Led by Dr. Willmann, the Ram Band is busting at the seams
PAGE 9
THE ART OF LEADERSHIP
Get to know the women weaving Texas Wesleyan’s next chapter
PAGE 13
BUILDING CHAMPIONS
Get to know the coaches — football, basketball, volleyball — leading a new era of athletics
PAGE 19
RAMily Pride
The buzz around the undefeated Rams was palpable as fans flocked to the Homecoming football game in November. This season, the team’s electrifying performances have generated immense excitement, leading to larger and more enthusiastic crowds of students, alumni and fans at every game.
COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS
Dear Alumni and Friends,
As we reflect on our time at Texas Wesleyan, we recognize the enduring impact of our university on the Fort Worth community. For decades, Texas Wesleyan has been a cornerstone of this city, providing quality education and contributing to its vibrant culture and economy.
Today, Texas Wesleyan continues to drive Fort Worth’s growth. Our Nurse Anesthesia program recently received a grant to enhance trauma care specialization, while the School of Education secured funding to strengthen our teacher residency program. Additionally, our growing athletic programs foster school spirit and community engagement, promoting teamwork and leadership among students.
This issue of our magazine highlights how the university empowers students to make a positive impact on our local community. Texas Wesleyan is committed to serving the Fort Worth community through various initiatives, from working to provide better educational resources at local schools to improving medical care and ensuring our students are emboldened leaders. Our students, faculty and staff are dedicated to giving back and making a difference in the city we call home.
As alumni, you can support Texas Wesleyan’s mission and ensure future generations benefit from the same type of transformative education you received. Your involvement — whether through financial contributions, mentorship or staying informed — can make a real difference.
Thank you for your continued commitment to Texas Wesleyan and the Fort Worth community.
Kindly,
Dr. Emily Messer President
Texas Wesleyan University
ON THE COVER
Led by Dr. Willmann, the Ram Band is busting at the seams. Featured on the cover is Ram Band member Justin Talamantez.
Read more on page 9
THE ART OF LEADERSHIP
Get to know the women weaving Texas Wesleyan’s next chapter
5 TACKLING TEXAS’ TEACHER SHORTAGE
The education department uses a new grant to better prepare future teachers
7 A NEW TRAUMA CARE TRACK
A new trauma track cements program as a national healthcare leader
FEATURES
9 CRESCENDO OF CHANGE
Led by Dr. Willmann, the Ram Band is busting at the seams
13 THE ART OF LEADERSHIP
Four women propelling the university through relationship-driven leadership
19 A NEW ERA BEGINS
Meet the next generation of coaches leading Texas Wesleyan to victory
DEPARTMENTS
23 ATHLETICS
Moritz Fieldhouse construction update
25 ALUMNI
Sponsors, Rams at Work, In Loving Memory, Remembrances
29 LAST WORD
Learn how Texas Wesleyan’s Champions Club is leading the way in supporting the student athletes at the university
PRESIDENT
Dr. Emily Messer
EDITOR
Caitlin Rodgers, J.O. Agency
DESIGN
Sammy Sosa, J.O. Agency
Paula Tran
PHOTOGRAPHY
Chris Botvidson
Fuel & Spark Media
Kendal Clark
Eric Deeter
Valerie L. Spears
Jose “Little Joe” Valdez
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Caitlin Rodgers
Christina Vela, J.O. Agency
TEXAS WESLEYAN STAFF
Michele Madore Boillotat, Vice President of Advancement
OFFICE OF ADVANCEMENT AND ALUMNI RELATIONS
817-531-4404
817-531-7560 FAX txwes.edu/alumni
CONTACT US wesleyan@txwes.edu 817-531-5817
TACKLING TEXAS’ TEACHER SHORTAGE
It’s estimated that after the 2022-2023 school year, one in five Texas teachers did not return to the classroom. With first-year teachers educating roughly half a million Texas students every year, Texas Wesleyan is taking steps to better prepare education students for the work ahead. Between grants, an innovative residency program and bilingual classes, the School of Education is making sure its students are ready to step into the gap and help fill the teacher shortage.
From Theory to Practice:
The School of Education’s $300,000 Grant
One of the biggest issues new teachers face is a lack of experience in running a classroom. Theory only takes you so far. In an effort to help better prepare students and shape them into the best teachers possible, the School of Education piloted a new residency program last fall.
Typically, student teaching at Texas Wesleyan, also called clinical teaching, sends students into a real classroom for one semester where they are mentored by a teacher and spend some time teaching students. The new residency program lasts for two consecutive semesters, so students can gain a full year of teaching experience. “The fact that they’re there for the whole year has been found to be more effective,” Dr. Elsa Anderson shared.
At the helm of this new residency are Dr. Anderson and Dr. Elizabeth Ward, associate professors of education. They started the program with seven Texas Wesleyan students who were all placed at the same Fort Worth ISD school. While Dr. Anderson focuses on the curriculum side of the program and Dr. Ward focuses more on the residency, they worked together to pursue a grant from University-School Partnerships for the Renewal of Educator Preparation (US PREP) to expand the program. US PREP will provide $300,000 over the next three years.
The program’s ultimate goal is to better prepare more students for the day when they lead their own classroom. The program, the department hopes, will act as a launching pad for a new kind of educator who is fit for the challenges of 2024 (and beyond) and will stay in the profession long term. Dr. Anderson also shared that the grant will help scale the residency program so more Texas Wesleyan students and area schools can participate.
