UNIVERSITY of MOBILE
SPRING 2022 D I A M O N D A N N I V E R S A RY E D I T I O N
M E S S AG E from t he PRESIDENT An anniversary is always a time to reflect. As one who has been connected with the University of Mobile for over 45 years, our 60th anniversary certainly afforded me that opportunity. I can vividly remember the day in 1976 that, as an 18-year-old freshman, I came through the back door of Weaver Hall and (after the obligatory trip to the “snack shop” for coffee), went to my first class. I remember how, even at 8 am, Charles "Mack" Clark somehow managed to open my eyes to the world of art. That same day, Dr. Virgil Davis made history exciting and Mrs. Chora Godwin made me realize I was not yet the writer I thought myself to be. During my time as a student, I would come to be in awe of President Weaver, be in fear of Dr. Petersen, and be in love with an institution. I would later get degrees from two other institutions, but I had only one home. In these 45 years, I have been a student, alumnus, adjunct instructor, history professor, department chair, dean and, finally, president. I have seen this institution from every possible angle and, at every level, I liked what I saw. As much as an historian enjoys looking at the past, this anniversary year has inspired me to think about the future. The world of higher education is changing rapidly. For this institution to flourish, we must continue to examine our entire structure. Our academic programs must be evaluated, our technology must be constantly updated, and our processes must be refined. The great thing about the University of Mobile is that, even in the midst of so many transitions, our foundation never changes. The “fear of the Lord” that was the beginning of wisdom in 1961 is still applicable today. I celebrate our tremendous legacy while, at the same time, I have never been more excited about our future.
TorchLight Extra! Hear Dr. Burnett's UM Story
Lonnie A. Burnett, Ph.D. President, University of Mobile
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TA B L E O F C O N T E N T S How do you tell the 60-year story of the University of Mobile? You could list the buildings that were constructed, total the number of degrees conferred, or highlight some important dates. But that would only be part of the story. The real story is told through the lives of thousands of men and women who spent a few short years in a special place – and a lifetime reflecting the spirit of the University of Mobile throughout the world. In this special Diamond Anniversary issue of the annual TorchLight magazine, we share some of their stories. You will meet Leslie Bryan ’09 &’15 who survived life-changing tragedy with support from UM’s caring faculty and staff. Treii Pace ’11, UM's 2022 Samuel Boykin Medal of Excellence recipient, reveals the moment he realized that being kind to others wasn’t enough, but having a relationship with Christ was more than enough. And Chip Travis ’89 relates how God used the University of Mobile to show him that it’s not how much faith you have, but Who you have your faith in that matters. We look to the future with stories on academic programs that prepare students to follow God’s calling for their lives, like the new School of Nurse Anesthesia with the only Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice program in a four-state region. UM’s Visual Arts Department is bursting at the seams with students and creativity, and the Production Technologies program prepares students for a broad range of careers in a variety of faith-based and corporate settings. An anniversary is a time to celebrate, and we celebrate the naming of the Grace Pilot School of Business as well as a legacy gift from Butch and Sharon Emmons. You can learn about the many ways you can be part of the future through your giving to help provide Christ-centered higher education to more students. This issue of TorchLight offers you something new – TorchLight Extra! Use the camera on your cell phone to scan the QR codes throughout the magazine. There you’ll find extra content that brings the sights and sounds of UM to you, like Dr. Lonnie Burnett’s story of the time Dr. Hazel PetersenWalter encouraged a C-student to aim higher – because, you never know, he could become a college president one day! Try it out here, with a fun video we put together to share the story of A UM Night Before Christmas. And, wherever you are and in whatever way God is calling you to pursue your purpose – Go Rams!
TorchLight Extra! THE UM NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS
University News .......................................................4 Grace Pilot School of Business .............................8 Athletics Makes Huge Impact...............................10 Celebrate 60 .............................................................12 Alumni of the Decade .............................................14 UM Through the Years ............................................16 Spread the Gospel .................................................24 Your Giving Matters ................................................26 Faculty Focus ............................................................ 28 School of Nurse Anesthesia .................................30 Producing Excellence ............................................32 Creativity Thrives.....................................................36 My UM Story ............................................................38 Alumni Events...........................................................44 Class Notes...............................................................46
President | Lonnie Burnett Vice President for Marketing and Public Relations | Lesa Moore Editor | Kathy Dean Graphic Design | Amanda Pritchard Writers | Brian Boyle, Leslie Bryan, Michael Dumas, David Haney, Chip Travis, Treii Pace Photographers | Dan Anderson, Abigail Brock, Deborah Cullum, Christian Hilley, Allie Judkins, Rovy Lopez, Chris Sevenish, McCall Smith, Trey Taulbee, Heath Vester Editorial Office University of Mobile, TorchLight 5735 College Parkway Mobile, Alabama 36613 Phone: 251.442.2497 Email: torchlight@umobile.edu TorchLight is published by the University of Mobile Office for Marketing and Public Relations and is distributed free of charge to alumni, faculty, staff and friends of the university. Issues may be viewed online at umobilemagazine.com. Postmaster: send address changes to Office for Marketing and Public Relations, University of Mobile. umobile.edu
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UNIVERSITY NEWS Ashlyn Nichols crowned Miss University of Mobile 2022
Ashlyn Nichols will represent UM throughout 2022 including at the Miss Alabama competition in Photo by Abigail Brock July. A native of Missouri, Nichols discovered UM when she represented her state at the national Distinguished Young Women program in Mobile.
“I really love this school,” Nichols says. “The faculty and staff were so sweet. They just welcomed me, and I have been at home ever since.”
First Female NFL Official Sarah Thomas ’95 Awarded Doctorate
University of Mobile alumna Sarah Bailey Thomas broke glass ceilings to become the first female official in the Photo by Dan Anderson National Football League. She shared lessons learned on that journey during her commencement address to the UM Class of 2021.
Thomas was awarded the Doctor of Humane Letters during the outdoor ceremony on campus May 8. The 265 graduates included the first doctoral degrees from the Doctor of Nursing Practice and Doctor of Musical Arts in vocal performance programs. Thomas urged graduates to look upon roadblocks as speed bumps “and the quicker you get over the speed bump, the faster it is in your rearview mirror. When you put that in your rearview mirror, don’t look behind you. Your windshield is so much bigger, and there are so many opportunities in front of you.” Thomas graduated from UM in 1995, having earned a basketball scholarship and Academic All-American honors. She began her football officiating career in 1996 when she attended a meeting for aspiring football officials with her brother. She became the first full-time female official in NFL history in 2015. On Feb. 7, 2021, she became the first female to officiate a Super Bowl, serving as down judge for Super Bowl LV. 4
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Tracey Henry ’02 Named 2021 Boykin Award Honoree
Dr. Tracey Henry, a physician and professor with Emory Healthcare in Atlanta, was awarded the 2021 Samuel Boykin Medal of Excellence. The psychology graduate attended medical school at Georgetown University and earned her Master of Public Health from Johns Hopkin University. Additionally, Henry was named a UM Alumni of the Decade for the 2000s The Samuel Boykin Medal of Excellence was established in 2019 to honor the life of the late Samuel M. Boykin, the first African American graduate of the University of Mobile. The award recognizes outstanding African American graduates of the Christian university who reflect the ideals of virtuosity, faith and charity that Boykin exemplified throughout his career, family and community.
TorchLight Extra! Watch the feb.26, 2021 virtual presentation
Treii Pace ’11 Named 2022 Boykin Award Recipient
The 2022 Samuel Boykin Medal of Excellence is awarded to 2011 graduate Treii Pace. The native of Saraland graduated from Satsuma High Photo by Rovy Lopez School and played basketball at the University of Mobile. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Human Performance and Exercise Science. He was named 2021 Teacher of the Year for Saraland Elementary School and the district, and also coaches the girl’s middle school basketball team. The award will be presented at an Alumni Brunch on March 26. (Read Treii’s UM story on Page 40.)
UM Recognized as a ‘Best Value School’
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The University of Mobile again earned top honors from U.S. News & World Report in the 2022 Best Colleges rankings released Sept. 13, 2021. The annual Photo by Trey Taulbee Best Colleges report assess academic quality among regionally accredited colleges and universities throughout the United States. UM was named a Best Value School among regional colleges in 5 net cost of the South, based on academic quality and attendance. UM was the highest ranked regional college in Alabama for veterans, earning #9 Best Regional College in the South for Veterans. UM also ranked as a Top Performer on Social Mobility at #37 among regional colleges in the South. The category recognizes colleges that are successful at advancing social mobility by enrolling and graduating economically disadvantaged students who receive federal Pell Grants, which are awarded to students whose adjusted gross family incomes are under $50,000.
#1 Dorms in Alabama, #1 Best College in Mobile
The popular ranking and review site Niche gave the University of Mobile top marks across a variety of categories in its 2022 Best Colleges rankings of public and private universities in Alabama. The site includes data for 4,136 colleges nationwide. Niche ranked colleges throughout the United States in more than 50 categories, then broke those rankings down by state and city.
2021. Magnoli was a member of the first graduating class of Mobile College in 1967 and served as president of his alma mater from 1984 to 1997. Mobile College became the University of Mobile during his tenure. (See Class Notes Page 47.)
Christmas Spectacular Wows Audiences for 19th Year
Christmas Spectacular returned for its 19th year in November, celebrating the birth of our 6 Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, Photo by Rovy Lopez and ringing in the joyous Christmas season for audiences numbering over 10,000 during five performances at Cottage Hill Baptist Church in Mobile. Thousands more watched highlights of “Spec” via local television and satellite stations. From the days of the Boar’s Head Festival with its medieval pageantry in Pharr Gym to today’s Christmas Spectacular, University of Mobile students, faculty and staff have celebrated the season with harmony, humor and reverence. Enjoy Christmas Spectacular this year and in the years to come with DVDs available for purchase. Search “Christmas Spectacular” at universityofmobilestore.com.
