UT Tyler Fall 2024 Magazine

Sixth UT Tyler President Julie V. Philley, MD, receives the university mace from UT System Chancellor James B. Milliken during her investiture ceremony.

PHOTO BY CHARLES ESCAMILLA

Committed To East Texas

SERVING AS THE SIXTH president of The University of Texas at Tyler is truly the honor of a lifetime. I am so grateful for the support of UT System Board of Regents Chairman Kevin Eltife and Chancellor James Milliken for giving me this incredible opportunity.

I returned to East Texas in 2012 to take a position at what was then the UT Health Science Center at Tyler. I grew up in Overton, Texas, the second of five children. My parents still live in Overton, and my siblings are also local. I went to Tyler Junior College before heading to Texas Woman’s University and then McGovern Medical School at UT Health Houston. I have a strong heart for East Texas because East Texas made me. So, coming “home” was an easy decision, especially because it included an opportunity to give back to the region that has given so much to me.

The opportunity to help build on the incredible academic and health care foundations strategically laid by my predecessors is a privilege I don’t take lightly. Since I took office on June 1, 2024, I have been actively listening to students, UT Tyler colleagues, alumni, donors and our external partners to further develop our plans for the future.

One thing I can say with complete certainty is that we are going to continue to focus on what matters … providing our East Texas neighbors with

opportunities through higher education, educating the workforce of East Texas, taking care of patients and training the next generation of doctors, nurses and pharmacists to do the same.

We are going to continue to serve East Texas. We are here to make others successful, and we must work together to make that happen.

That means expanding our partnerships with communities, colleges and universities, our alumni, business leaders, school districts and other stakeholders.

Together, we will continue to make a difference.

I hope you enjoy this issue of UT Tyler Magazine, where we highlight numerous examples of faculty, staff, students and alumni who are making an impact on East Texas and beyond.

With Patriot Pride,

BEHIND THE LINES

Danielle Joubert

A photographer, videographer and writer from New England’s Merrimack Valley, Joubert has been a multimedia producer with UT Tyler since 2021. When she’s not working in higher education media, she enjoys movie marathons, morning gym sessions and spending time with her two cats.

Julie V. Philley, MD President,

UT Tyler

Ford is an award-winning photographer whose work has appeared on the cover of Time Magazine and more than 20 Texas Monthly covers. He has been commissioned by hundreds of leading brands, including AnheuserBusch, Comcast, Frito-Lay, L.L. Bean, Pepsi and Yeti, and has worked with iconic ad agencies across the U.S.

Randal Ford

CONTENTS

Investiture of Julie V. Philley, MD

SIXTH PRESIDENT OF UT TYLER

BY BEVERLEY GOLDEN

IN THE WORDS of Dr. Julie V. Philley, “something is happening

On Oct. 1, 2024, hundreds of students, faculty and staff, community leaders and dignitaries from across the state joined in the celebration as Philley was officially installed as the sixth president of The University of Texas at Tyler.

Investiture activities included a reception for donors and friends of UT Tyler as well as celebrations at each of UT Tyler’s five campuses for students, faculty and staff.

Among the many well-wishers who attended the investiture ceremony were elected officials, presidents and representatives from Texas colleges and universities, and UT System

ڿ FACING PAGE: President Philley proudly accepts the university mace during the ceremony to install her as the sixth president.

→ FROM TOP: Former UT Tyler presidents Kirk A. Calhoun, MD, (left) and President Emeritus Rodney H. Mabry (right) celebrate the investiture with President Philley.

President Philley helps serve drinks at the investiture campus celebration.

(Bottom left) President Philley with two of her nephews at the investiture reception.

(Bottom right) Richard Lee shares smiles with his wife, President Philley, and their niece.

THE COMMITMENT IS TO KEEP OUR EYE ON THE BALL OF WHAT MATTERS — OUR STUDENTS AND THEIR SUCCESS.”

DR. JULIE V. PHILLEY UT Tyler President

leaders and regents, including Board of Regents Chairman Kevin P. Eltife and Chancellor James B. Milliken.

Philley’s husband, Maestro Richard Lee, music director for the East Texas Symphony Orchestra and artistic director for the Tyler Civic Chorale, sang “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

Texas Senator and UT Tyler alum Bryan Hughes ’93 was also present and contributed to the program by leading the song “God Bless America.”

During her remarks, Philley mentioned the challenges education faces today and how “it is now more important than ever to understand who we are and what we do.”

“As the sixth president of UT Tyler, I am planting a flag,” Philley says. “The commitment is to keep our eye on the ball of what matters — our students and their success.”

← President

welcomes

↑ From left, Dr. Svetislava Vukelja, Amy Faulconer, Richard Lee, President Philley and LaVerne Gollob.

Philley

guests at a celebration for friends of UT Tyler.

Chancellor

Every UT Tyler student deserves a high-quality education for a fair price in a timely fashion, according to Philley. They should leave UT Tyler empowered to do good in the world and to be proud of the university.

UT Tyler announced a record enrollment for fall 2024 with more than 10,500 students, including the second class of the School of Medicine.

“I want our patients to benefit from having medical programs that teach not just science but the art of easing human suffering,” she says.

UT Tyler’s programs are nationally and internationally recognized for excellence, and students continue to excel in academics, athletics and community service.

“There is something happening here,” Philley says, “and I’m honored to be a part of it.”

↑ TOP LEFT: Chairman Eltife serves as emcee for the investiture.

BOTTOM LEFT:

James B. Milliken bestows the university medallion on President Philley.

↗ FROM TOP: Sen. Bryan Hughes leads the closing song, “God Bless America.”

President Philley smiles as she prepares to share her vision for UT Tyler's future.

Perfect Success

UT TYLER STUDENTS ACHIEVE 100% PASS RATE ON NATIONAL COUNSELOR EXAM

BY HANNAH BUCHANAN

THE UNIVERSITY RECEIVED a 100% pass rate on the National Counselor Examination for 2023. The overall national pass rate was 91%.

Designed to assess the knowledge, skills and abilities determined to be important for providing effective counseling services, the NCE is a requirement for counselor licensure in Texas.

“These scores show how excellent our students are in the clinical mental health counseling program and the high quality of education they receive from our counseling faculty,” says Dr. Amy Roberson Hayes, associate professor in the UT Tyler Department of Psychology and Counseling. “Our counseling program is a true gem that is working to prepare the next mental health professionals to serve our East Texas community.”

The exam covers various topics including professional counseling orientation and ethical practice, human growth and development, career development, counseling relationships, assessment and testing, and research and program evaluation.

Housed in the UT Tyler College of Education and Psychology, the 60-credit-hour, graduate-level program is professionally accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs. CACREP accreditation reflects the program’s rigorous structure in preparation for licensure, emphasis on personal and professional development and coursework integrating mental health, research, service and advocacy with the goal of serving a broad range of populations.

Beginning with their first day in class, students at UT Tyler learn to put their knowledge into practice, completing 100 hours of hands-on training in clinical skills and 600 supervised hours working with real clients in various community settings around Tyler and East Texas. Guiding and mentoring students throughout the program, UT Tyler faculty are practicing counselors, skilled teachers, active scholars, innovative researchers and engaged members of the local community. Students gain detailed insight into the counseling profes-

AMONG THE NATION’S BEST

Fortune 100 Places UT Tyler Online MBA Program in Top 30

The university’s online Master of Business Administration programs are ranked 29th nationwide by Fortune Magazine, as noted on the publication’s “Best Online MBA Programs in 2024” list. ¶ UT Tyler is one of only two UT System academic institutions among the top 30 ranks this year. The university rose in the rankings from No. 46 last year. ¶ “This

recognition by Fortune Magazine is a testimony to the quality of our programs and our dedicated Soules College of Business faculty, who prepare the next generation of business leaders and professionals in the East Texas region and beyond,” says Dr. Amir Mirmiran, UT Tyler provost and chief academic officer. ¶ An accredited member of the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, the Soules College of Business provides an affordable and flexible MBA degree that can be completed in just one year. AACSB accreditation represents the highest standard of achievement for business schools worldwide. Only 25%

sion, from supporting clients to current issues, all while receiving guidance regarding licensure and entering the field. Graduates of the program can find jobs in numerous fields and a wide variety of settings such as a public clinic, private practice, major corporation or a school. Career fields include mental health, marriage and family, school counseling, and employee relations and retention.

of business schools nationwide and 5% of business schools worldwide have received this distinction. ¶ Students in the UT Tyler MBA program develop corporate leadership ability in an increasingly complex and dynamic global society by enhancing their knowledge, managerial skills and perspective. The broad, integrated curriculum provides students an opportunity to gain understanding of the major facets of multinational business operations in a competitive environment. ¶ UT Tyler online MBA concentrations include marketing, cyber security, health care management and a generalist track, among others. — HB

‘Imagine! Dream! Believe!’

COWAN CENTER PRESENTS STAR-STUDDED SHOWS FOR 28TH SEASON

BY HANNAH BUCHANAN

↓ "Pretty Woman: The Musical" takes the Cowan Center stage on March 12, 2025.

FOR THE 28TH SEASON, the UT Tyler R. Don Cowan Fine and Performing Arts Center presents major Broadway productions, roof-raising concerts, shows with magic and acrobatics, children’s programs and distinguished lectures by television talents.

The 2024-25 “Imagine! Dream! Believe!” season includes the national tours of Broadway musicals “Ain’t Too Proud — The Life and Times of The Temptations,” “Pretty Woman — The Musical” and “The Cher Show” as well as a lecture by Jane Pauley and a “Beatles to Bourbon Street” concert by The Fabulous Equinox Orchestra.

Each season features four subscription series — the Cowan Center’s signature Performing Arts Series, the Broadway Series, the BIG Series and the Distinguished Lecture Series. Arts in Education shows are also offered, targeting younger audiences and jointly presented by the Cowan Center with Young Audiences of Northeast Texas and the Discover y Science Place.

All events are performed in the Cowan Center, located on the UT Tyler main campus.

For tickets and additional information about this season’s events, visit cowancenter.org.

CONSTRUCTION

Breaking Ground

LONGVIEW UNIVERSITY CENTER EXPANSION TO SUPPORT ONGOING GROWTH

BY HANNAH BUCHANAN

UT TYLER HELD a groundbreaking ceremony recently for the expansion of the Longview University Center. Completion is set for fall 2025.

The 10,144-square-foot annex will add a 65-person classroom, multipurpose lab space, nursing skills and health assessment labs, and centralized study spaces. The new facility allows for the expansion of bachelor’s and graduate degree programs in Longview and Gregg County.

“This is one more way to bring higher education to the Longview community, to Gregg County and hopefully serve so many students,” says UT Board of Regents Chairman Kevin P. Eltife.

UT Tyler President Julie V. Philley, MD, says the expansion will allow the university to introduce new nursing and science programs “and increase our presence in Longview, helping meet education needs and provide more support for health care services across the region.”

The new building will particularly contribute to the continued growth and expansion of the LUC nursing program, which is projected to see an increased enrollment by 20% minimally over the next two years.

The expansion will also provide shared classroom space for LUC-Kilgore College partnership programs and dual enrollment instruction for the University Academy charter school campus in Longview.

The Longview University Center offers students in Longview and Gregg County cost-saving convenience, greater flexibility in scheduling their classes and reduced travel expenses, all while receiving a UT Tyler degree. LUC currently offers nursing and industrial technology degree completion courses as well as education and business management courses.

From year-round classes to an easily accessible location, the Longview campus means that those interested in completing their bachelor’s degree close to home can fulfill their goals around their schedule.

LUC’s transfer partnership with Kilgore College creates a seamless experience as students finish their associate degree and apply their earned credits toward a bachelor’s through UT Tyler. Additionally, many UT Tyler scholarships and those specific to students taking courses in Longview are offered to undergraduate students.

SBDC OF THE YEAR

Top Honors for UT Tyler-Longview Small Business Development Center

↑ The new annex will allow for expanded degree programs in Gregg County.