Along with the grant money, US PREP is providing technical and consulting assistance. With their support, the program is likely to form more partnerships between Texas Wesleyan’s School of Education and local school districts. When the grant finishes in three years, both Dr. Anderson and Dr. Ward hope to have a vibrant program thrumming along with more students involved.
Multilingual Classrooms: Preparing Teachers for Linguistic Diversity
Another focus of the School of Education is helping their students become teachers who can transition between multiple languages while teaching. Teachers often have no way of knowing who will step into their classrooms at the beginning of the year. Texas Wesleyan aims to prepare future teachers for the unknown with strategies and techniques that can bridge languages. Dr. Jessica Salazar, who received
“We’re a small team, but we’re smarter. We know our students, we go out of our way for them.”
her undergraduate, graduate and doctorate degrees at Texas Wesleyan, plays a vital role in this endeavor, including teaching a bilingual education course.
“We make sure that our students have these tools and that they’re ready for this challenge of being a bilingual teacher,” Dr. Salazar said. Continuing, she explained that bilingual teachers have more to do in a classroom because they’re essentially doing everything in two languages. Texas Wesleyan helps teachers to not only be bilingual, but also biliterate and multi-cultural. For example, in Texas Wesleyan’s bilingual education course, students read and write in Spanish, do lessons in Spanish and practice reading aloud in Spanish to get the intonation right.
Smaller. Smarter. Creates Better Teachers
Over the course of many decades, Texas Wesleyan has been a force for education across Fort Worth, Tarrant County and the state of Texas. Despite the current challenges Texas educators and schools face, Dr. Anderson has a vision for the future.
“We’re a small team, but we’re smarter,” she said. “We know our students, we go out of our way for them.” Texas Wesleyan students are building a reputation for both the ideas they bring with them into the classroom and their motivation to do well.
In fact, Dr. Salazar shared that at a Fort Worth ISD dinner last year, multiple principals reported that Texas Wesleyan teachers are the best they have. “Do you have any more Wesleyan students for us?” they asked.
Texas Wesleyan professors push their students to have real world classroom experiences before graduation, but these future teachers are also incredibly driven. The size of the School of Education allows students to have one-on-one relationships with their professors that, in turn, empower them to begin building impactful careers. “We have a long list of students that have ended up ‘teacher of the year,’” Dr. Salazar said.
“Students will send us a message and say, ‘it’s all because of you all’ and ‘y’all built the foundation for us.’”
PIONEERING A NEW TRAUMA CARE TRACK
In some people’s most vulnerable moments, nurse anesthetists are by their side. As the home of the nation’s largest nurse anesthesia program, Texas Wesleyan is thrilled to be expanding with a new trauma care track. Thanks to a $500,000 grant, the new track will place the university in a rare echelon of nurse anesthesia training — it will be one of a few programs of its kind available across the country.
Breaking New Ground in Trauma Care
Thanks to the significant grant, Texas Wesleyan’s new trauma care track will equip graduates with the skills to handle critical situations often faced by trauma patients. Students will train alongside paramedics to gain a deeper understanding of the decision-making process required in various trauma scenarios, including car accidents and gunshots. This means graduates will begin their careers with the kind of experience that only comes from practicing under pressure in reallife scenarios. As program director and professor of nurse anesthesia, Dr. Terri Kane explained, “You don’t know what you don’t know, and that can be a very dangerous situation.” Students in this new track will hone their ability to think critically in the moment while having trained professionals at their side.
“These students won’t just go to the operating room and hope a trauma case will come in on a night they’re working — they’re going to be in the emergency room, going to be out with the ambulance, be in the helicopter, and see emergency patients all the way through the process,” Dr. Kane said.
Grant Impact and Implementation
Trauma injuries are the leading cause of premature death for people 45 and younger in the United States. Additionally, according to 2021 federal data, Texas holds the unfortunate distinction of having the highest rates of both fatal car crashes and gun deaths. There’s an obvious need for more trauma care, which is why Texas Wesleyan is proud to be making an impact with its nurse anesthesia program. “This specialized training sets our graduates apart,” Dr. Kane said. “They’ll enter the workforce with a distinct advantage, having honed skills and gained experiences unavailable to most new nurses.”
The grant specifically benefits Texas-native students, who make up about 35% of the program. It will facilitate a unique two-month clinical rotation focused on trauma care within local hospitals. The clinical rotation is expected to begin in late spring 2025.
Additionally, the grant will provide financial support for students to attend conferences and facilitate the acquisition of cutting-edge equipment. This includes a state-of-the-art simulator that allows for internal examination via a specialized scope. This, according to department leaders, will enhance the trauma care curriculum for all program participants.
Building on Excellence
Texas Wesleyan’s nurse anesthesia program is already known nationally as highly competitive and well respected. With nearly 40 years of history, the program is the largest in the nation and has created a considerable network of graduates who
now serve as medical specialists across the country. And while it is the largest program of its kind in the nation, the department prides itself on maintaining Texas Wesleyan’s signature Smaller. Smarter. feel. Students are able to communicate directly with expert professors, not through a teacher assistant like most other CRNA programs. This is a program where students learn up close from highly engaged professors and are given lots of handson time to master critical skills, including arterial line placement, central line placement and regional anesthesia. After spending their first 12 months on campus at Texas Wesleyan, students have the option to stay on the main campus or finish their studies at their assigned clinical site. They spend the final 20 months of the program completing the clinical portion in a residency. There are currently 18 clinical sites in nine different states, spanning from California to Louisiana and North Dakota to Texas.