New ADN Program Aims to Reduce Nursing Shortages
UM honors include:
• #1 Best College Dorms in Alabama • #1 Best College in the Mobile Area • #2 Safest College Campus in Alabama • #2 Best College Campus in Alabama
Nationally, UM was named:
• #19 Best College Dorms in America • #22 Best College Campuses in America
Former UM President Mike Magnoli ’67 Remembered University of Mobile flags were lowered to half-staff in honor of the university’s second president, Dr. Michael A. Magnoli, who died May 1,
Photo by Allie Judkins
The School of Nursing announced a new Associate Degree in Nursing program that aims to reduce nursing shortages by preparing students to enter the workforce quickly.
The two-year ADN program will begin August 2022, pending final approval by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. Students will gain hands-on experience in UM’s Center for Excellence in Healthcare Practice. The Center features skills labs and high-fidelity patient simulators to mirror scenarios students will experience in their professional nursing careers. The School of Nursing has agreements with more than 20 health care facilities that offer nursing students the clinical experiences they need to prepare for a career in their field. For more information, visit umobile.edu/adn or call Enrollment Services at 251.442.2222.
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Project Serve 10th Anniversary
The 10th annual Project Serve university-wide day of service was held Oct. 22, 2021. UM students, faculty and staff volunteered at over 30 locations. Projects ranged from cleaning tents for the City Photo by Christian Hilley of Mobile at Copeland-Cox Tennis Center to renovating homes with Habitat for Humanity. Students packed care baskets, assisted with art lessons at the Mobile Museum of Art, cleaned out storage rooms at Saraland Elementary School and tested water quality with Mobile Baykeepers. “When you’re out serving in the community, with friends or someone you just met, it brings a type of joy that is simply indescribable,” says Tucker Hill, a senior majoring in Integrated Marketing Communication. See Project Serve photos at umobile.edu/projectserve.
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TorchLight Extra! Watch the Project Serve 10th Anniversary video
2021 Homecoming Queen Crowned
University of Mobile senior Layton Warren was crowned 2021 Homecoming Queen during festivities Oct. 2 at The Jungle soccer field. The early childhood and elementary education major from Freeport, Florida, serves as a Photo by Chris Sevenish Ram Rush leader, resident assistant and captain of the UM spirit squad. Warren says she loves the University of Mobile and everything it stands for. She describes her time at the Christian university as one of the biggest blessings God has given her. “The experience and relationships I have gained here have not only shaped the woman I am today but have also made me want to be a better woman for tomorrow. From Ram Rush events to everyday conversations in the cafeteria, I continually feel known and loved by the faculty, staff and students here on campus,” said Warren.
Center for Christian Calling Receives 19th Century Torah Scroll
Photo by Rovy Lopez
A 19th century Hebrew Torah scroll that survived the Holocaust was donated to the University of Mobile Center
for Christian Calling. The scroll is one of four presented to Christian institutions in 2021 by Ken and Barbara Larson, founders of the nonprofit God’s Ancient Library. “This Torah scroll, like others donated by the Larsons, has been deemed to be ‘pasul’ – no longer kosher – and was no longer in use by the synagogue that commissioned it,” said Dr. Doug Wilson, dean of the Center for Christian Calling and professor of biblical studies. The parchment scroll contains the biblical books of Genesis through Deuteronomy and was handwritten by a scribe according to the Ashkenazi Jewish tradition. The scroll is an unpointed consonantal text, meaning it is written with consonants only – no vowels. Lectures and displays will be held on the UM campus for teaching institutions, churches and synagogues, homeschool groups, senior citizen groups and others interested in learning more about the Judeo-Christian heritage and the Scriptural foundation for the Christian faith. To schedule a visit, contact Wilson at 251.442.2267 or dwilson@umobile.edu.
Bowling Joins Athletic Lineup
The University of Mobile is adding men’s and women’s bowling for fall semester 2022, giving one of the largest NAIA athletic programs a total of 21 competitive sports. “We look forward to the excitement this new sport will bring to our campus and the additional student-athletes that will join us at this special place,” said Dr. Mel Sansom, athletic director and vice president for business and financial affairs.
MSLC Ranks #2 in Nation
UM’s Master of Science in Leadership and Communication is ranked #2 in the nation out of the top 50 most affordable master’s in organizational behavior degree programs by HumanResourcesMBA.net. The Grace Pilot School of Business program can be taken as either a 1 or 2-year cohort model beginning every fall semester. Courses are offered in three, 5-week segments per semester that include projects, dialogue, and quizzes. Career opportunities include leadership positions in for- and nonprofit industries entrepreneurial startups and small businesses, and project and event management. For information, visit umobile.edu/schoolofbusiness.
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President Emeritus Mark Foley, President Lonnie Burnett, Dr. Grace Pilot | Photo by Rovy Lopez
ANNOUNCING THE
Grace Pilot School of Business The University of Mobile School of Business is now the Grace Pilot School of Business. The new name honors Grace Pilot, the Mobile businesswoman who co-founded one of the nation’s largest catastrophe adjusting firms, Pilot Catastrophe Services Inc., and the Pilot family’s long-time support of the Christ-centered mission of the University of Mobile. At a dedication ceremony Dec. 1, 2021, UM President Lonnie Burnett said Grace Pilot’s name on the School of Business will remind students of her example of faith-based leadership and generosity.
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“Grace Pilot and her family represent a tremendous business success story. More importantly, they represent a Christ-centered view in the way they have handled material blessings. They realize that every gift comes from God, and they have shared generously in so many areas to advance His kingdom,” Burnett said. Pilot said she has always loved the mission of the University of Mobile and its emphasis on training students to be godly leaders. “God has blessed our family to do God’s work. We must invest in the next generation so they can be leaders
of change for good. Our culture needs Christian higher education now more than ever. My hope is that University of Mobile business students will keep God first. If you do this and work hard, you will be successful,” Pilot said. Dr. Kathy Dunning, dean of the Grace Pilot School of Business, said, “It seems like such a perfect fusion when a business and community leader of the stature of Grace Pilot aligns with the School of Business. Our programs create well-equipped leaders who make a difference in their respective communities by responding to their calling in the world of business, just as Dr. Pilot has done in Mobile.”
Dr. Bruce Earnest, vice president for advancement, said the Pilot family has been an integral part of the University of Mobile for decades. “Dr. Pilot and her family are generous contributors and a testament to hard work and living the faith out every day. Their commitment to our mission and students has played a vital role in our growth and success as a Christcentered institution of higher education. It is our prayer that the Grace Pilot School of Business will be a center of influence in preparing students for significant careers of service in local, state and national communities," Earnest said.
Meet Grace Pilot
Pilot Catastrophe Services, Inc., was founded in 1983 as Pilot & Associates in Mobile, Alabama, at the kitchen table of Grace Pilot and her husband, Walter Pilot. Today, the family-owned business is the nation’s largest catastrophe adjusting firm, with corporate offices in Mobile and locations spread across the United States. Since her husband’s passing in 1991, Dr. E. Grace Pilot and the Pilot family have continued to guide the business on its foundational values of honesty, integrity and quality control. As a family, the Pilots
put their faith into action through a variety of philanthropic projects such as Camp Grace and Grace’s House of Hope. The Pilot family is a strong supporter of the Christcentered mission of the University of Mobile and in 2012 established the Dr. E. Grace Pilot Endowed Scholarship. Dr. Pilot was named the First Lady of Mobile in 2005 by Beta Sigma Phi for her commitment to others through daily acts of love, friendship and generosity. She was inducted into the Alabama Business Hall of Fame in 2012.
Good Work Agency Helps Churches, Nonprofits The Good Work Agency is a student-run marketing agency in the University of Mobile’s Grace Pilot School of Business. It provides high-quality, low-cost marketing solutions for churches and non-profits while giving students practical experience in their field of study. Services include website development, graphic design, photography and videography, email marketing, and social media management “for a price that will not break the bank,” says senior Avery Wilhite. The name Good Work Agency and the motto “We do good works for those who do good work” comes from Ephesians 2:10 – “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do.” Learn more or start a project with the Good Work Agency at goodworkagency.org.
Photo by McCall Smith
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Athletics Makes Huge Impact By David Haney
Alejo Binaghi played soccer and dreamed of being a professional player since he was three years old. Today, because of the University of Mobile intercollegiate athletic program, that dream is within his grasp. After an outstanding year that brought the Rams to a second-place finish in the NAIA Men’s Soccer National Championship finals in December 2021, UM student athletes and Coach Daniel Whelan earned multiple honors. Binaghi, the soccer program’s first student-athlete from Argentina, was named NAIA Men’s Soccer Player of the Year for 2021 – the second Ram in the program’s history to earn the title, after Stephen Okai in 2012.
at the highest level, these teammates have grown a bond and become a family. Collegiate athletics has an impact that goes beyond the playing field, especially at the University of Mobile, says Dr. Mel Sansom, athletic director and vice president for business services.
“Athletic skills improve, multiple cultures are brought together, life-long friendships are formed and athletes grow closer to Jesus. In many cases the good news of Jesus Christ might be heard for the first time because of the opportunity Men’s Soccer, Women’s Soccer, Indoor Volleyball, Beach collegiate athletics creates for Volleyball, Men’s Cross Country, Women’s Cross Country, Men’s Golf, Women’s Golf, Men’s Basketball, Women’s different cultures from across the Basketball, Men’s Indoor Track & Field, Women’s Indoor world,” says Sansom. Track & Field, Men’s Outdoor Track & Field, Women’s
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It could only have happened at the University of Mobile.
