University of Texas at Tyler Winter 2024 Magazine

24 ENGINEERING THE FUTURE UT TYLER MAGAZINE

UT Tyler aligns with growing national demand for engineers

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Students take time to enjoy an autumn day on UT Tyler’s Harvey Lake.

BY MARK JACKSON

UT TYLER MAGAZINE

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W I N T E R

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I S S U E

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President Kirk A. Calhoun, MD, FACP

D E PA R T M E N T S

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News

4 No. 7 in the Nation UT Tyler is one of the fastest-growing universities 6 Distinguished Delegation Model UN earns top recognition at New York conference

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Research

Design Pentagram Austin

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Writers Sydney Baker Emily Battle Hannah Buchanan Andrew Faught Beverley Golden Danielle Joubert Ryan Shumaker Elizabeth Wingfield

Athletics

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20 Reaching New Heights Patriots make inroads in DII competition 22 Family-Oriented Decision Zambie brothers join forces on men’s basketball team

Alumni

38 Five Questions Michael McClendon

UT Tyler Magazine is published bi-annually by the Office of Marketing and Communications at The

F E AT U R E S 24 Engineering the Future UT Tyler aligns with growing demand for engineers B Y A N D R E W FA U G H T

30 Nursing Excellence A look at Dean Barbara Haas’ journey with the ever-growing School of Nursing

BY ELIZABETH WINGFIELD

34 Eye on the Ball Riccardi takes path of persistence to the NBA B Y E M I LY B AT T L E

On the Cover

Illustration by Anuj Shrestha

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University of Texas at Tyler.

UT Tyler is an equal opportunity employer and educational institution.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: The University of Texas at Tyler Office of Marketing and Communications 3900 University Blvd.

Tyler, TX 75799 (903) 566-6162 www.uttyler.edu UT Tyler Magazine, Winter 2024, Vol. 2, Issue 1

09: LAURA HOPE LLOYD; 24: ANUJ SHRESTHA; 38: SMALL TOWN SOCIALS

18 Tiny Insect, Big Questions UT Tyler biologists study the ant’s impact

Managing Editor Beverley Golden Editor Emily Battle

Health

12 Shortening the Wait Paola Castrejon dreams of helping underserved in East Texas 16 A Better Tomorrow The Byers Family Foundation’s commitment to the community

Publisher Jeff Noblitt

F R O M

T H E

P R E S I D E N T

CONTRIBUTORS

BEHIND THE LINES

Andrew Faught A freelance writer based in Fresno, California, Faught has written widely on the issues and ideas of

in publications at the University of California- Berkeley, Harvard University, the University of Pennsylvania and

UT TYLER MAGAZINE

higher education. His work has appeared

the University of North Carolina. He previously was a staff

W E A R E E M B R A C I N G change at The University of Texas at Tyler. Change is a sign of growth, and as challenging as change can be, we are excited by the potential it represents.

In the tumultuous landscape of higher education, our ability to adapt to change is a prerequisite for success. This skill is critical as we face the increasing competition in student recruitment and retention.

In response, we are: • Reducing the cost of higher education and managing health care costs.

• Adapting to the technological revolution of how we teach, learn, treat patients and conduct research.

• Adjusting curriculum to prepare students for a new reality in which traditional degrees may no longer be the ultimate path to a meaningful career.

• Meeting the growing demand for lifelong learning.

• Remaining relevant to all facets of our community.

In this issue, we document examples of how we are successfully meeting the challenges head on and being nationally recognized for our

tal College in Los Angeles.

efforts. Plans are to grow our enrollment to 15,000 in the next four years. To do that, we plan to expand our graduate and online degree programs.

We have experienced a number of progressive changes in the last three years, and we continue to rise as one unified institution dedicated to serving the educational and health care needs of our region and beyond.

Please enjoy, and as always, we would love to hear from you (especially when you find Swoop hidden in this issue).

Alumni, be sure to let us know what you are doing.

Anuj Shrestha An illustrator based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Anuj Shrestha has worked with The New York Times, The New Yorker, The Washington Post, Wired and

With Patriot Pride,

Popular Science. His comics have been listed in several editions of The Best American Comics anthology. He is fond

Kirk A. Calhoun, MD, FACP President, UT Tyler

of chili sauce and chihuahuas.

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DAV I D E B O N A Z Z I

Embracing Change

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writer at Occiden-

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C O N TEN TS →

MODEL UN RECOGNITION P. 6

Q + A

MEET THE DEAN P. 8

K E R R I E A M BO RT- C L A R K R E G E N T ’ S AWA R D P. 11

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News

No. 7 in the Nation UT TYLER IS ONE OF THE FASTEST-GROWING UNIVERSITIES

BY HANNAH BUCHANAN

U T T Y L E R is one of the fastest-growing public doctoral universities in the nation. That’s according to the latest Chronicle of Higher Education Almanac. UT Tyler, ranked No. 7 in the 2023 publication, is one of only five public universities in Texas to be recognized in this year’s top 15. This is the third consecutive time the university has made the list.

The almanac examines data in several categories such as student enrollment, degree offerings, finances, characteristics and diversity, and outcomes.

J O N AT H A N M C S WA I N

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RANKING

THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT TYLER IS BECOMING A FIRST-CHOICE, FOUR-YEAR UNIVERSITY FOR OUR LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL AND TRANSFER STUDENTS.” DAVID BARRON, Vice President for Enrollment Management

J O N AT H A N M C S WA I N

9,761 students enrolled.

1,328

incoming freshmen; a 14% increase over the previous record year of 2021.

1,163

incoming transfer students; a 9.72% increase — the highest in three years.

President Calhoun receives chief executive leadership award

UT Tyler President Kirk A. Calhoun is the 2023 recipient of the Council for Advancement and Support of Education District IV E. Joseph Savoie Chief Executive Leadership Award. ¶ The award recognizes outstanding efforts to promote understanding and support of education by the ability to create a vision and inspire others, establish a positive image for the institution while leading to higher levels of success, increase the institution’s stature in the community, encourage innovation and risk-taking by employees, and support all aspects of advancement at the institu­tion. ¶ Calhoun was nominated for his innate leadership abilities. Under his leadership, UT Tyler’s rep­utation and visibility have reached new heights with broad recognition for its positive impact on East Texas and beyond.

One initiative respon­sible for the university’s increasing profile is the launch of the region’s only medical school, which has resulted in meaningful reputational and philanthropic gains. ¶ “Across the university, we are driven to improve lives in East Texas and beyond through our academics, research and health care delivery,” Calhoun says. “Building on the significant investment from the UT System Board of Regents, private, foundation and corporation philanthropy has combined to help us launch the first School of Medicine in East Texas.”

— BEVERLEY GOLDEN

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A major contributing factor to the uni‑ versity’s overall growth is its recordbreaking year in freshman recruitment.

UT Tyler saw the highest number of first-time-in-college freshmen, breaking records in applications, admitted students, confirmations and enrolled students for the third consecutive year.

Academic student quality also continued to increase, with the highest number of new freshmen ranking in the top 10% of their high school class.

UT Tyler has continued its synergies of improved student service and strate-

Fall ’23 Enrollment Highlights

VISIONARY LEADER

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Record Freshman Class

D ATA S E T

‫ ۄ‬Calhoun receives award from Sue Cunningham, CASE president and CEO.

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students in summer 2023. The School of Nursing and College of Arts and Sciences will also expand to increase lab and classroom spaces. To support its growth, UT Tyler established new and extended current financial aid programs to make college more affordable, including the Patriot Promise Scholarship.

UT Tyler currently offers seven doctoral programs including the most recent addition — the Doctor of Medicine.

Other new graduate-level programs at UT Tyler include the Master of Science in engineering leadership and the Master of Science in cybersecurity and data analytics. New certificate programs include organizational development and leadership, supply chain management and business legal studies.

gic enrollment initiatives to better support constituents and foster enrollment growth, according to David Barron, UT Tyler vice president for enrollment management.

“Through outreach to the community, we were able to build stronger relationships with our East Texas high school community and higher education partners,” says Barron. “The University of Texas at Tyler is becoming a first-choice, four-year university for our local high school and transfer students.”

UT Tyler also continued its strong partnerships with local high schools in the College Readiness Program for a second full year. The university increased its partners from 10 to 24 high schools, providing College Readiness coaches once a week in the high schools to assist students in completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, as well as applications for both college admissions and scholarships.

“These hands-on partnerships to assist our local high schools in ensuring their students successfully transition to college have been extremely well received by our partners and continue to foster greater awareness and affinity for UT Tyler in our East Texas community,” adds Barron.

The university has set a goal to increase enrollment to 15,000 students by 2028.

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“UT Tyler is excited to continue growing to meet the educational needs of our community, and we thank the UT System Board of Regents and the community for their support in helping us grow,” says UT Tyler President Kirk A. Calhoun, MD, FACP. Just in the last three years alone, UT Tyler has made significant achievements in expanding academics and medical education. The new School of Medicine welcomed its first class of 40

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INFOGRAPHIC

Distinguished Delegation MODEL UN EARNS TOP RECOGNITION AT NEW YORK CONFERENCE

UT TYLER MAGAZINE

BY HANNAH BUCHANAN

C O N T I N U I N G T H E I R T R A D I T I O N of excellence, students in the UT Tyler Model United Nations Program were once again recognized at the National Model UN Conference in New York City.

The 2023 group received the Distinguished Delegation Award for representing Greece while discussing various topics including rural economic development, nuclear waste management and safeguarding human rights of persons displaced by climate change.

“This distinction is presented to the top 5% of delegations at the conference and acknowledges outstanding character involvement,

South America

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Argentina (2010)

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Awards Received

Countries Represented

Distinguished Delegation, Position Paper

Africa

Belize (2015)

Guinea-Bissau (2014)

Position Paper (NPT and GA3)

El Salvador (2010) Distinguished Delegation, Position Paper

Honduras (2021) St. Vincent and the Grenadines (2020)

Position Paper (ECOSOC and UNEA)

Venezuela (2016) Outstanding Delegates (SC)

Distinguished Delegation, Position Paper (GA4 and GA2)

Madagascar (2016)

Distinguished Delegation, Position Paper (UNEP and SC)

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teamwork, leadership, and speaking and negotiating abilities, as well as knowledge of the issues and proper usage of procedure rules,” says program founder Dr. Marcus Stadelmann, political science department chair.

NMUN-NY is the largest intercollegiate Model UN simulation, with more than 6,000 students from colleges across six continents in attendance.

UT Tyler representatives were Kat Chamberlain, Alexandria Smoot, Arianna Polius, Brittany Sehion, Raeleigh Pierce, Dalton

Parkman, Kiara Miller, John Enaboifo, Anna Caccamo, David Harris, Jacob Groninga, Jerrod Smith and Taylor Vandergriff.

Students also received Outstanding Delegate in Committee awards in recognition of their leadership and speaking abilities while discussing the topic, “Protecting Refugees From Human Trafficking,” in the MUN Refugee Agency’s committee.

The Model United Nations Program at UT Tyler was established in 2006 to provide students a unique opportunity to engage in world studies and policy advocacy.

Middle East Bahrain (2011) Honorable Mention

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Lebanon (2012)

Position Paper (UNCSD and SC)

Europe Asia

Honorable Mention, Position Paper (IAEA, GA1, GA2)

China (2013)

Honorable Mention

Bulgaria (2018)

Kazakhstan (2019)

Position Paper

France (2012)

Outstanding Delegate (IAEA)

France (2013) Honorable Mention, Position Paper

Germany (2013)

Honorable Mention, Position Paper (CSTD, CSW)

Greece (2023)

Distinguished Delegation, Outstanding Delegates (UNHCR)

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Bosnia and Herzegovina (2017)

Italy (2015) Luxembourg (2020)

Honorable Mention, Outstanding Delegates (ECOSOC)

Slovakia (2022)

Honorable Mention, Outstanding Delegates (PBC)

Ukraine (2017)

Position Paper (SC-C)

Russian Federation (2014)

Honorable Mention, Position Paper

Sri Lanka (2012) Honorable Mention, Position Paper (GA2 and UNESCO)

Oceania New Zealand (2016)

Honorable Delegation, Most Diplomatic (SC) UTTYLER.EDU

United Kingdom and Northern Ireland (2010)

Outstanding Delegation, Position Paper (GA1 and UNEA)

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Q+A

Meet the Dean Q&A WITH DR. PRADEEP ‘MAX’ DASS, DEAN OF COLLEGE OF EDUCATION AND PSYCHOLOGY

BY HANNAH BUCHANAN

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U T T Y L E R W E L C O M E S Dr. Pradeep “Max” Dass as dean of the College of Education and Psychology. Dass previously served Northern Arizona University as STEM education department chair.

He is driven and motivated by a deep commitment to high quality educational experiences for all students. He holds a master’s degree from Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gorakhpur University and a doctorate from the University of Iowa.

Dass is excited about leading the CEP and looks forward to enhancing the preparation of education and psychology professionals in East Texas.

University merits Silver Military Friendly® School designation

Where do you see the future of the ed­ ucation and psychology fields going?

The fields we serve through our college are extremely significant to the well-being of our community and society at large. These fields will remain in high demand.

What are you looking forward to the most in East Texas and at UT Tyler?

I am looking forward to being a part of the vibrant region and a university that is on a strong growth trajectory. I am also looking forward to the Rose Festival.

What do you like best about the uni­ versity and the College of Education and Psychology?

