UT Tyler Spring 2025 Magazine

DRIVEN TO LEAD, INSPIRED TO SERVE

Soules College of Business Alumni

From top-tier faculty to cutting-edge curriculum, the Soules College of Business empowers students to become impactful leaders in East Texas and beyond.

PHOTO BY DANIELLE JOUBERT

Realizing Dreams, Serving East Texas

SERVING AS PRESIDENT of UT Tyler over the past year, I can easily say that engaging with our students is the most rewarding part of the job. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed meeting with students and learning more about them and their future plans. Hearing their excitement drives my determination to ensure we prepare them to realize their dreams and serve the needs of East Texas.

One of the many ways we’re doing that is through the Patriot Promise program. I’m so proud of the opportunity that this financial aid creates for students whose family income is $100,000 or less, and I can’t thank The University of Texas Board of Regents enough for providing funds to support our students. Please read about the Patriot Promise program in this issue. We want to make sure every prospective student is aware of this golden opportunity.

This spring, we launched the university’s Strategic Plan Refresh and Campus Master Plan. The strategic plan is our blueprint for student success and service to our community. The master plan is the physical manifestation of our strategic priorities, which are student success, teaching excellence and service to East Texas. I encourage you to have a look at our exciting plans at uttyler.edu/president.

You’ll find excellent examples of our strategic priorities throughout this issue.

• We take great pride in all our alumni, and it is always a pleasure to feature their accomplishments. In this issue, we highlight the magnificent work of alumni from the Soules College of Business. I know you’ll enjoy learning about these financial leaders in East Texas and beyond.

• We are excited to introduce Dr. Sue Cox, the new dean of the School of Medicine. Dr. Cox is not new to UT Tyler as she previously served as the School of Medicine planning dean — guiding accreditation, strategy and quality improvement efforts. Dr. Cox is the right leader to propel the School of Medicine and continue its growing impact on the health of East Texas.

Please enjoy this issue of the UT Tyler Magazine and always stay connected.

BEHIND THE LINES

Sydney Baker

After earning her bachelor’s in professional writing and rhetoric and minor in Spanish from Baylor University, Baker returned home to Tyler. She joined UT Tyler in 2022 as marketing copywriter and currently serves as marketing manager. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, watching movies and traveling to her favorite place — the Great Smoky Mountains.

Israel Vargas

Talons Up!

Julie V. Philley, MD President,

Israel Vargas is an illustrator and editorial designer known for his inventive collage work, blending digital and analog techniques. His abstract, thought-provoking visuals often explore themes in science and art, appearing in publications like The New York Times, WIRED and The Atlantic.

UT Tyler

President Philley (center)with students Fatima Aguilar (left) and Deja Beasley.

Making Education More Affordable

BY HANNAH BUCHANAN

UT TYLER is committed to providing education to students that is not only high quality but also affordable. With support from the UT System Board of Regents, that commitment is being further realized through the Patriot Promise Scholarship Program.

Patriot Promise is a tuition promise program designed to make higher education more accessible and affordable to Texans with a family adjusted gross income up to $100,000 and who wish to pursue a first-time bachelor’s degree. Beginning in fall 2025, qualifying students will have their tuition and mandatory fees fully covered for each fall and spring semester, totaling four academic years.

“The Patriot Promise is a considerable resource for East Texans, and we encourage students to take advantage of this great opportunity,” says UT Tyler President Julie V. Philley, MD. “We are extremely grateful to the UT System Board of Regents, led by Chairman Kevin Eltife, for its ongoing dedication to guarantee that every qualified Texan who wants a University of Texas degree is afforded the ability to earn one.”

How It Works

To qualify for the Patriot Promise program, students must be a Texas resident, have a family income up to $100,000, be admitted for the fall semester and pay a confirmation fee by the published deadline, and submit a completed Free Application for Federal Student Aid by May 1. They also must enroll as a full-time undergraduate student — with at least 12 credit hours — at UT Tyler.

Students do not have to apply for the Patriot Promise program, but rather, it is automatically awarded to qualified Texas residents. Tuition and mandatory fees are covered by scholarships,

grants and tuition exemptions from federal, state and institutional funds.

Patriot Promise operates on a “last dollar” basis — meaning that it is an award that is applied after all other gift aid has been added to a student’s account. Gift aid is all scholarships, grants, exemptions and waivers provided by the institution as well as the state and federal governments to a student.

“Should a tuition and mandatory fee balance remain on a student’s account following the application of all other gift aid, that remaining balance will then be covered by special Patriot Promise Program funds to ensure complete coverage,” says David Barron, UT Tyler vice president of enrollment management.

How It Began

In 2019, the UT System Board of Regents established a $167 million endowment to help UT Tyler and other UT System academic institutions completely cover tuition and mandatory fees for in-state undergraduate students from families with an AGI of up to $65,000.

In 2022, UT Tyler increased the AGI to up to $80,000. Later that same year, the board announced a second endowment of almost $300 million, called “Promise Plus,” to provide more funding at all UT academic institutions, which increased the AGI to $100,000. UT Tyler, in turn, named the related scholarship program “Patriot Promise.”

The regents established a new base -

line of $100,000 for all UT academic institutions, meaning any qualified student whose family meets the AGI requirement will not be charged tuition and mandatory fees at any UT academic institution they attend.

“To be in a position to make sure our

I FEEL LIKE IT IS AN HONOR TO RECEIVE THIS AID, AND IT REALLY PUSHES ME TO DO WELL IN MY CLASSES.”

MARISSA RODRIGUEZ Patriot Promise scholarship recipient

students can attend a UT institution without accruing more debt is very important to all of us,” says Eltife. “As long as we are here, we will continue our work to provide an affordable, accessible education to all who choose to attend a UT institution.”

A Promise Fulfilled

Incoming UT Tyler freshman Marissa Rodriguez is a Patriot Promise scholarship recipient from Chandler. Rodriguez, an accounting major, chose the university due to its “close-to-home” location and the strong accounting program she discovered in the Soules College of Business.

Patriot Promise, she notes, is helping her pursue a degree without putting financial worries on her family.

“I don’t want my education to be a burden on my family, so the Patriot Promise is very helpful,” says Rodriguez. “I feel like it is an honor to receive this aid, and it really pushes me to do well in my classes.”

Rodriguez also appreciates the relief that the scholarship program provides.

“With tuition and fees covered, you don’t have to worry about money and can focus on your classes,” she adds.

The UT System acknowledges the benefits of this commitment to students. Across UT institutions, enrollment is growing and student debt is declining, indicating success in both access and affordability.

The UT Tyler Patriot Promise is available to incoming first-time freshmen and transfer students. Deadline to apply Patriot Promise funds for fall 2025 has been extended to July 1. To learn more, visit uttyler.edu/promise.

NEW PATHS TO SUCCESS

UT Tyler, Community Colleges Create Co-Enrollment Opportunities for Students

The university has established an initiative with area community colleges to provide undergraduate students a seamless and supportive educational journey. The UT Tyler Co-Enrollment Program, which begins this fall, offers students the unique opportunity to co-enroll at both institutions, allowing them to work toward associate and bachelorʼs degrees simultaneously.

¶ The program will help create a smooth transition for students from community colleges to a four-year university. By co-enrolling, students can take advantage of the resources and support systems at both institutions. For the first two years, students primarily take classes at their community college, while also enrolling in select UT Tyler courses. This dual enrollment ensures students can earn credits that count toward both degrees. ¶ These collaborations have been formalized through articulation agreements that outline the shared commitment to student success. ¶ “By providing a seamless transition and robust support system, we are ensuring that our students have the best possible chance to achieve their educational goals,ˮ says Dr. Amir Mirmiran, UT Tyler provost and chief academic officer. “This program not only benefits students, but it also strengthens the alliance with our

partner community colleges.ˮ ¶ The program offers numerous benefits to students, including co-advising to help them avoid taking unnecessary credits, earlier access to academic support programs at UT Tyler, and the opportunity to build foundational relationships with UT Tyler faculty and staff. These advantages, Mirmiran notes, are designed to support students as they progress toward completing their degrees. ¶ Additional benefits include application assistance, an application fee waiver and complete access to the facilities and resources of both institutions. ¶ “This program is a shining example of how educational institutions can work together to create pathways to success for students,ˮ says David Barron, UT Tyler vice president of enrollment management. ¶ “By offering comprehensive support and the opportunity to earn dual degrees, UT Tyler is paving the way for a brighter future for its students.ˮ ¶ Current partnerships are with Kilgore College, Northeast Texas Community College, Panola College, Trinity Valley Community College and Tyler Junior College. The presidents of each institution signed their respective agreement and gave remarks during on-campus announcements throughout the 2024-25 academic year.— HB

ON CAMPUS

Glimpse Into Patriot Life

UNIVERSITY FEATURED ON AMAZON SERIES ‘THE COLLEGE TOUR ’

BY HANNAH BUCHANAN

UT TYLER and 10 students are featured on “The College Tour,” an Amazon Prime series that showcases colleges and universities worldwide. The featured UT Tyler students — many of whom are East Texas natives — give the audience an inside look at what it’s like to attend the university.

The student-driven segments provide insight on such topics as academics and academic support, campus life, affordability, hands-on learning, athletics, career readiness, research, the arts and music, and life in East Texas.

“We’re so proud of these students for sharing their experiences,” says UT Tyler President Julie V. Philley, MD. “This episode is a great glimpse into life at UT Tyler.”

Alex Boylan, a winner of CBS’ Amazing Race, serves as the series’ host. An adventurer, traveler and storyteller, Boylan has filmed in nearly every state across America and more than 60 countries. He’s also hosted the No. 1 food series on PBS, “At the Chef’s Table,” and

more than 100 segments for the Travel Channel.

“From the rose capital of America, this top-tier comprehensive research university is home to highly ranked academic programs and the first school of medicine in East Texas,” says Boylan about UT Tyler in the episode’s introduction.

“Nestled among beautiful lakes and piney woods in the heart of Tyler, Texas, this university offers a picturesque and vibrant campus environment. With small class sizes, affordable tuition and hands-on learning across the curriculum, it’s easy for students to discover their future here.”

Featured UT Tyler students are Michaela Murphy of Brownsboro, Emily Curry of Dallas, Maxwell Burer of Forney, Fatima Aguilar of Fort Worth, Cohen Taylor of Garland, Dylan Martinez of Henderson, Daniel Green-Moore of Kaufman, Sam Schott of Longview, Whitney Worley of Tyler and Ayesha Khalid of Pakistan.

↑ “The College Tour” host Alex Boylan with the UT Tyler Spirit Squad during filming.

WE’RE SO PROUD OF THESE STUDENTS FOR SHARING THEIR EXPERIENCES. THIS EPISODE IS A GREAT GLIMPSE INTO LIFE AT UT TYLER.”

JULIE V. PHILLEY, MD

UT Tyler President

Career Readiness

A graduate student, Murphy never thought she would obtain college-level teaching experience close to home and so soon after completing her bachelor’s degree. UT Tyler, she adds, is helping her reach her post-graduation goal of becoming a college English professor. Murphy noted the numerous ways students can achieve success both before and after graduation through UT Tyler’s career success coaches, career fairs and work-study opportunities.

“There are so many ways UT Tyler helps students. The opportunity to gain classroom experience and expert mentorship while still taking graduate-level courses is invaluable for my career preparedness,” Murphy says in the episode.

Athletics and Intramural Sports

Schott, a member of the Patriots softball team, chose the university because of its location and the success and legacy of the softball program. She emphasized the excellence of Patriot athletics and shared information about intramural sports.

“Athletics is more than just a competition, it brings fans and students from all different backgrounds together,” notes Schott. “For students who don’t compete at the varsity level or simply want to join a fun club, there are vibrant intramural sports across our campus. From pickleball to soccer and everything in between, we have a group for you.”

To learn more or view the full UT Tyler episode, visit: uttyler.edu/college-tour.

RANKINGS

National Recognition

UNIVERSITY RANKED AMONG AMERICA’ S BEST COLLEGES

BY WALL STREET JOURNAL

BY HANNAH BUCHANAN

UT TYLER is ranked in the top 500 nationwide by the Wall Street Journal as noted on the publication’s America’s Best Colleges for 2025 list. The ranking aims to guide prospective students across the nation while recognizing the colleges conducting outstanding work in higher education.

America’s Best Colleges ranks undergraduate institutions by the value they provide to their students. This value is assessed based on various factors such as student outcomes, learning environment, years to pay off the net price, degree completion rates and post-graduation success.

“We are honored to be recognized by such a highly esteemed publica-

RANKING EXCELLENCE

UT Tyler Places in the State’s Top 10 for CPA Exam Pass Rate

tion like the Wall Street Journal,” says Dr. Amir Mirmiran, UT Tyler provost and chief academic officer. “Being named one of America’s best colleges highlights UT Tyler’s value and position as a leading college in the nation. I want to thank our deans and faculty for their commitment to student success and to a quality education here in East Texas.”

The university ranked No. 53 for student experiences and made the top 200 for best value and social mobility. Results were derived from official data from the U.S. Department of Ed-

ucation and the Census Bureau, along with a nationwide survey of roughly 110,000 undergraduate students and alumni who graduated within the past five years.

Students and alumni were anonymously surveyed by College Pulse in cooperation with WSJ and Statista, a statistics portal and industry ranking provider. Survey topics included career preparation, learning opportunities and campus life. The ranking combines students’ experience in a learning environment with an exhaustive analysis of student outcomes.

→ UT Tyler ranks 53rd nationally for student experiences.

The university had the third highest Uniform Certified Public Accountant exam pass rate among Texas public universities and ranked sixth overall among all state universities for 2025. UT Tyler’s current pass rate is 62.14%, which is above the national average of 50%. ¶ This is the third consecutive year UT Tyler made the Texas State Board of Public Accountancy’s Top 10 list, and the university’s pass rate has consistently been

above the national average for several years. ¶ “This result is not only an indication of the quality and dedication of our students and alumni, but it’s also equally as much an outcome of the passion and commitment to excellence displayed by our Soules College of Business accounting faculty,” says Dr. Krist Swimberghe, dean of the Soules College of Business. “Both are needed to achieve this type of result year after year.

