and supplemented the run with break dancing and other joyful activities.
In 2006, when the run was part of the Homecoming activities, the students camped out the night before their trip in the cold from Caldwell to Lealand lanes and back up Maplehurst to campus.
In the 2010s, the Running of the Bison route switched to Belmont Boulevard, where students would charge toward their chief rival
Belmont on the boulevard and back again to Allen Arena just in time for the Battle game.
In 2022 Running of the Bison was incorporated into QuestWeek, the university’s orientation week to welcome new students. Newcomers meet Lipscomb’s studentathletes at a pre-run cookout. Then as Quest Team members lead the new students on the streets surrounding the soccer field, the athletes and Lipscomb staff line a campus sidewalk to cheer on the runners as they burst through Lipscomb’s Shackleford Road entry arch with a Lipscomb flag leading the way.
Editor
Kim Chaudoin
Senior Managing Editor
Janel Shoun-Smith
Writers
Kim Chaudoin
Janel Shoun-Smith
Photography
Kristi Jones
Lipscomb Athletics
Sean Worth
Design
Hailey Speciale
Will Mason
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©2025 Lipscomb University. All Rights Reserved.
Degree abbreviations follow standard academic abbreviations except for: (LA), alumni of Lipscomb Academy; (GC), alumni who have completed a graduate certificate; and (A) non-degreed alumni or those whose degree is unknown.
Bisons Weekend this November is where friendships return and traditions live on. Reminisce with beloved scenes and stories from throughout Lipscomb’s 77-year-old tradition of Homecoming.
Cover Photos: Scenes from Bisons Weekend, new and old.
Lipscomb alumni, faculty and students have all played a role at Nashville’s Faith Family Medical Center, serving the cities’ underinsured population for more than two decades.
Lipscomb’s new general education curriculum, debuted this fall, invites students to embark on a journey to Seek, Discover, Know and Flourish.
May 2025 graduate Jack Ingold had a dream to play Bison basketball. but that dream didn’t come true until his senior year—just in time to play in the NCAA tournament.
We Are Lipscomb
The Enduring Impact of a Lipscomb Education
There is a unique and palpable energy that arrives with the autumn season on campus. Familiar pathways bustle with new life, classrooms are filled with eager discussion and a sense of renewed purpose settles over our entire community. It is a season of fresh starts and exciting possibilities—and this year, at Lipscomb, we are celebrating one of our strongest beginnings yet.
This fall we mark a number of first-day enrollment records, including our largest total enrollment and highest freshman-tosophomore retention rate in school history. Graduate enrollment is also on the rise. We are especially excited to begin this academic year as one of the only independent universities in the nation to integrate artificial intelligence across campus—equipping every student, faculty and staff member with robust AI tools and training. At the same time, we launch our new undergraduate core curriculum, Journey, the product of three years of faculty collaboration. Journey will equip students to flourish in a complex world, making a Lipscomb degree more valuable than ever (see page 27).
An impact across decades
Beyond the numbers and new beginnings lies something deeper: a community rooted in faith, connection and the kind of transformation that lasts a lifetime. In moments when our community gathers—in classrooms, chapels and campus traditions—I’m reminded of a truth that defines Lipscomb: the value of a Christ-centered education cannot be measured solely in dollars and cents.
In today’s world, it is easy to view higher education as a transaction—a product exchanged for a diploma, a job and financial security. But at Lipscomb, we know the return on investment is far richer and more enduring. Becoming a Bison leaves an impact that stretches across decades, deepens through relationships and radiates into communities, churches and families. It shapes the decisions we make, the lives we lead and the faith we carry into every corner of the world. Simply put—it is life-transforming.
That impact comes to life each November during Bisons Weekend, our beloved tradition that blends Homecoming and Family Weekend into one joyful celebration. Thousands of Bisons, young and old, traverse campus to meet up with former college classmates. Students introduce their parents and grandparents to faculty and friends. From painting the Bison to attending chapel in Collins Alumni Auditorium, from cheering in the arena to applauding student musicians, Bisons Weekend is a time for every Bisons to renew relationships, rekindle memories and reflect on the lifelong influence of a Christ-centered education on their lives and their family’s lives.
This edition of Lipscomb Now offers a glimpse into that spirit. Beginning on page 18, you can get a taste of the Bisons Weekend
experience over its 77-year history. I hope you’ll join us at Lipscomb, Nov. 13–15, to be part of the celebration. Be sure to register at lipscomb.edu/ bisonsweekend
A valuable return on investment
But that’s not the only story focused on the enduring impact of the Lipscomb experience in this magazine. You’ll also read about the remarkable journey of Jack Ingold (BBA ’25), whose dream of becoming a member of the Bison basketball team became a reality through perseverance and the support of this community (see page 30). This same spirit of determination and teamwork propelled our men’s basketball team to clinch the 2025 ASUN championship, earning a spot in the NCAA nationals for the second time in school history (see page 8).
You’ll discover how Lipscomb’s mission and impact extends beyond campus through a 24-year partnership with Faith Family Medical Center, a Nashville nonprofit serving the uninsured and underinsured. You’ll see how the work of one Lipscomb pharmacy professor alone is saving patients millions in drug expenses each year (see page 24).
Reflecting on my own days as a Lipscomb student, I recall the anticipation and joy of homecoming. Today, I share in the excitement of our current students as they prepare for the Bisons Weekend parade, Bison Square Fair and the exciting activities. While they are immersed in their studies, internships and service projects, the journey may seem long. Yet, those of us who have walked this path can affirm that the Lipscomb experience yields returns far beyond financial gain. It enriches lives through enduring relationships, profound insights, spiritual growth and a sense of lifelong purpose.
Thank you for being part of this extraordinary community. Once a Bison, always a Bison.
Dr. Candice McQueen (BS ’96) President, Lipscomb University
President Candice McQueen with the Marek family at Bisons Weekend 2024. (l to r) Sophomore Joseph, mom Melissa, Nick (BS ’25) and dad Matt.
SCENE & HEARD
The 2024-2025 school year was packed with profound insights provided by nationally known guest speakers at the Presidential Signature Series events—the Don R. Elliott Distinguished Presidential Lecture, the Landiss Lecture, the McClure Lecture on Faith and Science and the Fred D. Gray Lectureship.
“We don’t need to manufacture motivation. It exists already. Let’s pay attention to what people want and go where the energy is.”
Dan Heath, the #1 New York Times bestselling author or co-author of five highly acclaimed business books, including his latest, Reset.
Dwayne Simmons, the Cornelia Marschall Smith Endowed Professor in biology and senior director of STEM Initiatives at Baylor University.
“How do we change our neural circuitry and our networks? It says in Psalm 1, blessed is the man who... meditates on God’s instruction day and night. Christian, or Hebraic meditation, is all about filling our minds with God.”
“I can’t change America or Christianity…. but I can say to myself… that when I hear the word ‘we,’ the first thing I’m going to think about is the body of Christ.”
Russell Moore, editor-in-chief of Christianity Today
ELLIOTT LECTURE
Lipscomb named state’s first early childhood education apprenticeship hub
In July, the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development (TDLWD) named Lipscomb as the state’s first early childhood education apprenticeship hub.
This designation positions Lipscomb at the forefront of addressing critical workforce needs in early childhood education while providing aspiring educators with a fully funded pathway to a bachelor’s degree.
Through a partnership with the Tennessee Department of Education, the TDLWD and the Joe C. Davis Foundation, the new Foundations to Futures hub is designed to create a robust pipeline of highly qualified early childhood educators.
Students will work as apprentices in early learning settings to gain handson experience while earning their
undergraduate degree in infant to grade 3 early education at Lipscomb.
The three-year, dual-impact online program, which launched this fall, is fully paid, including tuition and books, for qualifying participants.
Little Wonders Early Learning Center will serve as Lipscomb’s first apprenticeship employer partner for on-the-job training, with additional partners being sought across the region.
for students to enjoy spring
Sunny (and rainy) days this past spring saw students gathering, celebrating and fellowshipping at a new site on campus: The Marni, an open-air pavilion named after the grandmother nickname of the co-donor Becky Cowart (pictured above, center).
The 30- by 40-foot structure, with wood sourced locally from Pioneer Log Systems in Kingston Springs, Tennessee, and stone from Nashville’s Centurion Stone, features a gas fireplace, lighting, tables and chairs, electrical outlets and fans.
It has quickly become a comfortable spot for students to hang out, for employees to work in the open air and has even hosted a wedding ceremony.
“This isn’t just an education issue; it’s a workforce issue that impacts every industry,” said TDLWD Commissioner Deniece Thomas. “It’s critical that we invest in early educators to strengthen Tennessee’s workforce and the state’s economy.”
The pavilion, located in the center of campus between Collins Alumni Auditorium and Fanning Residence Hall, was the vision of Dick Cowart, (pictured on the right), chair of Lipscomb’s Board of Trustees, and his wife, Becky, who funded the project.
The focal point of the pavilion is a cross sculpture that is installed above the fireplace. The artwork was crafted by Brady Bates (LA ’13, BA ’17) of Bates Welding & Fabrication. Text on the face of the cross says “Marni,” Becky Cowart’s mother’s maiden name, in both Greek and Hebrew, meaning “sparkling” or “shining” in Greek and meaning “to rejoice” in Hebrew.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held in April. “It’s a place that speaks to our mission. It’s a place that is a fun gathering opportunity, and it’s a place where relationships will blossom,” said President Candice McQueen (BS ’96).
The Marni Pavilion opens
‘Here am I!
Spreading God’s love around the globe
With 35 mission teams, composed of 529 participants, sent out in the 2024-2025 school year, Lipscomb’s mission participation has almost returned to pre-pandemic levels of engagement. Mission team locales vary from traditional student favorites, such as visiting the City of Angels orphanage in Cozumel, Mexico, to newer endeavors such as Ecuador.
Lipscomb Athletics has sent teams to Baja, Mexico; El Salvador and Scotland, and Lipscomb Academy Athletics sent two crews to the Bahamas and one to Cozumel, Mexico. Many missions include a strong vocational focus, including a team of animation students sent to Japan, a team of music students who traveled to Kenya, school counseling candidates in Saba, accounting majors who served in Mexico and various medical and engineering teams sent to Central America and Africa.
Leaders in the world, nation and region tapped as prestigious faculty
The 2025-2026 academic year at Lipscomb will be shaped by three individuals who have left their own indelible mark on the world in the areas of art and history, faith and civil discourse, and Nashville’s economic and civic life.
Internationally renowned portrait artist and Lipscomb alumnus Michael Shane Neal (BA ’91) has been appointed Lipscomb’s first Fine Arts Ambassador, bringing his passion for mentoring young artists to campus through workshops, lectures and gallery exhibits.
Russell Moore, editor-in-chief of Christianity Today, has a two-year appointment as the inaugural Bill and Crissy Haslam Endowed Distinguished Visiting Professor of Faith and Reason. In this role, Moore will teach courses, deliver public lectures and lead special programs, working to elevate the broader conversation in Nashville and beyond about how faith and reason can shape our world for good.
Ralph Schulz, former president and CEO of the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce and one of Middle Tennessee’s most respected civic and business leaders, has been named as executive-inresidence in the College of Leadership & Public Service. In this role, Schulz will serve as an instructor of practice and contribute to special initiatives and strategic projects across the university.
MFA grad Avery Kroll’s animated short ‘The Piano’ selected for Tribeca Festival
This past spring a short animated film by thenLipscomb student Avery Kroll (MFA ’25) was selected to compete at the Tribeca Festival in New York City, one of the top film festivals in the country.
Kroll’s creation, The Piano, a culmination of nearly four years of work and faith, was nominated for Best Animated Short. The seven-minute film was inspired by childhood memories of listening to her father play the piano late at night.
The Piano was animated by a team of professional animators and Lipscomb students and funded through a successful Kickstarter campaign. It tells the story of a young girl who sneaks out of bed one night and discovers her father bent over the keys at the piano.
Kroll submitted The Piano to Tribeca on a whim, taking advantage of the festival’s work-in-progress submission category, she said. To her surprise, the film was selected, handpicked by actress and producer Whoopi Goldberg as part of a curated set of animated shorts.
Kroll traveled to New York City in June to attend the Tribeca Festival along with several team members.
BISON WINS Fall 2025 First-Day Enrollment Records
4,840 largest Day 1 total enrollment in university history 3rd consecutive year, largest freshman class in history
87.4% first day freshman to sophomore retention 11% Fall semester increase in graduate enrollment
New academic programs fill workforce gaps in next decade
In 2025, Lipscomb has announced six new degree programs and targeted pipelines designed to become the missing piece in meeting employment demands over the next decade. Focused in health care and education, these new programs will prepare students for jobs with competitive salaries that also make a positive impact on our nation and the world.
Anesthesiologist Assistant Studies master’s program
Job market is projected to grow nationwide by 26.6%
Bachelor’s in Communication Science and Disorders
34,000 new jobs projected nationally
Partnership with Memphis Teacher Residency
7,441 positions in Tennessee need a licensed teacher
Tennessee Rural Workforce Initiative for Nursing
15,700 registered nurses needed in Tennessee
Partnership for Bachelor’s in Early Childhood Education
70% of early childhood teaching staff need a bachelor’s degree
Online Doctor of Pharmacy
18,300 new jobs to open up nationally
more about Lipscomb’s new programs enrolling or launching in 2025-2026.
Learn
Men’s basketball joins March Madness
The Bison Herd stampedes into the history books with its second NCAA tourney appearance in seven years.
In a season marked by resilience, grit and a championship finish in the ASUN tournament, the Lipscomb University men’s basketball team made its second trip in university history to the NCAA tournament at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, this past March.
The No. 14-seeded Bisons’ first-round game against Iowa State concluded its exciting season on a high note with 25 wins to 10 losses and marked Lipscomb’s second trip to the NCAA tournament, the first since 2018.
Despite a strong start, the Bisons fell to Iowa State, 82-55, in the first round of the tournament, “but nothing that happened today is going to take away from what our team did (this season),” said then-Head Coach Lennie Acuff postgame. “This is as good a group of young men as I’ve ever been around. God has been so good to us. We are so thankful to be at Lipscomb. Our fans brought a great crowd, and it was great to see all the Lipscomb folks here.”
