COLUMNS - Fall 2026 by Southern Adventist University

fall 2026

the magazine of Southern Adventist University

Climbing for a Cause

Southern adventurers share how sacrifice, service, and purpose shaped their journeys to Africa’s highest peak. | page 12

4 One Mission, Many Hands | 18 A Place for Purpose | 22 Homecoming

Photo: Joseph Hyde

Milestone Moment

Congratulations to the 30 students who received undergraduate degrees (three with two or more majors or degrees), 13 who earned master’s degrees, and five who earned doctoral degrees at Southern’s Summer 2026 Commencement on August 21. Madelene Hamann (center), who earned her Doctor of Nursing Practice degree in Lifestyle Medicine, is pictured with Jill Buchholz (left), DNP, professor of nursing, and Holly Gadd, PhD, dean of the School of Nursing. Columns

Photo: Barron Williams

Photo: Contributed

Photo: Chino Zhao

contents

features 12 | Climbing for a Cause

Two women take on Mount Kilimanjaro, turning personal challenges into opportunities to serve and inspire others.

16 | Knowledge at Work

Recent Southern alumni share how they are putting their education to work in their careers and communities.

departments

18 | A Place for Purpose

Step inside the new Ruth McKee School of Business building, designed to foster connection, mentorship, and business with a purpose.

22 | Homecoming 2026

See photos from Homecoming Weekend as alumni and friends returned to campus to reconnect, celebrate, and make new memories.

Cover: Jessica Stotz, assistant professor of biology at Southern, reaches the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro while raising awareness for living kidney donation.

Connect with Southern Adventist University: southern.edu • youtube.com/SouthernAdventistUniversity instagram.com/SouthernAdventistUniversity facebook.com/SouthernAdventistUniversity Fall 2026

»photo essay

One Mission, Many Hands Volume 78

Number 2

Executive Editor Janell Hullquist, ’05 Managing Editor Becky Brooks, ’03 Layout Editor Emily Harding, attended Alumni Relations Director Cheryl Torres, ’05 Editorial Assistants Isabella Dixon, current Genessis Castellanos-Radillo, current Tina Frist Smith, ’89 and ’23

Photos contributed, unless otherwise marked. Stock illustrations provided by iStockphoto.com.

President Ken Shaw, ’80 Academic Administration Robert Young Financial Administration Tom Verrill

Whether fitting eyeglasses during a medical clinic, building alongside local communities, praying with patients, preaching, or celebrating new believers through baptism, Southern students served around the world during the past school year and summer.

Through Vision Trips—short-term mission trips organized by the Office of Ministry and Missions—and evangelistic trips led by the School of Religion’s Evangelistic Resource Center (ERC), 293 participants put faith into action in many different ways. Their service reached more than 500 medical and dental patients and included more than 2,000 baptisms in local communities. The experience changed lives within the Southern group, as well, including three students who rededicated their lives to Christ.

Advancement Ellen Hostetler Enrollment Management Jason Merryman, ’99 Marketing and University Relations Ingrid Skantz, ’90 and ’16 Spiritual Life Joseph Khabbaz Student Development Dennis Negrón, ’85

Send correspondence to columns@southern.edu Send address changes to Alumni Relations Southern Adventist University Post Office Box 370 Collegedale, TN 37315-0370 or email alumni@southern.edu

Phone 1.800.SOUTHERN Fax 423.236.1000 Email marketing@southern.edu Website southern.edu

Scripture in this issue is taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version® (NIV). Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved. COLUMNS is the official magazine of Southern Adventist University, produced by Marketing and University Relations to provide information to alumni, Southern Union constituents, and other friends of the university. ©2026, Southern Adventist University.

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1: Rebeca Sanchez Barcos, junior psychology major, is rebaptized while serving on a mission trip to Peru this summer. 2: Student volunteers help fit a patient with a new pair of eyeglasses during a medical clinic in Manaus, Brazil. 3: Johnny Rojas, sophomore engineering major, hugs Raul Rivero, ERC director, after taking the next step in his faith journey during a mission trip to Peru. 4: Olivia Waterhouse, senior math major, helps build a church wall as volunteers partner with the local community in Santiago, Dominican Republic. 5: While participating in a mission trip to Argentina, Esel Choi, junior psychology major, renewed her commitment to Jesus as she was rebaptized by religion professor Eliezer Graterol, DMin. 6: Pausing to pray with a patient at a medical clinic in Cusco, Peru, is just one way that student volunteers care for both physical and spiritual needs.

7: Ken Shaw (left), ’80, EdD, Southern’s president, and his wife, Ann (right), congratulate a graduate of a Bible Worker Certification class during a trip to Peru. 8: Southern students lead song service during a worship gathering in Santiago, Dominican Republic. 9: Students stack campus firewood at Holbrook Indian School in Arizona, volunteering wherever help is needed. 10: Muanpi Mung, junior theology major, preaches for an evangelistic meeting during a mission trip to Argentina. 11: Mission trip volunteers meet with leaders and children from a local Adventurer Club in Kendu Bay, Kenya. 12: Aubrey Jones, sophomore nursing major, spends time with a child at a medical clinic in Peru. More than 1,200 patients received care during the week.

Photo: Yeju Gee

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Fall 2026

»headlines

Arboretum Expands with Student-Created Audio Tour isitors to the Southern Arboretum can now explore campus trees through a self-guided audio tour, the latest expansion of a student-built resource that includes more than 1,200 trees and woody plants across campus. Using cell phone location services and QR codes on selected arboretum tags, visitors can interact with an online map and listen to information about individual trees as they walk around campus. More than 140 of the audio scripts were researched and written by Victoria Tsikayi, senior biology major, and converted into AI-generated narration. Under the guidance of Ben Thornton, PhD, professor of biology and director of the Southern Arboretum, students have spent several years tagging trees and woody plants, representing 93 species across Southern’s 1,300-acre campus. Tsikayi began working on the audio tour in January 2025 after Thornton requested student help with the project. “Looking back now, I know God was the one who led me to take this job,” Tsikayi says. “It’s been a really great experience overall!” Accredited by ArbNet, an international accreditation program for arboreta, Southern’s arboretum also serves as an educational resource for the local community. It was featured on the Master Gardeners of Hamilton County’s

»by the numbers

2,726

annuals are planted by Landscape Services over the course of a year. 6

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annual Garden Tour in June, attracting approximately 175 visitors. “Scouting groups and homeschool groups come onto campus and learn about the trees,” Thornton says. He hopes the arboretum will continue growing with help from future students.

“It’s really cool to know that I’m contributing to something that’s going to be here even once I leave Southern,” Tsikayi says. “It’s just so fulfilling!” Learn more about the Southern Arboretum at southern.edu/arboretum.n - Isabella Dixon, junior English and communication double major

Photo: Joseph Hyde

The Southern Arboretum includes more than 1,200 trees and woody plants. Several plants around Hickman Science Center are part of the collection.

Read full stories and find more news at southern.edu/news.

309

first-time Southern students participated in SmartStart, receiving free tuition for one three-credit-hour summer class.

100% first-time NCLEX pass rate for Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree students to date in 2026.

»headlines

Photo: Chino Zhao

Advertising Students Choose Sabbath Over Competition

Advertising students gather with Chattanooga professionals at an on-campus presentation of their campaign, hosted by Associate Professor Michael Finch (right), PhD, after the team chose not to compete on Sabbath.

tudents in Southern’s chapter of the American Advertising Federation spent months last school year developing an advertising campaign for the organization’s annual competition. Michael Finch, PhD, associate professor in the School of Journalism and Communication, had arranged for the team to avoid presenting on Sabbath but learned just weeks before the competition that the accommodation could no longer be provided as planned. Faced with presenting on Sabbath or withdrawing from the competition, the students chose not to compete.