Congratulations to all.” ¶ Candidates for CPA licensure must pass four sections of the Uniform CPA exam with a minimum grade of 75% and complete 150 hours of college credit. ¶ UT Tyler’s Department of Accounting, Finance and Business Law offers bachelor’s and master’s degree programs, as well as advanced certificate programs to prepare students for professional success in such fields as accounting, finance, compliance and business legal studies. ¶ Students are taught by faculty who bring extensive business backgrounds to the classroom and take special interest in students’ career goals. They also learn with curricula designed to meet the current and emerging needs of today’s businesses. ¶ Additionally, UT Tyler students have opportunities to engage in dynamic student organizations and with local and regional employers and entities. —HB

A High Note

MUSIC INSTRUCTOR EARNS GRAMMY NOMINATION

BY HANNAH BUCHANAN

DR. RICARDO “RICO” ALLEN II , a UT Tyler adjunct instructor of saxophone and jazz studies, along with the members of his saxophone quartet, Lotus, played saxophone on the album “Impossible Dream,” which was nominated for a Grammy earlier this year in the best traditional pop album category.

“Impossible Dream” was recorded by Broadway star Aaron Lazar and features duets with other Broadway icons such as Josh Groban, Neil Patrick Harris, Leslie Odom Jr. and Kristin Chenoweth.

News of the nomination sounded like sweet music to Allen’s ears.

“Receiving this Grammy-affiliate nomination was something that I would have never thought possible, but it is truly a dream come true,” says Allen, who co-founded Lotus with classmates-turned-friends whom he met at college while obtaining his doctorate degree. “I am so very thankful to Christina Giacona for asking me and my saxophone quartet to play on Aaron Lazar’s wonderful album.”

Other notable collaborators he has worked with include Jon Faddis, Wycliffe Gordon, Dave Pietro, John Fedchock, Stockton Helbing, Terrell Stafford, The Four Tops, David Maslanka and John Mackey, among others. Allen has played at various venues across the United States and Europe, both as a soloist and in ensembles.

Allen, who joined the UT Tyler music department in 2023, is also a quarterfinalist for the 2026 Music Educator Award, presented by the Recording Academy in partnership with the Grammy Museum.

Through his passion for music education, he aims to foster the next generation of young musicians.

→ TJC student Ryan Duncan helps with meal for Alex Guarnaschelli.

FUTURE CULINARY STARS

Student Chefs Prepare Dinner for Food Network’s Alex Guarnaschelli

← Dr. Rico Allen plays saxophone on “The Impossible Dream” album, nominated for a Grammy.

UT Tyler partnered with Tyler Junior College and Tyler Independent School District to showcase the culinary talents of students who catered a dinner for Food Network Iron Chef and host Alex Guarnaschelli. ¶ Guarnaschelli opened the UT Tyler 43rd Annual Distinguished Lecture Series last fall, and the students and chef instructors of the TJC and Tyler ISD culinary arts programs prepared the meal for a pre-show dinner. ¶ “We are always looking for opportunities to partner with these two fantastic institutions,” says UT Tyler President Julie V. Philley, MD. “We share a common passion — the students — and this was a great way to display their incredible talent while also reminding the community of the extraordinary educational offerings available at TJC and Tyler ISD.” ¶ Thirty students of the TJC Culinary Arts program prepared and served dinner for 60 VIP guests, including Guarnaschelli,

Gabrielle Wiebe has been immersed in the world of sports for as long as she can remember. Her parents started her out on the soccer field when she was only 2 years old.

Her mother, a professional dancer turned instructor, currently directs Tyler Junior College’s Academy of Dance. Her father is a former quarterback for Bishop T.K. Gorman High School. She credits them both for her lifelong love of sports. ¶ “I couldn’t imagine not playing college soccer,” says Wiebe. “I love the game. I love how it keeps me active while I’m in school.” ¶ When Wiebe, a nursing major in

the graduating class of 2025, was recruited to play for the Patriots by UT Tyler women’s soccer coach Stefani Webb, the choice was clear. Not only did her twin sister also play for the team, but UT Tyler was one of the only schools Wiebe looked into that would let her play soccer as a nursing student. Her longterm goal is to become a neonatal intensive care nurse. ¶ “I think for me it was mainly just because I

Wiebe’s efforts to balance such a hectic schedule.

“What’s really been nice and allowed me to do all of this is that every single program and every single person that I work with has been really flexible and understanding with me.” ¶ Not only do nursing faculty assist Wiebe with scheduling clinical rotations for weekends and night shifts to work around her athletics commitments, but Webb and assistant coach Bryan Thompson help her make up for any missed practices with one-on-one sessions.

GABRIELLE WIEBE

loved kids, first off. And so, I was like, ‘what do I want to do with kids?’ And it was always between nursing and education,” she says. ¶ In addition to soccer, classes and clinical rotations, Wiebe still makes time in her schedule to work extensively with children. She teaches Sunday school and Bible study at Marvin Methodist Church, nannies and babysits. ¶ UT Tyler faculty and staff have been instrumental in

“They take time out of their day to come and train with me individually to make sure I don’t miss anything. That is unlike any other program, you know.” ¶ Wiebe describes herself as family-oriented. When she does find spare time, she prefers to spend it with her parents, siblings and fiancé. She also enjoys time with her Patriot soccer family both on and off the field. ¶ “It’s like immediate family when you come in, especially if you’re at a really great program where they really emphasize culture,” she says. Even as I meet with her well into the off-season, she tells me that she has plans to attend a team dinner in the evening. ¶ After graduating in May, Wiebe is spending the summer as a float nurse with UT Health East Texas before returning to UT Tyler for her master’s in nursing education this fall. She likes the idea of teaching during her off hours from pediatric nursing. Although, if the opportunity to play pro soccer ever arises, she may just try to squeeze that in, too.

– DANIELLE JOUBERT

EDUCATION

UT Tyler BSN 2025

Dallas Baptist University BS, Biology 2023

ACTIVITIES

UT Tyler Women's Soccer Senior Defender

East Texas Big Event Volunteer

Marvin Methodist Church

Sunday School and Bible

Study Teacher

Patriots in D.C.

RECORD NUMBER OF STUDENTS LEARN IN NATION’S CAPITAL AS ARCHER FELLOWS

BY HANNAH BUCHANAN

FIVE STUDENTS FROM the UT Tyler College of Arts and Sciences made university history when they were named Archer Fellows for the 2024-25 academic year as part of the Archer Fellowship Program in Washington, D.C. This is a record number of fellows for the university.

The Archer Fellowship Program, which is run by the Archer Center, was established by the UT System in conjunction with former U.S. Rep. Bill Archer, a UT Austin alum, to bring highly motivated and accomplished students to the nation’s capital. Eighty students — 40 in the fall and spring, respectively — are selected to live in Washington while taking classes and participating in internships around the city.

“The semester they spend in Washington, D.C., will prepare them for careers and lives dedicated to public service,” says Dr. Paul Streufert , UT Tyler professor and Honors College founding dean. “We are excited

WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT THE GREAT WORK THIS NEW COHORT OF STUDENTS WILL DO AND THE PRESTIGE AND KNOWLEDGE THEY WILL BRING BACK TO THE UNIVERSITY.”

DR.

PAUL STREUFERT Honors College Founding Dean

THE 2024-25 UT TYLER ARCHER FELLOWS

Archer Fellows make and maintain social and professional contacts that may lead to continued internship opportunities or jobs post-graduation. The support network is large, and the UT Tyler alumni base is growing with core groups in Austin, Dallas, Houston, Washington, D.C., and New York.

JACOB GRONINGA

OF KELLER, a senior political science major, interned with the Heritage Foundation Young Leaders Program during the fall semester. As a UT Tyler student, he has been a member of the Model United Nations team, the Honors College and esports program. Groninga is planning a career in the public policy arena.

about the great work this new cohort of students will do and the prestige and knowledge they will bring back to the university.”

LEILANI HURTADO

OF TYLER, a junior political science and English double major, interned in the office of U.S. Rep. Nathaniel Moran during the fall semester. On campus, Hurtado has been a member of the Honors College, president of the UT Tyler debate team and a national student representative of the National Parliamentary Debate Association. She plans to attend graduate school and pursue a career in international relations and humanitarian affairs.

KATY OSTHOFF

OF LEESBURG, a senior history major, interned at the John W. Kluge Center at the Library of Congress during the spring semester. As a UT Tyler student, Osthoff gained experience off campus as a lecturer at the Northeast Texas Rural Heritage Museum and as a law clerk at the Richards Penn Bonner LLP in Jacksonville. She plans to attend law school and become an attorney.

The Archer Center serves as the Washington campus of the UT System and offers undergraduate and graduate students from across the System the experience of living, learning and interning in the nation’s capital. The center’s mission is to educate the next generation of leaders for local, state, federal and international service by offering varied experiential learning opportunities.

Additionally, the center develops public- and private-sector leaders who understand the federal policymaking process, can solve relevant policy problems, contribute to improved civic engagement and civil society, and who elevate the public discourse about policy and politics.

Archer Fellows intern with an organization of their choosing based on their professional and academic

SOREN PETERS

OF KILLEEN, a senior history major, held a federal internship during the spring semester. While at UT Tyler, he has been elected to roles in all three branches of the Student Government Association and worked as a college readiness coach for high school students. After attending law school, he plans to obtain a federal clerkship and continue to work in public service.

ABIGAIL “ABBY” SMITH

OF BULLARD, a senior mass communication major, interned with Al Jazeera (America) News–Fault Lines during the spring semester. On campus, she has served as an orientation leader and a staff writer for her college news organization. Smith also interned with the university’s marketing team, where she focused on social media marketing. She plans to pursue a career in political journalism and public relations.

WHILE TAKING IN THE SIGHTS AND SOUNDS OF THE CAPITAL, EACH ARCHER FELLOW REPRESENTS NOT ONLY THEMSELVES BUT ALSO THEIR HOME INSTITUTIONS, THE ARCHER CENTER, THE UT SYSTEM AND THE STATE.

goals and interests. While taking in the sights and sounds of the capital, each Archer Fellow represents not only themselves but also their home institutions, the Archer Center, the UT System and the state.

The program's selection process is competitive. Applicants must be juniors or seniors with a minimum overall GPA of 3.0. They also are required to have previous work or internship experience, campus leadership or community involvement, and completion of basic core government curriculum requirements.

The selected UT Tyler students earned 15 hours of in-residence credit for their experience in D.C. In addition to earning credit for the full-time internship, they took classes from University of Texas faculty members, who guided them in connecting their internship experiences to the classroom.

EDUARDO SANCHEZ

Building a Healthier East Texas

DR. SUE COX’S JOURNEY IN MEDICINE AND EDUCATION

BY ELIZABETH WINGFIELD

FOR DR. SUE COX, dean of the UT Tyler School of Medicine, her passion for medicine and education began in high school. Her biology teacher took the initiative to teach the class genetics, even though the topic wasn’t in their curriculum. At 6-feet tall with an ever-present briefcase and smile, he was constantly challenging them to think outside of the box and made learning fun.

With the goal of becoming a biology teacher herself, Cox obtained her bachelor's degree in biology with a minor in chemistry from West Texas State University before obtaining her master’s in genetics and cellular biology at UT Medical Branch at Galveston.

While she was on her summer vacation, a doctor she frequently worked with called her. His nurse was out sick, and he wanted Cox to serve as her substitute. As she worked alongside him while he made his rounds and saw patients in his office, she realized she could work in this environment on a daily basis.

A Leader in Medical Education

Cox attended Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, graduating in 1982, and completed her residency in obstetrics and gynecology at Baylor in 1986. She moved to UT Southwestern for fellowship training in maternal and fetal medicine from 1986 to 1988, and worked at UT Southwestern until 1990.

She left UT Southwestern to be the director of maternal fetal medicine and chief of obstetrics at the University of Kentucky School of Medicine. Returning in 1993 to UT Southwestern, she developed an interest in medical education as the clerkship director. Four years later, Cox served as the fellowship director for maternal-fetal medicine and the dean for professional education.

During her subsequent role as the senior medical education dean, she

↑ Dr. Sue Cox was named dean of the UT Tyler School of Medicine in late 2024.

became more involved in curriculum development. Cox was eventually asked to be the regional dean of UT Southwestern’s Austin campus as the institution prepared to plant a new medical school.

In 2011, former Sen. Kirk Watson reached out to her to ask for her assistance. He wanted to plan a new medical school in Austin and knew Cox was a top medical educator in the area. She served as the planning dean for Dell Medical School at UT Austin at its inception, aiding curriculum development. She then assumed a role as executive vice dean. In 2020, UT Austin was graduating its first class, and Cox was preparing to step down. Now that the medical school was off the ground, she was seeking a new challenge.

During her time at UT Southwestern, Dr. Kirk A. Calhoun joined the institution as an associate professor. Cox attended his ad hoc committee to observe his presentation and was impressed by his research and presence. She later got to know Calhoun better through her involvement in the Texas Medical Association.

A New School of Medicine

In February 2020, Calhoun, who was then president of the UT Health Science Center at Tyler, which is now the UT Tyler Health Science Center, reached out to her. They met in her office, and he invited her to help launch a new medical school in East Texas, which became the UT Tyler School of Medicine. Calhoun served as president of UT Tyler from 2021 to 2024.

Cox had witnessed the kind of impact a medical school could have on a rural community. As a Texas panhandle native, she remembered how the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine had affected the region when it was founded in 1969.

A few months after meeting with Calhoun, she agreed to consult for the new school. After retiring from Dell Medical School, she joined the UT Tyler School of Medicine part-time as the planning dean and remained with the school as the associate dean of accreditation, strategy and quality improvement. At the end of 2024, she assumed her current role as dean.

From the beginning, Cox was involved in developing the School of Medicine’s curriculum, including its emphasis on active learning. Even in their first year, UT Tyler medical stu-

dents experience boots-on-the-ground training instead of learning solely through textbooks.

1

Through the Population Health and Systems Science course, they visit several rural sites throughout East Texas. In addition, they receive EMT certification by riding in ambulances, giving them early hands-on experience to serve the East Texas community. The school prioritizes interprofessional experiences with the Fisch College of Pharmacy and the School of Nursing, helping students gain team experience.

A Vision for East Texas

As she welcomes the school’s third class, Cox remains dedicated to shaping future doctors. She encourages aspiring physicians to “learn as much as they can, work hard and play hard — because in order to better care for others, we must first take care of ourselves, physically, mentally and emotionally.”

Looking to the future, Cox aims to create a pipeline of physicians to serve East Texas. “Approximately 80%-85% of students who complete medical school and residency in the same location will practice there,” she says.