Indeed a large contingency of Bison fans arrived in Milwaukee to cheer on the team.
The student fan section, the Lippy Lunatics, rode a bus all night to make it to Fiserv Forum in time to cheer on their team.
The new Bison Pep Band came along to pump up the crowd, and alumni, students, families, faculty and staff gathered in the team hotel for a send-off and pre-game parties.
The Bisons’ incredible run to the NCAA tournament earned a significant amount of local, regional and national media exposure for Lipscomb, with the ASUN conference tournament televised nationally on ESPN2 as well as the NCAA game broadcast on TNT.
The Bisons’ accomplishment reached as many as 30.8 billion viewers with an advertising value equivalency of more than $285 million. Stories aired in all 50 states and Washington, D.C., and in several countries.
Lipscomb was the pre-season favorite to win the ASUN conference and No. 24 in the College Insider mid-major preseason ranking. The Bisons began the season with a solid win on the road over Duquesne from the Atlantic 10 conference and throughout the 2024-2025 season had other significant non-conference
wins over the University of TennesseeChattanooga and Southeast Missouri State, among others. They finished the regular season with a 14-4 conference record and earned 20+ wins on the season for the third consecutive year.
The road to the NCAA tourney began by securing the ASUN tournament championship in a packed Allen Arena. Lipscomb, the No. 1 seed, defeated No. 2 seed North Alabama 76-65 to earn an automatic bid.
In front of an energetic crowd filled with fans of both universities, the Bisons pulled away in the final three and a half minutes, fueled by a dominant second-half performance from guard Joe Anderson (BA ’25). Anderson, named the tournament’s Most
On the court at Fiserv Forum after practice at the NCAA tournament.
The Bisons learn their NCAA tournament opponent at a
party in Allen Arena on March 16.
The new Bison Pep Band traveled to Wisconsin to support the team and jazz up the crowd.
Outstanding Player, scored 18 of his game-high 23 points after halftime, knocking down all five of his second-half shots, including a crucial four-point play that swung momentum in Lipscomb’s favor.
After the ASUN championship game, sixth-year head coach Acuff was named ASUN Coach of the Year, an honor that really “means you have the staff of the year,” Acuff told HoopsHD.com in a March 12 interview. “Everyone who is part of our organization performed at a high level. It also means that we have players who are willing to make sacrifices. I was humbled… but it is a team/staff award.”
Acuff, who was also a finalist for the 2024-25 Hugh Durham award, announced in April that he had been named the new men’s basketball coach at Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama. Shortly after, former Trevecca Nazarene University Head Coach Kevin Carroll, also a former assistant coach for the Bisons, was named as Lipscomb’s new men’s basketball head coach for the coming seasons (see page 11 for more).
Jacob Ognacevic (BBA ’24), played a key role in the ASUN victory, scoring 14 points and nine rebounds and earning a spot on the AllTournament team along with teammate Will Pruitt (BBA ’24).
But for Ognacevic, the NCAA tournament game was even more meaningful as the Fiserv Forum is literally driving distance from his Sheboygan, Wisconsin, home. He played a game in the venue as a high school freshman.
“It was great playing in Milwaukee, especially in Fiserv,” he said. “Just being able to play back home in Wisconsin with a lot of family and friends in the crowd meant a lot.”
Ognacevic was unable to play all last season due to a bone bruise in his right knee, but the forward returned this season, posting career highs in virtually every statistical category.
“I’ve been through a lot of struggles here,” he said. “To finish it like that, with our fans and families there, was incredible.”
Anderson, a Maryville, Tennessee, native, was the only member of the team to have previously played at an NCAA tournament, which he did in 2023 during his years playing with Furman University. After the ASUN victory, he was eager to share his lessons learned with his Lipscomb teammates.
“The biggest thing is to just enjoy the moment and not get so caught up in it that you start to doubt, but realizing we’ve put in just as much work as anyone else to be here,” he said. “We’ve got a strong, experienced team, and when we’re hitting shots, we’re tough to beat. But more than that, we’re connected, and that makes a difference.”
That camaraderie of the team has been evident all season. Whether sharing meals at the team’s favorite local restaurants or celebrating in the locker room after big wins, the Bisons have built a bond that extends far beyond the court. Lipscomb’s Christ-centered community was a perfect fit for Anderson, who credits his teammates and coaches for shaping his spiritual journey.
“The accountability and brotherhood in this program are unlike anything I’ve experienced,” said Anderson. “Having guys around you who hold you accountable is one of the biggest blessings. We push each other to be better, and that goes way beyond basketball.”
Will Pruitt (#2)
Gyasi Powell (#10)
Media stories about the Bisons aired in all 50 states and in several countries.
After an early 6-0 deficit in the NCAA first-round game against Iowa State, Lipscomb responded with a flurry of offense, including three early three-pointers from graduate student guard Gyasi Powell and a balanced scoring attack led by Ognacevic. The Bisons took their first lead of the game, 16-15, midway through the first half. But a 10-0 run by the Cyclones gave Iowa State momentum heading into halftime with a 40-24 lead.
Lipscomb continued to battle in the second half, but Iowa State bested the Bisons to win 82-55. Ognacevic led the Bisons with 18 points, while Powell added 11. Jack Ingold (BBA ’25) (see page 30) capped off the scoring for the Bisons with a late layup.
In 2018, the Bisons defeated Florida Gulf Coast University on the road in the ASUN tournament championship game to earn its first
trip to the NCAA tournament. The following year, Lipscomb received a bid to the National Invitation Tournament. At the NIT they earned a trip to the championship game in Madison Square Garden in New York City by defeating Wichita State in the semifinals. They lost to Texas in the finals.
“This is obviously something the kids have dreamed about their whole life,” Acuff said after the NCAA game. “We’ve been Division I for 23 years. They told me that in the first 14 years, we had one 20-win season. We’ve had six in the last nine. That’s a testament to our culture and to these guys who chose to stay.”
Scan the QR code to see more media coverage of the Bisons road to the 2025 NCAA
tourney at lipscomb.edu/NCAA2025.
Joe Anderson (#22)
Jacob Ognacevic (#41)
The view in Fiserv Forum before the men’s Bisons second NCAA tourney appearance.
CONTRIBUTORS TO THE COMMUNITY
BISON RETURNS TO THE HERD
Kevin Carroll, a coaching veteran known for transforming basketball programs and a former assistant coach for the Bisons from 2019 to 2023, was named the new head coach of the men’s basketball program in April.
Carroll returns to Lipscomb after leading Trevecca Nazarene University for the last two seasons to record-breaking success in NCAA Division II, including the most wins in program history and the school’s first-ever South Region Poll ranking.
“We are thrilled to welcome Kevin back to Lipscomb,” said Athletic Director Philip Hutcheson (LA ’86, BA ’90). “Kevin is an elite basketball mind. More importantly, he embodies the values of Lipscomb University and is gifted at building meaningful relationships with young people—as evidenced by the deep connections he maintains with former and current players. That says a lot about his character.”
A native of Wildwood, Georgia, Carroll has more than 25 years of coaching experience, including 12 as a head coach at the high school and collegiate levels.
As assistant coach for the Bisons, Carroll helped recruit and develop multiple all-conference players.
As head coach at Maryville University-St. Louis from 2010–2017, Carroll led the program through a successful transition from NCAA Division III to Division II, set a program record with 23 wins and guided the Saints to their first 20-win season in 35 years.
“I am honored and extremely humbled to have the opportunity to lead such a storied program as Lipscomb Basketball. I have a tremendous amount of respect for the people who have come before me and the level of success that has been reached,” said Carroll. “My staff and I will work tirelessly to maintain the standard that everyone has come to expect while shining a light on one of the top Christian universities in the country.”
Read more about Carroll at lipscomb.edu/carroll
Women’s basketball team advances to postseason for first time since 2004
When the 2024-25 Lipscomb women’s basketball team took the court for its first game on Nov. 4, 2024, they did so with a commitment that extended far beyond wins and losses.
They dedicated their season to God, vowing to use basketball as a platform to share their faith while also competing at the highest level.
Now, with their second 20-win season in three years, the best win-loss record in the DI-era and their second trip to the ASUN tournament semifinals since 2022, this past season was one for the record books. And, they ended this spring with the program’s first Women’s National Invitation Tournament (WNIT) bid, making the postseason for the first time in 20 years.
Under the leadership of sixth-year Head Coach Lauren Sumski, the Lipscomb women’s basketball program has undergone a remarkable transformation over the last six seasons. Under Sumski’s leadership, the women’s basketball team has become a force to be reckoned with and consistently finishes in the top tier of the ASUN conference.
This season also marked the third consecutive year with more than 17 overall
wins and 10 or more ASUN conference victories. In scoring, the team ranked second in the ASUN and in the top 50 nationally in scoring at 74.9 points per game. The team’s three-point shooting ranked among the top 10 in NCAA Division I in points made (9.7 per game) and attempts (27.6 per game).
The Lady Bisons also rewrote the program record books this season, setting new highs in scoring average (74.9 points per game), field goal percentage (44.7%), three-pointers made (277) and three-point attempts (800).
“It’s amazing to see how far we’ve come,” Sumski said. “Considering where we were just a few years ago and for us to now be consistently competing for championships is amazing. It is a testament to the hard work of the team this year and I could not be more proud.”
While team success is built collectively, the contributions of three players have been particularly instrumental in shaping the trajectory of the program, said Sumski.
Graduate student guard Jalyn Holcomb Pruitt (BS ’23, MA ’24), who set the program’s DI all-time points record this past season, has been at the center of Lipscomb’s resurgence.
Guard Bella Vinson (BS ’25), who earned her second All-ASUN First Team selection this season and topped 1,000 career points, chose
to remain at Lipscomb for her career even as she had opportunities to transfer to Power Five schools, buying into the vision of the program and excelling in every role she has taken on.
Murray State transfer Claira McGowan (BBA ’25), a guard who also notched her 1,000th career point this season provided critical contributions, particularly during the 2023-24 season when injuries left the team shorthanded. Sumski said she immediately bought into what was asked of her and was able to carry the team when Pruitt and Vinson were both out with injury.
Sumski credits Pruitt, Vinson and McGowan with not just leading the program to an outstanding season but also making a lasting impact on the culture of the program.
“What those three young women have done for our program—and for women’s basketball, especially in the South but now reaching across the nation—is incredible,” Sumski said. “Lipscomb has become an attractive destination where a lot of people want to be a part of it. We can now be selective with recruiting, whereas before, we had to work just to make sure people knew who we were or where we were located.”
Sumski said the program’s success this year is the result of a culture change that has been
in motion since her first season in 2019-20 due to the efforts of then-seniors Carleigh Short (BS ’20, MPAS ’22), Emily Kmec (BBA ’19) and Kaylee Cotton (BS ’20) along with Sydney Shelton (BS ’20, MBA ’21, GC ’22, ), who played for the Bisons and has served on the coaching staff for the past three years, with playing a crucial role in establishing the team’s culture.
“Though they didn’t experience immediate winning success, they paved the way for our program’s foundation,” said Sumski. “They embodied the toughness, competitiveness and desire to win that we wanted to instill, not just in basketball but in every area of life—spiritually, academically and personally. They embraced challenges head-on and set the tone for what our program would become.”
Beyond their on-court achievements, the women’s basketball team has embraced a mission that extends beyond basketball. This season, they committed to playing for a greater purpose — using their platform to honor God and share their faith. That mindset led the team to engage in community service initiatives, including working with refugee families, supporting local food banks, serving at a nearby public elementary school and leading team-organized Bible studies.
“When you’re establishing culture, you’re building habits and teaching young women how to lead. Two years ago, we reached a point where Jayln and Bella were naturally taking the lead in ways we weren’t even aware of—holding meetings, leading Bible studies and organizing devotionals on their own,” said Sumski. “That’s the coolest part. In practice, before I can even correct a player, Jalyn and Bella are already on it. As a coach, there’s
nothing more we could ask for. Their success on the court is one thing, but more importantly, they are incredible young women who love the Lord with all their hearts. It has been a joy to coach them every single day.”
On March 20, the Bisons traveled to Macomb, Illinois, to take on Western Illinois University in the first round of the WNIT, where they fell short and ended their record-breaking season.
Sumski sees the WNIT as a stepping stone toward even greater goals, including a return to the NCAA tournament as the team did during the 2003-04 season.
“Playing in a prestigious tournament like the WNIT is an honor, especially knowing that many teams who compete in it have gone on to make deep NCAA tournament runs in future seasons, and we see this as an important step to set us up for future success,” said Sumski. “This is a great opportunity to send those seniors out on a great note by being the first team to play in the postseason in over 20 years. I think it’s an incredible feat.”
Learn more about the team’s record-breaking season at lipscomb.edu/wbb
Bella Vinson (#21)
Jalyn Holcomb Pruitt (#23) broke the Lipscomb women’s scoring record this past season.
Lipscomb Athletics Team NCAA Postseason Appearances
It’s been 21 years since Lipscomb entered the NCAA Division I, and the university’s student athletes wasted no time making their mark at the highest level of competition. Women’s basketball was the first team to earn a ticket to NCAA postseason competition, but nine other teams followed suit, competing on the national level 32 times, including the men’s basketball team’s trip to play against Iowa State this past March. In addition, more than 46 track and field and cross country individual athletes have qualified to compete in NCAA postseason competitions.
Forehand Wins 500 at Lipscomb
An April victory over Eastern Kentucky University brought baseball Head Coach Jeff Forehand his 500th win at Lipscomb. A few weeks earlier, Forehand, who is in his 20th season with the Bisons and 26th overall as a college coach, surpassed 700 career wins. Forehand was inducted into the Tennessee Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2025. He has led the Bisons to three ASUN championships and three NCAA tournament appearances in program history.
Percentage of all studentathletes earning a 3.0 GPA or higher in 2024-25 (First time in program history!)
5 WAYS TO FELLOWSHIP WITH BIBLE FACULTY
In the midst of preparing for a career, learning about themselves and building lifelong friendships, what alumni often say they remember most about their time at Lipscomb was the impact on their faith and spiritual lives. A big part of that impact, students say, is relationships with Lipscomb’s Bible faculty. Luckily, these powerful friendships don’t have to end after graduation or even after moving far from campus.