What makes any institution great is the people who make up the institution. I have met many wonderful people. I also like that the CEP serves both college students through our degree programs and school students through our three University Academy K-12 schools. That’s special and uncommon.

If you could go back in time and have dinner with anyone, who would it be and why?

My doctoral supervisor and mentor, Dr. Robert Yager. He made a significant impact on my development as an academic.

What’s your favorite movie of all time?

“Me Before You.” On the surface, it seems like the hero thought only about him­self.

But a deeper analysis reveals that he was doing a lot of good for the heroine.

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UT Tyler has earned a Silver Military Friendly® School designation for the 2023-24 year. This places the university in the top 20% of participating schools in the Tier 2 Research Institutions Category. ¶ The Mili‑ tary Friendly® Schools list is created each year based on extensive re­ search using public data sources for more than 8,800 schools nation‑ wide, input from student veterans and responses to the proprietary, datadriven Military Friendly® Schools sur­‑ vey from participating institutions. ¶ “It’s an honor to be recognized in this way for our support of student vet­ erans, active, reserve and National Guard personnel, and their fam‑ ilies,” says Coby Dillard, UT Tyler di‑ rector of military and veterans affairs. “Our designation is a great testament to all the tireless, student-led efforts to make UT Tyler a truly military-inclusive institution.” ¶ The Military Friendly® Schools list can be found at militaryfriendly.com and is published annually in G.I. Jobs Magazine. ¶ Supporting about 650 military-affiliated students, the UT Tyler Military and Veterans Success Center provides a full spectrum of individualized, relation‑­ ship-centered support and advo­ cacy for its student population. — H B

B O OT S : A D O B E S TO C K 5 8 1 1 41 79 ; I L L U S T R AT I O N : DAV I A N - LY N N H O P K I N S

What is something you are excited about in your vision for success as CEP dean?

I am excited about the opportunity to serve the Tyler and East Texas community through the programs we currently offer and the new programs we will develop to serve the community’s needs.

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SUPPORTING VETERANS

What led you to academia and lead­ ership?

I transitioned from a school-teaching career to higher education because I wanted to serve more students. My leadership endeavors emanated from the same desire to serve the profession and people more broadly than I could in my role as a schoolteacher or university faculty.

P R O F I L E

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P A T R I O T

I L L L U S T R AT I O N : L A U R A H O P E L LOY D

professors and classmates, who encouraged her and pushed her cap­abilities. ¶ “My professors were always reas­suring, and they were always willing to work with me. I would go to office hours, and they would provide me with all the help I needed,” says Dix. ¶ Joining the Student Government Association in her junior year as

– SYDNEY BAKER

English BA 2019 - 2023 Rick Reedy High School, Frisco 2015 – 2019

ACTIVITIES UT Tyler Student Government Association President, Former Secretary and Senator Women’s Tennis Team Member, 2019 - 2023 Team Captain, 2022 - 2023 Student-Athlete Advisory Committee President, 2022 - 2023

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the Student-Athlete Advisory Co­mmittee in her senior year. While dominating in singles and doubles on the court, Dix also excelled academically. ¶ Starting in the Soules College of Business, Dix switched her major to English during her junior year because of her love for writing and literature. In both programs, Dix felt sup­ported by her

E D U C AT I O N UT Tyler English MA 2023 – 2025

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“I fell in love with the people and the atmosphere. It has a very homey feel,” Dix says. “The tennis team was really supportive.

The upperclass­men took me under their wing and showed me the ropes. I was really lucky to have that.” ¶ Dix played on the women’s tennis team for four years, serving as team captain and president of

CHLOE DIX

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Initially, Chloe Dix chose to attend UT Tyler because of the oppor­ tunity to play on the women’s ten­ nis team. When she arrived on campus for an official athletic tour, the campus’s beauty, layout and community drew her in deeper.

the College of Arts and Sciences senator allowed Dix to work with students and serve as a liaison between faculty, staff and administration. She then served as secretary and managed SGA’s Instagram and website. Once she earned her bachelor’s de­gree in spring 2023, Dix decided to run for president and continue serving on the SGA as a graduate student. ¶ As SGA president, Dix spent the summer preparing for the fall semester. She met with President Kirk A. Calhoun and the adminis­tration and spoke at convo­cation. ¶ “I was only the second (SGA) president to speak at convocation.That’s going to resonate with me for the rest of my life,” says Dix. ¶ Throughout her tenure on the SGA and the tennis team, Dix has learned that the key to balancing it all is commu­nication. ¶ “When I first joined the SGA, I was hesitant because I wanted to make sure I could give it my all . I’ve learned that open communication always works the best ,” Dix says. “It’s shown me that you really can do it all.” ¶ After earn­ing her master’s in English, Dix hopes to remain in Texas and work as an editor for a publishing company. She believes her professors have prepared her to transition to the workforce. ¶ “I’d say that I have them to thank for feeling prepared and confident,” she says. ¶ To Dix, UT Tyler’s small class sizes and sense of built-in family have made her college experi­ence special. She is grateful for the confidence that tennis, SGA and the UT Tyler community have helped her build.

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INFOGRAPHIC

Among the Nation’s Top 50 ONLINE MBA PROGRAMS RANKED 46TH BY FORTUNE MAGAZINE

U T T Y L E R ’ S Master of Business Administration programs are ranked 46th nationwide by Fortune Magazine, as noted on the publication’s Best Online MBA Programs in 2023 list. The university rose from the 2022 ranking of 56.

“This ranking by Fortune Magazine is a testament to the quality of our programs as well as our dedicated faculty and staff who work together to prepare the next generation of business leaders and professionals,” says Dr. Krist Swimberghe, dean of the Soules College of Business.

Accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, the UT Tyler 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. Less than 5% of the more than 16,000 schools worldwide granting business degrees have earned AACSB accreditation.

UT Tyler online MBA concentrations include marketing, cybersecurity and health care management as well as a generalist track.

DEGREES AWARDED (2022–23)

With flexible programs to accommodate busy lives, the UT Tyler graduate school is designed to make earning a master’s or doctorate a seamless process.

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DOCTORAL DEGREES OFFERED

Clinical Psychology PhD Human Resource Development PhD Medicine MD Nursing PhD* Nursing Practice DNP Pharmacy PharmD School Improvement EdD*

,2 391 NUMBER OF GRAD STUDENTS ENROLLED FALL 2023:

879

MASTER’S

89

DOCTORAL

MASTER’S DEGREES OFFERED

Art (Studio) MFA Art MA Biology MS Biotechnology MS Business Administration MBA* Chemistry MS Civil Engineering MSCE Clinical Mental Health Counseling MA Clinical Psychology MS Communication MA Computer Science MS Criminal Justice MS* Curriculum and Instruction MEd* Cybersecurity and Data Analytics MS* Educational Leadership MEd* Electrical Engineering MSEE Engineering Leadership MSEL* English MA* Family Nurse Practitioner MSN* Health Administration MHA* Health Sciences MS* History MA Human Resource Development MS* Industrial Management MS* Informatics, Quality and Safety MSN* Kinesiology MS* Mathematics MS Mechanical Engineering MSME Nursing Administration MSN* Nursing Education MSN* Occupational Therapy MOT Political Science MA Professional Accountancy MSPA Public Administration MPA* Public Health MPH* Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner MSN* Reading Education MEd* School Counseling MA* Special Education MEd* * Offered 100%online

CREDENTIALS FOR DIGITAL CAREERS

More than 50 professional certificates from companies like Google, IBM, Meta and Intuit are available to bolster student and alumni resumes.

50+

SOURCE: UT TYLER

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BY HANNAH BUCHANAN

THIRTY NINE

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RESEARCHER OF THE YEAR Texas council honors Dr. Gary Miller for addressing students’ mental health needs

AMBORT-CLARK RECEIVES RECOGNITION FROM AMERICAN COLLEGE OF HEALTHCARE EXECUTIVES

K E R R I E A N N E Ambort-Clark, a UT Tyler senior lecturer and executive director, was named a Regent’s Awardee by the American College of Healthcare Executives.

ACHE is the professional society for leaders committed to improving health.

Regent’s Awards recognize members who have made significant contributions to the advancement of health care management excellence and achievement of ACHE’s goals.

“We are so proud of Kerrie Anne, who

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UT TYLER

BY HANNAH BUCHANAN

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Regent’s Award

has proven herself to be an exceptional leader of UT Tyler and the East Texas community,” says Dr. Krist Swimberghe, Soules College of Business dean. “She is passionate about developing the next generation of health care leaders, and her excellent work serves the university and the community undoubtedly well.”

Ambort-Clark has been instrumental in the development and execution of UT Tyler health care management education and student success initiatives in her roles as Executive MBA Healthcare Management Program executive director and as the School of Medicine’s Healthcare Leadership Distinction director. Outside of UT Tyler, she has provided leadership development for community partners and created leadership training modules used in academia and industry.

A UT Tyler alum, Ambort-Clark earned a 2018 UT System Regents’ Outstanding Teaching Award, and she was named a 2019 UT Tyler Academy of Distinguished Teachers Faculty Fellow.

Ambort-Clark teaches introduction to business and contributes to health administration courses.

UT TYLER MAGAZINE

RECOGNITION

Dr. Gary Miller, an associate professor of educational leadership at UT Tyler, was named Researcher of the Year by the Texas Council of Professors of Educational Administration. ¶ TCPEA established the Researcher of the Year Award to recognize outstanding contributions in the field of educational research and inquiry. Miller’s research focuses on social-emotional learning in addressing the mental health needs of students in rural schools. He was named TCPEA Advocate of the Year in 2020. ¶ “We are proud of Dr. Miller for his exceptional work in the field of educational leadership,” says Dr. Amir Mirmiran, UT Tyler provost and executive vice president for academic affairs. “This recognition by the council is proof of his dedication to better serve future administrators as well as schools across East Texas.”¶ Nominees for this award must be active members of TCPEA, which serves a membership of about 60 institutions statewide. ¶ “Dr. Miller is a passionate educator who strives to provide our principal preparation students with rigorous and relevant educational experiences,” says Dr. Yanira Oliveras, UT Tyler School of Education interim director. “Being named the TCPEA Researcher of the Year is a great honor, not only for Dr. Miller, but also for the School of Education.” ¶ Miller has led UT Tyler’s educational leadership programs for nearly 10 years while maintaining strong partnerships with school districts in East Texas and across the state. His efforts have allowed UT Tyler to be one of only two universities in the state to partner with local districts for five consecutive years through the Texas Education Agency’s Grow Your Own grant program. — H B

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Health

PROFILE

PART OF THE SCHOOL OF MEDICINE’S INAUGURAL CLASS, PAOLA CASTREJON DREAMS OF HELPING THE UNDERSERVED AND UNDERINSURED IN EAST TEXAS

BY ELIZABETH WINGFIELD

DAN BEJAR

UTTYLER.EDU

Shortening the Wait

F O R PA O L A C A S T R E J O N and her family, waking up early on a weekend in Tyler and waiting all day in line to see their family practice physician was not an unusual occurrence.

The physician’s affordable rates and weekend availability made him a popular option for those who worked late.

Since patients were seen on a firstcome-first-served basis, Castrejon and her family would often wake up around 4 or 5 a.m. Even so, there were times when they had to wait all day, packed together with other families in the waiting room with a line that ran out the door.

Castrejon would often stay in the car and sleep or have her nose buried in a “Goosebumps” book. While they waited, her mother often volunteered her to help translate for the other Spanish-speaking patients as they talked to the nurses or filled out paperwork.

Castrejon earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing at UT Tyler before working as a nurse for five years. She saw the need for primary care physicians first-hand as patients experienced increasingly longer wait times for an appointment.

Last summer, Castrejon and her 39 fellow students participated in the School of Medicine’s inaugural White Coat Ceremony. They recited the Physician’s Oath and donned white coats with the Gold Foundation Humanism in Medicine pin, signifying their transition into the medical profession.

Dr. Julie V. Philley, executive vice president for health affairs and vice provost, emphasized the importance of having humility as a physician during her keynote speech. “This is a serious job for serious people taking care of serious things,” says Philley. “This profession does not revolve around you. It’s about alleviating, or at least lessening, the human suffering of others.”

Ninety-five percent of students in the inaugural class are from East Texas

DAV I A N-LY N N H O P K I N S

Dr. Maolin Lu, assistant professor of cellular and molecular biology in the School of Medicine, was awarded the first R35 grant UT Tyler has ever received from the National Institutes of Health. ¶ The $1.8 million R35 MIRA grant, or the Maximizing Investigators’ Research Award, is given to promising young investigators to provide a stable funding environment for ambitious, innovative research.

The goal is to support basic research that lays the groundwork for disease prevention and treatment. ¶ Lu in‑ tends to use the funds to expand her research area from HIV to other viruses and to study virus-host inter­ actions for SARS-CoV-2, RSV and other emerging viruses. She hopes to use her research to contribute to future vaccines and drugs that target

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After rotating at Bethesda Health Clinic as a nursing student, Castrejon would love to be involved with a nonprofit and give back to the underserved and underinsured populations in the community. Once she’s a family practice physician, she hopes to offer evening and weekend availability. Instead of being the patient waiting in the line, she’ll get to be the doctor waiting at the end of it.