Cox plans to continue to prioritize students and faculty success, expand research initiatives and residency and fellowship programs, and develop a strong

GIVING STUDENTS AN EARLY START

Partnering With Local Institutions to Offer Pharmacy Early Assurance Program

LOOKING TO THE FUTURE, COX AIMS TO CREATE A PIPELINE OF PHYSICIANS TO SERVE EAST TEXAS.

women’s health program. Beyond training physicians, Cox’s vision extends to something even greater — a measurable improvement in the health of East Texas. The curiosity that led her to genetics, the passion that drew her to medicine and the dedication that shaped her leadership roles now drive her toward this purpose.

“Building a medical school is just the beginning,” Cox says. “The true measure of our success will be the impact we have on the health of this region. If, years from now, we can look at East Texas and see fewer health disparities, better access to care and healthier communities, then I’ll know we’ve done something truly meaningful.”

The UT Tyler Ben and Maytee Fisch College of Pharmacy is partnering with colleges and universities throughout East Texas for the Early Assurance Program, aimed at strengthening the pipeline of locally trained pharmacists to serve the region. ¶ “This collaboration marks an exciting chapter for the Fisch College of Pharmacy and our local institutions,” says President Julie V. Philley, MD. “By partnering with these exceptional institutions, we are paving the way for students to pursue their passion for pharmacy and health care, while staying rooted in the communities they know and love.” ¶ The Early Assurance Program creates a pathway for high-performing undergraduate students to apply and enroll in the Doctor of Pharmacy program at the Fisch College of Pharmacy. Through this program, students can work toward their future career in pharmacy by attending workshops on applying for pharmacy school, receiving mentorship and engaging in professional development opportunities. ¶ “At the Fisch College of Pharmacy, we are committed to the success of our students — even before they formally begin their PharmD,” says Dr. Pamella Ochoa, interim dean at the Fisch College of Pharmacy. “These partnerships provide the resources they need to succeed as early as possible in their education journey so they can be better prepared to become the future pharmacists of East Texas.” ¶ The partnering institutions include Tyler Junior College, East Texas Baptist University, Panola College, Sam Houston State University, Stephen F. Austin State University and Trinity Valley Community College. — EW

DONOR PROFILE

Transforming Care

$2 MILLION GIFT TO HELP ESTABLISH CENTER FOR ALZHEIMER ’ S AND DEMENTIA CARE

BY BEVERLEY GOLDEN

UT TYLER IS COMMITTED to serving the health care needs of East Texas, and when reports indicated a critical need for additional resources to support individuals and families affected by Alzheimer’s and dementia, university officials set a plan in motion.

Statistics show that 11.9% of Texans over 65 suffer from Alzheimer’s disease, and Texas has the second highest mortality rate per 100,000 people due to Alzheimer’s. More than 31,000 people in East Texas counties have dementia.

East Texas does not currently have a neurologist specializing in cognitive-behavioral neurology, which is crucial to the diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer’s and other dementias. This specialization understands how cognitive and behavioral functions are affected by neurological conditions, leading to accurate diagnoses, appropriate therapies and ongoing care. The nearest options for East Texans are in Houston or Dallas, which are not easily accessible for everyone.

“East Texas is fortunate to have some of the best physicians anywhere, but there are some specializations we greatly need,” says UT System Board of Regents Chairman Kevin P. Eltife, who lives in Tyler.

Last fall, UT Tyler assembled a community advisory board to strategize how the university can help address this critical need by establishing a new center to deliver comprehensive, high-quality care for patients with Alzheimer ’s and other dementias, while also advancing education and research.

This center will focus on early recognition, early testing, imaging stud-

DEMENTIA PRESENTS GREAT CHALLENGES, IT UPENDS LIVES AND CREATES IMMENSE FINANCIAL BURDEN. WE CAN’T MEET THOSE CHALLENGES INDIVIDUALLY, BUT WE CAN, ACTING TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY.”

BRENT BYERS President and CEO, Byers Investment Management

ies, cognitive testing, early diagnosis and improving the quality of life for patients and the families caring for them.

Showing yet again the values and commitment of the East Texas community, the advisory board members stepped forward to support this vision philanthropically.

One gift is particularly transformative. The Byers Family Foundation gave a $2 million gift. Brent Byers, president and CEO of Byers Investment Management, is a member of the UT Tyler advisory board.

Several years ago, Byers’ father developed a series of escalating, but seemingly unrelated symptoms. His condition was diagnosed in 2024 by a cognitive-behavioral neurologist at the Baylor College of Medicine Alzheimer’s Disease and Memory Disorders Clinic in Houston.

“My dad, Lewie Byers, has Lewy Body Dementia,” Byers says. “It’s a progressive disease that presents with sleep

MICHAEL

disturbances and progresses to delusions, hallucinations, autonomic dysfunction, confusion, disorientation, apathy, depression and movement disorders like Parkinson’s disease. It’s devastating.”

Access to personalized care plan management that considers each patient’s medical, psychological and social needs is also vital, he adds.

“East Texans need increased access to cognitive assessments and biomarker testing to facilitate early, accurate diagnosis and intervention,” Byers says.

As leaders in business and service to their community, the Byers’ name has a long history in Tyler and East Texas. Established in 2023, the Byers Family Foundation’s mission is to support and promote philanthropic endeavors that provide community access to educational opportunities and health care and to benefit human services, art and culture in the East Texas region.

The foundation is led by Byers and his family, and they are intentional about making immediate impact and wasting no time to invest in ways to improve the quality of life across the region.

“This gift will touch the lives of thousands of East Texans, and we could not be more grateful,” Eltife says.

Through this generosity, UT Tyler has made its first step in establishing the center by securing the medical expertise to drive it forward.

“We are thrilled to have a new School of Medicine faculty with expertise in cognitive-behavioral neurology starting in July,” says UT Tyler President Julie V. Philley, MD. “Building a multidisciplinary team of providers specializing in dementia is our immediate priority so that we can grow dementia services for the community.”

The new UT Tyler center will operate out of the Riter Center on the Health Science Center campus on U.S. Highway 271 in Tyler. The university is currently conducting a national search for a director of the center.

“Dementia presents great challenges, it upends lives and creates immense financial burden,” Byers says. “We can’t meet those challenges individually, but we can, acting together as a community. It is my belief that this center will improve quality of life and alleviate some of the burden by making this resource available to East Texans right here in East Texas.”

NATIONAL PUBLIC HEALTH WEEK

American Heart Association CMO Eduardo Sanchez Speaks

The UT Tyler School of Health Professions collaborated with the Northeast Texas Public Health District, also known as NET Health, to celebrate National Public Health Week in April. This year’s theme, “It Starts Here,” placed emphasis on public health efforts starting at the individual level, empowering people to take steps toward healthier lifestyles and improved well-being. ¶ Throughout the week, UT Tyler and NET Health hosted several community-centered events promoting wellness and education. Highlights included a presentation by Dr. Eduardo Sanchez, chief medical officer for prevention for the American Heart Association, a walk with Tyler Mayor Don Warren in the Rose Garden, a healthy cooking demonstration at the East Texas Food Bank and a public screening of a film on public health. ¶ Sanchez spoke about the urgent need

to improve health care access and preventive efforts across Texas, with a focus on cardiovascular and brain health. ¶ A central topic of his presentation was hypertension, which currently affects 45% of adults in the U.S. and is projected to rise to 61% by 2050. He emphasized that reducing these numbers requires not only clinical intervention but also a broader understanding of the social determinants of health — including where people live, work and access care. Through routine data collection and analysis, Sanchez advocates that a better understanding of the root causes of poor health outcomes could lead to effective community-based solutions. ¶ “We were honored to have Dr. Sanchez speak during National Public Health Week,” says Dr. Theresa Byrd, School of Health Professions founding dean. “His expertise in prevention and commitment to improving public health provided invaluable insights for our students, faculty and the East Texas community,” she notes. ¶ “It’s our hope that, through Dr. Sanchez’s presentation and the other events that took place during the week, we can raise awareness of the importance of public health, empower individuals with the knowledge to make healthier choices and ultimately contribute to better health outcomes for the whole region.” — ELIZABETH WINGFIELD

→ Dr. Eduardo Sanchez addresses hypertension and prevention.

50 Years of Inspiring Care

THE

JOURNEY OF UT TYLER’S SCHOOL OF NURSING

BY ELIZABETH WINGFIELD

THIS YEAR, the School of Nursing is commemorating its 50th anniversary with a kickoff event, volunteer opportunities and final renovations of the David G. and Jacqueline Braithwaite Building, home to the School of Nursing. The yearlong celebration will end with a gala in January 2026.

“This celebration reflects our immense appreciation for the support we’ve received over the past 50 years,” says Dr. Barbara K. Haas, School of Nursing dean. “We’re excited for all that the future holds as we continue

THE SCHOOL OF NURSING FIRST BEGAN AS THE DIVISION OF NURSING IN 1975, WITH ONLY 24 STUDENTS COMPARED TO THE SCHOOL’S CURRENT 2,657.

to meet the needs of our community. None of this would have been possible without the support of UT system, donors, faculty and staff, and the East Texas community.”

Over the past 50 years, the School of Nursing has become one of the largest in Texas, comprising more than 25% of UT Tyler’s enrollment. It offers three bachelor’s, five master’s and three doctoral programs, and six certificates.

The School of Nursing first began as the Division of Nursing in 1975, with only 24 students compared to the

↑ The UT Tyler School of Nursing celebrates its first PhD graduates in 2011.

school’s current 2,657. The division originally allowed registered nurses to obtain a Bachelor of Science in Nursing after completing their prerequisites. In 1982, the first class of traditional BSN students, those who weren’t already RNs, began. The division became the School of Nursing in 1997.

A year later, the school introduced Texas’ first preceptor program that integrated preceptors early in the curriculum. Students received individualized instruction from a licensed

nurse, instead of sharing one faculty member with nine other students.

“A nursing student in their second semester of nursing school may have managed one or two patients and had limited opportunity to practice skills, such as starting IVs,” says Haas. “After implementing the preceptor program, students were managing four to five patients and mastering skills.”

Preceptorship has since become standard practice for nursing programs across Texas.

In 2008, the school introduced UT Tyler’s first doctoral program, a PhD in nursing. “University administration asked for a PhD program proposal in one week!” says Haas. “Fueled by peanut M&Ms and Cheez-Its, we closed ourselves in a conference room and reviewed programs across the country as we developed the curriculum.”

The faculty’s diligence paid off — UT Tyler’s online PhD in nursing became the third in the nation.

The school began year-round admissions in 2019, accepting 600 pre-licensure students annually instead of their previous 360. That same year, UT Tyler partnered with local community colleges to offer concurrent enrollment. This year, the school is establishing critical care nursing pathways, including the nation’s second critical care transport program, the adult geriatric acute care nurse practitioner certificate and the nurse anesthetist program.

“It has been an incredible honor to be part of the UT Tyler School of Nursing for 32 of these 50 years,” says Haas. “I’ve had the privilege of witnessing incredible growth as a result of our vision for nursing education and caring for the community.”

UNIVERSITY RECEIVES $2.25 MILLION GRANT FOR STUDENT SUCCESS

“We are committed to enhancing our professional development efforts, focusing on elevating curriculum design and teaching effectiveness. This grant will also allow us to offer dedicated study hours with faculty, giving students the personalized support they need to thrive academically.”

↓ An expansion to the nursing building began in 2023 to allow for future growth.

UT Tyler received a $2.25 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education to bolster retention and graduation rates. The grant is part of a federal initiative to support student success. ¶ “This grant will significantly enhance our ability to support students from the moment they arrive on campus to the day they walk across the stage at graduation,” says UT Tyler President Julie V. Philley, MD. “By offering more tailored academic support, we are committed to fostering an environment where every student can achieve their full potential.” ¶ UT Tyler will use the grant to increase the retention rate of first-time college students, improve the six-year graduation rate and reduce the drop, fail and withdrawal rates. A central component of this initiative involves creating flexible academic pathways. ¶ “Retention and graduation rates are both about keeping students enrolled and equipping them with the necessary resources,” says Dr. Colleen Swain, associate provost for academic success and dean of undergraduate studies.

¶ The School of Nursing will be the first to launch the initiative. Its aim is to increase support for nursing students while ensuring their academic roadmaps are adaptable to their needs. ¶ “Thanks to this support, students will have regular checkpoints to review their progress with their adviser,” says Dr. Jenifer Chilton, UT Tyler

A CENTRAL COMPONENT OF THIS INITIATIVE INVOLVES CREATING FLEXIBLE ACADEMIC PATHWAYS.

School of Nursing associate dean for academic affairs. “If they find that another program is a better fit, they will have access to ‘off-ramps’ that guide them toward a better-suited major without losing significant credits.” ¶ The grant will provide the initial seed funding to launch this initiative, which will ensure its long-term sustainability and scalability. By investing in essential resources and support structures now, UT Tyler is laying the groundwork for continued success beyond the grant’s term. — EW

DOSSIER: BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING

From Survivor to Innovator

STUDENT’S WORK ON BIOMEDICAL IMAGING PROJECT GUIDES HER ENGINEERING AMBITIONS

BY HANNAH BUCHANAN

EMILY GONZALEZ ’ S LIFE took an intense turn in 2022 with two words liver cancer. Three years and many trials later, she’s cancer free.

Throughout her treatment, Gonzalez underwent various imaging methods, from MRIs to X-rays. However, she would eventually develop an allergy to the contrast dye used in MRIs, which made reliable imaging even more challenging.

“Seeing firsthand how invasive surgery and imaging technology can be made me realize the need for improvements in medical diagnostics,” says Gonzalez, who is still in remission.

With that personal experience and newfound interest in biomedical engineering, the Henderson native hopes to change the lives of others who may face cancer with an innovative endeavor she’s involved in as a UT Tyler student researcher.

UT Tyler received $481,440 from the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering to help advance ultrasound imaging with mathematics and algorithm development. Gonzalez and other UT Tyler engineering students are working alongside Dr. Tahsin Khajah, an associate professor from UT Tyler’s mechanical engineering department. He serves as principal investigator on the NIH-funded project.

“When I spoke with Dr. Khajah about joining his research team, he explained how this study could contribute to advancements in medical imaging, including cancer diagnostics,” says Gonzalez, a UT Tyler junior mechanical engineering major. “That really resonated with me because I know how life-changing accurate and early diagnosis can be. It made me realize how engineering can directly impact people’s lives, and that’s what excites me about the biomedical engineering field and this project.”

Khajah’s work, in collaboration with Baylor College of Medicine, develops novel formulations and algorithms that will potentially increase the speed and affordability of ultrasound imaging. This research could also increase the ac-

curacy of ultrasound images in the presence of gas and bones, such as inside the rib cage and skull, he notes.