Here are five easy ways to continue to fellowship with and learn from Lipscomb College of Bible & Ministry (CBM) faculty.
1
CBM Podcast
Hosts Evan Richardson and Olivia Jaques sit down with Christian scholars and educators to discuss their specialties, current projects and spiritual journeys in the CBM podcast. The 20252026 season begins this fall discussing matters of biblical interpretation and exegesis with a lineup of guests from the Bible faculty, such as Earl Lavender, Josh Strahan and Mike Williams.
2
4
Faculty Reading Room
It’s easy to search the Lipscomb University website or the Lipscomb Faculty Reading Room to find the latest books by current and former Bible faculty. Currently books by Leonard Allen, Richard T. Hughes, Lauren Smelser White, Walter Surdacki, Strahan, Phillip Camp, Holly Allen, Hicks, Scott Sager, Lee Camp and Lavender are all featured on its web pages.
Hazelip Exchange
The Hazelip Exchange is a digital forum where current students, alumni and anyone who is interested can gather for real-time talks about biblical texts, current questions and the history of theology. Hosted by adjunct professor John Mark Hicks, conversations are held via Zoom on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7 p.m., CDT, beginning this fall. Past topics include: effective small groups, the Psalms, end-time expectations, the nature of Scripture and the benefits of spiritual direction.
Learn more the Hazelip Exchange at https:// lipscomb.edu/hst/hazelip-exchange.
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Continuing Education
The 2025-2026 school year brings a new slate of continuing education courses, offered as independent self-studies or Zoom courses with a handful of online group meetings. Cost ranges from $20 to $50. Past topics included group discipleship, studying the Bible, Romans and Psalms. Courses are designed to equip any Christian: no theological education required.
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Carroll Ellis Symposium
This event, held periodically in Nashville, was established to honor Dr. Carroll B. Ellis, longtime chair of the Department of Communication and preacher for several churches of Christ, to advance the cause of restoration preaching.
The symposium spotlights speakers and noted national experts in various fields sharing their insights, ideas and experiences with the Lipscomb community. The most recent symposiums explored the life and impact of evangelist Marshall Keeble and the history of the division that formed the Churches of Christ and the Christian Churches/ Disciples of Christ.
Get information on these activities and more in the College of Bible & Ministry by signing up to receive the college’s regular e-newsletter at lipscomb.edu/cbmenews.
Spring and summer at Lipscomb University were once again packed with opportunities for our students to learn, serve, cheer and fellowship. April’s Beautiful Day, a surprise day without classes and with plenty of on-campus fun, has also become a go-to event for service (01). This past year, students packed snacks for Nashville’s food-insecure students to be distributed by The Bridge. Spring’s Singarama: Movie Premiere was definitely a hit (02). The show pictured here, Rom Com, was produced by Sigma Iota Delta, Delta Omega and friends. The men’s basketball team won the ASUN Championship game on campus this year, offering students a coveted opportunity to raise the roof in Allen Arena (03) The April Nashville Business Breakfast featured Dr. William “Bill” Frist speaking on innovative care delivery models (04). Sigma Iota Delta’s Goatfest is always a day students look forward to (05). The School of Music offers numerous opportunities for students in ensembles to perform for the Lipscomb community (06), and students wait on pins and needles for Social Club Bid Night , when they find out which club they have successfully pledged (07) Bison Square is always full of activity and students (08) once spring arrives, including the Farmer’s Market (09), brought to campus by the Student Activities Board.
BISONS WEEKEND 2025 WILL BUILD ON LIPSCOMB’S 77-YEAR-OLD HOMECOMING TRADITION, WITH ACTIVITIES TO BOOST JOY AND FELLOWSHIP BOTH NEW AND OLD.
The college experience makes a definitive mark on any young person’s life, one they often reflect on and would sometimes like to rekindle. Luckily, unlike many life experiences, alumni actually can re-connect with their college days in-person at the annual gathering of the Bison Herd that we call Bisons Weekend
It’s gone by many names in the past—Homecoming, Herdcoming, Alumni Weekend, and today Bisons Weekend is growing by leaps and bounds. This fall’s event, to be held Nov. 13-15, promises to offer more of the same for those who were once a Bison and are always a Bison.
From parades to pep rallies, from musicals to basketball, from alumni reunions to parents’ Pancakes with the President (07), Bisons Weekend—first established as Homecoming in 1948— has a long history of bringing together alumni to revive good memories of the past, fellowship through sharing the present and dream about the future.
Since re-branding the event as Bisons Weekend and cementing its date in November, the weekend of activities has steadily grown in popularity over the past few years, with a 20% jump in attendance in 2023 and a 37% jump in 2024, bringing more than 2,000 people to the event.
Student involvement was pumped up with the revival of the student parade (06) in 2018, when students decorated truck beds and drove around campus and the Allen Arena Mall.
Parent involvement was increased by combining Homecoming and the annual Family Weekend in 2019 to create the current format for Bisons Weekend, where parents enjoy a wealth of student performances and exhibits, as well as get an update from Lipscomb President Candice McQueen (BS ’96).
The Bison Square Fair (02, 03,05) has become the go-to activity of the weekend, featuring booths hosted by various university departments and services, student organizations and social
clubs, allowing alumni to visit with those who have ties to their own experience.
Attendees flock to the Bison Button Bar (08) which offers various buttons from social clubs both existing and retired, and all the booths offer attendees buttons, stickers, snacks and other memorabilia. This year’s Bison Square Fair promises to be an even more popular event as it will be a family-friendly experience with a petting zoo, inflatables (01) and carnival games for the youngsters.
Throughout its three days, Bisons Weekend carries on many of the traditions that have been part of the Lipscomb event over eight decades:
• A pep rally in Bison Square will introduce new men’s basketball coach Kevin Carroll. The men’s home basketball game, Carroll’s first, will be against Bryan College.
• Bisons Weekend Chapel in Willard Collins Alumni Auditorium will feature a special guest speaker, an update by President McQueen, a performance by a student vocal group and the awarding of the Alumni and Young Alumni of the Year;
• The Savannah’s Boogie 5K Run has become an important annual event for Lipscomb’s IDEAL program;
• The 2025 Bisons Weekend annual theater production will be Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical directed by theater chair Beki Baker;
• Prestigious guest lecturers (04) will share their faith journeys;
• And of course, there will be reunions. The 50th reunion for the Class of 1975, including a coffee, a reception, dinner and program; the Golden Circle reunion for those who graduated before 1975; a special reunion for those who lived in the married student housing homes that stretched to Shackleford Road; and reunions for business and pharmacy graduates are in the works.
Whether you are alumni, a student, a parent or grandparent of a student, or a friend of Lipscomb, Bisons Weekend 2025 offers a way to rekindle your college memories, learn more about your student’s college experience today and build friendships and relationships for the future.
ALWAYS A BISON
BISONS WEEKEND HAS A LONG AND VARIED HISTORY OF EXCITING EVENTS AND NOSTALGIC GATHERINGS OF THE BISON HERD.
Established with a humble crowning ceremony during the basketball game in 1948, Bisons Weekend (called Homecoming until 2009) has grown over more than seven decades to include at various times: student parades, theater productions, pep rallies, concerts, a plethora of reunions, and much more. Read on to reminisce about some of the milestones in Bisons Weekend’s history that you may personally remember, and be sure to register for 2025’s event on Nov. 13-15.
Crowning the Queen
“Setting a precedent for coming basketball seasons, beautiful Gloria Wheeler (01) reigned as Homecoming Queen at the Lipscomb-Austin Peay game February 23,” states the 1948 Backlog, Lipscomb’s yearbook. And set a precedent it did, with Lipscomb students selecting 63 Homecoming queens over the years. Among Lipscomb’s queens over the years were Tennessee’s former Speaker of the House Beth Halteman Harwell (BA ’78) (see cover) in 1978 and on-air television personality Kacy Hagerty Callaghan (BA ’08) in 2007.
Creativity fit for a royal court
The sets for the Homecoming court entered a golden age of artistic creativity as John Hutcheson (LA ’47, BA ’50), longtime chair of the art department until his death in 1986 and namesake of Lipscomb’s on-campus art
gallery, brought a new level of creativity to the temporary sets (04, 08)
According to his widow Mary Nelle Hutcheson Chumley (LA ’49, A ’53), Hutcheson had only $200 for his first set budget, but he created a backdrop grand enough that the basketball coach didn’t believe it could be torn down in time for the basketball game. It was removed within three minutes, said Chumley.
After a few years, Homecoming attendees looked forward to the seemingly elaborate sets each year, showing up half an hour early to make sure they got a seat in the gym. Hutcheson was a master of using low-cost items to create luxurious-looking décor, such as using communion cups and Styrofoam to create a chandelier that twinkled in the gym lights.
Alumni reunited
If there is one throughline in the reunions held on Homecoming and Bisons Weekend through the years, it’s coffee. Whether it is poured from a silver set (06) or a K-cup®,
it’s the “coffees” that bring alumni together to reminisce and meet new friends.
Over the years, reunions (05) have been held for a wealth of different demographics—divided up by college, academic program, social club and student interest club among other designations.
In the dining hall, in what is now Bennett Campus Center, class year signs were placed on the various tables so that alumni could find their graduation year and eat with fellow alumni, (see cover) said Mary Emily Bouldin (LA ’70, BS ’74), archives specialist in Beaman Library.
A “Met My Mate” reunion was held in 2004 and featured former Lipscomb president Willard Collins and his wife, Ruth, sharing their story. Other reunions have been held for young families: the Bisonettes, a marching corp that
performed at basketball games; Homecoming Queens: and cheerleaders.
Today, Bisons Weekend always includes a 50th reunion for the relevant graduating class and the Golden Circle reunion for alumni who graduated more than 50 years ago, as well as other gatherings of particular groups (17)
Students on parade
Student organizations have almost always played a role in making the event a festive one. Over time, student organizations’ exhibits evolved from banners hung in the gym in the 1950s to free-standing sculptures that stood around the center of campus in the 1960s and 1970s. These exhibits (09), featuring everything from Snoopy to Viking ships, were no easy thing to build.
“Evenings spent in the bitter cold, days spent nursing wire-torn fingers, tests thoroughly unstudied—these are the basic ingredients, at least from the student’s point of view, of a successful homecoming,” says the copy in the 1972 Backlog. “From shapeless masses of chicken wire and cardboard come shapes massively resembling everything from ships to roller skates…”
Janet Slayden, of Franklin, part of the Class of 1974, remembers building these “floats” in a neighbor’s driveway and having to navigate them along the streets of Nashville, cutting tree limbs one year to clear passage, to get them to campus for display.
In the 2000s, Lipscomb President Steve Flatt (BA ’77) and later President L. Randolph Lowry were dressed in a crown and royal robe to serve as king of the student walking parade (15) held in that decade. In the 2010s, “floats” for a rejuvenated student parade were composed of decorated truck beds and trailers (02) and a chili cook-off followed.
Today’s student parade floats are golf carts (13), which this year, will be decorated as the rivals in the Bisons’ 2025-26 basketball schedules.
Get in the Game
There is no better time than Bisons Weekend to show school spirit by cheering on Lipscomb’s athletic teams. In its history, the event has included not only men’s basketball games (07, 18), but also women’s basketball, men’s and women’s soccer and volleyball competitions. And in some years in the 2000s, the event included Battle of the Boulevard, the Bisons’ annual chance to play its chief rival, Belmont University, located just down the road, in basketball. In 2006,
students camped out in tents the night before Homecoming weekend began and held the Running of the Bison (12), a raucous foot parade through the neighborhood established in 2005 (see page 1)
In 1987, students held the first of a few throwback events modeled after Bison Day, an elaborate pep rally held earlier in the 1980s to celebrate the first home basketball game each fall quarter. The 1987 Homecoming version was called Bisonfest and featured live bands, cheers by the various social clubs and free food serving as “a celebration of school spirit,” according to The Lipscomb News
The year 1988 included Bison Bash, and in 2017, Bison Day was revived again with social clubs performing skits and cheers for the crowd in Bison Square.
The play’s the thing
A Homecoming musical was added in 1979, with Oklahoma (16), directed by Lipscomb Legend Henry “Buddy” Arnold (BA ’48), selected as the first production. Productions over the years have included The Sound of Music, The Music Man, 1776, Shenandoah and Hello Dolly Arnold would often revive Homecoming shows from the past, including in 1988 when
he staged The Barretts of Wimpole Street, a production of Lipscomb’s first senior class that he had starred in with his then wife-tobe Bernie Wyckoff Arnold (BA ’48) in 1948.
The tradition was revived in 2016 with Beauty and the Beast (14), and the 2025 Bisons Weekend production will be Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical.
A musical journey into the past Music has also always been a special part of the event. Over the years, it has been common for the student choral ensembles to embrace returning alumni to hold a concert (11) together, sometimes combining all of Lipscomb’s vocal student ensembles.
In 2003, a special concert combining alumni from various student vocal groups over the years—Windsong, Alliance, Harmony, Impression, Twentyfourseven, X-Changed, The Kensman and The Insiders— was held.
Delta Sigma and Delta Nu social clubs began holding their annual concert, Delta NaNaNa (03) on and off for the next few years during Homecoming in 1999, with alumni artists sometimes joining the students. Later in 2013, Tau Phi began sometimes holding its annual Tau Phi Cowboy Show, where students (and sometimes alums) perform Country hits.
For a few years starting in the 1990s, the university began hosting concerts by wellknown musical artists including Jo Dee Messina, Sarah Evans, Lonestar and Diamond Rio, with alumnus lead singer Marty Roe (BS ’84), in 2005.
In 2025, attendees can see concerts by today’s student vocal and instrumental ensembles, including Sanctuary and the Gospel Choir, as well as students performing contemporary music at various events throughout the weekend.
Alumni of Excellence
Bisons Weekend has always been a time to honor those alumni who “epitomize the potential of a Lipscomb education,” with “strong faith” and a “servant-like heart. (10)” But the way such alumni have been honored, has changed many times over the decades, including “Distinguished Alumni,” the “Avalon Awards” and “Lipscomb Honors” presented at a dinner at the Country Music Hall of Fame.