The UT Tyler-Longview Small Business Development Center was named the 2024 “SBDC of the Year” for the North Texas region by the U.S. Small Business Administration. ¶ The SBA annually recognizes SBDCs in its network that embody excellence in work conduct and advocacy, as well as performance metrics and objectives. The UT Tyler-Longview SBDC provides no-cost consulting and advising services to up-andcoming entrepreneurs and small businesses in Gregg, Harrison, Marion, Rusk, Panola and Upshur counties. ¶ “This award reflects the significant impact the UT Tyler Longview-SBDC has in the region it serves,” says Dr. Krist Swimberghe, dean of the UT Tyler Soules College of Business. “My congratulations go out to Day Shelmire, Brandy Flanagan, Virgel Conner and Lindsay Arden, who are the ‘boots on the ground’ and responsible for this success.” ¶ Last year, the center helped clients start 49 businesses, aided small businesses with infusing more than $10.9 million in capital and invested more than 2,400 advising hours toward small business assistance. Team members were recognized earlier this year at an awards ceremony hosted by the SBA North Texas regional office in Hurst.¶ “I am so proud of my team for making this award possible,” says Shelmire, center director. “Their passion for small business and compassion for their clients is palpable, and this accolade reflects their hard work for the entrepreneurs and small business owners of East Texas.” —HB

After studying American Sign Language all four years of high school and visiting with audiologists at the Galveston-Brazoria Cooperative for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Allison Schwartz knew exactly what she wanted to do in college: study communication sciences and disorders and play tennis.

Her search for a college that offered both of her passions led her to UT Tyler. Schwartz was already familiar with the university because of her cousin — a former student-athlete for Patriot soccer — but touring the campus and meeting the women’s tennis team solidified her decision to attend. ¶ “It was the perfect place for me,

and I really clicked with the team,” says Schwartz. ¶

Joining the Honors College and taking rigorous courses on top of a busy training schedule made for an intense first semester. While the honors classes were grueling, Schwartz found them to be the most memorable. ¶ “We got into some interesting conversations,” says Schwartz. “Every-

teammates and students helped create a safe space where she could grow and develop time management skills that would serve her throughout her college years. ¶ “I've struggled with time management, but I learned that if you get your work done early and don't procrastinate, it will help tremendously,” says Schwartz. ¶ Her friendship with Chloe Dix, former Student Government Association president and women’s tennis team member, also propelled Schwartz to consider joining SGA. Schwartz first served as SGA senator for the Honors College before running for president in 2024. ¶ “Chloe got me involved in a lot of things that really helped to enhance my college experience,” says Schwartz. “She pushed me to get involved on campus and in the community, and I appreciate her for that.” ¶ That push to get students involved on campus is Schwartz’s main goal as SGA president. She hopes to create a more involved and united student body by encouraging them to attend more athletic, Greek life and student engagement events.

¶ “I think it's important for me to get everybody more involved because UT Tyler is such a fun campus,” says Schwartz. ¶

EDUCATION

UT Tyler Communication Sciences & Disorders 2022–2025

Clear Springs High School, League City, TX 2018–2022

one shared their opinions and listened. I ended up really loving the people.” ¶ Schwartz also joined the National Student Speech Language Hearing Association and the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. At first, she struggled to balance her classes, extracurriculars and vibrant social life. But relationships she made with professors,

After graduating in 2025, Schwartz plans to pursue a doctoral degree in audiology. While she hopes to move to Dallas to attend graduate school, she eventually wants to return to Tyler. The impact of UT Tyler and the Tyler community has had a lasting effect on Schwartz, helping her to develop academically and personally. ¶

“It’s like a family here. You get the sense that professors, staff and classmates care about you. I’ll miss that when I graduate,” says Schwartz.

– SYDNEY BAKER

ACTIVITIES

UT Tyler Student Government Association

President and Former Senator, 2023-2025

Women’s Tennis Team Member, 2022-2023 Team Captain, 2023-2025

Student-Athlete Advisory Committee President, 2023-2025

National Student Speech Language Hearing Association

Member, 2022-2025 President, 2023-2024

Engineering Excellence

CELEBRATING A YEAR OF ACHIEVEMENTS

BY HANNAH BUCHANAN

THE UT TYLER College of Engineering celebrated various highlights throughout the year, including student achievements in civil and mechanical engineering. Dean Javier Kypuros will serve among his peers in an integral appointment, and students once again flourished in national contests.

Kypuros was appointed vice chair of the national Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology's Academic Advisory Council, serving through Oct. 31, 2025. With this appointment, he will then serve as chair from Nov. 1, 2025, through Oct. 31, 2027.

ABET is a certified quality assurance organization focused on college and university programs in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics disciplines. The ABET Academic Advisory Council provides a formal means for the academic community to share its perspective, give advice and communicate with ABET leadership.

“We congratulate Dean Kypuros on this appointment,” says Dr. Amir Mirmiran, provost and chief academic officer. “I am confident he will serve the council extremely well with his talents and technical knowledge.”

WE CONGRATULATE DEAN KYPUROS ON THIS APPOINTMENT. I AM CONFIDENT HE WILL SERVE THE COUNCIL EXTREMELY WELL WITH HIS TALENTS AND TECHNICAL KNOWLEDGE.”

DR. AMIR MIRMIRAN

UT Tyler Provost and Chief Academic Officer

U.S. Department of Energy Innovation Contest

UT Tyler students excelled in the collegiate track of the 2024 U.S. Department of Energy American-Made Community Energy Innovation Competition. The contest concluded in June with the third and final impact phase in which the top three collegiate teams competed for a share of the $100,000 grand prize.

Representing the UT Tyler main campus, the Greener CASA team placed first, winning $45,000 for their community partner, the Monarca Initiative, by creating an academia-community partnership to bring free energy audits to underserved communities to promote energy efficiency.

Representing the UT Tyler Houston Engineering Center, the GreenSynergy team placed third, winning $25,000 for their community partner, Houston Community College, by integrating clean energy into education, utilizing solar panels, fuels cells and other technologies to foster learning and sustainability.

“We congratulate our two teams of mechanical engineering students, led by Dr. Nelson Fumo and Dr. Mohammad Biswas, and their community partners,” Kypuros says. “Their concepts show exemplary teamwork, use of technology and collaboration to help improve and benefit communities in need.”

Concrete Canoe Regionals, Nationals

In dominating fashion, UT Tyler once again placed first at regionals and in the top 10 nationally at the American Soci-

← Dean Javier Kypuros to serve key role with ABET.

ety of Civil Engineers Concrete Canoe Competition.

The university placed ninth overall out of 25 teams at nationals this year, taking seventh place in technical paper, ninth in oral presentation, eighth in final product, sixth in co-ed sprint, seventh in women’s sprint and 10th in women’s slalom. UT Tyler represented ASCE Region 6, the largest region worldwide, which consists of schools from Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico and Mexico.

“Ranking top 10 in the nation in backto-back years is very impressive,” says Dr. Matthew Vechione, UT Tyler assistant professor and ASCE faculty adviser. “This was actually the first time we’ve ever been in the top 10 in any of the races at nationals, too. I’m so proud of our group.”

The UT Tyler ASCE student chapter advanced to nationals by winning the 2024 Texas-Mexico Regional Concrete Canoe Competition with their entry, “The Tyler Rose.” At the annual competition, collegiate teams build canoes out of concrete and are judged in four categories — technical report, oral presentation, canoe final product and racing.

“Our students’ consistent top 10 finishes at the national level underscore the exceptional quality of education and hands-on experience provided by our program,” says Dr. Mena Souliman, UT Tyler Ronald D. Brazzel Endowed Professor of Civil Engineering and department chair. “Their achievements reflect not only their hard work and dedication but also the strong support and mentorship from our faculty. We are thrilled to see them represent UT Tyler and Region 6 with such distinction.”

Steel Bridge Regionals, Nationals

Students at the UT Tyler Houston Engineering Center placed first in cost estimation and third in aesthetics at the American Institute of Steel Construction's 2024 Student Steel Bridge Competition National Finals.

They qualified to compete by placing among the top four teams in the steel bridge competition at the American Society of Civil Engineers Region 6 Symposium with their entry, “UT Tyler–HEC.”

The team earned first in cost estimation, second in lightness and third in aesthetics and construction speed. Collegiate teams build steel bridges under a time limit and are judged in various categories.

“This incredible accomplishment is a testament to the dedication, hard work and talent of our remarkable team members,” says Dr. Yasser Mahgoub, UT Tyler professor of instruction and Houston Engineering Center director. “We also extend our deepest gratitude to the college and civil engineering and construction management departments for their unwavering support and encouragement throughout this journey.”

Nearly 45 out of almost 200 teams across North America this year advanced to the SSBC national finals, which is organized by AISC in collaboration with ASCE. Outstanding overall performance in regional competitions qualifies eligible teams for nationals.

↑ The UT Tyler HEC won first-place regional and national awards in the AISC Student Steel Bridge Competition.

↑ UT Tyler placed first regionally and in the top 10 nationally in the ASCE Concrete Canoe Competition.

Pathways to East Texas

MOBILE UNIT AIMS TO CULTIVATE INTEREST IN MEDICAL CAREERS

BY ELIZABETH WINGFIELD

EAST TEXAS is 28,000 square miles of rolling terrain cloaked in dense greenery, ensconced in the upper right corner of the state.

From the bayous and wetlands in the south to the tangled, lush forests in the north, the region is often referred to as the “Piney Woods.” Its history is as unique as its geography, with notable highlights including the oil derricks and Rangerettes of Kilgore, the roses of Tyler, the rich past of Nacogdoches, the hot air balloons of Longview and the holiday lights of Marshall.

Despite these differences, a few things are ubiquitous throughout the region: hu-

midity, sweet tea, southern hospitality and perhaps most importantly, 15,044 miles of roads that connect it all. Just as roads connect the farthest reaches of East Texas, the School of Medicine’s new Pathways Explorer mobile unit aims to create new pathways — bridging gaps and connecting young minds with the possibilities of a career in medicine.

The Pathways Early Assurance Program is designed to develop a pipeline of future physicians by developing local talent, ensuring they have the resources to pursue a career in medicine. The mission of the mobile unit is to bring an educational, immer-

↑ UT Tyler launches the Pathways Explorer mobile unit with a presentation and tours.

sive experience in medicine to everyone in East Texas, inspiring the next generation of health care professionals.

Recognizing that career aspirations often start early, the team at the School of Medicine wanted to inspire young minds even before they reached high school.

“Studies show that the biggest limiting factor to people going to medical school is believing that they can’t,” says Dr. Gisele Armond Abron, associate dean of admissions. “We wanted to inspire the young minds of East Texas to believe in their own potential.”

Some of East Texas’ more rural counties have as few as 12 people per square mile, compared to the national average of 94. Students in these areas have little to no exposure to physicians, even as patients. One of the primary goals of the mobile unit is to provide students with a hands-on experience in medicine.

Every element of the Pathways Explorer was designed with precision, from the color-changing double helix lighting on the ceiling to the patient bed for a robotic mannequin that simulates heart attacks, strokes or seizures. The mobile unit features six iPad stations, a touchscreen TV and various anatomical models. A lift in the back of the mobile unit ensures that those using wheelchairs or crutches can participate.

The Pathways Explorer can offer a variety of experiences — from show and tell for kindergartners to advanced simulations for undergraduate students — and is free for anyone in the community to reserve at this time.

1

The pinnacle of the experience is trying on a white coat or scrubs from one of the Pathway Explorer’s lockers. Creating this mental image is crucial; it transforms the barrier of “I can't” into a vision of “I can.” No matter where someone is from or the connections they have, any student in East Texas can pursue their dream.

The Pathways Explorer was given its first test drive in May when it visited Jack Elementary School in Tyler, accompanied by four medical students and two residents. More than 400 students ventured through the mobile unit. “My favorite part was seeing their excitement,” recalls second-year medical student Alishbah Khan. She’ll never forget the light in their eyes when they heard their friend’s heartbeat through a stethoscope.

“The best part of the Pathways Explorer is the hands-on experience — the simulations, the anatomy models,” she continues. “Hands are made for building, crafting, touching. You know the value of something when you get to hold it in your hands.”

It’s not just about providing a path to health care; it’s about creating a network of opportunities throughout every East Texas county, no matter how rural or remote. In doing so, the Pathways Explorer will lay the groundwork for a more connected community, one road and one student at a time.

To learn more about the Pathways Explorer and how to reserve it, contact the School of Medicine at sompathways@uttyler.edu.

