TROY Today Fall/Winter 2021

FALL/ WI N TE R 2021

‘REIMAGINING THE EVERYDAY’ Janet Nolan’s exhibit at TROY’s International Arts Center turns discarded items and trash into art.

FILLING A CRITICAL NEED TROY’s School of Nursing is creating leaders for front-line roles.

TEACHING LEADERSHIP SKILLS TROY’s MSM program prepares students for a multicultural workplace.

T ROY, A L A BA M A Troy offers many diverse activities, places to shop and fun entertainment for a variety of tastes.

Summer and fall are two of the best times to explore all our great city has to offer. Spend an afternoon riding your bike around town. Cheer on our beloved Troy University Trojans. Or visit Historic Downtown Troy for a one-of-a-kind shopping experience as you walk door to door visiting all the locally owned boutiques and stores. We take pride in our activities, pride in our businesses and pride in our citizens.

Discover the diversity within the City of Troy, you might find something new to enjoy!

334-566-0177 • www.troyal.gov @TROYALGOV

/CITYOFTROYALABAMA

@TROY.ALABAMA

As you cheer TROY on to victory this football season, show your team spirit by joining Troy University’s Alumni Association.

Visit troy.edu/alumni to find out more about becoming a part of one of TROY’s largest, active organizations! Go Trojans!

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TROY TODAY Executive Editor

Troy University Marketing and Communication Fall/Winter 2021

Samantha Johnson Editor Rob Drinkard (’09)

From the desk of the Chancellor

Art Directors Madelyn Flanagan (’19)

This edition of TROY Today features a former visiting artist whose work is beautifying our campus while teaching lessons in environmental stewardship. The artist, the late Janet Nolan, used everyday objects in her creations to show the value of things we often toss aside. Her work “High Tide” is on permanent display in the atrium of our Trojan Fitness and Wellness Center.

Ms. Nolan’s artwork has been displayed across the nation, including commissioned exhibitions at Harvard University, the University of Virginia, and at Bloomingdale’s, the landmark New York City department store. Her exhibition, “Reimagining the Everyday,” will be on display at TROY through Jan. 9, 2022, at the International Arts Center. I recommend our alumni consider making time to tour the IAC this fall during campus visits.

This issue profiles one of our signature academic programs — nursing. In 1967, the Alabama Legislature appropriated $250,000 to establish nursing education at TROY, with the first students enrolling in the fall of 1969.

That $250,000 investment — though substantial at the time — has proved to be a bargain, as TROYtrained nurses are among the most outstanding in the field. Within the next five years, our nursing students will have a beautiful new home in the health sciences building, which will be constructed on the site where Hamil and Gardner halls once stood. This edition includes a story about alumnus Billy Jones, who has achieved great success in the health care industry. Mr. Jones has made a generous gift to TROY — the largest pledge from an individual in University history — to make this new health sciences building a reality. Trojans everywhere owe Billy and Frances Jones their gratitude for this transformational gift.

As recent world events have shown, outstanding health care professionals are needed now more than ever. I am proud of our record of success in this academic discipline, as I am proud of the difference our nursing alumni make every day.

As always, TROY Today introduces our readers to fellow Trojans who are achieving great things and have interesting stories to tell. Josie Russell Young is one such alumna. Through her work at the family construction business in Montgomery, Josie became part of the HGTV show “Home Town Takeover,” which undertook a whole-town makeover of Wetumpka, Alabama. I should add that Ms. Young was the keynote speaker to our incoming students at our annual Odyssey Convocation and did an excellent job!

In closing, I encourage all alumni to get in touch with our staff of the TROY Today magazine.

Let us know what you’re doing, and tell us about the milestones — large and small — in your lives.

We love to hear from you!

Mark Moseley (’97, ’99) Copy Editors Andy Ellis Kristin Frazier Contributors Faith West Byrd (’81, ’87) Matt Clower (’04) Tom Davis (’81) Andy Ellis Madelyn Flanagan (’19) Kristin Frazier Kyle George Anna Gooden (’06) Carrie Jaxon Marion Givhan Heather Jeffcoat Brent Jones Hannah Keiser Clif Lusk Jane Martin (’97, ’99) Amya Mitchell Sarah Mountain Greg Phillips (’06) Adam Prendergast Jonathan Sellers (’07, ’11) Savanah Weed (’17) Meredith Welch (’19) Joshua Yohn (’07, ’14) Photographers Joey Meredith (’16) Mark Moseley (’97, ’99)

Chancellor Jack Hawkins, Jr., Ph.D.

Sincerely,

Senior Vice Chancellor, Advancement & Economic Development Maj. Gen. Walter D. Givhan (USAF, ret.) (’89) Chief Marketing Officer

Jack Hawkins, Jr., Ph.D. Chancellor

Samantha Johnson Director, Alumni Affairs Faith West Byrd (’81, ’87)

TROY Today magazine welcomes comments, ideas and suggestions from readers. Editors reserve the rights to determine if letters to the editor will be published and to edit submissions for content and length. Copyright 2021

by Troy University, all rights reserved. Troy University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award associate, baccalaureate, master’s, education specialist and doctoral degrees. Contact the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 300334097 or call 404-679-4500 for questions about the accreditation of Troy University.

TROY Today magazine is published for alumni members, donors, students, parents and friends of Troy University.

For more information, contact the Office of Marketing and Communication at: 256 Adams Administration Building, Troy, AL 36082 Phone: 334-670-5830 Email: troymagazine@troy.edu Find us on: troy.edu/social and at www.troy.today Advertising: Contact Marketing at 334-670-5830 or see the media guide at troy.edu/advertising.

Senior Director, University Relations Matt Clower (’04) Director, Advertising Rob Drinkard (’09) Director, Web Communication Joshua Yohn (’07, ’14) President, Troy University Alumni Association Roni Holley (’77)

YOU DREAM OF BRINGING AN IDEA TO LIFE. WE MAKE IT REAL.

Monica Young (’89, Ph.D. student)

We’re teaching a new generation to Lead Change with Troy University’s IDEA Bank and the Troy Bank & Trust Entrepreneurship Program. We provide students with a collaborative, creative environment for learning and support student-centric entrepreneurship and new ventures. Students receive the knowledge, resources and support to help bring their ideas to the world. Be part of a family of leaders with more than 170,000 alumni worldwide. It’s your time to Lead Change. troy.edu/timetolead

Dr. Dee Bennett (’93, ’97)

www.visitingmontg omery.com

Experience Montgomery

M O N T G O M E R Y, A L A B A M A

FALL/WINTER 2021

On The Cover Can-Can, Janet Nolan

Plastic bottle caps, wires and straws

Photography by: Mark Moseley

NEWS

ATHLETICS

2 From the desk of the Chancellor

32 Leadership for today’s workplace

6 Flex format offers learning options

TROY’s Master of Science in Management program teaches students how to adapt to change, which is a vital component for effective leadership.

7 Bermuda college fair

45 Sports Hall of Fame 46 Meade named baseball coach

8 SBDC contributes to business’ success

48 Schultz named men’s golf coach

9 Educational partners 10 FAA training program 11 Tree campus award 12 Math camp for girls 13 Ideation X Gallery

34 ‘Reimagining the Everyday’ The late Janet Nolan’s exhibit at TROY’s International Arts Center and other installations throughout Alabama campuses emphasize the importance of preserving and protecting the environment, which goes hand in hand with TROY’s leadership in environmental studies and recycling.

14 Audio theatre

49 Cunningham named cross country coach 50 Fall sports preview

STUDENTS 52 IDEA Bank supports student entrepreneurs 53 SGA President promotes inclusion 54 Sweet success

15 Ketchum named Coleman director

55 Alvarez wins ASBBS award

16 ‘America’s Original Sin’ exhibit

56 Can Castle event

18 2021 award season

57 CCFA student awards

FACULTY & STAFF

ALUMNI

20 Gathering of Eagles

Chorus, Neckties and aluminum wire

21 Music collaboration

38 The profession of knowledge & heart

22 Chancellor’s Fellows

DONORS & GIVING 23 Elliott donates

Troy University’s School of Nursing prepares students for the hands-on, front-line, critical-care roles nurses play every day in their profession.

58 Alumni of the Year 60 Alum Notes 61 HGTV’s ‘Home Town Takeover’

24 Jones supports health sciences 26 Giving Day 27 Donors supporting Troy University 28 Parkers give back 29 Cain endows scholarship

63 Copper Sky Distillery 64 Alumni Board gives back

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IN CLASS, ONLINE, ON DEMAND FLEX FORMAT OFFERS LEARNING OPTIONS FOR ALL STUDENTS In August, TROY debuted a new class format that combines the best features of online and in-class experiences — Flex Classes.

Flex Classes are a hybrid of online and in-class learning. Classes offered in the new format will hold regular in-class sessions (for now on TROY’s Dothan, Montgomery and Phenix City campuses), and each class session will also be streamed live online at the same time. In addition, recordings of each class session will be available for on-demand viewing later.

Students enrolled in Flex Classes can freely switch between formats based on their needs. Students can attend in person if they prefer the face-to-face experience, watch online from a location convenient to them or catch up on classes they missed by watching them later. All coursework will be completed online.

“For decades, Troy University has proudly offered classes in a variety of formats designed to meet the needs of students,” said Dr. Lance Tatum, Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs. “The Troy Campus offers a traditional, residential campus experience, while our three other Alabama campuses are uniquely designed for working adults. Our pioneering online programs provide flexibility and convenience. Now, we are excited to debut this new format that fully integrates the online and in-class experience and gives students even more flexibility.”

The Flex format was piloted in six classes in Term 1: • Education Leadership and Motivation, ADE-3301-MTHA, Lee Ammons (Montgomery Campus) • Continuous Improvement, MSM-6645-DTHA, Richard Voss (Dothan Campus) • Integrated STEM, EDU-3308-DTHA, Donna Tharp (Dothan Campus) • Comparative Politics of Latin America, IR-6641-PTHA, Alexis Henshaw (Phenix City Campus) • Economics of Globalization, ECO-4451-PTHA, Jennings Byrd (Phenix City Campus) • Introduction to Database Systems, CS-4420-MTHA, Imren Dinc (Montgomery Campus) FOR MORE INFORMATION ON FLEX CLASSES VISIT TROY.EDU/FLEX.

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INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS HOST FIRST BERMUDA COLLEGE FAIR Troy University teamed up with the U.S. Department of State, EducationUSA and the U.S. Consulate General Hamilton to host a virtual information session for Bermudians in March.

The free event was led by TROY’s International Admissions Office. “We are pleased to offer the citizens of Bermuda this chance to experience Troy University in a unique way and learn what the University can offer students,” said Sohail Agboatwala, former Vice Chancellor for International Programs and current Interim Senior Vice Chancellor for Student Services and Administration.

The session included a campus tour and introduction of the University, an overview of the city of Troy and academic programs offered by TROY. Attendees learned about the application process, scholarship options, campus life and student activities, as well as discovering their pathway to a degree.

The virtual open house featured a greeting from Troy University Chancellor Dr. Jack Hawkins, Jr., Acting U.S. Consul General to Bermuda Alan Purcell and TROY alumnus the Hon. Kim Swan (’80), JP, MP — a proud member of the University’s 1979 NCAA Gold Team in golf.

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT INTERNATIONAL ADMISSIONS VISIT TROY.EDU/INTERNATIONAL.

DO YOU HAVE AN IDEA THAT COULD

CHANGE THE WORLD? WANT TO MAKE IT REAL? Troy University’s “Make It Real” Project wants to help you Lead Change in a positive way. We’re looking for an idea for a product or service that could have a real impact on your school, community, state or the world.

If you have a project in mind, simply pitch your idea in a three-minute elevator speech on video. Then send your video submissions to troy.edu/makeitreal.

If you win, you’ll receive a scholarship to TROY and partial funding for your project. The winning idea will be announced in the spring of 2022.

MAKE IT REAL

Learn more at troy.edu/makeitreal

PROJECT

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(from left) John Cappadoro and Jim McDonough

SBDC MAKES MEANINGFUL IMPACT ON VETERANS’ BUSINESS When Jim McDonough was looking at his options after serving in the military for 22 years, he and his business partner, John Cappadoro, decided to launch a small business.

More than a decade later, Veterans Cleaning Solutions will post nearly $1 million in sales with a 26% net profit. The company provides interior and exterior cleaning to families throughout the Wiregrass area, supporting military and civilian communities with the integrity gained over decades of selfless service to their country.

McDonough said today’s performance wouldn’t have been possible without the assistance of the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at Troy University, which focused the team’s corporate vision at several junctures.

“We were initially introduced to the SBDC during our transition out of the military,” he said. They took a few courses offered by the SBDC and started working their business.

“For about two-and-a-half years, we built the business on our own — living off our retirement incomes and trying to make the business get off the ground,” McDonough said. Soon the team set their sights on expansion into the Dothan market, but McDonough firmly pushed for a more concrete plan. A $200 investment in a NxLevel entrepreneurship training course seemed like a great start.

“Harry Grier was our instructor and when we got to the week where we had to forecast our financials, the forecast told us we were headed toward bankruptcy,” McDonough said. “We

knew we were in trouble, and we brought it to the attention of the SBDC staff. They started working with us and we started retooling the company.”

One of the solutions was to pay off outstanding debt quickly; they also hired a business coach and leaned on the financial principles of authors such as Dave Ramsey and Mike Michalowicz. The partners pushed all available resources into the business, aided by their hard-earned military retirement.

“You get out of it [the SBDC] what you put into it. If you don’t engage them, they can’t help you,” he said. “But it is a very leverageable asset. I don’t think people know how to use their local SBDC. It’s that planner, mentor and someone to bounce ideas off of.”

As COVID-19 began to impact the company’s business, the SBDC rose to the occasion once again to advocate on behalf of Veterans Cleaning Solutions, working with lenders and facilitating information exchanges. “We’re lifetime servants.

We’re not here to be the biggest company in the world, but we do believe everybody deserves phenomenal service and amazing results,” he said.

Jim McDonough and John Cappadoro needed to deliver on a dream, and the key to their perseverance was the support received from the SBDC at Troy University.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE SBDC AT TROY UNIVERSITY CALL 334-770-2620.

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TROY & GEORGIA MILITARY COLLEGE CREATE EDUCATIONAL PARTNERSHIP Georgia Military College (GMC) and TROY, in the spirit of academic cooperation, signed an articulation agreement to facilitate the transfer of graduates of GMC to Troy University.

At GMC, one of the core missions is to provide pathways for the successful transfer of its degree programs and coursework into a four-year institution. In alignment with this mission, this agreement with Troy University expands educational opportunities for GMC graduates wanting to pursue a bachelor-level degree.

“We welcome the chance for Georgia Military College graduates to seamlessly complete their undergraduate degrees at Troy University. TROY can become a second home for GMC students,” said Dr. Lance Tatum, Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs.

For generations, Troy University has understood the needs of the military student and has built a military inclusive institution offering a broad range of high quality, very affordable undergraduate and graduate academic programs supported by outstanding student services.

This agreement formally recognizes that GMC and Troy University are committed to the establishment of an

educational partnership to better serve currently enrolled and future students at both institutions, as well as support economic development in the communities served by these educational institutions. Under the terms of the agreement, GMC students who have earned an associate degree will qualify for unconditional admission with a 2.0 GPA on a minimum of 24 semester hours of college work attempted.

“At GMC, our motto is ‘Start Here … Go Anywhere,’ and this partnership ensures that our students can do just that and complete their bachelor’s degree at Troy University,” said Lt. Gen. (Ret.) William B. Caldwell, IV, President of GMC. “We’re thrilled to partner with Troy University in this way, to continue contributing to student success.”

Photo: (from left back) David Fulmer, GMC Associate Vice President for Academic Records and Institutional Registrar; Dr. Derek Stone, GMC Associate Chief Academic Officer; Dr. Dionne Rosser-Mims, TROY Phenix City Campus Vice Chancellor; Retired Army Maj. Gen. David C. Coburn, GMC Executive Director of Columbus Campus; and Dr. Lance Tatum, TROY Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs

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TROY UNIVERSITY SELECTED FOR FAA TRAINING PROGRAM The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) selected TROY’s Unmanned Aerial Systems program for the Unmanned Aircraft Systems-Collegiate Training Initiative (UAS-CTI).

“I am extremely proud that Troy University has been accepted into this prestigious national drone collegiate studies program,” said Dr. Jack Hawkins, Jr., Chancellor of TROY. “We are the first institution in Alabama to join this consortium of schools offering courses in Unmanned Aerial Systems.”

The FAA’s UAS-CTI program recognizes institutions that prepare students for careers in UAS, commonly referred to as drones. To qualify for the initiative, schools must offer a bachelor’s or associate degree in UAS or a degree with a minor, concentration or certificate in UAS. Qualifying institutions must provide curriculum covering various aspects of UAS training, including hands-on flight practice, maintenance, uses, applications, privacy concerns, safety and federal policies.

The initiative’s long-term goal is to collaborate with schools to deliver up-to-date UAS training that matches the requirements of the National Airspace System and helps provide qualified applicants for careers involving UAS.