Upon completion of the program, graduates are qualified to work in the anesthesia department of any hospital and can enjoy the highest degree of autonomy as independent practitioners. Texas Wesleyan is proud to be making such an impact on the medical workforce and setting a new standard for trauma care on a national level.
Texas Wesleyan students participate in simulation symposium
CRESCENDO OF CHANGE
Picture this: It’s fourth quarter, the game is tied and it is up to the Rams football team to bring home the win. What’s that soundtrack in your head? Do you hear the pounding of drums that seem to be in sync with your heartbeat? That’s the Ram Band you are hearing, and Band Director Dr. Thomas Willmann wants you to hear more.
The Ram Band first hit the field in 2016 when Texas Wesleyan welcomed back the football team as a small band with donated instruments. And like many organizations, the band took a big hit in membership and growth during Covid. Cue 2022 when new Texas Wesleyan Professor Dr. Willmann joined the staff and took over as director of the Ram Band.
He remembers that first meeting of the Ram Band — with only nine students in attendance, he shared his vision for the band and how it could become an integral part of campus culture. After that first meeting, Dr. Willmann began recruiting not
only within the music department but around campus too. “We’re welcoming to everybody we can find that has some experience. They don’t have to have the most, and even still every year I have one maybe two students who’ve never played an instrument or never marched,” said Dr. Willmann.
“We take on students who are just interested in it and are motivated; we can do a lot with that.”
Today the Ram Band stands 25 members strong and growing year over year with students who are dedicated not only to mastering the instrument they’ve always played, but new, secondary instruments like the cymbals and bass drums to name a few. The Ram Band is now a mainstay at football games, not missing one in the last two years. They are now playing at basketball and volleyball games as well. When they aren’t creating the ultimate gametime soundtrack, you can catch them playing at pep rallies, important campus openings like The Rosedale — and that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
As the band has grown, so has its needs for proper equipment. This year, the drumline received a whole new set of drums and equipment that were stacked to the ceiling of Dr. Willmann’s office in the Ann Waggoner Building.
“Dean Ricardo Rodriguez and Brian Bulita in the Office of Advancement were instrumental in making [the new equipment] happen this year. We are absolutely thrilled we
have people on campus that are invested and see a value in what we do,” Dr. Willmann remarked with gratitude. And the support for the Ram Band doesn’t stop there.
Dr. Willmann remembers the first time he met Texas Wesleyan President Emily Messer — she described her love for marching band and surprised him with the fun fact that she was in marching band and even played on the drumline. “It’s amazing to have a president that is so interested in what we do and provides the support that we need to be successful,” said Dr. Willmann. “She’s awesome!”
So, what does the next chapter for the Ram Band look like?
Dr. Willmann has a couple of ideas. Starting off is an invitation to former Ram Band members to join in for special games and events as an Alumni Band. This is something that started in 2023, but has experienced slow growth due to the size of the alumni base. “While we don’t have a large pool of alumni [in the Ram Band], we do have a good number of alumni who’ve played in the band that were a part of the music department,” said Dr. Willmann. “After this year and maybe a couple more years of Ram Band 2.0, I can see more former students wanting to come back a little bit more. I would absolutely love that.”
To help grow this eventual alumni base, you need to build your initial student base. This has been Dr. Willmann’s mission — to visit as many area high schools to share the Ram Band’s potential with prospective students. This can be seen literally by the 40-50 visitor badge stickers that line the bookshelf next to his desk. Texas Wesleyan is known for the incredible opportunity it affords students looking to further their education, which includes financial support through scholarships. The Ram Band is no different, offering a $1,000 scholarship to its musicians on top of whatever financial aid they qualify for. Building a program from virtually the ground up has motivated and excited Dr. Willmann for his next major task.
The final movement for the Ram Band is to take their performance from the stands to the field as Texas Wesleyan’s official marching band. Not many band directors get to start a marching band at their university, a challenge that Dr. Willmann has accepted enthusiastically. “To be the one that guides this in its creation is such a wonderful opportunity,” said Dr. Willmann.
The road map to the field includes a five-year plan developed by Dr. Willmann that is currently underway with the drumline and recruitment work, with the goal of having at least 50 marching members. Funding for the band is the next crucial step as they estimate the need for $10 million for instruments, uniforms, a music library and space where they can store their equipment. Dr. Willmann describes how the
music department and its historic building seem to be bursting at the seams with stacks of drums having to be stored creatively in his office.
As the Ram Band works toward the funding of their new marching band, the Texas Wesleyan faculty and staff have rallied behind them. President Messer has shown great support, often wandering over just to listen to the drumline practice. The Office of Advancement has also been crucial in assisting with finding funding options for the marching band. From the beginning, Dr. Willmann has always felt great support from his school community and is eager to continue working with them as the program continues to grow.
“I can see more former students wanting to come back a little bit more. I would absolutely love that.”
The Ram Band is in such a state of kinetic energy, filled with students who are eager to create traditions for future band members. Dr. Willmann is ready to ride that wave and guide the next iteration of the band from just a concept on paper to a reality that is a feast for people’s ears. At the end of the interview, Dr. Willman was asked what one word he would leave readers with and after debating what would sufficiently describe the band, he was left with the word “proud.” “If there was one word to represent how I feel about the Ram Band and the work we’ve been doing over the last two years, I am just super proud of them. They are amazing.”