Dr. Maolin Lu receives first R35 award for UT Tyler, given to promising young researchers

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DR. JULIE V. PHILLEY, Executive Vice President for Health Affairs and Vice Provost

HISTORIC ACHIEVEMENT

viral entry. ¶ “This a wonderful and historic accomplishment for Dr. Maolin Lu,” says Dr. Torry Tucker, associ‑ ate dean for research at the UT Tyler School of Medicine. “Her success also paves the way for other young investigators to pursue new funding opportunities.” ¶ Lu has received several grants over the past year for her research: a $175,000 collabo­ rative development award from the Duke Center for HIV Structural Biology, a $370,700 R56 grant from the National Institutes of Health and $130,000 from the Gilead Science Research Scholars Program. ¶ “I’ve received support from lots of scientists and their laboratories,” Lu says.

“To receive these types of grants, it’s imperative to have a strong supporting system and a spirit of collabora‑ tion, and I’m thankful that, through the School of Medicine and other researchers, I’ve had both.” ¶ Lu earned her Master of Science in biochemistry and molecular biology from Xi’an Jiaotong University and her PhD in photochemical sciences at Bowling Green State University. After grad‑ uation, she joined the Walther Mothes Laboratory at Yale University School of Medicine in 2015 and became a UT Tyler assistant professor in 2021. — E W

UT TYLER MAGAZINE

THIS IS A SERIOUS JOB FOR SERIOUS PEOPLE TAKING CARE OF SERIOUS THINGS. THIS PROFESSION DOES NOT REVOLVE AROUND YOU. IT’S ABOUT ALLEVIATING, OR AT LEAST LESSENING, THE HUMAN SUFFERING OF OTHERS.”

H ea l th

counties, including Smith, Gregg, Bowie, Harrison, Angelina, Cherokee, Wood and Kaufman, and the School of Medicine plans to continue recruiting local talent from East Texas.

The School of Medicine and seven partnering institutions recently gathered to sign a memorandum of understanding for the Early Assurance Program, known as “Pathways to Medicine.” The program will prepare 40 students each year from local colleges and universities for a successful medical career through clinical exposure and MCAT prep. Now students like Castrejon will be better prepared for medical school, with a mentor guiding them every step of the way.

Even though Castrejon took a rather circuitous route to medical school, her previous experience as a nurse has equipp­ed her to be an even better physician.

“I know how much teamwork it takes, especially in emergency situations,” she says. “You have to know who your team is and what they can do.” She also understands the importance of communication, not just with her team but with the patient. She would often start her shifts by asking patients, “Do you understand what’s going on?”

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Q+A

Meet the Deans Q&A WITH DR. THERESA BYRD, SCHOOL OF HEALTH PROFESSIONS, AND DR. AMY SCHWARTZ, FISCH COLLEGE OF PHARMACY

BY ELIZABETH WINGFIELD

dean of the UT Tyler School of Health Professions, which includes four departments: public health; health care policy, economics and management; kinesiology; and rehabilitation sciences. Prior to this role, she served as chair and associate dean of the Department of Public Health at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center.

What led you to a career in health pro­ fessions?

A friend suggested I go into nursing be-

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What’s your favorite thing about East Texas?

My parents were from Arkansas, and for health reasons, my family had to move to Tucson for its drier climate. I was born in Tucson, but every summer, we would visit family in Waldo, Arkansas, which has a very similar landscape to Tyler — it’s absolutely beautiful and green. In a way, coming to Tyler feels like coming home.

What’s a skill you’ve always wanted to learn?

One skill that I’m learning — that I’ve wanted to learn for a long time — is data analytics. I would also love to learn how to paint as a means of creative expression.

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What advice would you give your youn­ ger self?

Don’t worry so much. I spent an awful lot of time worrying that I wasn’t doing things right, that I wasn’t OK or that people didn’t like me. But most of the things I worried about never happened. Focus on what’s happening right in front of you — be here now.

If you could only use one word to de­ scribe the Fisch College of Pharmacy, what would it be and why?

Resilient. The faculty and staff who are here are committed. The faculty are proud and embody the mission, vision and values. And the students chose this program for similar reasons. Everyone here is all in.

What do you think sets the Fisch Col­ lege of Pharmacy apart from other pharmacy schools?

The magnitude of support across the institution for pharmacy is tremendous.

Everyone wants the program to be successful. Here, the focus of UT Tyler, the Fisch family and the Brookshire family is truly to serve East Texas.

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Which fictional character would you invite to speak at a school event?

Wile E. Coyote. He keeps getting demolished because the roadrunner keeps throwing everything you can imagine at him, but he stays the course. His story can resonate with students, demonstrating the value of perseverance and encouraging them to keep going.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of your role as dean?

I love having the opportunity to help whenever faculty or staff face challenging issues. Being a servant leader means that it’s not about me but rather helping others. If I can do that, then I can retire happy and sit back with a glass of wine and a tasty dessert.

I L L U S T R AT I O N : DAV I A N - LY N N H O P K I N S

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If you could travel anywhere in time, where would you go?

If I didn’t have to stay, I’d go back to the 1800s and visit John Snow, the father of epidemiology. He discovered that the cholera outbreak in London was connected to a particular waterline, using pins and a map to track the cases. No one at the time believed that water could cause illness, and he had to fight to convince people. He removed the Broad Street pump handle so no one could use the contaminated water, and cholera rates decreased, proving his theory.

D R . A M Y H . S C H WA R T Z is the new dean of the Ben and Maytee Fisch College of Pharmacy. She has been a licensed pharmacist for 35 years and previously served as academic affairs dean for the University of South Florida Taneja College of Pharmacy.

What inspired you to pursue a career in pharmacy education?

In the ninth grade, I had to choose a career pathway and chose college prep, since I was interested in pharmacy, and have never looked back. I pursued academia because there were few clinical opportunities beyond government agencies at the time. During my first year, I suffered from what they now call “imposter syndrome,” but the longer I stayed in academia, the more my passion and skills developed.

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D R . T H E R E S A B Y R D is the inaugural

cause I loved people and had an interest in health. As a music major, I had never even considered it, but I followed her advice. After working as a public health nurse for six years, I saw the need for serious change: The pregnant teenagers kept getting pregnant and the drug addicts kept going back to drugs. The individual approach was not working. I wanted to change entire communities, so I obtained my Master of Public Health at UCLA and my Doctor of Public Health at UTHealth Houston.

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100% SUCCESS

Game. Set. Match.

FISCH COLLEGE OF PHARMACY ACHIEVES HIGHEST RESIDENCY MATCH RATE IN U.S.

BY ELIZABETH WINGFIELD

College of Pharmacy recently achieved a residency match rate of 100%, the highest in the United States.

Matching with a residency program is a significant step for many pharmacy graduates, serving as a bridge between being a student and becoming a practi­ tioner, but there are more pharmacy students than there are residency spots.

Many pharmacy graduates apply for a residency program to qualify for positions in hospitals, health care administration and academia, or specialties such as nuclear, psychiatric, oncology, critical care and infectious diseases.

While a residency program isn’t necessary to secure a job, it differentiates pharmacy graduates, leading to improved job prospects.

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DANIELLE JOUBERT

T H E U T T Y L E R Ben and Maytee Fisch

All 15 of the Fisch College of Pharmacy students matched, making it the only pharmacy school in the nation with no unmatched students.

“Our exceptional students deserve credit for this accomplishment,” says Dean Amy Schwartz. “They achieved this through their own hard work and dedication,” she adds, noting that faculty also played a pivotal role in guiding students toward the achievement — from reviewing letters of interest to helping with mock interviews, leading the advanced pharmacy practice experiences track and mentoring students.

The guidance of the college’s preceptors and the support of administration also were crucial factors in achieving a 100% match rate, Schwartz says. “Altogether, this is a collective accomplishment, made possible by many working together toward a common goal.”

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Byers worked for the Texas Department of Human Services as Services to the Aging and Disabled Program man-

THIS GIFT ALLOWS US TO FIND AND RETAIN FACULTY WHO PROVIDE THE HIGHEST QUALITY OF EDUCATION TO OUR MEDICAL STUDENTS, WHO CAN THEN GO OUT AND SERVE THE COMMUNITY.”

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DR. BRIGHAM C. WILLIS, Founding Dean of the School Of Medicine

DONOR PROFILE

A Better Tomorrow THE BYERS FAMILY FOUNDATION’S COMMITMENT TO THE COMMUNITY

BY ELIZABETH WINGFIELD

Byers Family Foundation is sowing the seeds of transformation.

Established in February 2023, the foundation’s mission is to support and promote philanthropic endeavors that provide community access to educational opportunities and health care and benefit human services, art and culture in the East Texas region.

In June, the Byers Family Foundation gave a $500,000 gift to the UT Tyler School of Medicine to name a professorship in family medicine, making it one of the first institutions to benefit from the foundation’s generosity. By attracting talented faculty to the region, especially in the field of family

A Legacy of Community Service

↑ Left to Right: Jim Register, Brandi Register, Dr. Kirk Calhoun, Brent Byers, Patrick Willis, Dr. Brigham C. Willis and Dr. Archie Tucker.

At the heart of this foundation’s story are Lewie and Elaine Byers, two individuals whose deep-rooted commitment to their community has left an indelible mark.

Lewie Byers, a long-time community banker and entrepreneur, founded New Birmingham Resources, a producer of iron ore, iron ore aggregate and frac sand. His leadership extended to executive roles at Austin Bank and Texas National Bank in Rusk. He was named the Rusk Chamber of Commerce’s 2007 Citizen of the Year through serving the Rusk community in various roles, including the Rusk City Council, the Rusk Economic Development Corp. and the Rusk Chamber of Commerce. Elaine

Shared Vision for Health Care, Education

The foundation’s leaders recognized that increasing access to quality health care and education among underserved

DANIELLE JOUBERT

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D E E P I N T H E H E A R T of East Texas, the

medicine, the foundation aims to catalyze positive change in both health care and the regional economy. “This school is a game-changer for health care and the economy of East Texas, and we are pleased to join with others who have helped to make this a reality,” says Brent M. Byers, son of Lewie and Elaine Byers and president of the Byers Family Foundation.

ager. Together, they have been unwavering champions of community service.

Lewie Byers recalls a story that encapsulates their legacy. “I remember when Rusk State Hospital was about to close, and we all came together to fight to keep it, and we did,” he says.

“We managed to find a buyer, and it remained open for another 30 years.”

Their legacy of community service forms the bedrock of the Byers Family Foundation’s mission, and their dedication to improving the lives of East Texans lives on through this philanthropic endeavor.

The Byers Family Foundation’s philanthropic journey began with a significant sale: the proceeds from selling Performance Proppants, a leading producer and seller of frac sand in the Haynesville Basin, to ProFrac Holdings, a NASDAQ-traded company.

The foundation’s philanthropic approach is grounded in the belief that outcomes matter. They are dedicated to providing grants that drive impactful projects supporting community access to health care and education, always seeking alignment with their mission, vision and values.

“We strive to partner with organizations that are aligned with our mission, are good stewards and that will help our community flourish,” says Brent M. Byers.

Dr. Santosh Aryal celebrates 100th publication in peerreviewed journal

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Dr. Santosh Aryal, associate professor of pharmaceutical science and health outcomes, is best known for his expertise in nanotechnology. His research focuses on treating cancer by using camouflaged nanoparticles, also called nanomedicine, to deliver drugs to different areas of the body. ¶ He joined UT Tyler in 2021, and his accolades in the past year are a testament to his innovative thinking and dedication to the field. ¶ In early 2023, the National Cancer Institute selected Aryal to serve as one of 11 experts on the Small Business Innovation Research panel. He gave the NCI feedback to help determine how to allocate tens of thousands of dollars in grants to small businesses. Chosen applicants received the funding they needed to further

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The Byers Family Foundation’s commitment to East Texas extends to the broader community. Their philanthropic journey is a testament to the profound impact individuals and organizations can have when they are deeply rooted in their values and committed to the betterment of their community.

The foundation’s journey is one of hope, transformation and community empowerment. It is a story that speaks to the enduring legacy of Lewie and Elaine Byers, whose commitment to service continues to change the lives of East Texans. Through their foundation, they are building a brighter future for generations to come.

“There are many approaches to philanthropy,” says Brent M. Byers.

“This approach aligns with our family’s mission, vision and values, and empowers East Texans to create a better tomorrow together.”

SCHOLARLY MILESTONE

develop and deliver life-saving cancer treatments to the public.¶ In July, the American Chemical Society recognized his article on nanoparticles with the editorial choice award, making it his 100th article published in a peer-reviewed journal. Editorial choice articles are selected out of the 64-plus ACS magazines. The articles undergo a comprehensive review process, and very few are selected.¶ Due to his research in nanotechnology, Aryal also received an NIH R15 grant from the National Institutes of Health to develop a method to deliver anticancer drugs specifically to the cancerous area instead of spreading it throughout the body. ¶ He received a $300,000 NIH R01 award from the National Institutes of Health. As a co-investigator, Aryal is allocated funding, in partnership with another university, to develop more accurate models for future nanomedicine testing, which will help reduce animal experimentation. ¶ “Receiving these awards and recognitions is truly a testament to the collaborative spirit of the Fisch College of Pharmacy faculty and the supportive environment at UT Tyler,” Aryal says. “It’s an honor to be part of a community that fosters innovation and pushes the boundaries of scientific discovery.” — E W

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A Brighter Future

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populations in East Texas was a priority to both the School of Medicine and the foundation. In a region projected to face critical shortages in primary care specialties like family medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics and psychiatry, the Byers Family Foundation saw an opportunity to make a lasting impact. The UT Tyler School of Medicine became the canvas for their philanthropic vision.