1946

is when two men and four women received Southern’s first baccalaureate degrees. (See the class photo on page 25.)

“How horrible for students to put in all this work and not be able to showcase it,” Finch says. “I felt a little bit like they had the rug pulled out from under them, and they were left without a solution or culminating experience.” Finch instead organized an on-campus event, where the students presented their campaign to faculty, supporters, and communication professionals from the Chattanooga area, who offered feedback on their work. “I appreciated hearing the outside perspectives of different professionals,” says Derek Aubin, senior digital

620

first-generation college students attended Southern last school year.

communication and media major. “My understanding of marketing and advertising grew, and their comments changed the way that I will think creatively moving forward.” For Michelle Mita, junior strategic communication major, the experience also reinforced a personal conviction. “I believe the Sabbath is a priority,” Mita says, “and it made me stand more firmly in my beliefs.” n - Genessis Castellanos-Radillo, junior English major

is Southern’s ranking as a top college in Tennessee for women, according to Newsweek. Fall 2026

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outhern’s faith-based social work programs are accredited through 2033 following their October 2025 reaccreditation by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), the governing body that safeguards the training and preparation of social workers to create and sustain healthy communities. “Our program is held to the same standards of competency as others, but we teach through a faith-based lens,” says Laura Racovita, PhD, professor in the School of Social Work who served as dean during the reaccreditation process. “Graduates leave this campus with the ability to incorporate spirituality in their work, when needed or requested, while transforming lives through a broad range of services.”

Rather than being structured into specific tracks, the social work programs at Southern prepare generalist (BSW) and advanced generalist (MSW) social workers who are equipped to work in all areas of need. “Our students’ licensing-exam pass rates rank above national averages, and most have their pick of jobs because they aren’t boxed into a particular specialization,” Racovita notes. “In fact, some MSW graduates have been called to leadership roles in their workplace immediately after graduation.” The Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) program at Southern has maintained accreditation for 25 years, while the newer Master of Social Work (MSW) program was first accredited in 2010. n - Tina (Frist) Smith, ’89 and ’23

Photo: Yeju Gee

School of Social Work Accredited Through 2033

Kristie (Young) Wilder, ’03, JD, dean of the School of Social Work, leads a class.

Photo: Mila Bales

Engineering Program Earns ABET Accreditation

Southern’s engineering program teaches technical skills and hands-on problem solving with an emphasis on using practical know-how to serve others.

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The Bachelor of Science in Engineering program at Southern has earned accreditation from the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, an internationally recognized accreditor of college and university programs in applied and natural science, computing, engineering, and engineering technology. “Reaching this important milestone is another evidence of God’s abundant blessing on Southern’s engineering program,” says Tyson Hall (attended), PhD, dean of Southern’s School of Engineering and Physics. “ABET accreditation recognizes the strong foundation our faculty have built and gives our students additional confidence that their education meets rigorous standards for the engineering profession. We’re excited to continue preparing graduates who use their

skills with excellence, integrity, and a desire to serve.” ABET accreditation assures that a program meets established standards designed to prepare graduates to enter innovative technical fields where quality, precision, and public safety are important. The voluntary peer-review process evaluates areas including curriculum, faculty, facilities, institutional support, and student learning. Reviews are conducted by teams of professionals from industry, academia, and government with expertise in the disciplines they evaluate, while accreditation criteria are developed by technical professionals from ABET’s member societies. For more information about Southern’s engineering program, visit southern.edu/engineering. n - Becky (Baerg) Brooks, ’03, editorial manager

»headlines

Photo: Fulton Adventist University Photo: Joseph Hyde

“Southern Serves” Connects Students With Community

[award highlights] Business

Four Southern finance majors placed second out of 11 teams in the Chartered Financial Analyst Institute Research Challenge in Nashville, Tennessee. At the 2026 Enactus USA National Exposition, two teams from Southern advanced to the finals, and one placed in the top four nationally.

Computing

Three two-person teams from the School of Computing participated in the annual SkillsUSA State Competition, placing first, second, and third in the web design and development category at the state level. The first-place team advanced to the national championship, again taking the top prize in the category.

Southern students serve lunch at a local senior living facility.

s the fall semester began, 539 Southern students spent August 20 volunteering with 26 community organizations through the annual Southern Serves event. Held during orientation for new freshmen and transfer students, Southern Serves gives students an opportunity to begin the semester by meeting needs in the surrounding community. Projects this year included building beds, singing to hospital patients, and packing food for local organizations. Ilona Johnson, freshman biology major, joined a nursing group working in Southern’s dining hall, where she helped put together puzzles and clean children’s toys for the Samaritan Center. “I think service is a very important part of my education at Southern, because it forces me to step outside of my academically oriented bubble,” Johnson says. “It reminds me that there are people outside of campus who are dealing with more than just tuition and grades.” For Cheryl (Martin) Craven, ’21, Southern’s director of Christian Service, experiences such as Southern Serves demonstrate a larger Christian calling to care for others. “As followers of Jesus, we are called to reflect His character and love to the people around us,” Craven says. “We are His representatives and image bearers, and when His Spirit works through us, even simple acts of service can become opportunities to show others what the love of Jesus looks like. We are enabled to do what He did: to love our neighbors and meet the needs of our community.” n - Genessis Castellanos-Radillo, junior English major

Engineering

Southern’s Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) student chapter won third place out of 33 teams from universities across the Southeast in a circuit design competition at IEEE SoutheastCon 2026.

Visual Art and Design

At Chattanooga’s American Advertising Awards, Southern students earned nine awards, including Best of Show for animation and special effects, one of the most valued prizes of the event. Southern filmmakers earned eight awards at the Sonscreen Film Festival in Loma Linda, California, including Best in Festival. Southern film production majors also earned first place and second place in the festival’s pitch competition. On a broader level, The Son of Abraham, a senior thesis short film project at Southern, won two Angel Awards at the 2026 International Christian Film and Music Festival. The film was created in partnership with Hope Studios and is intended to support missionary outreach through visual storytelling. (Read more about this film on page 10.) Fall 2026

» mission minute Mission in Motion By Becky (Baerg) Brooks, ’03, editorial manager

ears filled his eyes as Southern film student Ruslan Zavricico, ’26, wrote the first draft of The Son of Abraham. Inspired by a sermon during the summer before his senior year, he wanted to tell a story that would introduce people of other faiths to Jesus through a familiar Bible story. The 12-minute film, which stars Oscarnominated actor Eric Roberts, retells the story of Abraham’s near-sacrifice of his son, a story shared by Christians, Jews, and Muslims. Although Genesis identifies the son as Isaac, the Quran does not name him. Zavricico intentionally leaves the son unnamed as well, creating a familiar point of connection across the three faiths while inviting viewers to consider the story’s deeper meaning. “All my life, I’ve wanted to make Bible stories for my extended family who are Muslim. I want to show Jesus through stories that are familiar to them, as well,” Zavricico shares. “I hope that people watching the film start asking questions about the sacrifice and the symbolism behind it and want to read the story for themselves from a new perspective.” Created as Zavricico’s senior thesis project in Southern’s School of Visual Art and Design (SVAD), The Son of Abraham earned the Audience Choice award in the short film category at the 2026 International Christian Film and Music Festival, where Zavricico also received Best Director before graduating from Southern in May 2026. The film also showcases the collaborative work of fellow students. Moses Kim, ’26, served as director of photography and co-producer, while film production majors Angel Guerrero, senior, and Jayden Cushing, junior, played key roles. Nathan DeWild, ’11, assistant professor, accompanied and mentored the crew during filming. “I’m very proud of all the students on the crew. They lived up to the SVAD reputation of putting in the hard work to achieve the best results,” DeWild shares. “This production was a great example of our goals for the film program at Southern, including students making projects now