Watch an interview with Dr. Willmann.
For a behind-the-scenes look at the Ram Band, visit www.txwes.edu/magazine
RAM ILY TIES
Four women propelling Texas Wesleyan through relationship-driven leadership
“Welcome to the RAMily,” Michele M. Boillotat remembers reading in a text from Texas Wesleyan University President Emily Messer. Boillotat had just accepted her position as Vice President for Advancement and with those four words, stepped over the threshold and into a new home.
TTruth be told, the word “RAMily” (or family) is brought up a lot when talking to the four subjects of this story. In July, Dr. Messer began her second year as president. Michele Boillotat, who in some ways considers herself a first-year student, is the new Vice President for Advancement. Beverly Powell, who has a storied history with the University, currently serves as assistant to the president for external affairs. Karen Surita, a 2001 graduate, leads the Alumni Association Board of Directors as president. While each uses her own background to inform her current work, together they harness the power of relationships to link generations of alumni, current students and supporters of Texas Wesleyan. Together they are a quartet of leaders overseeing Fort Worth’s oldest university and leading it into its next great chapter.
Leader of the RAMily:
President Emily Messer’s Vision for a Culture of Caring
President Emily Messer marked her one-year anniversary at Texas Wesleyan in July 2024. With summer typically being a quieter season on campus, she had some time to reflect on her first year, which was filled with lots of learning and meetings — faculty, staff and students, people in the community and Fort Worth leaders. For Messer, relationships are crucial to her work. In fact, she considers them the key to success in life. She, herself, was mentored by her university president as an undergrad at Jacksonville State University and credits the relationship with helping her choose the professional path she’s since followed.
“I talk a lot about a culture of caring,” she shared from her office in September. “Caring for each other, caring for our campus, caring for our students, but it goes back to teamwork and family and working together as one cohesive unit to support our students.” While still early in her tenure at Texas Wesleyan, she’s laying the groundwork for what she hopes to be part of her larger story: cultivating a faculty and staff that care for each other.
As with any family, life within the University is complex. A glance at President Messer’s schedule reveals this truth: athletics, economic development of the community, student retention, expansion into online programs, faculty requests — these are just a few of the evermoving pieces of life at Texas Wesleyan on any given day. However, if President Messer has had an opportunity to be with students, she checks the day off as an especially meaningful one. “Students are the reason I do what I do every day,” she shared. “That’s why I’ve always gravitated towards a smaller university — because I can get to know the students.”
President Messer does, in fact, make herself available to students. When not in meetings, she likes to walk Kay Granger Mall and return phone calls and emails. You may see her stop in the Martin Center for a snack and a quick conversation about last Saturday’s football game. Her daughters were onsite on the first day of fall classes and helped direct students who were finding their way around the Oneal-Sells Administration Building. She’s personally written medical school recommendations for students in the past year. “I’m here,” she said. “I’m accessible.”
Being someone that female students can look up to is important to President Messer. She
shared that one of her daughters asked for a “clear speaker box” for Christmas. Puzzled at the request, Dr. Messer inquired further and discovered her daughter was thinking of the acrylic podium she’s seen her mom stand behind at work. “She wanted a ‘clear speaker box’ so she can give her speeches,” Messer said. “That means a lot to me that they see me.”
New Student in the RAMily: Michele Boillotat’s Approach to Inclusive Advancement
Just down the hall from President Messer is the Office of Advancement where Vice President for Advancement Michele Boillotat arrived in May 2024. Her work with universities is extensive and includes time at Rice, Indiana, Dartmouth and Ohio State. These institutions (and more) helped her learn both the art and science behind university advancement, mainly helping people find their right way to give back. “Their” being the operative word.
In college, Boillotat had a student job calling alumni and inviting them to make donations. The experience taught her that not everyone’s ready to answer that kind of call. “There are people,” she shared, “that have a passion for the institution, but they don’t feel like they’re necessarily in a financial place where they can give back. That hurts my heart a little because the way I look at it, and truly believe, philanthropy is not just about giving your treasure, but your time and your talent.”
When most people think about giving to their alma mater, it’s the large gifts — the kind that put your name on the side of a building — that often come to mind. But for Boillotat, that’s only part of the story. In her view, it’s important to help everyone find their place in supporting the University. Long before a gift is made, her work starts with building relationships. Whether Boillotat’s team is working with volunteers, training student workers or guiding donors in finding their right opportunity, the goal is to learn about people’s interests and passions first and second, connect them to the right cause.
Like school pride, the spirit of generosity is contagious and can be shared, she believes, through anything from monthly $10 donations to connecting the University to a corporate donor to mentoring current students or recent graduates. “All the work my team and I are doing right now is to impact our students,” she shared. Scholarships, faculty support, new programs, athletics, campus facilities — there are a lot of needs across Texas Wesleyan, but Boillotat is excited to use collaboration, relationship building and idea sharing to draw more donors to the University. She hopes her work helps Texas Wesleyan become even further known as a place where students can find their community, excel and have the support they need to keep moving forward.
Wise Mentor for the RAMily: Beverly Powell’s Lifelong Legacy at Texas Wesleyan
In the story of Texas Wesleyan, Beverly Powell is hard to miss. As a former Texas State Senator, well-known advocate for public education, land developer, graduate of Texas Wesleyan and current assistant to the president for external affairs, she knows the University from the inside out. Her family’s “longtime legacy love affair” began with her parents who met while
attending the University (her mother was voted “Most Athletic Woman” and her father was a decorated World War II hero). They even lived in on-campus couples housing after getting married. To this day, it’s her parents’ legacy that makes her ongoing work for Texas Wesleyan a “heart mission.”