Outdoor Track & Field, Men’s Tennis, Women’s Tennis, “During my time at the Baseball, Softball, Competitive Cheer, Men's Bowling, University of Mobile intercollegiate University of Mobile, I met Women's Bowling athletics started in 1985 with 14 outstanding athletes and . Member of the National Association of Intercollegiate student-athletes competing in two coaches that have pushed me Athletics (NAIA) and Southern States Athletic sports. Today, UM sponsors 21 forward to become the athlete Conference (SSAC). competitive sports. The university I want to be. I believe this past season as a soccer player 8 NAIA National Championships: Men's Tennis (1993, 1997), is a member of the National Women's Tennis (1994), Men's Golf (1997), Women's Soccer Intercollegiate was the best year of my life (1997), Women's Golf (1998), Men's Soccer (2002), Softball Association of (2006) 15 NAIA Runner-Up Finishes 405 NAIA Athletics (NAIA) with 250 member achieving individual and team All-Americans 226 Conference/District Championships institutions and 77,000 studentawards, none of which would athletes. Throughout the program’s be possible without the help of this university," says the senior majoring in business existence, student-athletes from across the world have been management in the Grace Pilot School of Business. impacted by UM’s Christ-centered athletic program. Many former Rams have gone on to excel in a variety of The men’s soccer program is a great example of the fields, including former UM baseball players Joe Espada impact UM’s athletic program can have. Five of seven and J.C. Romero who have found success in Major continents are represented on a roster that consists of League Baseball. Romero pitched 14 seasons in MLB, student-athletes from 19 nations. These student-athletes winning the 2008 World Series with the Philadelphia from different cultures come together and unite for the Phillies. Espada currently serves as the bench coach for opportunity to play the sport they love while earning a the Houston Astros in Major League Baseball, his third degree to better their future. In the process of competing MLB team.
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Alejo Binaghi | Photo by Rovy Lopez
Former UM baseball player Jared Baria ’09 now serves as UM’s campus pastor. Seven former UM men’s soccer players played professionally in Major League Soccer and four former UM softball student-athletes played for team Venezuela in the 2008 Olympics. Former UM men’s basketball standout Tramaine Perry ’05 is vice president at Hancock Whitney Corp. and recently was named to Mobile Bay Magazine’s 40 Under 40 list of outstanding professionals. Former UM women’s basketball player Sarah Thomas ’95 became the first full-time female official in the National Football League and the first woman to officiate the NFL’s Super Bowl.
Binaghi said the university’s impact on his life is “huge.” “Since I arrived in 2018, the university and everyone that has been a part of my journey has helped me grow as a person and as a professional. The university gave me the opportunity to receive my degree, improve my second language, and meet real friends that I will keep for the rest of my life,” Binaghi says. “I feel proud of being a part of this family. The University of Mobile has become my second home. I have learned values, traits and behaviors that define me as the person I am." umobile.edu
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H I S T O RY O F U N I V E R S I T Y o f M O B I L E 18
1959 The Challenge 1959
The Alabama Baptist State Convention agrees to establish Mobile College if the Mobile community raises $1.5 million within 2 years.
1960 Building the campus Beautiful
More than $2 million is pledged. The Book of Remembrance contains the names of 6,413 individuals and 186 businesses that contributed to the original “Building the Campus Beautiful in the Deep South” campaign.
1960
April 1,1961 Dr. William K. Weaver Jr. Named 1st President 1961
The pastor of First Baptist Church of Sylacauga, Alabama, is tasked with establishing a Baptist-affiliated college, from finding a campus location to recruiting faculty and students. He serves as president over 23 years, becoming chancellor in 1984. Dr. Weaver died Jan. 13, 2014, at the age of 95.
November 14, 1961 Alabama Baptist State Convention Approves College December 12, 1961 State of Alabama Official Charter
Alabama Governor John Patterson signs the charter, giving official state recognition to Mobile College as the first new college established by Alabama Baptists in more than 120 years, and the first 4-year college to be chartered in the State of Alabama in 57 years.
1962 First library Book
Edna Eaves is named librarian and donates the first book, The Holy Bible.
1962
1963 First Building dedicated
The Administration-Classroom Building houses administrative offices, classrooms, library, auditorium and snack shop. On Oct. 30, 1984, it is rededicated as William K. Weaver Hall.
1963
September 9,1963 Mobile College enrolls first class
Fall semester begins with 181 freshmen, 12 full-time faculty and six administrators.
1963-1964 Charter Class Starts Traditions 1963-1964
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Students select school colors (maroon and white), a mascot (ram) and names for a school paper (Jubilee) and yearbook (Rampage). Yearbook editor Michael A. Magnoli would graduate in the 1967 charter class and become the college’s second president in 1984. The Miss Mobile College pageant begins with the selection of Sally Holmes as Miss Mobile College 1965.
1964 Mobile college auxiliary
First Lady Annie Boyd Parker “B” Weaver organizes the Mobile College Auxiliary. Its first project provides robes for the 40-member college choir. The Auxiliary raises funds for student scholarships and university projects for the next 30 years.
1964
1964 Residential construction
The addition of two dormitories, Arendall Hall and Bedsole Hall, and Ingram Dining Hall bring residential living to campus.
May 12, 1967 CHARTER CLASS GRADUATES
Mobile College graduates its first class of 67 students in an outdoor ceremony on the lawn. Commencement was held on campus through 1976, when it moved to the Mobile Civic Center. The ceremony returned to campus in 2017.
1967
1968 H. Austill Pharr Gymnasium Dedicated
1968
1968 Mobile College Accredited May 4, 1969 First Black Graduate
Samuel Boykin becomes the first Black graduate of Mobile College. After his death in 2018, the University of Mobile establishes the Samuel Boykin Medal of Excellence to honor his life and recognize future outstanding Black alumni.
1972
1969 The Eichold Oaks
Prominent Mobile physician Dr. Samuel Eichold and his wife, Charlotte, donate 100 live oaks lining Pollock-Altmayer Drive in honor of his parents, Bernard H. and Myra Eichold. Their family name “Eichold,” derived from German, means “sturdy oak.” Later, he donates 30 oaks to replace those damaged during Hurricane Frederic in 1979.
1971 J.L. Bedsole Library Dedicated
1971
1971 First boar’s head festival
The Mobile College Choir performs its first Boar’s Head Festival under the direction of music professor Dr. Kenneth Bergdolt. The Christmas tradition continues for nearly 30 years and includes 13 songs, the Wakefield Second Shepherd’s Play and a banquet for the audience.
1972
1972 Avery Woods COTTAGES OPEN
1973 Nursing Program STARTS
In partnership with Mobile Infirmary School of Nursing, Mobile College starts the Associate Degree in Nursing program. It is the first nursing degree-granting program in southwest Alabama.
1973
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1976 BEN S. COPELAND FLAG PLAZA DEDICATED
1976
1978 WILLIE MAE LEWIS LYON MISSIONARY HOUSE DEDICATED Built in 1977 as a memorial to Mrs. J. Maury Lyon, a founding trustee and Baptist leader in the Mobile area, the missionary house in College Woods Subdivision is used by missionaries on furlough.
1978
1978 BURGESS-MASCHMEYER HOUSE Donated
The historic home at 1209 Government St. is renovated in 1985. The president’s residence is on the second floor, while college and community events are held on the first floor. The home is sold in 2000.
1980 ENTRANCE MARKER DEDICATED
The bronze replica of the Mobile College seal weighs 1,000 pounds.
1983 Thomas T. Martin Hall Dedicated
1980
1983
August 1, 1984 DR. MICHAEL A. MAGNOLI NAMED 2ND PRESIDENT A member of the charter class of 1967, he serves as president from 1984 to 1997. During his tenure, the college starts an intercollegiate athletic program and expands athletic facilities; offers the first master’s degree programs in business administration, nursing and religion; builds residential and academic facilities; and becomes the University of Mobile.
1984
1984 FIRST MASTER’S DEGREE PROGRAM
Mobile College starts its first master’s degree program with the Master of Arts in Educa-
1985 Intercollegiate Athletic Program Begins
Mobile College launches an intercollegiate athletic program competing in the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference and National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics. Dr. Bill Elder is athletic director. The program expands from 14 student-athletes in two sports to over 320 in 19 competing sports in 2021 in the Southern States Athletic Conference and NAIA.
1985
1986 OAKDALE CHILDREN’S CENTER OPENS
1986
1987 GERALD L. WALLACE SR. TENNIS COMPLEX DEDICATED 1987 First Homecoming Celebrated
Men’s basketball wins against Flagler College and Faulkner University. Events include a barbecue dinner, homecoming court, and parade led by MC Ram and the Davidson High School band.
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1987
November 19, 1987 Lyon Chapel Relocated to Campus 1987
Originally built in 1883 as St. Stephens Baptist Church in St. Stephens, Alabama, the chapel is moved to campus, restored and dedicated on September 18, 1988. It is named in honor of Willie Mae Lewis Lyon, a founding trustee.
1991 INGRAM HALL OPENS 1994
1991
1992 SENTINEL 18 FOUNTAIN DEDICATED Mobile artist Casey Downing Jr. created the sculpture.
1993 First NAIA National Championship
The University of Mobile wins its first NAIA National Championship in Men’s Tennis (1993 & 1997), followed by Women’s Tennis (1994), Men’s Golf (1997), Women’s Soccer (1997), Women’s Golf (1998), Men’s Soccer (2002) and
1993
1993 New Name: University of Mobile
Mobile College celebrates decades of growth with a name change, becoming the University of Mobile.
1993 DWIGHT HARRIGAN HALL BUILT 1993 Latin American Branch Campus Dedicated
The University of Mobile Latin American Branch Campus in San Marcos, Nicaragua, opens with a charter class of 96 freshmen and operates until it is sold on July 1, 2000. The first class of 65 students graduates on May 10, 1997. Over 250 alumni earn their UM degrees at the LABC.
1994
1994 Academic Park Completed
The Academic Park includes Ben May Hall, Frances Garner Hall and M.C. Farmer Hall.