Their $500,000 investment in the UT Tyler School of Medicine exemplifies their belief in the power of education and health care to transform lives.

“I am grateful to the Byers Family Foundation for helping us continue to grow the School of Medicine so we can better address the health care needs of East Texas,” says UT Tyler President Kirk A. Calhoun, MD, FACP. Dr. Brigham C. Willis, founding dean of the School of Medicine, recognizes the pivotal role this gift plays in the school’s mission. “This gift allows us to find and retain faculty who provide the highest quality of education to our medical students, who can then go out and serve the community.”

Their philanthropic reach extends beyond health care and education. With a commitment to enriching the cultural fabric of East Texas, the foundation places significant emphasis on fostering art, culture and human services. They have recently contributed to the East Texas Symphony Orchestra and the UT Tyler Cowan Center, increasing access to cultural arts throughout the region.

R E S E A R C H

I N S E C T S

Tiny Insect, Big Questions UT TYLER BIOLOGISTS STUDY THE ANT’S IMPACT ON SOIL

BY HANNAH BUCHANAN

MIKHAIL VASILYEV

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D O S S I E R:

HERE ARE THE FACTS The World of Ants: Little creatures with a strong global presence

BY FOCUSING ON ANIMALS, WE MAY CHANGE OUR UNDERSTANDING OF BELOWGROUND PROCESSES.” DR. JON SEAL, The University of Texas at Tyler Associate Professor of Biology

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15k+

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NAMED SPECIES

There are more than 15,000 named species of ants.

NUMBER OF ANTS There are almost 20 quadrillion ants on earth. This is about 20% of human biomass.

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Soils in the Southeastern United States, especially those in East Texas, tend to be composed primarily of sand and are rather nutrient poor, compared to soils found in the Texas prairies and Midwest, according to Seal.

“Most nutrients are found in the uppermost layers and result from the decay of organic matter, which are quickly lost or leached out due to frequent rains and the large size and porousness of the sand grains,” he adds.

Of all the ants Seal studies, his favorite type is a common, Southeastern U.S. fungus-gardening ant that grows a type of fungus for food. “These ants cultivate particular fungi, known only in association with these ants, in a manner much like humans farm their own domesticated crops,” Seal says.

“We also study harvester ants, which collect seeds. What these ants have in common is that they interact with plants and live in the soil. They move soil around and can move aboveground nutrients to locations deep in the ground,” he notes.

“Sometimes some of the more mundane things, such as ants and soil, are actually important and go unrecognized until we take a close look at them,” Seal adds. “The general idea is that ants are just about everywhere, and their impacts may be larger than we think.”

Other UT Tyler researchers working alongside Seal on the project are Dr. Katrin Kellner, associate professor of biology, and Dr. Matthew Greenwold, assistant professor of biology.

GLOBALLY Ants are found everywhere in the world except the Arctic and Antarctic.

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“The impacts of these movements could be profound since most soil nutrients are found in the uppermost layers.

For example, ants could cover nutrient rich topsoil with soil from deeper, nutrient poor soil, thus placing it out of reach of some plant species,” Seal says. “On the other hand, ant colonies produce ‘trash,’ which can be like underground compost piles, and thus be a source of soil fertility.”

R esearch

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A N T S M A K E T H E I R home in just about every portion of the world. Views of them vary from pests to important components of ecosystems. What is the true impact these creatures have on soil?

That’s what a group of biologists at UT Tyler and their colleagues will find out.

The university received part of a $1.8 million grant from the National Science Foundation to study ants and their potential impacts on soils in Southeastern U.S. environments. UT Tyler will collaborate with Yale University and the University of Central Florida on the four-year, two-part project.

“This collaborative research award recognizes the high quality of our biology department’s work, which will help determine whether soil animals such as ants impact soils at larger scales,” says Dr. Kouider Mokhtari, UT Tyler interim senior vice president for research. “This novel research has broad applications that could advance our understanding of how soil nutrients and mineral composition are impacted by ant nests.”

A controlled-field experiment will be conducted in Florida, where researchers will remove and add ant nests and document the physical, chemical and microbial changes in soils as a result of the nests. The team will also analyze field surveys of ants’ nests and soil attributes along a 1,000-mile stretch from Central Texas to Central Florida.

“We know very little about what is happening below ground, even though what is happening below ground is important for plants, especially those that we eat,” says Dr. Jon Seal, a UT Tyler associate professor of biology who studies ants and organismal biology. He leads the UT Tyler research team. “It is important to know how nutrients are cycled from below ground to the surface and back. By focusing on animals, we may change our understanding of below-ground processes.”

Organic matter in soils is an important ecosystem property as it can impact plant growth and reproduction, Seal says, and ants and other soil animals have been known to impact soils in the vicinity of their nests — especially sandy soils, which are loose and easily moved around compared to other soils such as clay.

Ants that nest in the soil, Seal notes, are known to move or churn soil below ground, which is called bioturbation, or they may deposit soil from deep layers to the surface, a process known as biomantling.

C O N TEN TS →

ZAMBIE BROTHERS JOIN FORCES P. 22

COACHING

COACHING SUCCESS: REED, ALVIDREZ, BIZOT P. 23

+ MORE

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Athletics

↑ UT Tyler softball claimed their second straight regional title and third consecutive conference championship.

SEASON HIGHLIGHTS

PATRIOTS MAKE INROADS IN DII COMPETITION

BY DANIELLE JOUBERT

Softball

UT Tyler softball enjoyed a record-setting 62-6 season, claiming their second straight South Central Regional title and a third consecutive Lone Star Conference championship win. LSC Female Athlete of the Year Tatum Goff, junior pitcher for the Patriots, walked away with a perfect 42-0 record in the circle and another high-profile title: NCAA Division II Pitcher of the Year.

U T T Y L E R AT H L E T I C S

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Reaching New Heights

T H E U T T Y L E R Patriots pulled off an impressive season in 2022-23, continuing to blaze a trail through the ranks of their competitors in what was only their second year of full NCAA Division II membership.

Softball, women’s basketball and men’s tennis saw major successes as their athletes fought their way to the finals of their respective national tournaments.

‫ ۄ‬Pictured, from left, are Landon Thornton and Lukas Paulun.

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The semifinalist Patriots went out with a bang at nationals, forcing an if-necessary game with the University of North Georgia, thanks to a three-run homer by junior Courtney Plocheck in the bottom of the fifth. Ultimately conceding the final game to a pair of third-inning RBI singles from North Georgia, the national semifinalist Patriots met a strong end to a historic season, leaving their mark on the national stage.

Tennis

The challenges and sacrifices student-athletes face to achieve greatness on the field and in the classroom don’t go unnoticed, and some stand out as role models among their peers. Two Patriots in particular have inspired those around them.¶ Accustomed to being one of few serious runners at a small high school, senior cross-country athlete Landon Thornton had to adjust to running for a competitive team as a UT Tyler freshman. The change has been for the better.¶ “Winning as a team surpasses any feeling of winning by yourself,” Thornton says.

“When we won third place three years ago in our conference meet, I remember feeling better than I did last year when I placed top 15th individually.”

He believes his leadership skills have improved greatly along with his personal abilities as a runner. ¶ Discipline is a huge piece of that puzzle, and Thornton’s is impeccable. The athletics staff are accustomed to seeing him every afternoon after practice in the Physical Health and Education building, home to the Patriot athletics offices, taking on his coursework

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U T T Y L E R AT H L E T I C S

Student-athletes Landon Thornton and Lukas Paulun

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Basketball

Women’s basketball also punched their ticket to the finals of their national tournament in 2023. The Patriots made it to the Elite Eight after their first South Central Regional Tournament win in program history, edging out Lubbock Christian University by just three points in a neck-and-neck matchup.

Sophomore Meagan Mendazona was honored as a South Central Region Tournament MVP and walked away from the game as the Patriots’ top scorer with 18 points and 11 rebounds. Junior Montse Guttierrez followed closely with 17 points and eight rebounds, with juniors Lovisa Hevinder and Ella Bradley also making waves with key shots and rebounds that took their team to victory. In the national competition, the Patriots put up their final fight against eventual champions Ashland University, wrapping up an exciting year of Division II basketball.

THE PATRIOT PATH

with consistency and academic rigor.

Having a favorite study spot helps him keep his habits consistent. ¶ “You have to force yourself to sit down and do work, just like you do when you run circles around the field every day for the past five years,” Thornton says. “It’s not something you can do once a week; you have to do it every day, running and school. You have to keep it fresh.”¶ While success as a student-athlete is difficult for anyone to achieve, it takes a unique kind of strength to step off the beaten path to chase those opportunities. At age 28, Lukas Paulun of Essen, Germany, left his full-time career, family, friends and fiancée to pursue his MBA and a college soccer career at UT Tyler.

Having missed out on his dream of studying abroad as an undergrad, Paulun took another chance at fulfilling that dream through a scholarship at UT Tyler. ¶ An immediate powerhouse addition to the team, Paulun scored three goals in the first two games of the 2022 season. But a knee injury took him out of the game for six weeks. The Patriots fell behind in the LSC standings without him and ultimately didn’t qualify for postseason competition.¶ “I couldn’t have dreamed up a better start to the season than it was, but then I got stuck with my injury and thought to myself, ‘Why?’” Paulun says. He strongly considered cutting his losses and going back to Germany. But with support from his family back home and his teammates, Paulun made the choice to return in high spirits for the 2023 season. — D J

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Men’s tennis exited the season with two athletes ranked among the Inter­ collegiate Tennis Association’s AllAmericans for the first time since the program’s move to Division II. Senior Gonzalo Fernandez Gil finished his UT Tyler tennis career with a record-breaking season, named as both Lone Star Conference Player of the Year and Lone Star Conference Senior of the Year. The two-time ITA Cup qualifier leaves a legacy as a top-five athlete in program history in both his singles and doubles records.

Senior Joaquin Bianchi held the No. 1 ranking in ITA singles for much of his season, ultimately walking away with a No. 5 spot after competing in the NCAA Round of 16. Despite falling to the Hawaii Pacific Sharks in their bid to advance to the quarterfinals, UT Tyler men’s tennis delivered an all-around formidable performance this season, including a perfect 8-0 record amongst their Lone Star Conference competitors.

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I knew it was a great opportunity to be able to spend my last two years playing with Alec while also being close to my family. It was a very big family-oriented decision.”

Though the decision was carefully thought out for both, with the proximity to family playing a large factor, the two had no previous plans to play together after graduating high school.

“I wasn’t planning on playing with him again, I just didn’t think that it would happen,” Alec says. “Whenever I was getting recruited, coaches would mention him, but no one ever really followed through until Coach Moser.”

“I didn’t think we would ever play with each other again, even though we had played with each other our whole lives,” Ryan says. “We’ve played on different continents together, the same high school team, the Lebanon national team. Looking back on it now, it’s not that crazy to think that we are playing together one more time.”

Healthy Competition

PROFILE

‘Family-Oriented Decision’ ZAMBIE BROTHERS JOIN FORCES ON MEN’S BASKETBALL TEAM

R Y A N Z A M B I E and Alec Zambie have been playing basketball together for as long as they can remember — from pickup games in their driveway, playing on the same team in high school and even joining forces overseas. After graduating high school, Ryan continued his career at Lafayette College, while Alec signed to Lubbock Christian University two years later.

Now, for the first time since 2019, the Zambie brothers are continuing their basketball journeys together, with Ryan joining the Patriots as a graduate student, and Alec joining the squad as a junior.

Younger brother Alec decided to make the move from Lubbock to Tyler first.

“Coach (Tim) Moser’s background had a big impact on my choice,” Alec says. “His pedigree, his winning history, and the trust I had in him to build this program made me decide on Tyler and this program. Another plus is how close we are to our hometown of Plano, so our family can come watch us play.”

Older brother Ryan made his decision to become a Patriot shortly after Alec.

“My brother committed to Tyler first in April,” Ryan says. “I was still in the transfer process during the summer months when I decided to come here as well. Like Alec says, I wanted the opportunity to be close to home. The cherry on top was that my brother was coming here as well, and when I saw the great relationship he had with Coach Moser,

↑ Zambie brothers Alec (left) and Ryan joined the Patriots this season, after playing for separate schools.

U T T Y L E R AT H L E T I C S

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B Y R YA N S H U M A K E R

Not only do the Zambie brothers bring natural chemistry to UT Tyler on the court, but they also each bring someone along to push them to get better, whether it comes to basketball or just life in general.

“We argue a lot, but we can push and yell at each other because we are family,” Alec says. “We want the best for each other, so I think that is why I yell at him, and I always think he can be better. If we ever do a drill — we shoot and workout a lot together — while we might not say it out loud, we are always keeping track of makes and misses, trying to outdo each other but still being supportive.”

“We have great chemistry together,” Ryan says. “Playing with him has just been so natural, he is already one connection on the team that I didn’t have to worry about. In the summer, we always play together. We are competitive in every‑ thing we do, whether it be eating or waking up earlier. It translates to healthy competition on the basketball court and in the weight room, constantly trying to better each other in everything.”

Despite the connection between the brothers, the two do have some differences. Younger brother Alec is slightly taller at 6’6,” while Ryan is 6’3.” Alec is the forward of the family while Ryan is the guard, and even though sometimes Alec wishes he was a guard as well, they both know their respective positions are for the better.