In the 1970s, families with multi-generational relationships with Lipscomb were honored at Homecoming, and later in the 1980s “Representatives of the Decades” were designated for special recognition at the event.
In 1980, the university began to award the ’Fessor Boyce Award, named for professor Eugene ’Fessor Boyce. Its first recipient was Boyce himself, who had been a teacher and coach at Lipscomb since 1937, and the award was given out for at least 15 years.
An Alumnus of the Year Award was also established in 1980 (Ira North [A ’41], editor of the Gospel Advocate, was the first recipient), but was not presented to the winner at Homecoming until some time later.
For so many of our Lipscomb Bisons, their college days were days to remember, and there is no better way to do that than by attending Bisons Weekend, Nov. 13-15.
Mullican Studios brings the real world of broadcasting to communication students on campus
Students in Lipscomb’s School of Communication don’t wait around for graduation to step into the workplace. Lipscomb’s Bill and Dot Mullican Television Studios allow journalism and new media majors and sports media majors to bring the week’s news and trends to audiences before they ever receive their degrees.
Entertainment & the Arts’ (CEA) Department of Cinematic Arts to record voiceovers and sound effects for films and documentaries.
anchor, sports reporting, world reporting and weather reporting.
Students in the Broadcast Journalism, Oncamera Delivery and Sports Reporting courses produce 13-15 newscasts, commercials, PSAs, a sports newscast and a weather forecast throughout the semester in Mullican. The studios include a television studio (pictured), a radio station, two audio production booths and a video editing bay.
The two audio production bays are also used by students in the George Shinn College of
Communication students regularly win awards from the Southeast Journalism Conference, the Society of Professional Journalists, the Intercollegiate Broadcasting System and the Tennessee Association of Broadcasters for their radio and television broadcasts, which are broadcast on the campus cable channel and posted on Vimeo .
Throughout a semester, students in the Broadcast Journalism course rotate through the various roles involved in producing a newscast: technical director, graphics operator, audio control, teleprompter operator, camera operator, news
And coming soon, the studio will house the university’s new volumetric video wall, a system of linked high-end LED panels used to display video footage or 3-D content to form a background behind actors. (Alums may have seen a similar video wall used at Singarama 2025.) It will be used by both communication and cinematic arts students.
The LED volume wall was the first purchase made through the university’s Innovation and Startup Fund to support targeted efforts to develop new revenue sources that will be sustainable over time. The wall will not only be available to Lipscomb’s students, but also to Nashville’s community of filmmakers and videographers.
FILLING THE GAP
Faith Family Medical’s director, Dr. Parker Panovec (BS ’86) (left), works with the clinic’s newest Lipscomb alumna, biology graduate Valeria Ochoa (BS ’25) (right), who is working as a medical assistant while earning a master’s at Lipscomb before heading to medical school.
FAITH FAMILY MEDICAL AND LIPSCOMB HAVE PARTNERED OVER THE PAST TWO DECADES TO BRING AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE TO THE UNINSURED.
Universities have always been uniquely positioned to fill gaps. Lipscomb is no exception. One of Lipscomb’s closest partners in finding ways to fill society’s crucial gaps is Faith Family Medical Center, a Nashville nonprofit clinic created to serve the city’s working uninsured and under-insured.
Countless Lipscomb alumni and friends have been involved with Faith Family’s services since it was established 24 years ago, and today Lipscomb’s academic programs are actively partnering with the clinic to prepare health care practitioners of the future to fill this gap in health care provision.
More than 200,000 Middle Tennesseans have no insurance, says Phil Ellenburg (BS ’86), Faith Family’s current CEO and a former general counsel and vice president of alumni relations at Lipscomb. It was this population that Nashville orthopedic surgeon Dr. David Gaw, a longtime friend of Lipscomb, wanted to serve when he established Faith Family in 2001.
Among its early supporters were Cal Turner Jr., founder of Dollar General and a longtime Lipscomb supporter and member of the university’s advisory boards, and the late J.D. Elliott, founding president of the Memorial Foundation and former Lipscomb trustee.
On the clinic’s first day, it had only a medical director and a nurse on staff and no patients arrived that day at its location at Murphy and 21st Ave., said Ellenburg. In 2025, the clinic now serves 3,200 patients in its new 17,000-squarefoot headquarters, completed in 2020.
The organization provides a wellness facility, fresh grown produce from its urban garden and behavioral health services and partners with 150 health care providers for specialty services to supplement the seven medical professionals on the full-time staff.
The Bison Herd at Faith Family
Lipscomb not only graduated the clinic’s longtime medical director, Dr. Parker Panovec (BS ’86), but it also graduated one of the clinic’s newest employees, May 2025 biology graduate Valeria Ochoa (BS ’25), who is working at the center as a medical assistant while earning a master’s at Lipscomb before heading to medical school.
Panovec was a family medicine physician in Jackson when two Lipscomb alumni, Gary Jerkins (LA ’70, BS ’74) and Kell Holland (LA
’79, BS ’84) suggested he consider working at Faith Family. “I thought, this is a fantastic model of how medicine should be practiced,” Panovec said of his first visit to the clinic.
He still wasn’t sure it was the place for him, but God opened every door, so Panovec and his wife Debbie Dunn (BS ’86) stepped through. He became the center’s medical director 12 years ago.
“The majority of patients are not destitute. The people who come here are the people who make Nashville Nashville,” said Panovec. “They cook food, cut grass, build office buildings and small businesses, and they are the musicians who entertain you and make things work behind the scenes. Despite working hard at their jobs, they don’t have access to affordable health care.
“We spend time with our patients,” he continued. “Our patients are not appreciated in society with money, prestige or status, so when they come here to our clinic, we want them to
understand how much we value them and care about them.”
Ochoa was introduced to Faith Family when she accompanied her aunt to the clinic to receive care. She asked about applying for the job and was hired as a part-time medical assistant (MA) while still a sophomore at Lipscomb. Ochoa helps to draw blood, to carry out EKGs and insulin training. Coming from a Hispanic community, she can also translate for patients when needed.
Her work has advanced her education by allowing her to shadow physicians, to apply her knowledge of anatomy and to get an introduction to the various specialties in medicine and how they work.
“I love medicine and I love people, so I love how they use medicine to be more than a job but to actually help people’s lives,” said Ochoa.
Sarah Uroza (right), associate professor of pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences, works with Lipscomb graduate Mikayla Morrow (PharmD ’25) (left) in the Faith Family Medical pharmacy, where many pharmacy students carry out a rotation working with the Patient Assistance Program.
Partners in patient care and wellness
In addition to alumni, a number of Lipscomb programs and faculty have worked with Faith Family to serve the center’s patient population while also providing real-world experience to health science students in various disciplines.
One of the most impactful such partnerships is the Patient Assistance Program at the clinic’s pharmacy, coordinated by Sarah Uroza, associate professor of pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences.
Uroza and Lipscomb student pharmacists, who are required to have an ambulatory care rotation, have managed the program for over a decade, matching needy patients with free medications offered through a network of charitable foundations operated by various pharmaceutical companies.
With Uroza on-site at the clinic 20 hours a week, the program serves about 300 patients per quarter and has provided around $4 million dollars’ worth of free medications to its patients annually since 2020, she said. Uroza expects to provide up to $5 million in medications in 2025.
Uroza and Lipscomb student pharmacists handle the complex application process for patients, thus simplifying the process and reducing denials by the companies, said Uroza.
“Sarah’s work is incredibly important in a patient population that often struggles with language and communication barriers,” said Panovec. “It’s great for patients to get their
needed medications, but if they don’t know how to use them, it doesn’t do them any good. It’s important to have someone to sit down with patients and explain how to use medications.”
Uroza and student pharmacists also hold one-on-one consultations with patients at Faith Family’s Chronic Disease Days, an event held several times a year to gather providers related to diabetes or hypertension, creating a “onestop-shop” for checkups, retinal evaluations, wound care, blood work, pharmacy services and nutrition and exercise counseling.
Lipscomb has also been highly involved with Faith Family’s Journey to Wellness program. Coordinated by two staff dietitians, the program provides exercise, cooking, nutrition and yoga classes as well as exercise equipment. The center’s urban garden produces hundreds of pounds of herbs, vegetables and berries provided free to patients and used in cooking demonstrations.
Ruth Henry (LA ’71, BS ’74) now retired chair of the kinesiology department, and Autumn Marshall (BS ’92), current chair of the nutrition department, have served on Faith Family’s Journey to Wellness program board for several years.
In years past, Henry has sent kinesiology students to the center to meet their servicelearning requirements by conducting fitness classes or serving as personal trainers for patients, she said.
Likewise Lipscomb dietetic interns have completed rotations at the center and have volunteered for the Chronic Disease Days. In fact, two master’s candidates, dietetic interns
Shannon Rourke (BS ’24) and Caroline Stephenson Cox (GC ’24) are currently researching the effectiveness of the Chronic Disease Days on patients’ diabetes management by assessing changes in hemoglobin A1C levels.
A win-win partnership
“Over the years, our formal and informal partnership with Lipscomb has really been invaluable to our success and our growth,” said Ellenburg.
“Whenever I am working with any type of student, I tell them… You need to understand that there is more than just the physical; there is also the emotional and spiritual part of wellness,” said Panovec. “In the real world, sometimes people have to make decisions between buying groceries or buying prescriptions.”
Ellenburg echoed, “This partnership is a way to lift up the whole population to better health.”
Many Lipscomb alumni and friends have been involved with Faith Family’s services over the years. Alumni who currently work at the center include:
• Phil Ellenburg (BS ’86), serves as the center’s CEO after serving as chief development officer beginning in 2020;
• Parker Panovec (BS ’86), serves as chief medical officer;
• Sherry Mast (BS ’94), is the center’s chief operating officer;
• Julie Webb (LA ’01, BA ’06), is Faith Family’s events manager;
• Roberto “Beto” Santiago (LA ’03, BS ’07), serves as community health care worker and chaplain;
• Benita Santiago Sanchez (LA ’06), registered nurse at the center;
• Valeria Ochoa (BS ’25), is a medical assistant at the center; and
• Eric Moss (BA ’83), is on the Faith Family Board.
Learn more about the Lipscomb alumni at Faith Family Medical at lipscomb.edu/FFM
Phil Ellenburg (BS ’86) (left), CEO, and Sherry Mast (BS ’94) (right), chief operating officer, keep the clinic running smoothly for its 3,200 patients.
STUDENTS EMBARK ON A NEW JOURNEY THIS FALL
New general education curriculum—Journey: Lipscomb Core—enhances consistent learning outcomes, shared experiences, community building and engagement.
Every first-time college student knows they are embarking on a journey. Most, if not all, however, have little idea where that journey will end. They may have a dim view of the destination, but as they learn about themselves and the world around them, majors often change, life circumstances can evolve and they often arrive at a place they never expected.
This fall, Lipscomb University is debuting a new purpose-driven general education curriculum, Journey: Lipscomb Core, intended to be a guide, ensuring that every student develops the skills, knowledge and spiritual grounding necessary for purposeful living, no matter what their destination becomes.
Journey invites students to embark on a transformative academic experience to Seek, Discover, Know and Flourish
Journey has been in the works since the 2022 launch of the university’s Lipscomb Impact 360 strategic plan, which has as its No. 1 goal to provide a premier, learner-focused Christian education. This fall, the new curriculum supersedes Lipscomb’s pre-existing general
education curriculum, which serves as the foundation of every undergraduate student’s learning experience in their freshman and sophomore year.
The framing of the new courses as a journey toward a Christ-centered vocation and flourishing life is intended to boost students’ investment in their freshman and sophomore studies, said Lipscomb Provost Jennifer Shewmaker
“When students enter college thinking of gen ed courses as ‘something to just get out
Journey: Lipscomb Core
One of the goals in developing Journey was to make it easy for students to understand and for academic advisors to explain. Therefore, the framers divided the 46-hour curriculum into four categories: Seek, Discover, Know and Flourish
SEEK (21 credit hours)
Through Scripture: Three required Bible courses and one elective chosen from three options
Through Core Texts: One history, one English and one elective chosen from politics or philosophy
DISCOVER (13 credit hours)
Scientifically: One math course, two options (for majors and non-majors) in scientific inquiry and one social inquiry course
Artistically: One course or ensemble participation for non-majors and one course, Career Creativity, for arts majors
KNOW (6 credit hours)
Self: Two POWERS courses on writing and communicating
Others: One of 20 designated diverse perspectives courses scattered throughout the curriculum
FLOURISH (6 credit hours)
Ethics, Well-being and Vocation: Compass first-year seminar and choice of discipline-specific capstone course, Virtue, Flourishing and Vocation, or Practices for Spiritual Formation
of the way,’ it has no meaning. When things don’t have meaning, then we as people don’t tend to put much effort into them,” said Shewmaker. “We also don’t tend to integrate that experience into the rest of our life.
“The Journey curriculum strives to create meaningful connections for students by explicitly saying, ‘You are on a path, and these specific things you learn are going to connect to what you want to do as a career and in life in this specific way.’”
Drawing on a strong body of research, Journey has been intentionally designed with three course milestones to enhance consistency in learning outcomes, shared learning experiences and strong community among engaged learners.
COMPASS
The required freshman seminar, called Compass, includes four common assignments for all students in every section of the course. Nine times throughout the semester, all sections gather for Compass Point sessions on the themes: who am I, what is truth, what is a good life and who am I becoming?
At these common sessions, selected faculty will share their knowledge and experiences with students, both introducing students to potential faculty mentors and providing models of critical thinking, creative problem-solving and agile communication focused around the themes of the unit.
In addition, the Journey curriculum was crafted to strongly connect the core skills society has considered essential for millennia (taught in the first two years of college) to the highly valued preparation for modern day vocations (taught in the third and fourth years of college). Journey was also designed to dovetail with Lipscomb’s Center for Vocational Discovery (which offers spiritual and life discovery activities to unify students’ four-year college experience) and Student Life’s FirstYear Experience programming.
While today, we may talk about critical thinking a lot more than Plato’s logic, problem-solving a lot more than arithmetic, communication rather than grammar, the sentiment that these skills from classical antiquity are still valuable to today’s society, the economy and civic life has not faded away.