February 13, 1998 Dr. Mark R. Foley Named 3rd President “Changing Lives to Change the World” is the theme for Dr. Foley’s 18-year tenure. Accomplishments include integrating a Christian world view; creating the Center for Performing Arts and Student Success Center; adding a roof and portico to Weaver Hall, building Ram Hall auditorium, enhancing campus life and athletic programing, and doubling the number of residential students with the addition of Samford Hall, Faulkner Hall and The Timbers.
1998
Professions of Faith
There are 1,511 professions of faith recorded as a result of university-related activities during the 1997-1998 year, including mission trips, chapel services, performances by Vision music ensemble and Witness drama team, M-Fuge summer camp and Baptist Campus Ministries.
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2000 Weaver Hall Enhancement Project
The original flat roof is replaced with a Ram Red pitched roof and the addition of a portico. UM President Mark Foley and Mobile College founding president William K. Weaver Jr. sign their names to the cupola before it is raised atop the university’s first building.
2000
2002 Champion of Character
The University of Mobile is the only Alabama university to be named a “Champion of Character” by the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics. The award recognizes UM’s athletic program for developing the character values of respect, integrity, responsibility, servant leadership and sportsmanship.
2002
2003 Center for Performing Arts Founded
Under the leadership of Drs. Roger Breland and Al Miller, the CPA brings new ensembles, academic majors and a performing arts series, including Christmas Spectacular. Today, the CPA is the experiential learning arm of the Alabama School of the Arts.
2005
2003
2005 Yetta Samford Hall Dedicated 2005 Youth Hostel Missions Starts
Students backpack across Europe for a month each summer, building relationships with fellow travelers and sharing the Good News of Jesus
2006 Karlene Farmer Faulkner Hall Built
2006
2006 Billy G. Hinson Lecture Series Established
Named in honor of UM history professor Dr. Billy Hinson, the series presents lectures on topics in southern history.
2009 ‘I Am the Vine’ Sculpture Dedicated
2009
President Mark Foley and UM Board of Trustee member Jim Daniels create the 12-foot metal sculpture cross located near Ram Hall.
2009 RAM HALL OPENS 2010 President George W. Bush at Banquet
The former president speaks about faith and the presidency at the 6th annual Leadership Banquet, a fundraising event now called the Scholarship Banquet.
2011
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2010
2011 University of Mobile Project Serve Begins
In celebration of the 50th anniversary year, the university cancels classes for the first university-wide day of service, Project Serve.
2011 50th Anniversary Celebration
2012 The Timbers, Bedsole Commons Open
2012
2014 FISHER-BREWER RECORDING STUDIO OPENS
2014
April 11, 2016 Dr. Timothy L. Smith Named 4th President Dr. Timothy L. Smith serves as president from 2016 to 2018. Academic programs are added, including the first doctoral programs. A major renovation of Weaver Hall creates the Center for Excellence in Healthcare Practice. The university is rebranded with the mission of “Higher Education for a Higher Purpose.”
2016
2016 Masters Programs ExpanDED
Programs added through 2021 include: Master of Athletic Training, Master of Music in Performance – Piano, Master of Music in Performance – Vocal, Master of Education in Instructional Design and Technology, Master of Science in Nursing – Family Nurse Practitioner, Master of Science in Nursing Executive Leadership, Master of Science in Leadership and Communication.
2016
2016 UM BECOMES ALL-STEINWAY SCHOOL 2017 Great Commission tradition begins
The Dr. Fred and Sue Lackey Great Commission Lawn and Great Commission Globe are dedicated and the Great Commission Tradition begins. New graduates touch the globe at commencement to signify their readiness to enter the world and fulfill their professional calling. At President’s Commissioning in the fall, new students touch the globe as they start their college journey.
2017
2019 First Black Miss University of Mobile 2019
Elementary education and worship leadership major Raven Young is crowned Miss University of Mobile 2019. She is the first Black student to wear the Miss UM crown.
November 22, 2019 Dr. Lonnie A. Burnett Named 5th President Dr. Lonnie Burnett graduates from Mobile College in 1979 and begins a 25-year career as a history teacher in the Mobile County Public School System. He joins the university as a history professor in 2005 and holds a variety of administrative positions prior to his selection as president. He leads the university through the COVID-19 pandemic. 2020
2020 Highest enrollment in five years may 8, 2021 First Doctoral degrees awarded The University of Mobile awards the first doctoral degrees: Doctor of Nursing Practice and Doctor of Musical Arts in vocal performance.
2021
June 2021 J.l. Bedsole sports performance center opens august 2021 doctor of nurse anesthesia Practice Begins
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Couple Uses God's Money to Spread Gospel Through UM Students By Kathy Dean
Butch and Sharon Emmons love the theatre. When they attended their first theatre production at the University of Mobile nearly 20 years ago, they expected to see a good show. They saw something even better – a way to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ through students at the Baptistaffiliated university.
“Mr. and Mrs. Emmons have been a blessing to many of our students through their generosity. I admire the fact that, when they see a need, they are quick to respond,” Burnett said.
“We saw what these kids were doing and how they were promoting the gospel – not only in the United States, but all over the world as they travel,” said Butch Emmons.
The couple said their decision to invest financial resources they have spent a lifetime earning into students at the University of Mobile was easy – after all, it’s not their money.
It’s a mission and message the couple believes is so important that they established the Eileen J. and Sharon B. Emmons Performance Scholarship in 2019 for students in the performing arts. They also included the University of Mobile in their estate planning, bequeathing their house and property upon their deaths.
“Our money is not our money – it’s God’s money. We have only been given the opportunity to use it to further the gospel of Jesus Christ. When we saw how the students were being used by God, we decided this was where we wanted to invest,” said Butch.
Now, the Emmons continue that legacy with a gift of $100,000, adding to their endowed scholarship and supporting additional scholarships as lead sponsor of the 2021 University of Mobile Scholarship Banquet.
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UM President Lonnie Burnett said the impact the couple is making in the lives of students is immeasurable.
TORCHLIGHT | Spring 2022
“We wanted to make an impact and leave a legacy for all to come. These students may have a desire to come here, but not be able to afford it – but through scholarships, it is possible. Then they have the opportunity to leave and go out and spread the gospel of Christ.”
Photo by Rovy Lopez
Sharon added, “We realized as we look at the world that Christianity and its influence is declining. And we thought, if we don’t step in and take the few things that we have and help the university and the students that want to come here, Christianity would die.” The Emmons have been members of Spring Hill Baptist Church in Mobile for over 30 years. “We firmly believe that Christianity is the way to live,” Sharon said, and they want to encourage others whom God has blessed to help the younger generation spread the gospel message. The Emmons said years of hard work have given them the opportunity to give back. Butch Emmons invested his career in higher education, retiring after 30 years as assistant vice president of auxiliary services at the University of South Alabama.
He was instrumental in managing the construction of The Mitchell Center, among other major facilities. Sharon Emmons has dedicated her life to healing the sick, with nearly 30 years at the University of South Alabama Medical Center, now University Hospital, serving as a critical care dietitian in the intensive care unit, including 19 years working exclusively with burn patients. “It became my passion. I had found my niche, and I loved every minute of it,” Sharon said. “You make a difference here and I like to make a difference, hence the scholarship at the University of Mobile.” For more information on opportunities to support Christian higher education at the University of Mobile, call the Office for Advancement at 251.442.2913w, email advancement@umobile.edu or visit umobile. edu/giving.
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Your Giving Matters By Brian Boyle
When you give to the University of Mobile, you support UM’s unique Christ-centered college experience that changes lives today and for generations to come. Large or small, each gift goes toward the scholarships, programs and facilities that help students prepare to fulfill God’s purpose for their lives. Your investment pays off in the thousands of UM alumni who serve Christ in a variety of ways throughout the world. Here are just a few ways your donations to the University of Mobile have made an impact recently.
Scholarship Banquet with Archie Manning The 15th annual University of Mobile Scholarship Banquet with football legend Archie Manning was a huge success, raising more than $100,000 for scholarships.
“Faith should be the most important thing in your life, and line up your priorities after that,” Manning told nearly 700 UM supporters gathered at the Arthur R. Outlaw Convention Center in downtown Mobile on Oct. 26, 2021. The event was emceed by former Miss University of Mobile Chelsey Sayasane Sklopan ’19, WALA Fox10TV Studio 10 co-host. Planning is underway for the 2022 Scholarship Banquet this fall. Details will be posted soon at umobile.edu/ banquet. For early notice of sponsorship opportunities, contact the Advancement Office at 251.442.2913 or advancement@umobile.edu.
Bedsole Sports Performance Dedication
The new J.L. Bedsole Sports Performance Center opened with a ribbon-cutting ceremony Aug. 9, 2021. The 4,000-square-foot strength and conditioning facility for nearly 450 student athetes is located between the Gerald Wallace Sr. Tennis Complex and H. Austill Pharr Gym. It features iPads with TeamBuildr online strength and conditioning software that allows athletes and coaches to program workouts and track progress. It was funded by gifts and grants, including a major gift from the J.L. Bedsole Foundation established by the estate of UM’s first Board of Trustees chairman, J.L. Bedsole.
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“The Lord blessed Mr. J.L. Bedsole with a keen sense of business and blessed him with success. May we all take his example to heart of giving back to not just one generation, but to future generations,” said Fred Wilson, closing out his term as UM Board of Trustees chairman. Retired banking executive Terry Harbin currently serves as trustee chairman.