Powell has called herself a non-traditional student. She attended Texas Wesleyan in the 1980s after the recession impacted her real estate career. Coincidentally, two of her sons were in college at that time, with one also attending Texas Wesleyan. “There are so many students, kind of like I was, who are nontraditional … who need additional support and a relational environment. Texas Wesleyan reminded me of what my qualities were and what I had to offer the world,” she shared. After graduating in 1992, Powell considered pursuing another degree, but instead went back to the real estate world with what she called a renewed sense of self.
While she didn’t set out to become a Texas State Senator at the beginning of her career, Powell credits her focus on public education as a school board trustee and Chairman of the Board of Trustees at Texas Wesleyan with preparing her for the job. “When the door opened for me to run for that office, I knew I could do it,” she said. The skills Powell learned from building relationships with the members of both boards helped her be an immediate success in Austin and pass more than 50 bills to benefit Tarrant County.
Speaking of President Messer, she shared how she relishes the opportunity to assist in whatever capacities the President asks. In particular, Powell enjoys working on the University’s capital campaigns, which have previously included the Rosedale Renaissance and the Martin University Center. More recently, Powell chaired the University’s head football coach search committee and has worked with university and city officials to make the new stadium and athletic complex everything they can be. “The greatest thing that we can think about with regard to the stadium,” she said, “is that it brings new people into East Fort Worth.” More local businesses will thrive thanks to the stadium; in addition, the stadium will provide support for Fort Worth events, like concerts and high school sports. The $40 million capital campaign is on track to be successfully completed at the end of 2025.
Alumna of the RAMily Way:
Karen Surita’s Mission to Connect Generations
Karen Surita became president of the Alumni Association Board of Directors in 2023, but first joined the board during the pandemic. Speaking on her opportunity to lead, she shared it means a lot. “Professors invested in me, the faculty and staff invested in me, and now it’s my turn to reinvest in the University.” In fact, Surita teared up as she shared about the guidance counselor who helped her find her place at Texas
Wesleyan. “That small environment gave me the opportunity to succeed,” she said, “so why wouldn’t I want to give back?”
As a student, Surita was as a biology major who spent much of her time in the McFadden Science Center labs. These days, outside of her work as Acting STD Prevention Program Manager for the Texas Department of State Health Services, she’s working to make the message from the alumni board loud and clear: Texas Wesleyan cares about its people. As president, Surita spends a lot of time thinking about the many generations who are part of Texas Wesleyan’s rich story. In addition to continuing to honor alumni for their work and helping connect classes of Texas Wesleyan graduates, Surita has a vision for building a more formal alumni association, expanding upon their current events and growing the association to increase awareness of its work.
In addition, she keeps the many first-generation college students that have called Texas Wesleyan home top of mind. She wants to provide them a model of what being part of an alumni association looks like because “these shared experiences are valuable.” Whether it’s for someone who graduated in the 2010s or 1980s, she hopes to explore more of what leads people to reconnect to their university years after graduation. She sees many opportunities for the alumni board to collaborate with the Office of Advancement and President Messer. Speaking of the community amongst members of the board, she shared “the family feeling resonates with all of us.”
Nurturing the Future RAMily: A Vision for Texas Wesleyan’s Next Chapter
Texas Wesleyan’s current strategic plan will be completed at the end of 2025, which means President Messer and University leadership are already working to craft the next strategic plan. Though they’ve just begun, President Messer shared how she sees strategic growth and meeting the needs of the community surrounding Texas Wesleyan as priorities.
For 137 years, Texas Wesleyan has grown alongside Fort Worth. For a city that’s often described as having a small-town feel (despite its population of nearly one million people), it’s not surprising that its oldest university is also repeatedly described in terms of family. As the adage goes, there’s the family you’re born into and then there’s the one you choose for yourself. At Texas Wesleyan, it’s a melding of the two. Relationships here aren’t just woven into the philosophies of its leaders — relationships are their everyday work.
Learn more about these incredible women and how they are shaping the future at txwes.edu/magazine
A
ERA BEGINS :
“A new era,” that’s how Texas Wesleyan’s athletic program has been described going into the 2024–2025 season. And yes, the welcome of head coaches Brad Sherrod (football), Brian Wanamaker (basketball) and Aminah Orozco (volleyball) has brought a new invigoration to campus and alumni alike. If you ask Athletic Director Ricky Dotson, there are a host of things to be proud of both on and off the field, and the growth of the University’s athletic program is just the beginning.
Ricky Dotson is a long-time member of the RAMily. Joining the department in 2012, he rose to the position of athletic director in 2018. He remembers when he first moved into the role — the Rams were taking monumental steps with their athletics, welcoming back a football program that had been on a 76-year hiatus. At that time, there were 330 athletes at Texas Wesleyan. Now, over six years later, the program boasts more than 600 athletes and has added three new sports to the roster. In the 2023–2024 season, Texas Wesleyan’s teams broke records left and right, winning six championships in total. With the increased success spanning multiple sports and the addition of leadership who are game for anything, it’s safe to say that Texas Wesleyan is ready to play ball.
