UNIVERSITY of MOBILE
Winter 2018 Volume 10
Weaver Hall Renovation Creating a world-class educational experience for our students
M E S S AG E F RO M O U R P R E S I D E N T Greetings from University of Mobile! I pray you have enjoyed a blessed fall season as we are being ushered into the Christmas season. It is a season of building at University of Mobile, as God continues to bestow blessings upon the university and our mission of preparing students through intellectual development and spiritual formation for their Great Commission calling. These blessings have come in many forms as we build a great university with a Kingdom purpose. These include receiving #1 rankings as the Best Regional University/College in the South and Best Residential Housing in Alabama, #8 Best Christian University in the US, the completion of a significant capital project, enrollment increases, introduction of “prac-ademics” as a new educational pedagogy, implementation of new academic programs and the overall spirit as faculty and staff serve together to prepare graduates to transform the world. As fall semester began, there was a significant increase in enrollment that includes degree-seeking students and dual enrollment students. This combined enrollment has increased from 1,480 students in fall 2016 to 1,889 in fall 2018. With this growth, a new dining caterer was welcomed to the university and residential housing continues to increase, filling all but 50 available beds as of fall 2018. A $4.6 million dollar renovation of 45,000 square ft on the three floors of Weaver Hall was completed, creating several new science laboratories for the College of Arts and Sciences – Department of Natural Sciences and a state-of-the-art high fidelity human patient simulation laboratory, augmented reality human patient simulation laboratory, anatomical laboratory, plastination laboratory, operating room, skills and health assessment laboratories, kinesiology laboratory, teaching classrooms and several educational debriefing rooms. Most of these educational facilities reside in the Center for Excellence in Healthcare Practice that is affiliated with the new College of Health Professions. To foster the use of this facility and other new educational venues, such as a new technology worship laboratory and worship leadership simulation environment, 23 new bachelor’s degrees, 6 new master’s degrees and 2 new doctorates in nursing and music have been established over the last 30 months of the current administration. “Prac-ademics” is being implemented, where academic theory is taught in the classroom while students engage in practice environments to reinforce and enhance the comprehension of content. Building is an ongoing process, and God has so much more in store for University of Mobile! New academic programs will continue to be developed to support the educational desires of students and needs of the workforce. Renovation begins on the second floor of J.L. Bedsole Library building, creating an updated library, new learning/study spaces for students and additional space to enhance student socialization. This renovated space that will be completed in early spring 2019 and will become known as the J.L. Bedsole Student Learning Commons. Building takes teamwork, and all of these campus enhancements and new educational opportunities for students have been made possible because of the support of so many alumni, donors and friends of the university! University of Mobile is blessed because you believe in our unique Christ-centered mission and share our desire to promote educational opportunities for students that ultimately furthers God’s Kingdom. For this, we say “thank you” for your continued support, and we look forward to having you on campus to see the blessings that you have provided for students. Many Blessings,
Timothy L. Smith, PhD, PhD, CRNA, APN President
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BUILD Winter 2018 • Volume 10 • Issue 1
Winter 2018 | Volume 10 Issue 1
For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven - Ecclesiastes 3:1-3 (ESV) Ask people what time it is, and most will tell you the hour and minutes. But step back and take a broader view – see the big picture – and the answer becomes one that encompasses more than simply a specific moment. As the writer of Ecclesiastes points out, there is a time and a season. At University of Mobile, it is a season of growth. It is a time to build. In this issue of TorchLight, you will meet people who are part of building University of Mobile: faculty who integrate faith and learning, alumni who use their knowledge and experience to impact their community, alumni and community leaders who invest their time and resources. Growth brings change, and you will learn about some of those, from launching a doctoral program and adding academic programs to building state-of-the-art “living laboratories.” In Retrospect, we take a look back at a moment in time when the university was young and the entire student body could sit together in Weaver Auditorium. The TorchLight magazine has a new look, continuing the change that began with the Mobile College Bulletin in the 1960s, the Panorama in the early 1970s, and the TorchLight in the late 1970s. Throughout the seasons, one thing remains constant: the foundation upon which University of Mobile builds is the gospel of Jesus Christ.
University News ............................... 4 Rams Round-Up ................................ 8 Weaver Hall Renovation ................ 12 Dr. DNA ............................................. 20 Faculty Focus .................................. 24 Growing by Degrees ..................... 26 Building a Foundation ................... 28 Empower .......................................... 30 Retrospect ....................................... 32 Real Success ................................... 34 A Life of Service ............................. 38 Women & Work ............................... 40 A Place to Grow .............................. 44 The Resolution ................................ 46 Class Notes ..................................... 50
President | Dr. Timothy L. Smith. PhD, PhD Vice President for Marketing and Public Relations | Lesa Moore Editor | Kathy Dean Graphic Design | Heath Vester Writers | Rivers Brunson, Valerie Cockrell, Kim Garrett, John Killian, Lauren McCaghren, Susan Murphy, A.J. Nipper, Jessica Sawyer, Martha Simmons Photographers | Dan Anderson, Rachael Boyer, Maria Estes, Devin Maddox, Christian Springer, Jeff Tesney, Heath Vester, Katie West, Kami Whiteis Editorial Office University of Mobile, TorchLight 5735 College Parkway Mobile, Alabama 36613 Phone: 251.442.2497 Email: torchlight@umobile.edu TorchLight is published by 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
Cover Photo | UM Board of Trustees at ribbon-cutting for Weaver Hall Renovation. From left: Gabi Constantine, Dr. Timothy L. Smith, Deborah Nelson, David Conner and Terry Harbin
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Good Work Agency
to students, in addition to a new mixing and visualization lab. If you’re doing good work, the Good Work Agency is ready to help.
This full-service creative agency is run by students at University of Mobile. The Good Work Agency helps churches, non-profits and small businesses be more effective online, at a fraction of the price. “We Do Good Work for Those Who Do Good Works” is the agency’s motto, and services include graphic design, social media and web development. It operates out of the School of Business in Harrigan Hall and is supervised by Katie Allred ’12, who joined the faculty in August as assistant professor of software development and digital media.
“Using this technology, you can load a diagram of the stage area at a church where any of our nearly 20 ensembles will be performing, and we can map out the entire show remotely,” Bowersox said. According to Kent Morris, president of Cornerstone Media Group and a participant in the lab’s dedication held in October, students graduating with a Bachelor of Science in worship technologies “will possess the experience and reasoning skills to walk into a production company office and be ready to go out on the next tour, install a new system in a church or design a safe and effective workflow for a national conference.” Check out the video at youtube.com/universityofmobile
Project Serve 2018
The Good Work Agency is a “living laboratory” where students have practice learning experiences to enrich the learning process as part of UM’s Prac-ademics™ approach to higher education. Learn more at goodworkagency.org, or connect at goodwork@umobile.edu or 251.442.2410.