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Top: The film crew gathers on location in Southern California during filming. Bottom: Director Ruslan Zavricico (right), ’26, works with Oscar-nominated actor Eric Roberts on set.

that they want to be hired for in the future. So much learning comes from actually doing the work.” The project eventually grew beyond a class assignment. Hope Studios, Hope Channel International, and Adventist Muslim Relations ministries recognized the film’s ministry potential and provided financial support and strategic guidance throughout its development. Released under the Hope Studios’ Shorts brand, the film is intended to help missionaries begin spiritual conversations in areas where traditional outreach can be difficult. By focusing on the son’s experience and allowing viewers to discover the parallels with Jesus rather than explicitly explaining them, the film offers a starting point for conversation across faith traditions. “As a business alum of Southern, this was a full-circle moment: supporting the next generation of students,” says Kevin Christenson, ’16, head of Hope Studios at Hope Channel International. “With Southern empowering skills and Hope equipping resources, this film has become much more than an educational experience.” Securing funding was one of Zavricico’s greatest challenges, but the film’s budget ultimately grew from an initial $100 to more than $25,000. As the production team continues submitting the film to festivals while completing final editing and translations, Zavricico hopes the project’s greatest impact still lies ahead, with eventual use by missionaries and ministry leaders internationally. “I’m just really excited to be able to give all the glory to God, because I knew that it wasn’t me or anyone else who made this film possible; it was all due to His guidance,” Zavricico says. n

More than 1,000 alumni and friends joined in Southern’s 2026 Giving Day, contributing $442,546 to support projects across campus from academic areas to student clubs. Here, Giving Day Showdown winners receive additional donor funding after pitching their projects. “There’s a lot of joy that comes from being part of something bigger,” says Sandra Araújo-Delgado, associate director of Annual Giving. Read more at southern.edu/columns. Fall 2026

Photo: Yeju Gee

Joy in Giving

Sunrise from Stella Point. Jessica says, “This is when I finally believed I would summit and would not die.”

Climbing for a Cause by Angela (Ford) Baerg, ’06

TWO SOUTHERN ADVENTURERS SHARE HOW PERSONAL HEALTH JOURNEYS AND A DESIRE TO RAISE AWARENESS INSPIRED THEIR CLIMBS OF AFRICA’S HIGHEST PEAK.

idneys are Jessica Stotz’s favorite organ. After all, she donated one to save her mother’s life. Earlier in 2026, Stotz, who teaches biology at Southern, celebrated World Kidney Day by having her kidneys on two continents simultaneously–one with her on Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania and the other with her mother in Wisconsin. For alum Lucretia (Moore) Pintacuda, ’78, Kilimanjaro had represented a different kind of challenge. She partnered with The Michael J. Fox Foundation to fight Parkinson’s Disease in her own body, raise awareness, and fundraise for a cure. Both women have scaled great personal peaks on their

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paths to the highest mountain in Africa while striving to lead lives of service, a foundational value for Southern students, employees, and alumni.

THE GIFT OF LIFE Jessica’s mother, Cindy (Thompson) Stotz, ’78, was diagnosed in 1991 with polycystic kidney disease (PKD), a progressive genetic condition. By 2019, she was nearing kidney failure. Four years later, she was spending half of each day on dialysis. Her family got excited when she reached the

top of the list for a transplant, but five days before the surgery, they found out that Cindy and the donor were not a match. At that point, Jessica became determined to become a donor herself. Cindy was initially very opposed to the idea. “My great-grandmother, grandmother, mom, and uncle all had serious complications from PKD. I didn’t want to compromise Jessica’s body in any way in case she had PKD as well,” Cindy says. “I finally agreed when she told me she was going to donate a kidney to someone, even if I wouldn’t accept it.” Because Jessica had a 50 percent chance of inheriting PKD, she underwent six months of testing before doctors determined she did not have the disease and had less than a 2% chance of developing it. The doctors asked her if she felt comfortable with those odds. “I said absolutely,” Jessica remembers. “If my mom can feel better, I want to try it.” The transplant was successfully completed in April 2024, and Cindy’s body accepted the new kidney. “Although I was really unsure about it at first, now I feel that it was an answer to prayer to have Jessica donate her kidney to me,” Cindy reflects. “My health challenges have made me more aware of God’s leading in all circumstances.”

Jessica takes a trail break in the rainforest on day two.

A Giant Senecio plant grows along the trail on day four of Jessica’s hike.

AN UNEXPECTED ADVENTURE In May 2025, Jessica noticed that there were still spots available in the Kidney Donor Athlete (KDA) One Kidney Kili Climb up Mount Kilimanjaro. The organization promotes advocacy and fundraising efforts to show that individuals can be living kidney donors without sacrificing active lifestyles. Jessica applied on a whim. One month later, she learned that she had been accepted to participate and began training. She spent as much time hiking with her backpack as possible, gradually increasing its contents from cans of beans to gallons of water and finally bags of sand. “The rugged terrain and hills of Tennessee are very similar to the trails I would encounter in Tanzania,” Jessica says. “I just couldn’t replicate the high altitude.” As Jessica prepared, she shared her donation story with her biology classes at Southern and was encouraged by students’ thoughtful questions about anatomy and living donation. Her faculty colleagues listened to her class presentations, as well, and their support only grew as they learned more about her story, with several even following her progress on the climb through a GPS tracking link. In March 2026, Jessica joined 14 climbers attempting to ascend the mountain in six days. The hardest part of the climb was the summit night, which began at 11 p.m. The group spent more than six hours in the dark, inching up the switchbacks of slippery scree layered with snow and ice. As the horizon finally began to lighten, Jessica thought of those supporting her back at home.

Jessica’s group of kidney donors scrambles up the Barranco Wall on day five.

Continue the journey at southern.edu/columns with a story about Nathan Tidwell, ’00, who climbed Mount Aconcagua in Argentina. You can also share your own Alumni Update via the link. Fall 2026

Jessica poses at Barafu camp (base camp) on day six.

Dawn breaks around 5:30 a.m. as Jessica’s group approaches Stella Point at 18,500 feet.

“I was overcome with emotion as I remembered my helpers, family, friends, and colleagues at Southern who believed in my success,” Jessica reminisces. “And I realized I might just make it.” The altitude made breathing, thinking, and moving increasingly difficult, and Jessica had to continually evaluate whether her symptoms were dangerous enough to turn back. She pushed on. At 7:30 a.m., the group made it to Uhuru Peak, the top of Mount Kilimanjaro at 19,341 feet above sea level. “Our lips were blue from hypoxia, and we were so cold, but we were grinning through our ragged breaths,” Jessica says. “We hugged, we cried, and I took a snow angel selfie.” Jessica looked at the climbers around her. They had held places for each other in the line and paused for anyone who needed a break, scaffolded by 66 support staff who carried their gear, offered encouragement, and distributed hot ginger tea. Together, their efforts raised $107,000 for KDA. When Jessica returned, faculty members invited her to share the experience during a Biology and Allied Health Department convocation. She gave each student a kidney bean, roughly the size of a newborn baby’s kidney. “The bean is small and inconsequential; what difference can one tiny seed make?” Jessica says. “I wanted it to be a reminder that your ‘extra’ could be someone else’s everything. Whether you are sharing an organ or a spare moment to lend a hand or a compliment—it can make an enormous difference in someone’s life.”