“The impact of the research is very profound, as it may lead to safer noninvasive therapies without the diverse effects of radiation therapy,” says Khajah, who joined the College of Engineering faculty in 2015. “It also enhances ultrasound-based technologies in clinical environments with limited computational resources. If successful, this project has the potential to transform the use of ultrasound for both imaging and therapeutic applications.”

UT Tyler student researchers are exposed to such computational mathematics for biomedical imaging, including geometry, differential equations, signal processing and computer programming. This provides them an effective training base and exposure to what it’s like to be a professional engineer working on an interdisciplinary team.

For Gonzalez, the experience provides her valuable insight into real-world biomedical challenges and how engineering can help solve them.

“It not only strengthens my technical skills but also opens the door to future opportunities in biomedical engineering, whether in medical imaging, device development or other health care innovations,” says Gonzalez, who will graduate in May 2027 with a bachelor’s degree.

Gonzalez is thankful for many things, including the outstanding research opportunities the university offers. She chose UT Tyler because of its affordability as well as smaller class sizes, which, she notes, allows for more direct interaction with professors.

The support she finds at the university and in her parents gives Gonzalez the encouragement to face any problem head on and look toward a promising future.

“My father, a first-generation college student, worked hard to become an engineer. He has been a strong influence on my decision to pursue engineering and continues to push me to be better. My mother has also played a huge role in my education, working as a teacher to help support me and my brother and sister,” Gonzalez adds proudly. “Seeing their dedication and sacrifices motivates me to work hard and make the most of my opportunities.”

The

HERE ARE THE FACTS

Ultrasound’s Role in the Future of Diagnosis

GLOBALLY

Roughly 1 billion ultrasound scans are performed per year

THOUSAND USD granted to UT Tyler from the NIBIB for ulstrasound imaging research

Ultrasound is the second mostused imaging technology in the world, after X-ray.

➀ X-ray (Radiography)

➁ Ultrasound

➂ Computed Tomography (CT)

➃ Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

➄ Positron Emission Tomography (PET)

Taking the Helm

UNIVERSITY WELCOMES DR. SAM FERGUSON AS ATHLETIC DIRECTOR

BY BEVERLEY GOLDEN

UT TYLER has selected Dr. Sam Ferguson as the new athletic director. Ferguson brings nearly 25 years of leadership experience in college athletics and more than 15 years as an athletic director. He comes to UT Tyler from Abilene Christian University, where he served as associate vice president and deputy athletic director. His previous roles include director of athletics at Averett University and director of intercollegiate athletics at McMurry University.

“We are pleased to welcome Dr. Ferguson,” says UT Tyler President Julie V. Philley, MD. “His proven leadership and dedication to student-athlete success are a great fit for our fantastic program. I’m confident that under his guidance, our student-athletes will continue to excel.”

Ferguson holds a bachelor’s degree from Averett, where he was a two-year member of the golf and basketball teams. He also has

a Master of Science degree in sports management from Nova Southeastern University and a doctorate from East Tennessee State University.

“The opportunity to join the UT Tyler team is an incredible one for my family and me,” Ferguson says. “I am grateful for President Philley, her leadership team and the search committee for the confidence that they have in me to lead the Patriots’ elite athletics department. My family couldn’t be more thrilled to serve a department that competes on a national level at a university with an outstanding academic reputation and tremendous leadership.

“What was clear to us on our family’s visit is that the quality of people at UT Tyler and in the Tyler community is the advantage,” he adds. “We are excited to do our part to continue to elevate UT Tyler athletics to unprecedented heights. My wife, Kim, our sons, Kaden and Angelo, and I can’t wait to immerse ourselves in the campus community and into the city of Tyler. We are blessed to be trading one amazing community in Abilene for another tremendous community of people in Tyler.”

His vision is to continue the existing championship experience for student-athletes. “We’re going to put in the work necessary to be successful, and then we’re going to have the courage to innovate because athletics is changing,” he says. “We’re going to find new ways to do things so that we can enjoy sustained excellence.”

Ferguson credits the coaching staff for not only developing champion athletes but also preparing them to be champions in their careers. “There are so many transferable skills that these men and women are learning while representing UT Tyler that give them an advantage in the workforce. So, our coaches are going to continue preparing career-ready student-athletes who go out and change the world,” he adds. He is eager to partner with the campus in ways that advance both the department and the university. The goal is to become Tyler’s hometown team, with Patriot pride displayed all over the city.

“After I quickly realized that the people are the advantage at UT Tyler, and my family felt loved and cared for in a huge way,” he says, “I can’t wait for us to immerse ourselves in this campus community and Tyler community. We want to add value to a place that’s already added value to us.”

→ Athletics hosts Fall Fest Tailgate events during its Hall of Fame weekend and home volleyball game.

CALLING ALL FANS

Athletics Enhances Experience for Those Who Attend Patriot Games

↖ Ferguson brings to UT Tyler nearly 25 years of leadership experience in college athletics.

UT Tyler athletics is known for winning, giving more than 100% in all things sports. The program is also turning up the heat on the overall fan experience. ¶ “We are enhancing the holistic athletic game experience,” says Stefani Webb, assistant athletic director for marketing and head women’s soccer coach. “Students want to not only enjoy the games but also have a great time at the event. This will bring more people to the games, and it’s so much fun for student-athletes to play for stands full of joyful fans.” ¶ How do we get people in the stands and how do they become more a part of the game are questions Webb says the athletics department worked to answer. Athletics has increased its partnerships with other UT Tyler departments, East Texas businesses and the Tyler community as a whole to integrate more game day giveaways, contests and tailgates to make coming to a

game at UT Tyler an amazing experience. ¶ Last year, athletics hosted a Fall Fest Tailgate in conjunction with its Hall of Fame weekend and home volleyball game. The event featured food trucks from local vendor 1836, including three different beer options from local brewery True Vine, yard games, a live DJ and tailgating opportunities. ¶ Then in December, a Holiday Hoopla got everyone in the holiday and basketball spirit, with the fun and festivities centered around men’s and women’s basketball home games. The event included cookies and hot cocoa, exclusive holiday-themed UT Tyler apparel, in-game competitions, an ugly sweater contest and giveaways.

¶ “It’s been amazing to boost the home game day experience to build that Patriot pride from the campus community and the East Texas community,” Webb says.¶ Sixteen hundred students, alumni and community members showed their Patriot spirit for a February Blue Out – Pack the House men’s basketball game, to set a new home game attendance record. ¶ “We’ve added more family-friendly entertainment from the music to the food trucks and bounce houses. We want fans to have a great time as they support our teams,” she says. — BG

CONTRIBUTING

AUTHORS

SYDNEY BAKER

EMILY BATTLE

HANNAH BUCHANAN

ANDREW FAUGHT

BEVERLEY GOLDEN

ELIZABETH WINGFIELD

ILLUSTRATOR

ISRAEL VARGAS

DRIVEN TO LEAD, INSPIRED TO SERVE

SOULES COLLEGE OF BUSINESS ALUMNI

SHAPE THE FUTURE ACROSS INDUSTRIES AND COMMUNITIES IN EAST

TEXAS AND BEYOND

he UT Tyler Soules College of Business has long been a catalyst for transforming ambition into achievement, and nowhere is that more evident than in the stories of its alumni. From boardrooms and broadcast networks to regional banks and global enterprises, UT Tyler alumni are leading in East Texas and beyond, shaping industries, building

stronger communities and inspiring the next generation of leaders.

This series of profiles highlights some of those graduates — individuals who have risen to top levels of leadership in their fields. Their stories reflect a shared dedication to service, innovation and transformative leadership — values that continue to shape the legacy of the Soules College of Business.

JEFF AUSTIN III

CONTINUING A FAMILY LEGACY OF SERVICE IN EAST TEXAS

BY SYDNEY BAKER

fourth-generation banker, Jeff Austin III (BS ’92, MBA ’96) continues his family’s legacy of serving East Texas by supporting higher education, philanthropy and economic development in the region, providing a strong foundation for generations to come.

For 116 years, the Austin family has served the banking needs of East Texas. John F. Austin helped charter First State Bank-Frankston in 1909 and served as bank president until his death in 1931. His son, Jeff Austin Sr., presided over the Frankston bank from 1937 until his death in 1997. In 1999, some of the banks held by the Austin family were renamed Austin Bank, and First State Bank-Frankston was merged into Austin Bank in 2009. Upon the death of his father, Jeff Austin Jr. became chairman and served in that capacity until 2021 when he transitioned to senior chairman.

Currently, Jeff Austin III serves as chairman of Austin Bank, Texas N.A., which has 40 locations throughout East and Southeast Texas. Previously, Austin served as president and CEO of affiliate bank First State Bank-Frankston. He serves on the board of directors for affiliate banks First State Bank-Athens and Capital Bank-Houston.

The Austin family’s commitment to the region goes beyond banking. Qualities of leadership and community service have been passed down for generations in the Austin family. Their dedication to community has helped shape

the region’s economic development and civic engagement.

Jeff Austin III contributes to various service efforts across East Texas. As a former president of the East Texas Area Council of Boy Scouts, scoutmaster and district chairman, Austin remains active in the organization. He was the first chairman of the North East Texas Regional Mobility Authority, the commissioner of the Texas Department of Transportation and the chairman of Texas Bankers’ Association. He has also served on multiple boards and committees for organizations, including the Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce, Tyler Economic Development Council, United Way of Tyler and more.

“There's a multitude of opportunities in the Tyler area. Get involved, find something that you're passionate about and just offer your time and your talent,” says Austin, who has been involved in community initiatives since his college days. He limits his involvement to three categories: banking related, economic development related and scouting.

Originally from Jacksonville, Austin spent more than 10 years working across Texas and California, gaining experience and building expertise in the financial world. After attending Southern Methodist University, he returned home to East Texas in 1990 and completed his bachelor’s and master’s degrees at UT Tyler.

During his time at UT Tyler, Austin worked full-time while also focusing on his coursework. He collaborated with

EDUCATION

The University of Texas at Tyler

Harvard Business School Advanced Management Program

Southwestern Graduate School of Banking at SMU

professors like Dr. Marilyn Young, Dr. Gary Clendenen, Dr. Buddy Odom and others while studying accounting, operations management, the sciences and other subjects that influenced his business philosophy. Co-authoring papers

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

Banking Leadership Texas and Leadership Tyler

Texas Transportation Commission

TxDOT Audit Committee, Chairman

North East Texas Regional Mobility Authority, Chairman

TxDOT Advisory Committees

Texas Bankers’ Association, Chairman

American Bankers Association

United Way of Tyler Board Member

Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce, Chairman

UT Tyler Audit Committee, Chairman

Texas Rose Festival Association, Advisory Director

ETAC Alumni Committee, Chairman & Executive Board Member

East Texas Symphony Orchestra, President

Jacksonville Rotary Club, President

Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum Foundation

Frankston ISD Board of Trustees

Anderson County Appraisal District Board

Trinity Mother Frances Hospital Foundation

UT Tyler Soules College of Business Advisory Board

Better Business Bureau of East Texas

Children’s Advocacy Center of Smith County

Texas Lyceum

EXPERIENCE

Chairman of Austin Bank Texas, N.A. and Austin Bancorp (2021-Present)

Vice Chairman of Austin Bank Texas, N.A. and Austin Bancorp (2000 – 2021)

President & CEO of First State Bank-Frankston (1999 - 2000)

Board Member for First State BankAthens and Capital Bank-Houston

Wells Fargo Bank, Monterey, California

Texas American Bank, Plano

Capital Bank, Dallas

with professors and building relationships shaped his leadership approach and strategic decision-making.

“Education is a foundation. It’s all about how we choose to build upon that foundation,” says Austin.

A CULTURE OF COMMUNITY

The Austin family has built upon the foundation of education by creating a work environment rooted in volunteerism and responsiveness. They encourage their employees to forge deep connections to the region through getting involved and serving as ambassadors in their communities.

“We are a community bank, and we ask our employees to be ambassadors,” says Austin.

Serving as ambassadors allows employees to be involved in organizations they are passionate about. Many Austin Bank employees participate in Junior Achievement of Tyler, which promotes financial literacy throughout East Texas. Through this initiative, employees make a profound difference in the youth of the community.

“Financial literacy is something that's

missing,” says Austin. “It goes beyond just balancing your checkbook, but also knowing how to handle money.”

Austin Bank has a long history of assisting charitable organizations in the community, and they recognize employees and officers for their volunteer service within East Texas through the Community Involvement Awards. Recipients and an organization they serve receive $500 each.

The success of Austin Bank is truly a group effort between the Austin family and employees, many of whom are multigenerational employees. The bank’s culture of giving back, scholarship programs and professional development opportunities foster an environment of long-term stability.

“It takes a multitude of skill sets,” says Austin. “That's where UT Tyler has helped us. We've hired many individuals in various departments of the bank that have attended and graduated from UT Tyler.”

A DEEP-ROOTED CONNECTION

The connection between the Austin family and UT Tyler goes back as far as the 1970s. During the general construction of UT Tyler, then known as Texas Eastern University, in 1974 and the dedication of the university flagpoles in 1976, Jeff Austin Jr. served as a founding member of the university’s board of regents. His connection to UT Tyler is memorialized on two plaques outside the James H. Stewart Administration Building. The family’s longstanding support of UT Tyler demonstrates their dedication to higher education as a foundation of economic development in the region.

“There are new opportunities at UT Tyler, not just with undergraduate students, but in continuing education,” says Austin. “Hopefully these students will come back, live and participate in the regional economy. That's what makes East Texas a great place.”

The relationship between UT Tyler and local businesses creates a pipeline that strengthens the regional workforce by providing businesses with talented employees who are eager to live, work and thrive in East Texas.

With the School of Medicine, expanding community college pathways, and increased post-graduation opportunities through certificates and micro-credentials, the future of economic development in East Texas looks prom-

ising. Banks often serve as ground zero for economic development in the region, building long-term relationships through customer and community interactions and contributing to the success of the region.

AWARDS & ACCOLADES

TBA Chairman’s Award

Texas Government Official of the Year — East Texas Council of Governments

Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce Volunteer of the Year

Co-Citizen of the Year — Frankston/Lake Palestine Chamber of Commerce

Distinguished Citizen Good Turn Award — East Texas Area Council

“I’ve enjoyed working with Dr. Philley as she continues to expand what UT Tyler is doing,” says Austin. “I’m really excited for her and the legacy that she’s building.”