RENOWNED GUEST

Dr. Kenneth Cooper, ‘Father of Aerobics,’ Highlights Public Health Week

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 this year. Events included a discussion on healthy aging by Dr. Kenneth H. Cooper, the best-selling author of “Aerobics” and founder of Cooper Aerobics. ¶ In the 1950s, it was theorized that being too athletic could cause the heart muscle to become fatty upon cessation of exercise. Cooper worked to dispel this myth by pioneering the concept of aerobics in the United States, earning the title “Father of Aerobics.” Seventy-six percent of diseases and 45% of cancers are preventable, and the key to prevention can be determined by lifestyle choices, including exercise, says Cooper, who is board certified in preventive medicine. ¶ Now 93, the Oklahoma City native has lectured in more than 50 countries and authored 19 books. He trained the Brazilian soccer team using aerobics, leading them to the 1970 World Cup Victory. ¶ “Dr. Cooper’s expertise in healthy aging is a valuable asset to the East Texas community,” says Dr. Theresa Byrd, School of Health Professions founding dean. “We were honored that he would come to Tyler to share his insights.” — EW

← President Julie V. Philley, MD, makes remarks during the Pathways Explorer launch.

Lisa King Baker’s $1.87 Million Gift to UT Tyler

A LEGACY OF COMMUNITY, COMPASSION AND CARE

BY ELIZABETH WINGFIELD

LISA KING BAKER is making a transformative impact on the future of health care in East Texas with a planned estate gift of $1.87 million to the UT Tyler School of Medicine.

“Lisa’s gift and her heart represent a defining quality of East Texas — helping others any way you can,” says President Julie V. Philley. “We are incredibly grateful for her generosity and the difference it will make in our community.”

Having grown up in Tyler and witnessed firsthand the influence of the medical industry, Baker feels a deep connection to the mission of the School of Medicine. Her decision is rooted in her personal experiences, shaped by witnessing her father’s long struggle with kidney failure.

Baker’s gift is not only a tribute to her father’s memory but also a reflection of her commitment to ensuring that others in her community have access to health care opportunities.

When she was growing up, her father cooked barbecue so often that she would frequently ask, “Are we having barbecue again?” He often sang in choir, hosted dinners for friends and led a support group. Most importantly, he dearly loved his daughter and wife — or “the girl of his dreams,” as he called her in a 1992 Tyler Morning Telegraph story.

After experiencing a dysfunctional childhood, he was determined to give Baker a better start. No matter what had happened, she always went to her dad first. He was her safe space, free of judgment and criticism.

During her middle school years in the early '70s, she worked at East Texas Medical Center, now UT Health East Texas, as a candy striper — or a teen hospital volunteer. The position was named after the red-and-white pinstriped uniforms they wore. Baker would deliver drinks and books to patients and worked in the gift shop, physical therapy and X-ray department.

As a high school student, she often rode her bike four miles to Robert. E Lee High School, now known as Tyler Legacy High School. She loved performing as a Southern Belle on the school’s drill team. During lunch breaks, the seniors would go to McDonald’s or the newly built indoor mall for Chick-fil-A. On Friday nights, one of their favorite pastimes was driving up and down Broadway and

LISA’S GIFT AND HER HEART REPRESENT A DEFINING QUALITY OF EAST TEXAS — HELPING OTHERS

ANY WAY YOU CAN.”

DR. JULIE V. PHILLEY

President

around the brick streets of Tyler City Square.

The square featured a tiny gingerbread house named “Santa’s House” during the holidays, a gravestone dedicated to Shorty the Squirrel and a plethora of upscale clothing stores and movie theaters. Children would often pour bubble solution into the fountain, filling the vicinity with the iridescent, ephemeral spheres.

Baker left Tyler shortly after high school to complete a degree in accounting at Southern Methodist University in Dallas. After living in San Diego, she was living in Olympia, Washington, when her father was put on dialysis. A few years prior, he had suffered from unusually high blood pressure. At the time, the doctors had determined that additional medication was the best treatment, eventually leading to the deterioration of both kidneys.

In 1992, Baker moved back to Tyler to be close to her family as her father waited for a kidney transplant. “Every time the phone rang, our hearts would jump, and we would think, ‘Is this the call?’” she says. CONTINUED ON P. 45

COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP

UT Tyler and CHRISTUS Join Forces for Medical Student Rotations

The UT Tyler School of Medicine is partnering with CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Health System to enrich medical students’ education while increasing health care accessibility in East Texas. ¶ This collaboration, beginning January 2025, will provide UT Tyler medical students with real, hands-on experience through rotations at CHRISTUS hospitals and clinics across Tyler and the broader region. ¶ “We are proud to bring our resources and expertise together in this endeavor, demonstrating our ongoing commitment to elevating health care standards and expanding access,” says Dr. Andrea Cooley, medical director of simulation and director of clinical clerkships in the UT Tyler School of Medicine. “As we move forward, we are inspired by the potential of our students and physicians to make a lasting impact on the communities we serve.” ¶ This partnership will give students the opportunity to learn directly from CHRISTUS physicians, increasing

their exposure to rural health care settings. ¶ The 12-month rotations will feature an emphasis on primary care, which serves as the first point of contact for patients and provides comprehensive, ongoing care. This includes preventive services, management of chronic illnesses and coordination of specialist care. Training in this area will give students valuable experience in delivering essential health services that address a wide range of health issues and promote overall wellness in the community. ¶ Dr. Brent Wadle, institute chair for primary care at CHRISTUS Trinity Clinic, emphasizes the importance of this focus. “Studying primary care gives these students the opportunity to become interested in primary care and showcases the benefits to them of practicing in rural areas,” Wadle says. “In the end, patients in East Texas stand to benefit, as we aim to not only train the students in East Texas but retain them once they graduate." ¶ By integrating real-world clinical experiences with the school’s rigorous academic programs, this initiative is set to better prepare students to meet and exceed the health care needs of communities throughout East Texas. Through this collaborative effort, UT Tyler and CHRISTUS are set to cultivate a healthier future, ensuring that the next generation of medical professionals is well-equipped to serve their communities with excellence and compassion. —EW

STUDENT PROFILE

Changing Gears

DAKOTA

SMITH’S

JOURNEY FROM CRANE OPERATOR TO PHARMACY STUDENT

BY ELIZABETH WINGFIELD

AT 25, DAKOTA SMITH knew his life would never be the same.

It was 2013, and he had just become a father. While he enjoyed traveling across Texas as a crane operator, he hoped to transition to local work so he could spend time with his son.

One night, he was leaving a worksite after a long day of assembling a drilling rig, with nothing on his mind but a hot meal and shower. His temporary housing was just across the two-lane highway, no more than 150 feet away, and he didn’t bother with the seatbelt. Before he could blink, a drunk driver rammed into the side of his car. The

metal frame of his car buckled like a soda can as it was flung across the highway. He woke up in the hospital, surrounded by his family. As they explained what happened, the pieces of his new reality fell into place.

He'd spent the past two weeks in a medically induced coma as the medical staff prepared his family for the worst. The wreck had fractured his skull, paralyzed his right arm, and broken his neck, back and every rib in his body. Doctors and nurses had reconstructed the right side of his face, reattached his ear, fused his neck and repaired his shoulder with 13 screws. In the coming months, he

↑ Smith's decision to become a pharmacist was inspired by the life-saving medical care he received.

RECALLING THE AMAZING MEDICAL TEAM THAT SAVED HIS LIFE, HE SAW AN OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE BACK.

would undergo additional surgeries to transfer nerves and tendons from various parts of his body.

Five years later, after battling bouts of depression and relearning how to talk, walk and eat, Smith was ready for the next chapter of his life. With his motor skills severely crippled, operating machinery was out of the question. Recalling the amazing medical team that saved his life, he saw an opportunity to give back. His experience with medication use and management during his recovery prompted him to pursue a career in pharmacy.

“I had so much interaction with the medical team after the wreck. I thought, ‘Why don’t I try to go help someone like all these people have helped me?’” he says. After some consideration, Smith decided to pursue a career in pharmacy. Staying close to East Texas — and his son — made UT Tyler the perfect fit for his new path.

Smith is now in his third year at the UT Tyler Fisch College of Pharmacy. He has attended four clinical rotations and participated in various research projects. While he loves the educational opportunities, what he values most are the relationships.

“Since the program is small, being a student here is like being a part of a family,” he says. “The professors know us by name and truly care about us, not just as students but as individuals. The college’s emphasis on teamwork encourages us to connect with our classmates as we teach and learn from each other.” The experience has inspired him to pursue a career in academia, with the goal of returning to UT Tyler as a faculty member to emulate the professors who have profoundly impacted his life.

Through all the challenges and changes, one constant remains: his son. Smith’s journey has not only reshaped his career but also deepened his commitment to being an engaged father. Together, they’ve conquered the Ender Dragon in Minecraft, fashioned their own cornhole boards and cooked many a meal of steak and salad. “My relationship with my son is everything,” he says. “Every step I take in my career is for him.”

While the car accident was a pivotal event, the true transformative moment was the arrival of his son. Smith is a diligent pharmacy student, a determined survivor and — most importantly — a dedicated father.

TRANSFORMING HEALTH CARE

Faculty and Student Contributions to Higher Ed Coordinating Board

UT Tyler continues to make significant contributions to addressing health care challenges in Texas, as evidenced by recent appointments of its faculty and a student to key committees and advisory panels with the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. ¶ The THECB appointed Dr. Barbara K. Haas, dean of the UT Tyler School of Nursing, to the Professional Nursing Shortage Reduction Program committee, which addresses the critical nursing employment needs in Texas by enhancing the educational framework and increasing the number of qualified nursing professionals. Haas helped review and amend the program’s definitions in the Texas Administrative Code to ensure its adaptation to the state’s evolving health care needs. ¶ With more than 19 years of leadership experience at UT Tyler, including roles as professor, doctoral program director and associate dean, Haas’ contributions have been pivotal in addressing the nursing shortage and enhancing nursing education. ¶ Gov. Greg Abbott selected Dr. Jenifer Chilton, associate dean for academic affairs in the UT Tyler School of Nursing, as an inaugural member of the advisory panel for the Healthcare Workforce Task Force, a THECB initiative to tackle the pressing issue of health care workforce shortages in the state. Chilton co-chairs a workgroup focused on increasing the faculty pipeline and other health professions, a role that underscores her dedication to nursing education and health care excellence. ¶ An experienced nursing educator, Chilton has taught at all levels and published extensively in her field. She recently received the Excellence in Teaching Award from the Texas Organization of Baccalaureate and Graduate Nursing Education and was accepted into the Texas Academic Leadership Academy. ¶ Second-year School of Medicine student Lucas Schwartz was appointed by Abbott to serve as the student representative on the THECB for a one-year term. Schwartz is advocating for Texas students on issues such as mental health resources, economic alignment of degree programs and the student debt crisis. ¶ His background as a medic in the U.S. Air Force complements his pursuit of a Doctor of Medicine and an Executive MBA in Healthcare Management from UT Tyler. This unique blend of experience and academic achievement positions Schwartz to effectively contribute to the board’s efforts in aligning Texas higher education with the state’s needs.¶ Through these impactful roles, members of UT Tyler are demonstrating their commitment to improving educational and health care outcomes not only for East Texas but for the entire state. Their involvement in these critical statewide initiatives showcases the university’s dedication to serving the health care workforce, students and communities across Texas. —EW

DOSSIER: AGRICULTURE

Pushing Boundaries

PROFESSOR WORKS TO REVOLUTIONIZE CROP FARMING WITH DRONES

BY HANNAH BUCHANAN

DRONES ARE BECOMING quite the norm — whether they are used to capture images of breathtaking landscapes over a sunrise or for a spectacular light show at night. These types of flying robots, or unmanned aerial vehicles, are also being introduced in crop farming.

Even though their applications in agriculture are at its infancy, Dr. Prabha Sundaravadivel, an associate professor in electrical and computer engineering at UT Tyler, wants to help take this type of agricultural technology to the next level.

To aid in her efforts, the university received external funding to enhance drone-based frameworks for imagery and crop monitoring on large farms. With enthusiasm and a pioneering heart, Sundaravadivel believes her work will aid in finding solutions to agricultural problems affecting America.

“Dr. Sundaravadivel’s work is marked by her innovative thinking and a relentless pursuit of knowledge,” says Lisa Bush, UT Tyler associate vice president for research administration. “Her research is not merely insightful, but transformative in advancing agricultural technology.”

The professor’s research centers around developing edge-intelligent systems for environmental sensing applications, application-specific architectures for smart health care, bio-inspired soft robotics and underwater monitoring frameworks.

She, along with other researchers, are collaborating to enhance a smart camera for drones to find and locate weeds in large farm fields. Their innovations are focused on integrating low-power, low-cost and effective ways to monitor fields using these cameras.