“Joining this consortium with the FAA and more than 70 colleges and universities across the nation will enhance TROY’s UAS minor studies,” said TROY UAS Program Coordinator Al Allenback, a retired Air Force Colonel and fighter pilot. “In addition to sharing ideas and training concepts, being a part of the FAA’s UAS-CTI program allows Troy University a better opportunity to participate in UAS research grants. In total, being a part of this national program will help the UAS program continue to expand and prepare our students for exciting and well-paying careers that utilize drone technology.”

The UAS minor is part of the Bachelor of Applied Science in Resource Management and Technology and falls under the auspices of the College of Arts and Sciences’ Geospatial Informatics Department. The minor can be associated with any major and includes courses in UAS piloting familiarization and FAA Part 107, remote sensing, human factors and safety, UAS design, legal and ethical considerations and research into realworld UAS applications.

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TREE CAMPUS THE TROY CAMPUS HAS RECEIVED THIS DESIGNATION EVERY YEAR SINCE 2013, AND THE DOTHAN, MONTGOMERY AND PHENIX CITY CAMPUSES HAVE RECEIVED IT EVERY YEAR SINCE 2015.

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All four of Troy University’s campuses in Alabama have been awarded the Tree Campus Higher Education designation by the Arbor Day Foundation.

The program recognizes colleges and universities for effective forest management on campus and for engaging staff and students in conservation goals. Troy University’s campuses in Troy, Dothan, Montgomery and Phenix City achieved the title by meeting Tree Campus Higher Education’s five standards, which include maintaining a tree advisory committee, a campus tree-care plan, dedicated annual expenditures for its campus tree program, an Arbor Day observance and a student service-learning project.

“It is a reflection of our care and attention to planting and maintaining a healthy tree population, which benefits current students, as well as generations of students to come, on all of our campuses,” said Mark Salmon, former Physical Plant Director at Troy University.

Tree-planting ceremonies and activities were held at each of TROY’s Alabama campuses during 2020 as a part of the requirements of the Tree Campus Higher Education program and to celebrate “Alabama’s Most Beautiful Campus.”

THIS AWARD WAS GIVEN IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE ALABAMA FORESTRY COMMISSION.

HERBARIUM UPGRADES RESOURCES Troy University’s Herbarium completed upgrades and renovations that expanded its resources and storage abilities.

TROY’s Herbarium collection currently consists of more than 55,000 specimens of vascular plants, mosses, liverworts and lichens.

“This collection serves as a critical resource for biodiversity, ecological and evolutionary research, not only for TROY faculty and students, but also for researchers around the world,” said Dr. Alvin Diamond, Curator for the Herbarium.

A grant from the National Science Foundation allowed an upgrade to the storage capacity of TROY’s Herbarium and ensured that the specimens are “properly housed” and “that the data contained with them is available on the web.”

“The grant allowed us to acquire a mobile storage compactor system to increase storage space along with new cabinets to accommodate growth as well as to replace damaged ones,” Dr. Diamond said. “We were also able to acquire a new camera and macro lens for the imaging of specimens and two computers, three monitors and two external hard drives for use in databasing and imaging specimens.”

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NEWS Dr. Ken Roblee, Professor and Mathematics Division Chair, hopes that Troy University’s first summer mathematics camp will add up to greater interest in the STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) fields among female students.

The “Girls Get Math with Data” camp targeted female students from grades 10–12 from area high schools and was made possible by an Epsilon Fund grant for Young Scholars Programs from the American Mathematics Society. Students from Brundidge, Ozark, Montgomery, Pike Road and Troy attended the camp.

Participants engaged in activities that reinforced the need for math in everyday life. The group also had a visit from both a representative of the Alabama Department of Public Health and an assistant coach from the TROY Women’s Basketball team to discuss how statistical data is calculated and used in areas such as public health and sports.

Renna Chen, a rising sophomore at Montgomery’s LAMP High School, said the camp wasn’t all about numbers.

“This week we tried to divert from the stereotype that math is just about numbers,” Chen said. “We learned about a field called math cryptography and learned about how data can be used in different forms.”

Show your Trojan Pride this Christmas season with the Troy University Alumni Association’s 2021 ornament.

In 2004, Alabama artist and Troy University alumnus Larry Strickland created the 9-foot-tall bronze Trojan Warrior sculpture which soars above the Academic Quad and fountain on the Troy Campus. Similar statues are found on the University’s campuses in Dothan, Montgomery and Phenix City, as well as one that overlooks the football field at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Troy, Alabama.

The Troy University Alumni Association’s 2021 Christmas ornament features the Trojan Warrior sculpture set inside a snow globe.

For more information go to troy.edu/alumni.

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Troy University’s graphic design students now have their award-winning art displayed at the IDEA Bank “to bring life and art to Downtown Troy.”

The Ideation X Gallery is a partnership between the IDEA Bank and the Department of Art and Design’s Center for Design, Technology and Industry (DTI) .

Chris Stagl, an Associate Professor of Graphic Design, and the Creative Director and Designer behind the gallery; Dr. Judson Edwards, Dean of the Sorrell College of Business; and Ed Noriega, Director of the Design Center and a Professor of Graphic Design, worked together to create the external gallery around the walls of the IDEA Bank.

The murals were designed in Stagl’s Fall 2020 typography class.

Stagl later met with TROY First Lady Janice Hawkins who liked the projects the students created.

“She then gave me the thumbs up to move forward with getting them installed on the outside of the IDEA Bank,” Stagl said.

Stagl worked alongside the students to get the designs created in the proper format and size to be displayed. The murals represent the students’ interpretation of what it means to

“inspire creativity, ingenuity and collaboration.” Stagl said he “could not be more proud” of the designs the students created.

“It really shows an expert level of thinking and an extremely creative process when I look at the output,” he said.

Olivia Kattos is a graphic design student at TROY whose mural is displayed at the IDEA Bank.

“When I heard the department was printing [the mural project] for an external gallery, I was ecstatic,” Kattos said. “I have never had my work shown on this kind of scale.”

Kattos also won an American Advertising Federation Award (ADDY) for her mural.

Other students whose murals are displayed include Abby Vignuelle, Ashley Jones, Carly Boyd, Collen Layton, Dang Long, Hannah Keiser, Jazmyn Fletcher, Katie Genetti, Kai Xu, Natalie Blocker and Nekel Anthony TO VIEW A GALLERY OF THE STUDENTS’ ARTWORK VISIT TROY.EDU/IDEATIONX.

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EXPERIMENTATION IN AUDIO THEATRE

Troy University’s Department of Theatre and Dance took to the airwaves this summer with the audio musical “Tinyard Hill” premiering on TROY Public Radio.

“Tinyard Hill” was written by TROY faculty member Tommy Newman and collaborator Mark Allen. Students and faculty recorded and produced the audio drama in a local studio in Brundidge, Alabama.

The musical was a four-person show set in a small town in Georgia in the 1960s.

“It touches on some of the things that were happening,” said Tori Lee Averett, Chair of the Department of Theatre and Dance. “Most notably, the two things that it touches on content-wise are the Vietnam War and the aspects of racial harmony in the South in a difficult time.”

Although set during a challenging period, Averett sees a deeper meaning behind the script.

“I think it’s much more about how we are to each other as neighbors and as people in a community,” Averett said. “It’s about some of the basic ideas of how we treat one another.”

The Theatre Department began exploring the idea of an audio production as a way to reach audiences during a time when live performances were restricted due to COVID-19.

The Theatre and Dance Department collaborated with TROY Public Radio to release the audio musical on air.

“This past year, we’ve really worked to try to find different ways to get out to the audiences who we love and who have

come to expect things we’re producing,” Averett said. “One of the ways that we’ve experimented with ‘Tinyard Hill’ is audio theatre.”

TROY Public Radio Operations Manager Kyle Gassiott said the play is a great opportunity to provide entertaining and artistically compelling content to listeners.

“Audio is really big right now,” Gassiott said. “It’s really hot, and it’s so exciting to have this collaboration with TROY Theatre.

This is the first time that the radio station and the Theatre Department are collaborating to do this, and it’s such an amazing production to be our first.”

Averett performed with her students who were also working alongside Broadway performer Tad Wilson.

“They are with a Broadway performer almost every day,” Averett said. “He’s answering their questions, but they’re also watching how he rehearses and how he behaves.”

Averett said she owes the success of the production to her students. “They have been so resilient during this COVID-19 challenge,” Averett said. “Despite what may be a fearful or doubtful moment in their young lives and in the careers they’ve chosen, I have been floored by how they have come out of it with more eagerness and more hunger. They’re wonderful ambassadors for TROY, and I’m so excited the wider world will experience what I get to see every day.”

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JACQULYN KETCHUM NEW COLEMAN CENTER DIRECTOR Long-time Dothan educator Jacqulyn Ketchum (’96, ’98) was named Director of TROY’s Coleman Center for Early Learning and Family Enrichment located on the Dothan Campus.

“Jacqulyn Ketchum brings with her a treasure-trove of experience in early childhood education, and we are excited about the directions in which the Coleman Center will move under her leadership,” said Dr. Kerry Palmer, Dean of the College of Education. “Ultimately, the families and children of the Wiregrass will benefit from her leadership.”

Ketchum joins the University from the Dothan City Schools System, where she served as an Early Childhood Teacher, Reading Coach and Instructional Coach since 2002. Previously, she was the Director of Kelly Kare Learning Center in Troy, Alabama. She has also taught elementary school in Montgomery, Mobile and Union Springs.

She holds both undergraduate and graduate degrees in early childhood education from TROY.

“I look forward to working with the University and the Coleman Center staff to provide a safe and productive learning environment for our area’s children,” she said.

Ketchum takes the reins from Dr. Tonya Conner, who has served as Interim Director of the Coleman Center since 2020.

INTERACTIVE & ENGAGING VIRTUAL EVENT Chris Stagl, an Associate Professor of Design at Troy University created the YellowHammer Film Festival, a free, virtual one-day event open to all Alabama high school and college students interested in learning more about filmmaking and animation, which was held July 31.

According to Stagl, the festival’s Director, the concept behind YellowHammer Film Festival was to provide an enriching and interactive experience for high school and college students, consisting of virtual workshops, critiques, a keynote speaker, a student exhibition and an awards ceremony.

“The festival was an incredible success as we had involvement from 61 schools and universities across the country,” Stagl said. “In total, we had over 160 entries which were then narrowed down to 42 official selections by our team of judges who were also our guest speakers during our workshops.

With the help of our industry professionals, who work with HBO, Netflix and other universities, we were able to produce

10 hours of event footage which can all be viewed on our YellowHammerFilmFest.com website. The evening culminated in an award ceremony where we gave out 17 awards to winning films and animations — ­ including several to local Alabama high schools and one to TROY student, Tate Moseley, for her Nike Commercial Series. Moseley, a graphic design student, was also on the YellowHammer staff with fellow classmate Destiny Eady and SNHU Professor, Will Napier, all who served in key roles in making the festival a successful event that we are already looking to recreate next summer. ... We hope to continue the YellowHammer Film Festival year over year and make a longlasting impact in the community and state of Alabama.”

THE YELLOWHAMMER FILM FESTIVAL WAS MADE POSSIBLE

BY A MAJOR GRANT FROM THE ALABAMA HUMANITIES ALLIANCE, ALONG WITH MATCHING FUNDS FROM TROY, AND DONE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE ALABAMA FILM OFFICE AND BIRMINGHAM CREATIVE.

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EXHIBIT FOCUSES ON INJUSTICES A recent exhibit, “America’s Original Sin,” displayed at TROY’s Rosa Parks Museum tackled topics such as racism, social justice and the artist’s memories of growing up on a tobacco farm in eastern North Carolina.

Willie Little’s visual narratives document a fading part of rural Southern life, and his installations are layered with humor, irony, complexity and contradiction. He brings found objects to life in his works, challenging viewers to open their minds and hearts to seek unexpected truths. His work incorporates sculpture, painting, sound installations, constructed architecture, recycled memorabilia and real-life stories.

“Resistance to me means using my platform, my voice to speak out unapologetically to what I hear, see and experience — being a witness through the work,” Little said. “I use examples and layers to call out injustices, past and present.”

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE ROSA PARKS MUSEUM AND TO SCHEDULE A TOUR VISIT TROY.EDU/ROSAPARKS.

ROSA PARKS MUSEUM CELEBRATES JUNETEENTH NATIONAL HOLIDAY Despite the rain, there was an extra sense of excitement among those attending the Troy University Rosa Parks Museum’s Juneteenth Block Party on the Montgomery Campus.

Some of the excitement stemmed from the return to an in-person event after the pandemic pushed last year’s commemoration online. Most of the excitement, however, was the result of President Joe Biden’s signing of legislation declaring Juneteenth as a federal holiday two days earlier.

Observed annually on June 19, Juneteenth is the oldest known commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States, marking the date in 1865 when Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger and his troops landed at Galveston, Texas, with the news that the Civil War had ended and the enslaved were free.

Tents lined each side of the 200 block of Montgomery Street as food and merchandise vendors braved the elements to serve a steady stream of visitors attending the celebration.

“We’ve had a much better crowd than I expected given the weather,” said Donna Beisel, Assistant Director of the Rosa Parks Museum. “People seem to have been excited to come out and celebrate in spite of the rain.”

Beisel said the recognition of Juneteenth as a national holiday did seem to generate an additional amount of excitement that even the remnants of a tropical storm couldn’t douse.

“I think it is long overdue, but I’m glad that we as a nation have recognized Juneteenth as a national holiday,” Beisel said.

“When we started this five years ago, many people didn’t know what Juneteenth was. It has been in the news more and more and with the recent action by Congress and the president, more people are now aware of the significance of the day and why it is important that we celebrate it as a national holiday.”

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‘21 AWARD SEASON SHOWCASE

(from left) Dr. Dan Puckett, Dr. Kathryn Tucker, Dr. Robert D. Carlson, Jamie Sessions, wife of the late Dr. Robert Kruckeberg, and Dr. Allen Jones (from left) Dr. Lance Tatum, Dominique Palmer and Dr. Jack Hawkins, Jr.

INGALLS AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN CLASSROOM TEACHING Dominique Palmer, a Lecturer in the Department of Theatre and Dance, received TROY’s 2021 Ingalls Award for Excellence in Classroom Teaching.

Palmer received the award during the University’s annual Honors Convocation held in April in the Claudia Crosby Theater on the Troy Campus.

The Ingalls Award is given annually to the teacher on the Troy Campus who has “most diligently, effectively and cheerfully conducted his or her classes during the current academic year.” Students nominate faculty members for the award, and a committee of students and faculty advisors select the recipient. The award consists of a statue of Socrates, a plaque and a check for $1,000.

“I am so very honored and greatly humbled to have received such a prestigious award,” Palmer said. “I am grateful to be a part of Troy University as I have had the opportunity to support, nurture and help facilitate the future success of its students. Since my arrival in 2014, I have been surrounded by the highest caliber of young artists, and it has been a joy to see and encourage their growth each day. To be recognized in this way is overwhelming, as I truly and simply just love what I do.”

DR. KRUCKEBERG FACULTY EXCELLENCE AWARD Dr. Kathryn Tucker, Lecturer of History, received the Dr. Robert Kruckeberg Faculty Excellence Award, presented by the TROY Faculty Senate during Honors Convocation in April.

The award, which was previously known as the Faculty Senate Excellence Award, was renamed in January in memory of Dr. Robert Kruckeberg, an Associate Professor of History, who passed away in December 2020 at the age of 43 after a courageous battle with cancer. He had been a member of the TROY faculty since 2012.

The award is presented annually to an outstanding lecturer or adjunct faculty member who demonstrates excellence in the areas of teaching, research and service. It was first presented in 2008.

Dr. Tucker earned her bachelor’s degree in history from Wake Forest and her Ph.D. in history in 2014 from the University of Georgia where she also taught courses on U.S., Southern and African American history.

“Receiving the Dr. Robert Kruckeberg Faculty Excellence Award in recognition of my work at TROY is an incredible honor,” Dr. Tucker said. “I’m so grateful for the opportunity to work with and guide our students on a daily basis, and also to collaborate with such dedicated faculty and colleagues. This award is especially meaningful for me since it honors the memory of my history department colleague Rob, who was himself an excellent teacher, historian and friend.”

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(from left) Dr. Jack Hawkins, Jr., Dr. Sergey Belyi, Dr. Lance Tatum and Dr. Ed Pappanastos, 2020 Malone Award winner

MALONE DISTINGUISHED FACULTY AWARD Dr. Sergey Belyi, Professor and Associate Chair in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics, was awarded TROY’s Wallace D. Malone, Jr. Distinguished Faculty Award during the University’s annual Faculty/ Staff Convocation in August on the Troy Campus.

The award consists of a $1,500 cash prize, a medallion to be worn with academic regalia and a specially designed commemorative artwork featuring a globe to underscore the honor as a University-wide award.

The award is made possible through a $100,000 endowment by the SouthTrust Corporation. Wallace Malone, former Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of SouthTrust, served as a TROY Trustee from 1975-1995.