LUCRETIA’S JOURNEY

Jessica’s kidney donor group reaches the summit with 13 out of the 15 donors. 14

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Lucretia’s childhood was entwined with nature, with weekends spent hiking and camping in the North Carolina mountains. When she came to Southern for her nursing degree in 1973, she made the most of the area’s natural beauty, especially enjoying nearby Grindstone Mountain and Cloudland Canyon in Georgia.

During college, Lucretia expanded her horizons, signing up with Southern’s then-fledgling Student Missions program to spend a year teaching English in South Korea. There, she continued hiking and even climbed Seorak San, the country’s third-highest peak. “That year taught me independence, adventure, a love for travel, and the courage to know that I could face challenges and figure things out,” Lucretia muses. “It was one of the best decisions of my life.” Long after graduation, Lucretia remained active and adventurous, participating in humanitarian trips to provide medical care in developing countries. Grateful for the many blessings and opportunities in her life, she was about to face a new challenge.

A NEW NORMAL In her early 60s, Lucretia began to notice troubling changes, including loss of smell, decreased range of motion, and a tremor in her right hand. A specialist confirmed what she had begun to suspect. She had Parkinson’s Disease (PD), a progressive condition with no cure. At first, she was embarrassed and didn’t want to tell anyone, but that changed when she discovered a Kilimanjaro climb benefiting The Michael J. Fox Foundation. “When I retired at 65, there was no question what my new mission and purpose would be,” Lucretia says. “I decided to go public about my diagnosis by undertaking a grand journey to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro.” Lucretia applied and was accepted the next day. To prepare, she ramped up her activity level with rigorous core exercises, power walks, and difficult hikes, knowing that vigorous exercise could also help slow the disease’s progression. In August 2023, she joined nine others for a seven-day trek up Mount Kilimanjaro. On summit night, the sky was cold, clear, and moonless. The lights of the town of Moshi twinkled in the valley below, and a line of

headlamps from other groups stretched upward to the peak. “The constellations of Orion and the Big Dipper were so close on the horizon that I almost believed I could reach out and touch them,” she remembers. “It felt like I was ascending to Heaven on Jacob’s ladder, with Earth’s glow fading in the distance.” Their team raised approximately $145,000 for Parkinson’s research, and Kilimanjaro wasn’t the end of

Lucretia’s advocacy. She has continued challenging herself through other climbs while raising awareness and funds for Parkinson’s research. “I tell my story to inspire others. I want to show that those living with Parkinson’s can still live a vibrant life,” Lucretia insists. “Don’t let adversity control you. Find ways to climb mountains, and take them one step at a time.” n

Lucretia is exuberant after climbing up the Barranco Wall.

Advocating Close to Home

By Isabella Dixon, junior English and communication double major

tudents from the Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) Department evaluated accessibility for people with disabilities at two locations in the Chattanooga area last spring. Guided by Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards, the future PTAs inspected facilities at Audubon Acres nature preserve and Beacon Academy, measuring ramp slopes, checking doorway widths, and assessing other features. The service initiative was the program’s first major project held off campus. Amanda (Gray) Patton, ’09, DPT, associate professor, and Lora (Barlow) Lucas, ’00, DPT, lab assistant, believe this assessment experience is a crucial part of the holistic approach incorporated within Southern’s program. “Treating patients beyond our campus clinic helps students see outside those doors,” Patton says. “What does life in the community actually look like? Can patients enjoy the same parks and schools as their peers?” Students said the project changed the way they noticed barriers in everyday life. “Overall, this project helped me see things from a different perspective,” notes Lexie Strickland, junior PTA major. “I think experiences like this are important, because they help us notice things we would normally ignore. Even small changes can make a big difference.” For Hannah Ham, junior PTA major, that awareness also comes with a responsibility to advocate for others. “I see us as the advocates for individuals in need of accommodations,” she says. “If Jesus took His own time to heal the sick, advocate for those who couldn’t speak, and, ultimately, die for us all, shouldn’t we sacrifice a fraction of our time to make others feel loved and supported in the ways Christ would?” Lucas sees that advocacy as preparation for students’ future work with patients. “Southern students are learning through these projects how they can better advocate for their patients to have the best possible access to normal activities of life,” Lucas adds. “Ultimately, this is practice for becoming the hands and feet of Jesus to others.” n

Lucretia’s Team Fox group of nine, four with Parkinson’s Disease, reaches the summit.

Atop Mount Kilimanjaro, Lucretia does her favorite stance.

Fall 2026

KNOWLEDGE AT WORK

By Isabella Dixon, junior English and communication double major

For more than a century, Southern has transformed lives and equipped students to serve with excellence. Alumni often share stories about ways the university influenced them personally as well as in their career paths, crediting the school and its faculty for preparing them well for the future. Now paying it forward, these recent graduates confirm how their educational experiences proved invaluable and helped them each find success and purpose in their fields of work.

John Hargy, ’25

Tré Smith, ’24

Fulbright Fellow and PhD Student, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Math Teacher, Mount Pisgah Academy

Former Student Association president John Hargy graduated from Southern with a biophysics degree and was awarded a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship for doctoral studies in biology at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Before beginning his PhD, he will spend a year conducting research in Türkiye as a Fulbright Fellow.

“Southern taught me to aim high in my professional work and to always stay grounded in my faith. Serving as SA president reframed how I view leadership to more about serving, listening, and investing in others.” 16

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After discovering his love for teaching during a year as a student missionary in Palau, Tré Smith now teaches high school mathematics at Mount Pisgah Academy in North Carolina. He credits Southern’s education and mathematics programs with helping him develop both strong teaching skills and a heart for mentoring students.

“Whether it’s taking an extra hour to talk with a struggling student or spending time coaching sports after school, I want to be remembered for how I cared about my students.”

Johnny Cerino, ’23

Miranda Delgado, ’24

Kakue Gininwa, ’24

Executive Director, Life Care Center of Hixson

Campus Visit Coordinator, Kettering College

Nurse, CommonSpirit Memorial Hospital

Johnny Cerino began college with one goal: to serve others. Now he is living that out as the executive director at Life Care Center of Hixson in Tennessee. Through internships and mentors, he found a passion for caring for vulnerable populations and creating compassionate workplace cultures. Today, he leads a team committed to serving residents with dignity and Christ-centered care.

Miranda Delgado discovered her life calling in public relations through the School of Journalism and Communication. After completing multiple internships, she now helps prospective students and families feel welcomed and informed as campus visit coordinator at Kettering College in Ohio.

“We have opportunities to pray for our residents and staff and connect in a Christlike way with everyone in the building.”

“I remember how stressful campus visits can be. I try to provide as much information as possible, so students can feel confident they’re making well-informed decisions.”

April Espinoza, ’25

Kevin Wright, ’19

Marketing Coordinator, Child Impact International

Software Engineer, The Boeing Company

April Espinoza discovered public relations while exploring career options in high school. After connecting with Child Impact International at Southern’s Meet the Firms and Graduate Schools event, she stepped into a role helping communicate the organization’s mission of supporting vulnerable children around the world.

“In a way, I’m helping change the world. We’re assisting children in horrible situations around the globe, providing them with safe homes, education, and a knowledge of God.”

Kakue Gininwa’s passion for helping others led him to Southern’s School of Nursing, where clinical experiences and faculty mentorship prepared him for the challenges of healthcare. Today, he serves patients in the Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit at CommonSpirit Memorial Hospital in Chattanooga, combining physical care with compassion and spiritual support.

