The Magazine of Radford University, Spring 2026

THE MAGAZINE OF

UNIVERSITY

inside

Makers and creators transform imagination into innovation designed to be shared

Spring 2026

The Magazine of Radford University Spring 2026

PRESIDENT Bret Danilowicz, Ph.D. BOARD OF VISITORS Tyler W. Lester ’15, Rector Jennifer Wishon Gilbert, Vice Rector Dale S. Ardizzone ’85, M.S. ’86 Jeanne S. Armentrout ’81 Betsy D. Beamer ’81 Joann S. Craig ’83 Callie M. Dalton ’82 William C. Davis Betty Jo Foster ’69, Ed.D. Mary Anne Holbrook ’02, M.S. ’04 George Mendiola Jr. ’00, MBA ’02 Christopher B. Settle ’97 David A. Smith ’85, M.S. ’87 Jonathan Sweet ’00 James C. Turk Matthew Close, Ph.D. Faculty Representative Dominika Butler ’26 Student Representative The Magazine of Radford University is produced by Advancement and Alumni Relations and Marketing and Communication.

EDITORS AND CONTRIBUTORS Gabby Bailey ’23 Bailey Black Blake Brady Michelle Carlson ’08 Vanessa Conner ’12, M.S. ’15 Hunter Q. Gresham James Harman ’92 Neil Harvey Ellen Hines ’18 Mary Beth Kegley Mark Lambert, M.S. ’97 Dan Lewin Matt Long Pam McCallister Chad Osborne Ashley Palazzo David E. Perryman, Ph.D. Laken Dillow Rickey ’19 Te'a Startz Laura Turk ’87, M.S. ’90 Justin Ward ’10, M.S. ’23 Penny Helms White ’85, MBA ’87

Congrats, Highlanders!

Radford University’s Spring 2026 graduates were surprised with a special video message from Dolly Parton during commencement ceremonies featuring keynote speaker Eugene Naughton ’89, the president of The Dollywood Company. Naughton encouraged graduates that “adventure isn’t a destination, but a mindset.” One week later, Blue Ridge Outdoors magazine named Radford University the Top Adventure College for the second year in a row.

Please send questions and comments to: The Magazine of Radford University Radford University P.O. Box 6915 Radford, VA 24142 magazine@radford.edu Online version: www.radford.edu/magazine We want to stay connected! Do you need to update your contact information? It’s easy! Scan the QR code, call 540-831-5248 or email updateinfo@radford.edu.

Table of Contents

26 PIPELINE TO PROGRESS

02

BELIEF 32 WHERE BECOMES OPPORTUNITY

A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

AT 04 PRESENT THE CREATION

38 INVESTING IN ATHLETICS

TOMORROW – 10 SHAPING TOGETHER

40 ATHLETICS RECAP

12

MAKING OF 42 THE A HIGHLANDER

REIMAGINING HEALTHCARE EDUCATION

16 SOMETHING’S BREWING

45 CLASS NOTES

20 WHERE IDEAS HAVE IMPACT

48 IN MEMORIAM Spring 2026

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Imagine stepping into a collaborative research hub where creativity is really about disciplined curiosity – where students learn to look at questions from fresh angles, spot patterns others might miss and dream up new ways to generate knowledge. Or picture the energy inside high-tech simulation spaces, where teams of healthcare students practice delivering compassionate, competent care in realistic patient scenarios.

These are just two examples of the many ways creativity and innovation come alive at Radford University, and you’ll find even more throughout this issue of Radford Magazine.

When First Lady Kay and I arrived at Radford four years ago, one of the first things that drew us in was the university’s commitment to turning ideas into action; ideas that help society, deepen understanding and spark new ways of thinking.

Creativity is a big part of our lives, too.

For me, that creativity shows up in metalwork. I love taking found materials – objects that have long been forgotten – and shaping them into something new. One of my favorites is a monarch butterfly made from scythes, horse hames, horseshoes and other forgotten farm tools. Kay channels her own artistry through pottery, weaving and crocheting, and she contributes her eye for design as chair of our Public Arts Committee. Radford’s innovative spirit felt like home to us from day one, and it still does.

That spirit also guided the development of the university’s new strategic plan, Shaping Tomorrow – Together. As we listened to students, employees, alumni, donors and community members through interviews, focus groups and surveys, we

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heard bold aspirations and creative ideas that helped shape the priorities you’ll see outlined on pages 10-11. And that same mindset will carry us forward as we bring those commitments to life.

I’m especially proud that many of the individuals featured in this issue are Radford alumni who continue to channel their education into meaningful, imaginative work. You’ll read about Ginny Ball ’01, who is redefining style through craftsmanship and intention. You’ll learn about the Nancy Sullivan Ray ’55 Schoolhouse Living-Learning Community, an endowment created by Nancy and her husband, John, that gives education students a place to practice leadership, build confidence and live creatively in community. You’ll also meet entrepreneurial alumni who are crafting beer, cider and wine with the same innovative spirit they honed here at Radford.

My hope is that these stories inspire you to tap into your own creativity, whether that means trying something new, approaching a challenge from a fresh angle or using your talents to strengthen the communities that you are part of. Creativity has the power to enrich our lives and connect us with one another, and I’m grateful for the many Highlanders who remind us of that every day.

President Bret’s metalwork.

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Present at the creation Ingenuity meets top-tier technology in Radford’s makerspaces

by Chad Osborne

F

or anyone who has operated a circular saw, the grinding scream of its spinning, metal toothy blade chewing through wood – Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzt! – is a familiar clatter. It’s not a sound, however, typically associated with a university classroom.

serving as her guide. Safety always comes first in this innovative classroom filled with power tools, so Johnson is wearing the necessary eye, ear and respiratory protection.

But, as you walk along the second-floor hallway in the Artis Center for Adaptive Innovation and Creativity, your ears tracking the saw’s intense, eardrum-piercing reverberation, you realize you’re about to step into an out-of-the-ordinary educational setting.

“What’s this going to be?” she’s asked.

The wood shop, as it’s labeled by the red sign on its front door, is one of three rooms comprising the new makerspace in the Artis Center. Walking into the shop on a Monday morning in early February, you could find Alexa Johnson at the trigger of a black and yellow circular saw, gliding it along a hand-drawn line on the plywood with an orange, clamped-down straightedge

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Johnson’s 3-by-5 foot plywood sheet is marked with several penciled lines, meaning she has numerous cuts to make that morning.

“We’re building a Victorian-style doghouse for a corgi,” replied the sophomore interior design major from Centreville, Virginia. “We are going with a fairytale theme.”

The “we” Johnson referred to were her groupmates Jeremy Metzel, Aubrey Micket and Muvika Sharma. Together, they were constructing a doghouse they designed for a class project that, four days later, was part of an on-campus fundraiser event for Mountain View Humane, a Christiansburg, Virginia-based organization offering pet wellness services to Southwest Vir-

ginians. The assignment originated in a schematic design and human experience course taught by Joan Dickinson, a professor in the Department of Design.

dogs from the Humane Society, so it’s great that we’re able to use this makerspace to collaborate and build something that will play a role in changing the lives of dogs.”

Students enrolled in the course, all sophomore interior design majors, used the Artis Center makerspace to build houses designed with care to address housing scarcity issues for dogs.

“Abuse of animals is, unfortunately, a problem in the United States,” Dickinson told her students. More than 22,000 animal abuse cases are reported each year, she said, and 60% of those are dogs.

At the same time, students from other groups in the course worked on their group’s designs. Much of that work required the use of power tools: saws, drills, sanders and the likes. As their work progressed, Artis makerspace manager Kaelum Hasler zipped from station to station imparting his maker wisdom.

For Micket, from Gloucester, Virginia, it’s a project that pawed at her heartstrings.

“There are so many animals that don’t have homes,” she said, holding squares of cardboard that soon would be used as shingles for her team’s indoor doghouse. “I’ve adopted a lot of my

“You want the blade to be above your material by an eighth to a quarter of an inch,” Haslem instructed a couple of students as they prepared to angle cut 2-by-4s.

“Mr. Hasler,” Johnson said of the space’s energetic instructor, “is a great teacher, and he’ll help you build whatever you want.

You don’t even have to be a design major to come here and make things. Everyone is welcome.”

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Alexa Johnson cutting plywood in the makerspace at the Artis Center.

Without the makerspace, Dickinson’s students would not have been able to complete the project, at least not on the same level. “We’d have to go to someone’s garage, and that would be way harder,” Johnson joked as she placed the freshly cut doghouse front wall, with its archway entrance, on the concrete floor for Sharma and Micket to inspect.

The makerspaces on campus – there are others in Peery Hall and inside McConnell Library to name a couple – are essential for students,” Metzel added.

“There aren’t many spaces to actualize your dreams for your projects,” said the Radford, Virginia, native and corgi owner. “Having this space and having tools and materials to put your vision into an actual finished product is very important and meaningful to students.

It feels like makerspaces are necessary, and I love this space.”

Inside the spacious wood shop, students can find a slew of tools. In addi-

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tion to the circular saws, there is a table saw, miter saw, band saw, a drill press, a router table, a belt sander, a sheet metal break shear, a planer, a spray booth for a painting, and a peg board that is quickly being populated with hand tools like drills, hammers, wrenches, screw drivers and also the necessary safety equipment. There’s also a laser cutter for wood, paper and leather projects.

The print lab, about 15 steps across the hallway, houses four large-scale 3D printers, two industrial 3D printers, a Cricut cutter and a small computer lab, among other elaborate technologically advanced equipment. The light lab down the hallway, toward the always-lively second-floor Artis Center lobby, houses essential tools for photography and video production.

Students have used these spaces for a variety of projects over the relatively short time the Artis makerspace has been open. Last year, two students used the CNC (computer numeric control)

machine to cut fabric for dresses they designed for the Department of Design’s spring 2025 fashion show.

Music education major and talented singer Michelle Manning had an assignment for her vocal pedagogy course to produce a 3D model of a body part that aids a person’s singing. She chose a rib cage, asked Haslem to produce it and he did.

“I love my ribcage,” said the junior from Rocky Mount, Virginia, who cleverly signs her emails “Sing-cerely.”

“I was very happy to have a place on campus to go to be able to do something like this,” Manning noted. “Without it, I would be stuck and not know how I was even going to begin to complete that project. It’s nice to have a creative space to work on those things.”

Hasler collaborated with another student to create a 3D model of a larynx for the same course.

Victorian-style doghouse completed

by Johnson, Metzel, Micket and Sharma.

Having this space and having tools and materials to put your vision into an actual finished product is very important and meaningful to students.” Jeremy Metzel

Other projects have included 3D printing scans of ancient tools for a student in an archaeology course and dollhouse-sized architectural models for an outdoor solar simulation. Plus, a plethora of art projects have been aided by the Artis Center makerspaces.

Makerspaces are open to faculty and staff, too. Biology Associate Professor Sarah Redmond 3D-printed models of cells for students in her cell biology course to use for teaching opportunities in various outreach opportunities at local schools, as well as Highlander Days and the Blue Ridge Highlands Regional Science Fair held each year on campus.

Makerspaces 3D models have made their way onto performance stages, as well. Professor of Theatre Wesley Young asked Hasler to design and print a model of a large 19th-century dip pen to use as a prop for the department’s traveling production of Edgar Allan Poe’s gothic short story “The Pit and the Pendulum.”

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It encourages students to explore interests outside their major, experiment with new skills and express themselves in ways that go beyond the classroom.”

Braxton Tyson

Braxton Tyson making beats in the recording studio at CITL.

While many students and faculty are using makerspaces for educational purposes, Cayden Shorter took on a larger, more personal and fun project when he learned the capabilities of the Artis Center’s CNC. “I knew exactly what I wanted to make when I saw that machine,” said the junior business management major, speaking from Sweden, where he was part of a Radford study abroad program this spring. “I’m from [Panama City,] Florida, and I love to surf. So, I wanted to make a full-scale surfboard.”

With Hasler’s help, and some discounted polystyrene expanded foam Shorter found in Virginia Beach, the surfer and student entrepreneur designed and then machined his project on the CNC router. It was a process that took hours, but it was well worth the wait.