With multiple sports’ seasons underway, it’s high time you were introduced, or re-introduced, to the new faces in three prominent head coaching positions. All with tenured records in their respective sports, the new coaches have infused an air of excitement and motivation on campus. At the same time, they’ve embraced all that makes Texas Wesleyan a unique place: the inherent comradery, a desire to help others and a respect for the community and history that came before. This is their walk-out song.
Coach Brad Sherrod: Leading Football into the Future
In 2016, the Rams threw on their pads and hit the turf, reviving the football program. This season, Coach Brad Sherrod joins the team as head coach. “From the very start, Coach Sherrod saw how football played into the greater piece of Texas Wesleyan University,” Dotson said. Sherrod joins Texas Wesleyan after a long career of building and uplifting teams to perform to their highest potential as both a coach and recruiter.
While the wins and losses are a major part of the coach’s job, at Texas Wesleyan, Coach Sherrod’s role is much deeper. It’s about community, both on and off campus. Coach Sherrod plays an integral role in sharing Texas Wesleyan’s mission as the University is looking to build a new football stadium and fieldhouse.
Coach Sherrod and his staff have continued and embraced the mentorship program established by former Coach Joe Prud’homme. This program partners players with local business leaders to develop relationships that have led to internships, future jobs and overall guidance. Continuing the program has reinforced a strong tradition while introducing a fresh perspective.
Returning to the Court: Coach Brian Wanamaker’s Homecoming
While he’s not new to Texas Wesleyan, Brian Wanamaker has stepped on the court as the Rams’ head basketball coach 15 years after he took the team to the NAIA National Tournament as a player, twice. Bringing the history that he does, the players have identified with and bought into Coach Wanamaker’s leadership, Dotson (who, coincidentally, coached Wanamaker when he was still a player) remarked. Coach Wanamaker initially returned to home court to serve as assistant coach under Brennen Shingleton in 2019, where he was trained and molded to take over Shingleton’s winning legacy.
While Coach Wanamaker’s tenured history helped guide him to this position, it’s his drive and determination that propel the new season of Rams basketball. Dotson remembers during the interview process, it was Wanamaker’s passion for bringing the same school spirit and pride that he felt during his time as a student-athlete that made him stand out.
Energizing the Game:
Coach Aminah Orozco’s Vibrant Leadership in Volleyball
Coming to the line and rounding out the head coaching staff is Aminah Orozco who leads the women’s volleyball team. Coach Orozco joined Texas Wesleyan in July of 2024, which put her on the fast track to getting the Lady Rams in game shape. “[Orozco] bounces off the walls, is vibrant,” said Dotson. The energy Coach Orozco brings to the volleyball team is completely reflective of her coaching approach, embracing the “cariñosa,” or the affectionate and caring nature, she grew up with in El Paso.
With a love for volleyball that started in the eighth grade, Coach Orozco has been a mainstay in Texas Wesleyan’s conference as the former head coach at the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma. She left the team in 2023 to serve as the assistant head coach at the University of North Texas where the team competed in its third National Invitational Volleyball Championship.
Building off the winning tradition Texas Wesleyan’s volleyball team has established, Dotson and the athletic department are committed to providing the support she needs to succeed.
Building Beyond the Field: Supporting the Whole Student-Athlete
While Texas Wesleyan’s athletic teams have bright seasons ahead, Dotson’s priorities don’t stop there. A significant part of the department’s mission is to care and guide the whole student, especially in the classroom.
These goals and achievements have been partially made possible through the addition of an assistant athletic director for academic services and retention that joined the program in 2021. Since the addition of the role, eight of Texas Wesleyan’s teams were recognized with the Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athlete Award. Thus far in 2024, 18 of the 19 Texas Wesleyan teams have received this recognition.
Ricky Dotson is proud of the department he helms. From the students to the staff, it is a diverse group of people who are
We really feel that our role and responsibility is to help our athletes develop into community leaders.
motivated to go above and beyond for a fellow Ram. The impact the University has on the young athletes transcends just playing a sport and molds individuals to be incredible citizens, family members and friends. “I want our department to be known as resilient. We’re going to be tough, we’re going to be determined,” Dotson closed with pride.
Coach Wanamaker
Coach Sherrod
Coach Orozco
Athletic Director Ricky Dotson
Growth within Texas Wesleyan has been happening at an accelerated rate over the last several years. Under the watchful eye of Athletic Director Ricky Dotson, programs have built upon winning streaks, high-achieving academics and a fostering of community. However, this growth has left the athletic program bursting at the seams for space across all of its individual teams. Enter a new state-of-the-art facility that will help usher the Rams into its new era of athletics.
Texas Wesleyan has officially broken ground on the 9,600 sq. ft. Moritz Fieldhouse that will be the answer to some of the more immediate space needs.
Located on Avenue D between Binkley and Wesleyan Streets, the new fieldhouse will feature home and away locker rooms for the football and track and field programs. It’s also the University’s goal to move the soccer program into the new facility. Apart from the locker rooms, storage will be added for all training equipment so that teams no longer have to lug their gear across campus. The coaching staff can also look forward to additional office space and a meeting space for their teams to review videos and strategize for future games.
The new Moritz Fieldhouse won’t just be for the players and staff, but for fans and alumni as well. Just across the street from the future Karen Cramer Athletic Stadium, the grounds of the Moritz Fieldhouse will be the perfect place to set up a tailgate and get ready to cheer the team to victory.