“It’s so satisfying to watch the upward progression of a patient and know that I played a role in helping someone get his or her life back on track.”

Kevin Wright says Southern helped prepare him both technically and spiritually for a career in software engineering. Through hands-on projects, internships, and mentorship from faculty, he developed the skills needed for his current role at Boeing, where he works on projects designed to improve pilot training and safety.

“Because the work we do is critical to the safety of so many people, my focus is on projects that aim to improve training outcomes for pilots who use our software every day.” Fall 2026

A Place for Purpose By Isabella Dixon, junior English and communication double major

Southern’s new Ruth McKee School of Business building creates room for connection, collaboration, and preparation to lead with competence, character, and a missional mindset. 18

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fter much anticipation, the new Ruth Made possible through the generosity of McKee School of Business building donors to the School of Business Leadership opened its doors this fall. The academic and Innovation Campaign, the new four-story school, which was renamed in 2026 in honor building adds more than 53,000 square feet of of McKee Foods cofounder Anna Ruth (King) academic and gathering space to campus. McKee, 1926 alum, now has a new home on Classrooms are joined by collaborative areas, campus with spaces that also welcome study rooms, and spaces for experiential students and guests from across the university. learning, allowing students to work together, Previously, the business school occupied meet with professors, and remain connected classrooms and faculty offices on the third between classes. floor of Brock Hall, but Dean Stephanie “This is about building community,” (Davis) Sheehan, ’05, PhD, says an important Sheehan says. element was difficult to find. The school moves into its new home with “One of the things missing was a place to strong academic momentum, ranking in the just be,” Sheehan says. “Business didn’t have 95th percentile nationally in 2025-2026 space for students to sit and study. If people based on the combined average score of were doing group projects, none of our students taking the ETS Major Field Test in Business, compared with participating classrooms were set up for that.”

Rotunda, one of the large classrooms, and study space

Photo: Chino Zhao

each of them with individual abilities and a purpose, then consider how those gifts can be used in the marketplace. The goal is to prepare professionals known for exemplary ethics, wise stewardship, excellent work, and Christlike interactions. Students put that philosophy into practice through experiences that connect classroom learning with real-world problem solving and professional mentorship.

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That purpose extends far beyond preparing students to earn a living. At the Ruth McKee School of Business, the educational model challenges the assumption that business is primarily about making money. Faculty teach that God calls some people into business just as He calls others into healthcare, education, or pastoral ministry. “We have a purpose. God has called us here,” Sheehan says. “Someone needs to be the hands and feet of Jesus in the workplace.” That conviction is at the heart of what the school calls missional business. Students are encouraged to recognize that God created

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Marketplace Mission

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institutions. As the second-largest academic area on campus, the building also gives the Ruth McKee School of Business a stronger sense of identity. “We’ve had a purpose, and now we have a place,” Sheehan says.

Space for students to collaborate on projects Fall 2026

Study spaces

Here are just a few of the distinctive areas that make the Ruth McKee School of Business special:

Photo: Chino Zhao

Business, Sheehan says, functions much like a spiderweb: industries, organizations, disciplines, and people constantly intersect. Part of the school’s role is helping students discover where their abilities and calling fit within that network. “We’ve wanted to provide so many more opportunities for students that we just couldn’t—until now,” Sheehan says. “I’m so excited for what the future holds.”

Specialized Spaces For the Ruth McKee School of Business, providing a quality education is part of a broader Christian philosophy. Students leave Southern prepared not only with professional skills but also with the spiritual foundation to make ethical decisions, steward resources wisely, and recognize their careers as paths for living out God’s calling. More than a new home for an academic area, the building creates new opportunities for connection across campus while giving business students space to put their learning into practice. Hands-on experiences range from using 12 Bloomberg terminals—professional tools that provide real-time financial market data, research, and analytics—to developing entrepreneurial ideas, preparing presentations, and collaborating on projects.

Building by the Numbers 53,719 9,434 37,000 square feet in the Ruth McKee School of Business

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square feet of glass

feet of network cables

The building’s central entrance brings together several details that connect the new space with Southern’s past and present. The university seal is embedded in the terrazzo floor, and a live stock ticker brings real-time market information into view. A prominent wooden staircase, crafted from white oak trees from campus (removed during construction of the Bietz Center for Student Life), leads to the second floor and creates a natural focal point in the open gathering space.

Room to Connect The new building’s private study rooms and informal gathering areas may be among its most appreciated features. Spaces for individual concentration, group projects, and spontaneous conversations make it easier for students to remain within the building between classes rather than simply arriving for class and leaving afterward.

Innovation and Entrepreneurship Centers Dedicated hubs for innovation and entrepreneurship give students room to brainstorm, collaborate, and develop

Photo: Chino Zhao

The Rotunda

SMARRT Fund Finance Lab

418

graduate and undergraduate students

596

campaign gifts and pledges

$24M

campaign goal reached through financial support for the new building and program endowment

solutions together. Those skills are already being put into action through opportunities such as Enactus, where students use entrepreneurial thinking in service-oriented projects. The new space provides a home for ideas to develop through conversation, teamwork, and experimentation.

SMARRT Fund Finance Lab The SMARRT Fund Finance Lab gives finance students a dedicated setting for working with market information and professional financial tools, including the Bloomberg terminals. Students involved with the fund manage real university investments, gaining experience in analysis, decisionmaking, and stewardship while preparing for a field that changes constantly.

Multipurpose Room Designed with flexibility in mind, the building’s large multipurpose room can adapt for guest lectures, special events, and other large gatherings. Its versatile layout provides additional space for gatherings that bring together students, faculty, alumni, employers, and visiting professionals from across the university and beyond. n

Who Was Ruth McKee? Anna Ruth (King) McKee, 1926, was a Southern alum long before she became a pioneering business leader whose influence would help shape the Collegedale community. Ruth studied at Southern with plans for a career in teaching. Instead, she and her husband, O.D. McKee, 1928, went on to co-found what is now McKee Foods Corporation, best known for Little Debbie snack cakes. While O.D. excelled in salesmanship, Ruth played a central role in the growing company, overseeing personnel, purchasing, transportation, and other aspects of its operations while also raising their family. Though her path led from teaching to business, she remained passionate about education and guided employees, suppliers, and the surrounding community through the principles she modeled. Her connection to Southern also continued well beyond her time in school. More than 40 members of the McKee family have attended the university, and generations of Southern students have helped pay for their education by working at McKee Foods. For Southern, Ruth’s commitment to Christian education, her ties to the university, and her example as a business leader make her a fitting namesake for both the academic school and its new building. “Our goal is that each student who graduates from the Ruth McKee School of Business will embody the core of Ruth’s leadership of McKee Foods Corporation: integrity, wisdom, acumen, and beneficence,” says Dean Stephanie Sheehan. Fall 2026

Photo: Yeju Gee

Foundations

for Eternity HOMECOMING 2026

By Becky (Baerg) Brooks, ’03, editorial manager

Photo: Cheryl Torres

lumni and friends returned to Southern October 22-25 for Homecoming Weekend, reconnecting through reunions, workshops, meals, and activities across campus. As the featured speaker, Ken Norton Jr., ’96, speaker and director of the Voice of Prophecy, shared reflections drawn from his journey in ministry, leadership, and faith, encouraging attendees throughout the weekend. This year’s “Foundations for Eternity” theme celebrated the faith, friendships, and experiences that have shaped generations of Southern students—and continue to connect them long after graduation.

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To view more photos from Homecoming Weekend, visit southern.edu/columns.