As the foursome of Johnson, Metzel, Micket and Sharma sawed, drilled and hammered their way toward the completion of their Victorian-style doghouse, Braxton Tyson was a five-minute walk away, vibing inside the recording studio at CITL, the Center for Innovative Teaching and Learning.

“Making beats and recording vocals is something I genuinely enjoy as a creative

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outlet,” the freshman information systems major from Alexandria, Virginia, said. “It’s also a way I regulate myself and process experiences. It’s fun for me, but it’s also meaningful.”

The CITL makerspace benefits creatives like Tyson because it gives students access to equipment and inventive spaces they might not have otherwise.

“Not everyone has studio gear or a quiet place to create, so having that resource on campus makes a big difference,” he said. “It encourages students to explore interests outside their major, experiment with new skills and express themselves in ways that go beyond the classroom.”

The studio space is available for both personal and academic projects. Assistant Professor of Nursing Amy Woods ’08, D.N.P. ’15, assigned a podcast production project to her students as an innovative way of measuring their understanding of a particular topic and strengthening their communication skills.

Having access to makerspaces is critical, Woods explained, “because it offers the recording equipment, software and technical support needed to produce high-quality podcasts. These spaces ensure all students can fully participate and give faculty the support and training needed to integrate innovative assessments effectively.”

Two doors down from the studio in the CITL makerspace, located on the second floor of McConnell Library, is another large room John Hildreth ’00 describes as “a perfect place for fiber arts and digital making.” Inside the room is a laser cutter and engraver, a heat press, vinyl cutters, sewing machines and computers for processing photographs.

It’s a busy space, said Hildreth, CITL’s associate director, who oversees the makerspace. He is aided by a staff of five work study students that he, and the center’s additional professional staff, train to help their fellow Highlanders carry out a variety of projects, whether it be sewing Greek letters onto clothing or making buttons for Club Fair.

Sam Wilner is one of the skilled work study students who sees the value in helping others through campus makerspaces.

“These spaces sometimes help people get out of their shell and encourage them to do things for themselves,” said the junior graphic design major from Wytheville, Virginia. “College is the best time get out and learn to do things on your own, and for us at CITL, we help with that by saying, ‘I’m going help you with this project, but you’re going to learn how to do it yourself.’”

Activities in CITL’s workshop and stu-

because it gives students both an opportunity to create as well as the chance to form a community with other makers, who might contribute with sharing their own ideas.”

Dickinson’s doghouse project assignment deepens the university’s commitment to and engages with individuals and community partners like Mountain View Humane. “This organization,” she said, “believes that pets and families belong together regardless of financial circumstances and that income alone is not a predictor of the love and care people can give to their pets.”

Skyler McCoy in Peery Hall’s makerspace.

dio are “predicated upon active learning,” said Hildreth, a songwriter, composer, producer, filmmaker and brewer whose mother, a master clothier, taught him to sew. “The act of making, creating and doing, both as individuals and as a community of learners, goes beyond standard academic activities such as taking tests, quizzes and writing papers. Being actively engaged in a process encourages creative inquiry and a different way of knowing.”

The makerspace in the basement of Peery Hall offers many of the same machines and tools that are found in the CITL space – a Glowforge laser cutter, a sewing machine and a number of hand tools and materials, confirmed Joby Kauffman, a mathematics and statistics assistant professor who serves as faculty supervisor for the space.

Skyler McCoy visits the Peery space often, helping fellow students with their projects, replacing broken handles on electric scooters, repairing skateboards and so forth. “We deal with a lot of real-world problems in here all the time,” said the junior computer science major who grew up tinkering with things and working on cars with his father in Castlewood, Virginia.

He, Aiden Montgomery – a whiz with a soldering iron – and Abby Shockley are regulars in the Peery makerspace.

In his junior and senior years at Radford, Michael Ziegenfus ’25 gained valuable career-enhancing experience in the Peery makerspace, working there as a work study student. “The makerspace,” explained Ziegenfus, a technical solutions engineer in Wisconsin, “is an import site on campus

This ultimate pay-it-forward project, created by 16 Radford University students, raised more than $370 for Mountain View Humane.

“The makerspace,” Dickinson confirmed, “was critical to the success of the project.”

As the hums and roars of power tools filled the room that day, Muvika Sharma explained the significance of having these unique classrooms for students to design, create and bring to life their ideas, not only for themselves and class projects, but for the reward of others in the Highlander community.

“Makerspaces are what we need,” said the sophomore transfer student from Simara, Nepal. “They are really good for us. They make our world better.”

Handmade sign created by students in the Peery Hall makerspace.

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New strategic plan reflects best ideas, common goals and shared values of university community

By David E. Perryman

Following nearly a year and a half of intensive work, on Jan. 23, 2026, Radford University officially launched Shaping Tomorrow – Together, its new strategic plan for 2026-2031.

Addressing the gathering in the auditorium and those watching online, Danilowicz provided detailed insight into the plan’s six themes, which include culture of care.

“Today marks an important moment in Radford’s history – one that celebrates how far we’ve come and sets the stage for where we’re going next,” President Bret Danilowicz said at the launch event in Davis Performance Hall.

“We want every Highlander to feel valued, supported and empowered to thrive,” he said.

The plan features new vision and mission statements, along with six strategic themes that represent the best ideas, common goals and shared values of the Radford community. Corresponding bold commitments translate the themes into more tangible activities and outcomes while addressing statewide needs and leveraging Radford’s proven strengths.

The strategic planning effort began in September 2024 with the formation of a planning committee comprising students, employees, administrators, alumni and community members.

Led by co-chairs Sharon Roger Hepburn, professor and chair of the university’s Department of History, and Angela Joyner, vice president of Economic Development and Corporate Education, the committee participated in numerous planning meetings while orchestrating one-on-one interviews, group feedback sessions and a survey to capture the voices of Highlanders across every corner of campus and beyond.

To accomplish that goal for students, Radford will leverage innovative technologies and support tools to proactively connect them with the services and resources they need to succeed. For employees, the university will develop more robust onboarding programs, mentorship opportunities and other knowledge-sharing approaches so that all faculty and staff feel supported and are able to flourish.

Additional strategic plan themes include academic achievement and intellectual discovery; student success and experiential learning; strategic partnerships and community engagement; organizational excellence and continuous improvement; and communication and collaboration.

“Culture of care” holds each of these themes together, Danilowicz noted, and “is the single most important thread woven throughout the plan.”

CULTURE OF CARE

STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT AND INTELLECTUAL DISCOVERY

ORGANIZATIONAL EXCELLENCE AND CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT

STUDENT SUCCESS AND EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING

COMMUNICATION AND COLLABORATION

To learn more about the strategic plan and follow updates on the university’s progress, visit radford.edu/strategic-plan.

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Reimagining healthcare education How Radford University is using advanced technology and innovative teaching techniques to prepare tomorrow’s healthcare professionals

By Mark Lambert M.S. ’97

S

aying that modern healthcare is complex is a massive understatement. From rapid technological advances that fundamentally change the way patients are treated to increasingly diverse teams that each play a vital role in care, there are an infinite number of parts and pieces that must work together to be successful.

At Radford University, students graduate ready to lead with skill, compassion and confidence. Our academic programs aren’t chasing trends – they are responding to workforce and societal needs. Radford is reimagining how healthcare professionals are prepared for a rapidly changing world.

A primary means for this is experiential learning, or “learning by doing,” coupled with guided reflection. These are some of the ways we are helping students learn by immersing them in simulated, realistic healthcare environments that offer hands-on experience.

The Jo Ann Bingham Clinical Simulation Centers provide students with an opportunity to work with rolling medical charts with IV supplies, cabinets with airway devices, working IV pumps and manikins that can talk, blink, cry, sweat and even give birth. The centers are modeled after actual clinical spaces in hospitals and other healthcare treatment facilities with the kinds of equipment students will use in the real world.

“As human beings, we learn from our mistakes,” said Christina Keller ’96, D.N.P. ’21, executive director of the clinical simulation centers. “Creating a safe space for students to make mistakes in a controlled environment allows them It’s a safe place to gain the opportunity for self-discovery.”

confidence for the times I will step into a room, and the client is dependent on me.”

Keller added that the simulation educators are specially trained to guide reflective debriefing sessions where students can view mistakes as puzzles to be solved, not actions to be punished.

Sydney Macdonald She said that the instructors can always Learning from mistakes in safe, reboot a manikin or allow a “take-two” controlled environments on a simulation patient scenario to give As the largest academic program at Radford University and students the opportunity to learn from experience. one of the biggest in the Commonwealth of Virginia, the ColShannon Souther ’18, D.N.P. ’24, co-chair of the undergradlege of Nursing graduates hundreds of new nurses every year uate nursing department at Radford University, agrees. who care for patients across a variety of specialties and clinical settings. As students, they learn in one of two state-of-the-art simulation centers located on the main campus in Radford and at the Roanoke Higher Education Center in Roanoke.

“The simulation centers provide a safe space for students to challenge themselves, grow and develop critical thinking skills that are essential to the nursing profession,” Souther said.

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Every graduate represents hundreds and sometimes thousands of patients they will treat over their career.”

Kari Whitney

Emergency services students working in the ambulance simulator at Radford University Carilion.

Senior Radford nursing student Sydney Macdonald said she always leaves her sessions in the simulation center with a new wealth of knowledge.

“I think the most innovative part of the simulation center is that the students feel safe trying out the skills they have learned in the classroom,” Macdonald said. “The best part is that there is no real patient at risk during these scenarios, and it’s a safe place to gain confidence for the times I will step into a room, and the client is dependent on me.”

Both Souther and Keller say that this life-like simulation and debriefing give students a unique learning opportunity that they can’t get anywhere else.

“Simulation is delivered differently at every center across the country,” Keller said. “At Radford, we offer simulation scenarios that provide students with time to critically think their way through various clinical situations. We allow our simulations to play out with a learner-centered approach.”

Building confidence to prepare students for real emergency situations Radford’s emergency services program also incorporates experiential learning

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into its curriculum through the use of its ambulance simulator – a full-sized ambulance located within a lab at Radford University Carilion (RUC) in Roanoke.

The simulator is a realistic training environment that allows students to practice patient assessment, decision-making and treatment before they ever encounter those situations in the field, according to Kari Whitney, director of the emergency services program.

“When students are working in the simulator,” said Whitney, “it’s an immersive environment where they practice patient care just as they would in the field. That hands-on training builds confidence and prepares students for real emergency responses.”

As the students work with a fully functioning manikin much like the ones in the nursing simulation centers, they are observed by instructors remotely through built-in cameras. This allows students to experience the responsibility of running calls independently while navigating real-world sights, sounds and clinical challenges.

“Learning in the simulator allows us to become comfortable with working in

the small space that is an ambulance,” said Elizabeth Kelley, a junior. “It allows students to learn how to work as a team during critical emergencies. By learning to work in such a small space with limited resources, we can become a more confident field provider.”

Students in the program are also using virtual reality programs for immersive anatomy and physiology instruction and realistic patient simulations that reinforce classroom concepts. The Anatomage Table – a 7-foot-long, flatbed, three-dimensional monitor with high-tech, interactive and virtual dissections of human bodies – gives students the opportunity to study the body in an advanced, controlled way. Students can manipulate the images with touch, zooming into specific anatomical parts of the body and even removing overlaying structures to see what is underneath.

Think of it as a very big, very expensive tablet with very advanced apps.

Sophisticated teaching tools like these are providing emergency services students with the chance to gain direct experience in situations that could overwhelm them in the field.

Emergency services students studying anatomy on the Anatomage Table.

“I appreciate how we get to see the full real-life experience,” Kelley said. “What are you taking to the patient? How do you get the patient to the ambulance?

How do you maneuver a difficult scene?