“Dr. Belyi is described as an all-around, well-balanced professor who exemplifies the qualities of this award,” said Dr. Lance Tatum, Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs. “He is regarded by his students as an effective, engaging instructor whose scholarship is recognized both nationally and internationally with more than 30 peer-reviewed journal articles and a monograph. His peers describe him as a valued mentor and resource to whom they regularly seek out for advice.”

Dr. Belyi said he was honored to be recognized with the Malone Award. “Being selected as a recipient of the Malone Award is an absolute honor, and I am extremely humbled to have been named a recipient. This award is a reminder that the important work we do at Troy University does not go unnoticed.”

(from left) Oshea Beckford, Annie Percy, Martavious Ginyard and Mrs. Janice Hawkins

ALGERNON SYDNEY SULLIVAN AWARDS Troy University honored two students and a faculty member with the 2021 Algernon Sydney Sullivan Awards: Oshea D. Beckford, a senior criminal justice major from Huntsville; Martavious Ginyard, a senior theatre major from Troy; and Annie Percy, an English as a Second Language (ESL) Instructor at TROY. The Sullivan Awards, which are presented at select colleges and universities throughout the United States, recognize recipients for their excellence of character, humanitarian service and spiritual qualities.

“We feel it is appropriate that we present the Sullivan Awards at Troy University because it reflects our focus on leadership and the importance of integrity in leadership,” said Dr. Jack Hawkins, Jr., Chancellor.

“These values, I believe, are more important in our society today than ever before.”

Beckford served as a Student Government Association Senator during 2021 and Vice President of the Criminal Justice Honor Society Alpha Phi Sigma. She founded Project Purpose, an initiative created to bridge the socioeconomic gap hindering certain youth in Jamaica from achieving their educational goals.

Ginyard has performed with the University’s touring group, the Pied Pipers, and appeared in many of the Theatre Department’s productions. An artist and designer, he has his own business, Martavious Ginyard Artwork.

Percy first began teaching at TROY in 2008 and has been a full-time member of the ESL faculty since 2014.

She is an active volunteer for organizations such as the Salvation Army, Save-A-Life and the Montgomery Food Bank, among others.

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FA CULT Y & S TA FF

GREG SKAGGS DESIGNS FOR GATHERING OF EAGLES TROY Art Professor Greg Skaggs designed this year’s book for the Air Command and Staff College’s Gathering of Eagles.

The annual education event allows the community and military members to learn from and honor “Eagles,” people who have significantly contributed to air, space and cyberspace power.

Each year, the Gathering of Eagles involves a class at Maxwell Air Force Base’s Air University in crafting biographies for individuals to be honored as Eagles.

Skaggs provided portraits and artwork for last year’s book, and this year’s book features his design as well. “The artist creates a portrait of each Eagle and a profile or piece of artwork related to the aircraft,” Skaggs said. “I have a hobby that relates to it.

I collect World War II logbooks, pilot logs — so this is something I’ve always been interested in.”

Skaggs said the project involved a lot of work, including the book itself and the Gathering of Eagles poster. “It’s been a fun project,” Skaggs said. “This year, there’s a Tuskegee Airman involved in the group. It’s kind of a dream for me to read about a lot of these people and to meet quite a few of them. This is something I’m really excited about being a part of.”

The first official Gathering of Eagles occurred in 1982. Since then, figures such as Chuck Yeager, Neil Armstrong, John Glenn and George H. W. Bush have served as Eagles.

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SUPPORT TROY PUBLIC RADIO TODAY! Since its founding in 1977, TROY Public Radio’s mission has been to provide listeners with in-depth and comprehensive news coverage and music that enriches the mind and nourishes the spirit.

PLEASE VISIT TROY.EDU/PUBLICRADIO TO DONATE.

FA CULT Y & S TA FF

DR. DAVE CAMWELL COLLABORATES WITH CZECH MUSICIAN Dr. Dave Camwell, Director of Jazz Studies and Associate Professor of Music at Troy University, is gaining social media attention for his concert collaborations with musicians from around the world.

Dr. Camwell’s collaborations are a result of the effect of COVID-19 on the music industry. “A lot of music making in the normal sense suddenly got a lot more difficult,” he said.

Dr. Camwell started making music videos remotely with pianist Tingting Yao and cellist Mary Pshonik. He eventually met Czech saxophone player Katerina Pavlikova and reached out to her online. “We started working together, and it’s been really successful,” Dr. Camwell said.

The music videos have been gaining social media attention, partly due to Pavlikova’s online following.

They’re currently on their fourth music video collaboration.

Dr. Camwell will continue working with his collaborators until they meet for a live concert next spring at a conference in Stillwater, Oklahoma.

Their music video concerts are currently available on his YouTube channel.

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FA CULT Y & S TA FF

(from left) Dr. Jonathan Cellon, Dr. Robert Vilardi, Joshua Yohn, Dr. Jack Hawkins, Jr., Dr. Carrie Lee Gardner, Dr. Fred J. Figliano and Dr. John Kline

2021 CHANCELLOR’S FELLOWS The Chancellor’s Faculty and Staff Fellowship Program, which is directed and led by Dr. John Kline, former Professor and Director of the Institute for Leadership Development, spans the spring and summer academic semesters and enables Fellows to take part in briefings, meet as a group with many senior leaders from the University and be mentored by Dr. Jack Hawkins, Jr. and the Senior Vice Chancellors. The Fellows also have the opportunity to meet with state government officials and business and community leaders.

“The Chancellor’s Faculty and Staff Fellowship Program enables qualified full-time faculty or staff to develop increased knowledge and understanding of the programs and operations of Troy University; furthermore, the Fellows receive executive leadership, management and communication skills training,” said Dr. Kline. “Participants are selected based on their leadership potential and service to the University.”

Many Chancellor’s Fellows from previous years now hold positions as Vice Chancellors, Associate Vice Chancellors, Deans, Associate Deans, Program Directors, Department Chairs and other key positions.

This year’s Fellows completed a study focused on “Enhancing Communication and Collaboration Across the University.”

The Fellows were nominated by TROY Deans, Directors or Vice Chancellors. Five were selected from a list of candidates: Dr. Jonathan Cellon is the Associate Dean of the John W. Schmidt Center for Student Success where he oversees a variety of programs focused on academic support, advising and community engagement.

Dr. Fred J. Figliano currently serves as an Associate Professor and Department Chair of Teacher Education in TROY’s College of Education.

Dr. Carrie Lee Gardner is an Associate Professor of Nursing at TROY and has 23 years of clinical experience as a Registered Nurse and Family Nurse Practitioner.

Dr. Robert Vilardi is the Campus Coordinator for the College of Arts and Sciences at the Montgomery Campus, the Director of the Bachelor of Applied Science in Resource and Technology Management and also a Lecturer of Mathematics.

Mr. Joshua Yohn is the Director of Web Communication for TROY’s Office of Marketing and Communication.

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D ON O R S & G I VING

(from left) Paul and Tara Elliott and Bill Elliott

BILL ELLIOTT DONATES $100,000 BECAUSE OF SON’S EXPERIENCE Parents always want the best for their children. For Bill Elliott, when his son, Paul, received a leadership scholarship in 1990, he quickly saw that choosing TROY was the best decision.

There was an instant connection for Paul with TROY that was just the beginning.

A few decades later, Bill Elliott, who resides in Macon, Georgia, was moved to give $100,000 in scholarship funds to establish the Paul W. and Tara J. Elliott Leadership Endowment Scholarship in his son’s and daughter-in-law’s honor.

“As I visited Paul in Troy, I was impressed with the University, and especially Chancellor Hawkins and other personnel.

Paul’s scholarship meant a lot to him and enabled him to have a successful college experience,” said Bill Elliott. “The leadership scholarship has helped my son, Paul, in so many ways. My hope is that providing this scholarship for others will motivate and provide them with the future success that our family has experienced.”

TROY is also where Paul met his wife, Tara, a 1995 TROY elementary education graduate. Paul graduated in business education and is currently in his 25th year of commercial property and casualty insurance sales. He works with Valent Group, EBSCO Industry. He and his family currently reside in Daphne, Alabama.

“I think my dad knows that TROY was a great decision for my college career, and he has seen the long-lasting relationships that began at TROY. This University has given Tara and me great memories, great relationships and, most of all, a great education. He understands the investment today will impact students for many years,” said Paul.

Paul and Tara are both devoted to TROY, and now their children are Trojans too. Their daughter, Elizabeth Grace, and their son, John, are both currently attending TROY.

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Frances and Billy Jones

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JONES’ $2 MILLION GIFT TO BENEFIT HEALTH SCIENCES Billy Jones knows a thing or two about hard pleased that I can give back to help these programs work and what it takes to be successful. The at Troy University better prepare our future health Troy University alumnus is President of Crowne care workers.”

Management, LLC, which operates 17 nursing homes TROY Chancellor Dr. Jack Hawkins, Jr. called Jones’ in Alabama, from Mobile to Huntsville, along with generous donation to the University transformative. assisted living and therapy facilities, a home health “We are extremely grateful to Mr. Jones for care and hospice service. his generosity and his ongoing support of Troy Now, Jones is seeking to help TROY students University,” Dr. Hawkins said. “This type of generous who want to enter health sciences fields with a gift will have a transformative impact on our transformative gift of $2 million, the largest pledge programming and how we serve and equip health from an individual in the history of the University. sciences students for their vital roles within the “I have been very successful, and I felt workforce. We often say that the most like I needed to give back to TROY,” important thing we do at Troy said Jones, who is a member of University is serve students. the Troy University Foundation Mr. Jones’ generous gift is I believe that we Board of Directors. “It is evidence of the culture of must do everything in our power to educate more nurses something that makes me caring that exists at TROY, and health care workers.

Doing feel very good to be able not only among our faculty so will have a tremendous impact to do. Everything I have and staff, but also among on the health care industry, not been involved with from a our alumni. This will impact only here in Alabama, but also business perspective has had Troy University students for throughout the country. something to do with health generations to come.”

— Billy Jones care, so it was very important Jones and his wife, Frances, for me to give a gift that would reside in Monroeville and are both help health-related programs.” committed to being active members Jones said his companies employ a of the community. Jones was recently number of Troy University alumni, and he hopes recognized by the Monroeville Kiwanis Club with that his gift will enhance programs and better the organization’s Citizen of the Year Award due to prepare current and future TROY students to make a his ongoing commitment to his hometown, as well as difference within the health care industry. his work to renovate vacant buildings to attract new “There is a nursing shortage. Fortunately, we have a businesses to the city. lot of long-term employees, but there are desperate “It is a great honor to me to be recognized in this needs for Licensed Practical Nurses and Registered way,” he said.

Nurses, along with others within the health care Aside from his own experience at TROY and his field,” he said. “I believe that we must do everything service on the Foundation Board, Jones has an in our power to educate more nurses and health care even greater reason to be involved. Billy and workers. Doing so will have a tremendous impact on Frances’ granddaughter, Mimi Jones, is a current the health care industry, not only here in Alabama, TROY student, making them not only loyal TROY but also throughout the country. I am certainly supporters, but also proud TROY grandparents.

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DON O R S & GIVING

MORE THAN $114,000 RAISED DURING SPRING GIVING DAY

One day was all the Trojan Nation needed to make a significant difference during Troy University’s Spring Giving Day event on May 4, with 240 donors giving $114,557. The total far surpassed the day’s goal of $75,000.

“This was TROY’s second time to participate in a Spring Giving Day. We continue to be amazed by the response we see from our donors each time we present this type of fundraiser. I think it allows the donors to be a part of something bigger, to be proactive with their giving and have the opportunity to get matching funds,” said Meredith Welch, Director of Annual Giving and Special Projects.

“With gifts coming in from 22 states, our TROY family truly did come together to show what it means to be a Trojan,” Welch said. “A special thanks goes out to all of the donors who gave so generously and for exemplifying what it means when we say, ‘We are a Trojan Family!’”

An anonymous $10,000 gift for matching funds boosted the day’s donations, and these funds combined with donor gifts of

HELP A NEW GENERATION

$100 or more while the matching funds lasted. “Matching funds are always an exciting part of our giving days as it gives our donors an incentive to give and receive more from their gift,” said Welch. “Our donors responded early, and we were amazed that our matching funds were consumed by noon, showing the power of the matching funds and the benefit that the donor sees in them.”

All of the money raised will support scholarships, programs, athletics and initiatives to improve the lives of students and the campus. “The entire University worked together to make this day successful and was a total team effort,” said Welch.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON MAKING A CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION TO TROY VISIT TROY.EDU/GIVE OR CONTACT MEREDITH WELCH AT 334-670-5924 OR MWELCH19971@TROY.EDU.

TROY GIVING DAY 2021 Oct. 21, 2021, is Troy University’s Giving Day. Our goal is to raise $200,000 in one day. Can you help?

You have always been the best alumni and donors. When our students need you, you are always there for them.

Last fall you gave generously, and we exceeded our goal by raising $203,000. Let’s push further this year and help our students Lead Change and make a difference in the world.

You can designate your gift to what you are most passionate about at TROY — scholarships, athletics, academic departments, alumni or student activities.

Our students need your help now more than ever, and we appreciate your giving.

Please remember to mark your calendar for Oct. 21 and join the Trojan Nation to “Lead Change” and give for Troy University.

GIVING DAY

OCT. 21

Savannah Maddox (‘20)

#TROYGivingDay troy.edu/givingday • 1-800-551-9716

D ON O R S & G I VING

STEFANIE HICKS EAST LEGACY GIFT Stefanie Hicks East, award-winning reporter and faculty member at TROY, never imagined that she would teach at her alma mater, but she has found much joy in returning to campus.

East had no doubt she wanted to attend TROY to earn her bachelor’s degree.

The Hall School of Journalism and Communication fostered a tight-knit collection of faculty and students that East considered the perfect setting to study broadcasting. “I learned everything I needed to know to work in the real world here at TrojanVision,” said East. She counts all the journalism department faculty as her mentors, and particularly remembers the influence that Vince Hodges and Kyle Bozeman had on her development as a reporter. “Both of them shaped the journalism students into reporters who could confidently pursue work in broadcasting,” East said.

The positive, affirming experience East had at TROY inspired her to leave a legacy gift of $25,000 to the University. Her gift will help provide the funds for new equipment and technology for the Broadcast and Journalism departments or create a scholarship for a broadcast student.

DR. LYDIA E. WEISSER GRADUATE MBA ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP Dr. Lydia Weisser’s TROY story is made possible because of the University’s flexibility and opportunity outside of a typical collegiate schedule. It meant so much to her that she decided to give back with a gift of $25,000 to establish the Dr. Lydia E. Weisser Graduate MBA Endowed Scholarship.

Dr. Weisser came to TROY already having a bachelor’s degree and working full time. As she began to contemplate her future in the field of clinical administration, she realized earning an MBA was the next step in achieving her goals. Dr. Weisser was an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at the Medical College of Georgia (MCG) when she decided to enroll in an MBA program, but quickly discovered she was required to take several undergraduate business courses before she could begin MBA graduate studies.

Since she worked at MCG, her classes were free at Augusta State University, where she completed some of her classes. During this time, she accepted a job in Columbus, Georgia, as Clinical Director at West Central Georgia Regional Hospital and needed to figure out a way to complete her MBA. After a conversation with Dr. John Irwing at TROY in Phenix City, she set her mind on utilizing the flexibility and convenience of TROY’s distance learning to earn her MBA. Her MBA ultimately helped her become the Medical Director for the Mississippi Department of Mental Health, and Dr. Weisser says she owes it to Troy University. “I would like my gift to be used to help an older, non-traditional student, preferably with a strong interest in business and ability to articulate how obtaining the MBA would help him/her rise to achieve his/her life goals,” she said.

Dr. Weisser’s son, a West Point graduate, has also benefited from versatile learning options at TROY.

JERRY & NANCY KOCAN ATHLETICS LEADERSHIP SOCIETY GIFT Jerry Kocan isn’t an alumnus, but his affection for TROY has grown deeper over the years as his daughter, Samantha (’17, ’20), earned a bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism and a master’s degree in strategic communication at TROY. Over the years, the Kocans’ support of TROY has grown, recently culminating with a $25,000 contribution to the TROY Athletics Leadership Society. “It was important to give to TROY because we felt we could make an impact with our gifts. We wanted to help someone who otherwise may not be able to attend and graduate,” said Kocan.

Even though he and his wife, Nancy, didn’t attend TROY, they have made many long-lasting friendships and connections, as well as established a strong friendship with the TROY Athletics staff. Kocan said he feels like they have an “extended family at TROY.”

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PARKERS GIVE BACK TO TROY COMMUNITY

Since their arrival to Troy, Alabama, Lauren and Seth Parker have only felt their connection to the community deepen. Living in Auburn, Alabama, after graduating from Auburn University fostered their deep love for the college-town atmosphere.

Because of this, Troy has given the Parkers the ideal city where they can thrive.

“We love the excitement of a university town, and even though we’re not alumni, we still have a connection to TROY,” said Seth Parker. The couple strongly supports attracting students to experience Troy’s town and the University, particularly its athletic and arts events.