Patriots soar under leadership of coaches Mike Reed, Rebecca Alvidrez and Chris Bizot

Strong teams thrive under strong leadership, and the coaching staff at UT Tyler packs a unique Patriot punch. Who are the coaches behind the teams who flew highest in season 2022-23? ¶ Since its inception in 2005, head coach Mike Reed has guided the UT Tyler softball program into a legacy of success.

Nine out of 13 seasons of eligibility saw the Patriots compete on the national stage at the Division III World Series, and the team has continued to advance to nationals after their transition to Division II. ¶ Reed ranks fourth nationally among the NCAA in career winning percentage at .825.

The nine-time American Southwest Conference Coach of the Year has seen his players earn 36 All-American, 103 All-Region and 16 All-Conference distinctions. An alum of UT Tyler’s Master of Education program, Reed came to the UT Tyler softball program from his alma mater, East Texas Baptist University, in 2004.

His leadership team closed out the 2023 season as NFCA South Central

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— DANIELLE JOUBERT

‫ ۄ‬Tennis head coach Chris Bizot (center) congratulates players after the team’s impressive 2023 season.

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The Zambie brothers have a lot in common as well, particularly in school. Both brothers are computer science majors and have similar plans in becoming software engineers in the future. They also share hopes of continuing their basketball careers for as long as possible, hopefully together.

The brothers come from Lebanese heritage and have been playing for the Lebanon national team since they were 14 years old. Continuing their professional basketball careers overseas together would not be a surprise, especially since they have played in Lebanon on the same team many times before.

“It probably will happen again,” Alec says, “just because we are both Lebanese obviously. We can go play over there together, whether it will be on the national team or a specific club team. It is definitely possible.”

Both brothers enjoy representing their family culture by playing for Lebanon and already have gained a lot of basketball experience from playing overseas. They hope to be on the senior national team in the future and are thankful that basketball has been able to be a bridge between their American upbringing and Lebanese background and heritage.

The experience of joining forces at UT Tyler has already brought the Zambie brothers even closer in a short period of time as they look to help the program find some stability at the Division II level under first-year head coach Moser.

“In high school, we were our own people, on different schedules, and would see each other mostly only at home,” Alec says. “Coming here, we are always together, and I have been able to learn more about him.”

Basketball and family are very important to the brothers, and the athletic gene runs not only between the two, but the whole family. Their father played college basketball at the University of Redlands, while their mom was an Olympic qualifier in Lebanon for skiing. Their younger sister recently committed to Lehigh University for basketball, and the older brothers are excited to be able to watch her senior season this year.

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U T T Y L E R AT H L E T I C S

Common Ground

Region Coaching Staff of the Year. ¶ Rebecca Alvidrez made program history by leading the women’s basketball team to their first NCAA Division II national tournament in only her second season as head coach.

But while she may be a new face among the Patriots, Alvidrez brings over 20 years of experience to the court with past coaching stints at Stephen F. Austin State University, Colorado State, University of Alaska Anchorage and more. She saw standout success in Alaska with the Sea Wolves, whom she led to six national appearances including two final fours. ¶ Alvidrez started her player career as a student at Ortero College in La Junta, Colorado. She enjoys hall of fame status at her alma mater, Montana State University. ¶ Chris Bizot returns to UT Tyler after a stint with the women’s tennis program at rival institution Angelo State. In his first season back with the Patriots, Bizot led the men’s team to excellence, including a perfect 8-0 record in conference play. During his previous years with UT Tyler in Division III, Bizot earned 19 ASC Coach of the Year awards while ushering his teams to nine consecutive tournament appearances from 2008 to 2016. ¶ A Mississippi College alum, Bizot boasts a 528-227 career record over his 17 years of coaching, and his awards include 18 ASC Division Coach of the Year distinctions, LSC Coach of the Year and NCAA Women’s National Coach of the Year.

A th l etics

COACHING SUCCESS

“Of course, I’ve wanted to be a guard,” Alec says, “but if Ryan is the one with the ball, that means he has to pass it to me, and eventually I will pass it to him, and so on.”

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by Andrew Faught

UT Tyler aligns with growing national demand for engineers

illustrations by Anuj Shrestha

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W H E N U . S . N E W S & World Report named the UT Tyler College of Engineering one of the top 100 programs in the country for 2023, the headline came as no surprise to Dr. Javier Kypuros, dean of the college.

“It’s an affirmation of what we’re doing,” he says. “We want prospective students to know that we’re here, and that we have a welcoming and supportive environment with high-quality programs. It’s something that people outside the university are starting to recognize.”

It was the fifth straight year that the program landed on the magazine’s top 100 list. Since starting his role in August 2017, Kypuros has shepherded an evolution that began under former Dean James Nelson — one that aligns with a growing national demand for engineers. The college has expanded to offer degree programs in chemical engineering, construction engineering, computer engineering and engineering leadership. That’s on top of existing degrees in civil, mechanical and electrical engineering, and construction management. UT Tyler has the only comprehensive engineering college in East Texas.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that engineering jobs will grow by 4% through 2031. Besides an ongoing need for civil engineers, there’s also increased demand for computer and information scientists, chemical engineers, industrial engineers and biomedical engineers.

PIPELINE OF PR OFESSIONAL TALENT At Tyler-based EMA Engineering & Consulting Inc., president and CEO Mike Clendenin (BS mechanical engineering ’99) likes what he sees at the college. The firm, which employs 40 licensed engineers, specializes in building construction services, including HVAC, plumbing, electrical, lighting and safety systems.

“There’s a steady pipeline of talent coming from UT Tyler, and that’s the secret to our success,” he says. “They come out of the program with a lot of our core values, meaning a focus on teamwork. We hire people, not engineer robots, and that’s what UT Tyler is good at producing.”

The firm also has 10 to 15 engineering

college interns working for it at any time, many of whom go on to accept full-time staff positions. “When they graduate, they basically hit the ground running,” says Clendenin, one of 27 students in the college’s inaugural class.

Things look a little different on campus from Clendenin’s student days. In the past five years, the college — founded in 1996 as the School of Engineering — has expanded its capacities by remodeling and refurnishing the design studio, and converting former offices into study pods. Additionally, walls in the student lounge were knocked down, and the space was remodeled to make it more welcoming. Developments mark a sea change from years past.

Undergraduate enrollment has remained nearly constant over the years — there are 800 students — while the

number of graduate students has expanded threefold to 75. Students are making their own headlines: They regularly garner top finishes in national robotics contests sponsored by the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers, and the quirky concrete canoe competition, hosted by the American Society of Civil Engineers.

HIGH RESEAR CH ACTIVITY

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Mike Clendenin, President/CEO EMA Engineering & Consulting Inc.

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“There’s a steady pipeline of talent coming from UT Tyler, and that’s the secret to our success. They come out of the program with a lot of our core values, meaning a focus on teamwork. We hire people, not engineer robots, and that’s what UT Tyler is good at producing.”

Research expenditures, meantime, have gone from “a couple hundred thousand dollars,” Kypuros says, to more than $2 million, thanks to grants from such organizations as the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health.

That dramatic makeover aligns with UT Tyler’s metamorphosis into an R2 research institution, a Carnegie Commission on Higher Education classification that denotes “high research activity.” The designation came after a University of Texas System Board of Regents decision in 2019 to merge UT Tyler and the UT Health Science Center at Tyler.

R2 requires a university to have $5 million in research expenditures; UT Tyler is at $25 million, thanks in part to the College of Engineering. “When the merger came, it was rather synergistic for my college in particular, because we had a lot of faculty who were already doing bio or health-related applications of engineering,” Kypuros says.

“We have faculty that are doing work with sensors that have applications in agriculture and human health care, we have faculty who are working on developing materials for wound care, and we have faculty that do tissue engineering.”

Other research in the college is focusing on ensuring transportation sustainability in rural areas, which are less likely to receive federal and state funds to create “smart” technologies that can aid in the development of public transit and electric vehicle charging innovations. Such developments could enhance the region’s mobility and accessibility, while cutting dependency on fossil fuels.

The efforts are impacting underserved areas of the state, Kypuros says, “and that sets us apart from other large universities or colleges of engineering in major metro areas.”

But there’s more to the program’s developing cachet.

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Part of the program’s nascent success has involved the college becoming its own biggest cheerleader.

“Back in 2018, we found that the state was tracking gainful employment not just by institution, but by discipline, and they discovered that gainful employment in civil engineering was 85%,” Kypuros says. “It was one of the highest in the state, and no one was touting it.

Nobody even realized it.

“We started tracking anecdotal and quantitative evidence, and it was supporting trends that our own administration didn’t know, that people in our backyard didn’t know,” he adds. “Going out and telling our story to prospective students and parents — and to our own faculty — has had a huge effect on the culture and climate of the college.”

Abruptly and without warning, success became not merely an aspiration, but the expectation.

MAINTAINING E XCELLENCE With rapid evolution comes challen­ges, notably in luring and retaining new faculty with salaries that are commensurate with R2 peer institutions. “Over the last five years, we’ve been able to attract great talent that maybe were post‑ docs at an R1, or were with a major research group,” Kypuros says. “They’ve been able to, within a year or so, bring in around $2 million in grant funding for research.”

The College of Engineering has been encouraging faculty members to attend workshops focused on developing skills to secure large grants, fostering expertise in resource acquisition.

“You’ve really got to understand how an agency functions and how it allocates funds,” Kypuros says. “Getting our new and existing faculty matched with a coach or mentor who has expertise and some success with those agencies has been a big thing.”

With success comes new challenges for the College of Engineering. But they are enviable challenges, to be sure.

“We’re to the point that we have companies come to us and say, ‘I need X number of graduates by this December or by next spring,’” Kypuros says. “I’ll tell them, ‘OK, we’re going to try to help you,’ even as I have five other companies saying something similar.”

Advancing from undergraduate to doctoral engineering student Jorian Khan transformed his love of designing and building things – namely vintage-inspired espresso machines – into the start of a promising research career. ¶ The Katy resident advanced to doctoral studies after completing his Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering at the UT Tyler Houston Engineering Center in May 2023. He is now a PhD student and research participant in the University of North Carolina-Charlotte’s Center for Precision Metrology. ¶ The moment Khan knew he was accepted into the doctoral program was “exciting and pretty surreal,” he says. “It felt like the stars had aligned, and I could finally see how my hobbies and interests could be applied.” ¶ Although Khan was surprised to receive admission into the program at UNC-Charlotte, his mentor was not. ¶ Dr. Nael Barakat, professor and chair of the UT Tyler Department of Mechanical Engineering, established a collaborative relationship with Khan during Khan’s senior year, finding the young engineer’s work as a research assistant and Student Government Association senator to be impressive. ¶ “Jorian is a talented, smart and thorough engineer, and I am sure he’ll be successful in any endeavor he chooses to pursue,” Barakat says. “I actually offered Jorian the opportunity to stay with us for the master’s program, but he was looking specifically for metrology, which happened to be one of the areas I worked on. So, I gave him a point to start, and he took that lead and ran with it.” ¶ Khan, who returned to school for his bachelor’s after working several years in the oil and gas industry, says he found the Houston Engineering Center to be an “absolute gem. The Houston Engineering Center has such a high value proposition for nontraditional students who otherwise would not have the opportunity to study engineering.” ¶ After completing his doctorate, Khan plans to further study precision engineering in an industrial lab or other setting.

— HANNAH BUCHANAN

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Notably, 90% of students complete their degrees, topping the 55.2% graduation rate among national engineering programs, according to a 2021 study by the American Society for Engineering Education. The retention rate is attributed in part to a collaboration with Houston Community College. Since 2013, Houston-area students have been able to earn UT Tyler engineering degrees without leaving home.

The college also has designed its degree programs to “mesh or dovetail with what community colleges are offering” in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and in East Texas, Kypuros says: “We’re looking to expand that.” In fall 2022, more than 70% of UT Tyler engineering students were transfers.

Student retention is influenced by a universitywide initiative in which “career success coaches” are embedded at each college. Coaches help students secure internships, while also assisting them with portfolios and resumes.

The college, meanwhile, is attuned to evolving demands in engineering fields.

Mechanical engineering remains the college’s most popular major. Construction engineering, fueled by continued population growth in East Texas, is the college’s fastest-growing major. The advent of artificial intelligence is expected to impact computer engineering demands in coming years.

The times are propitious for engineering graduates. UT Tyler engineering degree holders are the highest paid of the university’s graduates, Kypuros says, with salaries typically exceeding $100,000. Each graduate, on average, receives two job offers upon graduation.

Overseeing all academic programs is UT Tyler Provost Amir Mirmiran, a civil engineer by training who came to the university in 2015, after serving as dean of the college of engineering at Florida International University. East Texas chambers of commerce and economic development corporations are watching the college’s rise in stature.

“We are doing our part and graduating very highly skilled students who would prefer to stay in the area, if there are opportunities,” Mirmiran says. “There’s definitely a partnership, and we’re seeing an ecosystem being built. We’d love to see our graduates take their entrepreneurial spirit and initiate opportunities themselves.”

ENGINEERING EVOLUTION

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HIGHTENED E XPECTATIONS

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MEETING STUDENT NEED S

A look at Dean Barbara Haas’ journey with the ever-growing School of Nursing

BY ELIZABETH WINGFIELD

T H R O U G H O U T T H E development of the UT Tyler School of Nursing, the faculty were not afraid to veer off the beaten path and explore more innovative options.

When Dr. Barbara Haas, School of Nursing dean, began her career at UT Tyler in 1992 as a clinical instructor, there was no such thing as nursing preceptors. A preceptor is a licensed nurse who supervises and mentors students while they work in a health care setting.