As part of the project, they have designed, modeled and printed camera attachment prototypes in addition to developing new robotic systems to help observe large areas in real time. Researchers will also explore the potential application for prescription-based herbicide spraying.

“If successful, the project can significantly reduce the time and labor required for monitoring large agricultural fields,” says Sundaravadivel, who joined the UT Tyler engineering faculty in 2018. “It can also help in improving the overall outcomes for the farmers.” The team has acquired sophisticated drones to provide a robust platform for their monitoring systems, ensuring high-quality

data collection and operational efficiency. In addition, they are focusing their efforts on creating a user-friendly interface for both farmers and researchers to easily access and interpret the data collected by their monitoring frameworks. This will enable better decisionmaking and more efficient farm management, the professor notes.

IF SUCCESSFUL, THE PROJECT CAN SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE THE TIME AND LABOR REQUIRED FOR MONITORING LARGE AGRICULTURAL FIELDS.”

Taking Agricultural Technology to the Next Level

“Our custom-designed chip can decrease the overall cost per prototype significantly and improve the integration of artificial intelligence at the monitoring edge,” Sundaravadivel says. “By utilizing low-cost cameras and efficient chip design, we can provide a costeffective solution that can work on agricultural fields where there is no internet connectivity.”

They are refining and testing their prototypes in real-world conditions, which involves extensive field trials to ensure the reliability and effectiveness of their systems. According to Sundaravadivel, environmental monitoring is a challenge due to various uncertainties in both spatial and temporal variations—meaning there is never a “one-size-fits-all” solution.

“We are focusing on reducing the cost per product by exploring different methods that can lead to a fully autonomous sensing framework,” she says. “Once we collect real-time data using our prototypes, more research applications, such as targeted herbicide spraying and optimized flight patterns, will open up.”

The data, Sundaravadivel adds, can also be used for precision agriculture, improving crop yields and reducing environmental impact.

“Our approach aims to make monitoring more efficient and affordable and enhance the overall sustainability of agricultural practices,” says Sundaravadivel. “We are dedicated to pushing the boundaries of developing sustainable agricultural technology and providing innovative solutions that benefit farmers and the environment.”

3 CAMERA FIXTURES allow for compatibility with various drone models.

$50k+

VALUE OF DRONES

comprising the state-of-the-art fleet that will serve as a platform for monitoring systems.

HARVESTING DATA

The research team is conducting field trials to grow the data set and enhance the reliability and accuracy of the prototypes.

DR. PRABHA SUNDARAVADIVEL

Associate Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering

IN HIS 23 YEARS AT UT TYLER, DR. HOWARD Y. PATTERSON EXPANDED THE ATHLETICS PROGRAM FROM ONE SPORT TO 17

National Champions

PATRIOTS WIN NCAA DIVISION II SOFTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP

BY UT TYLER ATHLETICS

UT TYLER CLAIMED the 2024 NCAA Division II Softball Championship after defeating Western Washington in a 2-0 best-of-three championship series.

The championship capped off an NCAA Division II National Tournament run in which the Patriots went a perfect 10-0 and an NCAA Division II World Series appearance in which they out-scored their competition by a 30-to-5 margin. They completed the season with a 58-8 overall record.

“This team is incredible, and I couldn’t be prouder. We played the game the right way, the hard way, and it’s not easy,’’ says head coach Mike Reed. “You have to find those special student-athletes who are willing to play that way and who are willing to do the work. Both in star roles and non-star roles, they must be willing to show up every day. That’s what this group represents.”

Season Summary

2024

• NCAA Division II National Champions

• NCAA World Series

• South Central Super Regional Champions

• South Central Regional II Champions

• Lone Star Conference Regular Season Co-Champions

UT Tyler claimed the second national championship in program history, adding the 2024 win to a 2016 NCAA Division III National Championship.

In the victory over Western Washington, junior Christin Haygood, who was named the 2024 NCAA Division II World Series Tournament Most Valuable Player, carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning and notched her fourth complete game of the tournament.

UT Tyler was led offensively by All-Tournament Team member Courtney Plocheck, who capped off her Patriot career with a 3-for3 effort at the plate. Plocheck, JT Smith and Michelle Arias combined to go 8-for-10 in the three, four and five spots of the UT Tyler lineup.

The Patriots scored the first run of the game on an RBI walk from Clarissa Zapata with the bases loaded in the top of the second and then made it 2-0 with back-to-back doubles from Plocheck and Smith to start the third. UT Tyler added two more runs in that third inning on a two-RBI single from Audrey Escamilla after loading the bases for a second inning in a row.

Haygood retired the first seven batters she faced and then didn’t allow a base hit until the lead-off batter got aboard via a single to start the bottom of the sixth. UT Tyler had already put the game well out of reach by that point, putting two more runs on the board in the top of the sixth with an Arias triple to right that scored Smith and Plocheck and then an Escamilla single to left that made it 7-0.

UT Tyler continued to put runs on the board in the top of the seventh, plating a run on an RBI single from Smith, a walk from freshman Makayla Garcia and a sac fly from Escamilla to run the score to its eventual 10-1 final.

Plocheck and Smith each scored three times while Escamilla registered four RBI at the plate. Smith finished 3-for-4 with two RBI and three runs scored, Arias went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and two RBI, and Escamilla went 2-for-3 with the aforementioned four RBI.

CONTINUED ON P. 45

BALANCING THE DIAMOND & THE CLASSROOM

Schott Named LSC Fred Jacoby Female Academic Athlete of the Year

Sam Schott of UT Tyler softball was named Lone Star Conference Fred Jacoby Female Academic Athlete of the Year for 2024. Playing an integral role on her team, Schott started all 66 games for the Patriots on their way to the NCAA Division II National Championship, all while earning a 4.0 GPA in the classroom. ¶ Recipients of the award, named in honor of the late LSC Commissioner Fred Jacoby, are determined by vote of conference sports information directors from the 19 student-athletes selected as Academic Athlete of the Year in their respective sport during 202324. ¶ A native of Longview, Schott is the second representative from UT Tyler to receive the award as

Summer Grubbs of track and field was selected in 2021. Schott is the fourth softball player to win in the 17-year history of the award. ¶ On the softball field, Schott batted .354 with 73 hits, including 12 doubles and eight home runs, and led the LSC with 67 runs scored. She was named to the 2024 D2CCA Second Team AllSouth Central Region Team and the Lone Star Conference Golden Glove Team. She was also an All-Lone Star Conference First Team selection.¶ Schott additionally earned the UT Tyler Female Service and Leadership Award, given each year to a junior or senior student-athlete who excels in the classroom and provides service and leadership to their team, the athletic program and the university. ¶ The senior biochemistry major, who plans to attend medical school after graduation, has spent the past two summers putting her skills to the test with Refuge International, a nonprofit organization. She traveled to Guatemala with a team of medical volunteers and doctors to help provide care to those in need. Schott also has participated in community service activities with her teammates.

— UT TYLER ATHLETICS

Patterson Bids Farewell

23 YEARS OF BUILDING A DYNASTY

BY BEVERLEY GOLDEN

AFTER NINE NATIONAL championships in 15 years and in two different divisions, Dr. Howard Y. Patterson has called it a career as the UT Tyler vice president for athletics.

Having led the UT Tyler Department of Athletics since 2001, he has expanded the program from one NAIA sport to 17 NCAA men’s and women’s teams, which have excelled in Division III and most recently Division II. The consistent success of the young athletics program is unique, and Patterson is responsible for building the sports dynasty essentially from the ground up.

Patterson came to UT Tyler after serving as athletic director and men’s soccer coach for 11 1/2 years at the University of Incarnate Word, where he finished his coaching career with 395 victories.

Prior to UIW, he was the head soccer coach at Midwestern State University, where he ranked nationally among the top five coaches in winning percentage. At MSU, he was named a NAIA National Coach of the Year and was a 16-time NAIA District Coach of the Year.

“After I first met Howard, I knew I wanted to hire him,” says Dr. Rodney H. Mabry, UT Tyler President Emeritus, who was president from 1998-2016. “First, he had a proven track record at two other universities. Second, I immediately liked not only his friendly and thoughtful manner, but also his very apparent leadership ability.

“He built our first-rate NCAA athletics program from scratch,” Mabry continues. “He was a true visionary and worked tirelessly to put our program together.”

With a staff of three, including himself, Patterson began the process of expanding athletics at UT Tyler, which had previously consisted of tennis. His mission was to assemble a coaching staff and begin competing in the NCAA. Mission accomplished.

HE BUILT OUR FIRST-RATE NCAA ATHLETICS PROGRAM FROM SCRATCH. HE WAS A TRUE VISIONARY AND WORKED TIRELESSLY TO PUT OUR PROGRAM TOGETHER.”

DR. RODNEY H. MABRY UT Tyler President Emeritus

↖

“I think my success here is directly related to the people that I’ve been able to hire,” Patterson says. “We’ve been able to hire great coaches, and they have produced the success in Division III and now Division II.”

Mabry also credits Patterson’s ability to hire “the very best coaches who developed whole students academically as much as they won games.”

Kenny Jones, UT Tyler’s founding head soccer coach, was familiar with Patterson’s reputation and knew that

starting the soccer program under Patterson’s guidance was the right decision for him.

“Dr. Patterson has allowed me to grow within the position of head coach, and he’s always been there for me every step of the way,” Jones says. “He always emphasized relationships, and that has always been a cornerstone in our program.”

At the Division III level, the Patriots claimed seven NCAA championships including men’s golf in 2013, softball in 2016 and baseball in 2018. They also won 67 American Southwest Conference titles and produced 97 All-American selections.

The Patriots have found immediate success in the ranks of Division II, claiming 12 Lone Star Conference Championships, appearing in 23 NCAA Division II national tournaments and winning the first NCAA Division II championship in 2024.

As UT Tyler’s founding athletic director, Patterson has also served in other leadership roles across the university.

“Howard became our mainstay in student affairs, serving as dean of students all the way to vice president of student affairs,” Mabry says. “He was stellar.”

Patterson is a member of the NAIA Hall of Fame, MSU Hall of Honor, UIW Hall of Fame and Westboro High School Hall of Fame. He also holds a Letter of Commendation from the National Soccer Coaches Association of America.

“Dr. Patterson’s success speaks for itself, but I will always remember him for the person that he is as a father and a servant leader,” Jones adds.

With such an extensive career and numerous successes, Patterson didn’t make the decision to retire easily.

“Patriot athletics has been my life for 23 years, and this has been my family. Sports have been my family all of that time,” Patterson says. “I started right out of college coaching at the college level, so I’ve put 51 years into higher education.”

Chris Bizot, UT Tyler head men’s and women’s tennis coach, is serving as the interim athletic director, and the university is conducting a national search for Patterson’s successor.

The overall goal is to be successful in all the sports, and Patterson admits there’s still work to do. “I’m excited for all that is to come for UT Tyler athletics,” he says. “And as the program continues to grow and succeed, my Patriot pride will be right there cheering them on.”

AWARDS

Hall of Fame

ATHLETICS DEPARTMENT PRESENTS INDUCTEES FOR 2024

The UT Tyler Athletics Department inducted its third Hall of Fame class in program history this fall, honoring four individuals and a team for bringing distinction to themselves and the university through achievement, commitment, sportsmanship and leadership in athletics. ¶ “These four individuals and this team laid the foundation for UT Tyler athletics,” says Chris Bizot, interim athletic director. “We are so proud of their accomplishments and welcome the opportunity to pay tribute to them.” ¶ The athletics Hall of Fame class was inaugurated in conjunction with UT Tyler’s 40th anniversary celebration in 2012. Nominees may include alumni, coaches, faculty, administrators or friends of the UT Tyler community, as well as teams that are exceptionally distinguished through outstanding achievement or significant accomplishment. — UT TYLER ATHLETICS

THESE FOUR INDIVIDUALS AND THIS TEAM LAID THE FOUNDATION FOR UT TYLER ATHLETICS.”