In fact, according to surveys of employers by Forbes and the American Association of Colleges and Universities (AAC&U), 88% of employers look for broad knowledge in the liberal arts (meaning the humanities disciplines) and sciences, and 93% say these
POWERS
In the second part of the Journey, students dive into new ideas and experiences, pushing beyond their comfort zones. Through coursework and campus life they encounter diverse perspectives.
During this phase, students will take the two POWERS courses, which prepare students to become confident and effective communicators across multiple platforms.
In the concurrent courses—Writing to Discover and Communicating to Influence— students develop writing and communication skills through both classical and digital approaches, are required to transform one idea across three different communication modalities and have the opportunity to participate in extracurricular events such as contests, symposiums and publications.
skills are more important than a candidate’s college major.
Journey: Lipscomb Core takes each Lipscomb student through a 10-step path studded with four signpost courses: a firstyear seminar called Compass, two courses in communication and writing called POWERS and a capstone course called Virtue, Flourishing and Vocation. From the very beginning of the development process, there was always a focus on providing core skills in a way that made them applicable to today’s employers’ needs and demands.
And the skills most in-demand by employers—critical and creative thinking, ethical reasoning, effective communication, teamwork and problem-solving—proved to be the same whether gleaned from Lipscomb faculty, the best research on higher education practices or Plato.
“Together, these outcomes provide a strong foundation for students to flourish,” said Shewmaker, “not only intellectually, but ethically and vocationally no matter what career they go into.”
Learn more about the development and goals of the Journey core curriculum at lipscomb.edu/LNjourney
CAPSTONE
In the final part of the Journey, students apply the wisdom gained in earlier courses to their chosen field of study. Students demonstrate the depth of their learning and integrate new insights into studies in their major.
During this phase, students are able to take the final signpost course: Virtue, Flourishing and Vocation. Developed in discipline-specific sections, this course explores how one’s career can be rooted in and informed by Christian virtue and human flourishing with a focus on vocation and ethics.
The course content includes five weeks of bridge curriculum, common to all sections, that reviews what was learned in Lipscomb’s four required Bible courses. In the final weeks, the course explores applying six “agents of flourishing”—the good, the true, the beautiful, the just and well-ordered, the sustainable and the prosperous—to their chosen profession.
GRADUATION
For students, the last step of the journey is graduation, when Shewmaker and faculty hope students will carry the wisdom they have gained through Lipscomb’s Journey into their vocation, integrating what they have learned into a flourishing and purposeful life.
“This new curriculum gives students a consistent experience to think of their time in college as a journey, to ask, ‘what does my path look like as I build my skills and knowledge, and move toward a vocation that God has called me to’,” said Shewmaker.
“I’m in awe of how God has made so many provisions for me and over-delivered in my life because I’m unbelievably blessed to be in the situation that I’m in and to have had all of the opportunities that I have had,” said Ingold. “My story is a lot less about basketball than people might think. Lipscomb didn’t just give me a chance to play basketball; it gave me lifelong relationships, lessons in perseverance and a deeper faith.”
NEVER EVER GIVE UP
INGOLD’S CHILDHOOD DREAM OF PLAYING FOR LIPSCOMB’S BASKETBALL TEAM CAME TO FRUITION IN TIME FOR HIM TO CLOSE OUT A HISTORIC NCAA APPEARANCE FOR THE BISONS.
Jack Ingold (BBA ’25) does not give up easily.
For many years, he chased a dream that seemed just out of reach. He sent emails that often went unanswered, trained when no one was watching and refused to take “no” as the final answer.
His goal? To be a member of the Lipscomb University men’s basketball team.
His persistence paid off in December 2024 when, at the team’s Christmas party, he opened a book from then-Head Coach Lennie Acuff, expecting nothing more than a heartfelt message of encouragement. As he read the note aloud in front of his teammates and coaches, he paused when he got to the words he longed to hear:
“As of tonight, you are on full scholarship.”
Overcome with emotion, Ingold struggled to get the words out before breaking down in tears. His teammates erupted in celebration, recognizing the significance of the moment.
The moment was captured on video, posted on social media and caught the attention of Good Morning America, earning a spot on the show’s Play of the Day segment on Dec. 19.
For Ingold, this was more than a scholarship. It was the realization of a dream that had taken root when he was a fifth-grader in Charleston, West Virginia. It was about years of hard work, faith and an unshakable belief that he was meant to be part of Lipscomb basketball.
Ingold’s mother, Elizabeth (Mynes) (BS ’90), attended Lipscomb in the 1990s during the university’s golden NAIA era of Coach Don Meyer along with players Philip Hutcheson (LA ’86, BA ’90), current Lipscomb athletic director, and John Pierce (BA ’94), who are the top two all-time scoring leaders in all levels of college basketball. The family even owned a VHS tape of the epic
1990-91 Battle of the Boulevard rivalry game, which Ingold watched repeatedly as a child.
When he was in the fifth grade, Ingold’s family drove to Nashville for a weekend, and stopped by to tour Lipscomb’s Allen Arena, where the men’s basketball team happened to be practicing.
“Walking into Allen Arena as a fifth grader I was in awe of everything,” said Ingold, who began playing basketball at age four.
He knew that as an undersized and under-recruited player, he would have to go above and beyond to make his dream a reality. During his junior year playing basketball at George Washington High School, Ingold began reaching out to Casey Alexander, who was head coach of the Bisons at the time, and then to Acuff when he took over head coaching duties in 2019.
Ingold sent emails to every coach on Lipscomb’s staff every Monday at 7 a.m. for two-and-a-half years.
To stand out, he started making highlight videos, sending handwritten letters and even creating personal video messages. In spring 2020, the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, Ingold graduated from high school and enrolled at Lipscomb with no promise of having any involvement with the men’s basketball team.
He was still sending emails and looking for ways to become noticed by the coaching staff, so he reached out to former Lipscomb player Andrew Fleming (BS ’20), who was running basketball training sessions in Nashville and began working out with Fleming once or twice a week.
With the NCAA imposing Covid-19 restrictions on in-person recruiting, Lipscomb coaches began prioritizing potential players already on campus, whom they could evaluate
in person. After a try-out workout session, Ingold secured an invitation — but not as a player, as a manager.
He reported for his manager’s duties that summer, when another door opened: The first week of practice, a walk-on left the team to pursue a job.
So Acuff told Ingold, “You can practice with the team, lift with the team. You can do everything that they do, but on game days you’re a manager. You’ll still have responsibilities before and after practice getting things ready,” recalled Ingold.
For an entire season, Ingold juggled the responsibilities of a manager while practicing and training alongside his teammates. Then the following year Acuff gave him the opportunity to be a walk-on as a junior.
Ingold continued as a walk-on as his senior season began in fall 2024, and in December, his lifelong dream finally became a reality with his scholarship announcement.
On Feb. 26, senior night and the last regular season home game against Central Arkansas, Ingold scored the final points of the game. Then in the team’s NCAA tournament game in March, Ingold capped off the scoring for the Bisons with a late layup.
“The impact that the coaches and my teammates have had on me is tremendous. I am grateful for our coaches and the people that I get to be around every day,” said Ingold, who graduated in May with a double major in finance and business management.
The Lanier Center for Archaeology celebrates five-year anniversary
It has been five years since two of the world’s foremost experts in their fields of archaeology, Steve Ortiz and Tom Davis, came to Lipscomb to head up the Lanier Center for Archaeology.
Offering Lipscomb’s first Ph.D. degree, the Lanier Center has brought the ancient Near East world into Lipscomb’s present, with excavation sites in Cypress, Israel, Egypt, Sudan, Kazakhstan and Jordan.
Since its launch, the Lanier Center has graduated three Ph.D.s and 13 master’s candidates. Students have had the rare opportunities to discover a Canaanite cultic
complex at Tel Burna in Israel, to excavate a pyramid site in Sudan, to add to the knowledge of disaster archaeology in the earthquake-prone Kourian site in Cypress and to translate references to biblical events on the walls of the Karnak Temple in Egypt.
The start of the academic year saw it’s largest growth in student numbers with 12 MA students and 25 Ph.D. students enrolled for the fall semester.
The center is also collaborating with Lipscomb’s Hazelip School of Theology to develop an undergraduate degree in the Bible and archaeology, as well as a D.Min.
degree for those who want to use biblical archaeology for teaching and ministry in schools and churches.
Lipscomb Now congratulates the Lanier Center on five outstanding years at Lipscomb with this photo retrospective of its latest expedition, this past May, to the Temple of Karnak in Luxor, Egypt, to continue the Karnak Great Hypostyle Hall Epigraphic Project.
Read more about the first five years of the Lanier Center for Archaeology at lipscomb.edu/Lanier
A five-person team carried out the Karnak Great Hypostyle Hall Epigraphic Project in May, recording the preserved scenes and inscriptions on the Karnak Temple complex in Luxor, Egypt. Pictured here are (l to r) Terrence J. Nichols, Ph.D. candidate; Mark Janzen, associate professor of archaeology and ancient history; Liana Blackburn, MA graduate; Andrew Cahill, Ph.D. candidate; and L.S. Baker Jr., Lanier research associate and lead epigrapher.
RAYE AND ELISE MITCHELL
Why we give
“Lipscomb, in my experience, produces excellent physicians of integrity, and that is important to me.”
As a long-time orthopedic surgeon, Raye Mitchell (LA ’81, BS ’85) has seen many Lipscomb graduates enter his lifelong career field, and he likes what he sees: “physicians of integrity.”
He and his wife, Elise, want Lipscomb to continue producing physicians of integrity, and that is why they have generously given of their financial resources and their own personal time over many years.
“Lipscomb, in my experience, produces excellent physicians of integrity who are conscientious, and that is important to me,” said Raye, now retired, who was installed as one of Lipscomb’s newest trustees this past summer.
With a multi-generational family history with the institution and two children who graduated from Lipscomb, one from the university and one from Lipscomb Academy, the Mitchells have long been financial contributors to both the university and the academy.
They also, however, enjoy encouraging students one-on-one, so they hold monthly gatherings in their home for pre-med students to meet health care providers—many of whom are Lipscomb alums—in a warm and welcoming environment.
A program of the J.S. Ward Society, the in-home special guests provide insight into family life, time management and what’s important for a medical practice for the aspiring students, said Raye.
“It is rewarding to see how the students develop and grow during their time at Lipscomb,” he said. “They are always inquisitive. Since they don’t have as
much exposure to health care professionals as they would like, these gatherings give them a chance to ask questions and understand what it will be like when they are practicing medicine.”
“We remember what it was like to have a career ahead of you but no idea what it will be like in the real world,” said Elise, an executive coach and business consultant. “It’s really valuable for the students to have a chance to talk with these health care professionals, to get a better understanding of how to prepare for medical school and being a physician... This gives them a better sense of who they want to be as they step into the working world.
“These physicians who come and speak with the students are inspiring role models,” she continued. “They ... show students that they can be a successful physicians of integrity with Christian values.”
This past school year, the Mitchells founded the Mitchell Family Endowed Scholarship, funding summer research opportunities for a selected health science student each summer, through the J.S. Ward Society, a Lipscomb alumni affinity group for health care providers. The first awardee was Maddie Brazelton (pictured above), who worked with Lipscomb biology faculty Beth Conway (LA ’98) this past summer.
Raye, a Nashville native, practiced medicine in Fayetteville, Arkansas, for 23 years. He was a partner at Ozark Orthopedics and served veterans through the VA Medical Center before his retirement. He earned his medical degree from the University
of Tennessee and completed a residency and a fellowship at the Campbell Clinic in Memphis. He held numerous leadership roles in the medical field including chief of surgery at Washington Regional Medical Center, serving as an adjunct professor with the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and as team physician for the Arkansas Razorbacks.
Elise grew up in Carbondale, Illinois, but her mother had attended Lipscomb Academy as a young girl and her grandparents both taught at Lipscomb, so she has long held a great love for the university.
When they moved to Fayetteville, Elise established her own firm, Mitchell Communications Group, scaled it over time and successfully sold the firm. She now works with business founders and C-suite executives who are trying to navigate growth and scale, and who are leading teams through change.
“One of many passions Raye and I share is philanthropy,” Elise said, “and our biggest focus is Christian education. We both feel very strongly about being a part of this good work—not just donating— but being active on the boards and helping students. Whatever gifts and talents we have, we want to put them to use for Christian education.”
It is with genuine excitement that I share some wonderful developments in our ongoing commitment to you—our valued alumni. Your connection to Lipscomb doesn’t end at graduation, and we’re taking meaningful steps to strengthen those bonds.
Our spring and summer alumni events (see page 48 for more details) were more successful than ever before at gathering the Bison Herd. These events weren’t just about attendance—they were about connection. Alumni from multiple generations shared stories, built new professional relationships, created memories and demonstrated dedication to Lipscomb’s mission.
I am especially proud of the collaboration that made these events possible—our volunteers and campus partners. Thank you for showing up, sharing your Bison pride and reminding us all why our ‘Always a Bison’ mindset is such a vital part of our university’s story. Together, we are building something lasting.
I’m also delighted to announce that we’ve welcomed two new assistant directors of alumni engagement to our team. Anna Johnson (BA ’25) and Samuel Waldron (BBA ’25) are two outstanding recent graduates who have a strong passion for connecting alumni with Lipscomb. These dedicated professionals will be focused on creating memorable events, developing new programming that serves your needs, and most importantly, building personal relationships that reconnect you with the Lipscomb community you love.
This fall brings exceptional opportunities for us to gather together. At the end of August, Lipscomb’s volleyball alumni returned for a reunion weekend. We were excited to honor these
special alumni during the much anticipated home volleyball match against No. 1 Nebraska.
With Battle of the Boulevard hosted at Belmont this year, on Nov. 19, we’re planning a lively pre-game at a venue on Belmont Boulevard. I personally hope to see many of you there as we show our Bison pride!
I’m particularly thrilled about our reimagined Bisons Weekend, Nov. 13-15 (see page 18 for more on this event). We’ve intentionally created a more family-friendly experience with activities spanning multiple days. Friday will feature a spirited student parade and pep rally unveiling our basketball schedules. Then on Saturday, for our youngest Bisons fans (and maybe some of our older ones, too) join us for our enhanced Bison Square Fair featuring a petting zoo, inflatables, carnival games and delicious food. And obviously you don’t want to forget about our first home men’s basketball game and the first such game for new coach Kevin Carroll. Register at lipscomb.edu/bisonsweekend
These are just glimpses of what’s to come. I promise more exciting announcements in the weeks ahead! Registration for Bisons Weekend is open, and I sincerely hope you’ll join us.