After hearing about the idea at a conference, Haas and her colleague wrote the proposal for a preceptor program on a yellow legal pad.

They obtained approval from the School of Nursing, piloted the program and presented the idea to hospitals and nursing programs across Texas. Though nursing preceptors are commonplace now, UT Tyler was a pioneer in nursing preceptorship for Texas, thanks to the faculty’s innovation and diligence.

In 2006 as the first PhD program director, Haas was tasked with leading program development. With the dead-

line on the horizon, Haas and five other faculty members locked themselves in the dean’s conference room for a week — a week of brainstorming, writing and chocolate-covered peanuts. They were determined that this PhD program would be different. And it was.

Dr. Kim Armour, a student from the inaugural class recently reached out to Haas and told her that, out of all her degrees at various universities, she’d had the best experience at UT Tyler. Haas says this is due, in part, to the School of Nursing’s philosophy of caring — caring about the programs, each other and the students.

Quality Education With Compassion

The faculty’s innovative mindset has led to explosive growth and recognition for the School of Nursing. In the past year, the U.S. News and World Report recognized UT Tyler as having one of the top 25 best online Master of Sci-

‫ ۄ‬In 1992, Haas joined what was then the UT Tyler nursing department as a clinical instructor. She became dean of the School of Nursing in 2021.

BOTH SPREADS: UT TYLER ARCHIVES

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EXC E LL EN CE

ence in Nursing programs, and RegisteredNursing.org ranked the RN to BSN program as No. 1 in Texas. The U.S. News and World Report also ranked the BSN program in the top 100 nursing programs nationally.

UT Tyler nursing started out as a transfer program and now the school offers three BSN options, five master’s degrees, five master’s certifications and two doctoral programs on three campuses, with a sixth master’s degree and third doctorate pending accreditation.

To date, nursing comprises over 25% of UT Tyler’s enrollment.

What makes the UT Tyler School of Nursing different? According to UT Health East Texas, a major employer of School of Nursing graduates, the school prioritizes partnerships.

“The UT Tyler School of Nursing does a fantastic job of communicating and coordinating with community partners,” says Megan Dyson, director of nursing at UT Health East Texas. “Partnerships are essential because students need clinical rotations and preceptors to become skilled nurses, and the School of Nursing’s collaboration with the community is what sets it apart.”

School of Nursing graduate Dr. Christian Garrett says UT Tyler’s reputation and commitment to excellence have prepared her to be a better nurse. She’s earned her BSN, MSN, FNP-C, PostMaster’s in Nursing Education certificate, Doctor of Nursing Practice and, most recently, her Post-Master’s Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner certificate. “I’ve been a student at UT Tyler for forever and a day,” she says. “Each of my degrees has helped me care for patients across the lifespan.”

But according to Garrett, its reputation and quality education aren’t the only things that set it apart. During the first semester of her Doctor of Nursing Practice degree, her father lost a five-year battle with multiple myeloma, a blood cancer. Haas, along with Dr. Jenifer Chilton, Dr. Sandra Petersen and other faculty members, set up a Zoom call to check on her and her mother. Through talking with them and experiencing their compassion, she realized that she needed to take a step back from her degree to give herself space to grieve. Four years later, she finished her doctorate.

“The School of Nursing has always been grounded in care and compassion, and there is no one who better exemplifies that than Dean Haas,” says Garrett. “Everything I’ve ever witnessed her do is a

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“T H E H E ART OF A LEADER IS T H E HE A RT OF A TE ACH ER.”

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DR. BARBARA HAAS,

UT Tyler School of Nursing Dean

testament to how much she cares. She truly leads by example, an example that should be lived out by not only nurses but all human beings.”

In 2025, the School of Nursing will celebrate its 50th anniversary as a school. Over the years, the school has grown in a variety of ways: from starting out as a department to becoming a school, from occupying a hallway to an entire building and two satellite locations, from 12 faculty to 86. Though many things have changed about the School of Nursing, its philosophy of caring has not.

Similarly, Haas will celebrate her 50th anniversary as a nurse. She obtained her BSN in 1975 from the University of Wisconsin and eventually moved to New Mexico in 1989 to work as a staff nurse at Presbyterian Hospital.

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A Journey to East Texas

In 1991, her family moved to East Texas after her husband had received a job offer from East Texas Medical Center, now UT Health East Texas. Haas had never heard of Tyler. Before she boarded their plane in Albuquerque, New Mexico, the ticket agent at the airport commented, “Oh, you’re going to the Rose City.” “We are?” she asked.

DR.

NELSON

A journey to finding passion and purpose in nursing

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When Dr. Tanna Nelson (PhD nursing ’21) was a teenager, school was the last thing on her mind — and she certainly would have never imagined earning a PhD. ¶ In Nelson’s words, she was “totally disengaged” in high school, despite her mother and father both working as educators. She was more focused on activities outside of school, especially involvement in sports. ¶ Choosing nursing school because the curriculum was hands-on and interactive, she aimed to get just enough education to be a nurse and start making a living wage.

She earned her diploma in nursing and eventually became an ICU nurse. ¶ Nelson thought she’d reached the pinnacle of her nursing career — by being at the patient’s bedside and saving lives. After several years, she realized that earning her bachelor’s in nursing would make additional career opportunities available to her. So, she reluctantly went back to school. ¶ To her surprise, she soon caught the “learning bug.” ¶ Nelson attended Texas Tech University and met Dr. Susan McBride, who became her colleague and mentor. After Nelson completed the course, McBride recommended that she enroll in UT Tyler’s PhD in nursing program. ¶Though Nelson once thought she wasn’t smart enough for a PhD, as she progressed through the coursework, she realized with discipline and determination she could do it. She found that the faculty and staff truly cared about her as a person and a professional.

She quickly fell in love with the program and describes the experience as “finding her people.” ¶ Nelson now works for the National Institutes of Health as a staff scientist — a profession her high-school self would have considered boring. “Most people think research is dull ... but it’s the most creative thing I’ve ever done,” Nelson says. ¶ “It is a beautiful thing to be a nurse to someone during one of the most vulnerable times in their lives, but as an ICU nurse, I could only help two people a day. Going into research has enabled me to maximize my impact. Instead of helping two people a day, I can help entire communities.” — E W

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As she flipped through the Yellow Pages, she discovered UT Tyler. No one had even mentioned to her that there was a university in Tyler. She met with the dean of nursing and the entire nursing department, then comprised of 12 faculty members, all housed in a hallway. She joined a year later, beginning her roundabout journey from clinical instructor to dean.

Haas had always wanted to earn her PhD in nursing, but at the time, UT Tyler didn’t offer any doctoral nursing programs. When a UT Austin faculty member began an outreach project in East Texas to offer a PhD in nursing program, Haas signed up without hesitation. Shortly before she received her acceptance letter, the faculty member died in a car crash. Haas was prepared to put her dream on hold, but her husband encouraged her to find a way to make it work.

They traveled to Austin and met with the dean and faculty, who worked with her to make the PhD attainable. From Monday to Wednesday, she would teach class and clinicals in Tyler and then, at the end of the week, drive to Austin for classes. After three years of commuting between Tyler and Austin, she earned her PhD. Haas says 2012 was by far her most challenging year in her role on the nursing faculty. They were so short-staffed that Haas ended up working as the PhD program director, her own secretary, the associate dean for graduate programs, the graduate program adviser and a professor. Though it was a rough season, she got through it one day at a time as they eventually onboarded new faculty and staff. When UT Tyler and the UT Health Science Center at Tyler merged in 2021, Haas was serving as interim dean and moved into the role of permanent dean that fall — 29 years after initially joining UT Tyler.

She’s come a long way since boarding that plane in New Mexico to go to a town in Texas she’d never heard of. Though she always wanted to be an educator, she says that she never could have imagined becoming dean of a school.

“The heart of a leader is the heart of a teacher,” says Haas. “And as a leader, I take such joy in seeing the faculty and staff developing, taking on new roles, trying new things. We all have different strengths and gifts, and I have an opportunity in this role to let others shine, to pave the way for them to pursue their dreams.”

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EYE ON THE O B A L L. RICCARDI TA K E S O PAT H F PERSISTENCE T T H E N B A. O B Y E M I LY B AT T L E

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M AT T R I C C A R D I ( B B A ’0 7, M B A ’0 9 ) began his path to the NBA with a 1,500-mile drive from the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex to East Rutherford, New Jersey, in early 2010.

Hoping to coach basketball at the highest level, the former Patriots basketball player and assistant coach sent his resume to every NBA team; but with no inside connections to the league, he only received rejection letters.

That changed in December 2009 with a phone call from the New Jersey Nets, which later became the Brooklyn Nets. Former assistant general manager Bobby Marks, who now works for ESPN, offered Riccardi an internship in the organization’s front office — if Riccardi could get to New Jersey in a week.

Technically, the internship would be unpaid, but Riccardi would earn $25 for every game he staffed.

Seeing the offer as a route to a coaching position, Riccardi quickly packed his belongings into his car in his hometown of Plano and headed east. With nervous excitement, he reached the Nets’ home facilities on Jan. 4, which just happened to be his birthday. For Riccardi, it was a happy birthday, indeed.

He set out to prove his capabilities from day one, but more than anything, it was his smile that stood out those first few days. Back then, the overall mood within the organization was somber.

“The team had 12 wins and 70 losses that season, so everyone was down, they were worried about their jobs. And here comes this kid from Texas with a big smile on his face and just happy to be there, acting like this was the greatest thing ever,’’ Riccardi recalls. “It was an interesting experience, and at the end of the year, there were a lot of staff changes and the team came under new ownership.”

Changes in management led to a full-time job opportunity for Riccardi, who took an interest in basketball management during his internship and decided to pursue that career track instead of coaching. He accepted an entry-level position as basketball operations coordinator with a range of responsibilities, from managing travel itineraries for scouts to helping the equipment staff do laundry.

“I was just in the right place at the right time,” he says. “The job actually did not pay much more than $25 a game night, but

O

it gave me health insurance and benefits, and jump-started my career.”

Earning a reputation for his strong work ethic and niche for scouting, Riccardi advanced to several positions during his 13 seasons with the Nets. He was senior manager of basketball operations/scout, assistant general manager of the Long Island Nets, and served a dual role as director of scouting operations for the Brooklyn Nets and general manager of the Long Island Nets, among other positions.

“I had the opportunity to work with some really good people,’’ Riccardi says, noting that Billy King, who became the general manager, allowed him to gain a wealth of knowledge and experience by taking on new roles every year. When Sean Marks took over as general manager, he kept Riccardi on staff and eventu­ ally promoted him to the Long Island Nets general manager position.

“Those guys, along with Trajan Langdon, who was the Brooklyn Nets’ assistant general manager and is now the general manager of the New Orleans Pelicans, really set me up for success and allowed me to learn from them,” he says.

RETURNING HOME

Riccardi moved back to Dallas in 2022 to accept the Mavericks’ offer to become senior director of pro personnel. He was promoted to assistant general manager in August 2023.

His earliest experiences with the

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RECENTLY PROMOTED TO DALL AS M AV E R I C K S A S S I S TA N T GENERAL M A N A G E R,

Mavericks were during middle school, when he attended games with his dad and became a diehard fan. It was then that he began dreaming of a career in the NBA, but working for the Mavericks was beyond what he ever imagined.

“I never thought this was something that would happen for me in my career,” says Riccardi. “You want to help build a championship-level team, and if you have the opportunity to do it back in your hometown, that’s just truly special,” he says. “It’s been a joy to come full circle from that kid in sixth grade who was coming to games when Mark Cuban bought the team to now being a part of his group.”

Some of Riccardi’s former Nets colleagues are now with the Mavericks, including head coach Jason Kidd.

“Knowing I’d have the ability to work with him again was pretty special,” says Riccardi. Getting to know Nico Harrison, Mavericks general manager, and Michael Finley, vice president for basketball operations, also factored into his decision to join the organization. “I realized this was another opportunity to work with amazing people and to continue to grow and learn in a new environment,” he says.

Riccardi’s various roles with the Mavericks include helping to build the team roster and develop players. He measures success by the number of people he helps develop professionally, who then move on to greater career opportunities. “That’s something we were able to do with the Long Island Nets and the Brooklyn Nets, and that’s what I want to bring to this group in Dallas,” he says.

“They’ve done a great job of it in the past, and I hope that I can contribute to that.”

Returning home also allows Riccardi to see his family more often, including his parents, sister, brother-in-law and two

↑ Caption here tk. Caption here.

C O U R T E S Y O F DA L L AS M AV E R I C KS

PATRIOT MEMORIES

always working on his shooting; and when he sets his mind on something, he puts every effort into accomplishing it.”

Riccardi took Dr. Tammy Cowart’s business law classes and was a student worker in her department.

“Matt was a great student and appro­ ached everything with a lot of grit and determination, but he also had a really great attitude, always had a smile on his face and was a lot of fun to be around,” Cowart says. “I actually remember when he came to the office and said he was moving to New Jersey for the internship.

We told him to go for it, and he did.”

Cowart has followed Riccardi’s career ever since, and she brought him back to campus to speak to one of her classes.

Riccardi welcomes the opportunity to encourage students. He advises them to stay focused on their ultimate goal while embracing each opportunity for growth along the path.

“Whether you have an internship or an entry-level position, buy into your work and give it your all, keeping in mind that your real goal may be five or six jobs from now,” he says. “Fully investing in each opportunity will put you on track for success.”