CHRIS BIZOT

Interim Director, Athletics

Beth Launius

Women's Tennis, 2005-09

• 2009 ITA Doubles All-American

• Three Time American Southwest Conference East Player of the Year

• 2009 American Southwest Conference East Sportsmanship Athlete of the Year

• Four Time All-American Southwest Conference Selection

• 2006 American Southwest Conference Freshman of the Year

Lindsey Peters

Softball, 2005-08

• Two Time NFCA All-West Region

• 2008 American Southwest Conference East Player of the Year

• Ranked in the Top 10 in 10 AllTime UT Tyler Softball Offensive Records

• Four Time All-American Southwest Conference Selection

• NFCA National Player of the Week

Whitney Simmons

Women’s Track & Field, 2013-17

• Three Time NCAA Division III National Champion

• Seven Time NCAA All-American

• NCAA Division III Hammer Throw National Record (64.03 meters)

• Four Time American Southwest Conference Hammer Throw Champion

• Three Time USTFCCCA West Region Field Athlete of the Year

Chestley Strother

Women’s Soccer, 2012-16

• 2015 NSCAA All-American

• Three Time NSCAA All-West Region Honoree

• UT Tyler Women's Soccer Career Record Holder in Points and Assists

• 2015 ASC Midfielder of the Year

• Four Time All-American Southwest Conference Selection

2003 Men’s Soccer Team

2003 USCAA National Champions

• 19-1 Overall Record, Most Single Season Wins in Program History

• ASC East Division Champions

• Featured Three All-Americans, ASC Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year

STORY BY Emily Battle

A Bright Future

FOR DR. JULIE V. PHILLEY , HELPING STUDENTS REALIZE THEIR FUTURE IS THE ‘HONOR OF A LIFETIME’

PHOTOS BY Randal Ford

On a sunlit morning in early June,

Dr. Julie V. Philley drove onto the UT Tyler main campus and circled around to the Riter Millennium Carillon Tower and Plaza, where she was accustomed to parking. The bell tower was surrounded by vibrantly hued crepe myrtle trees, their bloom-covered branches swaying gently.

The artful landscape usually caught Philley’s eye and did not go entirely unnoticed on this day. But as she parked her car and made her way to the administrative offices of Stewart Hall, her thoughts were preoccupied with what she calls the “honor of a lifetime” — her opportunity to serve UT Tyler students and the East Texas community as the university’s new president.

“It was surreal in a sense,’’ the East Texas native says of beginning her new role. “Words cannot express what a privilege it is to find myself in this position, focusing on the needs of students in my home region and providing resources and opportunities so they can achieve a higher education, which translates into a better life.”

Philley was UT Tyler’s executive vice president of health affairs and vice provost before being selected by a unanimous vote of the UT System Board of Regents to succeed President Kirk A. Calhoun, MD, FACP, who retired in May. In announcing Philley’s appointment as president, Board of Regents Chairman Kevin P. Eltife cited her deep understanding of East Texas and its needs and her front-line role in building the university’s health enterprise.

A professor of medicine and board-certified physician in internal, pulmonary and critical care medicine, Philley returned to East Texas from UT Southwestern Medical Center Dallas in 2012 and joined the UT Health Science Center at Tyler, which is now the UT Tyler Health Science Center, to give back to the region that helped shape her life.

Philley played an instrumental role in creating the UT Tyler School of Medicine, UT System’s seventh medical school and the first in East Texas, which accepted its first class in 2023. The

School of Medicine’s mission is to recruit students from the region and train them to become skilled physicians who will meet health care needs locally, particularly in rural areas with limited access to medical care.

The university broke ground last year in Tyler’s bustling medical district on a $308 million facility to permanently house the School of Medicine, which is temporarily located on the Health Science Center campus. The five-story, nearly 248,000-square-foot UT Tyler Medical Education Building is set to open in 2025.

The medical school has received monumental support from East Texas, including an $80 million commitment from the Health Foundation of East Texas, formerly the East Texas Medical Center Foundation, to help start the school. Thanks to gifts from the R.W. Fair Foundation and an anonymous donor, every student in the school’s first and second classes received four-year scholarships to cover their full tuition.

This magnitude of generosity reflects the altruistic nature of East Texans and their devotion to nurturing and uplifting the community, says Philley, who has witnessed those attributes throughout her life.

“East Texas is a place where people wake up every morning thinking of ways to serve and create better opportunities for those who reside here,” she says. “I feel very fortunate to call this region home.”

EARLY YEARS

Philley grew up about 20 miles southeast of Tyler in Overton, a small community nestled in the towering pines that are a hallmark of East Texas.

Her father worked as a plant pathologist for the Overton-based Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center and specialized in diseases affecting rose-growing and other local horticultural industries. Her mother taught Spanish at Overton High School, where Philley and her four siblings attended. Both parents are now retired.

Philley’s father also enjoyed farming, and the family grew peaches along with watermelon and cantaloupe, selling produce to fund the children’s college education. Today, Philley, her brother and three sisters all have careers in health care or education.

“I had a great childhood, a great church community and a closeknit school where I participated in lots of activities including band and theater,” she says, adding that her family as well as the community nurtured her and supported her dreams, even encouraging her to pursue opportunities she considered beyond her reach.

“Growing up in small towns, like so many places in East Texas, you know everyone, you go to school with them, work with them, attend church with them and they become like extended family,” she says. “In particular, the church we attended was a group of people who really supported each other and still do, to this day. I feel very connected to those individuals.”

From a young age, Philley was fascinated by science and aspired to study plant diseases, following in her father’s footsteps. However, her interests gradually shifted toward human diseases and infections.

Driven by a desire to serve others, she decided to pursue a career in nursing. The possibility of becoming a doctor crossed her mind, but it seemed unattainable.

← Philley served UT Tyler as executive vice president of health affairs and vice provost before being selected unanimously by the UT System Board of Regents to become the sixth president.

LEAVING FOR COLLEGE

After attending Tyler Junior College for a year, Philley entered the nursing program at Texas Woman’s University in Denton. Although her thoughts of medical school lingered, she finished her Bachelor of Science in Nursing and began exploring advanced nursing degree programs.

She recalls dropping by her mother’s classroom at Overton High School with graduate school catalogs in hand to discuss her options. Her mother’s words were life changing.

“Mom said, ‘Why don’t you try to go to medical school. I believe that’s what you really want to do.’ It was as if a light bulb went off,” Philley says. “The more I thought about it, the more I wanted to practice medicine. I felt I was being called to it.”

After completing some medical school prerequisites, she applied to UT Health Houston’s McGovern Medical School and waited for a response. At the time, she worked as a nurse at Saint Paul Hospital in Dallas.

When a certified letter addressed to Philley from McGovern was delivered to her parents’ residence, her father kept it in his pocket all day until he knew her shift at the hospital was ending. “My mom and dad called me from Overton, opened the letter, and we read it together. I was accepted to medical school. We couldn’t have been more thrilled,” she says. “It was a big shock — very exciting.”

After medical school, Philley moved to Baltimore and completed an internal medicine residency at Johns Hopkins University/Sinai Hospital. Although she enjoyed the experience, Philley decided she’d rather be in Texas and relocated to Dallas to begin a fellowship in pulmonary and critical care at UT Southwestern Medical Center. During that time, she became interested in women’s lung infections, particularly nontuberculous mycobacterial disease, or NTM, a condition caused by bacteria in soil and water.

came chief of pulmonary and critical care medicine in 2016 and chair of medicine in 2018.

Philley became executive vice president for health affairs in 2021, after UT Tyler and the Health Science Center merged to create a single, integrated institution. Calhoun became president of the unified institution after having lead the Health Science Center since 2002.

“When I moved to Tyler, there were so many programs taking shape at the Health Science Center and so many dreams, including building a medical school, which seemed very possible and was very much needed,” Philley says. “I was fortunate to work with Dr. Calhoun and take part in those efforts.”

SERVING

STUDENTS

UT Tyler is on a great trajectory with a growing student enrollment of more than 10,500, expanding academic programs and new facilities under construction, says Philley, adding that she is excited to work with the university and its East Texas partners to build on the momentum.

“Everything that we do is to serve students and give them opportunities to lead productive, happy lives.”

— DR. JULIE PHILLEY

Choosing research and academics as her focus, Philley began searching the U.S. for programs specializing in NTM. As it turned out, the UT Health Science Center at Tyler was among the top NTM research centers in the country. That was good news to Philley. She welcomed the opportunity to return to East Texas and participate in efforts to advance health care and education in the region.

RETURNING HOME

Joining the Health Science Center team, Philley collaborated with Dr. Richard Wallace and Dr. David Griffith in research while also seeing patients and serving on the faculty. She be-

Serving students is at the core of every single initiative, she notes.

“Everything that we do is to serve students and give them opportunities to lead productive, happy lives; and producing graduates for the East Texas workforce is extremely important to us,” she says. “We exist to produce graduates who have every quality and capability to begin their careers with confidence, and we want employers to be proud that they are hiring our graduates.”

With more than 100 undergraduate and graduate programs across five academic colleges, three schools and

five campuses, UT Tyler has successful alumni in every discipline. The university will continue advancing those programs to prepare students to meet the evolving needs of businesses, health systems, educational institutions and other industries, Philley says. “That is our focus every day.”

The president notes the devotion of faculty and staff to UT Tyler students. “Working at this university is truly inspiring, as every department shows a deep commitment to the students’ well-being and success,” she says. “Serving students is their life’s work, and I can feel that in every aspect of what we do.”

Like the encouragement she received in choosing her career path, Philley advises students to never shy away from their aspirations. “We welcome students

↑ President Philley and her husband, Richard Lee, are pictured with family members prior to her investiture.

from all locations,” she says, “but if you’re a student in East Texas with a dream for your future, you can achieve it right here at home, at The University of Texas at Tyler.”

LIFE BEYOND THE OFFICE

In her free time, Philley enjoys traveling with her husband of eight years, Richard Lee, whom she met through the East Texas Symphony Orchestra and refers to as “the bright spot” in her life.

A native of Toronto, Canada, Lee serves as music director of the ETSO and artistic director of the Tyler Civic Chorale.

“We travel as much as we can, and while many may assume Richard sits at home and listens to classical music, I think I’ve changed him because we often listen to vintage country music,” she says with a chuckle. “He prefers Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys, and I prefer Johnny Cash.”

Residing in Tyler, they also find joy in community service as well as time with extended family. Many of their summer weekends are spent at her parents’ Overton farm, picking peaches as part of a long-standing family tradition.

WORDS & PHOTOS BY

DANIELLE JOUBERT

ABR O AD UT TYLER

EDUCATION AND SOCIAL SCIENCES

SCHOLARS AT WORK IN BELIZE

AS WE DESCENDED through the day’s thick cloud cover into Belize, flat, open land expanded beneath us. Unlike the geometric grids of farmland and bright grass fields visible from the sky over East Texas, these coastal flats are deep forest green, with narrow waterways sprawled across it like a web of veins. The air was dense with the coming rain, heavy and confronting as I stepped out of the plane.

Belize is a small country on the eastern coast of Central America, bordering Guatemala and southern Mexico. UT Tyler has made its mark there in more ways than one over the years, and in the summer of 2024, scholars in both education and the social sciences traveled to Belize, seeking to advance knowledge, uplift underserved communities and discover the rich history of the Yucatán Peninsula.

Blue Creek, a farming community and major archaeological site in Belize, is photographed from a crop duster.

EDUCATION FOR THE FUTURE

For the first leg of my trip, I had been invited to tag along to Belmopan, Belize’s capital city. It was founded in the 1960s by government officials seeking dryer, higher land after Hurricane Hattie nearly devastated Belize City. Our journey to Belmopan started with the drive inland from the coast. Five of us piled into an SUV and headed west.

I had met up with the crew from UT Tyler’s University Academy, with whom I would be spending the week, in the airport customs line: Dr. Kristian Fischer, district science specialist; Dr. Jennifer Rasberry, district reading specialist; and Kelsie Pannell, project-based learning coach and secondary English teacher at UA Longview. We took in our first glimpses of Belize as the sky darkened, the sun going down and the rain finally starting up. Our driver and captain, so to speak, for our time in Belmopan answered our questions about the landmarks as we passed them by.

Dr. Yanira Oliveras, UT Tyler associate professor of education and director of the Center for Caribbean and Central American Initiatives, joined forces with educators from University Academy in the summer to support teacher education in Belize. She has worked with the Ministry of Education in Belize since 2016.

“It was an immediate connection for me,” she says of her first time in the country. “It not only reminded me of home, but the people of Belize, with their desire for improvement and love for learning, resonated with me.” Oliveras is originally from Puerto Rico and finds some Caribbean familiarity in Belize.