Once A Bison, Always a Bison,
Reach out to the Herd
You can reach out to and get involved with your fellow Bisons by contacting our office at alumni@lipscomb.edu .
Send us your Bison Notes through email at classnotes@lipscomb.edu or submit them online at lipscomb.edu/classnotes.
Lifelong Learning
Broaden your mind and your relationships through this non-credit academic program. lipscomb.edu/lifelonglearning
THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES
Historical marker celebrates impact of Nashville Christian Institute
Lipscomb University honored the legacy of the Nashville Christian Institute (NCI) at a special ceremony in the Mary Eddy Jones Courtyard at Beaman Library in April. The ceremony marked the unveiling of a historical marker placed at the original site of the school on 24th Avenue North as well as a replica plaque placed on Lipscomb’s campus.
Founded in 1940, Nashville Christian Institute was a primarily African American school that Lipscomb came to own and then later closed in the 1960s. Led by evangelist Marshall Keeble, it was a pivotal educational institution for African American students in the Church of Christ tradition during a time of deep racial segregation.
It had close ties with Lipscomb, including university officials who served on its board of directors. More than 500 students were educated at NCI before its closure in 1967.
The NCI Alumni Association and Brent Culberson (BA ’05, MA ’10), former vice president for government and community relations, partnered to usher a proposal for the historical marker through the city’s process.
“This marker now tells the story of a school that made a profound impact on this community and far beyond,” said Culberson.
In a separate project, the university’s Beaman Library has developed a digitized collection of NCI photos, letters, board minutes and student reflections—part of a growing partnership between Lipscomb and the NCI Alumni Association to preserve and share the school’s story.
Systems Librarian Jan Cohu and Electronic Resources Librarian Kayla Rutledge partnered with NCI Alumni Association head Harry Kellum (BA ’68) and members of the alumni association to add firsthand information and identifications to the photographs.
The 250 documents in the archive include correspondence, school documents, NCI Board meeting minutes and legal documents. It also includes a series of written recollections by 16 NCI alumni on their first impressions and fond memories of the school as well as their lives after graduation.
The NCI archival documents can be viewed and downloaded at lipscomb.edu/cwdc.
Class Notes
We want to hear from you! At lipscomb.edu/ classnotes you can post a career update or accomplishment, a marriage, birth, or passing, and share a special photo as well. We always have our ear to the ground to hear what’s going on in the Bison Herd.
Submitted Bison Notes are edited for length, clarity or for any reason at the discretion of the editors of Lipscomb Now. Images that do not meet the quality standards necessary for printing cannot be included.
Degree abbreviations follow standard academic abbreviations except for: (LA), alumni of Lipscomb Academy; (AD) associate degree; (GC), alumni who have completed a graduate certificate; and (A), non-degreed alumni or those whose degrees are unknown.
1956 Angela Wiggins Colson (BS) of Idyllwild, California, is a sales director for Mary Kay Cosmetics.
1969 Don Umphrey (BA) of North Padre Island, Corpus Christi, Texas, is a professor emeritus at Southern Methodist University.
1976 Kay Pierce Reeves (BA) of Carrollton, Texas, retired as executive director of technology at Abilene Christian University.
1979 David Johnson (BS) of Melbourne, Florida, retired from L3Harris Corporation as chief software engineer of the company’s Robotics Enterprise after working 45 years in the software engineering field.
Mark McGee (BS, MA ‘17) of Shelbyville was selected as one of the presenters at the 36th Cooperstown Symposium on Baseball & Culture at the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York. He also spoke earlier in 2025 at the 32nd NINE Spring Training Conference in Tempe, Arizona.
Darrell Shelton (BS) of Little Rock, Arkansas, is one of four members slated for induction to the Arkansas State Golf Association’s Hall of Fame Class of 2025.
1983
Dr. Kent Ramsey (BS) of North Canton, Ohio, is a physician partner of Ohio Head and Neck Surgeons and ASCENT Family Surgical Center as well as an attending physician at Aultman Hospital and Cleveland Clinic Mercy Hospital. He also plays guitar for a local rock band called The Hitmen.
1984 Ricky Bowers (BS) of Nashville is the recipient of the 2025 Roy Kramer Contribution to Football Award by the National Football Foundation & College Football Hall of Fame Middle Tennessee chapter.
Mary Lou Ratliff Hutson (BA) of Abilene, Texas, was promoted to assistant vice president and major case specialization leader in the United Fire Group claim department. She manages a staff of 21 handling the company’s complex, construction defect and excess liability claims.
1986 Robert Crowder, M.D. (BS) of Nashville has been an internist with Heritage Medical Associates for the past 32 years. He recently partnered with MDVIP, a leader in personalized health care.
Morton “Morty” C. Lloyd II (BA) of Apison is the mayor of Collegedale. He also serves as senior pastor for Chattanooga Church and is the major gifts officer for the Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association.
1988 B. Scott Boring (BA) of Port Saint Lucie, Florida, retired from an education career and is now authoring short stories, anecdotes and poems. His work has been featured in Wilderness House Literary Review, FictionontheWeb. com Publishers, Festivalofpoetry.com and Wingless Dreamer Publications. He won first place in the Awakening Within Contest by Wingless Dreamer in February 2025.
1989 Dr. Christopher G. Endfinger (BA) of Birmingham, Alabama, was featured in the story “Healing with Hands, Heart, and Faith” in BusinessMatters, a UK business magazine and CEOWORLD magazine.
Wiley Lowe (BS) of Flagler Beach, Florida, received his Doctor of Ministry from Liberty University in 2023 and has expanded his grief recovery ministry in central Florida. He is also in his 10th year as an on-air television host working with Shop HQ.
Bryan J. Murphy (BS) of Suwanee, Georgia, was named vice president of U.S. operations for instant products at Scientific Games.
1990 David Ferguson (BS) of Scottsdale, Arizona, has been appointed senior vice president and global business unit leader at Dentsply Sirono. He leads the global business unit teams managing the dental product portfolio, serves as a member of the executive management team and reports directly to the CEO.
1992 Mark Holeman (BA, MA ‘94) of Franklin is pastor of adult ministries at Fellowship Bible Church in Brentwood.
1993 John W. Goodpaster (BA) of Columbus, Georgia, recently graduated as a field counselor from the FBI National Academy Session 292.
1995 Rebecca Kimbrell (BA) of The Hague, Netherlands, retired from the U.S. Foreign Service in September
(l to r) Dean Steve Joiner, Harry Kellum (BA ’68), NCI alumnus Fred Gray, President Candice McQueen
YOUR FELLOW ALUMNI LIPSCOMB BISON OUTWITS, OUTPLAYS AND OUTLASTS
For a young Sam Phalen (BA ’22), the night CBS aired Survivor was sacred in his household. He dreamed of one day hearing host Jeff Probst utter the words, “The tribe has spoken” in person.
In 2024, his dream came true. In fact, he heard Probst utter those words 15 times as he became the $100,000 runner-up winner of Season 47 of Survivor, filmed in Fiji and aired in September 2024.
Phalen, who grew up in the Chicago suburb of Schaumburg, Illinois, majored in sports media and was a sports journalist covering the Tennessee Titans for A to Z Sports when he recorded his audition for the show from the end zone of Nashville’s Nissan Stadium, a role he continues in today.
What followed was a grueling test of endurance, strategy and mental fortitude. Phalen navigated the game with a mix of charm, resilience and strategic play, executing one of the season’s most memorable blindsides, dubbed “Operation Italy.” He also secured a dramatic victory in a firemaking challenge, mounting a comeback that Survivor fans would call one of the best in the show’s history. In the end, Phalen outlasted 17 other contestants for 26 days.
Reflecting on his Survivor journey, Phalen says the experience strengthened his faith and self-belief.
“Through this experience I learned that I’m capable of so much more than I give myself credit for. I always knew I was a relatively resilient and competitive person,” said Phalen, “but Survivor is a game that’s designed to push you to levels that are super uncomfortable. It’s designed to make you doubt yourself pretty consistently, and I came away feeling like there was nothing I couldn’t do if I wanted it enough.
“Now I embrace the knowledge that God made me that way. God made me to do those things. That’s one of the biggest takeaways from this experience.” he said.
Learn more about Phalen at lipscomb.edu/phalen.
LIPSCOMB LOVES
Two 2024-25 basketball standouts get engaged at mid-court
As Lipscomb alumni, you all know that Lipscomb not only sprouts future professionals and leaders, but it also grows the seeds of many romances that often bloom into marriage.
Such was the case for two of Lipscomb’s 2024-25 standout men’s and women’s basketball players, who found themselves the subject of national attention this spring, not just for their athletic ability on the court but for their blossoming love as well.
Will Pruitt (BBA ’24) helped lead Lipscomb to a victory over North Alabama University in the ASUN conference tournament in March, securing the team’s second NCAA tournament appearance in school history.
But he had already scored a slam dunk two weeks before, when he lured his then-girlfriend Jalyn Holcomb (BS ’23, MA ’24), the alltime leading scorer for the women’s basketball team in the NCAA era, to the floor of Allen Arena for a surprise marriage proposal.
Pruitt had to face Holcomb’s father, former Middle Tennessee State University and NFL quarterback Kelly Holcomb, to ask for Jalyn’s hand and then arranged with the marketing department to invite Jalyn to a faux video interview.
The families of the engaged couple hid in the Hall of Fame Room at the top of the stands, and the entire proposal was caught on tape, a video that was picked up on social media by outlets such as AOL.com, Microsoft News and USA Today.
During the run-up to Lipscomb’s NCAA tournament appearance, The Tennessean’s Mike Organ wrote a story on the proposal that was picked up by Sportstalkonline.com and the Daily News Journal in Murfreesboro, where the couple’s June 21 wedding took place.
In her Instagram account, Jalyn wrote, “Went from getting ‘interviewed’ to leaving with a ring on my finger—the biggest surprise of my life. I am so lucky to be loved by this man. The Lord truly has been so so good to us!”
Scan the QR code to see the video of Pruitt and Holcomb’s engagement on the Allen Arena floor.
2024 and joined the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) as head of the program control and monitoring branch for OPCW’s Inspectorate Division.
1999
Tyler Faucett (BA) of Shepherdsville, Kentucky, is the new head football coach at Bullitt Central High School.
Mary Beth Metz (BA) of Westerville, Ohio, is director of alumni and family engagement at Otterbein University.
Nathan Miller (BA) of Lebanon was promoted to executive vice president and chief credit officer at Sonata Bank.
2000 Kevin Duncan (BA) of Richmond, Virginia, is director of Powell Institute for Responsible Citizenship, Collegiate School.
2001 Greg Watson (BS) of Fort Walton Beach, Florida, is a realtor at Teel & Waters Real Estate.
2003
Donna Thorstensen (BA) of Leonardtown, Maryland, is principal at George Washington Carver Elementary. In April 2025, she was appointed director of accountability and reporting II by the St. Mary’s County Board of Education.
2004 Kelli Garrett (BS) of Ashland City is executive director of the LIFE Program at Lipscomb University.
2005
Dr. Stefanie Tinnell (BA) of Columbia is principal of Joseph Brown Elementary School.
Kevin Christopher (BA) of Salt Lake City, Utah, is general counsel of Passive Logic.
2006 Dr. Benjamin B. Holmes BS) of Eads is an electrophysiologist at Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare.
Kristen Maxwell (BS, MA ‘08) of Mission, Kansas, is an elementary principal for Kansas City Christian School in Prairie Village, Kansas.
Helen DeVos College of Education at Lee University.
Shree D. Walker (MA) of Los Angeles, California, was selected for inclusion in Marquis Who’s Who. She is chief executive officer of Resilient Walker LLC.
2008 Rachel Clark Chavez (BS) of San Jose, California, is a grievance operations team manager for Kaiser Permanente.
Brooke Kimbro-Scott (BBA) of Murfreesboro is IT director of Caterpillar Financial Insurance Services.
Andrew Krinks (BA) of Nashville released his book White Property, Black Trespass in August 2024 and was featured in the Chapter 16 website in January 2025.
Jerome Oglesby (MBA) of Brentwood has been named strategic advisor to the president at Tennessee State University. He will focus on enhancing the HBCU’s technology strategy, digital transformation and cybersecurity initiatives.
Alex Young (BS) of Ooltewah is the new head coach of the Lady Bucs volleyball program at Boyd-Buchanan School.
2011 Rick Forehand (BS, LA ‘07) of Pegram is wastewater modeling and planning technical practice leader at Garver, an engineering, planning and environmental services firm.
2007
Stephanie Pope (MEd) of Cleveland is a tenured assistant professor of elementary education in the
Megan Ganschow (MBA) of Nolensville joined the private banking division of SmartBank in February 2025.
Meredith McCoy (MEd) of Minneapolis, Minnesota, was awarded tenure and promoted to associate professor at Carleton College, effective September 2025.
2012 Sydney Ball BBA, MBA ‘14) of Nashville is founder and CEO of Ballpoint Business Solutions.
Erin Malone-Smolla (MEd) of Nashville was elevated to partner at Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP as of Jan. 1, 2025.
YOUR
FELLOW
ALUMNI ALUMNA APPOINTED TO TOP JOB FOR NASHVILLE’S BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
When Stephanie Coleman (MBA ’15) stepped into the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce nearly two decades ago, she couldn’t have predicted the skyline-shaping transformation that awaited the city—or her own career trajectory.
Now, after 17 years of service in nearly every department of the Chamber, Coleman has been named president and CEO of one of the largest regional business advocacy organizations in the country.
“I’ve had a front-row seat to Nashville’s transformation,” said Coleman. “I love the energy, the creativity and the spirit of collaboration that define this city. It’s a place where people care deeply about their neighbors and the future of their community— and they get involved to shape that future.”
Coleman will build on the Chamber’s long-term strategic blueprint, Partnership 2030, but she also brings a fresh perspective focused on innovation, bold action and inclusive growth. Her priorities include embracing emerging technologies, driving solutions to key regional challenges and expanding the Chamber’s reach to include a broader and more diverse group of business leaders.