Worship Leadership 210
Service is part of the culture of University of Mobile. Students regularly use Focus Fridays to volunteer locally, and spend fall and spring breaks traveling to inner cities across the nation to partner with churches.
A new lab in Martin Hall “will completely transform the education of worship technology students,” said Dr. Steve Bowersox, chair of the Department of Worship Leadership and Technology. Worship Leadership 210 is a hands-on “living laboratory” in the Alabama School of the Arts. It brings the latest audio, video and lighting equipment
There is one day annually where UM’s assorted service efforts unite to blanket the Mobile, Alabama, area in good deeds. Each Project Serve, over 1,000 red-shirted image-bearers of Christ clean, organize, paint, teach and serve wherever their help is needed. “It’s an opportunity to continue our mission,” university president Dr. Tim Smith said. “This is an opportunity for us to all go out together to fulfill our Great Commission calling” Check out the video at youtube.com/universityofmobile
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Performing Arts Season
How do they do it? When you think you’ve seen the absolute best Christmas Spectacular ever, somehow the next year is better yet. The 16th annual event held at Cottage Hill Baptist Church in Mobile hit all the right notes, from sacred to secular, and even had some hilarious carpool karaoke moments with local WKSJ radio celebrities Dan & Shelby. Special guests were the Mobile International Children’s Choir and Saraland Elementary Choir. There are still plenty of events left in the 2018-2019 Performing Arts Series: piano ensemble, chamber opera, MainStage Musical performing “Into the Woods,” the UM Jazz Band with “The Spy Who Loved Me,” theatre and opera scenes program, Saviour: A Modern Oratorio, and the annual Spring Spectacular wrap-up. Purchase tickets at itickets.com/universityofmobile, or call the Alabama School of the Arts box office at 251.442.2383.
Be Known What is everyone saying about University of Mobile? Take a look at a few of the recent rankings, and it’s obvious the university is making an impact. • #1 Best Regional Colleges in the South (2018 College Consensus) • #1 Best College Dorms in Alabama (2019 Niche.com) • Best Value Regional Colleges in the South (2019 U.S. News & World Report) • #2 Best Regional Colleges in the South for Veterans (2019 U.S. News & World Report)
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• #2 Best Colleges and Universities in Alabama (2018 College Consensus) • #3 Best Online Master’s in Early Childhood Education in the Nation (2019 Affordable Colleges Online) • #5 Best Regional Colleges in the South (2019 U.S. News & World Report) • #9 Best Online Master’s in Elementary Education in the Nation (2019 Early-Childhood-EducationDegrees.com) • Top 10 Best Colleges for Jobs in Alabama (2019 Zippia) • America’s Best Christian Colleges (Institutional Research & Evaluation Inc – 22nd consecutive year) • 100 Best Small Colleges (2018 College Consensus – highest ranked in Alabama)
Know UM
Everyone loves a behind-the-scenes look to find out the real story. That’s what you’ll find at Know UM, a source for blogs, videos and podcasts from University of Mobile. Recent posts include “Three Easy Steps to Building Wealth” by School of Business Associate Dean Dr. Kathy Dunning, and “A Sociologist’s Advice for Freshmen” from Dr. Cassidy Cooper, assistant professor of sociology. Current UM students ask the big questions, like Ali Gardner’s post “What Are You Doing With Your Life,” or share lessons learned, as Amber Kelley does in “3 Important Things That Working in College Taught Me.” Check it out at umobile.edu/know-um.
UNIVERSITY of MOBILE
PRESENTED BY 19/19 INVESTMENT COUNSEL
F E AT U R I N G SHANE & SHANE
and UNIVERSITY OF MOBILE ENSEMBLES
DECEMBER 13, 2018 | 7PM FREE CONCERT FOR THE COMMUNITY UNIVERSITY OF MOBILE 5 7 3 5 C O L L E G E PA R K WAY MOBILE, AL 36613
UMOBILE.EDU/CHRISTMASCONCERT
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RAMS round-up By John Killian The University of Mobile Athletic Department has enjoyed some significant victories in 2018, many of which have been off the field of play. In August, the Rams completed a deal which makes American sportswear giant Under Armour the official outfitter of University of Mobile Athletics. “Our objective is to give our teams the tools they need to achieve success, and this deal with Under Armour not only unifies our branding across all 18 teams but, most importantly, also provides our student-athletes with the highest quality gear available,” said Susan Shaw, director of athletics strategy and communication. Along with apparel and equipment for university teams, the agreement provides for the Athletic Department to make official Rams Under Armour apparel available for students, fans and alumni in early 2019.
Rams Launch New Website It’s not just student-athletes who are sporting a new look. In November, the Athletic Department launched a fully redesigned website which features live score updates, in-depth coverage of each team and a new photo album that allows fans and students to search available media for their favorite player just by clicking the player’s bio. “Our student-athletes put in countless hours of hard work and represent our university with pride” said Coordinator of Athletics Communication AJ Crenshaw, “so we want to make sure we’re doing everything we can to highlight their hard work and celebrate their success.” The new website is at UMobileRams.com and will continue to have updates over the next month.
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500th Win for Coach Campbell The wins keep on adding up for our Rams as volleyball coach Jon Campbell marked his 500th career win in October. Campbell has led the Rams for 14 seasons and, in that time, has been named SSAC Coach of the Year six times, winning five conference titles and coaching 10 NAIA All Americans. For 14 seasons, Campbell has coached alongside his wife, Amber. Of her husband’s milestone achievement, Amber said, “Jon believes in his players, and he has the gift of seeing the best in them, even when they can’t see it themselves.” Campbell’s time at the university has seen him transform the program into a SSAC powerhouse, and his teams have become as well known for their tough play as they are for their on-campus leadership and infectious school spirit.
New Team Joins Athletics Some new faces joined the Athletic Department, as part of the university’s mission to increase local awareness and engage local businesses to create new partnerships benefitting all parties. Scott Tindle, Mobile area entrepreneur famous for launching Gulf Coast Ducks and the revitalization of downtown Mobile’s Fort Conde, joined the department as Director of Athletic Partnerships and Innovation. Tindle has a history of bringing new and innovative ideas to life and is excited about the challenge ahead.