We might not have noticed our arrival in Belmopan had Oliveras not pointed it out to us. The dark and the rain made everything hazy and increasingly unfamiliar. The city itself, the smallest capital city in the Americas, has a population only a quarter that of Tyler. The scale of the city and its quiet, uncongested atmosphere took us newcomers by surprise. Even in the bustle of early morning the next day, as we made our way to the University of Belize, Belmopan struck me as quiet. Bikes and scooters outnumber cars in the city, so the traffic didn’t roar by, but rather hummed. The air was more alive with the buzzing of birds and insects than anything else.

The university was even quieter: still and almost serene. Most students were gone for the summer. Ripe, fallen mangoes littered the

dirt like crabapples. Signage along the walking paths provided information about the wildlife passersby might spot on campus. The air was so damp that I could feel the cool frame of my camera sweating with condensation under my hand as I explored the area.

In the empty student center, Oliveras and her team from University Academy prepared for the task at hand: a weeklong training session for educators across Belize, hosted by the University of Belize, to implement the new national curriculum.

After the COVID-19 pandemic shut down schools for nearly two years, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Science, and Technology needed a way to move primary schools forward and better serve students who had fallen behind. They found that traditional, lecture-style teaching methods weren’t cutting it.

“Certainly we found out there were a number of areas we needed to address, particularly with numeracy and literacy,” says Yolanda Gongora, chief education officer for the Ministry. “The gap of COVID taught us we needed to find different ways to address education.”

These conversations led to a radical shift in the national teaching standards, which rolled out in 2022. Competency-based learning, or CBL, is now the model for educators in Belize.

CBL focuses on tangible outcomes and the real-world application of skills students can learn in the classroom. As it happens, CBL is the same education model followed by UT Tyler’s University Academy.

The CBL method that University Academy teachers are trained to use, and that Belize is starting to implement, is project-based learning.

The Ministry, however, lacks funding for teacher professional development, making the transition to a new style of teaching difficult to coordinate. Given UT Tyler’s pre-existing relationship with the Ministry of Education, which goes back as far as 20 years, this international partnership was kismet.

“It was witnessed by not only us from UT Tyler, but generally the country and the education system that there was a need for in-depth training and understanding of how to implement competency-based education,” says Oliveras. “So, project-based learning is just one of those models. And because of our connection with UT Tyler’s University Academy, we were able to facilitate that connection and bring experts to train teachers.”

Project-based learning consists of hands-on projects that allow students to work through problems and come up with tangible products and solutions. “Each kid is going to take away something different from the experience,” says Pannell. “They can be working on the very same project, but a child at a lower learning level is going to take away a very basic concept, whereas a child at a higher learning level is going to take away one of the more complex topics.”

COMPETENCY-BASED LEARNING, OR CBL, IS NOW THE MODEL FOR EDUCATORS IN BELIZE.

The University Academy team based their training session around a project in which participants were given a handful of common household materials and tasked with making a basic water filter. Rather than being given step-by-step instructions, the idea was to come up with a product through inquiry and experimentation.

The Belizean educators stood in as students, working through the task, comparing their filtered water samples and presenting their findings to the group. I watched the room light up with laughter as participants acted out skits and advertisements for their filters, holding up their less-brown-than-before cups of water to their peers with

DISCOVERING MAYA HISTORY IN BLUE CREEK

The second half of my journey took me 100 miles north of Belmopan, to the farming community of Blue Creek, just south of the Mexican border. Dr. Thomas Guderjan, UT Tyler professor of anthropology, picked me up at the University of Belize for the three-hour drive to his team’s research station. Guderjan told me as we drove through the countryside that just a week prior, all the foliage in the area had been burned by drought and wildfire. By the time I arrived, that was nearly impossible to believe. All I saw was green: vibrant grass fields spotted with lush trees. The landscape grew more impressive by the mile.

exaggerated pride.

It was a fabulous icebreaker for day one, shaking off the discomfort of collaborating with a room full of strangers. It also provided a baseline in the days that followed, as educators workshopped ways to adapt project-based learning to their own grade levels, subject areas and communities.

Despite fears of backlash from parents and students, and very real concerns about the material resources required to execute a project like the water filters example, there was an excitement among Belizean educators about moving forward with project-based learning.

Miriam Paz, a primary school educa-

tor who works with the Ministry to support Belizean teachers in implementing the new curriculum, suggested that immersive trainings like those provided by UT Tyler may be the missing piece.

“I think the biggest challenge will be changing the mindset of educators in the classroom to actually believe that this can work, that this is doable,” Paz says. She emphasized the importance of helping teachers to understand how the curriculum is executed in an actual classroom and what it looks like in that environment. “That is what we need to do — build that vision so teachers actually see that it can be done. It can be done in your Belizean setting.”

Blue Creek is home to a Germanspeaking Mennonite community that’s been farming the land since 1958. But 2,000 years ago, this same land was farmed by a thriving Maya community. This community, about the same size in landmass as Tyler, had an estimated population of 25,000 in its heyday, comparable to modern-day Belmopan.

“We could dig hilltop buildings far longer than I’ll be alive and never finish it,” says Guderjan. Every hilltop in the vicinity has or had a Maya structure built atop it, including the one where the Maya Research Program’s Blue Creek research station sits.

The Maya Research Program is a nonprofit organization focused on conducting archaeological and ethnographical research in Central America. They’ve

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Kelsie Pannell from UT Tyler's University Academy provides instruction during a training session.

Belizean educators test homemade water filters in a simulation of projectbased curriculum.

One of the trainee groups shares their final presentation for the water filter exercise.

U of Belize President Vincent Palacio with UT Tyler training facilitators and Belizean education leaders.

been conducting field research in Blue Creek for more than 30 years.

Before Guderjan founded the MRP in 1992, the Blue Creek area had been rich with unexplored Maya architecture, largely because the modern-day community was considered too insular to work with. “Non-Mennonites had been here before, but they’d never come back again,” says Guderjan. “And we did the most unheard-of thing; we kept coming back.”

It’s taken decades of hard work and good faith on the part of Guderjan and the MRP team to gain the trust and friendship of the local community. That relationship-building has even led to the first Mennonite community archaeological land reserves in the world, of which there are now three: Blue Creek Reserve, Great Fox Reserve and Rosita Reserve.

Those local connections were first demonstrated to me on my second day at the research station, when Guderjan let me know he had arranged for a crop duster pilot to fly me over Blue Creek that afternoon for some aerial photography. The pilot, Abram Rempel, is a longtime friend of Guderjan and the MRP. He’s also a community leader, having served as mayor of Blue Creek from 2019 to 2022.

Rempel believes the MRP’s presence has been positive for the community. “It’s been a good integration as far as business is concerned and it’s a good relationship in terms of working with them,” he says. The financial impact is undeniable. The MRP spends about $100,000 annually in Blue Creek in terms of gasoline, supplies and other purchases, Guderjan estimates.

Emily Zylka and Rachel Smith, alumni of UT Tyler’s social sciences program, joined our flight over Blue Creek. Both are graduate students, with Zylka studying bioarcheology at the University of Southern Mississippi and Smith pursuing her PhD at Washington State. Having worked with the Belize project as undergrad students at UT Tyler, they went on to become research staff members at the MRP. They each served as site supervisors and led their own excavations in the summer.

The two sat in the back of the tiny four-seater plane and did their best to guide Rempel toward dig sites I hadn’t even seen from the ground yet, as I did my best to photograph the sites through the passenger window. While skilled in archeology, Zylka and Smith were less adept at giving directions, and I silently wondered if they would get us to our destination before I lost my battle with air sickness.

The MRP’s memorandum of understanding with UT Tyler allows UT Tyler students to participate in summer research in Belize for academic credit. More than 3,500 students and volunteers from around the world have worked with the MRP over the years, estimates C. Colleen Hanratty, co-director of MRP’s Blue Creek Archaeological Project and anthropologist with UT Tyler’s Center for Social Science Research. But UT Tyler students and their contributions stand out.

“I really do appreciate the UT Tyler students,” Hanratty says. “I have had a lot of wonderful students come through the classroom, Grade-A students who bring that same excitement and enthusiasm to the field. And it’s not easy work, but they approach it with vigor and real attention.”

To say the work isn’t easy is an understatement. During my time in Blue Creek, I watched dozens of people of all ages and backgrounds dig by hand for hours on end in the summer heat, hauling 5-gallon buckets of dirt, roots and rocks through the jungle. Beyond the first thin layer of soil, all the dirt that’s moved needs to be carried to one of the sieve stations to be individually sifted for anything of archaeological significance. No mechanical tools can be used in the excavations, as the stratig-

UNEARTHING

LAYERS

OF HISTORY

UT Tyler's Colleen Hanratty works with volunteers at an ancestor shrine on the Tz'unun site.

David Downing (center), a UT Tyler student, helps sort through freshly cleaned artifacts.

Participants take a day off for a hiking tour of previous excavation sites at Blue Creek.

raphy of the sites and the context of each discovery need to be carefully mapped.

Still, the MRP is meticulous in their excavations. For the research team, the responsibility of excavating in Belize as outsiders is a serious one. “When you are the agent of destruction of somebody else’s cultural patrimony, no matter what good reasons you have, you owe them a great deal,” says Guderjan. “You owe them a very good explanation of what you did, why you did it and, I think most of all, what was gained from the process.”

That same level of respect is evident in the MRP’s relationship with their Belizean research associates. The MRP is the second-largest employer in the nearby village of San Felipe. Eighteen San Felipe residents are employed with the Blue Creek project. Some have been with the MRP since its founding in the 1990s and have passed down their decades of knowledge to their children and grandchildren.

On one afternoon following heavy rains, the local team, lead researchers, students and volunteers joined forces to bail gallons of water out of the tarp protecting Structure 46, known as the Acropolis. This ancestral tomb site is seated at the top of a mound that’s long since been grown over by jungle. The climb to the dig is somewhat treacherous even in dry conditions, but as the crew formed a fireman’s bucket brigade and tossed bucket after bucket of water down the hillside, the muck only grew thicker, the footholds more sparing and impossible. The bucket crew started racing themselves just for the fun of it, laughing and splashing gray water over each other, even throwing a few handfuls of clay.

Students gain invaluable field experience in Belize, but the experience of community feels unmatched as well. Work at the excavation sites brings together an eclectic group of disparate ages, nationalities and backgrounds like nothing else. “You meet a lot of really interesting people,” says Zylka. “You really learn a lot more about both yourself and the way people work together.”

With no internet or air conditioning

DOZENS OF PEOPLE OF ALL AGES AND BACKGROUNDS DIG BY HAND FOR HOURS ON END IN THE SUMMER HEAT.

to keep everyone in their cabins, evenings at the research station are spent relaxing in the hilltop breeze, comparing mosquito bites and enjoying the company of others who share a common goal. For the few weeks participants spend with the MRP, this little patch of Blue Creek starts to feel like home.

Artifacts found during excavation are taken back to the research station's dry lab to be cleaned and sorted.

THIS YEAR, Winona Middle School Principal Dr. Johnny Walker (EdD school improvement ’23) attended what he thought was a routine assembly for his students, but it turned out to be a career-altering event for him.

NATALIE

Walker was honored with the 2023-24 Milken Educator Award, which represents the nation’s preeminent teacher recognition program and is often hailed as the “Oscars of Teaching.”

Honorees receive an unrestricted $25,000 cash prize and an all-expenses-paid trip to the Milken Educator Awards Forum, held this year in Los Angeles. They also have networking and mentoring opportunities.

“It genuinely felt like they rolled out the red carpet for us at the Milken Educator Awards Forum,” Walker says. “They made us educators feel like true celebrities.”

As the first Milken award recipient for Winona ISD, Walker was unaware of his candidacy and completely surprised when Milken Educator Awards

Senior Vice President Dr. Jane Foley and Texas Commissioner of Education Mike Morath appeared during his school assembly to announce the award.

A 1994 Milken award recipient, Foley and her team’s visit to Winona was part of a nationwide Milken awards tour honoring 75 educators. She commended Walker for his “unwavering support for students and staff, powerful instructional leadership and commitment to excellence at all levels. His contributions have created a positive ripple effect through the school and community he proudly serves,” she says.

Gov. Greg Abbott also recognized Walker, highlighting the crucial role

that effective school leadership plays in shaping the future of education.

“Congratulations to Dr. Johnny Walker for receiving this year's Milken Educator Award. On behalf of the entire state, thank you for investing in our youngest Texans and equipping them with the knowledge, skills and confidence they need to succeed and achieve their dreams,” says Abbott.