The construction of the new fieldhouse is part of a phased plan to further develop Texas Wesleyan’s athletic program that was spurred by the return of the Rams’ football program. The fourth phase of the plan includes the design of the new stadium featuring a press box, seating and concessions area. This phase is currently underway.
The Rams hope to be in the facility by summer 2025, in time for football season.
SPONSORS!
The Office of Alumni Relations would like to thank the sponsors who supported alumni events in the 2023-2024 school year. The generous support from these alumni and friends makes it possible for us to do more to engage our alumni and support our students.
Moritz Dealerships
PNC Bank
The Rios Group
Goodwill Industries of Fort Worth, Inc.
Laura and Rick McWhorter ’81
Texas Health Resources
Beverly Powell
Dan Whitsell ’73 and Whitsell and Company
Greg Phillips ’70 and Phillips Total Health
Terry O’Halloran ’77 and Monticello Liquor
Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce
Fort Worth Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
The Fort Worth Report
Trader Joe’s Fort Worth
City Kitchen Catering
The Mindful Market
Thank you for your generosity.
Are you or your business interested in supporting an alumni event? Contact us at 817-531-6548 or alumni@txwes.edu
RAMS AT WORK
1960s
Dr. Dennis C. Jackson '60 finished his first year as President of the Denver Lyric Opera Guild. He was formerly the head of the Opera Program in the College of Music at the University of Colorado, Boulder for 25 years.
1970s
Michael Denis '74 has been selected by Trinity University to serve on a committee to write the complete history of the Graduate Program of Healthcare Administration at Trinity.
1980s
Margaret Mitchell '83 retired from the University of the Incarnate Word Theatre Arts Dept. and is now a Professor Emerita. She is designing costumes for a new ballet about Edgar Allan Poe for Ballet Austin, and she designs costumes for the Japanese company Theatre Nohgaku. She is also working on several book projects.
1980s
Dr. Robin (Bassham McClanahan) Hall '81 published her first book in Nov. 2023 titled The Other Side of Illness: Unexpected Blessings. It has been a best seller in six categories on Amazon. She recently retired from her full-time concierge medical practice and now spends her time speaking, promoting the book and traveling.
AWARD-WINNING RAMS
2000s
RAMILY UPDATES 2000s
GOT NEWS? SHARE IT.
Karen (Snipes) Bullock '86 has made a career change after teaching kindergarten for 29 years, the last 14 of those at Fort Worth Academy. She is now serving as an administrative assistant to the audit team at Weaver Accounting.
2000s
Paula (Andrews) Bennett '08 has been named a Texas Super Lawyer for 2024.
CREATIVE RAMS
1970s
Tom Fegan '78 has published his second book, Amos McCall in Germany.
Jennifer Hilton '02 (featured in image above) received the Life High School Waxahachie Staff of the Month award in November 2023. She currently serves as an Instructional Aide at LHSW.
2010s
Julie Keller '17 has been recognized as a Professional of the Year for 2024 by Strathmore’s Who’s Who Worldwide Edition for her outstanding contributions and achievements in the field of mental healthcare.
We want to know what you’ve been up to since graduation. Class notes are published twice a year. Don't forget to email your updates on new jobs, awards, marriages and baby announcements to alumni@txwes.edu .
you updated
information with our office? Call 817-531-6548 or email us at alumni@ txwes.edu to stay up to date on all alumni news and events.
Francia Hernandez '20 and Juan Adame '19 are engaged!
In Loving Memory
Dr. Frank Norwood
1935-2024
Few faculty members have made a greater mark on Texas Wesleyan than Dr. Frank Norwood. In his 43 years at the university (1960-2003), he was a fixture in the school of business, serving as professor, chair of the department and dean. He was known for his commitment to his students, a clear and meticulous teaching style and his dry wit.
In addition to his work at Texas Wesleyan, Dr. Norwood was deeply involved in his community. He was on the committee that wrote the charter for his hometown of Burleson, Texas and served as the city’s mayor from 19721975. He was a very active member of his church, First Baptist Church in Burleson.
Throughout his career, he received many awards and accolades, but it was his relationships with his students that mattered to him the most.