While Austin looks forward to the future, he remembers the path it took to get to this point. He remembers when Texas Eastern University joined the University of Texas System and became UT Tyler.

“At that time, UT Tyler was a two-year, upper-level school,” says Austin. “I remember there were challenges with the downward expansion, but I think everyone has prospered with the increased exposure and expanding programs.”

Through his leadership at Austin Bank and his involvement in community initiatives, Austin remains committed to fostering new opportunities for businesses, students and residents alike, ensuring that East Texas remains a thriving region for generations to come.

CARRIE-ANN JASPER-YEARTY

BY BEVERLEY GOLDEN

TRANSFORMING WORKPLACE CULTURE W

hen Carrie-Ann Jasper-Yearty (BBA general business ’94, MBA ’15) transferred to UT Tyler from Tyler Junior College, she had no idea how profoundly it would change the course of her career and lead to her role as vice president of people and culture at Jasper Ventures Inc.

After completing her degree at TJC, her presidential scholarship, which covered her tuition, fees and books, was extended to UT Tyler for the next two years. “It was really a deal I couldn’t pass up,” she says.

At that time, UT Tyler was an upper-level university for juniors, seniors and graduate students, so many of her classmates were older nontraditional students and the commuter school didn’t have the vibrant campus life that exists today.

“It was a very different campus,” she says. “I was simply working and just trying to do well in school, but I did make extremely strong friendships. I had a really tight group of friends that I really appreciated.”

She also had great support from the faculty and fondly remembers Dr. Marilyn Young, Dr. Marina Astakhova, Deb Hulse and Dr. Ray Gullett.

“When I come back to UT Tyler to talk to business or human resource classes, I like to share the way I broke into the HR field,” Jasper-Yearty says. “I got my first job in HR because of the support that I had from Professor Gullett.”

‘PERSONNEL ADMINISTRATION’

It was the mid-90s and Trane Technologies in Tyler contacted Gullett to recommend someone for their human resources department. Remembering her strong interest in what was then called personnel administration, Gullett reached out to Jasper-Yearty.

“I was about a year out of college when Dr. Gullett called,” she says. “That’s how I broke into my field, and I feel like, in a lot of ways, that relationship with Dr. Gullett really helped me to get where I am.”

She worked for Trane’s Tyler and Tennessee locations for 8 ½ years and then moved on to American Standard in Nashville.

While human resources was not her intended career, Jasper-Yearty had found her calling. She knew that she was adept at balancing being an advocate for the employees and an advocate

for the company. “I felt very well-prepared. I knew this is what I wanted to do,” she says. “I felt that I could be good at it. I felt like I was gifted at it.”

After transitioning from manufacturing to banking, she spent 8 ½ years at Regions Financial Corp. in Shreveport, Louisiana. Then her father, a chemical engineer, made her an offer to come back

EVERY COMPANY HAS A CULTURE— YOU CAN EITHER CREATE IT AND BE INTENTIONAL, OR IT CAN CREATE ITSELF AND MAY NOT BE VERY HEALTHY.”

to East Texas and work for his company after his partner, who handled the business side of the partnership, retired.

RETURNING TO EAST TEXAS

Neither she nor her dad knew exactly what her role in the business would be at his company, which is now known as Jasper Ventures, but Jasper-Yearty was ready to come back to East Texas.

plan, she does enjoy sharing her journey with students in the Soules College of Business.

“There is something about being on a college campus. I love coming back to speak to classes,” she says. Seeing people reach their potential and contribute to the flourishing of society is important to her, she adds.

In human resources, she gets to do that every day. “I get to challenge the people who work for and with me. I get to help develop managers as part of my role by doing manager workshops and helping managers to become better managers, which makes our company better and really impacts our culture.”

Work culture is important to Jasper-Yearty. “I want a culture where people feel loved and cared for and want to be at work every day.”

She’s been able to live out her calling through human resources, and she intends to continue the legacy her father created when he started the company. “I want Jasper to continue to be a beacon in the community, a place with a good reputation where people want to work,” she adds.

“In 2005, my dad was diagnosed with Stage 4 brain cancer. I had just given birth to my daughter,” Jasper-Yearty says. “We did not expect my dad to live past six to eight months, and he actually made it 18 years. My daughter turned 18 just a few days before he passed away, so it was really a gift.”

One of the stipulations her dad made when she came to work for him was that she get her MBA. Jasper-Yearty had never planned to go back to school. After 20 years experience and all the necessary certifications, she hadn’t seen the need.

Nevertheless, she was grateful to have had the experience. Her love of learning was evident, and one professor encouraged her to continue on to the PhD program. While that’s not currently part of her career

Jon Jasper’s vision in 1992 was to create a working environment where his faith would inform not only his business principles but also the way he approached his work and cared for his employees and community.

Jasper-Yearty helped transform that vision within the company into Beyond Business in 2017 and found that other businesses and individuals wanted to more fully step into God’s purpose in their life, including in their day-to-day work.

“Every company has a culture, and you can either create that and be intentional about it or it can create itself and it may not be very healthy,” she says.

“We want to be able to integrate our faith into how we treat people, hire people, train people and promote people. This is our mission field, so we’re always going to hire the best person for the job, but they’re going to come in knowing that we love them because Jesus loves us. Beyond Business was created to help figure out what that looks like for us.”

Although Beyond Business is a team that still exists within Jasper, a nonprofit also called Beyond Business was created in 2024 to preserve Jon Jasper’s legacy. The nonprofit’s mission is to redefine what it means for believers to live a life of faith at work.

JONATHON BURNS

HELPING PEOPLE LIVE THEIR BEST LIVES WHILE DELIVERING EXCELLENCE

BY EMILY BATTLE

Jonathon Burns (BBA marketing ’04) serves as executive vice president of Grady-White Boats, based in Greenville, North Carolina, where he focuses on overall company strategy, manufacturing and human resources with an emphasis on both customer and employee satisfaction.

The company designs and manufactures luxury saltwater fishing boats with dealerships in the U.S. and abroad and has received numerous awards for customer satisfaction. With a vision to “deliver the ultimate boating experience while living our best lives,” the company promotes a close-knit, supportive team environment and offers training programs and career advancement opportunities to help employees reach their full potential.

“I love getting to inspire and provide

resources for employees to live their best lives while building really great boats for our customers,” says Burns. “We strive to make sure everyone has an enjoyable workday and is energized when leaving at the end of the day to live a great life.”

Burns has worked in the marine industry for more than 20 years beginning with Skeeter Boats in East Texas, where he coordinated sales while attending UT Tyler. After graduation, he was hired by Yamaha Marine in Kennesaw, Georgia, and held positions in business planning, supply chain management and operations.

In 2016, Burns and his family moved to Indianapolis, where he became general manager for Yamaha Marine Precision Propellers. In that role, he managed the construction of a new state-of-the-art investment casting foundry to fulfill Yamaha’s long-term plan to build more products in the U.S. He also focused heavily on customer and employee satisfaction.

Burns relocated to Yamaha Marine’s headquarters in 2020 to head the newly formed advanced planning and development team. Two years later, he made the decision to leave Yamaha to become vice president of team development and strategy for one of its largest customers – Grady-White Boats. Sharing the company’s values, he knew it would be a good fit.

Promoted to executive vice president of Grady-White Boats in 2024, Burns continues to inspire and lead, ensuring that the company flourishes not only in product excellence but also in the well-being of its team.

KYLE BOWKER

BUILDING HIGH PERFORMANCE TEAMS

BY EMILY BATTLE

Throughout his professional career, Kyle Bowker (MBA ’84) has helped manage companies in the enterprise software and technology industry, which creates software solutions and technology tools to help businesses operate smoothly.

The Tyler native currently serves as chief revenue officer of Geoforce, a supplier of GPS tracking tools designed to help businesses monitor their equipment and assets, particularly in rugged environments. The Plano-based company has more than 1,500 customers in 90-plus countries, serving a variety of industries from oil and gas to construction to government and defense.

Bowker leads the company’s customer-facing operations, encompassing sales, marketing and international subsidiaries,

→ Jonathon Burns oversees the manufacture of Grady-White boats.

FIND SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN BE PASSIONATE ABOUT AND STAY FOCUSED, MEET PEOPLE AND MAKE CONNECTIONS, AND SOAK UP AS MUCH INFORMATION AS YOU CAN.”

which include Canada, Australia and Brazil. High-performance teams are critical to Geoforce’s mission, and Bowker finds fulfillment in building them.

“Recruiting, coaching and mentoring salespeople to achieve their highest potential is one of the things I’ve enjoyed most in my career, and I’ve done a lot of recruiting from colleges,” says Bowker, who has seen many of his recruits go on to become successful business leaders. “I love bringing in young people and helping them jump-start their careers.”

He recalls how mentors helped shape him professionally. After earning his bachelor’s degree from Southern Methodist University in 1982, he began pursuing his master’s at UT Tyler. During that time, he also worked as an intern for his father, who was president of Buford Television Inc., which owned stations in Tyler and Lufkin.

Under his father’s mentorship, Bowker managed a project to identify new financial, payroll and procurement systems for the company. The assignment put him in touch with Management Science of America, a software products and services company.

An MSA manager was impressed with his work and told him, “‘When your internship is over, you’re coming to work for us,’” Bowker recalls. The manager employed him at the Dallas branch and helped him develop skills to excel in his career.

Over the past four decades, Bowker has held key positions with numerous high-profile businesses, including vice president of global sales for Aptean/Vista Equity Partners, senior vice president of manufacturing for SAP America Inc. and senior vice president of sales for PeopleSoft.

His advice to students for career preparation is to “find something that you can be passionate about and stay focused, meet people and make connections, and soak up as much information as you can.”

MEGAN TARRANT

STEWARDSHIP, PURPOSE AND LEADERSHIP WITH IMPACT

BY BEVERLEY GOLDEN

For Megan Tarrant (BBA Accounting ’07), leadership isn’t about a title — it’s about leaning fully into the unique gifts God has given you. As CEO of Clements Fluids, she believes her role is to create an environment where others can do the same — unearthing and unleashing the potential within every person they encounter.

Tarrant’s leadership philosophy begins with stewardship — the belief that everything entrusted by God, whether gifts, people or opportunities, carries a responsibility to be used with purpose and excellence. She approaches leadership as a way to build lasting impact, ensuring that success is measured by more than financial results — but by the lives impacted and the purpose fulfilled.

Her path to UT Tyler wasn’t part of her original plan. After beginning college elsewhere, she transferred simply to regroup, planning to move on to another university. “At first, I thought UT Tyler was just a temporary stop," she shares. “But it had everything I needed — and more — right in my own backyard.”

As she spent time there, she realized UT Tyler offered not just strong academics but also a foundation for her future. “It became much more than a transition — it became exactly where God wanted me to be.”

Tarrant is proud to see how much UT Tyler has grown. “The university keeps expanding opportunities for students — through new academic programs, stronger business

and health sciences schools and a vibrant campus life,” she says. “It’s exciting to see how far UT Tyler has come and the foundation it’s building for the future.”

Through connections made in class, Tarrant joined the women’s golf team. During athletic study hall, she met Chase, a baseball player who would later become her husband. A favorite memory remains Chase’s proposal on the pitcher’s mound at the UT Tyler Irwin Ballpark, surrounded by family and captured by local news crews.

At UT Tyler, Tarrant gained the technical foundation in accounting, marketing and core business concepts that strengthened her natural curiosity and willingness to challenge the status quo — traits that would become central to her leadership approach.

After graduating, Tarrant began her career at Clements Fluids, working in accounting and managing finances. Over time, her natural curiosity and drive to improve operations moved her beyond the numbers and into broader leadership.

In 2019, she became CEO of Clements Fluids — the company her parents, Mike and Donna Clements, founded in 1985. But Tarrant wasn’t just stepping into a family business; she was stepping into a calling.

Today, she leads with the conviction that leadership is about more than results — it’s about impact. It’s about building something that lasts, empowering others to lead boldly, and stewarding the opportunities God has entrusted to her with excellence and purpose.

Tarrant grew up in Tyler and proudly calls East Texas home today.

JOHN BOYD

ACCOUNTING FOR MORE THAN NUMBERS

BY ELIZABETH WINGFIELD

EDUCATION

Trinity Valley Community College

Associate Degree

1989-1991

The University of Texas at Tyler BBA in Accounting 1991-1993

CAREER EXPERIENCE

President and Chairman of the Board

Garrett Metal Detectors

2022-Present

Advisory Leader

Saville CPAs & Advisors LLC

2019-Present

Partner

Saville CPAs & Advisors LLC

1998-2019

Analyst

Caterpillar 1996-1998

Analyst

First National Bank of Athens

1990-1996

ohn Boyd (BBA accounting ’93) is president and chairman of the board at Garrett Metal Detectors and a former partner at Saville CPAs & Advisors LLC. Though his work has spanned continents and multibillion-dollar projects, his foundation was laid in a tiny East Texas town — built on faith, family and a relentless work ethic.

Growing up in rural New York, Texas, there were few things Boyd loved more than the outdoors, from fishing a local pond and exploring the piney woods to staring up at the star-strewn night sky. His hometown — just 15 minutes outside of Athens — could be identified by a feed store and Baptist church, without a stop light or intersection in sight. The love of God, country and hard work came as naturally to him as breathing.

After studying accounting in high school, where he competed in UIL accounting competitions, he began considering universities. His father offered encouragement with a dose of reality: Boyd could attend any school he wanted, provided he paid his own way.

His sister’s positive experience at UT Tyler, combined with the reputation of the accounting program, convinced Boyd it was the right fit. He completed his associate’s degree at Trinity Valley Community College in Athens before transferring to UT Tyler. His girlfriend, Kelli, shared his interest in business, and he persuaded her to apply for UT Tyler’s accounting program. They got married shortly after she graduated with her degree in 1997.

While Boyd was earning his degree, he was impressed by one professor in particular, Dr. Mary Fisher. She had a unique approach to teaching he had never seen before. She not only wanted students to find the answer to a problem but also wanted to understand how they learned.

After a test, she would ask each student in the class how they had prepared. Most students shared that they’d learned by repetition, practicing problems until they got the answer. Boyd, however, had always had a knack for thinking analytically.

“I would just look at the problems and try to understand the concept behind it, and then I could solve the problems without repetition,” he says. UT Tyler’s small class sizes and dedicated faculty allowed him to discover the “why” behind concepts, which helped him develop a deeper understanding of business later in his career.