“This is about continuing to push forward,” said Coleman. “We want to foster innovation within our organization, initiate bold ideas that solve problems and strategically grow our network so we reflect the full spectrum of Middle Tennessee’s business community.”
Through its regional public-private partnerships, the Chamber has helped attract 1,000 company relocations and supported the creation of more than 550,000 jobs over the past 35 years.
“Our Music City brand speaks to our creativity and teamwork. The health care sector here, much like our music industry, is built on the idea that we’re stronger together. That culture of connection is what makes this city special—and it’s what continues to attract businesses and talent from around the world.”
Read more about Coleman at lipscomb.edu/coleman
2013 Hannah Jones (BA, MM ‘15) of Nolensville is the new head coach for the Lady Red Hawks basketball at Stewarts Creek High School.
Kimberly Wright (MS) of Ripley is a counselor at Women’s Therapeutic Residential Center in Henning.
2014 Blake Fonfara (BBA/MACC) of Euless, Texas, was selected for inclusion in Marquis Who’s Who. He is chief executive officer of Dallas Bitcoin ATM.
Khion Sankey (BA) is in his second year as a graduate assistant for the University of Nevada women’s basketball program.
2015 Russell Burt (BBA) of Columbia is a captain in the Judge Advocate General Corps (JAG) of the U.S. Air Force.
Stephanie Coleman (MBA) of Nashville started her new role as president and chief executive officer of the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce on Feb. 3, 2025. (see page 39)
Evan Curran (MEd) of Wilmette, Illinois, is vice president of marketing for Templeton Academy.
Chad J. Johnson (BA, MM ’16) of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, is the head coach of the Shawnee High School boys’ basketball program.
Wade Privett (MEd) of Brentwood is AVP relationship manager at Sonata Bank.
2016 Tate Burns (BS) of Argyle, Texas, is a senior software engineer at Microsoft.
Alicia Calkins (MS) of Cape May, New Jersey, is the operations manager for the Cape May Point Science Center.
Brandi Griffin (BA) of Chatsworth, Georgia, teaches high school Old and New Testament at Christian Heritage School in Dalton.
2017 Leroy Ellis (BA) of White House is an assistant public defender in the District Public Defender’s Office, 18th Judicial District.
Issac Horn (BM) of Antioch, and Lincoln Mick (BA ’14) of Nashville, formed the band Arcadian Wild, which specializes in a mix of bluegrass and folk. The two began playing together in 2013 as Lipscomb students. In 2023,
the group released the full-length album “Welcome.”
McCarley Thomas (BA, LA ‘13) of Antioch married Andrew Golden on Nov. 23, 2024.
2018 Sean Day (MEd) of Mount Ulla, North Carolina, is principal of Isenberg Elementary School.
Alisha Erickson (EdD) of Franklin serves as principal of Poplar Grove Elementary School and Poplar Grove Middle School.
Rhyan Henry (BBA) of Virginia Beach, Virginia, is a human resources manager for Safe Harbor Recovery Center in Portsmouth.
Lauren May (BS) of Richmond, Virginia, is a postdoctoral fellow on an NIH training grant at Virginia Commonwealth University to study the gut biome.
William Mora (BA) of San Antonio, Texas, is a senior customer service representative for Navy Federal Credit Union-Overseas Military Banking program.
Nathan Moran (BBA) of Franklin was named head coach of the Trevecca Nazarene University men’s basketball program in April 2025.
ON THE GROUND at Lipscomb University
Lipscomb appoints three new trustees in 2025
The Lipscomb University Board of Trustees has appointed three new members:
Anna Grizzle, a partner at Bass, Berry & Sims in Nashville, has more than two decades of legal experience focused on health care compliance and enforcement. A nationally recognized attorney, Grizzle represents hospitals, health systems, hospices and other providers in complex regulatory matters.
She is certified in health care compliance and has received numerous accolades, including recognition in Chambers USA, Best Lawyers in America and Super Lawyers. She holds a Juris Doctor from the University of Alabama School of Law and a bachelor’s degree from Mississippi State University.
2019 Melissa Brooks (EdS) of Nashville is interim principal at Whites Creek High School.
2020 Michael Anastasi (MA) of Nashville, is senior vice president of local news for Gannett/USA Today Network.
Kendall Ray (MBA) of Murfreesboro is a senior human resources compliance analyst with Genesco Inc.
2021 Ryan Egly (MA) of Lawrenceburg served as the fall 2024 commencement speaker at Columbia State Community College. He is president and CEO of Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce. He also was recognized as one of the “50 Under 50 Economic Developers to Watch” by Southern Business and Development magazine in its Summer 2024 publication.
Josh Hayslett (BBA) of Memphis earned an equity trader role at Wedbush Securities, covering both the U.S. and Asia.
Austin Travis (BA) of Burns is the intergovernmental relations manager for the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency.
2022 Robert DeVoursney (MBA) of Bowling Green, Kentucky, has been named chief executive officer of the Nashville Kats.
Dr. Raye Mitchell (LA ’81, BS ’85), a Nashville native and long-time supporter of Lipscomb, is a retired orthopedic surgeon who most recently served veterans through the VA Medical Center in Fayetteville, Arkansas. He has held numerous leadership roles in the medical field, including chief of surgery at Washington Regional Medical Center and team physician for the Arkansas Razorbacks.
A Lipscomb alumnus, Mitchell earned his medical degree from the University of Tennessee and completed his surgical training at the Campbell Clinic. He and his wife, Elise, have created the Mitchell Family Endowed Scholarship at Lipscomb and are active mentors for students pursuing health careers (see page 34).
Joey Hogan (BS ’84) an accounting graduate, served as president of Covenant Logistics Group in Chattanooga for 15 years and currently sits on its board. He began his career as a CPA with Arthur Andersen before holding leadership roles at several public companies including Chattem Inc.
Hogan and his wife, Joy, are deeply engaged in their community and support multiple nonprofit organizations. Two of their children are fourth-generation Lipscomb students.
McQueen’s contract extended through 2030
In July, the Lipscomb University Board of Trustees granted a five-year contract extension to President Candice McQueen (BS ’96).
During her tenure, McQueen, who became president on Sept. 7, 2021, has overseen a period of record-setting progress. Lipscomb launched a strategic plan that outlined a bold vision for the future of the institution, has welcomed its largest classes of new students for three consecutive years, increased student retention to a record 87.4% this fall, increased its endowment by nearly $30 million in less than four years and has celebrated four consecutive record-setting Giving Days, including $3.1 million raised in 24 hours this year.
LUInnovate established to enhance culture of innovation and creativity
In February, Lipscomb took a major step in fostering innovation and expanding opportunities by launching LUInnovate, the university’s new Office of Innovation, designed to build innovative, high-quality programs and educational experiences, develop strategic partnerships and broaden access to education in order to drive meaningful impact.
Born from a seventh goal added to the Lipscomb Impact 360 strategic plan in 2024, LUInnovate will develop an innovative campus culture, design creative programming focused on non-degree options, harness artificial intelligence and explore entrepreneurial and creative opportunities.
Todd McCullough, who has more than 30 years of experience advising Fortune 500
companies, higher education institutions and global consulting firms on growth strategy, innovation and business transformation, was appointed new chief innovation officer and will lead LUInnovate for the next two years.
“Higher education is considered one of the industries most in need of innovation,” said McCullough. “Lipscomb, a healthy, growing university with Christ-centered core values in the hot city of Nashville, is in an ideal position to define and embody what the future of higher education can be.”
McCullough brings an exceptional depth of expertise having worked with organizations such as The Coca-Cola Company, Ford Motor Company, Target and Vanderbilt University’s Wond’ry, helping them reimagine their approach to innovation and transformation.
Under McCullough’s leadership, LUInnovate aims to develop offerings such as microcredentials that leverage an employee’s strengths to jump up the career ladder, convenient and relevant executive education for professionals in a rapidly changing environment, crossdisciplinary idea development and application of latest technology, including artificial intelligence, to student learning and course delivery.
New faces, new roles in the administration
This summer, Joseph Mankin (BA ’04), youth minister at Nashville’s Hillsboro Church of Christ since 2006, was named associate dean of spiritual formation and campus minister. Since July 7, he has led the Office of Spiritual Formation providing vision and strategy for the university’s chapel program, coordinating spiritual life efforts across campus and offering pastoral care and spiritual support to students.
He also serves as creative director for the National Children’s and Youth Ministry conference. Mankin is a former Barna Group research partner and consultant for more than 50 churches and organizations across the country, equipping leaders, students and families
to engage technology and digital culture in spiritually healthy ways.
In February, education veteran Brian Mast (BS ’94) was appointed senior vice president of student affairs. Mast, who most recently served as interim executive vice president and interim leader over Student Life, has more than 25 years of experience in education spanning public and private K-12 and higher education. In this new role, Mast oversees student affairs, including all areas of Student Life, Bison One Stop and the many student success collaborations with academics. In addition, he serves as staff liaison for the president and a member of the executive leadership team.
Mast began his tenure at Lipscomb in 2012 and led the university to numerous institutional retention records and record 4-, 5- and 6-year graduation rates. In 2019, Mast was appointed president of Mount Dora Christian Academy & Children’s Home in Florida, where he served until he returned to Lipscomb as vice provost in 2023.
As the university continues to refine and strengthen operational efficiencies and seek new revenue opportunities, Jerold Givens, formerly the chief operating officer for Lipscomb Academy and special projects manager for the Office of the President, has been appointed chief revenue officer for Lipscomb.
In this expanded role, Givens will serve both the academy and the university, bringing together strategic initiatives that support revenue generation; identifying, creating and implementing new revenue streams; and fostering collaboration across departments to support institutional growth in addition to many other initiatives.
Givens also spent more than two decades in executive roles at Texas Instruments, where he led global marketing and business development efforts in the technology sector.
Old traditions, new faces
Like the song says: “Everything old is new again.”
That was certainly true in the past school year as the inactive men’s social club Gamma Xi and the inactive women’s club Delta Sigma were resurrected by the Office of Student Life along with a group of passionate alumni and students.
In addition, the women’s social club Gamma Lambda, which was on the verge of becoming inactive, was rejuvenated through targeted recruitment efforts.
These three clubs were the first beneficiaries of a strategic approach by the Office of Student Life “to raise the perception and the esteem of social clubs on campus,” said Assistant Dean of Student Engagement Landon Parrish (LA ’07, BS ’11, MBA ’20).
Since 1967, social clubs have been a part of life at Lipscomb. Over the decades, several social clubs have gone inactive due to declining membership or unforeseen circumstances while other social clubs have sprung up. During Covid’s social distancing restrictions, social club involvement at Lipscomb dropped more than usual.
Gamma Xi, established early in the past school year, is a 46-yearold club that went inactive in 2015. It has already received immense support from its alumni network, earning the second-highest level of funding in the annual Battle of the Bucks fundraising competition last year, said Brock Loyd, club president in 2024-25.
This past spring, students expressed interest in establishing a new women’s club, as there is currently a very high demand for women’s clubs on campus, said Parrish. He reached out to alumni of Delta Sigma, one of the original 1967 clubs, to find mentors to help the students. The re-established Delta Sigma is now fully active this fall.
Gamma Lambda is one of Lipscomb’s oldest social clubs and has many notable alumni, including Lipscomb President Candice McQueen (BS ’96).
Joy Stevens (BFA ’25), the 2024-25 club president, worked with Parrish to recruit new female students through a modified rush process. Many of Gamma Lambda’s alumni have supported them monetarily, but they have also offered prayers and encouragement for the club.
“I want to revitalize the alumni connection so that when alumni come back to campus, they can see their letters on campus.” said Parrish.
This past spring, 56 men joined clubs and 90 females joined clubs, bringing the number of students active in clubs to more than 650.
Matt Gorman (BA) of Nashville is a songwriter and artist who recently signed a joint venture with Wide Open Music and Jaron Boyer’s Open Door Apostolic Publishing, BMI.
Brandon Hirsch (BS) of Hendersonville, is founder of Elemental Actors Studio and will direct Lost & Found: A Story of Hope, a presentation of cinema and theater that ran Feb. 15-28.
2023
Tiffany Donner (MEd) of Clarksville was selected to run the NYC Marathon on Nov. 2, 2025, with the charity Native Strength Revolution and will raise funds for the health and wellness of Indigenous communities across the nation.
Mason Lundgrin (BS) of Nashville was sworn in as a police officer by the Brentwood chief of police in April 2025.
In Memoriam
LIPSCOMB COMMUNITY
John Beauchamp, former faculty mathematics member of Franklin died Dec. 23, 2024.
1956 Janavee McDoniel Craig (BS) of Nashville died April 29, 2025.
1958
Jesse A. Floyd Jr. (BS) of Bowling Green, Kentucky, died March 6, 2025.
Bailey B. McBride (BA) of Brentwood died May 12, 2025.
Mary Aliene Fann (BA) of Columbia died Jan. 19, 2025.
Robert T. “Trace” Willhoite III (BBA) of Nashville has been signed by the New York Mets to a minor league contract.
2024 Darby Auckland (MPAS) of Clawson, Michigan, is a physician assistant in Duly Health and Care’s urology department.
Hayden Fobare (MPAS) of Franklin is a certified physician assistant at Maury Regional Medical Center and is affiliated with the Maury Regional Medical Group.
1960
John L. Dugger (BA) of Knoxville died Feb. 20, 2025.
David A. Dymacek (BA) of Bowling Green, Kentucky, died Sept. 25, 2024.
1963 Cora Lillian “Lil” Cope Minchey (BS) of Franklin died Dec. 16, 2024.
1964
Robert W. McMahan (BA) of New Cumberland, West Virginia, died April 11, 2025.
Gene B. Strouss (BA) of Macon, Georgia, died June 21, 2025.
1965 Michael Finley (BA, LA ’61) of Nashville, died Jan. 24, 2025.
Norma Alice Riggs Haynes (BA) of Memphis died Jan. 7, 2025.
Joseph A. Payne III (BS) of Smithville died July 2, 2025.
Harry E. Rose (BA) of Jacksonville, Alabama, died Nov. 20, 2024.