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A. Coach Jon Campbell | B. Lady Rams Volleyball | C. Men’s Soccer (Photos by AJ Crenshaw)
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A. UM Cheerleaders (Photo by Kami Whiteis) | B. Women’s Soccer (Photo by AJ Crenshaw)
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“I am very proud to join the team at University of Mobile and for the opportunity to help create new strategic partnerships while implementing innovative business solutions,” said Tindle, noting the “tremendous momentum” at the university. Joining Tindle is Susan Shaw ’18. The Nebraska native and UM alumna began her work in July as Director of Athletics Communication and Strategy. Shaw has an extensive background in sports, both on the playing side, having been a student-athlete, and on the administrative side, having served with the Mobile Sports Authority and on the planning committee for the National Association of Sports Commissions’ Women’s Summit. Prior to those roles and her relocation to Mobile, Shaw was a project coordinator and tasked with implementing employee, client and community events for Fortune 500 company Kiewit Construction. Mobile native AJ Crenshaw is Coordinator of Athletic Communications. He is founder and creative director of Project Azalea, an online magazine and digital media company serving the Port City. Crenshaw has a depth of experience in media and brand management and was the driving force behind the new Athletic Department website, as well as a number of ongoing projects to refresh and transform local perception of Rams Athletics. UM alumnus and Birmingham native John Killian ’10 is Coordinator of Athletic Operations. Killian is one of two university alumni who founded Birmingham Hammers (now Birmingham Legion FC) in 2013, the state’s first full professional soccer team. He still serves as director of merchandising for the team. He has also worked as a marketing and account manager for large sporting events such as the FIFA World Cup and European soccer championships (known as UEFA Euro).
Rams United One of the first major projects the new leadership team is tackling is the implementation of Rams United, an effort to coalesce alumni, fans and local partners to improve support for UM student-athletes, upgrade facilities and build a sustainable future which will allow our Rams to continue carrying the torch for the university on the field of play and in the professional world after graduation. Rams United is membership based with many local companies already answering the call to provide benefits to supports UM Athletics,
and more to be announced as the full program is unveiled in December. Learn more at UMobileRams.com/Rams-United.
From left: Susan Shaw, Joe Espada, Scott Tindle
UM Partners with Houston Astros “Partnership” is a major buzzword as the Athletic Department joined with the Houston Astros of Major League Baseball to implement new practices for tracking and analyzing player data to ensure the health of athletes as well as the effectiveness of their training. UM is the first such school to partner with the Astros on this project, and that is in no small part thanks to UM Baseball alumnus and Houston Astros bench coach Joe Espada. Espada also joined fellow baseball alumnus JC Romero (formerly of the Philadelphia Phillies) to host a Baseball Coaching Clinic at UM’s Jacobs Field in November. The goal of the clinic was to engage with baseball enthusiasts in the community and expose them to the beauty of UM’s 880-acre campus as well as the proud tradition of Rams Baseball. Stay up to date with University of Mobile Rams news by following the Athletic Department on Twitter and Instagram (@MobileRams) or like us on Facebook.
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WEAVER HALL RENOVATION By Kathy Dean
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The technology is astounding. Augmented reality that allows students to view a virtual 3-D model of the circulatory system –and walk around the room to see it from different angles. High-fidelity human patient simulators that can be programmed by professors to mimic a heart attack, birth a baby – even speak. An anatomical lab where seniors bound for medical school work in teams to examine cadavers and see first-hand the inner workings of the human body – a full year before most of their peers across the nation.
“Prac-ademics is the educational process of teaching theory or the academics in the classrooms, while providing practice environments to enhance the learning and retention of content taught in the classroom,” Smith said. It’s hands-on learning that requires students to use all of their senses, which helps them better retain and apply what they learn. It prepares students to step into their careers with confidence, having both theoretical and practical experience, and to approach various healthcare certification exams with confidence.
One of the few plastination labs in the United States in an undergraduate program, where actual body parts such as heart, brain or lungs can be permanently preserved – creating specimens that can be held, studied and exhibited.
And while UM has an excellent track record for graduates’ acceptance into medical schools, the university has set its sights on expanding that reputation. With experience in the anatomical and plastination lab, UM students not only will be uniquely prepared for the MCAT exam required for entrance into medical schools, but also, once there, to stand out from their peers.
This is the future of higher education – and it’s here now in University of Mobile’s new $4.6 million healthcare and science education center in William K. Weaver Hall.
Smith said there’s no reason undergraduate students should have to wait for medical school or that first job to gain experience and develop competence. “Why wait?” he said. “I believe you provide educational experiences early in order to provide for more effective learning, both now and later in graduate school and medical school.” UM biology/pre-health major Noemi Mallet agrees. “It’s exciting to be able to experience something now that most people don’t get to do until medical school,” said Mallet, a senior from Canada and member of the women’s soccer team.
Living Laboratories It’s “the most advanced patient-care educational environment in the South,” said UM President Timothy L. Smith, PhD, PhD, to the dignitaries, supporters, community leaders and members of the UM family gathered on the steps of Weaver Hall for a ribbon-cutting ceremony Oct. 30. “This development will forever change the way we educate at University of Mobile,” he added. Two entire floors of William K. Weaver Hall were gutted and redesigned to create “living laboratories” that support a new approach to teaching college courses that UM calls “Prac-ademics™.”
Standing in the anatomical lab as students nearby drape a cadaver and prepare for the day’s lesson, Mallet said, “It’s great to be able to learn by doing and not just seeing in pictures the organs and systems of the human body. You can actually see problems from one patient to another, how one has a healthy heart and another doesn’t. It gives us an advantage for getting into medical school and, once there, being more comfortable in the situation.”
The Renovation The renovation encompasses the College of Health Professions and the College of Arts & Sciences – Department of Natural Sciences. Included in the College of Health Professions is the Center for Excellence in Healthcare Practice, School of Nursing, School of Health and Sports Science, and School of Allied Health.
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‘A Testament of the Lord’s Faithfulness’ A.J. Nipper is a junior majoring in biology/ pre-med. He represents the university as an Ambassador and serves on the Student Government Association intramural and Ram Rush committees. Following are his remarks to university supporters, Board of Trustees, faculty, staff and students.
Coming here from Daytona Beach, Florida, I planned on double majoring in theology and biology with the sense that the Lord was calling me into full-time ministry. I still believe that the Lord can and will use me in ministry, just not in the role that I originally anticipated. Over the last year and a half, the Lord has been faithful to show me the heart He has placed in me for practicing medicine. He has continually opened doors to further my educational pursuits in the healthcare field, and grow my love for the people around me through this school. He has given me professors that repeatedly challenge me academically as well as practically to live out the calling God has on my life. And for that, I will be forever grateful.