A CAREER BUILT ON PURPOSE

Several years after graduation, Boyd was working as an analyst for a division of Caterpillar when he faced a crossroad. In order to move up, the company wanted him to move around every two years to see their global footprint. Boyd and his wife had strong family ties to the area, with Boyd’s family firmly embedded in the community and his wife having grown up on the same street as her mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.

Seeking local opportunities, a contact from Trinity Valley Community College led him to a position at Saville CPAs & Advisors LLC. He connected with the leader over their shared faith values and became one of the company’s 17 employees. The company has since grown to 170 employees with clients across 11 countries. Boyd went on to become a partner at the firm, leading their assurance and advisory practice and starting their private client services practice.

Boyd was assigned to Garrett Metal Detectors, one of the company’s earliest clients. The company was started in the Garrett family’s garage in 1964. Today, it’s internationally known for its

walk-through and hand-held metal detectors at airports as well as the sports venues of the Dallas Mavericks, Texas Rangers and other teams; land mine detectors in Ukraine; gold detectors in Africa for prospecting; and relic detectors for finding civil war artifacts and ancient-world-era coins. “Our mission is to uncover treasures of the past and save lives,” says Boyd.

His relationship with the owners of Garrett Metal Detectors deepened over the years, leading him to assist them personally with taxes and financial and estate planning. He subsequently joined the company’s board of directors in 2012 and became the president and chairman of the board in 2022.

Boyd is a certified public accountant, the first UT Tyler student to pass the Certified Management Accountant exam in the first sitting and was a Distin-

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS

Contributed to multibillion-dollar projects, including initiatives featured in the Wall Street Journal

Distinguished Alumni honoree, UT Tyler Soules College of Business

First UT Tyler student to pass the Certified Management Accountant exam on the first sitting

ACT IVITIES & SERVICE

Member, UT Tyler Soules College of Business Advisory Board

Member, UT Tyler Accounting Advisory Council

Travels domestically and internationally to share the Gospel and plant churches

Passionate about helping others build legacies through business and ministry

guished Alumni honoree in the UT Tyler Soules College of Business. He serves on the Soules College of Business Advisory Board and the Accounting Advisory Council.

Over the course of his career, he’s contributed to multibillion-dollar projects and initiatives that were significant enough to earn mention in the Wall Street Journal. Growing up in the small Texas town of New York, he never would have anticipated where life would lead him.

However, according to Boyd, his biggest accomplishment is using his God-given abilities to help others. “For me, that means helping an entrepreneur who spent their whole life building a business to sell it successfully, so they can start a new season of life. It means setting up structures for people to create charitable trusts to help educate future generations and fund ministries to bring people closer to Christ.”

He believes in living every day purposefully, from praying for employees and suppliers to traveling domestically and internationally to share the Gospel and plant churches.

A LEGACY OF FAITH

When reflecting on what’s contributed to his success, Boyd says there’s no substitute for working hard. “I’ve never been the smartest, I’ve never been the fastest, but I was always the one who was willing to work the hardest. You have to have a fire in your belly, something that pushes you to go above and beyond.” For Boyd, that was the realization that he was working first and foremost for God. “In addition, as a leader, it’s my policy to never ask anyone to do something I’m not willing to do.”

Looking back, Boyd reflects on the intensity of his early career. While affirming the value of hard work, he would advise his younger self to pursue more balance — to be more present with his family and intentional in living out his faith.

Over time, he’s learned that while others can take on tasks at the office, only he can be a husband to his wife and a father to his children. He sees his work as a calling and his faith as a compass in both life and leadership. “Career is temporal, family is generational but the church is eternal,” Boyd says. “Because at the end of the day, success isn’t just about what you build — it’s also about who you build it for.”

VALARI DOBSON STAAB

HER JOURNEY FROM TYLER TO NEWS EXECUTIVE AT ‘30 ROCK’

BY EMILY BATTLE

oday Valari Dobson Staab (BBA marketing ’82) is an NBC executive at the historic 30 Rockefeller Plaza in Manhattan, overseeing more than 50 television media outlets across the nation.

But at the start of her college days in Tyler, television was the least of her interests. In fact, she rarely watched television while growing up near Angelina National Forest in the heart of East Texas, where her family owned a marina, restaurant and campground. Television signals were weak in the area during that time.

Currently serving as chairman of NBCUniversal Local, Staab attended Tyler Junior College as a freshman and sophomore and then transferred to UT Tyler, which was then an upper-level school for juniors, seniors and graduate students. She worked to pay for her education, juggling as many as three jobs at a time while taking classes.

In her sophomore year, Staab was hired by KLTV-Channel 7, the local ABC affiliate, to work in the commercial traffic department, which handled the scheduling and placement of advertisements. She continued working there in her junior and senior years.

Finding a mentor in the station’s general manager, Staab learned to write, edit and produce commercials and run a camera while also acquiring valuable in -

sights into the news industry. Although she took the job to help make ends meet, the station became the start of her career in television.

Staab recalls another important mentor during her time in Tyler — Dr. Marilyn Young, a professor of management at UT Tyler.

“I worked all day and took night classes, which meant my days started early and ended late, but I always enjoyed Dr. Young’s classes,” Staab says. “She was definitely a mentor and an inspiration to me, and she actually advised me on some of my assignments at work.”

After graduation, Staab worked in marketing and research for KLTV and then for KPRC-TV in Houston. She also earned an MBA from Baylor University in 1984.

LEGACY OF LEADERSHIP

Prior to joining NBC, Staab held station management positions with ABC Owned Television Stations for more than 15 years, including eight years as president and general manager of KGOTV in San Francisco.

SHE WORKED TO PAY FOR HER EDUCATION, JUGGLING AS MANY AS THREE JOBS AT A TIME WHILE TAKING CLASSES.

Under Staab’s leadership, KGO-TV received numerous awards and recognitions, including the Northern California Emmy for Station Excellence, the Radio Television News Directors Association’s Regional Edward R. Murrow Award for Overall Excellence

and the Mark Twain “Station of the Year” award from the Associated Press.

Staab’s successful track record caught the attention of NBCUniversal in 2011. The division hired her as president of NBC Owned TV Stations, overseeing what is now a group of 11 NBC stations across the country.

Her responsibilities were expanded in 2013 to include oversight of the Telemundo Station Group, which has grown to include 31 stations under her direction. Appointed chairman of NBCUniversal Local in 2022, she also leads the NBC Sports Regional Networks and other national, regional and local TV, streaming and digital properties.

A 2012 recipient of the UT Tyler Dis-

tinguished Alumni award, Staab heads the production of nearly 1,000 weekly hours of local news, weather, investigative and consumer reporting, lifestyle content and event coverage, serving 30 U.S. markets and Puerto Rico.

HER PROUDEST MOMENTS

Residing in New York, Staab divides her time between executive meetings at 30 Rock and visits to NBCUniversal Local properties. She travels national-

I ENJOY COLLABORATING WITH THE STATIONS ON PROJECTS AND HEARING ABOUT THEIR INVESTIGATIONS AND NEWS-BREAKING STORIES.”

ly to news stations almost every other week — and looks forward to it.

“I enjoy collaborating with the stations on projects and hearing about their investigations and news-breaking stories,” she says, adding that the stations often work together when major stories break.

Witnessing the collective action of the stations in covering the Los Angeles wildfires was one of her proudest moments. News teams across the division came to assist their California colleagues. Local journalists were working 12-hour shifts to cover the story, and some of them were being evacuated from their own residences. A few of them lost their homes.

“We were on the air without even a commercial break for over 60 hours on two stations, in two languages. After those 60 hours, we were still on a tremendous number of hours every day for about three weeks,” Staab recalls.

“It was unusual in that people working for the stations were impacted, and we needed to allow time off for them to take care of their personal situations. So, we coordinated across the entire country to cover the story,” she says. “Seeing that kind of camaraderie among our teams and their commitment to what they do is my favorite part of the job.”

Staab has received numerous honors for her work with NBCUniversal Local. She was inducted into the Broadcasting+Cable Hall of Fame in 2024 for her role in shaping the future of broadcast, cable and broadband television. She was recognized as a Giant of Broadcasting and Electronic Arts by the Library of American Broadcasting Foundation in 2023.

In honor of Staab’s induction into the Hall of Fame, her brother and sister-inlaw, Sean and Joslyn Dobson, created the Valari Dobson Staab Endowed Scholarship, a needs-based scholarship for UT Tyler students majoring in business, communications or education.

Having experienced the challenges of working long hours to pay for tuition, Staab says she requested that the scholarship benefit students with financial needs. The three majors were linked to the scholarship because of Staab’s career in communications and the fact that she and her sister are both UT Tyler business alumni. In addition, her niece and nephew-in-law graduated from the university with teacher education degrees.

THE UT TYLER SOULES COLLEGE OF BUSINESS

TRANSFORMING STUDENTS INTO INDUSTRY LEADERS

BY ANDREW FAUGHT

s health care, manufacturing, and food and distribution services continue to drive an East Texas economic boom, the UT Tyler Soules College of Business — with surging enrollment and new program offerings — is playing a critical role in the prosperity.

Prospective students and regional business leaders have taken notice.

“We are increasingly visible in our region, increasingly seen as a destination, and we’re increasingly seen as a high-value add to the community,” says Dr. Krist Swimberghe, dean of the college since 2020. “There’s tremendous excitement.”

The reasons are myriad. Among Texas public university accounting programs, for example, the college boasts the third-highest CPA exam pass rate.

The college also has proven adept at responding to industry needs. Tyler’s emergent status as a health care hub — the city is home to three major regional health systems — has shaped the college’s program offerings.

The college is developing a dual MD/MBA degree, slated to launch this fall, with UT Tyler’s School of Medicine, and it has ongoing collabora-

tions with the university’s School of Nursing and Ben and Maytee Fisch College of Pharmacy.

The Soules College of Business already offers a dual MSN/MBA program, providing health care leadership training to current medical students.

“Our role is to ensure that doctors, nurses and pharmacists are not only clinical experts but also savvy business leaders,” Swimberghe says.

STRATEGIC GROWTH

OUR ROLE IS TO ENSURE THAT DOCTORS, NURSES AND PHARMACISTS ARE NOT ONLY CLINICAL EXPERTS BUT ALSO SAVVY BUSINESS LEADERS.”

DR. KRIST SWIMBERGHE

Dean of Soules College of Business

The vision stems from a combination of strategic growth, investment and a deliberate shift in identity. Those developments, along with a transformative gift from Tyler-based Soules Food in 2018, sparked a new mentality at the business college.

“That really gave us a shot in the arm to start thinking bigger,” Swimberghe says. “We began to ask, ‘How do we make an impact? How do we become a destination for students and

SUPPORTING SUCCESS

GIFT TO GROW SCHOLARSHIP ENDOWMENT NAMED AFTER PROFESSOR

BY HANNAH BUCHANAN

At the heart of the Soules College of Business is one of the many dedicated educators and researchers at UT Tyler –– Dr. Marilyn Young

Currently UT Tyler’s longest-serving faculty member, the management professor prides herself on giving back to her students through real-world teaching and to the East Texas region as a Hibbs Institute for Business and Economics Research Faculty Fellow. She’s also giving back in yet another way –– to ensure the university’s future success.

Young’s gift, being made through her estate plan, is intended to provide significant additional funding to the Dr. Marilyn Young Endowed Scholarship in Business. Established in October 2018 by faculty,

make communities strong. Her most recent project helped secure the East Texas Council of Governments’ Veteran Friendly Community Designation for the city of Tyler and Smith County. The work presented many initiatives in which the community has surpassed expectations in supporting veteran populations.

“I was honored to conduct this research for the Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce Veterans Committee to show how Tyler has supported veterans over the years,” says Young. “The unanimous vote showed that the Tyler metropolitan statistical area historically has gone above and beyond to honor and support our veterans.”

Young’s teaching philosophy is “instilling in students the importance of our business organizations and how they make our free enterprise system work.”

staff, alumni and friends to honor Young for her service to the college and university, the scholarship benefits general business, management, marketing, accounting and finance majors.

“Dr. Marilyn Young personifies the values of the Soules College of Business and The University of Texas at Tyler,” says Dr. Krist Swimberghe, college dean.

“Dr. Young always puts the students at the center of what she does and seeks to serve the community each and every day. Countless students have benefitted from her expertise, and many students will continue to benefit because of her generous gift to the college.”

She continues conducting research in areas of entrepreneurship, family business, organization behavior and economic development projects that

She’s seen many students soaking up knowledge like a sponge, but some change is evident throughout the years, she notes.

“Many students would come by the office, but now with the popularity of online classes, they prefer email or Zoom,” she says with a grin.

While Young has seen many other changes take place over time at the university, one constant remains the same –– UT Tyler’s commitment to students and their education, welfare and career success.

Her dedication remains steadfast, too. The most enjoyable part of her career, she adds, has been and continues to be making a positive impact on students.

“The most rewarding aspect of teaching is when my students apply what they learn,” Young says. “If they can take what they learn in the classroom and actually use it in the real world, that’s the most important thing.”

employers alike?’

“When high school students in East Texas think about business education, we want to be in their top three.”

The university’s commitment to business education can be seen in the college’s very physical presence.

In 2018, the college moved into a striking 140,000-square-foot, four-story building — the largest academic facility on campus at the time. With three floors already built out and the fourth shelled for future growth, the need for expansion is already at hand.

Enrollment has continued an upward trend. The college serves about 1,600 undergraduate and 860 graduate students, and growth continues.

Swimberghe expects the undergraduate total to swell to 3,000 in the next decade. MBA enrollment has also surged, aided by flexible instruction formats, including online, face-to-face and hybrid options.

“We’re at the point at which we need more space — for more students, more faculty and more impact,” Swimberghe says.

“Unlike many universities that are shrinking, we’re growing. Our city is growing. Our region is growing. And we’re part of that story.”

The college continues to work closely with area employers, municipalities and economic development agencies through its research centers, including the Hibbs Institute for Business and Economic Research and UT Tyler-Longview Small Business Development Center.

Faculty routinely involve students in real-world consulting projects, and excited alumni are increasingly returning to mentor students.

The centers and institutes particularly appeal to young entrepreneurs, Swimberghe says. The college collaborates with the state of Texas and the Small Business Administration to help businesses expand and to create new business enterprises.

“We are very much outwardly faced,” Swimberghe notes. “Our faculty do what we call real-world projects in the classroom, which improves the student learning experience and makes lessons that much more relevant.”

In the bigger picture, graduates are benefiting. The average salary for a Soules College of Business undergraduate degree-holder is $83,897; and $102,167 for graduate students, Swimberghe says.