Missionary House Renovated
A major Diamond Anniversary renovation project in 2021 transformed “The Missionary House” in celebration of the university’s Alabama Baptist/Southern Baptist connections. Located a block from campus in the College Woods subdivision, the 1,754-square-foot three-bedroom home was established in 1977 to provide a temporary home for Southern Baptist missionaries on furlough. Today, it is a beautiful and peaceful place of rest for missionaries who are answering the call to share the Gospel throughout the world.Visitors to the missionary home stay from three months to a year. The University of Mobile covers all rent and accommodations. Thanks to UM supporters, missionaries may rest and rejuvenate in an up-to-date, comfortable home before heading back into the field. TorchLight Extra! Check out the Missionary House Video Tour
Missionary House | Photo by Rovy Lopez
Scholarship Banquet | Photo by Christian Hilley
Bedsole Performance Center | Photo by Heath Vester
Ways to Give It’s easy to make an impact at the University of Mobile. Give online umobile.edu/giving | Email advancement@umobile.edu | Call 251.442.2913
Great Commission Annual Fund
Center for Performing Arts
Charitable Estate Giving
Athletics
Meets the most essential needs of the university, improving the student experience across all programs.
Includes bequests, life income gifts, asset protection, retirement plans, estate notes, etc.
Legacy Giving
Establishes a timeless fund that directly supports UM students, recognizing a loved one or someone who has made a significant difference in your life.
DR. BRUCE EARNEST Vice President for Advancement
Supports the Roger Breland Center for Performing Arts and Alabama School of the Arts. Supports UM Rams athletic programs.
Volunteer
Offer your time and talents to strengthen your connection to UM and further the University of Mobile mission.
TorchLight Extra! Learn why giving matters
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Faculty Focus Since Mobile College enrolled its first class in 1963, the University of Mobile has attracted expert faculty with a passion for integrating faith and learning. They invest in their students, both professionally and personally. That investment pays off in the lives of graduates such as UM President Lonnie Burnett ’79, who credits retired dean Dr. Hazel Petersen-Walter with seeing potential in him – then challenging and encouraging him to reach that potential. Through the years, UM professors have encouraged, challenged, prayed with, nurtured and invested personally and professionally in the lives of their students. Chances are, there is at least one University of Mobile professor you can name whose influence you still see at work in your life today. A Faculty Q&A series begun during this 60th anniversary year spotlights UM faculty and tells their stories. Following are excerpts. Read more at umobile.edu/qanda.
LORI GUY
Assistant Professor of Music Alabama School of the Arts
DR. MEGAN HARPER Assistant Professor of Kinesiology School of Health & Sports Science College of Health Professions
"We have been created on purpose and for a purpose. I believe that purpose is to fulfill Jesus’ command when He says in Matthew to ‘go and make disciples.’ How we live out this purpose looks differently depending on where we end up working and where we have the opportunity to serve others with excellence. I believe we train our students to be excellent at their vocation so they can spend a lifetime serving others and discipling well in whatever field they go into."
"The thing I love about the University of Mobile is the same thing I loved when I was a student here, which is the sense of family and community. Here at UM, the professors and students are able to get to know one another and truly make connections. I had professors who invested their time and energy into me because they believed in me as a student. I am so thankful and blessed to have been given the opportunity to pay it forward to my students."
"UM is one big family. It’s a place where no matter your background or what part of the world you come from, once you step on campus as a student, you are a Ram for life. You join one big family that loves and fights for each, other no matter what." RUSTY ROBERTS
Associate Professor of Accounting Grace Pilot School of Business
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DR. CYNTHIA ERICKSON
"Sharing my love of Christ and of learning and teaching enables me to provide a foundation for future teachers to go out into the world and demonstrate, by example, the love of Christ."
Associate Professor of Education Special Education Specialist School of Education
DR. JAY ROBERTSON
"I am passionate about disciple-making in every course I teach. I aim for students to grow in their relationship with Christ, their comprehension of biblical truth, and in their desire to proclaim the gospel of Christ."
Associate Professor of Systematic Theology Center for Christian Calling
DR. JESSICA GARNER Assistant Professor of Nursing Clinical Coordinator School of Nursing College of Health Professions
DR. KELLEY WILSON Assistant Professor of Psychology College of Arts & Sciences
"At some point in each student’s trajectory in the MSN-Family Nurse Practitioner program, they have that ‘aha!’ moment where they realize what it means to step out of their role as nurse and into their new role of provider. Watching those moments is my favorite part of teaching."
"What does ‘Know and Be Known’ mean to me? Most campuses focus primarily on part one of this statement: know. We teach, and therefore, you have some knowledge as a result. What is unique about UM is the fact that you truly are known in the process of gaining this knowledge. I know each of the psychology majors on campus by name. This not only makes for a more pleasant work day, it also allows me to help them tailor their educational experience to their unique needs."
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New School of Nurse Anesthesia Enrolls First Class By Kathy Dean
The University of Mobile welcomed the inaugural class of students in August 2021 to the Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice (DNAP) program in the new School of Nurse Anesthesia. Graduates of the 36-month DNAP program will be eligible to take the National Certification Examination required to become Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists. UM has the first and only DNAP program in a fourstate region that includes Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Georgia. It is accredited and approved by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs, the Alabama Board of Nursing, and Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. “We are proud to offer this opportunity for dynamic critical care nursing leaders to pursue education and clinical training necessary to become Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists here at the University of Mobile. The gulf coast region, including Mobile, has a critical shortage of CRNAs which limits the availability of anesthesia services, creating a barrier to health care access for many underserved Alabamians. At UM, we are training future CRNAs in order to fill that gap, by providing safe and efficient anesthesia services for our population in Mobile and across the state and country,” said School of Nurse Anesthesia Director and Professor of Nurse Anesthesia Todd Hicks, DNP, CRNA. The School of Nurse Anesthesia joins the School of Nursing and School of Health and Sports Science to form the College of Health Professions. Located in Weaver Hall, the three schools provide students with state-of-the-art simulations and experiential learning through the Center for Excellence in Healthcare Practice. The DNAP program builds on the university’s reputation for producing exceptional health care professionals and
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is designed to meet the region’s expanding health care needs. Overall employment of nurse anesthetists and nurse practitioners – a program offered through UM’s School of Nursing – is projected to grow 45% from 2020 to 2030, much faster than the average for all occupations, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Being able to partner with Mobile-area hospital systems to train local nurse anesthesia students is a major win for our community. Our partner systems are seeing the realities of the current and future needs in this profession, and we are thrilled to be able to bring the highest quality practitioners to continue the great tradition of health care here in our region," said UM President Lonnie Burnett. The new program offers blended learning environments including classroom, simulation, online and clinical. Students train locally in the Mobile metropolitan area. It is led by faculty with extensive teaching and clinical practice experience. Hicks joined UM after serving as an assistant professor and associate pathway coordinator of the BSN-DNP Nurse Anesthesia Pathway at University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). Currently, he is the Expert Clinical Sciences Lecturer for Valley Anesthesia Review, a nurse anesthesia board review course given multiple times per year across the country. In this role, he has assisted more than 1,000 nurse anesthesia graduates to prepare for the National Certification Examination. Hunter Speeg, DNP, CRNA, is assistant professor of nurse anesthesia and associate program director of the School of Nurse Anesthesia. He served as an adjunct assistant professor within the BSN-DNP Nurse Anesthesia Pathway at UAB while maintaining a clinical anesthesia practice at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Birmingham. Learn more at umobile.edu/dnap.
umobile.edu Photo by Heath Vester
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Photo by Rovy Lopez
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P RO D U C I N G
Excellence By Michael Dumas
The University of Mobile’s Production Technologies program combines technical sciences and artistry to create worship experiences for people around the world, while preparing graduates for a broad range of careers in a variety of faith-based and corporate settings. The program in the Alabama School of the Arts is one of the largest of its kind in the nation among Christian universities and offers comprehensive training in all aspects of production, including audio, video and lighting.
The results during Christmas Spectacular were captivating, and provided the same amalgamation of faith and technical proficiency Perry experiences every day as he pursues his calling at Praise Family Church.That level of training and experience that produce job-ready graduates is intentional. Students in Production Technologies start with a survey of technology in the arts, which introduces them to all of the primary elements of production, from microphones and cables to integral software and largescale equipment. In the hightech Mixing and Visualization Lab in Martin Hall, they learn advanced audio, video and lighting system design on systems they will use in their careers, Due to the production technology program’s integration within ASOTA, student technicians quickly move toward the practical applications of the tools they’ve learned. For example, ASOTA traveling ensembles are on the road most weekends of the school year, and all travel with a dedicated technician.
"By getting the hands-on training in different environments where they’re having to adjust and modify, our students are that much more of an asseT"
Nearly all who graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Production Technologies are hired before they graduate. And while each student receives a broad education in all things related to production, faculty and staff are always evaluating where a student’s passion may lay, which allows them to specialize students’ experiences as they learn. For Perry Stone ’21, that desire was to use the artistry of production design to enhance the worship experience. He is technical director at Praise Family Church in Mobile and specializes in lighting. He was responsible for lighting in the university’s outdoor 2021 Spring Spectacular. In November 2021 he served as the lighting designer for the university’s signature Christmas Spectacular, a multi-night extravaganza that attracts audiences of nearly10,000. “I know that in using my God-given talents and abilities in the technical fields, especially lighting, I have the ability to greatly influence the atmosphere in which worship is taking place,” Stone said. “If I am doing my job well, what you are hearing lyrically and seeing visually will complement each other greatly, providing a welcoming environment for worshipers.”
It is all part of the University of Mobile’s overall philosophy of experiential learning, where students apply knowledge they gain in the classroom to real-world situations that prepare them for future careers. “That way, they’re working in different environments within the production values of what we do with our high visibility theater, opera and musicals,” said Dr. Steve Bowersox, chair of the Worship Leadership & Production Technology departments. Those environments include different indoor/outdoor venues, different churches, different denominations, different settings — all the aspects that come into what a person would be doing with this kind of a degree.