As I was putting some thoughts together earlier today, my mind was brought to Scripture. One of the greatest and most important literary devices used throughout Scripture is the use of repetition. Repetition allows the author to point to a specific word or phrase and say, “Here it is. Here is the most important thing. Please hear this.” So, with that being said, if you get nothing else from what I say today, please hear this. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Thank you to Dr. Smith for your vision and your commitment to this university. Thank you all for your generous contributions. Thank you for your constant support. Thank you for your genuine love and fervent prayer for this university. For me, this university has been nothing but a testament of the Lord’s faithfulness to me over the last two and a half years of my time here. Three years ago, I never would have believed you if you would’ve told me I would be attending a small Christian university in Mobile, Alabama. And I sure wouldn’t have believed you if you told me I would be speaking at a ribbon-cutting ceremony as an Ambassador for that school. But God is good.
This renovation we are excited to reveal today will be used to further confirm that calling on my life and the lives of many of my peers. The newly installed labs will provide us with opportunities that we may never have had at another institution. In my gross anatomy class, we are working with cadavers, exploring regions of the body that most undergrad students will only ever see in a textbook. Through plastination, a new and innovative technology, we will be able to preserve actual organs from the lab to be studied and identified. Through our state-of-the-art operating room and nursing facility, students will have the opportunities to see moment-by-moment simulations of real events that will be seen in real hospitals. This facility provides us with strong advantages now so that we may have brighter futures ahead. And that means the world to us. This university continually strives to provide the best learning experiences to best prepare us to fulfill the call God has on our lives. And for that, we cannot show our gratitude enough. To sum up my attitude toward the renovation, I quote a close friend and mentor who said, “I love being a part of an organization that looks for opportunities to improve, thrives on innovation, and desires to be a leader in education the world needs for the future.”
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As the university prepares students to pursue their professional calling in the areas of healthcare and science, the institution is also preparing for many more who will be drawn to the combination of an exceptional academic program with a Christ-centered purpose. - Dr. Timothy Smith umobile.edu
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Classrooms and laboratories mirror the hospital rooms, operating rooms, intensive care units, athletic training/kinesiology treatment centers, science and healthcare settings that graduates will step into as they enter the workforce. Large windows line the central hallways, providing views into classrooms and labs where students in red scrubs attend to high-fidelity human patient simulators that mimic everything from medical emergencies such as a heart attack to labor and delivery. New technology that enhances learning includes augmented reality, where students can view a virtual 3-D model of the circulatory system and walk around the room to see it from different angles, or use a HoloLens to view various stages of pregnancy and elevate a 3-D model of the birthing process above a physical model, while students walk around and view it from different positions. The renovation added an operating room, emergency room, anatomical and plastination lab, health assessment lab, research lab, high-fidelity human patient simulation labs and debriefing rooms, health and sports science labs and classrooms, and high-tech labs for the study of biology, microbiology, anatomy, physiology and organic chemistry. Both floors include student commons areas, faculty and staff offices, and conference rooms. Weaver Auditorium was renovated as well. The sloping floor was leveled and stationary seating removed, creating a more versatile space to accommodate a variety of seating and table arrangements while still retaining the stage. Several local foundations (The Daniel Foundation, The Crampton Trust, The J.L. Bedsole Foundation) along with churches and individuals (First Baptist Church of Montgomery, Mr. Ross Sloan, Dr. and Mrs. James West, Mr. and Mrs. William F. Ingram, and Mr. and Mrs. Fred Wilson) and others who wished to remain anonymous graciously contributed to the completion of this project.
The One Foundation While the facility is a “game-changer” for the university, Smith said its purpose goes beyond providing a “wow factor.” “The purpose is to glorify Christ through the development of an educational environment that will place our graduates in a position that will bring Him glory, as they leave this institution to fulfill their Great Commission calling through service to our community in hospitals and other environments,” Smith said. That focus is obvious the moment you enter the lobby of Weaver Hall. The university’s core values – Christ-Centered, Academically-Focused, |Student-Devoted, Distinctively-Driven – are positioned on the walls of the brightly-lit area that also serves as a hub for the school’s Campus Concierge information/service center. Before
stepping into the new, enlarged elevator and ascending to the second and third floors, you walk past Scripture mounted on the walls – verses that are foundational to the university’s mission. The Fear of the Lord is the BEGINNING OF WISDOM. -Proverbs 9:10 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the RENEWAL OF YOUR MIND. - Romans 12:2 Then GOD said, let us make man IN OUR IMAGE, after our likeness. -Genesis 1:26 In the first floor’s north hallway is a timeline showing the school’s growth, from the 1960s to the present, that includes photographs of such beloved professors as Dr. Kenneth Bergdolt and Dr. Rosemary Adams. The timeline begins with a cleared hilltop among acres of woodlands, while another panel shows iconic Weaver Hall under construction – a reminder that the land upon which the university sits – in fact, the very creation of the university itself – was the result of a community that joined together to raise the funds to create a Christ-centered university. The growth throughout the years also reflects the investment that alumni, donors and friends made that enabled the university to attract more students, add academic programs, and construct buildings. The school’s mission statement is prominent in the hallway, along with a painting of founding president Dr. William K. Weaver Jr. and a photograph of the first Mobile College Board of Trustees. The phrase “Know and Be Known,” a key message in the university’s recent rebranding, is posted opposite the Enrollment Services suite.
Into the Future As the university prepares students to pursue their professional calling in the areas of healthcare and science, the institution is also preparing for many more who will be drawn to the combination of an exceptional academic program with a Christ-centered purpose. Smith, who began his career as a certified registered nurse anesthetist before moving into higher education administration, said the university will continue to add academic programs and is beginning a feasibility study for a nurse anesthesia program. As the program grows, one thing is certain. “Patients will be cared for with excellence and compassion in the days ahead because of the advanced level of academic preparation that was afforded to their caregiver here at University of Mobile,” Smith said.
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RE AGA N BA R NETT
DR. DNA By Susan Murphy | Photos by Heath Vester
Self-proclaimed right-brained thinker Reagan Barnett was on track for grad school to study biomedical Egyptology — diseases in mummies — when at age 20 her own health took a frightening turn. But instead of derailing her life and career, illness changed her focus from studying diseases in the dead to preventing them in the living. “Colon cancer runs in my family,” said Dr. Barnett, who joined University of Mobile as assistant professor of biology in August. “Having spent many years studying the Bible, I was emotionally prepared before I got sick. God was in it, and I knew He had me.” Barnett went for treatment to John Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland, and after four difficult surgeries in four months, she spent the rest of the year recuperating. During down time, she began reading papers on the genetics of cancer, how it forms and why some succumb to it. “I really didn’t know enough about science,” said Barnett. “I’m not wired that way. I think like an artist.” She continued researching and got involved in patient advocacy work during recovery. Barnett found herself in New York City delivering a speech on hereditary cancer syndrome to doctors. One of them encouraged her to go back to school and study science. Yeah, right, she thought.