Because of this appreciation for TROY, the Parkers graciously donated two gifts to the University. Their first gift was to the TROY Athletics Leadership Society, which will put money toward the Athletic Department as a whole. Athletics matter greatly to the Parkers. They attend TROY Athletic events to bond with the community and get to know the coaches and athletes. This makes giving back to the Athletic Department even more rewarding.

“It’s something I’m passionate about, being a former athlete myself, and it allows me to stay involved with the athletic side of campus,” said Seth Parker.

The Parkers also established The Lauren and Seth Parker Community Leadership Endowed Scholarship to assist incoming freshmen attending the University on the Troy Campus. Lauren Parker earned a master’s degree in education and an educational specialist degree at Auburn and has worked in education for 17 years. Currently an Instructional Coach at Dothan Preparatory Academy, she supports students as they

pursue their education on a daily basis. The couple hopes that their donation to Troy University will serve as a cushion for college students so they feel empowered to succeed academically.

“Once you get on campus, you’re going to fall in love with it,” he said. “Regardless of whether we went there, when we go on campus, we love every single part of it.” Parker also hopes students will understand just how much people in the community want to see them be successful. “I know it’s expensive,” he acknowledged of paying for school. “If we can provide a little bit of assistance to somebody who needs it, then we want to do that.”

Many of the early lessons Parker learned that remain prevalent in his life today stem from the job he worked to pay for part of his own schooling. Working his way from a dishwasher and food runner to assistant general manager at a local pizza restaurant in Auburn inspired him to pursue his current career.

“I realized fairly quickly how much I loved the hospitality industry,” he said. Now, the Parkers own two businesses in downtown Troy. Their restaurant, B. Graves, has grown into a local favorite over the six years since its opening, while The Warehouse on Market presents a prime space to host events.

“The Parkers have become integral parts of the Troy community, and we’re grateful for their considerate gifts to the University,” said Maj. Gen. Walter D. Givhan (USAF, ret.), Senior Vice Chancellor for Advancement and Economic Development at Troy University. “Their generosity will help students pursue their ambitions with confidence.”

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TROY PROFESSORS’ SUPPORT LEADS TO CREATION OF ROY W. CAIN, JR. SCHOLARSHIP

Alumnus Roy Cain, Jr. (’81, ’82) is sure his life was made better by his time at Troy University. By creating the Roy W. Cain, Jr. Endowed Scholarship, he is now making sure other students have the opportunity to experience the same kindness, compassion and support he received during his time at TROY. Cain came to TROY in 1977 as a member of the Trojan Men’s Golf team. He had no idea that a chance meeting with Professor Dr. Fred Davis would change his life forever and that he would gain a mentor, confidant and lifelong friend.

“I’ll never forget the day I met Dr. Davis. The life lessons I gained from him are too numerous to list; the basic lessons were common sense, honesty, integrity and how to study and retain information,” said Cain. “Dr. Davis was one of the most important people in my life. He taught me the values that built the foundation and prepared me for my life after TROY. Dr. Davis was an icon before the word became popular. It was an honor to have been given the opportunity to know this great person.”

In addition to Dr. Davis, Cain speaks fondly of other professors who encouraged and challenged him, including Dr. Gertrude Schroeder, his math tutor who taught him many life lessons that he still uses today; Eugene Sherman, his accounting professor, who taught him to be prepared in life; Woodi Ishmael, his art appreciation professor, who taught him about diversity; and Dr. Steven Garrott, his marketing

professor, who showed him how to speak confidently and maintain composure.

Cain earned two degrees at TROY, the first in criminal justice and the second in business administration with an emphasis in marketing. After completing the latter, he went on to work for Chevron Overseas Petroleum, a multi-national energy company, for more than 30 years.

Cain wants to make a difference in TROY students’ lives, just as Dr. Davis and other professors made in his life decades ago. The Roy W. Cain, Jr. Endowed Scholarship will offer a scholarship to a student who demonstrates a servant’s heart, has a financial need and is pursuing a business, marketing, finance or accounting degree from the Sorrell College of Business at TROY. “The people that I had the opportunity to meet and get to know at TROY are by far my fondest memories. I was afforded the opportunity to work with some of my professors outside the halls of the University; these are my best memories and greatest learning experiences,” he said. “I’m confident that by giving back to TROY, some of the recipients will take advantage of the opportunities offered

by TROY; to graduate and enjoy not only a rewarding working career but also a successful life experience. I’m also hopeful that the recipients will understand the power of giving to deserving people as they progress in life.”

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F E AT UR E S T ORY

LEADERSHIP SKILLS FOR TODAY’S MULTICULTURAL WORKPLACE A RT WOR K BY: MA DE LY N F L A NAGA N Patricia Matuszek, Ph.D., has held many different leadership roles in her 22-year career at Troy University.

She’s been the Chair of the Management Program, the Chair of Graduate Programs, the Chair of Undergraduate Programs, the Head of Accreditation and has been on numerous long-standing committees, all for the AACSBaccredited Sorrell College of Business. However, it’s back in the classroom in her role as a Professor in TROY’s Master of Science in Management (MSM) program where she demonstrates her impactful leadership skills.

“I have done my administration time at TROY,” says Dr. Matuszek. “I want to spend my last few years doing what I like to do best, and that’s teaching and engaging with students, making sure they get the best education that they can get and developing leadership skills.”

According to Dr. Matuszek, adaptability is a vital component of leadership in the multicultural workplace.

HOW TO BE A GOOD BOSS For a student learning how to be a good manager, Dr. Matuszek says the process of understanding change management can be something of a roller coaster.

“In one of our core courses, we teach our students how to get people to change,” says Dr. Matuszek. “This is

an intensive course and it carries one of our primary assessments — producing a change plan.”

When working on their change plan, students will focus their efforts on building effective leadership skills as part of a team.

Megan Burke, a Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Army, agrees that leaders need to be flexible and know how to communicate. Burke, who graduated from TROY in 2018 with an MSM, says, “As a leader, you must be adaptable. No one person follows the same way. You must also recognize the differences in the way you need to communicate with followers. Not everyone speaks the same ‘language.’”

EFFECTIVE LEADERSHIP SKILLS IN TODAY’S MULTICULTURAL WORKPLACE According to Dr. Matuszek, effective communication in leadership will almost certainly involve understanding how to navigate the nuance of a multicultural workplace.

“Most people don’t understand that multiculturalism isn’t about the color of your skin,” says Dr. Matuszek.

“Multiculturalism means the way you think and the way you go about decisions. Understanding multiculturalism is about appreciating what everybody brings to the

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table whether that person is male, female, black, white, introvert or extrovert.”

Dr. Matuszek explains that people have to be prepared to listen if they are going to benefit from multiculturalism.

“Multiculturalism is so rich, it tells us so much, and it makes us smart,” says Dr. Matuszek. “The challenge is to turn your brain off and be prepared to listen and learn from others. As Americans, we are bold and we are brave and we’re outspoken to a fault. We know we are good at things. That, for me, is far and away the biggest problem in multiculturalism. Then we have somebody in India say, ‘You know our culture is 10,000 years old,’ and our brains cannot process that.”

MILITARY LEADERSHIP SKILLS One group of students Dr. Matuszek particularly enjoys working with is her military students.

“You cannot be promoted after a certain rank in the United States military without a graduate degree,” says Dr. Matuszek. “So these students are either in the program for their ‘boards’ — going up before a board of people to be considered for promotion — or they are doing it to transition out of the military.”

Dr. Matuszek tells her military students that they have to change the way they think about leadership. Their military experience is highly valued outside the military as well, but working and being a leader in a civilian environment requires a shift in approach. “With our military students, the program sets the stage and delivers the skills so they can segue out of the military and into the civilian workforce again.”

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LEADERSHIP SKILLS IN REMOTE WORKPLACES Even before the pandemic made working from home the new normal for many, global businesses were already adjusting to remote working. This presents several challenges for leadership teams.

“Leadership is all about relationships,” says Dr. Matuszek.

“One of the things that COVID-19 told us is that we can have strong leaders, but it doesn’t do any good if you cannot get through to the other people.”

This is one area where TROY has a very real advantage.

“We have a robust, very well-developed online presence at TROY,” says Dr. Matuszek, noting that the management program is offered 100% online.

Burke completed her MSM program mainly online, with some in-person classes. She benefited from both experiences. “I enjoyed both styles of learning. The online portion allowed me to go and watch class if I missed it, while being in person was helpful to get the in-person networking down.”

MORE ABOUT DEVELOPING LEADERSHIP SKILLS As for Burke, she’s applying the skills she learned in the MSM program in her current position with the U.S. Army as Chief, Army North G-3/7 Aviation, Personnel Recovery Coordination Cell. “I use what I have learned to pay more attention to the people I am leading.”

THE MASTER OF SCIENCE IN MANAGEMENT IS ONE OF TROY’S FAST TRACK PROGRAMS, WHICH CAN BE COMPLETED IN ONE YEAR. FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT THE PROGRAM PAGE AT TROY.EDU/MSM.

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“Troy University is so committed to leading change in environmental studies, it is fitting that we should have some of the artwork created by this wonderful artist.”

— Janice Hawkins

F E AT UR E S T ORY Janet Nolan spent her life reimagining everyday objects into works of art. She would canvass the streets of New York City looking for colorful objects she could turn into art. Whether it was discarded umbrellas, men’s ties or plastic bottles, the objects Nolan found served as the foundation of her artwork.

As an artist, she also placed intentional, underlying messages within her work which ask viewers and consumers to consider how their daily consumption produces waste for the planet.

Nolan was also known for making bold statements with her artwork to show how much Americans waste. Her artwork has been on display in some of the nation’s most prominent galleries, universities and museums. Harvard University and a series of window displays at the famous New York store Bloomingdale’s have commissioned her work.

Can-Can Plastic bottle caps, wire and straws

Twister #14 Recycled umbrella parts and acrylic

Nolan was a visiting artist at Troy University in 2003. Before passing away in 2019, she developed a friendship with Dr. and Mrs. Jack Hawkins, Jr. At the time, she was looking for a place for her artwork to reside in hopes of it continuing to positively influence others with its environmental messages.

Nolan’s longtime friend Dr. James Vickery and Nolan’s sister, Sue Thompson, worked with Dr. and Mrs. Hawkins to donate Nolan’s artwork to Troy University. Before retiring in 2014, Dr. Vickery served 50 years in higher education, including his time as Professor of Speech Communications at TROY. “It is my desire for students to have the opportunity to experience not only her idea of finding treasure amongst trash, but also experience Janet’s artwork,” said Janice Hawkins, First Lady, Troy University. “Troy University is so committed to leading change in environmental studies, it is fitting that we should have some of the artwork created by this wonderful artist. It is my pleasure to honor her request by sharing her message with our students.”

Her exhibit is on display at the International Arts Center on the Troy Campus through Jan. 9, 2022. Visitors will have the opportunity to experience the whimsical, colorful display that encourages and provides a positive view of recycling and reuse of objects that have been tossed away. The vastness of the collection immerses the viewer into an environment of textures from nature in order to celebrate them as a whole rather than as individual discarded items.

Upon entering the IAC the first installation piece to capture attention in Janet Nolan’s exhibit “Reimagining the Everyday” is “Can-Can” (2006–2009). Plastic lids from jars and bottles, plastic straws, and various discarded items prance across the wall, coupled in what appears to be a ballroom dance. Alluding to the French can-can dance popular in the 1840s, the title also celebrates recycling and gently reminds us of the waste produced from our overwhelming consumerism habits as a society. Also, on display is “Please Play Again” (2005), which crawls over a yellow portal in the foyer, in a form akin to kudzu, creating a flowing stream of playful dots and lines made by discarded bottle caps. The work can be appreciated as a unified, swarming form, as well as noting the important role each of the individual bottle caps served by providing a drink to a consumer. Nolan aptly titles the work “Please Play Again” in reference to the promotional pitch found on the inside of many caps, while also alluding to the celebration of recycling the material and providing new life to the discarded tops.

At the back of the foyer, Janet’s iconic “Canopy” (1978) frames the windows overlooking the Janice Hawkins Cultural Arts Park. This work was created from the fabric of dozens of umbrellas stitched together in a quilt-like fashion creating a flowing piece of art 100 feet long and 12 feet wide, which was originally displayed waving in the breeze above Church Street in New York’s Tribeca.

These eye-catching installations can be enjoyed along with other sculptural works and 2D prints that were generously donated to the TROY University permanent art collection.

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In addition to Nolan’s “Reimagining the Everyday” exhibit, Troy University held an ArtSPARK event at the IAC for school-aged children on Aug. 7. During this event, children created their own artwork using similar textures, objects and materials that Nolan used. The event also gave participants a firsthand view of the exhibit.

The Janet Nolan art exhibit is one example of how Troy University is fostering leaders and leading change in recycled products and the arts. Troy University also is a recognized leader in recycling and research at its fully integrated, multi-disciplinary Center for Materials and Manufacturing Sciences. The center’s main focus is studying polymers and polymer recycling in an effort to reduce waste caused by polymeric waste such as plastics and packaging.

Nolan’s “High Tide” is a choreography of flattened cans, riveted together to create a series of 8-foot-long linear strips. The modular ribbons reflect the movement of the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Alabama, Nolan’s home state.

The original installation took place in 2015 after Nolan collected for the exhibit. Noteworthy in the piece of “High Tide” is the vast collection of aluminum cans. Nolan and her artistic assistant, Michael Steele, noticed immigrants collecting the cans to be exchanged at recycling centers for money. Eventually, the duo began to purchase directly from the can collectors — allowing the immigrants’ practice of earning a living to be converted into a large art installation.

Suspended in the foyer entry to Troy University’s IDEA Bank in downtown Troy, Alabama, is a spiraling grove of recursive bands of color forming Nolan’s “Chorus.” The ties have been lifted from their previous existence of office life and formal settings into a dynamic new expression of energy. Viewers can appreciate the transformative outcomes that accompany creative thinking and reimagining of everyday items. The neckties have been liberated from barriers and support the IDEA Bank’s mission of nurturing creativity and thinking outside the box.

This installation began as a loving tribute to the memory of Nolan’s husband, John E. Daniel, using his extensive tie collection. These sculptures are constructed with unaltered neckties, shaped around aluminum wire armatures that highlight the endless variation of their patterned surfaces. Knotted and looped, they recall the human gestures of tying a tie, often grouped by the rhyming colors of their fabrics.

Janet Nolan’s art exhibit “NYC + Montgomery Fountains in a Bottle” was originally installed in The Cathedral of Saint John the Divine, representing “The Value of Water: New York, NY” (2011). Staying with her most often used artistic methods of using recycled materials, Nolan repurposed plastic bottles filled with water from famous historic New York City fountains. Since she was born in Montgomery, Alabama, and was familiar with the historic Court Square (“slave”) Fountain she wanted to include water from there. However, she could not get the fountain water herself and enlisted the help of a friend. Dr. Vickrey went during the night to obtain the fountain water only to learn later that the water had been colored pink for Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which is why the water in that bottle is still pink. She added this bottle to her exhibit in 2009 to honor Breast Cancer Awareness Week and dedicated it to Dr. Vickrey. Nolan covered the bottles with acetate depicting the artistic rendering of each fountain when viewed through each filled bottle of water.

She also included the name of each fountain where the water was drawn and the date filled. Nolan’s artwork for this exhibit presents at least three values: the value of water, the value of recycling, and the value of the beauty and history of those things (fountains) around us; all of which are often taken for granted.

Primary #10 Monotype

TROY is a proud partner of the Alabama Tourism Department.

troy.edu/sweethomealabama

FEAT U R E S TOR Y

T ROY T O DAY

NURSING: THE PROFESSION OF KNOWLEDGE & HEART

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ARTWORK BY: MADELYN FLANAGAN PHOTOGRAPHY BY: MARK MOSELEY Ask Wade Forehand (’05, ’08), Ph.D., Director and Professor of the Troy University School of Nursing, if nursing is a critical job and he’ll give you a very direct answer. “Nursing is virtually the backbone of the medical profession,” he says. And when it comes to providing care, he believes nurses are front and center day in and day out.

“While individuals from many disciplines are involved in treating patients, a nurse sits at the bedside, sees patients in their homes, spends the most time with patients,” says Dr. Forehand. “The nurse sees them at their best and their worst, leaving a lasting impact on their lives.”

TROY’s School of Nursing has 50 + years of preparing students for the hands-on, front-line, critical-care roles nurses play every day in their profession.

Qualities of an Excellent Nurse To be a good nurse takes more than intelligence.

“Compassion, understanding, the ability to talk to and work with people are just as important as how book smart someone is,” says Dr. Forehand. “TROY’s nursing program can take students who may not be strong academically and give them knowledge, but prospective nurses need inherent qualities that TROY faculty can’t teach.”

Some qualities of excellent nursing, says Dr. Forehand, are innate. “What can’t be taught is a heart for compassionate service,” explains Dr. Forehand. “Our faculty will work very hard to help students develop, but those who become the best nurses come in understanding and wanting to help others. They’re also go-getters who are motivated and willing to take self-direction. The best nurses put extra time and effort into strengthening areas they’re weak in — for their own good and not just because a teacher or colleague has suggested it.”