Donations to the Frank Norwood Endowed Business Scholarship may be made by contacting the Office of Advancement at 817-531-4404 or visiting txwes.edu/give
REMEMBRANCES
Doris R. Allen ‘45 11/11/2023
Marjorie L. Williams ‘47 12/23/2023
Bennie L. Brockette ‘48 7/30/2023
Ada B. Hambric ‘49 7/13/2023
Barbara S. Walkup ‘50 9/3/2023
Bennie R. Atkins ‘50 1/29/2024
Edward S. Baker ‘50 2/5/2024
Evalyn N. Lochridge ‘50 4/5/2024
Gaither L. Day ‘52 10/19/2023
Barney Baker ‘54 11/21/2023
Donald C. Holt ‘54 12/19/2023
Laverne Fletcher ‘54 7/1/2024
Martha J. Collier ‘54 7/27/2024
Bettye S. McDaniel ‘56 1/11/2024
Jackie H. Farmer ‘56 7/17/2023
Joseph E. Chipman ‘56 3/2024
Thomas E. Pritchard ‘56 2/28/2024
Arthur Holley ‘58 2/16/2024
Edward J. Barnes ‘58 1/28/2024
Erin Glenn ‘58 12/23/2023
Jerry C. Brown ‘58 9/22/2023
Ronnie G. McManus ‘58 5/4/2024
Barbara J. Ozment ‘59 8/6/2023
Bill B. Mundy ‘59 4/26/2024
Evelyn V. Pace ‘59 6/27/2024
Charles J. Meyers ‘60 8/23/2023
Gail Grisham ‘60 8/4/2023
Joe R. Johnson ‘60 1/4/2024
Frank W. Hames ‘61 6/5/2024
George E. Brandt ‘61 4/30/2024
Helen R. Jones ‘61 6/21/2024
Nancy H. Coltharp ‘62 6/24/2024
Paula J. Parris ‘62 6/24/2024
David M. Beyer ‘64 8/16/2023
James T. Reuteler ‘64 1/12/2024
Robert L. Wood ‘64 2/15/2024
Charles B. Clark ‘65 1/1/2024
Barbara A. Hughes ‘66 5/23/2024
Jesse H. Shetter ‘66 5/24/2024
Ruby L. Johnston ‘66 1/17/2024
Cynthia A. Bransom ‘67 6/22/2024
David C. Fuchshuber ‘68 7/16/2023
Dale D. Mathers ‘69 12/1/2023
Martha J. Rodgers ‘69 2/21/2024
Billy J. Swink ‘70 11/30/2023
Lyndon G. Culpepper ‘70 2/6/2024
Miles C. Leveridge ‘70 7/11/2023
Raymond C. Brangan ‘70 10/22/2023
Riley J. Brannen ‘70 3/26/2024
Sandra J. Klidas ‘70 4/8/2024
Sandra K. McCutcheon ‘70 6/25/2024
Robert Furman 71 8/12/23
Donna G. McDaniel ‘71 12/27/2023
Helen J. Clemonds ‘71 3/20/2024
Linda A. Belota ‘71 1/21/2024
Carolyn L. Edgmon ‘72 5/20/2024
Manuel Ravey ‘72 7/1/2024
Charles B. Richardson ‘73 3/31/2024
James A. Ingram ‘73 3/2/2024
Janice E. Byrd ‘74 5/3/2024
Mona S. Glover ‘74 11/1/2023
Randall L. Hatley ‘74 5/7/2024
Robie A. Patterson ‘74 5/31/2024
Virginia F. Farrar ‘74 12/7/2023
David R. Kamin ‘75 9/3/2023
James A. Smith ‘75 7/23/2023
James M. Barton ‘75 7/31/2024
John R. Boyd ‘77 8/23/2023
James A. Jones ‘78 1/20/2024
James E. Hinsey ‘78 7/26/2024
Wesley A. Gomer ‘78 9/17/2023
Sandra J. Tankersley ‘79 5/4/2024
Christine E. Ciaburri ‘80 6/15/2024
Teresa D. Dickenson ‘80 7/11/2024
Chris A. Wright ‘81 1/1/2024
Frank R. Kologey ‘81 11/28/2023
Ione Sedinger ‘81 3/13/2024
Jo-Ann Zimmerman ‘81 7/9/2023
Ronald L. Bradley ‘82 9/9/2023
Bennie J. Harvey ‘86 4/30/2024
Misty D. Germaine ‘88 4/1/2024
Laura A. Pierce ‘89 1/13/2024
Robert E. York ‘94 3/22/2024
Jennifer G. Gilson ‘96 3/3/2024
Kelly A. Peppers ‘96 1/26/2024
Ralph Robinowitz ‘98 4/17/2024
Delores L. Hurd ‘99 12/12/2023
Jason M. King ‘06 1/14/2024
Ryan K. Holmes ‘08 7/8/2024
Kimberly M. Knapp ‘10 7/24/2023
Jacqueline A. Valenciano-Melanson ‘11 2/8/2024
Jennifer S. Zimmerer ‘16 7/18/2023
Taj N. Carden ‘23 2/24/2024
ALUMNI ASSOCIATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Karen Surita ‘01 President
Vernon Wright ‘93 Vice President
Jill Kersh ‘92 Secretary
Julie Dugan McCurley ‘06 Treasurer
Eric Montoya ‘07, M.Ed. ‘15 Immediate Past President
Greg Blaser ‘21, MBA ‘22
Branigan Contreras ‘15
Patricia Castillo ‘97, MBA ‘08
Teri Flores ‘97
Jill Forrest ‘73
Jennifer Harrison ‘20
Jen Hilton ‘02
Garry Jones ‘13
Kathryn Keaton ‘04
Deanna Kelley-Hill ‘23
Margi Kluck ‘79
René Lawson ‘81
Courtney Radcliffe ‘01
Sandy Ramirez ‘11, M.Ed. ‘19
Nikkina Robinson ‘10
Christine Rollins ‘87
Xavier Sanders ‘09
Lakendra Stewart ‘03
Lorena Vargas ‘07
Jorge Vivar ‘76
Dan Whitsell ‘73
OFFICE OF ALUMNI RELATIONS STAFF
Jeri Chipman ‘97 Director of Alumni Relations
TO HONOR A RAM IN WESLEYAN MAGAZINE please email alumni@txwes.edu.
Stephanie Diersen Assistant Director of Alumni Relations
CALLING ALL CHAMPIONS
Texas Wesleyan has officially launched the Champions Club, an organization dedicated to providing financial support to the University’s athletic department and its student-athletes. A website with more details on the Champions Club is now available at http://txwes.edu/champions-club.
GO RAMS!
For more information on the Champions Club and giving opportunities ranging from $20 to $10,000, contact Josh Gibbs at jjgibbs@txwes.edu.