Smart Enough? Barnett began rethinking her future and concluded that the part of biomedical archaeology she enjoyed most was medical. Why don’t I do something related to medicine, she wondered. “I believed I wasn’t smart enough for that,” she said. “But God asked me, ‘Is that a good reason
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not to try?’” Barnett applied for a PhD program at the University of South Alabama (USA) College of Medicine, but didn’t get in. A professor called her in for a meeting and encouraged her to volunteer. She went one better: she began auditing classes and volunteering to get experience in a field in which she had little understanding. “I wanted to show I was committed,” she said. “Though I didn’t receive credit, it helped lay a foundation for the science I needed to learn.” Accepted to the program after reapplying the following year, Barnett also took every opportunity to continue learning by enrolling in certification programs. One such course she took was Teaching and Instructional Design.
God-incidences “Strange things happened along the way — things that were preparing me for the future,” she said. For instance, during Barnett’s second year in graduate school, she attended a conference and shared information from a session on her professional Twitter account. A doctor from Houston was at the same conference, saw the Tweet and asked to meet her for coffee. Before the conversation ended, he offered her a postdoctoral fellowship to study hereditary cancer prevention at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, the nation’s top cancer hospital. After finishing the PhD program at USA, she and David Barnett, whom she had married prior to grad school, decided to take time to travel, decompressing for eight months before heading to Houston for the fellowship. David left his family’s business in Mobile and the two continued her medical research journey in the nation’s fourth largest city. Last year, the couple rode out Hurricane Harvey in their third-floor Houston Medical Center apartment, confined for a week as 25 feet of water rose then subsided around their building.
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“Over the course of the fellowship, God began showing me that research was not a good fit if I planned to spend time with my family,” she said. The couple, though not initially planning to return to Mobile, decided David should get back to the family business.
Shaping Others The Barnetts began volunteering with Roads of Hope, an organization that brought several Ukrainian youth to Mobile to make a plea for adoption. The same week Barnett began her job at UM, the couple decided to adopt a 16-year-old girl from the Ukraine. “We had never even thought about adoption before,” she confessed. Hindsight allows Barnett to see the wonder of God’s weaving together her life choices, cancer diagnosis and educational pursuits to deliver her lovingly where she is today. Because of professors and others who mentored her along the way, she has a driving passion for helping students find their way.
“Introducing genetic software programs and online database tools in the classroom will help develop their career skills.” Students in Barnett’s internship programs and those in her classes will have the benefit not only of her scholarship, but also practical life experiences she offers as a mentor who has followed Christ’s leading throughout her life and career. “A Christ-centered university is important in helping students focus on more than academics,” she said. “As an undergrad and throughout my educational career, professors have served me well as life coaches and mentors. Their influence has shaped me.” As important as the influence of her mentors was Barnett’s experience with colon cancer, which has taken her places she would never have gone and caused her to become someone she never would otherwise have been. “What I have after cancer is worth all I went through,” she said. “God really does create beauty out of ashes.”
“Offering practical skills in science for students to take into future jobs is my focus,” said Barnett.
DR. REAGAN BARNETT
Assistant Professor of Biology Continuing Education, John Hopkins University Postdoctoral Fellow, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center Doctor of Philosophy, University of South Alabama College of Medicine Bachelor of Arts, Liberty University • Continuing Education, Genomics Data Science • Postdoctoral Fellow, Clinical Cancer Prevention, Hereditary Colon Cancer Syndromes; Genetic variant classification of oncology variants • PhD, Molecular Biology, Cancer Biology and Basic Medical Sciences • BA, Biblical studies, Ancient Greek
WORD S TO LIVE BY:
“God allows us to experience the low points of life in order to teach us lessons that we could learn in no other way.” —C. S. Lewis umobile.edu
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N I CK C I L LO
FACULTY FOCUS By Kathy Dean
When University of Mobile’s first Faculty Engagement Award recognizing outstanding devotion to students was announced, Nick Cillo didn’t hear his name called or the applause that followed from faculty and staff at the year-end spring luncheon. He was at home asleep, recuperating from three consecutive nights hosting Up All Night, the marathon study sessions he started a decade ago to encourage students preparing for finals each semester. The assistant professor of finance and management in the School of Business is known for being the gruff-but-lovable Lou Grant of the university. Like the fictional news director played by actor Ed Asner in Mary Tyler Moore’s WJM-TV news station, Cillo cares deeply for those under his care. It’s all laid out in his syllabus:
I mean you no harm. We are on the same side. I am not an obstacle you must overcome to achieve your goals. I am a means of achieving them. A retired military officer who served in a variety of assignments in the United States, Central America and Asia, Cillo has spent his life leading and teaching 17- to 22-year-olds. He believes his role as a professor involves much more than simply sharing knowledge about business practices. “We’re not just teaching. We’re building peoples’ lives,” Cillo said. It’s one of the many reasons he started Up All Night. During the all-night study sessions, students do more than study to pass a test. They share their problems, hopes and dreams with professors and staff who take the time to stay up all night with them while cooking, serving food and holding review sessions.
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A Team Effort Cillo had the idea for Up All Night when daughter Aubry was a student and there were few late-night options on campus for co-ed study groups. When his wife recalled how her college would open up the cafeteria late at night for students during finals, Cillo was inspired. He pitched the idea to Mike Blaylock, then vice president for student life, who wrote a personal $100 check for supplies. With money from his own pocket, a few donations, and the help of Assistant Professor of Accounting Rusty Roberts ’96, Cillo started out cooking in the first-floor kitchen of Samford Hall. After two years, Up All Night moved to the second floor kitchen of Faulkner Hall. The popularity of the event, and the noise associated with it, made another move necessary, and Up All Night landed in the cafeteria and Ram Hall. While expanded library hours and the Bedsole Student Commons provide more options now for co-ed study groups, Up All Night has become a UM tradition. Staying up all night is par-for-the-course for college students, but it can be grueling for their older professors. On each of the three nights during finals, Cillo arrives at Ingram Dining Hall around 8 p.m. to start cooking. Dr. Sevints Nuriyeva, associate professor of global business and management, arrives about 8:30 p.m. to start the rice and chop vegetables for soup. By 9 p.m., Roberts has arrived with 600 donuts, and by 10 p.m. students arrive. Then it’s a flurry of cooking bacon, French toast, biscuits and gravy, grits and pizza, serving soup, washing dishes and spending time with students – some studying, some playing games or cards, some simply sharing their stories. By 5 a.m., when the cafeteria crew comes in, Up All Night has ended. Once, on the drive home, Cillo had to pull over to the side of the road for a short nap. More than once, he has slept in his office for a few hours before arriving at class to give an exam.