What Do You Learn in Nursing School?

The TROY program takes a comprehensive approach to educating future nursing professionals. “TROY’s goal is to expose students to a variety of situations where they care for people of all ages in all communities suffering all kinds of ailments,” says Dr. Forehand.

Leadership skills are important in the nursing profession, and the TROY program places emphasis on developing these skills. “Just some of the things that we teach include critical thinking, innovation, embracing differences, conflict management/resolution, observation, openmindedness, problem-solving, mentoring, giving and accepting feedback, planning, listening, evaluating, assessing, following through, prioritization, perseverance, professionalism, collaboration and a strong work ethic,” says Dr. Forehand.

Clinical experiences offer additional opportunities for students to learn and interact in the health care environment to further develop their unique leadership potential. “Not all students learn and develop the same strengths. We try to help students recognize their strong skills and to work to develop those skills that may be weaker,” he says.

Elizabeth Swailes, BSN, RN, RN-BC, and a 2018 graduate of TROY, is now a 1 st Lieutenant and Charge Nurse with the United States Air Force, 96 th Medical Group, Multiservice Inpatient Unit. She applauds the way her experience at TROY prepared her for her nursing career.

“I would 100% recommend TROY’s program because of the accreditation, thorough preparation and family atmosphere for professional development,” says Swailes.

“TROY nurses walk across the graduation stage with all the tools they need to crush the national exam and be superb nurses from day one.”

Degrees for Nursing: the Options at TROY TROY’s School of Nursing offers many degree opportunities ranging from an Associate of Science in Nursing to bachelor’s and master’s programs and a Doctor of Nursing Practice program.

Dr. Forehand explains what makes the TROY programs unique. “Earning initial licensure is the first step for nurses, so the associate and bachelor’s degrees prepare someone who has little to no experience, offering the training and nursing skills needed to enter the workforce,” says Dr. Forehand.

The academic work is just one part of developing a nursing An aging population. Baby boomers maturing to where professional. “Once they get that foundation, they come they’ll need more care,” says Dr. Forehand. “Over the next over into the nursing department and TROY faculty works 10-15 years, we’ll see a growing population in need of with them — hands-on — to make sure they’re comfortable significant care and a workforce struggling to keep up.” with the nursing skills required in the field,” Dr. Forehand Nursing on the Front Lines adds. “The goal is making sure they’ve got the knowledge of the Pandemic to develop attitudes and perceptions to care for others, doing the best job possible.”

The COVID-19 pandemic has been perhaps one of the After students complete the program, they can sit for greatest challenges of modern nursing. the NCLEX, the national nurse licensing exam. “When “Nursing is at the front line of the pandemic,” says they pass the NCLEX, they’ve officially earned the title of Dr. Forehand. “We’ve definitely needed researchers registered nurse,” says Dr. Forehand. TROY’s NCLEX pass and scientists to develop the vaccine, to mature our rate in 2020 exceeded the national average. understanding of COVID-19. We’ve The Troy University School of needed physicians to provide medical Nursing consists of the Associate of decisions. But it’s nurses that have Science in Nursing (ASN), Bachelor been at bedsides for hours on end, of Science in Nursing (BSN), Master helping patients through.” of Science in Nursing (MSN) and During the pandemic, nurses Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) heroically extended their caring programs. Additionally, the School of roles even beyond their usual THE FACT IS THAT Nursing offers the RN Mobility track dedication to the patients they serve.

IT IS SOMETHING for registered nurses who seek to “COVID-19 has changed the ability DIFFERENT EVERY complete the BSN degree. of patients’ families to be involved

What Can You Do with a Nursing Degree?

TIME I SHOW UP. AND I KNOW THERE ARE LIMITLESS WAYS I COULD SHAPE MY CAREER PATH AS A NURSE.

in their care,” adds Dr. Forehand. “So nurses have served as caregivers and emotional support — as part of the family — to try to ease the burden as families have navigated COVID-19.”

“Nursing jobs are more numerous than you can ever imagine,” says Dr. Forehand. “One of the benefits to How the Nursing the nursing profession is it’s so wide — Elizabeth Swailes, Profession and Health open. No one’s constrained to sitting BSN, RN, RN-BC Care are Evolving at a desk, 8-to-5, Monday through Friday with no flexibility. Nursing isn’t Dr. Forehand says as the field of that. It’s flexible and open to men, medicine continues to change focus women and all ethnicities. We want a over time, so too will the nursing culturally diverse workforce because profession. “The perspective has we’re taking care of diverse people, become more of a patient focus, the so we want our profession to embody promotion of health and wellness the public we serve.” as a lifestyle. Health care professionals don’t want the Nursing is a profession with many options for establishing hospital to be the first line; we want you to live healthy, a multifaceted experience throughout a career. In fact, make good decisions, exercise, eat well and do things to even new kinds of nursing jobs are being created as help you live a long and healthy life.” technology advances. “There are also jobs for nurses For Swailes, the continuing evolution of the profession in technology where they work to build the systems and the opportunities that creates is a big part of the that are used in medical documentation by health care appeal of nursing. “The fact is that it is something professionals around the world,” Dr. Forehand adds. different every time I show up. And I know there are

What Are Some Challenges in Nursing Jobs?

Like any career field, the health care community has its unique challenges. Supply and demand along with changes in population demographics lie at the heart of many of those challenges. “Shortages of health care providers.

limitless ways I could shape my career path as a nurse,” she says. But in the end, for her, the biggest satisfaction comes from the care she provides. “The most rewarding part is seeing people eventually improve and get to go home to their families.”

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT PREPARING FOR A CAREER IN NURSING VISIT TROY.EDU/NURSING.

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GRANT FUNDING ASSISTS SCHOOL OF NURSING A Troy University School of Nursing program aimed at increasing the number of qualified nursing faculty in Alabama has seen an increase in funding for the 20212022 academic year from the Health Resources and Services Administration.

The program, which began last year after receiving $80,387 in funding through the Nurse Faculty Loan Program (NFLP) grant, will this year receive $111,964.

The grant provides funding to accredited schools of nursing to offer loans to students enrolled in advanced education nursing degree programs who are committed to become nurse faculty. In exchange for full-time, postgraduation employment as nurse faculty, the program authorizes the cancellation of up to 85% of any such loan.

“Receiving increased funding this year for this program will continue to be instrumental in attracting students

to our Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program and in developing future nursing educators,” said Dr. Wade Forehand, Director of TROY’s School of Nursing. “I am grateful to Dr. Carrie Lee Gardner, the principal investigator for this grant, who was instrumental in putting the grant together and pursuing this activity.”

Since its inception in 2009, TROY’s DNP program has experienced success in placing graduate nursing faculty positions throughout the Southeast. Over the last five years, the percentage of TROY’s DNP graduates who seek positions in nursing education has ranged from 16% to 35% of the graduating cohort.

THOSE INTERESTED IN APPLYING FOR THE NFLP LOAN SHOULD CONTACT DR. GARDNER AT CSGARDNER@TROY.EDU.

DR. KIMARIE BUGG NAMED AS FELLOW IN ACADEMY TROY alumna Kimarie Bugg (’18), DNP, APRN, MPH, IBCLC, was among only 225 distinguished nurse leaders selected by the American Academy of Nursing to be inducted into the 2021 Class of Fellows. She, along with others who represent 38 states, the District of Columbia and 17 countries, will be recognized for their significant contributions to health and health care at the annual Health Policy Conference held in October.

“I am almost over being shocked that I have been accepted as a Fellow. My goal will continue to be achieving health equity in communities of color. I am so grateful that TROY took a chance on me and allowed me to pursue the DNP [Doctor of Nursing Practice]!” Dr. Bugg said.

The Academy is comprised of “nursing leaders who are experts in policy, research, administration, practice and academia who champion health and wellness, locally and globally.”

Dr. Bugg founded Reaching Our Sisters Everywhere, an organization dedicated to addressing the breastfeeding

disparity among people of color nationwide through education programs, advocacy and other efforts. The organization’s pioneering work was rewarded with a more than $1 million grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.

As a component of the grant, Dr. Bugg implemented her TROY DNP Synthesis Project in which she evaluated the effect of a social media campaign on the intent to initiate breastfeeding among African American pregnant women.

“Dr. Bugg’s recognition as a Fellow by the American Academy of Nursing is an incredible honor. Her Troy University DNP Synthesis Project was a component of the grant funding she received and has developed into a sustainable health care resource for her clients. This speaks volumes about TROY’s DNP students and faculty mentors who guide student projects and promote student success,” said Stacey Jones, DNP, FNP-BC, Interim DNP Program Coordinator.

FEAT U R E S TOR Y

TROY’S DNP: COMBINING LEADERSHIP & NURSING

If there’s one thing the world became acutely aware of during the COVID-19 global pandemic, it’s the immeasurable value that nurses bring to any health care organization. But, even before the pandemic, the compassion, expertise and strength of nurses have been the drivers of quality care in hospitals, doctor’s offices, ambulatory care centers and other health care settings.

For many nurses, finding ways to add even more value to their training is something they’re constantly looking to do. They might want to hone their clinical and soft skills, deepen their understanding of the business of health care and/or navigate a path to an administrative role. Whatever their professional goals might be, earning a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree is a path nurses can take to achieve them.

What is a Doctor of Nursing Practice?

“A DNP is the highest clinical degree in nursing,” explains Amy Spurlock, Ph.D., former Coordinator and Professor in Troy University’s Doctor of Nursing Practice program.

For advanced practice nurses — such as nurse midwives, CRNAs, certified nurse practitioners and certified clinical nurse specialists — a DNP is the pinnacle of their nursing education. These professionals have already completed master’s programs, have earned their certifications and are ready to take the next step in their education.

DNP vs. Ph.D. — What’s the Difference?

“A DNP program is more practice-based, while a Ph.D. program is more research-based,” explains Dr. Spurlock.

“Unlike Ph.D. students, most of our students in the DNP program don’t have a goal of teaching in higher education.

Instead, they want to earn the highest degree in nursing.

A lot of nurses get into the profession because they want that practice piece. The DNP program provides that.”

For TROY alumna, Dr. Kristen Williams (’12, ’17), a family nurse practitioner (FNP) at Southern Health Associates in Troy, Alabama, the clinical emphasis of the DNP is exactly what she was looking for. When she graduated from TROY with a DNP, Dr. Williams knew which degree option she wanted to advance her nursing education. “Although I appreciate and use research and evidence-based practice

daily in my current work environment, I chose the DNP over Ph.D. due to the clinical setting and patient interaction that comes along with this degree.”

Another factor that can influence the choice between DNP versus a Ph.D. in nursing is convenience.

For Dr. Williams, the kind of flexibility that the online program provided was critical. “The online experience made the balance of home, work and school very manageable,” she adds. “I experienced two pregnancies throughout the program, and I am very thankful for the flexibility the online courses provided.”

The Advantages of Earning a DNP Currently, a DNP isn’t required to practice as a FNP or for a nursing leadership role. However, that’s likely to change.

“We think that a DNP will be required for advanced practice nursing in a few years,” says Dr. Spurlock. “So, our program here at TROY is already meeting that need.

“Our students aren’t expecting a pay bump. Instead, they’ve come into the program because they want to make a difference for their patients and communities.

Many of them work in health professional shortage areas and medically underserved areas. So, the knowledge and experience they gain through the DNP program can be taken back to those communities and put into practice with the patients.”

Community practice and career flexibility are two reasons that spurred Dr. Williams to pursue her DNP. “I chose to begin the program so that I could further my education and begin a role as a health care provider to serve our community. Having this degree also gives me the option to teach in nursing programs,” she adds.

Earning a Dnp Degree at TROY The DNP program at TROY, which launched in 2009, was the second one approved by the state of Alabama. The program has very good outcomes, with 70 to more than 90% of students completing the degree. “In addition to the excellent graduation rate, students from the school also have a good passing rate [85.7% for 2020] for certifications,” says Dr. Spurlock.

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DR. KRISTEN WILLIAMS

Small groups — 35 to 38 students — are admitted to the program each year in August, January and May and complete their studies entirely online with only a few exceptions.

Students in TROY’s DNP program choose one of two tracks of study — nurse leader or FNP. In addition to the coursework, 1,000 clinical hours beyond those earned for a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) are also required.

Family nurse practitioner students are required to come to campus at the beginning of their first FNP course and at the end of their last FNP clinical course to demonstrate specific clinical skills, such as health assessments and suturing.

The FNP track was in place at the beginning of TROY’s DNP program. It is currently the most popular track.

However, the nurse leader track — which was added more recently — is also attracting interest from those wanting to pursue leadership roles.

For post-master’s students, it typically takes two years to complete the program if they’re taking a full-time class load. However, there is also the option to complete the program on a part-time basis.

Students in the BSN-to-DNP program can complete their studies in three years. “It’s designed to be full time,” says Dr. Spurlock. “We want all of the knowledge they

have to be fresh in their minds so they can pass the certification exams.”

Every student is assigned an individual degree planner to help them map out the best path to complete their DNP.

The DNP Springboard Another effect of the DNP program that Dr. Spurlock sees is how it opens options for graduates that they wouldn’t have had otherwise. “The DNP is like a springboard,” she says. “It allows them to go in so many different directions.”

Dr. Williams recommends the program enthusiastically.

“I got my BSN from TROY, so I knew how dedicated their faculty and staff were to helping their students succeed,” she said. “I would recommend the TROY DNP program to others. They are committed to helping their students succeed both personally and professionally. Their curriculum is well-organized and the faculty and staff are very knowledgeable and helpful.”

TO EXPLORE TROY’S ONLINE DNP PROGRAM AND REQUEST MORE INFORMATION VISIT TROY.EDU/NURSING.

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F E AT UR E S TO RY

ADVANCING HEALTH SCIENCES AT TROY Big plans are in store for the College of Health and Human Services (CHHS) with the upcoming build of a 60,000-square-foot building at the site of former longtime dormitories Hamil and Gardner halls.

Designed by Seay, Seay & Litchfield, the three-story building will expand educational opportunities and experiences for students in the School of Nursing and the Department of Kinesiology and Health Promotions.

With state-of-the-art hospital simulation labs for handson training, exercise science labs and spaces to encourage growth and collaboration, Dr. John Garner, Interim Dean of the CHHS, said the possibilities for growth for students and faculty alike are endless.

“This is going to give our students state-of-the-art opportunities, and it’s going to allow them to be more equipped for the workplace and to feel more prepared

to sit for examinations, certifications and licensures,” Dr. Garner said. “It’s also going to help our faculty tremendously, and potentially help some of the programs grow because now we have space to stretch out. Our students will soon have the facilities to prepare them to compete locally, regionally and globally in their field.”

Another plus of the upgraded building is having another recruiting tool to add to TROY’s already stacked arsenal.

“We’re going to be on par with most institutions in the region, and even ahead of many of our competitors with the opportunities and hands-on experiences our students are going to have,” Dr. Garner said. “We’re going to have the opportunity to show students that may have, in the past, not looked at TROY that this is a showpiece, that this is an opportunity for you to get to be in the best lab and best simulation spaces available.”

AT HLE TICS

(from left) Earl V. Johnson, TROY Trustee and Chair of the Sports Hall of Fame Committee; Barney Burnett; Nancy Dansby Swanson; Gibson Vance, President Pro Tempore of TROY’s Board of Trustees; Dr. Rachel Hassan Gravel; Max Howell; Dr. Leon Davis; Mark King; Collin McCrary; Jude Rinaldi; Andy Whitener; Dr. Jack Hawkins, Jr., TROY Chancellor; Brent Jones, TROY Director of Athletics

SPORTS HALL OF FAME Troy welcomed nine new members into the Troy University Sports Hall of Fame in front of a sold-out crowd in Trojan Arena on Friday, Sept. 3. The induction ceremony featured a pair of Hall of Fame classes after the 2020 ceremony was canceled due to COVID-19.

The two classes represented the ninth and 10th induction classes in the history of the Troy University Sports Hall of Fame, which is now home to 74 of the all-time best to be associated with Troy Athletics.

Barney Burnett, 2020 Men’s Golf

Dr. Leon Davis, 2021 Men’s Basketball

Dr. Rachel Hassan Gravel, 2020 Volleyball

Max Howell, 2020 Football

Mark King, 2020 Football

Collin McCrary, 2021 Men’s Golf

Jude Rinaldi, 2020 Baseball

Nancy Dansby Swanson, 2020 Women’s Tennis

Andy Whitener, 2021 Track & Field

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AT H LE T I C S

TROY TABS SKYLAR MEADE NEW BASEBALL HEAD COACH One of the most respected and renowned assistant coaches in the country, Skylar Meade, has been named TROY’s new Baseball Head Coach following four seasons as the pitching coach at South Carolina.

A 14-year coaching veteran, Meade has previous stops at Michigan State, Middle Tennessee and Eastern Illinois, following a standout playing career at Louisville, where he pitched in the College World Series. Meade has coached 28 players who have been selected in the MLB First-Year Player Draft, with 12 of those players taken within the first 10 rounds.