CHANGING LIVES

The college is going with what works. It focuses on enrolling students in a 100-mile radius — from Dallas to Louisiana, and southward to Houston. It sticks to its selling points, which are resonating with students and businesses alike: a high-quality education, intimate learning environments and direct engagement with faculty — even at the undergraduate level.

With a mission to serve students, including an emphasis on first-generation students, the college is propelling a rapidly diversifying regional economy.

“We’re not just preparing students for jobs,” Swimberghe says. “We’re chang-

ing lives — and changing what East Texas expects from higher education.”

As artificial intelligence reshapes the world of work, the college has responded by embedding tools like ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot into existing coursework.

“Rather than creating a degree in AI, we’re integrating it across disciplines,” Swimberghe says. “Students need to know both the possibilities and the limitations.”

In the 21st century, the college’s industrial technology majors are in high demand. Graduates typically have multiple job offers in manufacturing and safety- and quality-control fields. Man-

SHAPING FUTURE ENTREPRENEURS

THE SOULES FAMILY’S COMMITMENT TO ADVANCING EAST TEXAS

BY EMILY BATTLE

A leading producer in the U.S. food industry, John Soules Sr. and the growth of his family business make an excellent case study for business students.

Achieving business success requires critical thinking, innovation, problem-solving and challenging the status

quo. Those are the skills with which Soules Food evolved from processing beef for local restaurants in the mid-1970s to manufacturing a wide selection of products now available in thousands of stores nationwide.

At UT Tyler, however, the Tyler-based company is

REAL-WORLD CONSULTING PROJECTS, EMPLOYER PARTNERSHIPS AND MENTORING ALUMNI CONNECT LEARNING TO IMPACT.

much more than a business model for class studies. Sharing the university’s commitment to serving East Texas, the Soules family and Soules Food entered an agreement with the university in 2018 to make a major investment supporting business education.

The largest single private contribution to UT Tyler in its history, the investment has augmented the university endowment, providing funds in perpetuity for business student scholarships, business innovation grants and research.

UT Tyler’s College of Business and Technology was renamed the Soules College of Business in honor of the Soules family’s generosity and legacy.

“The opportunity to partner with the Soules family and Soules Food is a tremendous honor for the university and will leave a lasting impact on students, preparing them to excel as leaders, innovators and entrepreneurs dedicated to their communities,” says Dr. Krist Swimberghe, dean of Soules College of Business.

Beyond their financial contributions to the university, the family offers their time and energy to enrich

agement and marketing specialties also draw interest from employers.

“Our graduates can walk out of here with their heads held high and their shoulders upright, confident that they can compete with anyone in the state and the nation,” he says.

the university experience.

Soules has been a guest speaker at the UT Tyler Career Success Conference, which brings business and industry leaders to share their experiences and wisdom with students. He also has served as a judge for the Big Idea Pitch entrepreneurial competition, in which UT Tyler students submit ideas for a new business or product.

Soules’ son, John Soules Jr., has served on the Soules College of Business Corporate Advisory Board and the UT Tyler Development Board.

In previous remarks, John Soules Sr. expressed his desire to share with UT Tyler students “the joy, enthusiasm, fulfillment and sense of creativity that business can offer.” He compared business ownership to a blank canvas with opportunities for creativity and growth.

The East Texas native started his business in 1975 in a small Tyler manufacturing facility, processing ready-to-cook ground beef and delivering directly to area restaurants. With his innovative instincts and a focus on the evolving needs of consumers, he grew the

business to include both ready-to-cook and fully cooked products and began supplying markets beyond the Tyler area.

Soules Food, formerly known as John Soules Foods, continued to flourish as its products became favorites in the homes of consumers across the U.S. Today, the company is the nation’s foremost formulator, manufacturer and marketer of fajita products, with manufacturing plants in Tyler, Georgia and Alabama.

In addition to its protein products, Soules Food is expanding to include more complete meal solutions and innovative food options.

While establishing themselves as prominent figures in the business world, the Soules family remains unwavering in their commitment to elevating East Texas. Their efforts encompass a broad spectrum, from supporting education to collaborating with nonprofit organizations that offer vital services such as food and health care to families in need.

Through their kindness and generosity, the Soules family is helping to transform lives and foster a brighter future for the region.

CONTENTS →

TRAVEL DESTINATIONS

Sonia Semone Platten, BFA ’00, MFA ’04

HOMEBUILDING: THE FINAL FRONTIER OF HANDMADE

INTERVIEW BY SYDNEY BAKER

FROM A YOUNG AGE, Sonia Semone Platten was drawn to art, and though she didn’t think long-term of art as a career, she knew that attending college and earning a bachelor’s and master’s degree would serve her well.

After attending Tyler Junior College for two years, Platten transferred to UT Tyler. There, she studied under professors like James Pace, professor emeritus and distinguished professor of visual art, and she used studio time

to explore her interest in abstract art freely.

Originally, Platten shellacked her paintings, using high-gloss resin to achieve a whimsical, candy-coated look. Over time, she evolved her technique to paint on glass, which avoids the toxicity of resin but requires increased intentionality. Platten had to learn to work backward and in reverse, applying layers of paint from behind to achieve the finished look.

IT MAY BE A CURVY AND WINDY ROAD, BUT IF YOUR HEART TELLS YOU THAT YOU NEED TO MAKE ART, THEN YOU NEED TO MAKE ART.”

In her 20s, Platten bought her first house — a small fixer-upper with blue accents and potential. To save money, Platten learned everything she could about subcontracting.

After her DIY renovation was complete, the house was featured in a magazine. Platten then renovated her mom’s house, decorated houses for friends, and gutted and flipped another house.

Over time, Platten’s experience remodeling houses and gaining the trust

SONIA SEMONE PLATTEN, BFA ’00, MFA ’04

of subcontractors led her to consider building a house from scratch. Platten admits that there is more work involved in building, but she tackles it like any other art project. In fact, Platten considers home building “the last frontier of handmade.”

With unique floorplans, cabinets, tile and finishings, Platten’s houses are truly curated —her largest, handmade art projects — and she can’t help but make them beautiful.

UT TYLER MAGAZINE: What painting, song, film or other piece of art speaks deeply to you?

SONIA SEMONE PLATTEN: I really love Adolph Gottlieb’s paintings. His paintings are very abstract, expressionistic, minimalist and big. When you’re in a museum and you see one of them, it evokes an emotion, and I feel like that’s something successful that an abstract painting should do. I’m not saying that it’s going to speak to everybody, but it does to me.

UTTM: What motto or philosophy do you live by?

SSP: The motto that I live by is sort of what I learned in building, and that’s everything is fixable. If you have a problem, don’t dwell on it. There’s no reason to sit around worrying. If you run into a problem with work or run into this or that or the other, just move on; it’s OK.

UTTM: What was the transfer process to UT Tyler like?

SSP: I wanted to be close to home, and I had gone to TJC. It was just sort of a natural progression. Honestly, I thought UT Tyler was so beautiful, and it felt very pleasant. I really liked UT Tyler.

UTTM: What advice would you give to someone trying to pursue an art career?

SSP: I think people should pursue what they want. Eventually, even if it’s not particularly what you thought you were going to do, you’ll find your way to what you're supposed to be doing. It may be a curvy and windy road, but if your heart tells you that you need to make art, then you need to make art.

UTTM: If you could design your dream home, what would it look like?

SSP: I did design my dream home! It’s a modern in the middle of Tyler. I ended up taking this internship with an architect who had a piece of land in the middle of town. He sold the land to me, and he and I co-designed the house. I sat with him during the entire process, and then I built it.

CONTINUED FROM PG. 8

at the UT

Tyler R. Don Cowan Fine and Performing Arts Center.

“Dr. Julie Philley and her team created a most amazing experience by including students from the Culinary Arts programs from Tyler Junior College and the Tyler Independent School District throughout the event,” TJC President Juan Mejia says. “The entire program was exceptional and clearly messages the authentic partnership between our institutions, with a laser focus on providing exceptional wins for our communities.”

The students spent two days preparing salads and entrees in their learning lab on the TJC central campus.

Tyler ISD students of the Career and Technology Center Culinary Arts pro-

gram prepared the dessert. The program introduces high school students to occupations and educational opportunities related to planning, directing or coordinating activities related to food and beverages.

“At Tyler ISD, we are immensely proud of the collaboration showcased here,” says Tyler ISD Superintendent Dr. Marty Crawford. “Dr. Julie Philley and UT Tyler’s dedication to fostering real-world learning experiences for our students exemplifies the very essence of partnership. Events like these not only strengthen the bond between Tyler ISD, UT Tyler and Tyler Junior College but also ignite passion, skill and confidence in our students, preparing them for impactful futures in our community and beyond.” — BEVERLEY GOLDEN

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Homecoming 2025

BY JORDAN ZAVALA

SPRING 2025 MARKED the first UT Tyler Homecoming under President Julie V. Philley, MD, and it was one to remember.

Patriots from across campus and the community came together for a week filled with unforgettable moments and some of the most anticipated events in university history.

From the excitement of athletics matchups and the late-night tradition of Midnight Breakfast to a dazzling Night of Country Glam at the MET Gala, each event brought the spirit of UT Tyler to life.

The celebration reached new heights with a concert on Patriot Plaza featuring East Texas native Chris Colston, followed by a surprise drone show and annual fireworks finale. The week wrapped up in true East Texas fashion with a community favorite, the Circle M Crawfish Boil at Irwin Field.

Here’s a look back at the moments that made Homecoming 2025 an unforgettable season on the UT Tyler campus.

1. Students relax at the Patriot Plaza for the Chris Colston concert opener.

2. Brandon Jimenez and Elizabeth Nixon are crowned 2025 Mr. and Miss UT Tyler at the MET Gala.

3. A UT Tyler logo lights up the sky during the drone show.

4. AXO members snap a photo with Swoop at the barbecue kickoff.

5. Student engagement staff throw up their Talons at the concert.

6. Colston hits the stage for a high-energy performance.

7. President Philley celebrates Homecoming with her parents at the community crawfish boil.

CLASS NOTES

1980

Joy Marie Willadsen (BS health and physical education) was recognized as a Pinnacle Professional Member in the Inner Circle of Excellence for assisting individuals with disabilities and their families. The Inner Circle organization cited Willadsen’s work in resource advocacy with the East Texas Center for Independent Living and her commitment to helping individuals achieve the highest possible level of independence.

1986

Doris McKelvey (BS education) spent 33 years as a classroom teacher and instructional coach. The retired educator now authors inspirational novels, devotionals and self-help books, as well as educational books aimed at building confidence in young readers.

1998

Wesley Hill (BA political science) was recognized on the Thomson Reuters Texas Super Lawyers list. Hill specializes in complex litigation and has represented more than 1,100 cases in a wide range of areas such as intellectual property, trade secrets and business disputes. He recently opened his own mediation and trial consulting practice to combine his wealth of legal experience with his passion for helping others resolve disputes.

2000

Aaron Fleet (BSN) is chief nursing officer at Baylor Scott and White Texas Spine and Joint Hospital in Tyler. After graduating from UT Tyler, he worked as a staff nurse in surgical services at the former East Texas Medical Center, which is now UT Health East Texas, and Baylor Scott and White before moving into management in 2004. Fleet is a member of the American Organization for Nursing Leadership, the American College of Healthcare Executives and a lifetime member of the Association of Perioperative Registered Nurses.

2002

Starla Bickerstaff (BBA management) is the new director of organizational engagement for the East Texas Food Bank. Bickerstaff has extensive experience in East Texas in retail management, manufacturing marketing, advertising management and healthcare marketing. She has volunteered with several

SUITCASES AND SUNSHINE: ALUMNI TRAVEL PICKS

From island escapes to mountain retreats, Patriot alumni share their favorite destinations for a memorable getaway BY JORDAN ZAVALA

Athens, Greece

Athens tops the travel list for Shelby Rodriguez-Edwards ’22, a globe-trotting Patriot alum with a love for immersive culture and coastal views. “I went in September, which is considered the start of off-season, but it still had those Lena from ‘The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants’ vibes!” Rodriguez-Edwards says. “You can’t go wrong starting your trip in Athens, and then island hopping to Ios, Crete, Santorini and Mykonos.”

Playa Del Carmen, Mexico

Looking to unwind? Zachary Carder ’21 recommends Hotel Xcaret Arte, an all-inclusive resort in Playa Del Carmen known for its top-tier cuisine and family-friendly experiences. “Hotel Xcaret Arte holds a special place in my heart because it was the destination of my honeymoon, where I got to make the best memories with my wife,” he shares. “I would recommend this resort to anyone who wants to travel the world but come back fully relaxed.”

Breckinridge, Colorado

Not feeling up for a summer hot spot? Experience a Hallmark Christmas movie IRL in Breckinridge, Colorado. A travel favorite of Soules College of Business alum Kenneth Gomez ’16, Breckinridge is the perfect winter get away. “Waking up to scenic mountain views from your cozy cabin drinking your morning coffee is something everyone should experience, and Breckinridge is perfect for that,” Gomez shares.

Gomez recommends checking out Ember Restaurant, where guests can enjoy a delicious meal in heated outdoor igloos!

Playa Flamingo, Costa Rica

Just a four-hour flight from DFW, Playa Flamingo is the go-to getaway for UT Tyler alum and former Patriot Soccer player Kayla Akin ’16. With its stunning beaches, lush rainforests and signature ‘Pura Vida’ vibe, this coastal gem offers the perfect mix of adventure and relaxation. “We stayed at the Margaritaville Resort, so we spent most of our time there, but we did go ziplining and spent one afternoon on a boat,” Akin says. “If I ever go back, I want to do some hikes and hold a sloth.” Whether you’re after an all-inclusive experience or eager to immerse yourself in Costa Rica’s natural beauty, Playa Flamingo truly has it all.

groups, including the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women executive leadership team and the For the Silent organization’s Women of Hope initiative.

Elizabeth Lade (teaching certification) received the 2025 Arts in Teaching Excellence — High School Award from the Young Audiences of Northeast Texas. The award recognizes a high school arts teacher who has gone above and beyond in their field. Lade teaches fine arts at Frankston High School.

Amanda Prewitt (BA psychology) is a director of the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services’ Child Protective Investigations Program, overseeing several counties in East Texas. Prewitt began her career as a direct delivery caseworker with Child Protective Services after graduating from UT Tyler.