Photo courtesy of Mobile Press-Register
School of Business professors organize and host the event, which also draws some volunteers from across campus, including UM President and First Lady Dr. Timothy and Penney Smith, and top administrators.
The Real Lesson Cillo said academics isn’t the only lesson he hopes students are learning through Up All Night. “I would hope they have an idea of giving back to the community,” he said. “Sometimes it’s hard for them to understand that some people will do more than they have to do, will volunteer and not get paid for it. “I was talking to a guy about being a hero,” he continued. “A hero runs to the sound of the guns. I have a friend who can’t stand to see things undone, who looks for things to do to help. I see the deficiency in myself when I’m with him. When I’m around him, I’m a better person. I think not enough people run to the sound of the guns; not enough people will do more than they have to do to get by. People need to see examples. I think that’s good for the students.”
The Faculty Engagement Award was established this year to recognize the many UM faculty who go above and beyond for students. While Cillo didn’t hear the announcement, it’s all laid out in the award on his office wall:
Faculty Engagement Award presented to Nicholas J. Cillo for demonstrating excellence in student engagement inside and outside the standard classroom setting; for intentionally fostering community among students and promoting the relevancy of your discipline in students’ lives; for embodying the University of Mobile’s Core Values of being Christ-centered and Student-devoted in your interactions with students for the 2017-2018 academic year.”
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Growing By Degrees Doctor of Musical Arts | Doctor of Nursing Practice By Kathy Dean The world of higher education is defined by degrees – the higher level degree a university offers, the more respected a university becomes in the world of academia. So when University of Mobile enrolled its first doctoral students in Fall 2018, the occasion marked more than the addition of some excellent students in two new programs. It marked UM’s entry into the top tiers of higher education. “Offering doctoral degrees means we are operating at the highest levels of academia. It says we have decided to dedicate time and resources not only to the distribution of knowledge – that occurs in bachelor’s and master’s programs – but also to the creation of knowledge,” said Dr. Chris McCaghren, provost and senior vice president for academic affairs. The Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) in vocal performance in the Alabama School of the Arts prepares students for performance and teaching across multiple styles, including contemporary, musical theatre, opera and more. The program provides students opportunities to develop their performance abilities while expanding their knowledge of music literature and vocal technique. The School of Nursing in the College of Health Professions offers the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) with tracks in Family Nurse Practitioner or Executive Leadership. Students may enroll in the BSN-DNP or MSN-DNP degree programs. The program is online with on-campus intensives interspersed throughout the curriculum to enhance hands-on experience and networking with other leaders in nursing. Both degrees prepare graduates to be leaders in their fields, said Dr. Tim Smith, UM president. “The DNP program prepares students at the highest level, not only in their understanding of the clinical aspects, but also the systems that enable them to have a greater understanding of healthcare in general,” Smith said. “We want to develop leaders in the profession who will be sitting at the table with other hospital administrators, making decisions about the future of healthcare.” Rita Croom is dean of the College of Health Professions and assistant vice
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president for academic partnerships. She said the DNP is a terminal degree for nursing. Its addition means the university now provides a fully comprehensive education in the School of Nursing, from bachelor’s degree to doctorate. “We are here to prepare leaders at all levels. The addition of the Center for Excellence in Healthcare Practice and expanded degree options give alumni an excellent opportunity to come back to pick up their master’s or doctoral degrees,” she said. Dr. Maryann Kyle is chair of graduate programs and professor of voice and vocal pedagogy in the Alabama School of the Arts (ASOTA). She said ASOTA historically has trained some of the finest artists, and now can boast that they are training the next generation of teacher-performers. “Receiving quality training in cross-stylistic singing and teaching from world-class faculty, these future professors will go out into the world to mentor the next generation of great performers and educators,” Kyle said. Dr. Alan Miller, dean of the Alabama School of the Arts, said the DMA in vocal performance provides career enhancement at the highest level of academia. “At UM, the doctoral degree leads to ‘Higher Education for a Higher Purpose’ as one pursues academic excellence and the desire to model the image of Christ in a career path and daily living,” Miller said. McCaghren said these are just the first of many doctoral degrees UM will offer. “We see an opportunity to continue the mission of the university through these advanced degrees and be able to contribute to the larger national and international conversation occurring around these topics,” McCaghren said. Having a seat at the table gives UM graduates unique opportunities. “We want students to come out of these programs not only having head knowledge, but also heart knowledge, so they can change their profession for the good of humankind and for Kingdom impact,” McCaghren said.
New Degrees You could call it a growth spurt. Since Dr. Timothy L. Smith became president in April 2016, University of Mobile has added 23 bachelor’s degree programs, six master’s programs, and created the first two doctoral programs. In addition to those listed below, UM soon will seek accreditation approval for new programs in the School of Health and Sports Science and the School of Education. ABSN Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing BS in Applied Mathematics BA in Classics BS in Collaborative Special Education (K-6) BA or BS in Communication Studies BFA in Creative Writing BA or BS in Criminology BS in Digital Media and Advertising BS in Exercise Science BFA in Graphic Design BS in Higher Education Leadership and Practice BS in Integrated Marketing Communications BA or BS in Journalism and Broadcast Media BS in Management BS in Non-profit Leadership BS in Pre-Health Biology BA or BS in Public History BS in Software Development BA or BS in Strategic Communication BS in Sport Administration BFA in Studio Arts BA in Theatre BA in World Languages and Studies MA in Worship Leadership and Theology MED in Higher Education Leadership and Policy MM in Performance – Piano MM in Performance – Vocal Master of Ministry MSN-FNP (Master of Science in Nursing - Family Nurse Practitioner) DNP (Doctor of Nursing Practice) DMA in Performance - Vocal
Dr. Maryann Kyle (Photo by Dan Anderson) umobile.edu
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BUILDING A FOUNDATION Michelle Manley Thomason ’92 By Kathy Dean
28 TORCHLIGHT | Winter 2018
Her University of Mobile education gave Michelle Manley Thomason a good foundation – one that ultimately landed her a seat on the bench as the presiding district judge in Baldwin County, Alabama. Now the 1992 graduate is excited about reconnecting with her alma mater to serve on the first Board of Directors of the new University of Mobile Foundation.
With a decade in banking and a new business degree, Thomason was accepted to Tulane University Law School. She earned her Juris Doctor and was admitted to the Bar in 1995. She was a partner in the law firm of Pearson, Cummins & Hart and practiced civil defense litigation as well as family law for over 11 years before taking the bench.
“I love the direction the university is going with Dr. (Tim) Smith and the vision he has for the school and its place in the Mobile and Baldwin communities. I’m excited about being a part of that,” Thomason said.
Today, she finds that her business degree provides a unique foundation for many of the judicial decisions she makes, giving her a particular insight that is not often found on the bench.