How do you maintain scene safety, and how do you manage a patient during transport? These scenarios also allow for more patient care experience as they take more time than just a transport in the ambulance.”

patients are treated. The RUBI Center was founded to increase life participation for brain injury survivors with cognitive and/or communication impairments while educating and training the university’s speech-language pathology graduate students. The co-founders of the RUBI Center are Rebecca Epperly ’95 and Terri Shelor ’93, M.S. ’95, both also instructors in the Radford Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders.

Whitney added that she sees these innovative teaching methods as key to ensuring the good health of our communities as her students begin their careers after graduation.

“The center is a safe space for allied health students to learn from brain injury survivors and their caregivers by applying what they’ve learned in the classroom with real people,” said Epperly.

“Every graduate represents hundreds and sometimes thousands of patients they will treat over their career,” she said. “By preparing clinically competent, thoughtful paramedics with these advanced techniques, we impact patient care far beyond our own practice.”

Epperly added that recovering from a brain injury can be a lifelong process, and survivors’ progress is often limited by their health insurance benefits.

She said that the RUBI Center provides them with an opportunity to continue their progress, learn to compensate and maintain their skills by participating in a variety of therapeutic groups and community outings with Radford University student clinicians. In addition, the center offers students in other academic areas the chance to work with

Applying therapeutic knowledge from the classroom to real-world patients The Radford University Brain Injury (RUBI) Center is another area where progressive teaching methods are making a difference in how students learn and

these same patients, extending learning opportunities across disciplines, including music therapy, occupational therapy and recreation therapy.

While the RUBI Center isn’t the only brain injury treatment center in Virginia, it is the only university-affiliated one. That gives our students a chance to work directly with survivors in a way that is unique to Radford.

The center has personal importance for Epperly and Shelor. They co-founded RUBI in 2022 in memory of their fathers, both of whom had strokes in their early 50s. When Epperly and Shelor navigated the world of brain injury as students in the early 1990s, there weren’t any programs in the New River Valley that helped patients. Today, the RUBI Center is a haven for brain-injury survivors and their caregivers in rural Southwest Virginia.

With advanced technology and forward-thinking teaching techniques, healthcare professionals leave Radford with skills that prepare them for all life’s roles as they serve our communities for years to come.

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Map data ©2026 Google

Terms 20 mi Radford alumni take to the business of beverages By Neil Harvey

O

ver the past decade or two, growing numbers of Highlanders have broken into the business of beverage-making, mostly beer but other varieties, too.

The drinks they’ve drafted have spawned breweries (both micro- and farmvariety) as well as wineries, cideries and all types of taprooms in between.

Several of these alumni proprietors transitioned into libations after years in other career fields – chemistry in some cases, business in others – and across the state, their establishments range as far west as Damascus and eastward to Virginia Beach, with a generous passel of pubs in and around Northern Virginia.

Here’s a look at some of them...

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1. Kindred Spirit 12830 W Creek Pkwy Unit J, Richmond, VA 23238 | 804-708-0309

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www.kindredspiritbrewing.com When Radford President Bret Danilowicz visited Richmond in August 2025, he stopped by Kindred Spirit, where Trottier “gave me a fantastic behind-the-scenes tour of the brewery and shared insights on running a successful business,” the president wrote on Instagram. “I also enjoyed their signature Headspace IPA.” That’s just one of 17 beers brewed by Kindred Spirit, and Trottier is now at work on the upcoming Highlander beer. “It’s going to be a lighter beer,” Trottier said. “Something that people will be able to enjoy on a Saturday afternoon or watching a basketball game.” Kindred Spirit, which is co-owned by Barefoot and her husband, John, just marked its 10th anniversary last summer.

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www.Lostboycider.com Wright earned a business degree and spent years working in banking and finance. After a brush with celiac disease in 2017, the longtime beer booster changed career course – both in occupation and in his beverage- selection – and launched Lost Boy, which , today , offers 20 varieties of cider on draft and three wines, with frequent new micro-batch releases. “The company tagline is ‘For explorers, by explorers.’ And my whole life has been spent wondering where and how I’ll exist,” Wright said. “There isn’t a lot of concurrency or a straight line with my past, but that’s because I’m interested in a lot of things.”

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Barrett founded Bunnyman a few years ago after a long career in telecommunications product management. “I just wanted to come up with a business where I could create whatever comes to my brain and not have to worry about anybody else,” Barrett said, and today, Bunnyman has three locations – in Fairfax, Lorton and Chantilly, each with 18 taps. The name is a reference to a notorious Fairfax urban legend (a since-debunked ’70s tale of an axe-wielding figure who dressed in a rabbit suit), and the Lorton site served as a prison during the 1800s, all of which makes Bunnyman a venture steeped in Northern Virginia lore.

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4. Far Gohn Brewing Company 301 S East St., Culpeper, VA 22701 540-321-4578 www.fargohnbrewing.com The Gohn’s met as undergrads and married in 1995. Around that time, Steve was getting crash courses in restaurant work, with stints at Dalton Hall and Macado’s, then a 20-year career as a hospital kitchen manager. In 2015, after becoming a registered dietitian, he and his wife opened Far Gohn, which they call Culpeper, Virginia’s “tavern brewery.” The vibe is consistently casual – they don’t take reservations or close down for parties, but they do offer handcrafted pizzas and 10 or more beers made on-site, with a tap list that rotates weekly. “It’s just a good local hole in the wall in a small town in Virginia,” Steve said.

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6. The Damascus Brewery 32173 Government Rd., Damascus, VA 24236

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5. Southern Revere Cellars 1100 E Jack Jouett Rd., Louisa, VA 23093 540-260-5494 www.southernrevere.com Rustic, regal and situated on a wide expanse of Louisa County farmland, Southern Revere Cellars promises patrons a family-run farm brewery and winery, together, as a setting for events, food trucks or just kicking back with a cold one. The Central Virginian newspaper recently awarded Southern Revere a trifecta in its local 2025 rankings – Best Brewery, Best Winery and Best Bar... as well as a runner-up spot for Best Entertainment, which the Spencers owe to their karaoke nights. “Our real aim has been to offer a variety of craft beverages, so that we appeal to all different tastes,” Paula Spencer said, “and then really, to bring community together.”

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www.thedamascusbrewery.com Asked if there’s a Radford connection to his current line of work, biology and chemistry graduate Woodson answered in the affirmative: “That’s where I learned to brew. I made my first batch of beer on Dark Side, just me and a buddy of mine, and before we graduated, we probably produced 20 [to] 25 batches.”

That practice paid off. Today, Woodson owns and operates Damascus Brewery, which is neatly adjacent to two welltrod trails in the southwest part of the state: the Appalachian and the Virginia Creeper. Founded in 2013, Damascus serves up more than 80 different craft beers, as well as 32 oz. growler cans sealed for take-out.

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7. Back Bay Brewing Co./Back Bay’s Farmhouse 1805 Kempsville Rd., Virginia Beach, VA 23464 757-904-3183 www.backbayfarmhouse.com Travis majored in chemistry and minored in biology, then worked for years as an analytical chemist in the New River Valley. But all that time, he was also producing his own beer, crafting dozens of different styles. In 2015, he said, “I got bored, and I wanted a change, so I took a massive pay cut and started a new career as an assistant brewer.” The place?

Back Bay Brewing in his hometown of Virginia Beach, Virginia. Today, he’s one of the co-owners, providing a regular rotation of about 20 different beers, as well as its own cider made on-site “with all Virginia-grown apples,” Powell said.

Spring 2026 21

Where ideas have impact At Radford, creativity is an on-ramp for active learning

By Pam McCallister

Spring 2026 23

ighlanders are doers. Here, learning is active by design, fueled by curiosity and grounded in a commitment to putting ideas to work. The notion of creativity doesn’t fit neatly into a single studio, lab or performance space.

It shows up wherever learning meets purpose: in classrooms, recording studios and data labs where imagination is paired with discipline to solve real problems.

Across campus, three very different programs – a children’s music initiative, a social media research lab and a graduate design program – share a philosophy. Creativity at Radford is instructional, collaborative, rooted in research and applied to challenges that extend beyond campus.

ral, engaging for adults as well as children.

“We added musical ‘Easter eggs,’” McDonel said. “They’re homages to musical styles adults may recognize, so parents and educators can enjoy the music, too.”

McDonel and Rivers look forward to even more possibilities on campus with the completion of a state-of-the-art recording studio in the Artis Center, where professional equipment and institutional support will continue to allow the project to reach listeners well beyond campus as a resource for teachers nationwide – one that still delights its audience.

At Radford University, creativity is not something you wait for. It is something you practice.

Inside the SMART Lab: Creativity as disciplined curiosity If Little Beats transforms music into a teaching tool, the SMART Lab transforms curiosity into research.

Little Beats: Music as early STEM instruction The first sound in a Little Beats song is always the same: a melodic “bahm bahm bahm, here we go.” To an adult, it might sound playful. To a young listener, it’s both an invitation and a lesson disguised as fun.

When students first walk into Radford’s Social Media Analytics and Research Technology Lab, many arrive with uncertainty. They’ve been assigned a major research project and don’t know where to begin. John Brummette, M.S. ’03, professor of communication and SMART Lab director, meets them there.

For two Radford music faculty members, Associate Professor David Rivers and Jennifer McDonel, professor and associate dean of the College of Visual and Performing Arts, those opening notes reflect a deliberate approach to songwriting that blends musical craft, early childhood research and the belief that children deserve music that is not just educational, but original and engaging.

“Show up with curiosity and a research question,” he tells them.

Little Beats began as a collaboration with the national nonprofit Zero To Three. Building on their multi-album project, “Little Beats: Counting, Shapes and Sets,” McDonel and Rivers compose original, curriculum-based songs that weave math and science vocabulary, language development and playful melodies into an experience designed to spark curiosity and participation.

The goal is not simply to entertain children but to strengthen early STEM learning through music. Lyrics and movement cues mirror play-based learning strategies drawn from research-based curricula. Repetition, rhythm and melody reinforce key concepts in ways that feel natural rather than instructional.

The SMART Lab serves as a collaborative research hub where students design studies, refine interview questions, build surveys and analyze social media data. The lab works across disciplines, supporting projects from communication and business to health sciences and beyond. Its purpose is not to tie research to a single field but to strengthen students’ ability to think critically and produce knowledge.

“The research question drives the method,” Brummette said.

“Our job is to make that method feel manageable rather than overwhelming.”

Creativity, in this context, is not improvisation; it is disciplined curiosity. “We define creativity as the ability to approach questions from different angles, recognize patterns others overlook and imagine new ways to generate knowledge,” he said.

When they began the project, McDonel said, they wanted to elevate the quality of children’s educational music.

“Commercial music for young children is often overproduced or highly autotuned to the point where the vocals sound unnatural,” she said. Educational music, she added, often relies on familiar folk tunes with replacement lyrics or songs that feel overly simplistic.

Instead, Little Beats features original compositions and a variety of musical styles. Children are exposed to different tonalities and meters, subtly building listening skills alongside math and language development.

Behind the playful sound is a clear set of goals: music grounded in best practices across disciplines, vocally clear and natu-

24 The Magazine of Radford University

If you’re going to wait for inspiration, it’s hard to tell how long you might be sitting there.”

Associate Professor of Design Thinking Bruce Parsons

Associate professor of music, David Rivers and Jennifer McDonel, associate dean and professor of music, record audio.

Professor of Communication and SMART Lab Director John Brummette, M.S. ’03, guides students.

In the lab, students are pushed beyond summarizing existing research. They collect and analyze original data. They define variables, test assumptions and refine their methods. Fear, Brummette said, is often the greatest obstacle.

“Do those moments happen? Sure,” Parsons said. “But if you’re going to wait for inspiration, it’s hard to tell how long you might be sitting there.”

“Students worry about being wrong,” he said. “Once they realize they’re allowed to test ideas, adjust course and refine their thinking, their work becomes stronger.”

That shift becomes especially vivid during live-event monitoring sessions, when the lab takes on what some describe as a “war room” feel. Wall-sized monitors display traditional news coverage of elections, crises or major events alongside real-time social media feeds. Students watch public discourse unfold across platforms, analyzing how narratives evolve.

“They’re seeing traditional media and public reaction side by side,” Brummette said. “They begin to question what they see rather than accept it at face value.”