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Honored as the university’s Distingui­shed Young Alumnus in 2016, Riccardi came to UT Tyler as a freshman in 2007, after playing basketball for Plano High School. He hoped to join the Patriots, who had just received full membership in NCAA Division III. Riccardi says he wasn’t the best at basketball, but there was something about the speed and movement of the game and the teamwork that drew him in. Holding on to his career dreams, he planned to stay in the game as long as possible and then move to coaching.

Although he was cut from the UT Tyler team as a freshman, his hard work paid off. “I wasn’t good enough that year compared to all the guys who were coming in from junior colleges, but I kept showing up and trying to work the hardest,” he recalls. “I think Coach Matt Wallis and Coach Larry Jones appreciated my work ethic and wanted to keep me on in some capacity. They allowed me to redshirt that year and I ended up helping the coaching staff.”

Riccardi made the team as a sophomore and was team cap-

tain as a junior and senior, while also continuing to assist the coaching staff.

He finished his bachelor’s degree a semester early, and his coach at the time, Kenny Bizot, talked him into taking graduate courses and remaining with the Patriots. Dr. Richard Osburn, former UT Tyler provost and vice president for academic affairs, made it possible for Riccardi to work as an assistant coach with a stipend to help pay for grad school.

“I wouldn’t be where I am today if I weren’t given those opportunities at UT Tyler to be a part of the program and stay around the game,” says Riccardi, who was Student Athlete of the Year in 2007 and a three-time recip­ient of the Academic All-Conference award. A management major, he graduated summa cum laude with his bachelor’s degree and first in his class with his master’s.

Dr. Howard Patterson, UT Tyler vice president for athletics, is among those who have kept in touch with Riccardi, and he is not surprised at the former student-athlete’s career accomplishments.

“Matt has always been a hard worker,” Patterson says. “He was a last-one-outof-the-gym type of person on the team,

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nephews. And he plans to make the 98-mile drive to UT Tyler as much as possible to attend athletic games and support teams and coaches in person. Over the years, he has maintained connections to campus and followed the Patriots from afar.

“I have very fond memories of that campus and of playing basketball and just being part of the student body, and I love supporting UT Tyler athletic programs as they continue to grow,” Riccardi says, noting the university’s strides in NCAA Division II.

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↑ Matt Riccardi visits with the Dallas Mavs’ Jaden Hardy one day after practice. ↙ Riccardi during his days with the UT Tyler Patriots.

A L U M N I N I G H T AT

C O N TEN TS →

THE RANGERS GAME P. 43

PICKS

ALUMNI MUST LIST P. 44

REMEMBERING

D R . E V E LY N B O Y D G R A N V I L L E P. 46

+ MORE

Alumni Michael McClendon ’08 GIVING BACK AND CRUSHING EXPECTATIONS: EAST TEXAS WINEMAKER INSPIRES THE NEXT GENERATION INTERVIEW BY SYDNEY BAKER

A S A B I O L O G Y student at The University of Texas at Tyler, Michael McClendon’s next steps seemed clear: earn his bachelor’s degree, attend medical school and become a doctor. But a call about a unique internship opportunity from the then-chair of UT Tyler’s Department of Biology changed everything, leading McClendon’s career down an extraordinary path.

In 2008, McClendon began an internship at a local winery where he applied knowledge gained from his biology and chemistry classes — such as managing oxygen, keeping microbes in check and inspecting fruit — to the art of winemaking. After graduating, McClendon was promoted to enologist and later head winemaker. By 2017, McClendon co-founded Sage’s Vintage, a custom crush winery in Nacogdoches that has produced more than 80 labels for nearly 30 wineries.

As Sage’s portfolio continues to grow, McClendon hopes to build deeper connections with local educational institutions. Through Sage’s annual symposium and UT Tyler’s Career Success Conference and fermentation science degree track in chemistry,

SMALL TOWN SOCIALS

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FIVE QUESTIONS

N O T E S

1985

Traci Kenner (BBA accounting) was honored by the UT Tyler Department of Accounting, Finance and Business Law as a Distinguished Alumna. Kenner has served as an assistant U.S. attorney in the Eastern District of Texas for more than 30 years and has taught business law at UT Tyler. She has received several professional awards, including the Direc­tor’s Award for Superior Performance from the Executive Office for United States Attorneys and the John H. Hannah Jr. Award for Public Service from the Eastern District of Texas Bar Association.

1987

John Mills (BBA marketing and management) assumed the role of president and chief executive officer of Citizens Bank of Tyler. Mills was previously the bank’s president/chief operating officer.

1992

Lynn Littlejohn (BBA accounting) was promoted to chief human resources officer at Austin Bank. Littlejohn has been responsible for developing the human resources department in her 26 years with the bank. She is a licensed certified public accountant and a member of the East Texas chapter of CPAs.

1993

1994

J. Brian Bowman (BS political science)

Melinda Beatty (BBA management) was promoted to senior vice president and chief compliance officer at Texas Bank and Trust. An employee of the bank since 2006, Beatty has served as compliance officer, assistant compliance officer, regional retail manager, retail operations manager, branch manager and operations manager. She is a graduate of the 2004-05 Leadership Longview Class and a past member of the East Texas Builders Association, Women’s Council of Realtors and Women in Longview.

Shea Thomas (BS interdisciplinary studies) was hired as a constituent representative for the Tyler district office of U.S. Rep. Nathaniel Moran, after serving as constituent services representative for U.S. Rep. Louie Gohmert. Thomas taught school for several years and worked for Tyler Junior College before transitioning to congressional service.

1997

Joe Cauthen (MA sports administration) was named football defensive coordinator for Utah State University.

Cauthen has 33 years of coaching experience, including 27 at the collegiate level, and is entering his 22nd year as a defensive coordinator. He was part of five conference championship teams and coached in seven bowl games.

Hershal Massenburge (BAAS management) was elected to the Chapel Hill Independent School District board of trustees. He is an internet protocol engineer and pastor of Zion Temple Tyler.

1999

Shannon Streenz (BBA accounting) was promoted to executive vice president and chief financial officer of Associa, a community management firm. In his new role, Streenz will maintain and continue to strengthen the company’s existing internal controls and accounting processes. He joined Associa in 2016 as senior vice president of client service operations.

UTTYLER.EDU

Brian Long (BS criminal justice) was reappointed by Gov. Greg Abbott to serve on the Texas Board of Pardons and Parole, which makes parole decisions for Texas prison inmates, determines conditions for parole and mandatory supervision, and makes recommendations to the governor on clemency matters.

Long is also a board member of the Kilgore Education Foundation.

1995

39

Dr. Kenneth W. Howell (BS history) coauthored a recently published collection of essays titled “Steeped in a Culture of Violence: Murder, Racial Injustice and Other Violent Crimes in Texas, 1965-2020.” Howell heads the history department at Blinn College and served as an assistant professor of history at Prairie View A&M University.

He taught in the Texas public school system for 12 years.

was named superintendent of Diboll Independent School District. Bowman worked as a legislative aide for the Texas Senate, after graduating from UT Tyler and prior to beginning his teaching career in 2000. He taught and coached for several years in East Texas school districts and was a middle school principal in Longview.

UT TYLER MAGAZINE

U T T Y L E R M A G A Z I N E : If you were a type of wine, which would you be and why?

M I C H A E L M C C L E N D O N : If I were a type of wine, I would be something that is approachable but exciting and can be enjoyed. So, I would be champagne because it is a celebration, and everybody loves bubbles!

U T T M : What does a typical day in your life look like?

M M : There is no such thing as a typical day as an owner/operator. The industry of wine is very seasonal. Right now, it is har‑ vest season, so the days are long. It is also about communicating internally and externally. We work with more than 20 customers, so a lot of winemaking is communicating with them and understand‑ ing what their goals are and how we can help them achieve those goals.

U T T M : What is something you have recent‑ ly tried for the first time?

M M : I tried working with a grape variety I am not very familiar with. Malvasia Bianca is a Mediterranean white grape variety.

We just got the fruit in, so we are doing pro‑ duction on it. Tasting it up front, it has some nice, rich notes and a little bit of melon undertone. I tend to like white wines because they are so delicate and nuanced.

I am excited to see what happens with that in the long run.

U T T M : What is the most important thing you learned during your time at UT Tyler?

M M : A big part of being at UT Tyler is getting exposure to fantastic instructors and teachers. You are one-on-one with professors. Instead of having to go through a TA, you can walk into a professor’s office and ask questions about what is going on in anatomy or what you are supposed to do in lab. A lot of times, college is about figur­ ing things out, but you will never have to do that alone at UT Tyler.

U T T M : Who would you want to play you in the movie of your life?

M M : I would play myself in the movie about my life because nobody can do it like I can. But I would for sure call on Ryan Coogler for some directing help.

C L A S S

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McClendon helps bring quality wine instruction to the state and provides an outlet for graduate students to present research and engage in high-level conversations around wine production.

To McClendon, giving back and being involved in his community is crucial.

He hopes to inspire the next generation of Texas winemakers and show undergraduate students the unique directions their careers can take.

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2000

Monica Simmons (BS interdisciplinary studies, teacher preparation; MEd ’02) was named superintendent of schools for Elysian Fields Independent School District. She has worked for the district since 2002 as a teacher and administrator, and became assistant superintendent in 2021.

2003

2004

Jeremy Peterson (BA history) was named principal of Van High School.

Peterson has more than 18 years of experience in education and earned a master’s degree from Lamar University.

Lee Carter (BBA finance; MBA ’18) was promoted to vice president/portfolio manager of the Forney branch of Texas Bank and Trust. He served in the U.S. Army with the 101st Airborne Division for three years and began his banking career at the conclusion of his enlistment. Carter joined Texas Bank and Trust in 2015.

Tommy Ludwig (BA history) was named city manager of Burleson. In his new role, Ludwig serves as chief executive officer, overseeing all city affairs. He became Burleson’s deputy city manager in 2021, leading various city departments including public works, development services, public safety communications, parks and recreation, human resources and information technology. Ludwig also held city administrative positions in Waxahachie and Dallas.

Mechele Agbayani Mills (BA journalism/public relations) received the Texas Minority Coalition’s Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Award for excellence in business ad-

ministration. Mills has served as president/chief executive officer of the Better Business Bureau of Central East Texas for more than 12 years. She serves on the board of directors for the International Council of Better Business Bureaus and the Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce.

Mills also is a Catalyst 100 Leadership Tyler member.

2007

Shannon Seay (BBA finance) was promoted to senior vice president and loan servicing/special assets manager at the Jacksonville-based Austin Bank. Seay oversees the special assets department and supervises real estate appraisal ordering and review. She joined the bank in 2007 as a junior credit analyst and advanced to banking officer, assistant vice president and vice president prior to her recent promotion.

2008

Malek Bekka (BS mechanical engineering) joined EMA Engineering and Consulting Inc. of Tyler in 2009 and currently serves as executive director of consulting services. He was named a principal of the firm in 2022 because of

40

UT TYLER MAGAZINE

Jason Jennings (MBA) was appointed to the American Momentum Bank board of directors and will serve on the board’s Marketing and Audience & Compliance committees. Jennings has more than 25 years of experience in the health care industry, currently serving as president of Baylor Scott & White Health-College Station Region. He oversees the operations of two hospitals and 16 regional clinics serving the Greater Brazos Valley area.

2005

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Learn more about the Patriot Golf Classic at uttyler.edu/advancement/golf-classic

Stephen Campbell (BS psychology; MPA ’12) was named vice president/ communications director of Southside Bank, after serving 10 years as executive director of Breckenridge Village of Tyler.

Heather Mitchell (BBA) was promoted to administrative officer/operations manager at Texas Bank and Trust in Longview. She worked in management for a supermarket chain for more than 10 years before beginning her banking career in 2012.

2009

Lance Decker (BAAS) recently completed a doctoral degree in the interdisciplinary engineering program at Texas A&M University, where he also earned a master’s degree in engineering and technical management.

Dr. Aaron Glover (BBA marketing) was hired as head of school and upper campus principal for King’s Academy Christian School in Tyler. Prior to his new position, he was a Bible teacher for King’s Academy high school while also serving as outreach and missions pastor at Colonial Hills Baptist Church.

Bretton Mariani (BS sociology) was hired as branch CEO of Citizens Bank-Tyler. His previous positions include community president of Simmons Bank and marketing director of commercial lending at Spirit of Texas Bank. Active in his community, Mariani is a member of the Chandler Planning and Zoning Committee and a former member of the Chandler Chamber of Commerce board of directors.

2011

Caleb Bell (BS mass communications/ public relations) was promoted to executive director of the Tyler Museum of Art. Bell joined the staff as marketing and public relations coordinator in 2012 and has played a major role in the museum’s educational programming and community outreach efforts. He also has served as a juror for external exhibitions, written for art publications and given talks throughout the state.

Dr. Cody Blair (MEd educational leadership) was named principal of Wichita Falls Legacy High School. Blair has more than 16 years of experience in public education as a teacher, coach and administrator. He holds a doctorate in educational leadership from the University of North Texas.

Jordan Crabill (BFA) was the featured artist at the Dogwood Art Council’s inaugural Saturday Art Walk series. The event showcases the best of East Texas fine art in businesses throughout downtown Palestine.

Katie Harris (BA English), a former member of the Patriot women’s golf team, has devoted her career to inspiring young golfers. She joined the staff of First Tee-Greater Dallas in 2011 and currently serves as program director.