1968
Sorita Wheeler McKenzie (BS) of Trenton, Georgia, died Jan. 25, 2025.
Pamela Dowell Thweatt (BS) of Brentwood died July 11, 2024.
1970 Earl Wilkerson (BA) of Sparta died June 5, 2025.
1971 Linda Bumgardner Browning (BA) of Birmingham, Alabama, died Jan. 3, 2025.
YOUR FELLOW ALUMNI
PLAYING GOOD MUSIC FOR GOOD PEOPLE
What if your whole job was just to have fun?
That’s pretty much the way Jalen Anderson (BBA ’19), better known as DJ RIO, feels about his job.
“I gained traction early in my career and the most frequent sentiment from the people I worked with was always, ‘You really look like you want to be here,’” said Anderson, who cut his teeth in Nashville playing tunes at many Lipscomb events.
“I thoroughly just enjoy playing music for people. I typically am blessed to party and celebrate with people who just want to have a great time. I’m catching people in some of the highlights of their lives… Ultimately, I’m just after playing good music for good people.” said Anderson.
After a short-lived career in corporate marketing, Anderson pivoted to full-time DJ work in 2020 and has gained quite a following in Nashville. He has worked three seasons as the DJ of the Tennessee Titans, performing at home games and a number of special events. He frequently performs at the Nashville
Predators games and can be found playing in downtown venues almost every day of the week.
Anderson began DJing during high school in Columbia, but his Nashville career launched his sophomore year of college when Mike Smith (BS ’82, MBA ’04), retired head resident of High Rise residence hall, asked him to do a set at the weekly Wednesday We Eat cookout for the residents.
That led to Anderson, an alum of Sigma Iota Delta, working many a Lipscomb social club formal and Lipscomb Academy student events. He has been hired as the DJ for the university’s Student Formal, held for the past three years, where students still let him know they have heard the stories of DJ RIO during his Bison days.
Read more about Anderson at lipscomb.edu/anderson.
1974 William Clay Farler (BA) of Smithville died March 8, 2025.
1975
William “Bill” Elrod Jr. (BS) of Buffalo, New York, died June 1, 2025.
1976 Diane W. Hatcher (BS) of Franklin died Nov. 7, 2024.
Virginia Mell Isaacs (BS) of Franklin died Jan. 12, 2025.
Susan N. Rayburn (BA) of Brentwood, died May 3, 2025.
1988
1978 Dennis Sullivan Lewis Jr. (BA) of Jacksonville, Florida, died Feb. 3, 2025.
1979 Cynthia Binkley (BS) of Fairbanks, Alaska, died Nov. 30, 2024.
Dana Toy Campbell (BS) of Reynoldsburg, Ohio, died April 4, 2025.
Henry Hudson Jr. (BS) of Pegram died March 29, 2025.
1989 John T. Harris (BS) of Sterrett, Alabama, died Jan. 20, 2025.
1990
Lipscomb mourns passing of longtime friend and philanthropist
This spring, Lipscomb University mourned the loss of Jim Ayers, a longtime friend of the university, who passed away Tuesday, April 1, following a lengthy health battle. Ayers, along with his wife, Janet, leaves behind a powerful legacy of supporting education across Tennessee — including transformational impact at Lipscomb through the Ayers Institute for Learning & Innovation.
“Jim Ayers was a visionary leader who understood that investing in education transforms lives, families and communities. He and Janet have been among Lipscomb’s most faithful partners in preparing teachers and leaders,” said Lipscomb President Candice McQueen. “Through their generosity and belief in the power of education, thousands of students have not only earned degrees but have also been inspired to return to their communities to serve.”
In 2012, a $1 million gift from the Ayers Foundation launched the institute, then called the Ayers Institute for Teacher Learning & Innovation, in Lipscomb’s College of Education, establishing a bridge between education policy and classroom practice.
Since its founding, the Ayers Institute has impacted all 95 counties in Tennessee through
its professional development programming and resources for educators. Its digital tools — including eduTOOLBOX, webinars, and coaching academies — have reached teachers in all 50 states and more than 130 countries worldwide.
The Ayers Foundation also gave $1 million gift in 2014 to launch the Ayers Leadership Fellows program. This initiative provides scholarships for aspiring school leaders to pursue graduate degrees and administrative licensure through Lipscomb’s College of Education.
Together, these two initiatives have become cornerstones of Lipscomb’s commitment to teacher development and educational leadership in Tennessee.
Jim Ayers’ impact on education was deeply rooted in his own story. Born and raised in Parsons, Tennessee, Ayers graduated from Parsons High School in 1961 and went on to earn a business degree from Memphis State University — becoming one of the first in his family to attend college. He never lost sight of the value of education or the importance of giving back.
In 1999, Ayers established the Ayers Foundation to focus on improving lives in rural Tennessee, particularly through education.
Timothy Ray Pauley (BS) of Manchester died March 3, 2025.
Linda R. Greene (BA) of Nashville died April 30, 2025.
1998
1991 Larry Dwayne Cantrell (MA) of Hermitage died Jan. 9, 2025.
Kimberly Michelle Noel (BA) of Dallas, Georgia, died March 14, 2025.
Ruth Charlene Sisco (BS) of Madison died Dec. 19, 2024.
Lipscomb held an 80th birthday party for Jim Ayers in November 2023, where Ayers signed copies of his book Jim Ayers: An Improbable Life
Lipscomb makes a hit with SKETCH
Critically acclaimed feature film SKETCH brought to life by Lipscomb students, faculty and alumni through CEA’s
Looking for a fun family night? Grab some microwave popcorn and settle into the couch to watch the family-friendly, critically acclaimed movie SKETCH, brought to you on streaming platform thanks to Lipscomb’s Imagine House and Angel Studios,
The film that earned raves at the Toronto International Film Festival, a 97% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and to date has made $8 million at the box office, was created with the help of numerous Lipscomb faculty, students and alumni who had critical roles on the project through Lipscomb’s production house: Imagine Studios.
SKETCH, which tells the story of a recently widowed father whose daughter’s dark, scribbled drawings come to life and wreak havoc on their small town, was released nationwide in 2,000 theaters on Aug. 6 by Angel Studios, the company behind The Chosen
Behind the camera, Lipscomb’s creative talent helped shape the film in key production and post-production roles, helping students gain real-world, industry-level experience while working alongside Hollywood talent and veteran producers.
Lipscomb Adjunct Professor Seth Worley wrote and directed the film. Imagine House Executive Director and Associate Professor of Cinematic Arts Steve Taylor served as lead producer for the project.
Phynley Joel (BFA ’22) served as second second director, assistant to the producer and first team production assistant. working directly with the actors, especially the young cast, and helping coordinate their schedules, movements and needs on set.
Production Assistant David King (BA ’22), locked up the set, passed out sides and collected time cards on his first feature film experience.
Myah Naomi Lipscomb (MFA ’17) served as marketing and public relations manager, managing all behind-the-scenes photography and videography, conducting cast and crew interviews and capturing content for social media.
Corbin Schmidt (MFA ’19), documented the SKETCH production as the unit
Imagine House
photographer and behind-the-scenes videographer. He also conducted interviews, and created the Electronic Press Kit along with Myah Naomi Lipscomb.
Joel Guthrie (BFA ’20) joined the SKETCH team early in development to help animate test versions of the film’s sketched creatures. Guthrie has been involved in a number of professional animation projects including serving as an assistant animator on Space Jam 2, Disenchanted and Green Eggs & Ham
Other Lipscomb alumni who worked on SKETCH include: Tiffani Alexander (MFA ’21), key office production assistant; Kristen Breshears (BFA ’22, MFA ’24), rotoscope artist; Caitlin Burke (BFA ’22), second second assistant director; Chris Capp (MFA ’20), production assistant; Amber Garrison (MFA ’23), assistant craft services; Haley Herold (BA ’21), set costumer; Aurora Liljestrand (BFA ’23), otoscope artist; Blake Pettigrove (MFA ’21), rotoscope artist; and Tiffany Young (MFA ’21), production assistant.
Production on SKETCH took place over a three-year period, including during Covid flares, and was filmed entirely in Nashville.
This is the second feature film Imagine House has participated in. The first, Sun Moon,
was released through Sony Affirm. SKETCH, however, marks a major leap forward for the program, offering broader student engagement and more technical challenges, especially in visual effects, said Taylor.
Lipscomb Adjunct Professor Seth Worley (on right) on the set of SKETCH.
Join us for Lipscomb University’s 2025-26 Presidential Signature Series. This lecture series elevates scholarly conversations and illuminates significant work in the pursuit of flourishing!
Illuminate: Working With Purpose
Speakers: Russell Moore, Editor-in-Chief, ChristianityToday, and Haslam Endowed Visiting Professor of Faith & Reason, Lipscomb University; Mark Whitacre, Vice President of Culture & Care, Coca-Cola Consolidated October 1, 2025
Fashion Week
The Process: A Journey Through Nashville Fashion The Lifecycle of Fashion in Music City, from Concept to Consumer October 13-17, 2025
Don R. Elliott Distinguished Presidential Lecture
Speaker: Liz Wiseman, author of New York Times bestseller Multipliers; CEO of The Wiseman Group November 13, 2025
Presidential Lectureship on Art
Speaker: Michael Shane Neal, internationally acclaimed portrait artist November 20, 2025
We look forward to welcoming you back to campus soon! Visit lipscomb.edu/signatureseries to learn more.
McClure Lecture on Faith and Science
Speaker: Dr. Charmaine Royal, Research Professor of Global Health, Duke Global Health Institute February 5, 2026
Landiss Lecture
Speaker: Malcolm Guite, English poet and singer-songwriter February 12, 2026
Fred Gray Lectureship
Speaker announcement coming soon! March 31, 2026
This father and daughter exhibition will showcase 30 years of their artwork and will feature two artist talks and an opening reception.
Spring Semester 2026
Don’t miss out on these other exciting Lipscomb events throughout the year: Bisons Weekend November 13-15, 2025 Lighting of the Green December 2, 2025 Singarama March 26-28, 2026
Michael Shane & Mattie Ree Neal Art Exhibit
CONTRIBUTORS TO THE COMMUNITY
VOICE FACULTY HITS A HIGH NOTE ON THE VOICE
This past Feb. 3 was a family affair for Lipscomb’s adjunct commercial voice instructor Carlos Santiago, who was singing to the nation in the Blind Audition Round for NBC’s The Voice
Not only were his parents waiting in the wings as he took the stage to perform Richard Marx’s “Right Here Waiting,” a song reflecting the love and support of his wife, Katherine, but his appearance also sparked a mention of his Lipscomb family on national television.
Santiago has been steeped in music throughout his life, traveling with his parents’ duo, Isacar, as they performed throughout Puerto Rico, studying voice in Jacksonville, Florida as a teen and then at Southeastern University, and touring the U.S. and Canada as a part of the tenor trio TENORE, a group that also includes two other Lipscomb music professors.
After a failed audition for The Voice in its third season, Santiago never auditioned again. So he was stunned in 2024 to get a call-back after his father secretly submitted an audition tape for Season 27. He joined Michael Bublé’s team and subsequently performed “Gravity,” by John Legend in the Battle Round and “You Are the Reason” by Calum Scott in the Knockout Round.
“To have the opportunity to work with someone like Michael Bublé—a generational talent—is a dream come true,” Santaigo said. “I’ve listened to his music since college, and now I get to be coached by him. It’s incredible.”
Following his audition performance, Santiago mentioned that he is a voice instructor at Lipscomb which piqued the interest of Kelsea Ballerini (A ’13), who also serves as a coach on the show and who attended Lipscomb for two years, serving as a Singarama hostess and Quest Team member.
“I went to Lipscomb,” she exclaimed on air. “Go, Bisons!”
Learn more about Santiago at lipscomb.edu/santiago.
Alumni events strengthen Lipscomb community engagement, support
Over the past few months, the Lipscomb University alumni community showed incredible enthusiasm and support by turning out in big numbers for events locally and across the country.
Your amazing presence made each moment memorable. From the energetic Lipscomb Night at the Preds, Lipscomb Night at the Sounds (02, 04, 05), Singarama Parent Dinner, Men’s Soccer Alumni & Friends Golf Scramble and the NCAA Pregame Party in Milwaukee (07) to the on-campus Senior Send-Off and the 11 regional Summer SendOffs where alumni and current parents hosted informal gatherings for incoming freshmen and their families.
At the Sounds alumni event, attendees were able to personally meet Sam Phalen (BA ’22), runner-up on Season 47 of the television show Survivor and to watch him throw out the first pitch in First Horizon Park. At the Predators game, alumni received a Preds tumbler and a concession voucher as they watched the team play the Winnipeg Jets.
A special “thank you” to our alumni and parent hosts of this year’s Summer Send-Offs in Texas, Kentucky, California, Illinois, Ohio and Tennessee (03, 06). Their excitement
and warm hospitality in welcoming our newest Bisons and their families make these events a wonderful opportunity to get new students started off on the right foot.
While Summer Send-Offs welcomed freshmen to the start of their college experience, the Senior Send-Off (01) celebrated graduating university seniors. In April, more than 500 seniors picked up their alumni swag and graduation regalia, captured memories at a photo booth and enjoyed woodfired pizza from Flour and Forge, a local favorite food truck.
And once again, the Lipscomb community set records during Giving Day on Feb. 20, 2025, as nearly 4,700 friends and fans raised more than $3 million in 24 hours.
The strength of the Lipscomb community continues to grow because of a commitment to staying engaged, supporting one another and investing in the future of our university.
As we look ahead to the fall, I hope you’ll continue to join us—especially at Bisons Weekend, Nov. 13-15, and invite others to do the same.
To learn more about upcoming events, follow the alumni office on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.
New Tax Law, New Legacy
What the One Big Beautiful Bill Act means to your family’s future
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) marks a transformative shift in how families can plan for the future—especially when it comes to charitable giving and estate planning. With updated tax provisions, expanded incentives for philanthropic gifts and new opportunities for legacy building, this landmark legislation empowers families to align their financial goals with their values like never before.
Whether you’re considering a bequest, trust or other planned gift, now is the time to explore how this bill can help you protect your loved ones while making a lasting impact for generations to come. Reach out to us with any questions!