Why does a story look different across platforms? Whose voices are amplified? Which perspectives are missing? What patterns are emerging and why?

Working with live data forces students to confront complexity. Data sets are messy and incomplete. They require interpretation, skepticism and ethical judgment. Over time, Brummette sees a shift.

“Students stop seeing themselves as completing an assignment,” he said. “They begin to see themselves as scholars who can create knowledge.”

Design thinking: Creativity as practice In the Master of Fine Arts in design thinking program, Bruce Parsons says, creativity is treated less like a lightning bolt and more like a muscle – something strengthened through practice, discipline and attention.

Parsons, an associate professor of design thinking, challenges one of the most common misconceptions students bring with them: the idea that creativity arrives only in sudden bursts of inspiration.

Instead, students learn to view creativity as an accessible tool that can emerge from small decisions, reflection or even a page of messy sketches. The obstacle, Parsons said, is often trying to be perfect, defining creativity too precisely or executing something flawlessly the first time.

The program’s structure counters that impulse. Students are taught first to ask better questions, Parsons said. What is happening beneath the surface of a problem? Whose story is being told? Whose is missing?

They are also encouraged to resist the urge to rush toward solutions. Building an app or launching an initiative may feel productive, Parsons said, but without fully understanding the people involved, early solutions can narrow possibilities.

“Design thinking as a discipline is the ability to bring ideas together and then explode them into a hundred pieces,” Parsons said, “just to bring them back together once we have more information.”

Students apply that approach to projects ranging from helping small businesses improve their web presence to developing podcast guides about healthcare in America. Thesis work has explored virtual reality environments for patients undergoing chemotherapy, innovative game design curricula and the use of Appalachian cryptid storytelling as a tool for economic development.

Throughout the program, the emphasis remains community-first. Using a “Yes, and?” methodology, students design not for people but with them, combining empathy, research and experimentation to address real-world challenges.

Whether in a corporate setting or a local community center, Parsons said, the goal is consistent: equip graduates to navigate complexity thoughtfully and collaboratively.

Spring 2026 25

Munkh-Orgil Turbold ’05, M.S. ’07 A musical journey from Radford to the world stage

By Bailey Black

There were three reasons Radford University’s guitar program was the perfect fit for Munkh-Orgil Turbold (O.T.) ’05, M.S. ’07.

The location of Radford – a small town, “far away from the hustle and bustle of big cities,” where O.T. could concentrate on his studies.

The size of the program – one where he knew his peers by name, and students supported and challenged each other to be better musicians.

Mentorship from “an active performer” – Robert Trent, professor in the Department of Music, who used real-world experiences to guide students in the classroom.

O.T. came to Radford University from Ulaanbaatar, the capital city of Mongolia. Coming from a family of artists, musicians and actors, O.T. knew from an early age that he wanted to be involved in the music industry. He enrolled at Radford as a transfer student and began his studies in music business.

“One day, a tall fellow in ripped jeans showed up at my studio door and wanted to play for me, stating his intention of becoming a music major,” recalled Trent. “Flash forward, he won spots on every semester’s honors recital audition.

He earned scholarships. He won second prize in an international guitar competition. O.T. earned not only the admiration of his peers, but also of staff and faculty across the campus for his grace and hu-

mility, drive and initiative, and for his ability to respect and work with others.”

As an undergraduate, O.T. took every opportunity to strengthen his skills, including working at Barry’s Music Store in downtown Radford. As graduation approached, he began searching for an internship to gain more real-world experience.

Bass professor Ed Mikenas connected O.T. to The Clubhouse, a prominent recording studio in Rhinebeck, New York.

He stayed for a year and a half, working as a sound engineer, before returning to Radford to pursue his master’s degree program in guitar performance. “O.T. advanced to such an amazing degree, and so quickly, that I requested him for my graduate teaching assistant,” said Trent.

“My guitar teacher, Dr. Trent, was a great mentor. I learned a great deal while working with him,” recalled O.T. He was able to apply many of the lessons he learned to his professional career, including being adaptable, taking chances, meeting challenges with curiosity and understanding the importance of seeing things through.

After earning his master’s, O.T. moved to New York City, where he spent several years working as a full-time session musician, “playing any and every gig.”

During this chapter, he was hired to tour with eight-time Grammy award winner, Lauryn Hill – an experience he described as “surreal.” O.T. contin-

What excites me most is doing something new every day.”

Munkh-Orgil Turbold (O.T.) ’05, M.S. ’07

ued to tour with other artists, like Matt White and Brendan James, but eventually, it was time to move on from life on the road.

“You’re out for six months at a time, and it can be hard when you have a family,” said O.T. “I got an offer to run a recording studio that was being opened in Mongolia, and we decided to move back there in 2012. After running White Arch Studios for about three years, I decided to open my own studio called The Library Records, working with new, upcoming live bands.”

The Library Records is a world-class recording facility and artist management label located in Ulaanbaatar.

O.T. also plays in his own band, Night Train, which recently celebrated its 25th anniversary, selling out a 4,500-person arena.

Another highlight of O.T.’s career was serving as music director for “The Voice Mongolia” and “Mongolia’s Got Talent” for three seasons. “It was a lot of hard work, but I learned a lot,” he said. “You have to make sure everything is running smoothly – the band is comfortable, the contestants are comfortable and the producers are comfortable. The band plays behind every contestant, so by the end of each season, you end up having played 500 to 600 songs. One season takes about one whole year.”

Today, O.T. finds the most joy in working with young, up-and-coming artists and guiding them as they navigate the music industry. “What excites me most is doing something new every day. I’m lucky to do what I love and not actually look at it as work.”

Spring 2026 27

From the Venture Lab to the AI Sandbox and CoWorks@The HUB, Radford University offers an entrepreneurial ecosystem that helps students form fruitful collaborations

By Neil Harvey

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tudents’ strongest and most innovative ideas need the means to expand beyond classrooms, the campus and graduation, and Radford’s entrepreneurial ecosystem provides a range of such pathways.

It’s a virtual network with myriad entry points and conduits, all aimed at connecting enterprising Highlanders with faculty and community partners in meaningful collaborations.

One key component is the Venture Lab, located in Kyle Hall, run by the Davis College of Business and Economics and open to all.

Designed as a bridge between student ideas and concept creations, the Venture Lab hosts events like Innovation Challenge and IdeaFest and operates under program coordinator Macie Rice ’22, MBA ’23. Her staff of six “brand ambassadors” are work-study students who specialize in graphic design, event planning, research and social media.

“We’ve transitioned into something like an all-purpose hub for student ideas,” Rice explained. “It’s an entrepreneurship

28 The Magazine of Radford University

‘learn-by-doing’ lab. That starts with a meeting, with coming in and talking to me and working out a plan for what your goal looks like.”

When Sam Williams ’25 developed a concept for the cybersecurity film Action Guard, the lab helped him secure a $15,000 grant from the Commonwealth Cyber Initiative (CCI) to launch it and hire employees.

Demetrio Vallejos, a freshman management and marketing double major, worked with the facility to create his own clothing line, BMD Apparel, with the motto “Daring to dream big and taking consistent action to turn those dreams into a reality.”

Another innovative option Radford offers is the AI Sandbox, which opened this spring and is dedicated to today’s rapidly evolving technologies. The Davis College’s central hub for generative artificial intelligence in business, it’s directed by Samantha Steidle ’04 and seeks to ethically accelerate students’ applied AI abilities, while also offering career preparation, discussion, competitions and events.

“We’re learning that, with AI, there’s an important place for expertise, knowledge and skills, and the outputs of AI prompts are very closely tied to those skill levels,” Steidle said.

“Many people think anybody could go in and input questions and information, but the quality of the outputs is tied to a certain level of education.”

A recent Sandbox collaborator, Aaron Chappell ’25, MBA ’26, of Hillsville, Virginia, worked as a graduate teaching assistant while balancing jobs in retail and restaurant management.

Since last year, he’s helped Steidle research, test and audit information to gain faculty and leadership buy-ins for future AI efforts. Through that work, Chappell became proficient in the field, a process he attributes to Radford University’s size.

“It creates a really intimate environment” for meeting experts and making contacts, he said. “You get a lot more opportunities to have important conversations. That really helps.”

Aaron Chappell ’25, MBA ’26

His drive paid off – his work was noticed on LinkedIn, and he was recruited this year by an Amazon talent acquisition specialist. Following an extended interview process, Chappell was hired by Amazon to manage the operations of a robotic fulfillment center in Wilmington, North Carolina. He credits his work in Sandbox as “a major selling point” and is optimistic about AI’s prospects.

“I think if you use it as a tool and you really work with it the way that you can, it can make people more intelligent than they’ve ever been before,” he said.

Ashlee Owens ’24, M.S. ’26, from Potomac Falls, Virginia, earned bachelor’s degrees in marketing and business management and her master’s in strategic communications. She remains active at the intersection of education, business and technology.

Owens helped Steidle pre-test Radford’s AI Olympic challenges and uses Boodlebox, an AI platform geared toward higher education, to help tailor her resume and strengthen her application as she pursues the competitive job opportunities in her field.

At this relatively early stage in the AI timeline, Owens said, students and faculty are navigating the landscape together, devising ways to educate and learn and use new technologies in tandem.

“Professors are teaching students, but I think also, in the same way, students are teaching the professors what we know,” she said, adding that this exposure had an impact: “The Radford University experience is unmatched to anything else I’ve seen, because they’re so focused on allowing students to prepare for the real world and use our knowledge of different applications for different goals.”

Emerging technology amplifies classroom methods as well.

Jack Mason, an assistant professor in the management department, leads 200- and 300-level courses – “Entrepreneurship and Innovation” and “Managing New Venture Creation.”

Ashlee Owens ’24, M.S. ’26

He employed AI chatbots to turn his classes into student teams and to help them identify consumer needs and solutions as they pursue the goals of launching and marketing their own ventures. But he’s also requiring a necessary level of external interaction. Director of Economic Development and Community Engagement Nichole Hair recently met with Mason’s entrepreneurs to help them find local figures whose expertise matches their teams’ goals.

“You have to go out and basically talk to people, open the aperture of what the possibilities are before you have something to sell,” Mason explained.

Andy Travers, who taught those courses last year, said he witnessed genuine promise: “I had multiple projects that have real community potential and a couple of very well-developed niche interests.”

Spring 2026 29

It was important to me to have a space that created structure; that’s when I found CoWorks. It provided a space dedicated solely to my business, free from the usual distractions.”

Sarah Pullman ’19, M.A. ’20

Millennial Fabrics’ quilt patch traditional project bag.

Among those student concepts: a golf simulator; a publishing strategy to connect writers and illustrators; a 3-D printing system for gaming figures; and a plan for a do-it-yourself pottery studio, pitched by visual arts major Katherine Dickinson.

“Her project was one of the most developed I’ve had over the past three years and was supported by her personal passion and knowledge of the subject,” Travers said. “The entrepreneurship track is open to all majors. I’ve had multiple dance and design students develop great projects, in addition to business majors.”

As part of her work with economic development, Nichole Hair oversees CoWorks@The HUB, Radford University’s dynamic downtown space designed to foster collaborative connections between the university and broader community.

The vibrant facility offers dedicated desks, private offices and meetings rooms, as well as a coffee bar, mail room, meditation space, Zoom booth and high-speed internet.

Sarah Pullman ’19, M.A. ’20, uses a CoWorks office as the headquarters for Millennial Fabrics, her online cross-stitch and hand-dyed fabric company, which evolved from a hobby into a full-time

business that now ships orders across the country. She said she applies the skills she gained through her teaching degree into business planning.

“Millennial Fabrics grew rapidly, gaining a loyal following and naturally evolving into what it is today,” said Pullman, who uses her office to separate her work from her home life.

“It was important to me to have a space that created structure,” she said. “That’s when I found CoWorks. It provided a space dedicated solely to my business, free from the usual distractions. After my initial tour, I knew CoWorks was the right fit.”

Four businesses currently operate out of CoWorks, and there’s room for more.