After wrapping up eight years in statewide leadership roles on the executive board of the Alabama District Judges’ Association, Thomason had some extra hours available in her busy schedule. “I feel like I’m able to choose right now what I want to spend my volunteer time on,” she said. She didn’t have to look far to find a worthy cause. “The school really holds a meaningful place in our family’s lives,” she said. She was a non-traditional student, going to school full-time at night to earn a Bachelor of Science in business administration while working a full-time day job. At the same time, her stepson, Danny, was a student on campus. Both of her stepsons and her son are UM graduates, and all met their wives at UM. “I don’t know that I could have done it anywhere else, with the responsibility of being a parent and wife and working full time. The emphasis is so much on the student at University of Mobile, and the student’s success. Being able to meet and communicate well with my professors and faculty and staff at the university allowed me to fully succeed in a way I hadn’t before at a larger school,” she said.
Her business background comes into play when she must make decisions for families that are separating, a circumstance much like the dissolution of a business partnership. Both her business and judicial background will be an asset to the University of Mobile Foundation when it launches in January. “Our primary goal is to build a rock-solid financial base for future growth and projects of the university. We are focusing on growing the endowment so we can continue to grow the campus, programs and academic colleges,” she said. “There are already plans in the works for adding other graduate programs for the school, and all of that takes money to accomplish. The Board of Trustees needs to focus on other key decisions and not be bogged down on the financial part.” Are you interested in investing your time, talents or resources at University of Mobile? Contact the Office for Advancement at 251.442.2587 or advancement@umobile.edu to learn how you can get involved.
AB OUT T H E FOUN DAT ION
The University of Mobile Foundation is a support organization to benefit the educational and charitable purposes of the university. Its purpose is to support the mission and vision of UM while identifying and managing resources that will develop the capabilities of students and promote their physical, intellectual, spiritual and religious development and growth.
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EMPOWER By Rivers Brunson Photos by Dan Anderson
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Michele Rigby Assad is a powerhouse storyteller – but that’s how it goes when you’ve lived some powerful stories. Last spring, Julie Clow visited University of Mobile to speak at he Torch Society’s Spring Scholarship Banquet. The UM alumna, published author and head of global people development for CHANEL mentioned her brilliant sister who also had a book coming out. Two published authors from the same family and small town in Florida?
to trust God still. And it was knowing that God had brought her there that gave her the courage to fight to prove herself to her male colleagues on the field. She relayed a story of questioning a terrorist that all of her colleagues had been unable to crack, only to successfully turn him into an informant.
Fast forward to September 2018. Michele Rigby Assad arrived in Mobile, Alabama with a full week ahead of her. She would be speaking in chapel on Tuesday and Wednesday, appearing as a guest on UM’s podcast KNOWN, and give the keynote address at the Torch Society’s Fall Kick-Off Dinner. Having a book published is one of the few things that Assad has in common with her business-minded sister. Assad is an ex-CIA operative who served 10 years in the Middle East as a counterterrorism specialist — a far cry, though no less impressive, from her sister’s posh London office. Upon retirement from active service, Michele and her husband, Joseph (also a former agent), joined a group of Americans whose efforts resulted in the evacuation of a group of persecuted Christians from Iraq. The good deed was featured on ABC’s 20/20 in December 2015 and Assad’s book, Breaking Cover, was released in February 2018. Students heard a powerful message of God’s sovereignty and direction throughout Assad’s journey. In graduate school at Georgetown University, she had an overwhelming conviction that she should study Contemporary Arab Studies – becoming fluent in Arabic – with no real direction as to what she would do with that knowledge. However, she remained faithful to believe that God would direct her steps. When she got a call from the CIA, she decided
UNIVERSITY of MOBILE
ESTHER 4:14
Lighting the Way Through Scholarships
“Empowering” is what one student called her chapel message. She encouraged students to trust God when He told them something, especially when it came to their areas of study. Her message to donors and supporters of the Torch Society was inspirational. She told the stories of three young people whose lives were changed by scholarships. One was a young Egyptian Christian who, thanks to scholarships, was able to come to the United States and later return to the Middle East to rescue other persecuted Christians. Another was a young woman who married that young Egyptian Christian because she met him at a Christian college where she, too, was given scholarships. And last was a young woman who overcame the obstacle of a teen pregnancy, married, earned a scholarship to University of Mobile, and graduated in just three years. Those young people were Joseph Assad, Michele Rigby Assad, and Julie Clow, respectively.
Listen to Michele Rigby Assad on KNOWN, a podcast by University of Mobile at umobile.edu/podcast.
In The Torch Society’s first year, the service organization awarded seven scholarships to students across multiple areas of study and extracurricular involvement. The society will award more scholarships at the Spring Scholarship Dinner, featuring speaker and UM alumna Amanda Bible Williams. Learn more at umobile.edu/torchsocietyevents or call the Torch Society at 251.442.2587. Williams is co-founder and chief content officer of She Reads Truth. She is the co-author of Open Your Bible: God’s Word is for You and for Now and She Reads Truth: Holding Tight to Permanent in a World That’s Passing Away, and general editor of She Reads Truth Bible.
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RETRO SPE C T Drive on the University of Mobile campus, and the first building you see beyond the flagpoles is William K. Weaver Hall. If there is one place on campus that alumni of all generations would have memory of, this is it. Anyone who has taken a class on campus has walked these halls at some point. By Kathy Dean
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The first student assembly was held in Weaver Auditorium in the fall of 1963. The university was chartered in 1961 with Dr. William K. Weaver Jr. as president of what, in later years, he humorously described as “a college with no campus, no buildings, no faculty, no staff, no students – and no problems!”
During the 1970s, the college family held a Thanksgiving feast at dining tables that stretched the length of the first-floor main hall.
In the mid-1980s, the snack shop on the first floor of Weaver Hall was a central gathering place for students. Today, the south end of Weaver Hall includes Sub Zone deli, the Office for Advancement, and the Alabama College for Professional & Continuing Studies.
The turn of the century turned the page on a new look for Weaver Hall, with the addition of a pitched roof, cupola and a covered portico that expanded the lobby entrance.