Meade is coming off a season in which six South Carolina pitchers were selected in the MLB Draft in July, which was tied with Arkansas for the most pitchers selected from any one school. Brett Kerry earned DI Baseball and NCBWA All-America honors while Will Sanders was named to the SEC All-Freshman Team, was a Freshman All-American selection by two organizations and was recently selected as a member of USA Baseball Collegiate National Team.

Additionally, Jack Mahoney earned Freshman All-America honors from Perfect Game.

“Skylar is a dynamic leader who has a proven track record of success,” said Brent Jones, TROY Director of Athletics. “We are excited to welcome Skylar, his wife, Jesse, and their two boys to the TROY Family. He is widely recognized as one of the top pitching coaches and recruiters in the nation. Skylar will build upon the great tradition and the history of success that TROY Baseball is known for. I would like to thank our selection committee for their hard work in this process as Skylar rose to the top of an extremely deep and talented candidate pool.”

The Gamecocks posted the fourth-best ERA in the Southeastern Conference in 2021, while South Carolina’s staff totaled 624 strikeouts in just 507 innings pitched. South Carolina hosted an NCAA Regional and picked up an in-season sweep of No. 5 Florida.

“We have established ambitious goals for our baseball program, and we believe Skylar Meade is the head coach to get the job done,” Dr. Jack Hawkins, Jr., Chancellor, said.

“Skylar has been to the College World Series, so he understands what it takes to compete at the highest level.

Under Coach Meade’s leadership, I am confident the best is yet to be for Trojan Baseball.”

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Meade joined the South Carolina staff before the 2018 season and during his four seasons 14 Gamecock pitchers were selected in the MLB Draft. Seven of those picks came in the top 10 rounds, including Carmen Mlodzinski, who was selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates as 31st overall pick in 2020.

“First and foremost, my wife and family could not be more excited to join the TROY Family,” Meade said. “We’d like to thank Chancellor Hawkins, Brent Jones, Kyle George, Sandy Atkins and the committee for their belief in our vision for TROY Baseball. We will hit the ground running with this job and start the process of making 2022 a great year. Lastly, there is no way to get to every person who has reached out to us, but to every single one, we say thank you. Go Trojans!”

He made an immediate impact in his first season with the Gamecocks as they held opponents to a .243 batting average and posted 542 strikeouts in 553.1 innings of work. In the shortened 2020 season, South Carolina pitchers combined for a 2.81 ERA with 184 strikeouts in just 144 innings pitched. In 2019, Kerry began his rise up the national pitching ranks under Meade’s guidance as he was named to the SEC All-Freshman Team and a Freshman All-American by three organizations.

Meade joined the South Carolina staff following three seasons as the pitching coach at Michigan State. Under his watch, a Spartan pitcher led the Big Ten in ERA in each of his last two seasons on staff (Walter Borkovich in 2017; Dakota Mekkes in 2016). Additionally, the Spartans posted their top three strikeout totals in school history his final three seasons with 409 strikeouts in 2015, 466 in 2016 and 420 in 2017.

Michigan State led the Big Ten in ERA (2.75), opponent’s batting average (.234) and runs allowed (199) in 2016. That ERA also was third in the nation and fifth lowest in school history. Meade helped Mekkes earn NCBWA All-America honors after finishing the season with the best strikeout per nine innings (15.16) and hits per nine innings (4.11) ratios in the nation. In his first season, Meade helped Joe Mockbee to a 1.78 ERA, the lowest by a Spartan since 1974.

Prior to his stint at Michigan State, Meade spent two years as the pitching coach at Middle Tennessee. The Blue Raider pitching staff lowered its team ERA in each of his two seasons, including posting the program’s lowest mark in 13 years during his final year on staff. Meade also mentored Zac Curtis, who was selected in the sixth round of the MLB Draft by the Arizona Diamondbacks and Daniel Palo, a Colorado Rockies draftee.

Prior to joining the staff at Middle Tennessee, Meade spent five seasons at Eastern Illinois University (EIU), first as a graduate assistant before being elevated to an assistant coach in 2009. EIU posted one of the Ohio Valley Conference’s (OVC) best rotations during his time at the school. The Panthers sported the best team ERA in the OVC in four of his five years — 2008 and 2010 to 2012 — while finishing second in 2009.

Meade helped lead the Panthers to the 2009 OVC regular season championship and the 2008 OVC Tournament title.

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The berth in the 2008 NCAA Tournament was just the second in school history.

During his tenure at EIU, Meade saw a number of his pitchers rack up All-OVC accolades in addition to being selected in the MLB Draft. In 2010, Josh Mueller was drafted in the 13th round of the MLB Draft by the Colorado Rockies. Tyler Kehrer, who led the OVC in strikeouts and opponent batting average in 2009, became the highest-drafted EIU player since 1988, as he was taken 48th overall by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in Compensation Round A. Meade joined the coaching staff at EIU following his playing career at Louisville. Meade anchored a pitching staff that helped lead Louisville to an appearance in the 2007 College World Series. The southpaw recorded nine wins and limited opposing batters to a .247 average during the Cardinals’ run to Omaha.

A native of Louisville, Kentucky, Meade earned his bachelor’s degree in sports administration from Louisville in 2007 and completed a master’s degree in kinesiology and sports studies (sports management) in the summer of 2009 from EIU. Skylar and Jesse Meade have two children, Kasen and Mikah.

Along with the introduction of Meade, Troy University unveiled plans for a multimillion dollar renovation to Riddle-Pace field.

The appearance of the stadium on the outside will be updated and luxury suites and baseball offices will be added as well. “I want the entire student body here,” said Meade. “If we can get 10,000 people into the park that’s what we need to do, but I want them to be involved. I want them to be loud. I want them to be rowdy. I’d like for our stadium to be a place that is a nightmare for other teams to come over the course of a weekend.”

For an additional look at artist renderings of the planned Riddle-Pace upgrades visit TroyTrojans.com.

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AT H LE T I CS

FORREST SCHULTZ NAMED HEAD COACH OF MEN’S GOLF

After winning seven conference championships and reaching a combined 14 NCAA Regionals in eight seasons, Forrest Schultz has been named Head Coach of the TROY Men’s Golf team.

Schultz comes to the University following eight successful seasons coaching both the men’s and women’s programs at Henderson State, where he served as the Director of Golf.

His teams advanced to NCAA Regional competition in each of the seven years it was held during his tenure, and the women’s team advanced to the 2017 NCAA Division II National Championship.

“Forrest is a proven winner and has done so for a long period of time,” said Brent Jones, TROY Director of Athletics. “We are excited to welcome Forrest, his wife, Holly, and their two children to the TROY Family. His track record of producing winning teams on the golf course and successful student-athletes in the classroom, in addition to his fire and passion to bring TROY Golf back to the national level, made him the perfect fit for our program. I would like to say thank you to our selection committee for their hard work in this process with a special thanks to both Collin McCrary and Ronny Mobley.” Schultz guided Henderson State’s men’s program to five straight Great America Conference titles from 2014 to 2018, while the women’s program won Great America championships in 2014 and 2021.

The titles in 2014 marked the first in program history for Henderson State’s women and the first in the NCAA era of the men’s program.

“I am beyond excited to be selected as the next head coach to lead the historic men’s golf program at TROY,” Schultz said.

“It was clear to me from the beginning that there is a deep passion for golf at Troy University. The resources and facilities put together for the golf programs will allow us to compete at the highest level. I want to personally thank Brent Jones and Chancellor Hawkins for believing in my vision for TROY Men’s Golf. The support for this program is unlike any I have experienced, and I cannot wait to lead these young men to new heights. My wife, Holly, and I cannot wait to raise our family in this amazing community.” His teams have won a combined 25 regular season titles during his tenure, while Henderson State golfers took home 14 individual medalist honors. His players earned All-Great America Conference honors 42 times in seven years (were not awarded in 2020).

Before taking over both programs at Henderson State, Schultz served as an Assistant Golf Professional at Hot Springs Country Club for three years.

Schultz earned his bachelor’s degree in recreation from Henderson State in 2010 and followed with his master’s degree in sports administration in 2012. A three-year letterman at Henderson State, Schultz was a threetime Academic All-Gulf South Conference honor roll selection. In 2012, Schultz won the Arkansas PGA Assistants Championship and was runnerup at the Arkansas PGA Chapter Championship. He holds Class “A” PGA status and has served as Vice President of the Arkansas Chapter PGA Assistants Association.

Schultz is married to the former Holly Loftin and the couple has two children, Ryder and Caroline.

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AT H LE T I CS

Veteran coach Brian Cunningham has been named TROY’s new Cross Country Head Coach. Cunningham joins the Troy University staff following two seasons in a similar role at Bridgewater College.

“Brian will be a great addition to our coaching staff,” Director of Track & Field Marc Davis said. “He brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the table and is very enthusiastic about the direction of the program. Brian is the right fit to continue to guide us on the successful path in which we are heading.”

Following his first year at Bridgewater, he was named the USTFCCCA South/Southeast Region Assistant Coach of the Year. His runners Calista Ariel and English Jackson took the top two places in the 3000 and 5000 at the ODAC Championships and set school records in the process. Both athletes also qualified for the NCAA Division III Cross Country and Indoor Track & Field National Championship.

Before joining the Bridgewater staff, Cunningham spent three years as the Head Coach of the cross country and track & field programs at Marymount University. Under his watch, the Saints had a program-best four All-Conference qualifiers in cross country. The women also earned USTFCCCA D-III All-Academic team status three times.

As an Assistant Coach at Wellesley College in 2014-15, he worked with cross country, middle and long distance and throws. Wellesley qualified for the NCAA XC championships

for the first time in 26 years and had three of the top-25 5,000-meter runners in Division III that spring on the track.

Cunningham was the Head Cross Country Coach at Simmons College the previous year, leading his team to third place at the Great Northeast Athletic Conference championships.

Cunningham ran four years of cross country and track & field at William & Mary, graduating with a degree in kinesiology, after which he ran professionally for Adidas and Fila. As a runner for the Tribe, he was named all-conference in the 800 meters while earning IC4A qualifying status in the 4x800 relay during his four-year career.

Cunningham returned to his alma mater as an Assistant Coach from 2003-2005, where he specifically worked with middledistance runners. From 2003-2005, the Tribe qualified for the NCAA Cross Country championships twice during his time at William & Mary. Cunningham also assisted with five male and female competitors who were chosen to compete for various Team USA squads.

Following his stint at William & Mary, Cunningham was a member of the Texas-Pan American staff, where the men’s and women’s cross country teams improved across the board. His squads included an individual fifth place finish at the NCAA D-I XC Championships (and fastest American collegian at 10,000m in the spring).

Cunningham is a USATF Level 1 Certified Coach.

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TROY TODAY

FALL ‘21 SPORTS PREVIEW

ATHLETIC S

Zion Williams returns an interception for a touchdown in TROY’s season opener against Southern.

Following one of the most challenging years in college athletics history, TROY’s student-athletes are back on campus and ready to attack the 2021-2022 athletics season head-on.

TROY’s fall sports have high expectations for the upcoming season, with football, volleyball, soccer and cross country in their championship seasons.

On the gridiron, TROY returns 19 of 22 starters from its offensive and defensive units and welcomed in one of the top recruiting classes in school history, in addition to adding several high-profile transfers.

The Trojans return 10 starters on defense, including Carlton Martial, who led the country with 113 tackles last season and was named the Sun Belt Preseason Defensive Player of the Year. The Trojans were one of the most improved teams in the country defensively a season ago. TROY jumped 73 spots in the national rankings in scoring defense, 38 spots in total defense and 72 spots in third-down defense.

Offensively, the Trojans welcome back nine starters, including all five across the offensive line and four overall All-Sun Belt selections. TROY posted the nation’s No. 21 passing attack in 2020, and the Trojans return starting quarterback Gunnar Watson, their top downfield threat in Reggie Todd, plus B.J. Smith and Kimani Vidal in the backfield.

The home football schedule is arguably one of its best in recent history, with games against South Alabama, App State, Georgia Southern, Liberty, Louisiana and Southern on the docket, with all six games scheduled for Saturdays.

The Trojan Volleyball team was picked to finish second in the Sun Belt East Division following back-to-back appearances in the Sun Belt Tournament semifinals. In addition, Cheyenne Hayes and Amara Anderson were named to the Preseason All-Sun Belt Team following All-Sun Belt nods last year.

TROY is looking to build on a perfect 8-0 mark inside Trojan Arena last year, a building where the Trojans have lost just one match since 2019. The Trojans have posted 20 Sun Belt Conference victories over the past two seasons under Head Coach Josh Lauer, the most in a two-year period in the program’s history.

The home slate is impressive for the Trojans, with matches against Ole Miss and UAB at home to open the season before taking on the likes of Alabama, Virginia Tech and LSU in tournaments before conference play starts at the end of September.

On the soccer pitch, Interim Head Coach Nicole Waters looks to build on TROY’s success before the pandemic, which saw the Trojans finish second in the Sun Belt. The season got off

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Sophomore Lisa Blankestein in TROY’s exhibition victory at Alabama State

Junior Julia Brooks vs. Ole Miss

on the right foot with a 3-2 road victory over Alabama State in an exhibition game to build off the momentum from the spring where the Trojans knocked off Alabama State and Mercer.

Freshman goalkeeper Lindsey LaRoche is back after recording 66 saves in 11 starts last season, including pitching a 1-0 shutout over Texas State in the Sun Belt Tournament opener.

It was TROY’s first tournament victory since 2015.

Coming off its best performance in Sun Belt history, the TROY Women’s Cross Country team is poised to climb the conference

TROY’s Men’s Cross Country team

standings even more behind reigning Sun Belt Freshman of the Year Gracie Booher. The women return all three of their AllSun Belt performers, with Macki Walk and Cadi Rowe joining Booher to lead the squad.

The Trojan Men’s Cross Country team was led by sophomore Mason Bennett in three of the four races last year, while junior Blake Vaughn was consistently at the top of the leaderboard for the Trojans.

VISIT TROYTROJANS.COM FOR ATHLETIC SCHEDULES.

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TROY TODAY

S T UD E N T S

IDEA BANK WORKS WITH STUDENT ENTREPRENEURS

Student entrepreneur Sierra Champion is touching the lives of children across the state through the nonprofit organization SHORT the Squirrel.

SHORT the Squirrel came to life when TROY alumnae Dr. Dee Dupree Bennett and Monica Anderson Young saw the need presented by the youngest visitors to the state’s court system.

“It’s very scary walking into the courtroom or into an attorney’s office,” Champion said. “They figured what better way to fill that anxiousness than to have a friend who could teach you how to read and can teach you about the court system.”

Champion presented the idea for SHORT the Squirrel to faculty and staff members at the TROY IDEA Bank who were looking for student entrepreneurs with new ideas, a suggestion from Edward Noriega, TROY Professor of Graphic Design.

In fall 2020, the IDEA Bank held a small pitch competition to identify promising student entrepreneurs to support as they pursued their big ideas. Winners were granted a workspace in the IDEA Bank and a $500 scholarship. Champion’s unique ideas for SHORT the Squirrel helped her stand out as having a strong entrepreneurial mindset. Her progress since then has been tremendous.

“He [Noriega] told me about the IDEA Bank and told me what kind of opportunities it could bring me,” Champion said. “We got a call back a couple of days later, and I was at the IDEA Bank. It’s all very exciting.”

The first book, “SHORT in Court,” was officially released to all counties in the state of Alabama in February.

Now at the IDEA Bank, Champion contributes to SHORT the Squirrel as the

project’s manager. She is in charge of the distribution of the literacy kits that include a SHORT the Squirrel book, crayons, stickers and bookmarks.

“I’m in charge of distribution, making sure that every county has them,” Champion said. “I’m in many meetings with different offices throughout the state. I do a bunch of different stuff that just needs to be done behind the scenes. It’s been a lot of fun, and I’ve learned a lot without a doubt.”

Champion has also released two more SHORT books since the original: “SHORT Gets Sick,” which led to a partnership with Children’s Hospital of Alabama, and the most recent, “SHORT’s Money Tree,” which focuses on money management and is designed to be kept in lobbies at financial institutions.

Champion graduated from TROY in July with a degree in communications and is currently a graduate assistant with the Sorrell College of Business. She continues to use the IDEA Bank as SHORT the Squirrel’s hub as she works on distribution of the new books.

Champion credits the programs she is a part of at Troy University for giving her the necessary skills to succeed.

“My professors have taught me how to be professional and how to keep being persistent through everything that you do,” Champion concluded. “[Alpha Gamma Delta] has taught me a lot about how to make connections and how to serve and how to make your time worthwhile.

“TROY, between having all my jobs, has prepared me to be able to focus on the right things that are going to get me to the right path for my career.”

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ST UD E N T S

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NEW SGA PRESIDENT FOCUSES ON INCLUSION

Troy University’s newly elected SGA President Maxwell George plans to bring new initiatives to campus to uphold the meaning of “Trojans, one and all.”