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11 1. Arlene (Webb) Zerbee, ’76, catches up with fellow attendees at the Picnic in the Park. 2. Friends gather for a Homecoming Weekend photo. 3. Ken Norton Jr., ’96, delivers the

Sabbath morning sermon.

4. Alumni begin Homecoming Weekend together at the Kick-Off Banquet.

5. Jim Clarke, ’76, enjoys time with friends at the Picnic in the Park.

8. Holly Gadd, PhD, dean of the School of Nursing (center), and her husband, Bob Gadd, ’78, PhD, enjoy conversation after lunch.

9. President Ken Shaw, ’80, EdD,

welcomes guests back to Southern at the Kick-Off Banquet.

10. Chef Bonny Musgrave, director of the Vegetarian Culinary Arts program, shares her expertise during the Plant-Based Perfection Cooking Demonstration.

6. Joan Clarke, ’78, (left) reconnects

11. Alumni enjoy food, fellowship, and time together at the Picnic in the Park.

7. Sabbath morning Bird Walk

12. Recipients of this year’s Alumni Awards gather for a photo (from left): Cherie (Merchant) Smith, ’91; Francisco Ortiz, ’16; Jenée Lee, ’17, PhD; Bruce Coston, ’83, DVM; Rick Norskov, ’76, MD; and Ken Parsons, honorary alum.

with Charlie Brown, ’77 and ’79, and his wife, Nancy Brown, during the Alumni Lunch on Sabbath. participants pause to spot something interesting. From left: Jay Dedeker, ’88; Keith Snyder, PhD, chair and professor of biology; Paula Haynes, ’86 (front); and Beth Snyder, associate professor of nursing.

DISTINGUISHED SERVICE William “Rick” Norskov, ’76, MD ALUMNUS OF THE YEAR Bruce Coston, ’83, DVM YOUNG ALUMNA OF THE YEAR Jenée Lee, ’17, PhD GRADUATE STUDIES ALUMNUS OF THE YEAR Francisco Ortiz, ’16 HONORARY ALUMNI C.Y. Liu, MD, and Ruth Liu, EdD; Ken Parsons LADY OF THE YEAR Cherie (Merchant) Smith, ’91 Fall 2026

Photo: Yeju Gee

Photo: Heidi Olson

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10 Photo: Becky Brooks

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1. Students share a presentation about Southern‘s student-managed SMARRT Fund during a tour of the Ruth McKee School of Business.

9. At the English Department’s

2. President Ken Shaw, ’80, EdD, (right) speaks with Gordon Bietz, DMin, who served as Southern‘s president from 1997-2016.

10. Bob Mills, ’76, MD, (left) and Wes Holland, ’76, DVM, reminisce during a visit to the Chemistry Department Open House.

3. Krisi (Clark) Fuentes, ’94, (left) and Sherrie (Platt) Williams, ’93, reminisce about serving together on the Student Association in 1993.

11. Students under the direction of Rina Ritavoiu, DMA, assistant professor of music, surprise guests by breaking into song at the Kick-Off Banquet as President Shaw wrapped up his presentation.

Meet the Author event, Susi (Hasel) Mundy, ’66, speaks to a full room about her book A Thousand Shall Fall.

4. Sandy James, associate director for community events, serves guests at the Alumni Lunch on Sabbath.

12. Bob Kendall Jr., ’86, shows off his first place trophy beside his 2024 Porsche GT4RS at the Car Show and Family Fun Day on Sunday morning.

5. Southern’s combined choirs and

Symphony Orchestra, joined by alumni participants, fill the Collegedale Church of Seventh-day Adventists with music.

13. Southern Movie Night gives alumni a look back at standout student film and animation projects from the past two decades, along with interviews highlighting what their creators are doing today.

6. At the 30+ Supper, a quartet of

Southernaires sings Collegedale Forever! written by Margarita (Dietel) Merriman, ’46.

7. With honor classes seated together,

14. Students lead out in worship songs during Student Missions Vespers on Friday night.

the Alumni Lunch provides a great opportunity to reconnect.

8. Members of the class of 2016

Photo: Yeju Gee

gather for a photo after the Alumni Lunch on Sabbath.

Photo: Cheryl Torres

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SOUTHERN’S FIRST BACCALAUREATE CLASS

Southern Junior College became accredited as a four-year institution and adopted the new name Southern Missionary College in 1944. Two years later, the Class of 1946 became the first to earn baccalaureate degrees from Southern. This year marks the class’ 80th anniversary and its recognition as an honor year. In the 1946 yearbook, President Kenneth Wright wrote, “Southern Missionary College, as a senior college, will present its first fruits as the class of ’46. The quality and scholarship of this group can more briefly be expressed by stating that 33.3% of the class will receive an honors degree.” Fall 2026

» beyond the columns

Alumni Notes Lloyd, ’66, and Charlotte (Ballard) ’60s Erickson, attended, met during his senior 1

year at Southern. Since then, they have spent a lifetime in various forms of youth ministry. Lloyd has served as a youth pastor in Louisville, Kentucky; an academy Bible teacher at Georgia-Cumberland Academy in Georgia; director of youth ministries for the Manitoba-Saskatchewan and Nebraska conferences; and principal at Okanogan Academy in British Columbia. He earned a PhD in psychology and then served as director of the Counseling and Testing Center at Andrews University in Michigan. The couple has now lived in Battle Creek, Michigan, for many years and been active in various Tabernacle ministries. Their son, Jonathan, is a fixed-wing pilot for an air ambulance company in California. He and his wife have four children. Their daughter, Jennifer, lives in Battle Creek, where she is the financial officer for an electric company. She and her husband have one daughter, who just completed her sophomore year in marine biology at Walla Walla University in Washington. The Ericksons are most thankful for the Lord’s guidance and protection in their lives over the years. The couple recently traveled to Newfoundland to see icebergs. Kenneth, ’66, and Agida (Limon) Henderson, attended, spent their careers teaching in the Adventist school system. Ken was a principal and head teacher for grades five through eight for 15 and 25 years, respectively, in the Carolina and Texas Conferences of Seventh-day Adventists. He received the Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers Award in 1996 and the Southwestern Union Conference Excellence in Teaching Award in 2004. Agida served as principal and head teacher for kindergarten through fourth grade for 12 and 28 years, respectively, in the two conferences where they lived. She received the Southwestern Union Conference’s first annual Excellence in Teaching Award in 1998 and retired from teaching in June 2026. The couple lives in Texas. (Fifield) Thompson, ’73, ’70s worksTeresa as an online blogger for Mid2

handbells, gardening, plus eating and sharing her homegrown produce. After retiring, she began doing CrossFit and recently completed a seven-day trek, summiting Tanzania’s Mount Kilimanjaro exactly one week before her 70th birthday! 4 Sharon Rogers, ’77, retired this October after more than 53 years of service to Southern. She began working in the Records and Advisement office in the summer of 1973, four years before graduating with a bachelor’s degree in art. Sharon later earned a Master of Education from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in 1995. During her career, she served as recorder and assistant director, overseeing undergraduate advisement and helping prepare seniors for graduation. Sharon estimates that she has helped graduate approximately 14,470 students while working in the same Wright Hall office throughout her career. In 2018, Southern recognized her decades of service with the Distinguished Service Medallion. She credits God for His guidance and blessings throughout her life and career. 5 Gary J. Tolbert, ’77, earned his theology degree from Southern. After graduation, he pastored in Florida and continued his education, earning a master’s degree from Andrews University in Michigan. After 36 years of pastoring, he is happy to announce that he and his wife, Malia (Hardaway), attended, have retired and now live in Hendersonville, North Carolina. They are celebrating 52 years of marriage.