Walker was chosen as a recipient because of his current achievements and the promise of what he will accomplish in the future. Through his successful professional experiences as a former teacher and assistant principal along with knowledge gained during his time in the first cohort of UT Tyler’s school improvement EdD program, Walker helped improve Winona Middle School’s rating from an F during the 2018-19 school year to a B in 2021-22. His sights are set on achieving an A rating.

“Being recognized for my service to schools and dedication to teaching and learning was both humbling and gratifying,” says Walker. “It reinforced the important role of educators in shaping the future and highlighted the impact we have on the lives of students.”

Walker’s leadership style emphasizes instructional growth and a student-centered approach, cultivating a positive learning environment for students, faculty and staff, and a robust culture.

“I have a more profound moral imperative to continue to serve, driven by my

Walker

helped improve Winona Middle School’s rating from an F during the 2018-19 school year to a B IN 2021-22.

His sights are set on achieving an A RATING.

↙ Visiting dignitaries present the Milken Educator Award to UT Tyler alum Dr. Johnny Walker (center).

passion to effect positive change in education,” he says.

Partnering with the National Institute for Excellence in Teaching allowed Winona Middle School to focus on data-driven methods, tools and resources, and establish systems that maximize and maintain student success.

“Our partnership with NIET has meant everything,” says Walker. “They’ve helped us promote academic growth and empower teachers. We all know that it’s the teachers who are in front of students each and every day that make the impact.”

Walker leads weekly professional development “cluster meetings,” where educators develop strategies for enhancing instruction to meet the specific, individual needs of students. The steady guidance he provides to the school instructional leadership team of administrators and coaches builds capacity in data, coaching and pedagogy — all to raise student achievement.

Understanding the importance of celebrating wins along the way, Walker and his team also organize pep rallies and special events to spotlight academic and athletic achievement.

Walker’s impact extends beyond his school, as he is actively involved in the wider Winona community, further demonstrating his dedication to young people and education.

“When I first became an educator, I was told that teaching is the hardest job you’ll ever love,” says Walker. “It’s proved to be that, but it’s so rewarding.”

CONTENTS →

NOTES

Root ’99

INSPIRING POSITIVE CHANGE THROUGH COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP AND COLLABORATION

INTERVIEW BY JORDAN

RATLIFF

RECOGNIZED BY THE Women in Tyler Committee under this year’s “Women Making Connections” theme, Smittee Root was honored for her commitment to improving the quality of life in the Tyler community.

A 1999 UT Tyler graduate with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in marketing, Root has dedicated her career to making a meaningful impact in the lives of others. She currently channels her passion for community betterment as the community collaboration officer for the Health Foundation of East Texas, where she fosters partnerships that drive positive change.

Her leadership journey also includes an impactful eight years as the executive director of Leadership Tyler, where she was instrumental in nurturing and empowering the next generation of leaders.

UT TYLER MAGAZINE: If you could describe your time at UT Tyler in one word, what would it be and why?

SMITTEE ROOT: Enriching. My time at UT Tyler provided me with a foundation that prepared me to enter my chosen profession, but more importantly set me on a trajectory of lifelong learning that continues to serve me well.

UTTM: Imagine you’re back in 1999 and could give your younger self one piece of advice — what would it be?

SR: I would tell my younger self the same thing I tell my own children. The next thing in your life you are looking forward to or sometimes dreading is “next.” Don’t be so focused on a long-term goal that you miss the opportunities along the way that you never could have dreamed of.

UTTM: What has been the most unexpected lesson you’ve learned in your journey as a community leader?

SR: I continue to be surprised at how much more there is to know and learn. There is no finish line when it comes to being a leader, and sometimes learning happens in unexpected circumstances and places. Being open to this process of continual learning has presented me with amazing opportunities, both professionally and personally.

DON’T BE SO FOCUSED ON A LONG-TERM GOAL THAT YOU MISS THE OPPORTUNITIES ALONG THE WAY THAT YOU NEVER COULD HAVE DREAMED OF.”

UTTM: If you could create a marketing campaign for any cause close to your heart, what would it be?

SR: There are so many causes that I care about personally, but what motivates me to be involved is the idea of making our community and the world better for future generations. I would create a campaign around the idea that if everyone chose a cause to support and applied their own personal strengths and passions to making progress in that space, our whole community would benefit.

UTTM: What’s a quirky habit or ritual that helps you stay grounded and focused in your life?

SR: I wake up early and spend the first hour of every day investing in “me.” It doesn’t always look the same — sometimes it is journaling, sometimes reading, sometimes going for a walk — but it is always something to invest in myself.

Let’s Stay Connected

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CLASS NOTES

1975

Dr. Mark Loftin (BA kinesiology; MA kinesiology 1977) retired from the University of Mississippi as associate dean for academic affairs in the School of Applied Science after 16 years with the university. He previously served as chair of the Department of Human Performance and Health Promotion at the University of New Orleans with additional work at the Louisiana State University Department of Pediatrics, Tulane School of Public Health and University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse. Loftin earned a PhD in exercise physiology from the University of Illinois, Campaign-Urbana.

1984

Jess Laird (MBA) retired as vice chair of the Athens-based First State Bank after 36 years of service. Laird began his banking career with First State in 1988 as a loan officer. He was named president and chief executive officer in 1999 and elected vice chairman by the bank’s board of directors in 2019. He was honored as Athens Citizen of the Year in 2007 for his commitment to the growth and development of the community, including serving as president of the Athens Economic Development Corp. and a member of the Athens Chamber of Commerce and Athens Industrial Foundation.

1994

Andy Crim (BS political science) was appointed by Gov. Greg Abbott to chair the Texas Council for Developmental Disabilities, which recommends changes in disability policies and programs and supports a network of committees on people with disabilities. Crim is director of education and professional development for the American College of Osteopathic Obstetricians and Gynecologists. He is a board member for the Alliance for Continuing Education in the Health Professions and member of the American Society of Association Executives.

1997

Dr. Greg Bower (BA history; MS history 2003) is superintendent of schools for Como-Pickton Consolidated ISD. He also is an author of Western fiction and has been on the Kindle Best Sellers List for his novel “A Man Reborn: A Jesse Coltharp Western.”

BEST BINGE-WORTHY DOCS

Get ready to binge the documentaries that our alumni can’t stop talking about!

How the Earth Was Made

This History Channel docuseries takes viewers on a journey through time, uncovering the geological forces, natural wonders and human ingenuity that have crafted the world as we know it today. —LINDSEY ANDINO ’23

Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV

This docuseries offers an eye-opening look into the lives of former child stars of the most iconic shows of the late 1990s and early 2000s as they bravely recount their experiences in the entertainment industry. It sheds light on the often-hidden traumas they endured and their fight to break the cycle for future generations. —BAYLEIGH BOYD ’24

Dancing for the Devil: The 7M TikTok Cult

This gripping docuseries uncovers the dark world behind the 7M management company, luring TikTok dancers into a cult-like existence. The series follows the harrowing stories of dancers and former members who managed to escape, as well as families of those still trapped in the grasp of the 7M “family.” After watching, I gained a new perspective on the curated lives people present online. —NATALIE TRANQUILINO ’19

Arnold

This Netflix original documentary gives viewers an in-depth look into the complex life of Arnold Schwarzenegger. From his early days as a bodybuilder to his rise as a Hollywood action star and eventual transition into politics, Schwarzenegger’s story is one of relentless ambition and reinvention. The documentary not only highlights his many successes but also delves into the challenges and controversies he faced along the way, offering a candid portrait of a man who has continually redefined himself across multiple arenas. My biggest takeaway was that you can succeed if you work hard and take every opportunity. —VICTOR VALLE JR. ’15

Aftershock

This deeply impactful documentary explores growing issues in our country the maternal mortality and morbidity rate. Aftershock follows the heartbreaking stories of two fathers who lost their wives due to childbirth complications and is a must-see for anyone looking to understand the profound impact of this issue. —KATHLEEN MELANCON ’21

He holds a doctorate in educational leadership from Lamar University.

John “Mark” McLean (BBA accounting) was appointed by Gov. Greg Abbott to the Texas Military Preparedness Commission, which works to preserve, protect, expand and attract new military missions, assets and installations. McLean is a pilot with American Airlines and former commanding officer of the Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base in Fort Worth. He is a U.S. Navy veteran with more than 26 years of active-duty service.

1999

Stacy Cammack (BBA accounting) was promoted to vice president/enterprise risk management and internal audit manager at Texas Bank and Trust. Cammack has spent 23 years in public accounting with a concentration in tax matters for corporations and small businesses. She is director and treasurer for Financial Women in Texas and a member of the Texas Society of CPAs.

Natalie Lynch (BBA finance) was promoted to senior executive vice president and chief revenue officer of Austin Bank. In her new position, Lynch joins the bank’s executive committee while assuming oversight of the marketing and treasury management departments and financial services division. She was selected as an “Emerging Leader” by the Texas Bankers Association and served on the founding TBA Future of Banking Task Force.

Roy Martinez (BBA finance; MBA 2003) was honored as the UT Tyler Soules College of Business Distinguished Alumnus of the Year for 2024. Throughout his 25-year professional career, Martinez has served in leadership roles in the worlds of banking, freight transportation, higher education, franchises, nonprofits and various community organizations. He currently serves as chief executive officer and chief financial officer for Bronco Companies, a provider of logistical services with offices in Texas and Oklahoma.

2002

Justin Hanner (BS industrial technology) was hired as a regional vice president and telecom business manager for STV, a national infrastructure-focused services firm. Hanner is working in the STV Transportation Texas/Mountain

operating group, focusing on developing new industry relationships and expanding the firm’s telecom and fiber design workforce. Prior to STV, Hanner dedicated more than 20 years to developing strategies for surveying, mapping and project managing utilities and submarket expansions.

2003

Crystal Bateman (BBA finance) was promoted to senior vice president of Austin Bank. Bateman began her career with the bank in 2004 as a teller at the Whitehouse location, relocating to Jacksonville as a loan assistant shortly thereafter. She advanced to loan portfolio manager, assistant vice president and vice president prior to her recent promotion.

Amanda Burnett (BS health professions, business administration) was reappointed by Gov. Greg Abbott to the Nursing Facility Administrations Advisory Committee, which provides the Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services with recommendations for licensure sanctions and rule changes for the Nursing Facility Administrator Licensing Program. Burnett is chief operating officer for Hospice Brazos Valley, where she oversees three office branches serving patients in 17 Texas counties. She has served as vice president and administrator for multiple nursing facilities across Texas.

Heidi Gibson (BSN; MSN 2020) is clinical director of the neuroscience intermediate medical care unit at CHRISTUS Good Shepherd Medical Center-Longview. She previously served as an on-site administrator with the CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Health System in Tyler.

2005

Kimberley Montgomery (BS interdisciplinary studies) is assistant director of clinical services at the Dallas Children’s Advocacy Center. Montgomery provides clinical and agency supervision for 10 therapists and training on trauma, child abuse and sexual abuse dynamics. She also provides expert testimony on abuse dynamics for Dallas County Criminal Courts. Montgomery is pursuing a doctorate in community counseling with a focus on trauma from Liberty University.

Brandi Morris (BSN) is associate chief nursing officer of medical/sur-

gical services and behavioral health at CHRISTUS Good Shepherd Medical Center-Longview. She began her nursing career at the hospital more than 18 years ago and was assistant clinical director, clinical director, service line administrator and administrative director prior to her current role. She earned an MSN from the University of Texas at Arlington.

2006

Brandi Sutton (BS speech communication) was elected Region 7 president for the Texas Elementary Principals and Supervisors Association, which serves leaders of pre-K through eighth grade education. Sutton is principal of Tool Elementary School in Malakoff ISD and previously worked in Mabank ISD as an assistant principal and teacher. She holds a master’s degree from Dallas Baptist University and is pursuing a doctorate from Texas A&M University.

2008

Brandi Morton (BBA marketing) was promoted to vice president of Austin Bank in Kilgore. Morton joined the bank in 2009 as a credit analyst, advancing to relationship manager in 2018 and assistant vice president in 2021. She serves as board of directors vice president for the East Texas Treatment Center.

Rachel Sherman (BS interdisciplinary studies; MEd educational administration 2010) was chosen by the College of Education and Psychology as a Distinguished Alumni honoree for 2024. Sherman is principal of Three Lakes Middle School in Tyler ISD and was named 2024 TISD Principal of the Year. She previously served as principal of Center Elementary School in Center ISD, Fred Douglass Elementary in Jacksonville ISD and Owens Elementary in Tyler ISD.