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Photo by Rovy Lopez
As with Perry Stone’s experience, the program’s seven full-time and adjunct faculty members are always helping develop each student’s specific passion. For Stone it was lighting, and in the case of May 2022 graduate Katie West, her passion was photography and videography, where she also excelled. During her time at UM, West was able to do contract work for a major production house that had her working on a cruise ship for the restaurant giant Chick-fil-A. It was this type of opportunity afield that illustrated to her the value of experiential learning within the Production Technologies program. “This school has not only set me up for success outside of college by teaching me in the classroom, but it has given me the opportunity to meet and connect with people in the industry,” West wrote in an article for the university. “While classrooms are great, it is connections that are made and opportunities that are given through our school that set us, students at the University of Mobile, up for success.” When students such as Stone and West discover their true passion and purpose working on events outside the school, it validates what everyone inside ASOTA is doing, said Jeremy Harford, who created, and now directs, the Production Technologies program. “By getting the hands-on training in different environments where they’re having to adjust and
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modify, our students are that much more of an asset with so much experience in a wide plethora of aspects of production,” Harford said. “As well as these people being a light in the world, they’re also going into concert tours, going into production houses, going into installation-and-design companies. And they’re all hired basically before they graduate, which is incredible." Depending on their focus, graduates can earn valuable accreditations in production, such as a Dante Certification for audio/visual networking, and become an Avid Certified User for Pro Tools, an industry standard digital audio software, among other certifications. The technical training and industry certifications are tremendous assets that give UM graduates an edge as they compete with graduates of other schools which cost far more and lack the spiritual component that is so important at UM. “It's the natural course of expressing your worship and showing forth His praise with all of these different skill sets, and then having the opportunity to perform them anywhere in the world,” Bowersox said. “We’ve combined the elements of art and being an artist, creating an experience that people can engage with so they can worship the Lord.” TorchLight Extra! Hear Perry Stone's Story
Photo by Rovy Lopez
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CReAtIvitY
thrives in UM Art Department By Kathy Dean Art is everywhere, from the image that appears when you turn on a cell phone to the billboard you see through your car window. It’s in the magazine you read, the packaging you open, the photos you share and the design of the mug that holds your coffee. Every piece of art communicates something, says University of Mobile art professor Phillip Counselman '01, chair of the art department at the Christ-centered university. “Art is the most powerful form of communication, because it’s a direct form of communication,” Counselman said. “I always tell students, if you’re going to read a book, then you have to get that book, you have to open that book, and you have to look inside it. With art, you don’t have to do that. It’s constantly in our face on a daily basis.” UM’s growing art department is preparing graduates to thrive in a competitive field, with expanding course offerings and real-world experiences. Sophie Eberhard '21 says she is ready, and she has the portfolio to prove it. “Honestly, I feel equipped to do almost anything in the creative industry,” said Eberhard, who recently graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in graphic design. The program also offers a Bachelor of Fine Arts in studio art, a Bachelor of Arts in art, and a graphic design certificate that can be added to any major throughout the university. Eberhard explained: “I’ve learned so much about film and photography, and I’ve also learned how to paint and draw, and the basics of ceramics and building things. I’ve learned how to create anything in print and how to create packaging. I’ve learned really just so many things that could cover an array even outside of
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design…learning everything that goes into each project. There’s so much more than you originally think, but I feel equipped to do all these things from start to finish now.” Graphic design professor Megan Cary said Eberhard’s wide range of experience and confidence is the result of an art program where faculty know and build longlasting relationships with their students while providing real-word experiences and internships that produce jobready graduates. “Because we’re a small university, we’re able to pivot,” Cary said. “That means if the industry changes or what’s popular in the design industry or studio art world changes, we are able to make quick changes. We can introduce new technologies and integrate old technologies and give students a wide variety of learning experiences.” A Dickerson Combination Press recently donated by local artist Conroy Hudlow is a prime example of an old technology that is popular in the creative industry right now. UM students will be able to learn how to print using traditional methods such as linocuts and woodblock prints, and etching and dry point prints. Students also learn new technologies such as email marketing, creative app design and making working prototypes in the UI/UX field, which has the number one employment rate for designers these days, Cary said. In the near future, the professors want to add equipment and programs to teach 3-D printing and virtual reality; add space for classrooms, exhibits and art studios for students; add master’s degrees; and seek accreditation from the National Association of Schools of Art and Design.
Photo by Ally Judkins
Counselman said enrollment has tripled in recent years as the art program has expanded. New academic programs and new equipment are key to creating more opportunities for students to pursue God’s calling for their lives. For Kevin Pettigrew, a junior majoring in studio art, that calling will take him back to his hometown in Flora, Mississippi. A graduate of the Mississippi School of the Arts, he enrolled at UM to pursue an art degree and planned to start a career as a professional artist. But his experience as a volunteer firefighter sparked a different desire. “I feel called to be there on the streets helping people,” Pettigrew said. After graduation, he plans to join the local police force and start a non-profit on the side using his art degree.
“I want to start a non-profit organization where I can bring troubled people in to put all their frustration into wheel throwing pottery or into paint on a canvas instead of crime or drugs, and hopefully give them a sort of purpose in life,” he said. “People have a really good sense of self-worth when they have created something.” The influence of his peers, professors and university staff helped him discover what God has called him to do, he said. “UM is a great place to pursue whatever you’re called to do,” Pettigrew said. “I don’t believe I would have found that anywhere else.” TorchLight Extra! Watch a video about the visual arts program umobile.edu
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MY
UM STORY
3 Alumni Share Stories of God at Work through the University of Mobile
Chip Travis ’89
I was not a Christian in 1985 when I came to UM. It was a set of very unusual circumstances that led to me getting to the college – I received an offer to come play tennis. I was 21 at the time and had only been playing tennis since graduating high school. The summer of 1985 I won a couple tennis matches against some prominent local players, and this caught the eye of a local tennis pro who became the first coach for Mobile College, as it was known back then. He asked me if I would like to come play college tennis. Almost the very first day – in fact it was at new student orientation – I saw this girl. She was in front of Weaver. It took a few weeks of seeing her around campus and a chance passing, when I overheard her tell someone she was going to the bookstore. I pretended that I didn't know where the bookstore was and asked for directions. She said she would show me. I introduced myself and she told me her name – Aurelia Green. I had to go to chapel and Aurelia also invited me to go to church with her. Through messages in chapel and going to church with Aurelia, I heard about God. I was at a high point in my life, receiving a tennis scholarship and now dating the most beautiful girl I had ever gone out with, and I could hardly believe my situation. One night in November 1985, while doing homework, my thoughts were about this God I had heard about recently. I had no problem understanding that I was a sinner. I had trouble believing that God wanted a relationship with me. I knew I did not have what Aurelia and others that I recently met at Mobile College had, a relationship with God. I was not at a low point in my life. In fact, it was quite the opposite. But I did realize that I didn't have a relationship with God. So that night by myself my prayer was, "If you'll have
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me…" Seemingly not a very powerful prayer nor much faith to go along with it. What I came to realize is that it's not how much faith you have, but who you have your faith in. Fast-forward to Christmas break 1986. I made a date with Aurelia and took her to the front of Weaver Hall where I first saw her and asked her to marry me. Christmas break two years later we were married and lived our last semester in married student housing in the back of the campus. When we graduated in May of 1989, Aurelia won the overall education award, and we were inducted into the honor society. Later, I served as youth pastor at Lafitte Baptist Church from 2008 to 2014. Since 2015, I have served as youth pastor at Creola First Baptist Church. Aurelia and I have been taking youth on summer mission trips to south Louisiana since 2006. Our youngest daughter, Claire, has followed in both our footsteps. She played tennis at UM like me and became an elementary school teacher like her mother. She graduated in May 2021 and is married and in her first year of teaching. My son Barrett became a fireman and my oldest daughter, Kayleigh, is married and a teacher in Japan. As you can tell, God has used UM to bless me and my family in a mighty way. Today, I am also a teacher and a high school tennis coach. When one of my players asks me about my college tennis experience, it always is an opportunity for me to tell them how God used the University of Mobile to introduce Himself to me.
Photo by Rovy Lopez
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Treii Pace ’11
I graduated high school in 2004 without any plans for my future. I played basketball in high school, so when I received a basketball scholarship to attend a local community college; I was eager to accept the offer. However, that was put on hold due to a broken finger I sustained before the tryout day. Therefore, I was ineligible to receive the scholarship to that particular college that year. The coach encouraged me to try out again next year, which (in hindsight) was the best thing for me. I used the time off to develop a plan for that year. I began working as a landscaper and continued to train until the following year. I was very thankful that the coach kept to his word and held a spot for me on the team. Upon my completion at the community college, I was left again with the realization that I still had not thought about my career path. I had an opportunity to work with kids, which sparked an interest in teaching. After the decision to pursue a career in education, I had to consider how was I going to pay for college. I decided to continue working and save money. In the spring of 2008, I was playing pickup basketball on the campus of the University of Mobile where Coach Niland was in the gym watching the guys play. He asked me to meet him in his office the following day. That encounter led to a scholarship to help further my education. Until this point, I never even considered attending the University of Mobile. Growing up, I attended church regularly and have always had an idea about God, but never fully submitted myself unto Him. I was always kind to others, but I always knew that was not enough. It was through a close friend of mine where I realized this internally because they said to me, “You are a really nice guy and you show the love of Christ through everything you do.” That statement struck me because I felt unworthy of such words because I knew that I did not have a deeper connection with Christ.
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After that conversation, I began reading and attending church more frequently. I began to learn more about God’s sovereignty. He led me to the University of Mobile, led me to seek education because of my love for kids and gift of patience. He receives all the glory for the position I am in today. My years at the University of Mobile are where I began to see how God has blessed me over the course of my life. He also showed me the trivial things that I complained about were not as big as the hardships that other people have encountered. God has always been there listening and answering my prayers even when I did not realize it. The course of my life — attending the University of Mobile, the professors, coaches, friends, campus life and administration — all tested me in ways to build my character and to reveal how God moves in the lives of others. I have been teaching now for eight years, and the last five years have been at Saraland Elementary. I have coached the girls' basketball team at the high school and am currently the coach of the girl’s middle school team. I was recently named Teacher of the Year for my school and the district. I also met my amazing wife, Ursula, at Saraland. Where I am today, I give all glory to God, because I would not be sharing this with you today had it not been for Him.