“They have a place to come in and be part of the Radford University community,” Hair said, “and if they are small businesses, this is where they can also connect with the university through internships and micro-internships. We provide those opportunities and those services to help them.”

Spring 2026 31

Ginny Ball ’01 A business built on Radford connections

By Justin Ward ’10, M.S. ’23

There are ups and downs, but it’s the people around you that make the whole ride fun.”

Ginny Ball ’01

On a quiet stretch of Huguenot Road in Midlothian, Virginia, there’s a studio with a green door that’s hard to miss. Step inside and you’ll find leather jewelry, tea towels and coasters designed to make people smile, along with the kind of warm, come-on-in energy that makes a small business feel like a community. It’s also where Ginny Ball ’01, co-owner and CEO of KEVA Style, has helped turn a basement dream into a brand carried in hundreds of retail stores across the country.

Ball describes KEVA as an “art-driven lifestyle brand that designs home, gift and accessories.” Women-owned and operated, the company primarily wholesales to specialty retailers, boutiques, museum shops and historic sites such as Historic Jamestown, Mount Vernon and Monticello. KEVA also sells online and at its Midlothian studio, which serves as both an event space and company headquarters.

Ball’s road to entrepreneurship didn’t begin with a perfectly mapped plan. It began with curiosity and a willingness to say “yes” to an industry she didn’t even know existed.

A marketing major at Radford, Ball remembers a professional selling class that stuck with her, though she didn’t yet see wholesale sales as a career path. After graduation, she moved to the Washington, D.C., area to work in marketing and sales.

A Radford connection led to a job as a sales rep covering Northern Virginia. “I never knew this industry existed,” she said. “I was as green as they come and started my career driving all over Virginia selling products to retailers with a Virginia map and fax machine.”

Over time, those miles added up to expertise, roles with companies based in New York and California and eventually leading sales and marketing for industry leaders. But as her career grew, so did a steady, familiar tug toward building something of her own.

“There’s an entrepreneurial spirit that is part of who I am as a person,” Ball said. “Growing up, I would babysit, dog sit, plant-sit, make jewelry and walk around my neighborhood selling it. So, I guess you can say that spirit has been with me for my entire life.”

The moment to leap arrived in a season that many parents know well: Ball was parenting a 3-year-old and a 1-year-old while juggling a relentless schedule. She stepped away, began consulting and soon found herself on the doorstep of KEVA’s beginnings.

The connection to her future business partner, Eva, happened through neighbors, family ties and Radford friendships. When the two finally met, the partnership clicked quickly because their strengths fit together cleanly; Ball’s confidence in sales, marketing and business development paired naturally with Eva’s expertise in sourcing, production and operations.

And as KEVA has grown, so has Ball’s appreciation for what connections can do, not only for business, but for people.

“There are simple ways you can make a big impact in someone’s world: a kind word, a funny text, an introduction, sharing a lesson learned or an opportunity. I’m a believer that we all benefit from helping others.”

Ball still talks about Radford as a place that made her feel both supported and inspired. “It’s the quintessential college town, where you feel safe and part of a community,” she said.

“It was big but still had a small-town feeling to it.”

When she thinks about what to tell others who want to start something of their own, Ball doesn’t romanticize the road. “It takes a lot of courage,” she said. “That courage can morph into being scared, having anxiety, stress or excitement, so many different feelings.”

Her advice is practical. “Instead of thinking of it as a challenge, embrace that uncertainty: take baby steps to start, plant lots of seeds, listen to your gut, know there’s power in vulnerability and celebrate all of the big (and small) wins.”

Plus, she said, don’t forget to take time for yourself.

Because, as she often says, entrepreneurship isn’t just a job – it’s a roller coaster. “There are ups and downs,” Ball shared, “but it’s the people around you who make the whole ride fun.”

Special offer for Radford Magazine readers: Visit kevastyle.com and enter code RADFORD at checkout to receive 15% off any order.

Spring 2026 33

How generosity shapes innovation in service to others

By Hunter Q. Gresham

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Opening doors you may never walk through Nancy Sullivan Ray ’55 understood that some of the most meaningful gifts are those whose impact you may never personally witness.

That belief takes many forms - in scholarships that remove barriers, in spaces designed for connection and in faculty who insist learning be tested and shared. Innovation here is not novelty for its own sake. It is about people – imagining what students might become and building the conditions that help them get there.

A 1955 graduate of Radford College with a degree in business education, Ray devoted her life to learning and service. After teaching in Virginia and earning a graduate degree from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, she remained deeply engaged in higher education alongside her husband, Dr. John R. Ray. Together, they were steadfast supporters of both Radford University and the University of Tennessee.

t Radford University, creativity and innovation do not begin with an idea – they begin with belief, supported by generosity. When students are given access, encouragement and room to try, their learning turns outward, shaping communities and lives far beyond campus.

Across generations, Highlanders have carried that mindset forward. Nancy Sullivan Ray ’55, Frances A. “Bonnie” Hurlburt ’58 and Monica “Moni” Weinzapfel each shaped Radford in distinct ways – through philanthropy, leadership and mentorship. What unites them is a shared conviction that investing in others is the most enduring form of innovation.

34 The Magazine of Radford University

At Radford, they established the John R. Ray and Nancy Sullivan Ray Scholarship in 1997, followed by the Teachers for Tomorrow Initiative in 2017. Both were created to help ensure that students could access an education capable of changing their lives.

Ray’s 1955 Beehive Yearbook photo and

information.

Recognized as Tartan Fellows - the university’s highest philanthropic honor - the Rays gave from a place of trust: trust that opportunity, once extended, would do its work.

She believed that removing barriers—financial and otherwise—could create space for leadership, creativity and confidence to grow.

That same belief took communal shape in the Nancy Sullivan Ray ’55 Schoolhouse Living-Learning Community, named in recognition of the Rays’ enduring philanthropic commitment and dedicated March 20, 2026, in tribute to Ray’s birthday. Originally established in 2018, the Ray Schoolhouse LLC brings together future educators in a residential environment that connects coursework, field experience and community engagement from their first days on campus.

For today’s students, that belief is tangible.

Together, the scholarship initiatives and the Ray Schoolhouse LLC reflect her long view of impact. The scholarships open doors. The Ray Schoolhouse LLC shapes what happens once students walk through them, supported by programmatic funding designed to sustain the experience for generations.

“The John R. Ray and Nancy Sullivan Ray Scholarship has had such a positive impact on my education and future career,” said Maggie Remington ’26, an elementary education major from Pulaski County. “It was not just a scholarship, but an investment in me and my future career.”

Another scholarship recipient, Haley Freeman ’26 of Marion, Virginia, echoed that sentiment, noting, “The scholarship and my multi-year involvement with the Ray Schoolhouse allowed me the opportunity to fully engage as well as excel in my coursework at Radford University. I am thankful for this scholarship and the encouragement and support that it represents,” she said.

Spring 2026 35

Former students present at Hurlburt’s retirement in 2002.

Designing a campus where leadership belongs to everyone Where Nancy and John Ray focused on opening doors, Frances A. “Bonnie” Hurlburt ’58 ensured that once students arrived, they found a campus that trusted them to lead.

Hurlburt returned to her alma mater soon after graduation and spent nearly four decades shaping the character and culture of the institution. As dean of students, she became known for balancing warmth with accountability – often described as “tough love,” always grounded in a deep belief in students’ potential.

She understood innovation not as invention, but as design.

She reshaped systems – student government, campus culture and town-gown relationships – so that leadership was not reserved for a few but expected of many. Under her guidance, Radford’s Student Government Association became a national model for student responsibility and advocacy.

Former student leaders recall being trusted with real responsibility, even when it meant learning through missteps. Hurlburt set high expectations – and students rose to meet them.

That philosophy lives on in the Bonnie Hurlburt Student Center, named in her honor in 2005 and known simply as “The Bonnie,” the heart of campus life.

“Dean Hurlburt pushed us to think beyond our comfort zones, trusting in our potential even when we doubted ourselves,” said George Mendiola Jr. ’00, MBA ’02, former Student Government Association president and current member of the Radford University Board of Visitors. “Her challenges were never obstacles but invitations to grow, shaping my understanding that leadership is about empowering others to rise.”

36 The Magazine of Radford University

Frances A. “Bonnie” Hurlburt ’58 and George Mendiola Jr. ’00, MBA ’02.

A loyal donor and Tartan Fellow, Hurlburt’s generosity extended well beyond a single scholarship. She established funds of her own, and others were created in her honor to reflect the impact of her leadership. She also supported women’s athletics and programs such as Selu, reflecting her belief in the full student experience. Like the Rays, her philanthropic legacy was designed to endure—gifts structured to support students in perpetuity.

But Hurlburt gave more than financial support. She gave her time, her mentorship and her steady presence. Her longtime involvement with the Radford College Golf Society deepened her connection to alumni, strengthening a community she believed should always invest in the next generation.

Turning creative practice into lived experience In the Department of Theatre, Monica Weinzapfel translated that same belief into fabric, light and long evenings in the costume shop.

Affectionately known as “Moni,” Weinzapfel joined Radford’s faculty in 1987 after earning her Master of Fine Arts degree from Northwestern University. For more than three decades, she mentored generations of students, shaping productions and people with equal care until her retirement in 2019.

Alumni who worked as students with Weinzapfel in the costume studio, taken at her 2019 retirement.

Weinzapfel with Jimmy Ward ’95, Sakiko Someki ’96 and Brian James ’95.

Her work was meticulous and deeply human. Colleagues remember her as the first to arrive, the last to leave and a tireless advocate for students.

“Monica was invested enough to watch not just that I was learning, but how I learn,” said Brian James ’95. “She helped me understand that my brain needed space to explore, to step away and return. Because she took the time to see that and to teach me how to work with it, I didn’t just finish projects: I learned how to learn. And that changed everything.”

For Weinzapfel, learning was incomplete unless it extended beyond the classroom.

That philosophy lives on through the Carl H. Lefko and Monica Weinzapfel Endowed Travel Scholarship, which supports students as they step into professional spaces – auditions, conferences and internships where theory meets reality. The scholarship funds more than travel. It fuels transformation, helping students test ideas and see themselves as professionals in the world beyond campus.

In doing so, Weinzapfel ensured that creativity at Radford would remain outward-facing – shared and put to work in service of others.

She helped me understand that my brain needed space to explore, to step away and return. Because she took the time to see that and to teach me how to work with it, I didn’t just finish projects: I learned how to learn.

And that changed everything.”

Brian James ’95

A Radford story, carried forward Taken together, their legacies reveal something essential about Radford University.

Creativity here is applied, relational and grounded in care. It widens access. It cultivates leadership. It prepares students to engage the world.

Ray created space for students to imagine more.

Hurlburt built the culture where those ideas could take root.

Weinzapfel walked alongside students as they stepped into professional practice.

Each understood that generosity – giving back and paying forward – is not a conclusion. At Radford, it is a beginning carried forward, shaping not only individual lives but the communities and professions those lives will touch.

Spring 2026 37

Life is a series of the right doors opening at the right time.”

Kelsey Isaacs ’15

Kelsey Isaacs ’15 Finding a talent, a career and a life in support of her values

By Vanessa Conner ’12, M.S. ’15

When Kelsey Isaacs ’15 took a student wage position at Radford University’s former phonathon program to help pay the bills, she didn’t realize she was stepping into the first chapter of her life’s work.

That job did far more than provide money; it revealed a natural talent for connecting with people and ultimately sparked a career that would carry her across the country into a leadership role in higher-education fundraising.

Today, Isaacs is the director of development for the School of Music and Dance at the University of Oregon, where she raises funds for programs that reflect the passions she has carried since childhood. But back in 2011, none of that was part of the plan.

Radford entered Isaacs’ life long before she enrolled. Her older sister attended the university, and Isaacs vividly remembers helping her move into Floyd Hall on a crisp August morning.

“I distinctly remember thinking, ‘This is such a beautiful place; I want to come here,’” she recalled. Isaacs participated in Radford University’s Ballet Youth summer intensive for two years and lived with her sister on campus for those activities.