2010

Derek Weaver (BS mechanical engineering) was promoted to vice president of project management and estimating for Premier, a Dallas-based firm providing interior design, architecture, procurement and project management services. In his new role, Weaver leads Premier’s team of 26 project managers and estimators. He brings more than 14 years of technical project management expertise to the position.

2011

Hossein Hosseiny (BS civil engineering) is a professional engineer and senior project manager with Transportation Systems BGE Inc. Hosseiny has worked for the company for 10 years, focusing on multimodal corridor planning, feasibility studies and environmental studies management. He also has worked in planning, design and construction management for the Texas Department of Transportation, North Texas Tollway Authority and local municipalities.

Tim Schodowski (MEd educational administration) serves as assistant superintendent of Cumberland Academy in Tyler. Schodowski began his career in education 29 years ago and has been with Cumberland for 10 years. He also worked at Alba-Golden and Quitman ISDs, Kilgore College and Tyler Junior College.

2012

Francisca de la Cruz (MA school counseling) has served as a school counselor in Whitehouse ISD since 2014. She began her career in school counseling in 2011, after teaching English as a Second Language for three years in Tyler ISD.

Cameron Phillips (BA political science, economics) is an attorney in real estate, probate, estate planning and banking law, based in his hometown of Carthage. He graduated from South Texas College of Law in Houston and worked in real estate and construction litigation with a Houston law firm before returning to Carthage in 2017.

Brittni Tracy (BA English; MA English 2014) is a technical writer in policy and procedure governance and analysis for the Enterprise Center of Excellence at Ryan LLC, a tax services and consulting firm. Prior to her current position, Tracy taught English at UT Tyler and Tyler Junior College, where she was honored with the Endowed Chair for Teaching Excellence.

2013

David Herb (BBA marketing) serves as insights and strategy manager for Toyota North America. He is responsible for conceptualizing, designing and developing machine learning and artificial intelligence supply chain capabilities.

Rachel Massey (BA psychology) is co-owner and clinical services director

of Monarch Prep. The Tyler-based agency provides academic services to meet the needs of the neurodiverse population, including individuals with autism, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and dyslexia. Massey holds a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction with an emphasis in applied behavior analysis from Arizona State University.

Oscar Perdomo (BS criminal justice) works with at-risk youth as residential supervisor of Smith County Juvenile Services. Perdomo joined the department in 2012.

2014

Rob Carpenter (MBA healthcare administration; PhD human resource development 2020) is an entrepreneur and educator with 25 years of experience developing, managing and assimilating health care companies. He is founder and CEO of Advanta Genetics, a clinical and research laboratory specializing in infectious disease molecular genomics, and Scienetix, a bioscientific company focused on optimizing molecular genomic workflows.

Kaela Deslatte (MEd educational leadership) was named curriculum director for Lindale ISD. She has served the district for 15 years, most recently as principal of Velma Penny Elementary School.

Loren W. Lirely (BBA accounting) received the 2024 Graduate of the Last Decade Award from the UT Tyler Soules College of Business. Lirely is senior vice president of accounting and reporting advisory for Stout, a global advisory firm based in Dallas. He has several years of experience providing accounting and reporting services to public and private sector clients across a broad range of industries including energy, transportation, manufacturing, mining, retail and real estate. Lirely is married to UT Tyler alum Kaylee Dean Lirely (BSN 2014).

2015

Ben Bonner (BAAS, business administration) is a personal injury lawyer and partner with Richards Penn Bonner Attorneys at Law, based in Jacksonville. Bonner worked many years as an electrician before pursuing his bachelor’s degree at UT Tyler. He went on to earn a law degree from Texas Tech University.

Natalie Ferguson (BBA management) was promoted to banking of-

ficer/lead administrative assistant in lending at Texas Bank and Trust, where she has worked since 2018. She has volunteered with Tyler’s Day of Caring, assisting organizations such as Meals on Wheels, the East Texas Food bank, Children’s Advocacy Center and East Texas Crisis Center.

Rebecca Price (BS interdisciplinary studies; MS human resource development 2019) is partner development supervisor of Brookshire Grocery Co. She has helped grow the company’s training and development department to a team of 13 partners.

2017

Jim Aller (PhD human resource management) was honored in Marquis Who’s Who for his professional accomplishments. Aller serves as associate dean and professor in Georgia Southwestern University’s graduate business program. Before his involvement in academia, Aller worked in human resource leadership for corporations including Pep Boys, Home Depot and 84 Lumber.

Nelly Pedroza Storey (BBA accounting, finance; MAcc 2018) is a sales tax auditor for the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, conducting audits and undertaking special projects involving state taxes, fees and other revenue sources.

Michelle Stokes (BSN) is clinical director of the intensive care unit at CHRISTUS Good Shepherd Medical Center-Longview, where she has worked for seven years. She recently completed her MSN from UT Arlington.

2018

Taylor Jarman (MEd curriculum and instruction) was named principal of Velma Penney Elementary School in Lindale ISD after serving last year as assistant principal. Jarman has been with the school district for 11 years.

Justin Lockhart (MA clinical mental health counseling) was chosen by the UT Tyler College of Education and Psychology as a Distinguished Alumni honoree for 2024. Lockhart is a therapist at the San Antonio Behavioral Health Hospital and a doctoral candidate and Fellow of Counselor Education and Supervision at UT San Antonio. Lockhart is involved in research and mental health and community advocacy. He

has authored several publications in professional journals.

2020

Lisa Frazier (BSN) is a clinical educator for CHRISTUS Good Shepherd Medical Center-Marshall. She is a member of the nursing leadership team and manages the ongoing education, training and professional development of the nursing staff.

Alex Piseth (MBA) recently launched NerdsToGo, which assists Tyler-area businesses and community members with their information technology challenges.

Cassi Velasco (BBA) is director of community relations for Breckenridge Village of Tyler, a residential community for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Velasco works to strengthen the connection between Breckenridge Village and the greater East Texas community. She is an alum of Leadership Tyler Class 36 and a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, the Rotary Club of Tyler and the Smith County Women’s Fund.

Brittney Waters (BS history) is the assistive technology instructor for the East Texas Lighthouse for the Blind. She teaches individual and group AT classes to people of all ages and levels of vision loss. She is a graduate of the Professional Mastery of Office Technology for Employment Program and the Assistive Technology Instructor Program.

Lisa King Baker's $1.87 Million Gift to UT Tyler

CONTINUED FROM P. 17

To keep busy in the interim, she attended a prep course at UT Tyler for the Certified Public Accountant Exam.

After being wait-listed for two years, her father finally received a kidney transplant. Baker will never forget the wave of relief she felt when she got the news. “Many people wait on that list and never get a call,” she says. “But he did.” It was a new opportunity for him — and their whole family.

Two weeks later, Baker was in Fort Worth taking the final part of her CPA Exam. It was her last chance to pass it — or she’d have to start the entire testing process over. When she passed the first section, she called her dad first, just as she’d done since childhood.

Her mom answered instead. “Sweetheart, your dad didn’t make it. He had a heart attack this afternoon.” His body had rejected the kidney. Baker stood frozen, overwhelmed by shock and disbelief.

The words felt unreal, as if they belonged to a nightmare rather than her life. She had never imagined a world without her father by her side. The next few hours passed in a blur as she made her way back to Tyler. She never returned to finish the exam.

Twenty-eight years later, Baker served as an accountant in the oil and gas industry, met the love of her life and moved back to Sherman before she inherited her mother’s estate. Baker understood the importance of leaving a legacy — and she could think of no better place to leave one than in her hometown.

Baker’s connection to Tyler runs deep, and memories of her father and mother are woven into the fabric of the community — memories of their camping trips, their emotional support and, of course, her father’s love for barbecue. As her planned gift grows, Baker hopes it will one day fund an entire School of Medicine class, opening doors for young minds across East Texas.

“I want to give back to the community that has given so much to my family,” she says. “My hope is that every child in East Texas will realize their potential to change lives, and I’m determined to ensure that a lack of opportunity will never hold them back from achieving their dreams.”

“Estate gifts like these are vital for shaping the health of our community,” says Philley. “They empower us to cre-

ate opportunities that can change lives and uplift our entire region.”

To learn more about contributing to the future of health care and education in East Texas, contact advancement@ uttyler.edu.

National Champions

CONTINUED FROM P. 23

In addition to Haygood’s Tournament MVP title, Plocheck, Arias, Escamilla and Zapata were all named to the All-Tournament Team.

The Patriots won the national championship in just their third season of postseason eligibility for the NCAA Division II program. UT Tyler has claimed the South Central Regional Title in each of those three seasons, finishing as national semifinalists in 2022 and 2023.

UT Tyler has been 219-33 since beginning NCAA Division II play in 2019 and has produced a record of 134-17 in Lone Star Conference play during that stretch. The Patriots have claimed the Lone Star Conference Regular Season Championship in each of the first four seasons of competition in the league.

UT Tyler won ATEC/NCA Division II National Coaching Staff of the Year for 2024. This was the softball program’s second ATEC/NFCA Staff of the Year Award, joining their honor from 2016 after their first national championship.

Led by Reed, the only head coach in UT Tyler program history, the staff includes associate head coach and former Patriot standout Whitney Wyly and assistant coaches Shannon Klaus and Anthony Springer. Shea O’Leary is manager.

Since starting the UT Tyler softball program in 2005, Reed has guided the Patriots to an 814-151 record and 14 NCAA national tournament appearances. He has helped develop 37 All-Americans, 112 all-region and 182 all-conference selections and has led the UT Tyler program to the NCAA World Series in 10 of the 14 years since the Patriots became postseason eligible in Division III.

DR. SHELDON DAVIS

CHAIR OF MATHEMATICS REMEMBERED FOR HIS INSPIRATIONAL LEADERSHIP AND GIFTED TEACHING

DR. SHELDON DAVIS, who served UT Tyler with distinction as chair and professor of mathematics for more than 15 years, passed away on May 18.

Dr. Neil Gray, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, recalls Davis’ kindness, selfless leadership and devotion to mathematics education.

“Dr. Davis was more than a colleague, he was my best friend and mentor, a guiding influence not only for me but for many others,” Gray says. “He was often referred to as the ‘academic dad’ of his department, always putting his faculty and staff first. He also was a caring and dedicated teacher with a unique ability to connect with his students and inspire a love for mathematics.”

Davis’ career began as an instructor at Auburn University from 19771978. He then joined Miami University, serving as an assistant professor from 1978-1981, associate professor from 1981-1986 and professor from 1986-2008. During his tenure there, he also held positions as director of graduate studies in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics from 1987-1990 and again from 1995-1999, as well as acting associate dean of the graduate school from 1991-1992.

While continuing his association with Miami University as professor emeritus, Davis came to UT Tyler in 2008 to lead the Department of Mathematics and teach. His research area was set-theoretic topology, and his contributions to the field and to UT Tyler will impact the study of mathematics for generations.

“What most didn’t know about Dr. Davis is that he received his pilot’s license before his driver’s license,” Gray says. “Throughout his life, he was an overachiever, always striving for excellence in everything he did and inspiring the same in others.”

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

FACULTY & STAFF

Dr. Annamary Consalvo

Associate Professor of Literacy, College of Education and Psychology Nov. 5, 2024

Angela Fazarro

Grants and Contracts Specialist II, Office of Research, Scholarship and Sponsored Programs Feb. 23, 2024

Dr. Anna Kurdowska

Associate Vice President for Research Compliance and Research Compliance Officer Nov. 4, 2024

Dr. David Paul Swanzy

Former Interim Director, School of Performing Arts July 18, 2024

Donna Waters

Administrative Specialist, Administration July 11, 2024

Dr. George M. Whitson

Associate Professor, Computer Science July 4, 2024

ALUMNI

Carolyn Myers Baer ’86 Nov. 19, 2023

Dennis David Brand ’80 June 2, 2024

Ayden Rose Burt ’18 July 23, 2024

William Robert “Bob” Dennis ’76 Feb. 6, 2024

Beth Ann Higgins ’88 April 15, 2024

Arlene Carter Lockhart ’89 Aug. 4, 2024

Brenna Roseberry ’92 April 23, 2024

Johnnie Louise Seastrunk ’80 June 19, 2024

Scot Wright ’02 Jan. 24, 2024

A beautiful day on campus in the early 1980s as students walk along the lakeside of what is now the Stewart Administration Building.

UT TYLER ARCHIVES