2003

Nicholas Cardwell (BS mechanical engineering) serves as vice president of research and development at Venus Aerospace, which is focused on developing hypersonic flight. Prior to joining Venus, Cardwell spent more than 10 years applying his technical expertise to energy, aerospace, medical device, smart city and pharmaceutical operations. He holds Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in mechanical engineering from Virginia Tech.

2004

Dr. Wendy Elmore (MA counseling psychology) was appointed president of Lamar State College Orange. Elmore served as LSCO’s chief academic officer beginning in April 2020 and played a key role in expanding degree and credential offerings, enhancing the quality of instructional programs and opening new academic centers. Elmore came to LSCO from Trinity Valley Community College, where she served as vice president of instruction and chief academic officer, associate vice president of academic affairs, director of distance learning and director of testing. She previously worked as a counselor, district assessment coordinator and math teacher at Elkhart Independent School District.

2005

Scott Brown (BS chemistry) is a foren-

sic scientist and regional manager of the Texas Department of Public Safety’s North Texas Breath Alcohol Program, which covers more than 80 counties. Brown is a member and past president of the Alcohol Testing Alliance and past president of the International Association for Chemical Testing. He also supports local youth in agriculture as a member of the Smith County Junior Livestock Show Board of Directors.

2006

Gavin Rasco (BBA; MBA 2009) is a NetSuite Solutions consultant with more than a decade of experience in enterprise resource planning systems. Rasco has worked with businesses of all sizes and industries across the country. He also serves as mayor of Lindale and is involved with First Tee of Greater Tyler.

Chris Rhundy (BA English) serves as president and partner at Southland Safety LLC, a Henderson-based consulting company providing health and job safety support to clients nationwide. Rhundy joined Southland as a technical writer in 2006, advanced to management two years later and joined the founder as a partner in 2012. He is a member of UT Tyler’s Longview University Center Development Council and chair of the Safety Committee for the Interstate Natural Gas Association of America.

2008

Hugo Ibarra (MEd educational leadership) advanced to executive director of community affairs with Bryan Independent School District, after serving as the district’s director of employee and community relations. Ibarra has more than 12 years of experience in the district and 20 years in education. His previous positions in Bryan ISD include community outreach officer, principal, assistant principal and teacher.

Corey Kellam (BA economics) is a managing attorney and partner with Sullivan Law Offices, based in Southlake. The firm provides services in business and family law and estate planning.

2009

Jenny Ryan (BA English) serves as a benefits communications specialist in the health and welfare department of Insperity, a Kingwood-based company providing full-service human resource services to small busi-

nesses. Before joining Insperity, Ryan held teaching positions in Humble Independent School District, including Kingwood High School advanced academics lead and Advanced Placement literature teacher.

2010

Amber Owen (BBA; MBA 2015) was promoted to president of Cadence Bank’s Northeast Texas division, which consists of eight branches in Tyler, Longview and Texarkana. Owen has been with Cadence and its predecessor banks for more than 25 years, rising through the ranks while gaining expertise in commercial lending, private banking, sales and credit analysis. She serves on the UT Tyler Soules College of Business Advisory Council.

2011

Jill Dutton (BS political science) is the cofounder and director of administration for CA Partners Inc., a commercial construction consulting firm. Dutton is a former Texas state representative, former Van Independent School District trustee and cofounder of the Van ISD Foundation. She is a member of Kiwanis, Rotary and Lions clubs.

Megan Riaz (BA, MA English) received the W.C. Windsor Award from the Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce for outstanding contributions to the community. As director of community affairs at Bethesda Health Clinic, Riaz oversees community outreach, public relations, donor communications and special events. She has served the clinic for six years.

2012

Dan Lee (BS industrial technology; MS industrial management 2014) is quality management systems leader at Trane Technologies. He oversees quality assurance processes for the globally integrated residential HVAC and Thermo King Americas Strategic Business units. Lee has more than a decade of experience in quality management and industrial technology.

2014

Jason Carter-Mead (BSN) serves as chief nursing officer at UT Health East Texas Rehabilitation Hospital in Tyler, overseeing clinical nursing, case management and respiratory care staffs. He also participates in several hospital initiatives, including the Belonging and

Care Council, the Patient and Family Advisory Council, and the Service Excellence Committee.

2016

Paul Ruark (BBA Marketing) is branch manager/assistant vice president of the new Cross Keys Bank in Tyler. It is the first Texas location of the bank, which has operated in Louisiana for more than 120 years. Ruark was previously employed with Texas National Bank, where he advanced from credit analyst and lender to assistant vice president.

Dr. Rachel Trammell (BS chemistry) serves as the certified chemical hygiene officer at UT Dallas. Trammell creates, develops and implements training programs for the campus and surrounding areas.

2017

Kris Bond (BBA management) is assistant project manager with Pogue Construction, a commercial and institutional construction contractor. Bond is responsible for overseeing all assigned projects from pre-construction to completion. He began his career in commercial construction management in 2018 as an assistant superintendent with Pioneer General Contractors. He joined Pogue Construction in 2019 as a project engineer and has received the company’s Outstanding Achievement and Outstanding Closeout awards.

Kyle Bond (BBA marketing) is vice president/treasury management officer for commercial banking with JPMorganChase. Based in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, Bond leads treasury services for 15 commercial bankers across four states. He began his professional career in 2018 with PNC Bank and joined JPMorganChase in 2023.

Andrea Irias (BS chemistry; MS chemistry 2022) has been employed in metalworking and HVAC industries for more than five years, focusing on improving performance and efficiency through chemical processes. Irias currently serves as research and development chemist with Metalloid Corp. and is involved with the East Texas chapter of the American Chemical Society.

2018

Kyle Kessler (BSN) serves as a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex,

specializing in online medication management and short-term therapy. Kessler worked five years as a registered nurse in inpatient psychiatry before becoming a nurse practitioner.

2019

Koree Copeland (BS industrial technology/applied engineering) is an application and sales engineer with Adams Engineers & Equipment Inc., where he designs and sells equipment for plastic manufacturers in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana.

Mary Mikule Wyscarver (BA English) serves as accounts receivable and marketing specialist for Builder’s Best Inc., an HVAC manufacturer based in Jacksonville. Her role allows her to take on both analytical and creative duties and represent the company at trade shows around the country. In her spare time, Wyscarver writes for indie video game projects. She has attended conventions in Japan and Taiwan as lead writer of Next Reality Games’ Blink, which was recognized as a notable indie game of the year.

2020

Ethan Borrero (BS human resource development) serves as HR generalist with Jasper Ventures. He began his professional career with Mercy Ships, where he was HR administrator and operations recruiter. Borrero serves on the Rose City Society for Human Resource Management Board and the Tyler Independent School District’s Career Technology Center Advisory Board.

Houston Green (BS mechanical engineering) is employed with NASA Johnson Space Center, serving as the Human Surface Mobility and Extravehicular Activity Program’s technical leader for reduced gravity environments. Green manages cost, schedule and upgrades for the Active Response Gravity Offload System Project and the Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory, which tests the Lunar Terrain Vehicle and space suits. He also writes system requirements for gravity offload capabilities to test and train astronauts for upcoming Artemis missions.

2021

Donald “Donny” Booth (MBA) was appointed by Gov. Greg Abbott to the Texas Emergency Medical Council, which recommends changes to the

EMS/Trauma System to ensure communities receive comprehensive and efficient emergency care. Booth is CEO of Permian Regional Medical Center and a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives and Texas Nurses Association.

Dan Brodsky (MS human resource development) is a trainer, speaker and relationship builder with experience spanning technology, manufacturing, higher education and athletics. He currently serves as an organizational trainer at UT Austin.

Amy Dawson (BSN) serves as clinical director of Same Day Surgery and the Post-Anesthesia Care Unit at CHRISTUS Good Shepherd Longview. She received the Transformational Leader of the Year Award in 2023.

Jennifer Roth (MSN/MBA) advanced to chief nursing executive and senior vice president of patient care services at Children’s Hospital Colorado. She also was promoted to the Dr. Dori Biester Chair in pediatric nursing. Roth joined the hospital in 2003 and has served in a variety of direct care and leadership roles, most recently as vice president and associate chief nursing officer of acute care and clinical services.

2022

Jamie Jack Dowell (Executive MBA healthcare management) became director of hospital operations for CHRISTUS Good Shepherd Health System in 2024, after serving as director of the health system’s project management office. Dowell is currently responsible for managing hospital leadership and ancillary teams, strategic growth and operational improvements.

Dr. Heather Guest (PhD nursing) was named Abilene regional dean for the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Nursing. Guest joined the faculty in 2014 as an instructor in the traditional undergraduate program and was named interim regional dean in 2024.

Courtney Southwick (MS health sciences) is a writer and blogger focusing on health, nutrition, disease and the history of medical science. Her work has been published in EatingWell, Health, HealthNews and Livestrong.

2023

Toni Lopez (EdD school improvement) was named superintendent of Pasadena Independent School District. Lopez has 28 years of experience as an educational leader with a history of creating high functioning teams. She began her career in Pasadena ISD as a teacher and progressed into leadership roles, including principal, executive director of curriculum and instruction, associate superintendent of human resources, and deputy superintendent of staff and academic achievement.

Carson Nichols (BS chemical engineering) is a chemical engineer at Eastman Chemical Co. in Longview, working in process improvement for one of the company’s hydrocarbon cracking plants.

Jessica Parsons (BFA), a visual arts teacher at Crocket Elementary School in Marshall, received the Rising Star Award from Young Audiences of Northeast Texas. The award recognizes arts educators demonstrating excellence in their first three years of teaching. Parsons enjoys helping students discover their artistic voice and believes everyone is an artist. She reaffirms this by inspiring students to make connections between art and other subjects through an environment where learning and creativity go hand in hand.

2024

Megan Jameson (BS mechanical engineering) is a mechanical engineer with Eastman Chemical Co., where she is a member of the engineering and reliability services team. Her responsibilities

span from day-to-day reactionary repairs to proactive reliability upgrades aimed at extending the lifespan of equipment.

George C. Romfh (MSN informatics) serves as a telemetry nurse at Texas Health and Vascular Arlington, specializing in bedside care, telehealth, program management and telemetry services.

Marangeli Lopez Santiago (MBA) is a news director at CBS 19 KYTX in Tyler, where she created the Spanish language newscast CBS 19 Unidos.

Dr. Joyce Elaine Ballard

HEALTH & KINESIOLOGY PROFESSOR DEVOTED DECADES TO TEACHING AND OSTEOPOROSIS RESEARCH

DR. JOYCE ELAINE BALLARD , UT Tyler professor emeritus of health and kinesiology, passed away on Jan. 27. A longtime resident of Tyler, Ballard spent her last few years in Saranac, Michigan, near her family. She was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Ballard graduated from Cedar Springs High School as valedictorian,

attended Spring Arbor College and then moved on to Greenville College. She received her master’s degree from Kent State University and PhD from The University of Illinois.

She served on the UT Tyler faculty for most of her career and spent many years conducting osteoporosis research, producing numerous publications. Ballard

BALLARD DID NOT HAVE CHILDREN OF HER OWN, BUT HER “KIDS” WERE HER STUDENTS, WHOM SHE SPENT COUNTLESS HOURS MENTORING AND ENCOURAGING.

did not have children of her own, but her “kids” were her students, whom she spent countless hours mentoring and encouraging. She loved exercising and led a women’s exercise group at the university every morning for many years. Ballard was an avid sports fan and loved attending games. In fact, she taught for six years at Pasadena City College in California and had season tickets to the Dodgers. Her favorite NBA team was the Golden State Warriors, and she watched and “coached” them religiously late into the night. She also loved the opera and frequented productions while teaching near Chicago and Dallas. Ballard enjoyed traveling around the world with friends and took a mission trip to Russia. While residing in Tyler, she attended Green Acres Baptist Church and, later, First Baptist Church, where she sang in the choir.

FACULTY

BILLIE BOYD HARTLEY

TYLER CIVIC LEADER WAS A DEDICATED MEMBER OF THE UT TYLER COWAN CENTER ADVISORY BOARD

BILLIE BOYD HARTLEY , who served on the UT Tyler Cowan Center Advisory Board from its inception, passed away on Jan. 23. Born in Chandler on Groundhog Day, Hartley was the fifth of six children.

Hartley attended Chandler schools, graduating as high school valedictorian. She attended Tyler Junior College, where she was an Apache Belle. North Texas University in Denton was her choice for obtaining a bachelor’s degree with a double major in business and secondary education. Her first career, though brief, was teaching business subjects in high school. She found her true calling working at the original Tyler Bank & Trust as an administrative assistant to W.A. Pounds. Through her work at Tyler Bank & Trust, she met state of Texas bank examiner B.G. “Bill” Hartley. They were married for almost 60 years, and she helped him establish Tyler’s first suburban bank, Southside Bank. The couple shared a love of travel and attended events throughout the nation in support of banking interests.

Hartley loved the Texas Rose Festival, chairing the Coronation in 1982 and working on festival committees through the years. She served as president of the Tyler Rose Museum for 20 years and was a longtime member of the Women’s Symphony League, the TJC Foundation Board and the Marion Wilcox Jr. Garden Club. She was a member of Marvin Methodist Church.

The University of Texas at Tyler family also pays tribute to the memory of:

FACULTY & STAFF

Dorothy J. Adrian Office of the Registrar (Retired) Aug. 31, 2024

James W. Anderson

Physical Plant (Retired) Oct. 13, 2024

Curtis C. Bradshaw Office of Financial Aid (Retired) March 8, 2025

Patsy J. Fernandez Office of Human Resources Dec. 16, 2024

Gary C. Hatcher

Department of Art and Art History (Retired) March 3, 2025

Roger W. Mitchell

Department of Mathematics (Retired) Nov. 25, 2024

Charles “Steve” Petrovich Jr. University Police Department (Retired) Nov. 10, 2024

ALUMNI

Marci Lynn Parrott Chaddick ’94 Jan. 4, 2025

Doris “Tena” Delafield ’79 Nov. 3, 2024

Elizabeth Lou Halpain ’00 Oct. 3, 2024

Grady Duane Ivy ’87 Nov. 8, 2024

Susan Lynn Kinney ’90 Oct. 19, 2024

Joanne Lewis Kirkland ’77 Oct. 13, 2024

James “Jim” Russell Palmer III ’85 Sept. 7, 2024

Charles Alfred Williamson ’92 Dec. 20, 2024

FIFTY YEARS AND COUNTING!

As we celebrate the School of Nursing’s 50th anniversary, this image from the ’70s shows the early days.

PHOTO BY JONATHAN MCSWAIN