A few years later, when Isaacs began considering college options, Radford was a natural fit. It felt personal and approachable and allowed her to be close to her grandmother, who lived in Wytheville. Receiving scholarship support sealed the deal for her.

As a student, Isaacs balanced classwork with visits to her grandmother and jobs on campus. She worked in the dance department in addition to the phonathon program, where she started as a student

caller and was promoted to manager.

She not only found lifelong friends but discovered a surprising talent in connecting with donors. “There’s nothing like that rush when someone says ‘yes’ to a gift,” she said. “That feeling of excitement has never left.”

As a double major in dance and history, Isaacs initially planned to teach. But once she began her education coursework, she quickly realized the classroom wasn’t the right fit. When the spring semester of her senior year began, Isaacs felt the pressure. Graduation was looming, and she needed a plan.

When she asked for advice from her former supervisor from the phonathon program, Travis Byrd ’10, he suggested that her ability to connect with donors could be leveraged into a career. “He helped me understand that what I was doing – this thing I thought was just a job – could actually be a fulfilling profession.”

With Byrd’s encouragement, Isaacs launched into the field immediately after graduation, joining Ruffalo Noel Levitz to manage university call centers. She went on to work at several universities before landing in the Pacific Northwest, drawn by the region’s lifestyle and a development position that blended higher education with the arts.

“Life is a series of the right doors opening at the right time,” she reflected, “and Radford opened the first one.”

Isaacs has immense gratitude for her current position at the University of Oregon, where she uses her talent to support one of her passions. The arts have been woven into Isaacs’ life from the beginning; her mother is a pianist, and

she grew up immersed in music. At Oregon, she works in a building filled with rehearsals, creativity and the energy of students pursuing their craft.

“I can’t imagine a world without the arts,” Isaacs said. Whether supporting dance, music or visual arts, her professional work allows her to champion the transformative power of creativity.

For Isaacs, philanthropy is more than a profession; it’s an extension of her values. She grew up watching her grandparents give their time and resources to their community without expecting anything in return. Their example instilled a lifelong belief that service to others is essential.

“Philanthropy means being of service,” she says. “It’s supporting your community in ways that are deeply impactful, but you might not ever see that impact.”

Isaacs has given to Radford every year since she was a student. Her first gift was $5 at Byrd’s request. Fifteen years later, she still gives, often to the dance and history departments, because, as she said, “I can’t ask someone to give to something I wouldn’t support myself.”

Her consecutive years of giving qualify her for the Red Brick Society.

She also named Radford as the primary beneficiary of her retirement account, hoping someday to create a scholarship.

“I want the next version of me to have the same opportunities I had,” she said. “Radford made my professional life possible.”

To current Highlanders, Isaacs offers simple guidance: “Be open to new experiences. Be curious. Try things, even the small things, because you never know what door they’ll open.”

Spring 2026 39

Investing in the future of Highlander athletics A vision for Radford Athletics philanthropy and engagement

Radford Athletics is entering an exciting chapter – one focused on strengthening the connection between our scholar-athletes and the Highlander community that supports them. Across collegiate athletics, the landscape of engagement and philanthropy continues to evolve.

At Radford, we believe successful programs are built not only through competition, but through strong relationships with donors, alumni, fans and community members who believe in our mission. To support that vision, Radford is expanding how supporters connect with and invest in Radford Athletics.

Moving forward, Radford Athletics is focused on: Strengthening relationships with its supporters.

Expanding opportunities for meaningful connection with scholar-athletes and coaches; sharing the impact of athletics philanthropy more clearly.

Creating more ways for alumni, fans and community members to engage.

Every investment in Radford Athletics supports the success of our scholarathletes – individuals who represent the university with pride, dedication and Highlander spirit. Together, we are building a future where Radford Athletics continues to compete with excellence while providing transformational experiences for those who wear the Highlander uniform.

A BROADER VISION FOR ATHLETICS SUPPORT Radford Athletics philanthropy includes several pathways for supporters to invest in the success of Highlander scholar-athletes.

Highlander Club Annual Giving Annual support that strengthens the scholar-athlete experience across Radford Athletics.

Sport-Specific Giving Support directed to a specific sport or team based on donor interest.

Scholarships and Endowments Tuition support for scholar-athletes through current-use and endowed scholarships.

Leadership, Capital and Planned Gifts Significant investments that help shape the future of Radford Athletics.

The Role of the highlander club Through annual contributions, Highlander Club members help provide essential resources that strengthen the scholar-athlete experience across all Radford Athletics programs.

Highlander Club recognition status is determined annually based on gifts made specifically to the Highlander Club Annual Fund between July 1-June 30.

$100–$499: Highlander Lineup

Essential annual support that helps strengthen the scholar-athlete experience across all sports.

$500–$1,249: Highlander Varsity

Consistent annual giving and deeper engagement.

$1,250–$4,999: Highlander Premier

Elevated commitment through leadership-level annual support that drives competitive excellence and scholar-athlete success.

$5,000+: Highlander Champions

Transformational annual support that fuels scholarships, programs and opportunities for scholar-athletes to thrive.

HIGHLANDER TRADITION SOCIETY The Highlander Tradition Society honors individuals whose cumulative philanthropic support has helped shape the past, present and future of Radford Athletics. Recognition reflects sustained commitment from donors whose generosity strengthens opportunities for scholar-athletes across the department.

$10,000–$19,999: Tradition Builders Entry-level lifetime recognition for donors whose generosity helps lay the groundwork for continued growth and long-term success.

$20,000–$49,999: Tradition Bearers Sustained lifetime commitment from donors who play a vital role in strengthening athletics programs and the scholar-athlete experience.

$50,000+: Tradition Keepers Enduring leadership in athletics philanthropy by donors demonstrating a deep commitment to preserving and advancing the traditions that define Radford Athletics.

Together, these pathways create a stronger future for Radford Athletics.

Ensuring scholar-athletes continue to compete, grow and represent the university with pride.

Spring 2026 41

And the award goes to...

The NCAA announced awards in November 2025 for two individuals from Radford University Athletics. One of those honors posthumously celebrated former women’s basketball player and coach Charlene Curtis ’76 with the 2026 Gerald R. Ford Award. The “honor recognizes individuals who provided significant leadership as advocates for intercollegiate athletics throughout their career,” the NCAA stated. Curtis died of cancer in 2022.

Highlanders’ baseball coach Alex Guerra ’11 claimed the 2026 Award of Valor for his quick actions to help rescue a Radford student struggling against strong currents in the New River in September 2024. Guerra received the award at the NCAA Awards Banquet in January. “This award isn’t about one person or one moment,” Guerra said in his acceptance speech at the banquet. “It’s about community and choosing to act when it matters most.”

The NCAA gave 14 awards in 2025, and Radford received two of those honors.

A new collection of Highlander Hall of Famers The Radford Athletics Hall of Fame opened its doors to five well-deserving Highlander athletic legends during a ceremony held at Kyle Hall during homecoming week in October 2025.

The new class of enshrinees included Mike Jones (head men’s basketball coach, 2011-21), Javonte Green ’15 (men’s basketball), Yvette “Pebbles” Smith ’85 (women’s basketball), Rachel Wiechecki ’14 (volleyball) and Vincent Wyatt ’14 (men’s track and field).

Record-setting runners Radford’s women’s cross-country team made a successful run through the 2025 season, ultimately placing third in the Big South Conference championship. It marked the team’s sixth consecutive season with a top-three placement. Throughout the season, Highlanders Sienna Bailey, Mia Farley, Cora Gentzel, Claire Keefe and Katelyn Campbell recorded top 10 times for the Radford program across the 4K and 6K season races. Sophie Magson became Radford’s new 4K record holder and was named an all-conference runner. The Big South named Delaney Eller its Newcomer of the Year.

The men’s cross-country team also forced changes to the Highlanders’ record books. Runners Azrael Cabusao, Charlie Dance, Mason Lewis and Jensen McCutcheon recorded five new program top 10 times across the season’s 6K and 8K races.

Radford placed fifth at the Big South Championship, Dance earned all-conference distinction, and the Big South recognized Hayat Khan as its Scholar-Athlete of the Year.

42 The Magazine of Radford University

Winning has a nice ring to it Radford women’s golf followed its historic, championship-winning 2024-25 season with a strong beginning to the new campaign in the fall. The Highlanders’ two top results came in a runner-up finish at the Elon Invitational and a tie for third at the UNCG Collegiate. Shea Smith equaled the Radford record for lowest single round at 5 under par while competing at the Edisto Island Invitational. She now shares the record with teammate Macy Johnson. McKenzie Weddle won the individual championship at the Elon Invitational and was named Big South Golfer of the Week for her efforts. Before the fall season teed off, the Highlanders received their 2025 Big South Championship rings at a ceremony among family and friends in the Dedmon Center.

On the men’s side, Radford began the 2025 fall schedule with a runner-up finish at the Carolina Cup and a top-five finish at the Elon Phoenix Invitational. CJ Peterson earned two Big South Freshman of the Week honors. Kieran McCarthy also earned a pair of Player of the Week nods.

Another banner year for soccer Radford’s women’s soccer was nearly perfect in 2025 conference play, winning seven of eight Big South contests against a formidable group of Big South opponents. That consistency resulted in the team’s seventh conference regular-season title in Highlanders women’s soccer history. The collective team effort also brought to Radford a number of individual conference awards for the Highlanders. The honors included Amani Green, defender and newcomer of the year and Lilly Short, midfielder of the year. Lexi Radvanyi, Ary Oliver, Jashyra Johnson, Paige Olson, Jillian Silverstone, Amani Green and Lilly Short received all-conference recognition.

Oliver was named to the all-freshman team. Head coach Ben Sohrabi and his assistants were selected as the Coaching Staff of the Year. Olson finished her Radford career with 28 assists, the second most to ever be recorded by a Highlander in program history and most since Amanda Lebo finished her career with 27 in 1998.

Radford men’s soccer squad ended its postseason drought in 2025 by advancing to the Big South Conference tournament quarterfinals. It was the Highlanders’ first appearance in the tournament since 2019. Multiple Radford players, including Ben Miller, Kenshin Akimoto and Hiromasa Iwai, earned Big South Player of the Week nods throughout the season. It was the team’s most weekly awards since 2021. Akimoto earned all-conference honorable mention for his play in the Big South tournament. In January, Radford Athletics announced that Andy Cormack would be taking over as the tenth head coach in program history.

Can you dig it? Volleyball serves up memorable wins Fans of Radford volleyball witnessed the team pull off some remarkable wins throughout the 2025 campaign.

First, the team knocked off New River Valley rival Virginia Tech in only three sets. Later, in the Big South Conference quarterfinals, the Highlanders eliminated three-seed Charleston Southern. The conference tournament appearance, which ended after a hard-fought semifinal loss, was the second straight for the Highlanders. Olivia Ryno was named to the Big South postseason all-freshman team. Throughout the regular season, seniors Miranda Howard and Jackeline Nerro achieved career milestones.

Putting the ‘scholar’ in scholar-athletes Radford University’s scholar-athletes achieved a 3.45 fall term GPA. Students in 15 of Radford’s 16 athletics programs earned a 3.0 GPA or better, with 55% of all athletes earning a 3.5+ GPA. One hundred and four student-athletes earned a 3.75+ GPA, and 48 achieved a remarkable perfect 4.0.

Five Highlanders earned Big South all-academic honors, including Hayat Khan (men’s cross country), Katelyn Campbell (women’s cross country), Ashley Loundermon (women’s soccer), Tyler Pulik (men’s soccer) and Rylee Sloss (volleyball).

Nine Highlanders earned College Sports Communicators Academic All-District awards. Those honorees included men’s soccer player Tyler Pulik, women’s soccer players Jashyra Johnson, Paige Olson, Ashley Loundermon and Ava Kertgate and volleyballers Sierra Moore, Aubrey Hatch and Lea Gage.