George will create a branch of the Student Government Association that will focus on diversity and inclusion at TROY, a subject that encouraged him to begin his presidential campaign.

“I have great plans and great ideas on how to bring the school together,” George said. “I want to lead us into reuniting and bringing back what TROY is in the sense of what it means to be ‘One TROY.’ “We’re one University in its entirety. We’re a huge group of people with different backgrounds, different cultures, different races, different personalities. When it comes to being a Trojan family, that’s the reason why a lot of us love this place.”

The diversity, equity and inclusion team will be “a group of individuals from different backgrounds and cultures to represent what diversity is at TROY.” TROY’s newly elected SGA officials also include Executive Vice President Tim Showalter, Vice President of Internal Affairs Keneshia “KJ” Mahan, Vice President of Campus Affairs Myles Camel and Executive Secretary Jason Frye.

MR. & MISS TROJAN PRIDE Troy University students Braxton Daniels of Brantley, Alabama, and Bailey Bennett of Eufaula, Alabama, were recently named as the University’s first Mr. and Miss Trojan Pride.

“The Student Government Association wanted to find a unique way to honor and recognize a male and female student that

are heavily involved on campus and in the community and take great pride in being Trojans,” said Carter Ray, former SGA Executive Vice President. “Additionally, I just wanted to create another fun, special tradition at TROY.” The Trojan Pride selection committee consists of two faculty members, two alumni and two students.

The selection committee scored the applicants based on their campus involvement, community involvement, leadership and academic excellence. The team of students and faculty members interviewed the top 25 applicants to determine the top 10. Finally, the top 10 candidates were elected among the student body.

Mr. and Miss Trojan Pride received swords with their names and titles engraved on the blade at a banquet in March.

The criteria for Mr. and Miss Trojan Pride includes the candidates to have completed at least 30 credit hours at Troy University and have no less than a 3.0 cumulative GPA. Applicants were nominated by a student organization, an athletic team, an honor society or an academic department.

TROY TODAY

SWEET SUCCESS STUDENT BAKERY BUSINESS BIG HIT

ST U D EN TS

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Although sophomore Alexis “Lexii” Hutchison isn’t a big fan herself, she’s known among Troy University students for her sweet treats.

A native of Tallassee, Alabama, Hutchison developed her love for cooking during her junior year of high school in an event planning course. Her final project was a baking contest called “Cupcake Wars.”

“Everybody had to make a different flavor of cupcake,” she said.

“Teachers from our school would judge us and pick whoever was the best.

“Throughout the week, (the teacher) would allow us to bake in the classroom and decorate. My cupcake was voted the best, and I’ve been cooking ever since. My love for it has grown stronger over the past two years.”

Lexii’s Nutty Creations bloomed out of that one class, and now Hutchison spends her time selling treats like red velvet cupcakes, banana pudding bites and candy-coated fruits.

Hutchison has a Facebook group where she shares her tips and secrets to baking with more than 1,000 members. Group members began asking for recipes, so she decided she’d self-publish her own cookbook, “The LNC Cookbook.”

“I figured that since I shared all of my recipes there, why not make it into a book and share it with everyone?” she said. “I finally put it in motion and did it.”

Other parts of Hutchison’s business include vendor events where local entrepreneurs and businesses can come together and sell their products.

During the hours when Hutchison isn’t baking her sweet treats or finding ways to grow her business, she’s a full-time elementary education student at TROY. It was during a student marketing event when Hutchison began making a name for herself at TROY. “It really helped me get new customers and to get my name out there,” she said.

Hutchison isn’t too sure which direction she wants to take once she graduates, but she does have the opportunity to attend culinary school in the spring. “It’s really up in the air. I want to go to culinary school, but I still want to be a teacher,” she said. “I know baking is something that I really want to do, and it really means a lot to me.”

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S T UD E N T S

ALVAREZ WINS ASBBS AWARD Isabella Alvarez, a senior human resource management major, was recognized at the 28th annual American Society of Business and Behavioral Sciences (ASBBS) Conference, winning “Best Student Paper” for her essay entry.

“This essay and the competition as a whole embodied everything I love about my major,” said Alvarez. “My essay was a compilation of ethics, safety and legislation pertaining to COVID-19, as I provided a recommended coronavirus safety policy that could be utilized by any organization.”

Alvarez said she began learning about legislation through some of her human resource classes, where she developed a passion for legislation, ethics and safety under Dr. Henry Findley, the Senior Associate Dean for Administration in the Sorrell College of Business and one of Alvarez’s professors.

She worked closely with Dr. Findley to complete thorough research to develop her “recommended virus policy” that could be used by almost any organization.

Upon winning the “Best Student Paper” title, Alvarez reflected on how proud she was of her hard work.

“I know that what I learned throughout the many months of research for this essay will help me in my HR career and be a proud legacy of Troy University’s Sorrell College of Business,” said Alvarez.

TROY’S MOST OUTSTANDING WOMEN Seven Troy University students were elected as TROY’s Most Outstanding Women for 2021.

Destyni Peoples, Alyssa Hartz, Kynsley Rae Blasingame, Gretil Sutton, Mackenzie Martin, Jade Blocker and Shaley Smith (pictured from left to right) were honored March 18 at a banquet.

The Most Outstanding Women is a student award presented to women at TROY who have been involved in organizations and activities and are proactive across campus.

Dominic Williams, the SGA’s former Vice President of Campus Affairs, was the coordinator behind this year’s election.

Williams hopes the award inspires students to be leaders across the University.

“I hope people don’t see this as a competition but see this to be inspired by the [upperclassmen] who have been tremendously active and show their pride in their hobbies and what they do on campus,” Williams said.

“I hope people are driven to do what they love here on campus and grow not just whatever they’re involved in, but grow in themselves too.”

To be nominated for the award, students must be a senior with at least 90 completed credit hours.

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ST UD E N T S

CAN CASTLE EVENT HELPS FEED LOCAL KIDS

Troy University’s Office of Civic Engagement’s annual Can Castle contest to help fight food insecurity brought in more than 7,000 items.

The contest collects food cans for the campus’ Backpacks for Kids program that helps feed local children around Pike County for several months.

Each participating organization creates a castle out of the cans the group has collected.

“We feel it’s extremely important to bring awareness to these issues for our students and encourage their involvement in the community,” said Lauren Cochran, the Coordinator of the Office of Civic Engagement. “This is one of the ways we promote active citizenship with our students and help them build civic skills that will keep them engaged beyond their time at TROY.” Cochran hopes that students carry the purpose of the event over into their personal lives.

“We hope to provide opportunities for students to use the knowledge and skills acquired in the classroom to address real-world issues,” Cochran said.

Troy University’s Phi Mu and Baptist Campus Ministries were awarded “Best Can Castle,” and Kappa Delta collected the most cans overall.

TROY GOES TO THE ORCHESTRA Five students from Troy University’s John M. Long School of Music recently accompanied Dr. Jason Sulliman, Assistant Professor of Trombone, to Fairhope, Alabama, to support the Baldwin County Youth Orchestra during their spring concert.

This year marked the 11th season for the Baldwin County Youth Orchestra program, and Director Leroy Hughes had been

dealing with the challenges of recruiting members during the COVID-19 pandemic. As such, Hughes reached out to Sulliman in search of wind and brass players.

“It was a tough time of year with final exams, but our service organizations in the School of Music constantly go above and beyond to help others, and several students were ready to step up and help,” Sulliman said.

Students (pictured with Dr. Sulliman from left to right) Emma Fell (horn), Hayley Groff (trombone), Ivy Brewer (flute), Alexandria Thomas (horn) and Theo Hornsby (trumpet) traveled to Baldwin County and performed a full program of works with the youth orchestra.

“It can be a challenge to jump into a performance without any rehearsals,” Sulliman said, “but it was great to see our students rise to meet the moment. I was proud of our students that represented Troy University so well. It was a testament to the quality of our program and the spirit of helping others through music.”

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ST UD E N T S

CCFA STUDENTS BRING HOME AWARDS

Students in Troy University’s College of Communication and Fine Arts have been recognized for their creativity and hard work bringing home 16 awards at the American Advertising Federation (ADDY) student competition this year and 12 awards at the recent 2021 Southeastern Journalism Conference (SEJC), including three first-place awards for individual student submissions.

In December 2020, TROY’s graphic design professors reviewed the best of student work from the previous year.

The department’s professors entered the students in ADDY competitions in Dothan and Montgomery to give them the recognition they deserve.

“Students can submit any work that they want, but the majority of work submitted is a class project,” said Christopher Stagl, an Associate Professor of Graphic Design and Assistant Chair of Art and Design. “The work that we put into the competition really did represent the best of the Troy University graphic design program.”

The Best of the South competition at the SEJC was held via Zoom in March. Robbyn Taylor, the Advisor for the Tropolitan and a Professor in the Hall School of Journalism and Communication (HSJC) said that the diversity of the awards received each year reflects the ethical, trustworthy and well-rounded journalists that the HSJC has been producing for 50 years.

ADDY AWARDS

MONTGOMERY GOLD ADDY Hannah Keiser.........................“1984,” Book Cover Design

SILVER ADDY Hunter Irby................... “Positive Shift,” Magazine Design Dang Long ................. “Design & Build,” Typography Mural Megan Colquitt........ “Fortified Project,” Website Design Megan Colquitt ......................................... “Fortified Project,”

Illustration Campaign

JUDGES’ CHOICE AWARD Olivia Kattos......“Create,” IDEA Bank Typography Mural

MOSAIC AWARD

(BEST EXEMPLIFIES DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION)

Hunter Irby........................................ Positive Shift Magazine

DOTHAN GOLD ADDY Mary-Gates Kennedy................... “MGK,” Website Design Jacob Boyce................................. “Immunity: Protecting the

Autoimmune,” Design Campaign

THE BEST OF THE SOUTH AWARDS

Collen Layton....................................“Vote,” Poster Design

Best Radio Journalist................... Marissa Lacey – 1st place

Carly Boyd.................. “Spray Create,” Typography Mural

Best TV Hard News Reporter..... Brady Talbert – 1 place st

Best TV Journalist........................ Brady Talbert – 1st place Best TV Feature Reporter...........Sam Granville – 2nd place

SILVER ADDY John Suyak ................“Madeon: The Prince,” Kinetic Type

JUDGES’ CHOICE AWARD

Best Radio News Reporter............... Daisy Leng – 2nd place

Jacob Boyce................................. “Immunity: Protecting the

Autoimmune,” Design Campaign

Journalist of the Year..................Brady Talbert – 2nd place

John Suyak ................“Madeon: The Prince,” Kinetic Type

Best Radio Program........................Talk of TROY – 2 place

Collen Layton....................................“Vote,” Poster Design

Best College TV Station................. TrojanVision – 2 place

MOSAIC AWARD

nd

nd

Best Page Design.......................Hanna Cooper – 3rd place

(BEST EXEMPLIFIES DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION)

Best Video News Program............ TrojanVision – 3rd place

Hunter Irby........................................ Positive Shift Magazine

Best Sportswriter....................... Hanna Cooper – 8th place

BEST OF SHOW

Best Opinion Writer....................... Sam Stroud – 9 place

Mary-Gates Kennedy................... “MGK,” Website Design

th

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ALUMNI OF THE YEAR

A LU M N I

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BRYAN DANIEL HUBBARD Bryan Daniel Hubbard (’88) is Senior Vice President, Claims at Alfa Insurance Company where he leads a team of 250 employees who serve about 1.2 million policies in Alabama, Georgia and Mississippi. He also serves on the company’s 15-member Senior Management Team where he has input in the shaping of corporate strategy for the Alfa family of companies. After graduating from TROY with a bachelor’s degree in finance, he went on to complete the Associate in Claims at the Insurance Institute of America and later earned his Juris Doctorate degree from the Birmingham School of Law in 1997.

Hubbard is a lifetime member of the Troy University Alumni Association, an active member of TROY’s Montgomery Metro Alumni Chapter and a member of the TROY Risk Management and Insurance Advisory Board. He has served as chairman of the Alabama Insurance Guaranty Board, secretary of the Mississippi Insurance Guaranty Board, a member of the Farm Bureau National Claims Committee, a member of the Claims Advisory Committees of both the American Property Casualty Insurance Association and the American Agricultural Insurance Company, a member of the Britton YMCA Board and a Jimmy Hitchcock Committee member. During his time at TROY, Hubbard was a member of the 1984 and 1987 national championship football teams and the 1984, 1986 and 1987 Gulf South Conference championship teams. He was also a second-team All-Gulf South Conference selection at linebacker in 1988.

RICK MAXEY Rick Maxey (’78) is Assistant Vice President of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion at Florida Polytechnic University. A member of the university’s staff since 2013, Maxey has also served in the roles of Director of Government Relations, Assistant Vice President of Government Relations, and Assistant Vice President of Economic Development and Board Liaison. After receiving his bachelor’s degree in Biology from TROY, he went on to later earn a MPA from Florida State University in 1989. Maxey is a member of the Trojan Shield Society, a Silver Trojan Warrior Club member, a former member of the National Alumni Association Board of Directors and a member of the inaugural Troy University Sports Hall of Fame Advisory Committee. A member of the 19741977 football teams, Maxey helped lead TROY to a 1976 Gulf South Conference championship. He was inducted into the TROY Sports Hall of Fame in 2016. Maxey is very active within the Lakeland, Florida, community, currently serving or having served on the Board of Directors of the Central Florida Speech and Hearing Center, the Board of Directors of the Early Learning Coalition, the Board of Directors of Lakeland Vision, Inc., the Lakeland History and Culture Center Committee, Vice Chair of the Board of Advisers for Summerlin Academy, the Volunteers in Service to the Elderly Advisory Board and the Board of Directors of the Lakeland Rotary Club.

T ROY T O DAY

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT ANNUAL RECOGNITION OF OUTSTANDING ALUMNI

AND TO MAKE A NOMINATION, CONTACT ALUMNI AFFAIRS AT 334-670-3318.

KYNA MCCALL-PASTER Kyna McCall-Paster (’89) retired at the rank of Colonel after 30 years of service in the U.S. Air Force. During her Air Force Career, she worked in six Major Commands, three Combatant Commands and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. McCall-Paster supported Desert Storm, Operation Allied Force and Operation Iraqi Freedom.

When she was pinned as Colonel, she was one of only 24 African American females with the rank. Today, she serves as a Client Executive with ARRAY, an information technology company supporting U.S. Air Force contracts in Montgomery. McCallPaster has served as Secretary and as a member of the social media team for the Trojan Tailgater Alumni Chapter since 2016. She has served as a guest speaker for Troy University ROTC Detachment 017 and has donated clothing to the TROY Career Closet. In 2020, she became a Circle of Honor donor for the National PanHellenic Council Plaza. An active part of the Montgomery community, McCall-Paster has served as President of the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association (AFCEA) Montgomery Chapter since 2018 and Chairperson for Lake Elam Missionary Baptist Church’s Community Outreach Program since 2019, as well as having served as a leader for the church’s youth department since 2015. She also served on Montgomery Mayor Stephen Reed’s Montgomery United Infrastructure and Transportation Transition Team from December 2019 to February 2020. McCall-Paster received the AFCEA Meritorious Service Award in 2020, the Montgomery AFCEA Women in AFCEA Award in 2019 and led her chapter to winning the AFCEA International Harry C. Ingles Award. McCall-Paster also served as President of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Nu Theta Chapter during her time at Troy University.

WILLIAM R. (RANDY) WILKES William R. (Randy) Wilkes (’89, ’92) has served as Superintendent of Phenix City Schools since 2014. In 2018, he was named Alabama Superintendent of the Year. Prior to his time in Phenix City, Wilkes served as Superintendent of Education in Crenshaw County; Director of Special Education and Federal Programs, Safe and Drug Free Schools; and Teacher Certification Coordinator. He also previously served for seven years as Principal of Highland Home School. During his time at TROY, Wilkes was a threeyear letterman on the Trojans football team and a member of the 1987 National Championship team. A lifetime member of the Troy University Alumni Association, Wilkes is a former member of the Alumni Association’s Board of Directors. He is past President of the Crenshaw County TROY Alumni Chapter. Wilkes was a member of the State Superintendent’s Advisory Committee in 2017, received the Marbury Technology Innovation Award from the Alabama State Department of Education for Exceptional Creativity, Leadership and Instructional Excellence in 2016 and served as the commencement speaker for Troy University’s Phenix City Commencement ceremony in 2015. He was responsible for forming the Friends of Phenix City Schools, which raised $1.2 million for the new STEM Center for Phenix City Schools, in 2015-2016, and was named as a Mover and Shaper by Business Alabama in 2014. He is a member of School Superintendents of Alabama and the Council for Leaders in Alabama Schools.

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ALUM NOTES ’80 Lynne McWilliams (‘89) has been appointed to the Daleville Board of Education. She has worked for Daleville City Schools from 1995 to 2019, most recently serving as Chief School Finance Officer.

banking market-wide. Baldwin earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in business administration from TROY and is a graduate of both the First Union Graduate Training Program and BBVA Compass School of Management. He serves on the Board of Directors for the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce, the Catalyst Center for Entrepreneurs, Neighborhood Concepts/North Alabama Loan Fund and Huntsville Committee of 100.