Frank Farkash, ’06 and ’12, has been ’00s serving as president of the Troy Campus 7

of Kettering Health in Ohio since March 2026. He enjoys providing strategic and operational leadership for this community hospital. He and his wife, Kristie (Cain), ’11 and ’15, live in Dayton, Ohio. 8 Kristina (Benfield), ’09, and Matthew Johnson, DDS, co-founded Breezy Face, a fan-cooled dental face shield invented by Matt that aims to close the compliance gap by being the first face shield clinicians actually want to wear. Their public launch took place in May at the California Dental Association’s annual conference, where they sold out of inventory on day two. The couple lives in Southern California with their two children.

Choi, ’95, was selected by ’90s the St.Joseph Louis Philharmonic Orchestra, 6

an organization with a rich 160-year history, as a guest conductor and finalist for the position of music director for the 2026-2027 season. His musical experience ranges from being an invited guest director in the Illinois All-State festival to working as the music director and conductor for the Belleville Philharmonic Orchestra in Illinois, the Maryland Chamber Orchestra, and Sunnydale Adventist Academy in Missouri. He also served as assistant conductor for the Missouri Academy of Music’s “Virtuosi Orchestra.”

America Union’s Outlook magazine. She has been writing “The Teacher’s Notes,” a weekly commentary on the adult Sabbath School quarterly, since 2013. 3 Deanna Brown, ’78, taught elementary school in New York for two years before studying physical therapy at Loma Linda University in California. She then worked in Kettering, Ohio, for 10 years, spent another 10 years as a traveling physical therapist, and worked in home health care for 20 years in Anderson, South Carolina, while investing in real estate during that time. She also enjoyed worshiping with homebound church members, ringing

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Weddings & Family Additions 1 Nicholas, ’06, and Jeanine “Pongo” (Herrera) Mann, ’19, welcomed Natalie Mann into their family on December 20, 2023. The family lives in Sanford, Florida.

Jennifer (Landivar) Marks, ’16, gave birth to Gabriella Marks on February 13. Gabriella is much adored by her older sister, Isabella. The family lives in Orlando, Florida. 2 Kris, ’09, and Andrea (Issa) Orrison, ’08, welcomed Kayliana into their family on October 29, 2024. Her name, Kayliana Joy, was inspired by Psalm 30:5 (NKJV): “Weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning.” She has brought so much joy to her parents and big sister, Rylie.

3 Zach, ’21, and Jillian (Mounce) Roberts, ’21 and ’23, welcomed Amelia into their family on September 26, 2025. The family lives in western North Carolina.

Alumni Association Tour | October 6-17, 2027

Autumn in

SPAIN Build. Serve. Connect.

Join fellow alumni and friends of Southern to enjoy the beautiful sites and remarkable history of fascinating Spain, led by experienced tour leader Bill Wohlers, PhD. The price of $5,850 includes airfare from Atlanta, two meals per day, lodging (double occupancy), entrance fees, and coach transport. See details at southern.edu/alumnitour.

ALUMNI MISSION TRIP Kenya | June 16-29, 2027

Share in meaningful service and adventure with fellow alumni and friends of Southern! Volunteers will help with construction at Kimogoro Adventist School, support community outreach, and enjoy a safari in the world-famous Masai Mara National Park. The cost is $1,870 (based on double occupancy), plus airfare. Learn more at southern.edu/alumnimission.

Fall 2026

» beyond the columns

Remembrance 1 Arlene (West) McFarland, ’70, died from leukemia at her home in Ringgold, Georgia, on February 26, 2026. Born November 16, 1948, in Chattanooga, Tennessee, to Don, ’42 and ’49, and Florence West, Arlene grew up in Collegedale and graduated from Georgia-Cumberland Academy in Georgia before earning her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Southern. She began her career in nursing before moving into education and counseling, earning a PhD in 1996. During 25 years of marriage and family therapy, she was honored multiple times as Counselor of the Year by DeKalb County, Alabama, and in 1999 received the Community Life Award from the Association of Adventist Women for her role as an ambassador of hope. After retiring in 2017, Arlene returned to the Collegedale area, where she continued serving others through therapy, parenting classes, and piano ministry. She is survived by her husband, Tom McFarland, ’67, MD; children, David Futcher, ’92 (Valerie), and Christy Robinson, ’94 (Mark, attended); stepchildren, Troy McFarland, ’92 (Shannon), Terri Martin, ’99 (Kevin), and Traci Josephsen, ’97, ’99, and ’13 (Jon); seven grandchildren; siblings, Don West Jr., ’68 (Tina), and Shirley Wodzenski, ’74 (Dick, ’74); and nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family, and friends. 2 Bill Murphy, ’67, died in Orlando, Florida, on December 16, 2025. Born May 10, 1945, in Greenville, North Carolina, Bill moved with his family to Orlando at age 9, attended Orlando Church School (now Orlando Junior Academy), and graduated from Forest Lake Academy in Florida in 1963. He studied business at Southern and formed lifelong friendships there. After graduation, Bill moved to Southern California to teach at Lynwood Adventist Academy with Don Vollmer, ’63, later joined by Vivian Lester, ’64, and Darleen (Gadbois) Herbert, ’64. Returning to Orlando in 1971, he met

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Cheryl (Camara) Murphy, ’73, then a Southern nursing student. They married in 1973 and later moved to Southern California, where Bill taught at San Gabriel Academy and served as a teacher and principal at Adventist Union School. He eventually returned to Orlando and spent the remainder of his career in the building business. Bill is remembered for his humor, generosity, church involvement, and love of family and friends. He is survived by his wife of nearly 53 years, Cheryl; children, Mark Murphy, ’02, and Rebecca Murphy, ’03; honorary daughter, Bozena Wentland; brother, Robert “Bob” Murphy, ’64 (Anne (Denslow) Murphy, ’63); sister, Carol (Murphy) Robertson, ’84 (Arlyn); and numerous nieces, nephews, and other extended family. 3 William P. “Skip” Roberts Jr., ’76, died on November 8, 2024, at age 69. Born November 17, 1954, in Takoma Park, Maryland, he graduated from Highland View Academy in Hagerstown, Maryland, in 1972 and Southern Missionary College in 1976 before continuing his education at the University of Maryland Dental School. After completing a residency with the United States Coast Guard in California, he joined his father’s dental practice in Frederick, Maryland, in 1982 and served the community through dentistry for many years. He married Lynn Phelps in 1992 at the Frederick Seventh-day Adventist Church. He is survived by his wife of nearly 33 years. Their family included son, Ryan William Roberts, ’16 and ’18 (Kaitlin (Laughlin), ’16); stepson, Lt. Jeremy Phelps, Navy chaplain (Jaime); and stepdaughter, Jessica Jones (Scott). 4 Patricia “Pat” (Mitzelfelt) Silver, music educator and band director, died July 14, 2026, at age 94. Born Oct. 17, 1931, in Madison, Tennessee, Pat developed a love for music in her father’s marching band and pursued conducting. She earned a bachelor’s degree in science and biology from