The organization introduces the game of golf and its continued on p. 44

SHARE YOUR PATRIOT PRIDE NEW PROMOTION. NEW BUSINESS. NEW RECOGNITION. Update us on what’s new in your professional life.

We want to share your success.

Submit items for future UT Tyler Magazine Class Notes to

campusnews@uttyler.edu

UTTYLER.EDU

Aaron May (BA journalism) was named administrative officer/assistant advertising manager at the Longview-based Texas Bank and Trust. May maintains the content and design of the bank’s in-

Kevin Johnson (MBA) is a professional speaker for Vistage, an international executive coaching and peer advisory organization. He also is the founder of LeadTandem Consulting and Express Training.

41

Jake White (BA history) joined Sam Houston State University as assistant basketball coach for the 2023–24 season, after spending two seasons as an associate head coach for the Link Academy Lions in Branson, Missouri. White spent eight seasons in the junior college ranks as an assistant coach at Panola College, New Mexico Military Institute and Kilgore College.

2010

UT TYLER MAGAZINE

Lee Trammell (BBA finance) was honored by the UT Tyler Department of Accounting, Finance and Business Law as a Distinguished Alumnus. Trammell is president of Drake Business Services, a division of Drake Real Estate and Investments. He is board chairman of Leadership Tyler and was board president of Children’s Village and Tyler Area Senior Citizens Association. He serves on UT Tyler Patriot Classic and Southside Bank Million Dollar Hole in One committees.

tranet platform and leads the internal production studio. He joined the marketing division of the bank in 2014 and previously served as marketing specialist for KSA Engineers in Longview.

A l umni

his leadership and commitment to serving clients.

A l umni UT TYLER MAGAZINE 42

SAVE THE DATES MARCH 18–23

40 UNDER 40 ALUMNI EVENT FRIDAY, MARCH 22

ALUMNI HOMECOMING BASH

SATURDAY, MARCH 23

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A l umni UT TYLER MAGAZINE 43

G A L L E RY

U T T Y L E R A L U M N I gathered on Sept.

18, 2023, at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, to engage with President Kirk A. Calhoun and various university lead-

ership while watching the 2023 World Series champions the Texas Rangers as well as a few rounds of TopGolf the next day.

(TOP) Alumni were treated to a delicious spread in the skybox picnic area.

(MIDDLE) Alumni enjoy the moment.

(BOTTOM) Swag bags were available to provide alumni with some of the latest gear.

UTTYLER.EDU

CHARLES ESCAMILLA

Alumni Night at the Rangers Game

(LEFT) President Kirk Calhoun greets alumni.

A l umni

continued from p. 41 inherent value to young people through school and after-school programs.

2012

Alumni picks offer new and old movies and television series they are watching.

2013

All the Light We Cannot See

Kevin Wright (BBA finance) serves as managing partner of Scruggs Wright Wealth Partners in Houston. He is a chartered financial analyst, which is regarded as the highest professional designation in the industry.

UT TYLER MAGAZINE

Chris Powell (BBA finance) is a commercial real estate broker, currently serving as director of leasing/brokerage at Pipeline Realty in Houston. He plays a major role in identifying development opportunities for the company and assists with design and construction.

Dr. Jacob Waddingham (BS journalism/political science) is an assistant professor of management at Texas State University and conducts research on how organizations and entrepreneurs manage stakeholder perceptions, attitudes and behaviors. Waddingham earned an MBA from Iowa State University and a PhD in management from Auburn University.

44

2014

Emma Bothwell (BBA finance; MBA ’20) was promoted to assistant vice pres‑ ident/real estate risk manager at the Longview-based Texas Bank and Trust and is responsible for managing the bank’s appraisal and environmental risk functions. Bothwell previously served as the bank’s real estate risk manager. She is a member of Financial Women in Texas and received a Mouseters Degree in exploring leadership from Walt Disney Co. John A. Papazoglou (MPA health care) was appointed senior vice president and chief operations officer for Syracuse University. He is responsible for multiple on- and off-campus operations, inclu­ ding dining, housing, hospitality and food services. Papazoglou previously ser‑ ved as associate vice president of auxiliary and business services at Pennsyl­ vania State University. He spent more than two decades in health care, restaurant and airline catering industries.

UTTYLER.EDU

ALUMNI MUST LIST

ReNissa Wade (MPA) was hired as assistant city manager for the city of Jacksonville. Wade worked for the city of Tyler for more than 20 years, most re-

BY ANTHONY DOERR

Based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Anthony Doerr, the 2023 four-part miniseries follows the stories of a blind French girl and a German soldier whose paths cross in occupied France during World War II. – G I N A M O E R S ’ 0 1 A N D ’ 0 3

Oblivion The 2013 action-adventure film depicts a post-apocalyptic Earth desolated by an alien war. A maintenance technician on the verge of completing his mission finds a woman who survived a spaceship crash, leading him to question his purpose and discover the truth about the war. – C O D Y W I N G F I E L D ’ 2 2

They Cloned Tyrone The 2023 science fiction comedy about an eerie series of events leading an unlikely trio down a rabbit hole into a sinister neighborhood conspiracy, which exposes an alarming truth about the place they call home. – M A C K S H A W ’ 2 1

You’ve Got Mail A 1998 comedy that tells the story of a book superstore magnate and an independent book shop owner who fall in love in the anonymity of the internet, both blissfully unaware that one is trying to put the other out of business. – T A Y L O R S P I T Z M I L L E R ’ 1 7

Planet Earth: Blue Planet II A sequel to the acclaimed British nature series, this 2017 installment dives into an enchanting marine odyssey that explores our planet’s oceans, the rare and unusual creatures of the deep and the problems our oceans face. – D A V I D N E W S O M ’ 2 2

2015

Dr. Haley Holley (BS biology; PharmD ’19) is a registered pharmacist in Tyler and the third generation of pharmacists in her family. She graduated with the pioneer class of the Ben and Maytee Fisch College of Pharmacy.

Jalam Lewis (BS history/political science) was hired as senior adviser for the Tyler district office of U.S. Rep. Nathaniel Moran. He served on Moran’s campaign for Congress and held an internship with U.S. Rep. Louie Gohmert.

Lewis is state chaplain for Texas Young Republicans.

Victor Valle (BBA finance; MBA ’17) is senior vice president of the Tyler Econo­ mic Development Council and received the 2023 Economic Development 40 Under 40 Award. The award recognizes stars under 40 years old in the industry.

2016

Josh Bradley (BS political science and economics) was named chief of staff for U.S. Rep. Nathaniel Moran, bringing legislative and executive branch experience to the position. He most recently served as deputy chief of staff and legis­lative director for U.S. Rep. Barry Moore. Bradley spent two years focusing on border, trade and economic security policy at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

2017

Amanda Richardson (MS human resource development) was reappointed

by Gov. Greg Abbott to the Texas Dental Review Board. Richardson is a registered dental hygienist, professor and instructional designer at Tyler Junior College and a member of the American Dental Education Association, East Texas Dental Hygienists’ Association, Texas Dental Hygienists’ Association and American Dental Hygienists’ Association.

2022

Stephanie Munoz (MS human resource development) was appointed interim chief of human resources for San Marcos Consolidated Independent School District. She joined the district as human resources executive director in 2017, after serving as a human resources specialist for Gary Job Corps Center.

2018

Bailey Nichols (BS mass communications), director of community engagement with the Literacy Council of Tyler, received the Association of Fundraising Professionals’ Chamberlain Scholarship to represent East Texas at the International Conference on Fundraising.

Alexis Emperador (MBA) was hired as a chief software architect for Optimized Payments, a financial analytics company. Her experience as a software engineer includes working for global brands to develop, implement, enhance and maintain major platform features.

2019

Kimberly Davis (MBA health care management) was appointed pediatric administrator of South Texas Health System Children’s Hospital. She helps oversee day-to-day operations, collaborates with health care providers and is involved in staff recruitment.

2020

Marvila Dunnam (MEd curricu-

UTTYLER.EDU

Alexander Free (BS political science) was hired as associate head coach for men’s tennis at the University of Arizona, after serving as an assistant coach at Boise State University. He also served as head coach at Idaho State Universi-

Jackie Mendez (BBA accounting) was promoted to assistant vice president/ equity trainer for the Nashville, Tennessee, branch of Alliance Bernstein, an investment management firm. She served three years as a senior account implementation associate for the firm’s San Antonio branch.

Anthony Wilson (MPA public administration) was appointed town manager of Winthrop, Maine. Wilson served three years as director of communications and operations for 7 Lakes Alliance, a nonprofit conservation group based in Belgrade, Maine. Prior to that, he was communications director for the city of San Angelo, Texas.

45

Hayden VanHoose (BS civil engineering) joined the Billings Transportation Group of Great West Engineering, based in Helena, Montana. He has more than seven years of experience in various areas of civil engineering, including survey, construction staking, construction oversight and traffic data collection.

Dr. John A. Gallien (MS clinical neuropsychology) is a postdoctoral scholar in the Department of Cell and Tissue Biology at the University of California, San Francisco. He earned a PhD in neuroscience from Central Michigan University in 2021.

lum and instruction) teaches STEM and gifted and talented classes in grades 1-5 in Celina Independent School District. She has taught in the district for 21 years.

UT TYLER MAGAZINE

David Rodarte (BBA finance) was promoted to assistant vice president of Austin Bank. Rodarte joined the bank in 2016 as a teller and worked in central loan and credit analyst departments before being promoted to senior credit analyst in 2021. He was elected banking officer in 2022.

ty and spent two seasons at Arizona as a volunteer assistant coach.

A l umni

cently serving as a managing director.

A l umni

I N

M E M O R I A M

46

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SHE WAS ASSIGNED TO PROJECT VANGUARD AND PROJECT MERCURY, WRITING PROGRAMS TO TRACK THE ORBITAL TRAJECTORIES OF SATELLITES AND ROCKETS.

FA C U LT Y

Dr. Evelyn Boyd Granville D R . E V E LY N B O Y D Granville, who was one of the first two African American women to receive a PhD in mathematics from an American university, both in 1949, passed away on June 27 at her home in Silver Spring, Maryland.

She was born on May 1, 1924, in Washington, D.C., to William and Julia Walker

Boyd. Her parents separated when she was young, and she was raised by her mother and aunt.

With financial support from her aunt and a small scholarship from Phi Delta Kappa, Granville entered Smith College in 1941 with the intention of becoming a French teacher, but mathematics, phys-

UT TYLER ARCHIVES

UTTYLER.EDU

UT TYLER’S SAM A. LINDSEY PROFESSOR OF MATHEMATICS FROM 1990-97, GRANVILLE PERFORMED PIONEERING WORK IN THE FIELD OF COMPUTING IN THE 1950S AND ’60S

ics and astronomy drew her away from “uninteresting” French literature. She graduated summa cum laude in 1945.

Encouraged by a graduate scholarship, Granville attended Yale University for her doctorate. After graduating, she taught at New York University Institute for Mathematics and Fisk University. In 1952, she left academia and returned to Washington with a position at the National Bureau of Standards.

In 1956, Granville was recruited to IBM, where she was seated before a 650 Magnetic Drum Data-Processing Machine and asked to do programming.

Three years later, NASA was formed, and the fledgling agency contracted with IBM to help launch satellites and manned capsules. That opened another door for Granville. She was assigned to Project Vanguard and Project Mercury, writing programs to track the orbital trajectories of satellites and rockets. Later, she joined Project Apollo.

In 1967, Granville became an assistant professor of mathematics at California State University, Los Angeles.

There, she taught and wrote textbooks on how to teach mathematics and, there, she finished her career — sort of.

Her first retirement was in 1984, when she and her husband, Edward V. Granville, a realtor, left L.A. for a rural 16-acre plot of land in East Texas, his birthplace. But Granville was soon teaching again, first in the local public schools and then at Texas College, from which she retired in 1988. Two years later, she started teaching at UT Tyler as the Sam A. Lindsey Professor of Mathematics, a position she held until 1997.

Granville returned to Washington in 2010, after her husband’s passing. She finally settled into retirement, but continued to bristle when she heard anyone say women could not do math.

A l umni

The University of Texas at Tyler family also pays tribute to the memory of: FA C U LT Y

Daisy Irene Haynes Highfill Former Instructor of Voice July 25, 2022 Dr. Richard S. Kronenberg Former Chairman of UT Tyler Health Science Center Department of Medicine Sept. 22, 2023 Mary Sides Loden Marks Former Director of Student Counseling April 18, 2023

Dr. James Lynn Newsom Professor of Instruction, Department of History Nov. 17, 2023 John Richard Sawyer Former Vice President for Fiscal Affairs April 19, 2023

47

Dr. Lynn Sherrod Professor Emeritus, Biology Sept. 5, 2023

UT TYLER MAGAZINE

Dr. Michael E. Morris Associate Professor, Department of Healthcare Policy, Economics and Management Aug. 24, 2023

ALUMNI

Betty Sue Briggs ’87, ’96 Oct. 29, 2022 Debbie Williams Collins ’80 Aug. 21, 2023 Linda Kay Evans ’90 Feb. 22, 2023 Michael Eugene Glenn ’10 May 3, 2023 Katheryn Rose Johnson Hetherly ’79 June 11, 2023 Alfred “AG” Jones ’79 April 9, 2023 UTTYLER.EDU

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Throwback image of the now Stewart Hall, taken when UT Tyler was Texas Eastern University. The name was changed to The University of Texas at Tyler in 1979.

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