’90 Steve Powell (’92) has joined the public relations team of the Arkansas Farm Bureau Federation as a Senior Field Communicator. Powell most recently served as Outreach Coordinator for the Arkansas Coalition for Obesity Prevention and provided communication support for the Arkansas Farmers Market Association. He also spent 14 years as an Anchor And Feature Reporter for KATV. Sutricia Johnson (’93) is Director of Case Management at East Alabama Medical Center. Her nursing career spans 27 years.

Andrew Russell (’94), President of Sound Payments, Inc., has been appointed to the Florida Development Finance Corporation Board of Directors by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.

Jason Baldwin (’96, ’02) is President for Pinnacle Financial Partners’ Huntsville, Alabama, region. He previously served as Market CEO for North Alabama at BBVA. He started at BBVA in 1999 in Dothan, moving up to Commercial Banking Team Leader by 2005 and Market Executive in Pensacola, Florida, by 2010. In that role and his most recent one, he’s overseen commercial, wealth and retail

’00 Robert Gowin (’00) was recently named Chief Strategy Realization Officer for ATCC, the world’s premier biological materials management and standards organization. Prior to joining ATCC, Gowin was Vice President of Pharmacy Operations, Analytics and Compliance for Anthem, Inc., with responsibilities for pharmacy compliance, pharmacy analytics, pharma strategy, pharmaceutical contracting, pharmacy profit and loss and administration, and pharmacy operations and implementation. Gowin spent 20 years in the U.S. Army in various leadership roles before joining Serologicals Corporation, where he led enterprise initiatives, managed the company’s strategic plan and oversaw the consistency of processes.

Tom Coate (’96) has been hired as the new Head Football Coach at Grace Brethren High School in Simi Valley, California. He formerly served as Head Coach at Chadwick School in Palos Verdes, California.

Michelle Hopson (’96, ’05) was recently named Vice President of Finance at the Business Council of Alabama (BCA). She has been with the BCA since 2020 as the Director of Finance and has 24 years of finance and accounting experience.

Dr. Kemba Chambers (’98, ‘01) was recently named acting President of Trenholm State Community College.

Chambers has more than 21 years of experience in higher education, most recently serving as Interim Associate Vice Chancellor of Teaching and Learning and Chief Instructional Officer at the Alabama Community College System, in addition to her role as Executive Vice President and Vice President of Instructional Services at Trenholm State.

Aubrey Morrison (’00) has been named Executive Director of Leadership Lee County. Morrison relocated to Lee County in 2007 for the construction and opening of the Auburn Sam’s Club. He spent the first 20 years of his professional career responsible for operations and human resources in various senior leadership roles for Walmart Stores, Inc., across multiple locations including, Trussville, Florence, and Auburn, Alabama, and Columbus, Georgia. Previously, Morrison served on the Board of Directors of the American Red Cross, Muscogee County Friends of Libraries and Auburn University Employer Advisory Board.

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‘HOME TOWN TAKEOVER’ HELPS RENOVATE WETUMPKA

Troy University alumna Josie Russell Young helped locals in Wetumpka, Alabama, bring their community to life in HGTV’s new series “Home Town Takeover.”

Young, who graduated from TROY in 2017 with a bachelor’s degree in human services, originally pursued nursing, but quickly realized it wasn’t the path she wanted to follow.

Young helped Ben and Erin Napier renovate Wetumpka for their HGTV show “Home Town Takeover” through her family’s construction company, Russell Construction of Alabama.

“I’ve been working at Russell Construction kind of my whole life,” Young said. “In the summers, I would work in the office and help the girls but never really considered it a real possibility.”

Now, however, as the company’s marketing director, Young focuses on marketing and project management.

It was via social media that HGTV’s Ben and Erin Napier found the construction company, landing Young a spot on the show as the general contractor.

“They called, and I had a series of interviews,” Young said. “It all happened quickly.”

The renovations included Jerry’s Barber Shop, the boutique Tapp 18, the Wetumpka Farmer’s Market and residences throughout the community.

“We designed and built all of the renovations in Wetumpka cohesively with Ben and Erin,” Young said.

“We physically performed all of the work and did all of the planning and design on the front end. I was on site every day leading that charge for the show.”

Young attributes part of her success to the programs in which she was involved in at TROY, including University Activities Council and Alpha Gamma Delta sorority.

“It was really those experiences at TROY that were in those extracurricular activities and organizations that I was a part of that allowed me to be confident in front of the camera and take everything to the next level being a young woman in the construction industry,” she said. “That’s one of the things that I’ll be forever grateful that I did when I was in my time at TROY.” The series premiered on HGTV on May 2 and can be streamed through discovery+.

Josie Russell Young, with Ben and Erin Napier pictured in background

Ben and Erin Napier

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A LUM N I Dear Alumni and Friends, The Troy University Alumni Association is the cardinal thread that connects you, our alumni and friends across distances and over time. Our goal is to deepen our relationships with the University and each other. There are so many opportunities to be a part of the Alumni Association. We offer an array of programs and resources for alumni at all ages. We invite you to confirm your commitment to TROY by joining the Alumni Association as a dues-paying member — annual or lifetime — or by becoming active in a local chapter.

June Lawniczak (’01, ’07) has been named the 2021 Staff Member of the Year at James Clemens High School in Madison, Alabama. She serves as the school’s Nurse.

Christy Brock-Johnson (’04) has been named as the new Principal at J.P. Powell Middle School. She has 23 years of teaching experience in the Chambers County, Alabama, School District.

Brock-Johnson is replacing another TROY graduate in the position, Daron Brooks (’10). Brooks, who had served as the school’s principal since 2012, has been named as the school system’s Child Nutrition Program Director.

The Alumni Association is so very proud of the great traditions we have been able to share over the years.

One such tradition is honoring our alumni. Our 2021 Alumni of the Year are included in this issue of the magazine. You can read more about their loyalty and allegiance to TROY on page 58. Please join me in celebrating these true Trojans.

Also, please continue to advocate for TROY, to communicate our mission, to recruit good students and to serve those students by giving to our Alumni Legacy Scholarship.

Everything we do is made possible by your support for Troy University.

Thank you! We simply could not do this without you! You are very much appreciated on this journey to lead change for our beloved alma mater.

Your extraordinary dedication has helped lift TROY to prominence as a world-class University. Here’s to the school we love, we are Trojans one and all.

GO TROY!

Faith West Byrd Director, Alumni Affairs

Dr. Tysha K. Tolefree (’04) has joined the executive leadership team at South Puget Sound Community College in the role of Vice President for Finance and Operations. She is a United States Air Force veteran with both private sector finance and accounting experience and a combined 16 years of higher education experience as both an administrator and adjunct faculty member. She holds an MBA from TROY.

Dr. Silvia Scaife (’05) is Program Director of the Auburn City Schools’ Career and Technical Education Program.

Keith Manley (’04) is the Program Lead for Panhandle Warrior Partnership, which seeks to connect with veterans, their family members and caregivers to understand better what they need to improve their quality of life. Coordinated services are activities, volunteerism and purposeful engagement with other veterans, and occasionally housing, employment, access to education or health care available through community partners.

Tiffany Richardson (’04) was recently named as Principal of Live Oak Elementary School in Covington, Georgia. Richardson most recently served as Assistant Principal and also has served as an Instructional Specialist at West Newton Elementary School.

She also serves as Principal and Chief Executive Program Director for the nonprofit Unity Learning Network, Inc.

Elton Brooks (’06, ’09) was recently named Vice President of Retail for Dow Chemical Employees’ Credit Union. Brooks has more than 20 years of experience in the banking industry across retail operations, business development and strategic planning.

He previously served as Vice President of Retail Operations at Fortera Credit Union in Clarksville, Tennessee.

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‘JUST TRY IT’

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ALUMNUS MICHAEL ROOT’S PASSION FOR BOURBON LED HIM TO LAUNCH COPPER SKY DISTILLERY, BUT HIS PASSION FOR ENTREPRENEURSHIP FUELS HIS LIFE.

A LUM N I COVID-19 restrictions didn’t stop Troy University alumnus Michael Root from new business ventures across the country.

Root attended TROY from 2006-2014, earning three degrees along the way.

He double majored in sport management and criminal justice to obtain his two bachelor’s degrees and finished his career at TROY with an MPA degree.

Root was also a part of the University’s ROTC program and started his first business in Troy.

In 2012, he started a company called Troy Transit with buses and SUVs to drive people around because there was no transportation for students at that time.

“I wanted it to kind of cause other people to be aware of the lack of transportation for students,” Root said. “Now the school offers it, which is great.”

Root received his second master’s degree in theology from Liberty University while in the Air Force. He concluded his time serving the country in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Root chooses his areas of study depending on where he is and his interests in life. He is currently halfway done with his doctorate degree in public policy.

As if pursuing a doctorate wasn’t enough to keep him busy, he launched Colorado-based Copper Sky Distillery in the midst of the pandemic. The distillery produces whiskey, bourbon and rum. The idea came after Root found a passion for collecting rare bourbons and whiskey.

“When I got out of government work, I wanted to build a brand,” Root said. “I figured I’d merge the two things: a love for bourbon and whiskey and wanting to start a known brand.”

Root drew inspiration for his company’s name after seeing the Colorado sky and comparing it to references in the Bible.

“Out here in Colorado when the sun is peaking over the mountains when it’s setting at night, it’s this orange, beautiful, amber sky,” Root said. “In Revelations, there’s a lot of imagery and battles going on. It becomes this personal meaning.”

Despite challenges Root faced while starting his business during the pandemic, he described it as a “fun opportunity” that allowed him to work with other small businesses.

“Not only was I trying to overcome the challenge of starting during COVID-19, I was helping other small businesses keep cash flow coming in by contracting them,” Root said.

When the company had to shut down its retail space due to the pandemic, Root and his team pivoted to focus on distribution. After a year, Copper Sky has more than 100 sites across Colorado.

Root also has a book titled “For God and Country: A Discussion on Servant Leadership” that helps Christians who struggle with serving the government while serving God. If Root could tell young entrepreneurs anything, it’d be to “just try it.”

“I’ve probably had just as many failures as successes,” Root said.

“The rewards come from trying. It feels good to succeed, but it also feels good starting something.”

He also has a nonprofit organization called The Kingdom Advancement Project, and recently started his third company, Axiom Consulting Group.

“We focus on helping new and young entrepreneurs get started with their companies,” Root said.

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ALUMNI ASSOCIATION ENDOWS SCHOLARSHIP The Troy University National Alumni Association Board has endowed the largest scholarship in its history, but it’s not stopping there.

The Alumni Board received donations from board members that exceeded its $50,000 goal for the Alumni Legacy Scholarship, completing the initial drive in three years prior to its deadline. However, they are extending their goal to $100,000 to hit by the end of December 2021.

“Perhaps one of the most important functions of the Association is fundraising to provide scholarships which promote enrollment, growth and retention of Troy University students,” said Bill Hopper, Immediate Past-President of the Troy University Alumni Association.

The endowment will provide scholarships to students who are qualified legacies of Troy University graduates who maintain at least a 2.7 GPA. “Legacies” are the children of alumni.

“Through the dedication and loyalty of the Board, the chapters and the great number of alumni, scholarships will continue to grow and thrive,” said Roni Holley, President of the Troy University Alumni Association. “The goal to serve our students and their needs of getting a much-deserved education, remains in force. I am very proud with the way the Board, alumni and chapters stepped up to the challenges, in spite of the world being a very different place.”

While Board members each set personal fundraising goals, they also included methods for any alumni member to give, including adding a voluntary contribution of $2 to annual individual dues renewals earmarked for the scholarship.

The Alumni Board wasn’t the only group to endow scholarships in 2020, however. The Archer Alumni Chapter endowed a $25,000 scholarship, bringing the total number of chapterendowed scholarships to seven. Chapters that have previously completed endowments are the Alumni Band Chapter, the Clipson Chapter, Conecuh County Chapter, Elba Chapter, the Emerald Coast Chapter and T-Club’s Eric Mizell Scholarship.

“The Alumni Association has always put an emphasis on scholarships, but this year there was an even stronger conviction than ever to establish and endow scholarships while adding to existing ones. We thought it was important, especially during a pandemic, to assist our students in reaching their goals,” said Faith Byrd, Director of Alumni Affairs. “Also, these scholarships can only enhance the University’s goal of recruiting good students to TROY.” FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THESE AND OTHER ALUMNI SCHOLARSHIPS OR TO CONTRIBUTE CALL THE OFFICE OF ALUMNI AFFAIRS AT 334-670-3318.

T ROY T O DAY

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John Gandy (’06) has been named Police Chief of the city of Madison, Alabama.

He has been employed with the Virginia Beach Police Department since 1987, most recently being promoted to rank of Captain in 2018. He holds a TROY master’s degree in criminal justice.

Micah Grimes (’10) was recently named Vice President of News at Atmosphere, the worldwide leader in streaming TV for businesses. Grimes most recently served as Head of Social Media for NBC News and MSNBC where he and his team provided breaking, 24-hour coverage across 70 social media accounts. Prior to NBC News, Grimes worked at ABC News as a Social Media Editorial Lead, served as an Assignment Editor at ABC affiliate WFTS-TV, as well as a Web and Social Media Editor at Spectrum’s Bay News 9 cable channel.

Jean Cherizol (’09) has been named as the new Passing Game Coordinator and Receivers Coach for the HewittTrussville football program. Cherizol has 11 years of coaching experience at the high school and college level, most recently serving as the Co-Offensive Coordinator and Receivers coach at Prattville High School last year.

Justin Jonus (’09) has been hired as Head Coach of the varsity boys’ basketball program at DAR High School in Marshall County, Alabama. He began his coaching career in 2009 as Junior Varsity Coach at Madison County before moving onto Arab in 2010.

He has served as Coach of the Arab varsity girls and boys programs since that time. Jonus and his wife, Molly, have three sons.

completing her medical residency in Internal Medicine and Pediatrics for the next four years at the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria – OSF St. Francis Medical Center and the Children’s Hospital of Illinois.

Janae Jordan (’19, ’20) is a Reporter with WXXV-TV in Gulfport, Mississippi.

During her time as a student at TROY, she was an Anchor, Producer and Reporter for TrojanVision and also served as a Social Media Ambassador for the University. She previously served as an Associate Producer at WKRG-TV in Mobile, Alabama.

WEDDING AND ENGAGEMENTS Troy University Alumni

William Cartwright (’07) was recently appointed as the new City Court Judge for La Vergne, Tennessee. He has owned and operated a private law firm since 2015 and is a 2015 graduate of Nashville School of Law. He holds an MBA from Troy University.

Dr. Dale Land (’08) has been selected to serve as an Assistant Principal at West Creek Middle School in Montgomery County, Tennessee.

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Abby Grace Beard (’20) to Michael W. Pharham, II (’18) Mary Elizabeth Brunson (’20) to Charles Jabe Thompson

IN REMEMBRANCE Troy University Alumni Sam Sanders (’13) has been appointed as Deputy City Manager of Operations for the city of Charlottesville, Virginia. For the past 15 years, Sanders has served as the Executive Director of the Mid City Redevelopment Alliance, a community revitalization nonprofit in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He holds an MPA from TROY. Kacie Armstrong (’14) has been named as the Softball Coach at Slocomb High School and will also serve as a Physical Education Teacher at Slocomb Elementary. She was a four-year letter winner for the Trojans’ softball team and was selected to the All-Sun Belt first team as a utility player in her junior year.

Farrah Nicole Gaston (’17) has graduated with her medical degree from the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine in Auburn. She will be

John Thomas Arrington, IV (’71) Leon “Rusty” Cobb, Jr. (’72) Linwood S. Erb (’69) Phillip Jack Ford (’78) Dr. Michael Stafford Manning (’82) Levon Manzie (’11) Roy Eugene Smith (’71) Michael Eugene Summers (’80) Jean W. Thomas (’60) William R. “Bill” Thrasher, Jr. (’97) Stanley Henry Walker (’72) Patricia Ann Wynn Williford (’58) IN REMEMBRANCE Troy University Friends Rodney Burgess Frank “Brother” Mixon John Patterson Vivian Delice “Lisi” Shields Roces

TROY UNIVERSITY MAGAZINE ALUMNI AFFAIRS OFFICE TROY, AL 36082

Troy University’s Janice Hawkins Cultural Arts Park and International Arts Center is the place where East meets West.

Experience Janet Nolan’s “Reimagining the Everyday” exhibit. Visit the Fred “Nall” Hollis Museum. Explore the revolving gallery of art and visiting exhibits in the Huo Bao Zhu Gallery. Walk among the 200 terracotta warrior replicas from Xi’an, China, on display in the beautiful Janice Hawkins Cultural Arts Park.

Visit Troy University, a proud partner of the Alabama Tourism Department.

troy.edu/IAC

334-808-6412

158 International Dr. Troy, AL 36082