Photo by Christian Hilley
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Photo Rovy Lopez 42 byTORCHLIGHT
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Leslie Bryan ’09 &’15 My story with the University of Mobile is far from typical. My mother, Benita West, graduated from Mobile College in 1982 and has always spoken highly of the school. As a local resident of Saraland, Alabama, growing up I truly did not understand what a gem we had right here in our back yard. As I was getting ready to graduate high school from Faith Academy in 2005, my parents suggested I stay local for two years before making a major move; it was then my journey at the University of Mobile began.
I returned to UM to pursue a master’s degree in Marriage and Family Counseling where again I was taken aback by the amazing professors who care so much about their students. In a world where biblical truth is not taught and confusion seems to be the goal of many universities, I can say without a doubt that teaching real-life applications while keeping Christ center is the core of the University of Mobile.
As my junior year approached, I decided to transfer to Auburn University where my high school sweetheart, who was my fiancé at the time, was majoring in building science. I transferred and my first semester was accepted into the education department at Auburn. We were soon married over spring break. Little did I know that 2 ½ months later a tragedy would happen which would change the trajectory of my life.
I later remarried and had to temporarily relocate with my husband to Fort Rucker for Army flight school. Once completed, we returned to our hometown of Saraland and my husband deployed to Iraq. Again, I walked back in the doors of UM to obtain information on how I could complete my master’s and left with a full semester of classes. I completed soon after my husband returned and right before the birth of our first son, Asher, in 2015.
Justin Bedsole, my husband, and my brother, Allen West, were killed in a car accident in May of 2008. My future and plans hit a wall; however, God was not taken by surprise. Our home church, Pathway, and our community (this community where UM is located) rallied around us with open arms and, most of all, lifted our family up in prayer.
As life and family dynamics have changed, I soon realized my desire to continue and learn about what my father, Gary West, invested and worked so hard for. I now work in our family business of construction and own and operate Ashton and Company, an industrial, woman-owned, union business servicing power plants across multiple states.
I knew in such a time of grief I needed my family and to be near a strong support. I needed a Christian atmosphere in every way. I soon found myself back in the School of Education at the University of Mobile, working out the ways and credits to transfer back.
I realize this career path may seem far from the path of education and counseling, however, I utilize the tools and skills I learned inside the walls of the University of Mobile every day. From working as a team, to teaching and coaching the next generations, to planning, listening, and customer service, I am better in every area for having been a student/alumna of this amazing school.
I will never be able to put into words my appreciation for the staff at the University of Mobile. We soon mapped out a plan to make up the summer I took off, in order to continue and finish my degree in Elementary and Early Childhood Education. I took a hefty load of classes that fall and spring, along with student teaching, and was able to walk and graduate in 2009.
My husband, Blake Bryan, now works with our family business. We have two young children, Asher and Abigail, who I hope will consider being a Ram one day. We are thankful for the past, the present and the future of this school.
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Photo Rovy Lopez 44 byTORCHLIGHT
| Spring 2022
Photo by Deborah Cullum
Alumni Events
Graduates of the University of Mobile/Mobile College automatically are members of the UM Alumni Association. That gives you access to alumni events to help you strengthen the relationships you developed as a student while making new relationships with your fellow alumni. Some events during UM’s Diamond
ALLIE RATCLIFF
Director of Alumni Relations
Anniversary year included the Alumni & Friends Dinner at the Southern Baptist Convention, Homecoming, First 15 Years luncheon, Christmas Spectacular reception, Birmingham dinner and Bienville Bites walking food tour of Mobile. Keep up with alumni events at umobile. edu/alumni-events.
TorchLight Extra! Let's stay connected
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60s Linda Boykin Lyles ’67 (Biology) and husband Thomas Lyles ’68 (Business) live in Satsuma, AL. Linda is a member of Mobile College’s charter class.
70s Mel Himes ’71 (English) lives in Deltona, FL, with his wife, Arleen. Mel is the owner of Mel Himes & Associates Insurance Agency. Bob Barnard ’72 (Business Administration) lives in Valley Head, AL, with wife Margie. Bob was a State Farm Agent for 44 years before retiring in 2017 and is a retired lieutenant in the U.S. Navy. Bob and Margie have 2 sons, 4 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren. John Bush ’75 (Religion, English) and wife Jeanette live in Taylors, SC. They have 3 children and 2 grandsons. John started Across Festivals ministry in 2003 and the couple has been in full-time ministry for 50 years. Woody Sharitt ’76 (Human Performance/Exercise Science) and wife Anita Sharitt ’75 (Nursing) recently moved to Pace, FL, from Duluth, GA. Both are retired; Woody worked over 40 years with Reynolds+Reynolds and Anita spent the past 21 years as a certified orthopedic nurse at Peachtree Orthopedics. Alan Davis ’77 (Religion, History) lives in Powder Springs, GA, with his wife of 45 years, Karen. Alan is senior associate pastor at First Baptist Church Powder Springs where he has served for 39 years. Kermit Soileau ’78 (History) lives in Georgetown, GA, with wife Pam. He is pastor at Georgetown Baptist Church. Linda Angelina Stevens ’79 (Biology, Mathematics) lives in Mobile, AL. She retired from Lockheed Martin in 2012 as a procurement specialist at NASA John C. Stennis Space Center in Mississippi. She is an abstract artist and her work has been exhibited at Innova Arts and Mobile Arts Council.
80s Deryl Pendleton ’82 (Sociology) is an insurance agent in Mobile, AL. William Bomar ’88 (Theology, Psychology) lives in Huntsville, AL, with wife Barbara. He completed a
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Master of Ministry from Huntsville Bible College in 2020. William is enrolled at Liberty University and will graduate in May 2022 with a Doctor of Ministry. The couple has 3 grandchildren: Eli, Willow and Aspen. Loren Robinson ’88 (Religion) lives in Mobile, AL, with wife Kathryn. Loren is pastor at Sonrise Baptist Church and Hope of the Nations Church. He also serves as chaplain with Hospice of Light/Singing River Health System in Ocean Springs, MS. The couple has 5 daughters and 5 grandchildren. Tracy Tanner ’89 (Physical Education) lives in Tallahassee, FL, with wife Yelanda. Tracy has worked with the Florida Department of Children and Families for 25 years and currently serves as Government Operations Consultant. The couple has 2 daughters and 1 son.
90s
Brian Smith ’90 (Religion) lives in Fort Bliss, TX, working as a brigade chaplain for the 11th ADA BDE. He recently served at the U.S. Army Chaplain Center and School as a course developer and instructor. Charles Coburn ’94 (Music Education) retired from Regions Bank in 2021. He and wife Angie live in Gardendale, AL. Garry Morrison ’95 (Religion) lives in Concord, NC, with wife Virginia. Garry is secondary and New Testament educator with Charlotte-Mecklenburg School and Fruitland Bible College. He also serves on the ministerial staff at First Missionary Baptist Church of Concord. Jennifer Magnoli Alberstadt ’96 (Education) lives in Daphne, AL, with husband Joe. Jennifer has worked with Baldwin County School System as a teacher and a reading specialist for 25 years. They have 2 sons, Miles and Ben. Emily Reid Pierce ’96 (Education) lives in Warner Robins, GA, with husband David. Emily is a kindergarten teacher with the Houston County Board of Education and they have 3 daughters. Krystal Walker ’97 (Psychology) lives in White Bluff, TN, with husband Zivko. Krystal is a consulting product analyst. She also performs wedding ceremonies as a wedding officiant.
Marcus Montgomery ’98 (Accounting) lives in Powder Springs, GA, with wife Cynthia. He is a senior IT manager with Honeywell.
00s
Richard Ross ’01 (Music) lives in Pensacola, FL, and is a physical therapist for Community Home Health. He also serves in the church, working with youth and in the music department. Jaclyn Smith Foster ’02 (Social Sciences) lives in Tuscaloosa, AL, with husband Nick. Jaclyn teaches at Tuscaloosa Academy and was named Alabama’s 2021 History Teacher of the Year and a 2021 Grosvenor Teacher Fellow with National Geographic and Lindblad Expeditions. Garth Smith ’05 (Education) and husband Jeremy live in Spanish Fort, AL. Garth is an instructional coach for Baldwin County Board of Education and was awarded Teacher of the Year for Swift Elementary School in 2012. They have 3 children: Gabi, Drew and Lily. Joshua Nicholson ’05 (Theatre) lives in Pompton Lakes, NJ, with wife Desiree. Joshua is the Founder of Church Media Market LLC. Andy Botts ’07 (Worship Leadership) lives in Elizabethtown, KY, with wife Lauren. Andy is worship arts pastor at Severns Valley Baptist Church. Steven Foxworth ’08 (Social Sciences) lives in Orlando, FL, with wife Melanie. They have 2 daughters, Olivia Grace and Elena Joy. Steven has his master’s in educational leadership and is an engineering and technology middle school teacher at Citrus Ridge: A Civics Academy where he also serves on the administrative leadership team and as a technology coach. Steven was recently voted Teacher of the Year at his school in Polk County.