Madison College in Tennessee in 1960 and a master’s degree from George Peabody College for Teachers in Nashville, Tennessee, in 1964. After directing bands at Adventist schools including Madison College in Tennessee, Shenandoah Valley Academy in Virginia, Forest Lake Academy in Florida, and Andrews University in Michigan, she served at Southern from 1982-1997. Throughout her professional career, Pat maintained a high quality of performance, strong ethical stance on music selection, and steadfast presentation of faith in music ministry. She wanted her students to experience music ministry and often organized international performances. On the weekend of her memorial service, more than 50 brass alumni spanning several generations gathered to perform in her honor. She was preceded in death by her husband of 68 years, Bob Silver, in 2021. She is survived by her daughter, Debra Stama; son, David Silver, ’91; and three grandchildren. Memorial gifts may support the Pat Silver Band Endowed Scholarship Fund at southern.edu/tributes. 5 Woodrow “Woody” Whidden II, ’67, died at home in Berrien Springs, Michigan, on November 11, 2025. Born in Orlando, Florida, Woody grew up in Titusville, where he worked as a beekeeper alongside his father and brothers. He graduated from Forest Lake Academy in 1963, from Southern in 1967, and in 1969 from Andrews University in Michigan, where he met Margaret Gibbs. They married on October 26, 1969. Woody pastored Seventh-day Adventist churches in Georgia, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, and Michigan before earning his PhD from Drew University in New Jersey in 1989. In 1990, he joined Andrews University as professor of religion, and in 2006 he joined the Adventist International Institute of Advanced Studies Theological Seminary in the Philippines. A scholar, teacher, and author, Woody wrote and contributed to books, journal and magazine articles, and conference papers, with much

» beyond the columns

of his work centered on the gospel of grace. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Donald, attended. He is survived by his wife, Margaret; children, Jamie, Jonathan (Zelda), and Laura (Cory) Wetterlin; six grandchildren; brothers, Ivan “Louis,” ’68 (Phyllis), and Phillip (attended); and sister, Sylvia.

We’d love to hear from you, and so would your classmates! Send updates about additions to your family, accomplishments, marriage, professional recognitions, or other news you’d like to share to:

Alumni Relations: southern.edu/alumniupdates

Louis Wildman (attended) died on December 21, 2025, at age 88. Born March 6, 1937, in Madison, Wisconsin, Louis graduated as salutatorian from Battle Creek Adventist Academy in Michigan. A gifted singer, he developed a lifelong passion for music and ministry. Wildman attended Emmanuel Missionary College in Michigan and spent a year at Southern, singing baritone in a traveling men’s quartet. His career included service in Adventist education, leadership in orthotics and prosthetics programs at both the University of Washington in Washington state and the University of Chicago in Illinois, as well as medical studies and work in business and real estate. Louis founded what became the Oregon Adventist Men’s Chorus and served as its artistic director for two decades, helping it grow into an internationally recognized ministry. In 2016, Louis married Reinette Boshoff. He is survived by his wife, stepson, brother and sister, and many extended family members and friends. He is remembered for his faith, mentorship, humor, generosity, and musical legacy. 6

7 Maurice Alexander Wyckoff, ’69, died in Inverness, Florida, on January 27, 2026, at age 88. Born October 9, 1937, in Denton Township, Roscommon County, Michigan, Maurice was the second son of Alexander James Wyckoff and Gladys (Sinclair) Wyckoff. He was preceded in death by his older brother, James Clayton, and younger twin brothers, Alfred Daryl and Albert Harold. In 1955, Deb and Jan Bileth came to live temporarily with the Wyckoff family; the arrangement continued into adulthood, and he gained two sisters he loved dearly. He married Carol (Peace) on November 23, 1957, in Holly, Michigan, and they had three children: Timothy Alan, Michael Maurice, and Patti Sue Kendall. Maurice worked as an interior trim carpenter before earning a bachelor’s degree in education and becoming certified to teach elementary school as well as secondary English, math, and science. He taught for 21 years before returning to school to become an LPN and later working in nursinghome care. Family and his Christ-centered faith were central to his life. Maurice is survived by sons Tim and Mike; four grandchildren, Brandy, Jesse, James, and Trey; nine great-grandchildren; and other family members.

P.O. Box 370 Collegedale, TN 37315-0370

7 Fall 2026

» alumni reflection Back to Brock By Nathan McKee, ’14

here’s a beautiful new building open at Southern Adventist University named after my great-grandmother, Ruth McKee. As one enters Southern’s campus, the sight of it is certainly impressive, with level upon pillared level leading up to the round apex of the edifice, and beyond that, to the vaulted sky. This fall, business faculty and students moved into this new building, the Ruth McKee School of Business. I’m confident that the fine programs inhabiting this building will delight, inspire, and equip business students as they prepare for meaningful careers. Nonetheless, as they leave behind decades of memories at Brock Hall, I hope their departure isn’t permanent. I hope they make it back to Brock. Yes, Brock Hall, which, though it lacks the iconic columns, is home to faculty who could tell you from whence those columns came. These columns represent a legacy passed down to us over centuries and millennia. In them, we see Egyptian Karnak set in seas of sand, the Athenian Parthenon, and Rome’s Augustan Forum. One sees them grounding Hereford Cathedral’s Norman vaults and lining Oxford’s cloisters. They bring to mind the noble halls of English Peers and our own Capitol Hill. These worlds and more are opened up at Brock whenever its professors teach the humanities or students open up old books to read. As for my own experience, I greatly appreciate having seasoned my education with the humanities at Southern. For example, although I graduated with a bachelor’s degree in accounting, I also added a history minor, taking fascinating courses like History of the South from Ben McArthur and History of England from Lisa (Clark) Diller, ’96. However, the most impactful course I took was Jan Haluska’s Ancient Classics. He led us through selections from The Iliad, Odyssey, Oedipus the King, Medea, Plato’s Republic, Job, and Augustine’s The City of God. My sister Jordan, who took the same course a year earlier, distinctly remembers one day early in the semester when Haluska asked students to explain Achilles’ anger with Agamemnon in The Iliad. After silencing a few flimsy responses, she remembers him making a stern face, theatrically

Columns

Photo: Chino Zhao

Nathan McKee, ’14, great-grandson of Ruth (King) McKee, 1926 alum, is pictured outside the new Ruth McKee School of Business building at the grand opening on October 2.

slamming his notebook on the table, and, like a drill sergeant, shouting, “Honor!” Reading Homer and other Greek authors prepared us to study Job and The City of God later in the course with renewed appreciation as we compared and contrasted Judeo-Christian with Greek literature. This seminal course strengthened my love for the classics while exalting the Bible above all other literature. Haluska’s approach of encouraging students to read classical literature, while always returning to the Bible for guidance, really defines what makes Southern unique. Southern’s mission is “Transforming Lives for Eternity,” which means students are not only encouraged to read good books but also to make the Bible the supremely good book in their lives, the one to which they return again and again as they walk in living faith with Jesus. With many small liberal arts colleges closing and humanities programs being downsized, Southern needs alumni engagement to ensure it remains a place where the humanities are thoughtfully studied. One way is to support Southern’s humanities-related programs and scholarships financially. Another way is to encourage our children and other future students, even if they study an occupational field like business, to consider a humanities-related double major or minor. Finally, all of us can thoughtfully read great works of literature and share them with our friends and family. In this way, many years after graduating, even we alumni can make it back to Brock. n

Student interest in Bible studies is flourishing at Southern. When more students began requesting Bible studies than chaplains could provide, the Office of Ministry and Missions trained students to lead their peers. Fifty-seven new peer Bible studies launched last school year, creating opportunities for meaningful friendships, deeper conversations, and spiritual growth while fostering a campus culture where students strengthen both their faith and one another. Ava Kennedy (left), senior nursing major, and Emmie-Grace Emde, sophomore liberal arts education major, are just two of the students who participated last school year. Read more at southern.edu/columns. Fall 2026

Photo: Contributed

Growing in the Word

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