Spring 2026 43

GAB RI EL A SMOLENSK A 44 The Magazine of Radford University

THE MAKING OF A

HIGHlA GABRIELA SMOLENSKA

Hometown: Warsaw, Poland Major: Exercise, sport and health education Sport: Volleyball Senior opposite hitter and middle blocker Gabriela Smolenska has embraced the challenge and opportunity of competing far from home.

What does it mean to you to represent Radford University – both in competition and beyond it?

It means playing with pride, discipline and resilience; knowing my performance reflects not just me but my teammates, coaches and the entire Radford community.

It means being someone that younger athletes can look up to and someone classmates and professors can respect.

How has being a scholar-athlete shaped you outside your sport?

Being a scholar-athlete has made me disciplined. It has shaped my character. I’ve learned how to lead, communicate with different personalities and keep going on days when I feel exhausted. Those skills translate into life, relationships and my future career.

What motivates you on the days when the balance between academics, athletics and life feels hardest?

As an international scholar-athlete, being here is an opportunity many dream about. I think about my family, the sacrifices behind the scenes and the younger version of myself who would have given anything for this chance. Growth isn’t supposed to be comfortable. Those hard days are the ones shaping me the most.

When people look back on your time at Radford, what do you hope they remember most?

I want to be remembered as someone who raised the standard in practice, competed with heart and brought positive energy to the team culture. Wins matter, but the way you show up every day matters more.

How is Radford shaping the direction you hope to pursue after graduation?

It’s shaping me into someone who can lead, adapt and thrive in high-performance environments. I know the discipline and mindset I’ve built here will guide me.

Shaped by challenge, community and opportunity

WILLIAM PALMER

Hometown: Lynchburg, Virginia Major: Finance Sport: Baseball Junior left-handed pitcher William Palmer brings gratitude and steady optimism to his Radford experience.

What does it mean to you to represent Radford University both in competition and beyond it?

Representing Radford University means showing this institution the respect it deserves and holding myself to a higher standard.

How has being a scholar-athlete shaped you outside your sport?

It’s taught me discipline and how to handle pressure. Balancing baseball and school has helped me grow up.

What motivates you on the days when the balance between academics, athletics and life feels hardest?

My mother. She works so hard all the time and takes care of me and my siblings. She is such a blessing but also such a motivator to do the same.

When people look back on your time at Radford, what do you hope they remember most?

I hope they remember that I was always smiling. That I was always happy.

WI LLIAM PALM ER

NDER

How is Radford shaping the direction you hope to pursue after graduation?

Radford’s really helped shape me into being a better person, but it’s also helped me create a meal prep company I never thought I would start (though not yet public) through the help of professors and friends I’ve met here. It’s helped shape what my life will be like after Radford University.

Spring 2026 45

AT NATIONALS PARK

FRIDAY, AUG. 7 Put on your Radford Red and join us this August when the Washington Nationals host the Cincinnati Reds.

For more information, scan the QR code or visit: www.radford.edu/nationals

46 The Magazine of Radford University

Class Notes In a fast-moving, scroll-by world, it’s easy to think your update is “old news.” But not here.

Highlanders give back – stories included. Send us your Class Note today!

Email ClassNotes@radford.edu or scan the QR code.

1970s

1990s

2000s

Ellen Hanley ’74, M.S. ’79, represented the United States of America at the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympic Games as an international doping control officer.

Retired teacher Suzanne Foster ’91 fulfilled her dream of publishing a children’s book on March 4, 2025.

“Eby Lundy: Once Upon a Chestnut Tree,” inspired by her family’s efforts to grow chestnut trees, tells the story of a squirrel who searches for special ingredients for a baking competition in the kingdom of Monterey.

In addition to authoring the book, Foster has launched a children’s apparel business, Eby Lundy LLC.

Kelly Clark Hathaway ’04 is the RISP early intervention intake and service coordinator at MPNN Behavioral Health.

Samuel Jones ’93 is the associate vice president for campus life at California State University-Sacramento.

Cara Nagel ’11 is the vice president/ operations manager at Trombold Equipment Company, Inc. (TEPCO).

In September 2025, Mark Lambert, M.S. ’97, took on the role of president of the Roanoke Valley SPCA (RVSPCA) Board of Directors.

Lambert joined the board in 2021 after the passing of his 16-year-old beagle, Roscoe, whom he adopted from the RVSPCA.

Justin Hairston ’12 was promoted to senior principal cybersecurity analyst/information system security officer at Northrop Grumman.

John Hall ’78 was inducted into the Matoaca High School Hall of Fame in September 2025. Hall recently retired after 45 years of coaching – predominantly track, cross country and golf. He also assisted with basketball and started the school’s soccer program. Hall is believed to be the only coach in Virginia to take both a cross-country team to the state meet and a golf team to the state tournament.

1980s Cushman & Wakefield, a leading global real estate services firm, hired Sherry Freitas ’88 as its new president of Asset Services Multifamily.

Shai Cullop ’06, M.S. ’08, was named principal of Marion Middle School in Smyth County, Virginia.

Cullop resides in Abingdon, Virginia, with her wife, Meredith Cullop ’25, and their son, Grayson.

2010s

Hannah John ’15, vice president/ commercial risk adviser at HAWK Advisers, Inc., was promoted to partner in 2025.

Spring 2026 47

The Society of 1910 recognizes individuals who are providing a future gift to Radford University through their financial and estate plans and, in doing so, are creating a lasting legacy. If you’ve included, or thought about including, Radford University in your will or estate documents, we’d love to hear from you.

Contact: Rebekah LaPlante ’99, M.S. ’01, Director of gift planning 540-831-5167 giftplanning@radford.edu

radford.giftlegacy.com

On Feb. 1, 2026, Matthew Bagley ’15, who performs and records as Alexander Mack, won his first Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Poetry Album for his role as music producer on the album, “Words for Days Vol. 1” by Mad Skillz. Mack is a recording artist who has garnered millions of streams internationally. His music has been used by Nike and the television show, “Demascus.” In the fashion industry, Mack has collaborated with companies such as Rowing Blazers and has a current brand partnership with luxury shoe brand, TAFT. Dalton Okolo ’15, a filmmaker based in Fredericksburg, Virginia, is currently producing his third short film, “Virginia is For Lovers.” Okolo also runs the Fredericksburg Film Festival and creates video content for the Fredericksburg Arts Commission.

Jordan Hurst ’16 is the advanced analytics consultant at Elevance Health.

Rudolph Soltesz ’16 joined ECS Group of Companies in Roanoke, Virginia, as an assistant laboratory manager.

Emily Trexler ’17, began a new role as a physical therapist at Pelvic Prescription Physical Therapy & Wellness.

Andrew Addison ’18 joined Walt Disney Imagineering as a project coordinator.

Former Radford men’s soccer player Khori Bennett ’19 signed a multi-year contract with the Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC in January 2026. Bennett was previously called up to the Jamaica national team for its quarterfinal game against the United States in the CONCACAF Nations League in 2024.

Sarah Cofflin ’19 is the human resources payroll administrator at RSG Landscaping, LLC.

Sept. 22–23, 2026 Noon to noon

48 The Magazine of Radford University

Colton Grant ’19 and Jordan Whelan ’19 got married on Aug. 30, 2025.

The couple met at Radford, both graduating in the spring of 2019.

Kayleigh Poggioli ’19 began a new role as the director of alumni engagement at Virginia Wesleyan University.

Following the completion of her master of public health degree at the Colorado School of Public Health at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Mckenzie Schrank ’19 began a new role as health and safety specialist at Winter Park Ski Resort.

2020s Will Krause ’20 began a new role as senior solutions engineer at BST Global.

Ryan Pike ’20 was promoted to principal business management analyst at Northrop Grumman.

Rinnah Jubilee Melton ’21 married Spencer Santiago Dunn ’22 on Oct. 25, 2025.

Bailey Saville ’21 is a clinician at Assertive Community Treatment at New River Valley Community Services.

Mason Collins ’22 is the new assistant director of compliance at the University of Iowa.

Dominic Hafner ’22 is the new assistant varsity lacrosse coach (defensive coordinator) at Bishop England High School. Hafner also serves as an account executive at BlueRidge Data.

Adam Szalankiewicz ’22 was promoted from technical service representative to regional sales manager at Dometic.

Amanda Bishop ’23 is a park ranger law enforcement for the Department of Conservation and Recreation at Claytor Lake State Park.

Jake May ’23 joined the Division of Student Affairs at Virginia Tech as an accounting associate.

Emily Wheeler ’23 married Patrick McKenney ’23 in May 2025.

Suzanne Foster ’91

John Hall ’78

Mark Lambert, M.S. ’97

Colton Grant ’19 and Jordan Whelan ’19

Matthew Bagley ’15 aka Alexander Mack

Spring 2026 49

In Memoriam Remembering those who have passed between Aug. 1, 2025 and Jan. 31, 2026

ALU M N I

1940s Alva Johnston Lucas ’47 of Blacksburg, Virginia, Aug. 26, 2025.

Ann Shelton Haskins Lovingood ’64 of Chesapeake, Virginia, Oct. 22, 2025.

Shirley Hoak Huffman ’72 of Stanley, Virginia, Sept. 17, 2025.

Frances Stafford Bowling ’47 of Grantsville, Maryland, Oct. 22, 2025.

Margaret Harman Hubbard ’64 of Floyd, Virginia, Dec. 31, 2025.

1950s

Gaylean Joy McDowell ’65 of Muncie, Indiana, Aug. 8, 2025.

Nancy Lee Wade Zappulla ’73, M.S. ’94, of Lynchburg, Virginia, Aug. 7, 2025.

Mary Elizabeth “Boots” Richards Spath ’52 of Kimberton, Pennsylvania, Aug. 14, 2025.

Georgia Louise Reeves Clark ’52 of Marion, Virginia, Oct. 22, 2025.

Wilma Crabtree Snuffer ’54 of Christiansburg, Virginia, Dec. 23, 2025.

Nancy Ellen Sullivan Ray ’55 of Knoxville, Tennessee, Jan. 4, 2026.

Edna Ann Shelor Williams ’58 of Roanoke, Virginia, Aug. 11, 2025.

Betty Louise Sargent Black ’58 of Roanoke, Virginia, Sept. 28, 2025.

Elmetta Fletcher Linder ’58 of Waynesboro, Virginia, Oct. 3, 2025.

Frances Alice “Bonnie” Hurlburt ’58 of Williamsburg, Virginia, Oct. 19, 2025.

Shirley Macfarlan Hunsicker ’58 of Harrisonburg, Virginia, Dec. 14, 2025.

Merle Craddock Mead ’59 of Lynchburg, Virginia, Jan. 21, 2026.

1960s

Mary Ruth Shutters ’61 of Greenville, South Carolina, Dec. 28, 2025.

Denise Holloran Pendergrass ’61 of Wellington, Florida, Jan. 6, 2026.

Mary Emily Badger James Perkins ’62 of Charlotte, North Carolina, Aug. 18, 2025.

Eva Blanche McGuire Owen ’64 of Dublin, Virginia, Aug. 10, 2025.

50 The Magazine of Radford University

Sandra Moran Brown ’65 of Warrenton, Virginia, Oct. 13, 2025.

Susan Greenbacker Oller ’65 of Raleigh, North Carolina, Dec. 21, 2025.

Patricia Ella Ballard Johnson ’66 of Staunton, Virginia, Sept. 9, 2025.

Betty June Mason Conner ’66 of Marion, Virginia, Oct. 31, 2025.

Sybil Oliver Agee ’66 of Kernersville, North Carolina, Nov. 15, 2025.

Mary June Miller, M.S. ’67, of Peterstown, West Virginia, Jan. 16, 2026.

1970s Sharon Gail Dalton Dobbins ’70, M.S. ’71, of Hillsville, Virginia, Oct. 2, 2025.

Betty Fisher Leisure ’70 of Boones Mill, Virginia, Dec. 31, 2025.

Patricia Haden Vassar ’73, M.S. ’80, of Gladys, Virginia, Aug. 10, 2025.

Betty Hamlett Cook ’73 of Altavista, Virginia, Aug. 26, 2025.

Rebecca Ann McLelland Whisnant ’73 of Roanoke, Virginia, Oct. 22, 2025.