10s
Nicholas Denton ’10 (Music Education) lives in Pittsburgh, PA, with wife Rachel. Nicholas is a music teacher at HF-Seville Specialized Learning. They have 2 children: Florena and Kairos. Lawrence King ’11 (Music, Psychology) lives in Mobile, AL, with wife Mauria. They have a son, Lawrence,
and a daughter, Lauren. He works as long-term care administrator for Ball HealthCare Services, Inc. He is a member of a number of professional and social organizations including 100 Black Men of Greater Mobile where he serves as treasurer. Jeremy Crews ’13 (Theology, Humanities) lives in Waco, TX, with wife Katherine. Jeremy is school chaplain and director of Faith Development and Cultural Harmony at Live Oak Classical School. They have 2 children: Emmaus Hope and Atlas Brave. Wes Gay ’13 (Music) lives in Buford, GA, with wife Cassandra and their 3 children. Wes owns Wayfinder, a marketing agency. Garrett Hughes ’13 (Global Business) lives in Spanish Fort, AL, with wife Melyssa Hughes ’20 (Education). Garrett is apprentice funeral director at Hughes Funeral Home and Melyssa is a kindergarten teacher at Daphne Elementary School. They have a son, John Pearson. Shanon Snyder ’13 (Christian Studies) and husband Tyler live in Stigler, OK. Shanon is a special education English teacher for Eufaula High School. Shanon and Tyler recently moved to Oklahoma after spending 10 years in New Orleans serving in various non-profit and ministry roles. Renisa Winborn ’13 (Leadership and Cultural Studies) is a patient care secretary with Kindred Hospice in Mobile, AL. Dakota Cantrell Jolly ’14 (Psychology) lives in Durham, NC, with husband Cyril. They became foster parents in February 2020. Kelsey Moore ’14 (Worship Leadership) lives in Auburn, AL, and is a digital media specialist at Inner Spark Creative. Brooke Sanders ’15 (Sociology) lives in Mobile, AL, where she is a social worker with Alabama Baptist Children’s Home. Molly Gray Snyder ’15 (Political Science) lives in Pace, FL, with husband Chris and their daughter, Addison. Molly is assistant state attorney for the First Judicial Circuit of Florida. Kayleigh Clinkenbeard Bitowf ’16 (Marketing, Management) lives in Kentucky with husband Chase. Kayleigh works for Salameh Plastic Surgery as marketing strategist.
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Ryan Ivy ’17 (Theology) lives in Las Vegas with wife Kierstyn where they are church planters with the North American Mission Board.
Brandee Reyna Guzman ’18 (Education) is a 5th grade math teacher at Saraland Elementary School. Brandee and husband Reuben live in Saraland, AL.
Dylan Miller ’17 (Worship Leadership) lives in Griffin, GA, with wife Madeline. Dylan serves as an associate worship minister at Dogwood Church in Tyrone, GA.
Meredith Holm Taylor ’18 (Communication) and Zach Taylor ’20 (General Studies) live in Tampa, FL. Meredith recently graduated with her Master of Arts in Teaching. Zach serves with the U.S. Coast Guard as Petty Officer 3rd Class. They have a daughter, Georgia Renee’.
Jared Sisson ’17 (Worship Leadership) and Emily Sisson ’17 (Worship Leadership) live in Mobile, AL, where they both serve on staff at Cottage Hill Baptist Church. Meshelle Graham Baker ’17 (Worship Leadership, Music Business) and husband Jay Baker live in Semmes, AL. Meshelle is an adjunct instructor at the University of Mobile teaching Intro to Graphic Design and is the author of a children’s storybook, “Cocoa and Snow,” available in the Makers Collection at The University of Mobile Store. Kierston Pangborn Lowe ’18 (Nursing) lives in Pensacola, FL, with husband Jared Lowe ’17 (Sociology) Keirston is a charge nurse in the PICU at Ascension Sacred Heart. Jared is a CRA manager with Escambia Couty BOCC. They have been foster parents since 2020. Tyna Orth ’18 (History) lives in Theodore, AL, and is a teacher with Saraland City Schools.
Joshua West ’18 (Kinesiology) lives in Saraland, AL, with wife Karna and their 2 children, Tristan John-Thomas and Landry Anne-Marie. Joshua is an instrumentation and electrical technician with Arkema Chemical. He founded and is the director of Saraland Soccer Academy. Erin Burnett ’19 (Theology) lives in Prattville, AL. She serves as children’s ministry director at Thorington Road Baptist Church. Emiliee Rogers Manning ’19 (Education) lives in Tuscaloosa, AL, with husband Trey. Emilee serves as associate children’s minister at First Baptist Church of Tuscaloosa.
20s
Johny ‘Trey’ Northcutt ’21 (Musical Theatre) lives in Orlando, FL, and works for Walt Disney World Resort.
Marriages
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Meredith McCarson Layne ’10 (Communication) married Alex Layne on Nov. 13, 2021. She is national promotions manager for Sony Music Entertainment. The couple lives in Smyrna, TN.
Jared Sisson ’17 (Worship Leadership) and Emily Sisson ’17 (Worship Leadership) were married on March 6, 2021.
Dakota Cantrell Jolly ’14 (Psychology) married Cyril Jolly on Dec. 27, 2020.
Kayleigh Clinkenbeard Bitowf ’16 (Marketing, Management) married Chase Bitowf on July 17, 2021.
Dylan Miller ’17 (Worship Leadership) married Madeline Miller on April 11, 2021.
Brandee Reyna Guzman ’18 (Education) married Reuben Guzman on Dec. 21, 2021.
TORCHLIGHT | Spring 2022
New Life Molley Granberry ’13 (Biology) and Ben Granberry ’14 (Communication) welcomed daughter Adalyn Mae on Dec. 28, 2021.
Samantha Moats ’14 (English) and Adam Moats ’13 (Intercultural Studies) welcomed twins, Wendell and Camille, born May 18, 2021.
Garrett Hughes ’13 (Global Business) and Melissa Hughes ’20 (Education) welcomed son John Pearson on Sept. 25, 2021.
Meshelle Graham Baker ’17 (Worship Leadership and Music Business) and husband Jay welcomed daughter Melody Rose on July 13, 2021.
Tyler Crane ’14 (Business Administration) and Sarah Crane ’17 (History) welcomed their second child, Emmalyne Sue, on Sept. 9, 2021.
Meredith Taylor ’18 (Communication) and Zach Taylor ’20 (General Studies) welcomed daughter Georgia Renee on May 13, 20.
Bethan Morgans ’14 (Art) and Jordan Garcia welcomed son Declan Tobias Morgans on July 27, 2021.
In Memoriam Dr. Michael A. Magnoli, a member of the 1967 charter class of Mobile College and the second president of the University of Mobile, died May 1, 2021. As a student, he served as editor of The Rampage yearbook and was a campus leader, helping establish many of the university’s traditions that continue today. He joined the Mobile College development office, becoming president upon the retirement of founding president Dr. William K. Weaver Jr. (pictured at left). Magnoli led a change in organizational structure that resulted in Mobile College becoming the University of Mobile on July 1, 1993. Under his leadership, the college expanded athletic facilities and started an intercollegiate athletic program that is now one of the largest in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics. The university won its first NAIA national championships in men’s and women’s tennis, men’s golf and women’s soccer during his tenure. The first master’s
degree programs were started in education, business administration, nursing and religion. Residential and academic facilities were constructed. The university opened a branch campus in Nicaragua, graduating over 250 students until the campus was sold in 2000. Several of the university’s signature landmarks were established during Magnoli’s presidency, including The Gift fountain sculpture by Mobile artist Casey Downing Jr. Lyon Chapel, originally built in 1883 as St. Stephens Baptist Church in St. Stephens, Alabama, was moved to campus and restored in 1988. William ‘Bill’ Whitfield ’68 (Religion) passed away on Dec. 20, 2020. Bill was a longtime pastor of Cypress Shores Baptist Church and Dauphin Way Baptist Church. He served in the Marine Corps before attending Mobile College. He attended Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and later earned a doctorate from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.
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Dr. W. Clayton Hoffman ’67 (Psychology), a member of the Mobile College Charter Class, passed away on Jan. 13, 2020, in Amarillo, TX. He received a Master of Divinity from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and a Doctor of Ministry from San Francisco Presbyterian Theological Seminary. He served as a pastor, psychologist and chaplain throughout his career. During his distinguished military career, Col. Hoffman served as a chaplain in the United States Army and earned many honors, including the Bronze Star. In Operation Desert Storm, he wrote, with two other chaplains, and implemented the “Redeployment/ Reunion Program,” a debriefing program presented to all returning soldiers. He was assigned to the Pentagon where he served in the office of the Chief of Chaplains and wrote the “Family Life Chaplain Counseling Program.” He retired in 1997 after 31 years of service. While serving as director of pastoral services at High Plains Baptist Hospital, he developed and taught a Lay Ministry Training Class combining scripture, psychology and counseling techniques so students could effectively minister as a believer. He retired as a pastoral counselor from his private practice. He served as a leader in numerous civic and church organizations, and was named a Paul Harris Fellow. He truly lived out the motto that “Success Begins at Mobile College.” He and his wife Mary are the parents of Clay, Ashley and Chris.
Charles M. “Mack” Clark, retired professor of art and dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, passed away Dec. 17, 2021. Described as “a true Southern gentleman” with a quick wit, he designed the ceremonial mace carried at graduation during Dr. Mark Foley’s presidency. Clark served as director of the university’s “Art With a Southern Drawl” juried competition for 14 years. He is survived by wife Susan, daughter Molly and 2 granddaughters. Ronald Bell “Ronnie” Holladay, a member of the University of Mobile Board of Trustees from 2007 to 2021, passed away on Aug. 26, 2021, at the age of 74. A 1969 graduate of Auburn University, he was a cattleman and cotton farmer. Among his many honors and leadership roles, he was inducted into the Alabama Agriculture Hall of Honor in 2009, named Father of the Year in 2008 by the Alabama Cattlewomen’s Association, and served as president of the National Beef Board and state president of the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association. He was a deacon at Benton Baptist Church where he was a Sunday School teacher and sang in the choir with his wife of 54 years, Mitzi.
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New merchandise is arriving daily at The U, where you’ll find everything from branded shirts and jackets to our new Ram I Am book and Be Known devotional. Visit in store or online!
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