Elizabeth Louise “Betty” Ward Putnam ’73 of Warrenton, Virginia, Dec. 16, 2025.

Linda Creger Webb ’74 of Pulaski, Virginia, Sept. 11, 2025.

Jo Ellen Hetherington ’75 of Dublin, Virginia, Sept. 18, 2025.

Janet Robinson White ’75 of Covington, Virginia, Oct. 22, 2025.

Ned Barbee Bane, Jr. ’75, M.S. ’97, of Pulaski, Virginia, Dec. 11, 2025.

Thomas A. Williams ’75 of West Lafayette, Indiana, Jan. 3, 2026.

Joy Gardner Blanchard ’71 of Oxford, North Carolina, Aug. 10, 2025.

Joseph Timothy “Tim” Sarver, M.S. ’75, of Harrisonburg, Virginia, Jan. 11, 2026.

Patricia Ball ’71 of Sugar Hill, Georgia, Sept. 9, 2025.

Katherine Irvin Hughes, M.S. ’76, of Lynchburg, Virginia, Oct. 7, 2025.

Marie Broyles King ’71 of Tunkhannock, Pennsylvania, Nov. 19, 2025.

Kenton Bjorn Elliott, M.S. ’76, of Radford, Virginia, Jan. 22, 2026.

James C. “Jim” Blair, Jr., M.S. ’72, of Dublin, Virginia, Sept. 5, 2025.

Wanda Yvonne Nix ’77 of Christiansburg, Virginia, Aug. 16, 2025.

Janice Carol Faith “Jani” Golden ’72 of Berkeley Springs, West Virginia, Sept. 8, 2025.

Janet Lynn Jennings ’78 of King George, Virginia, Sept. 8, 2025.

Doris Guerrant, M.S. ’72, of Reno, Nevada, Sept. 12, 2025.

Cecilia Ann Davidson McFaden ’79 of Pulaski, Virginia, Jan. 2, 2026.

1980s

KD Linkous-Smith ’96, M.S. ’98, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Oct. 25, 2025.

Barbara Moyer Willis, M.S. ’80, of Wise, Virginia, Aug. 18, 2025.

Edward “Ted” Comerford ’97 of Newport News, Virginia, Jan. 16, 2026.

Randy Wynn King ’80 of Roanoke, Virginia, Aug. 20, 2025.

Solomon Wilder Jefferson ’99 of Chesterfield, Virginia, Nov. 24, 2025.

Michael Allen Metz, M.S. ’80 of Roanoke, Virginia, Sept. 26, 2025.

2000s

Joanne Teass Bolling ’80, M.S. ’90, of Bedford, Virginia, Oct. 20, 2025.

Michelle Camille Behrman, M.S. ’00, of Monticello, New York, Oct. 14, 2025.

Sarita “Rita” Howell Davis ’80 of Durham, North Carolina, Nov. 6, 2025.

Michael R. Norton ’00 of Portsmouth, Rhode Island, Dec. 13, 2025.

Cynthia “Cindy” Croy Shrader ’81 of Blacksburg, Virginia, Dec. 15, 2025.

Deanna “Teensy” Simmons Stepp, MBA ’00, of Salem, Virginia, Jan. 16, 2026.

Robert Mulvahill Lent ’82 of Monmouth, Maine, Sept. 15, 2025.

Fran Ellen Kreider ’82 of Lima, New York, Oct. 1, 2025.

Derek Erdmann ’83 of Oak Hill, Virginia, Sept. 14, 2025.

Jo Ann Allen Houchins, M.S. ’84, of Forest, Virginia, Sept. 27, 2025.

Donald Lee Stewart ’86 of Woodstock, Georgia, Aug. 6, 2025.

Thomas Joseph Keyes Bolvari ’87, M.S. ’88, of Kingsport, Tennessee, Dec. 28, 2025.

Iva Sue Potter ’89 of Rocky Mount, Virginia, Jan. 25, 2026.

1990s Clidia Rebecca Burnette Harvey Lewis ’90 of New River, Virginia, Sept. 16, 2025.

Joseph “Patrick” Davis ’90 of Richmond, Virginia, Oct. 22, 2025.

Anastasia “Ann” Apostolou Deeds, M.S. ’91, of Roanoke, Virginia, Dec. 28, 2025.

Linda Gravely Tate ’92 of Draper, Virginia, Oct. 23, 2025.

Donald Ray Just ’93 of Manteo, North Carolina, Jan. 1, 2026.

Douglas Kenneth Parker ’95 of Monticello, Indiana, Sept. 30, 2025.

Rakesh “Rick” Patel ’95 of Little Rock, Arkansas, Oct. 26, 2025.

Hit the links with us in 2026!

National Capital Region Evergreen Country Club Haymarket, Virginia Thursday, June 25

Richmond Chapter

Meadowbrook Country Club Richmond, Virginia Friday, Sept. 18

Shane Joseph McBreen ’04 of Glastonbury, Connecticut, Nov. 6, 2025.

Allen Sean Blickle ’05 of Lexington, Virginia, Sept. 5, 2025.

Amy Denay Stanford, MBA ’06, of Christiansburg, Virginia, Sept. 21, 2025.

Cynthia Ann Preston Smith, MSN ’07, of Rocky Mount, Virginia, Jan. 15, 2026.

Find the details at

www.radford.edu/alumni

2010s Wanda Dianne Morgan ’12 of Dothan, Alabama, Sept. 18, 2025.

FAC U LTY/ S TA F F Monica Marie Weinzapfel of Christiansburg, Virginia, Aug. 13, 2025 Molly Sifford Nester of Parrott, Virginia, Sept. 11, 2025.

Sandra Brown Kelly of Roanoke, Virginia, Sept. 27, 2025.

Register your alumni-owned business AND RECEIVE A SPECIAL DECAL!

Elizabeth “Betty” Dore of Hallowell, Maine, Oct. 11, 2025.

Myer Stratton “Butch” Reed, Jr. of Phoenix, Arizona, Oct. 16, 2025.

Thelma Steele Saunders of Radford, Virginia, Nov. 9, 2025.

Gary Harding Phillips of New River, Virginia, Nov. 24, 2025.

Virginia “Ginger” Bottone Burggraf of Covington, Louisiana, Dec. 25, 2025.

Scan the QR code or contact Alumni Relations by emailing alumni@radford.edu or by calling 540-831-5248.

Patricia Diane “Pat” Farmer of Radford, Virginia, Jan. 2, 2026.

Spring 2026 51

From the archives Ashley Palazzo | University archivist and head of Archives & Special Collections

52 The Magazine of Radford University

President John Preston McConnell

McConnell Day 2026 On Feb. 25, the university commemorated

McConnell Day in honor of founding President John Preston McConnell. Appointed in 1911 to lead the State Normal and Industrial School for Women, McConnell championed women’s access to education and helped lay the foundation for the university we know today.

McConnell Library stands as a lasting tribute to his leadership and vision. McConnell Day, held just a few days after what would have been his 160th birthday, was a special moment to reflect on his enduring impact and contributions to the institution.

President Bret and First Lady Kay Danilowicz at the event.

Class of 1976, your Golden Reunion awaits!

Join us at Homecoming 2026, Oct. 22-24, for a weekend of memories and celebration as you reconnect with classmates. For more information, scan the QR code below or visit: www.radford.edu/golden

NOMINATE AN OUTSTANDING HIGHLANDER! Know an outstanding Radford alumna/us? Nominations for the 2026 Alumni Association Awards are now open! Help us celebrate Radford’s best at the fall Alumni Volunteer Leadership Business Lunch and Awards Ceremony during Homecoming (Oct. 22-24).

McConnell Library Legos built by Sydney Jones, M.S. ʼ26, who served as a graduate assistant for Library and Archives/Special Collections.

Submit by July 1!

Dear Highlanders, I don’t think it is any secret that the world today is changing at a rapid pace. In fact, more has changed in the past five years than arguably the past 15 years, and I expect that trend to continue. But what truly matters is what we choose to do with that change.

During my tenure at Radford, I was fortunate enough to know some incredible people – individuals who were doing remarkable things to challenge the norm, think creatively and pursue new ideas with courage. They were innovators, entrepreneurs and problem-solvers. But what stood out most was that their efforts didn’t just accelerate their own lives; they elevated the lives of those around them.

That spirit is something special about Radford University and about this alumni community. Our Highlanders carry a mindset that goes beyond personal success. Whether it’s launching a business, leading an organization, mentoring the next generation or simply bringing along a positive attitude, our alumni consistently find ways to create opportunity and move things forward – not just for themselves, but for the greater good.

Creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship aren’t just buzzwords. They are ways of thinking. They are ways of serving.

And when those ideas are paired with a commitment to pay-

54 The Magazine of Radford University

ing it forward, the impact multiplies. Every time a Highlander mentors a student, speaks to a class or shares time and talents within their communities, they strengthen the network that once supported them while helping spark new interest in Radford and the opportunities it creates for future students. In many ways, it embodies what it means to be a Highlander and carry forward Radford’s culture of care.

I believe that’s what makes this university – and this alumni family – different. No matter where you go, you’ll find Highlanders going above and beyond, finding ways to lead, support and uplift others. It’s a shared commitment to building something bigger than ourselves.

As we look ahead, I challenge each of you to continue being a strong Radford presence in your communities. Keep creating, keep innovating, keep supporting one another and most importantly, keep paying it forward. When we do that, we honor the opportunities we were given and ensure that future generations have even greater ones.

Go Highlanders!

Landon Hinton ’13 President, Radford University Alumni Association Board

2026 Highlighted Events calendar.radford.edu June 25 National Capital Regional Golf Tournament (Haymarket, Virginia) July 11 Young Alumni Gathering at Bunnyman Brewery (Chantilly, Virginia) July 17 Radford Night at Richmond Flying Squirrels (Richmond, Virginia)

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Aug. 7 Radford University Night at Nationals Park (Washington, D.C.)

PRESIDENT Landon Hinton ’13

Aug. 13 Radford Night at Party in Elmwood Park (Roanoke, Virginia) Aug. 22 Radford Community Fest Aug. 25 Athletic Kickoff Event Sept. 4 National College Colors Day Wear your Radford Red! Sept. 16 Admissions Open House Sept. 18-20 Family and Friends Weekend Sept. 18 Tartan 5K Twilight Run Sept. 18 Richmond Golf Tournament Sept. 22-23 RAD Giving Day #RiseAndDonate for Radford Athletics Oct. 10 Highlanders Festival Oct. 20-21 Radford Gives Back Oct. 22-24 Homecoming Weekend

Steven Arkon ’91 JP Beckham ’87 Hilary Blackburn ’84 Tawanna Blassingame ’92 Pete Campbell ’92 Byron Chafin ’90 Stephanie Cifuentes ’05, M.S. ’06 Sherry Fisher ’85 Susy Furr ’86 Gina Gallagher ’85 Tony Johnson ’07 Nana T-Chee Kum ’09 Susan Marchi ’70 Rebecca Phillips ’06 Lara Ramsey ’90, M.S. ’91 Kevin Rogers ’87 Ellen Rorrer ’91 Tommy Slusser ’79 Chance Smith ’12 Jennifer Stanford ’93 Tyler Swarmer ’16 Sarah Thorpe ’20 Correy Watkins ’02

Oct. 22 Class of 1976 Golden Reunion Oct. 23 Athletics Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony Nov. 5-6 Days of Gratitude Nov. 7 Admissions Open House Dec. 1 Giving Tuesday Dec. 11 Graduate Hooding and Commencement Ceremony

Learn how you can get involved and inspire the next generation of Radford leaders.

Together, we can ensure that the journey of finding one’s place continues for generations to come.

Dec. 12 Undergraduate Winter Commencement Ceremony

www.radford.edu/alumni-volunteer

P.O. Box 6915 | Radford University Radford, VA 24142 Change Service Requested

Mark your calendar!

Radford University Homecoming is Oct. 22-24, 2026.

You won’t want to miss it!

Questions? Contact Advancement and Alumni Relations at 540-831-5248 or email alumni@radford.edu.