With a $4.6 million renovation completed in October 2018, Weaver Hall’s second and third floors feature state-of-the-art classrooms and labs for the College of Health Professions and the College of Arts & Sciences-Department of Natural Sciences. The original 1960s-era “spaceship” lights across campus have been replaced by lampposts with speakers that play recordings from the university’s 8Eighty Records and Fisher-Brewer Recording Studio. umobile.edu
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REAL SUCCESS Chris Brazell ’02
By Jessica Sawyer
Football photos by Jeff Tesney Office photos by Heath Vester 34
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For Chris Brazell, Cottage Hill Christian Academy head football coach, success isn’t measured by wins, though his track record certainly shows them. With a playoff spot secured early in the 2018 season, regular rankings in the Top 10 and weekly awards for players, this 2002 University of Mobile graduate and former UM baseball player has helped the school start a new tradition of winning. Brazell wears multiple hats at Cottage Hill – athletic director, 14-year baseball coach and, this year, head football coach – but much like the examples set forth to him during his time at UM, success on the field isn’t Brazell’s ultimate goal as a coach. “I care so much about the grown man, the future husband, the future father more so than I do the student-athlete that I’m coaching now,” he said. “Wins and losses are great, but we gauge our success at CHCA on how many young men come back to be a part of our school. When kids stop coming back to be around our program, then we have failed. We want them to know we love them, that we’re invested in them, and that we care about them in the future rather than winning a ballgame on Friday night or a doubleheader on Saturday.” So much of his coaching and personal philosophies were molded during his time at UM and through the relationships formed there. A junior-year transfer to the baseball team from Enterprise State Community College, he had spent his life in public school. University of Mobile “was the first time that I had been involved in Christian education,” Brazell said. “Each and every day when I stepped foot on the campus of UM, you could actually feel the spirit and the presence of the Lord. As you were walking from class to class, everybody was so kind and friendly and they displayed the fruits of the spirit. That meant a lot to me at a time when I was growing as a young man and growing spiritually.” As he became more involved in campus life, Brazell began and deepened lifelong friendships with people he met along the way. “Everybody talks about a family atmosphere,” he said. “UM was truly a family atmosphere that has definitely lasted way longer than I could ever imagine. I didn’t have any idea the impact that it was going to make on my life.” One of those enduring friendships is with Head Baseball Coach Mike Jacobs, who coached the team to the World Series in 2001, Brazell’s senior year.
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“I think the school kind of grew on him in his two years,” Jacobs said. “Just being in the program helped mold his spiritual life and reinforced some of his thoughts and beliefs, I think, even from when he was younger. I think he became more aware of what God had in store for him and the position that He wanted him in and put him in once he left here.” Another strong influence in Brazell’s life, Jimmy Messer ’91 & ’98, is currently CHCA’s Head of School and served as an assistant basketball coach and director of student development at UM during Brazell’s time as a student. He views Brazell’s “all-in” mentality as an incredible asset for students. “Chris always wants to make sure that he’s pouring into those guys and he’s helping them not only become better people – he’s very interested in spiritually and their walk with Christ and that they are exposed to Jesus or have an opportunity to grow as Christians under his coaching,” Messer said. The bonds between Messer, Jacobs and Brazell are indicative of the continued support provided by the UM experience. For the university’s Project Serve in October, Jacobs took his players to CHCA to help set up for the school’s homecoming football game, a mission that’s part and parcel with each man’s desire to further the connection between UM graduates and students while also serving the community. It’s a nature of investment that Jacobs sees Brazell emulate in his life as a coach. “Any time you can see someone that’s put in your program become successful, it is a sense of accomplishment for me,” Jacobs said. “I’m enjoying watching Chris be an example for his kids and for what they go through each and every day. That lets me know that what we’re doing here at UM is still vital and still important. When we see people like Chris being successful, then we feel like we’re doing what we should be doing.” Brazell, a proud husband to Charlie Brooke and father to 2-year-old Chrislie-Anne, believes that when you’re content in the Lord, it makes every day a joy to wake up. “I know I’m doing what He’s called me to do,” Brazell said. “A lot of times we can’t imagine what God has in store for us – but He has so much in store for us, and the heart of the Lord makes the impossible possible.” To be able to do all of that with the people who made a difference at his time at UM is just an added bonus. “It’s awesome to be a Ram,” he said, “and it’s awesome to extend my time at UM and be able to lock arms with fellow Rams and continue to serve the Lord.”
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A LIFE OF SERVICE
Abbie George Maggio ’18
By Jessica Sawyer
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Photo by Christian Springer
Abbie George Maggio was focused on a life of service even before she arrived at University of Mobile – but her time at UM would prepare her for ministry as an accomplished singer, songwriter and worship leader. The 2018 Annie Boyd Parker Weaver Excellence Award winner, Maggio grew up in a family of ministry in Louisiana. “From a very young age, I loved the church, loved ministry and loved being a child of God,” Maggio said. So much so that in 2009, the summer before her freshman year of high school, she surrendered to full-time ministry. “I knew God was calling me to leverage my entire life and all of my skills and abilities to ministry,” she said. “I believe God was clear in that moment and gave me insight.” University of Mobile was always on her radar for college, and an audition for the music department during her junior year of high school sealed her fate as a student. “I knew I was on the edge of something, but little did I know I was walking into a room filled with people who would impact my ministry not just at UM, but also for a lifetime,” she said. “I walked into the audition and everything changed – I was in a room full of people who would literally change my life. On stage were the guys I would end up traveling with, not just with Impact, but beyond. They became my best friends.” When Maggio founded Lion Chapel, a traveling worship ministry, they became her ministry partners. Her involvement at the university included Impact, University Ministries, True Spin and Chapel, but it also included recording songs with the university’s 8Eighty Records while earning acclaim as a songwriter. Her original song, “Rising on the Wind,” was chosen by one of the leading publishers of Christian church music as the title track of the 2018 Prism Music choir book. All of her experiences prepared her for her current position as worship leader at Redemption Church. “I came to UM and got to step into my calling,” she said.
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Courtney Cassady Moore ’02 • Mary Carlisle Wiley ’09
By Martha Simmons
40 TORCHLIGHT | Winter 2018
It’s an internal debate with which many women of faith struggle: Am I serving God best by working in a job in the secular world, or should I be staying at home to take care of my family?
husband and staying home with my children was the right and best way for me to be a godly woman. I pridefully projected this belief onto all women until I began to realize my service to the Lord and to the world could be much broader than I previously thought. “I began to pray and look for ways to use both my undergraduate and graduate degree as a way to serve God and steward my mind and education. Writing became a joy-filled endeavor, and God used this joy and satisfaction in my work to show me how good work outside the home can be,” Moore said. She recognized that many women don’t have the option of not working outside the home. They may be single mothers, single women with no children, or married with heavy financial burdens. Earning a paycheck is essential to their livelihood.
Childhood friends and University of Mobile graduates Courtney Cassady Moore and Mary Carlisle Wiley are tackling that quandary through their Women & Work ministry, which employs panel discussions, speaking engagements, blog posts and podcasts to start a conversation about how working women can learn to view their work as meaningful to the Kingdom of God.
“A desire grew within me to want to equip them with a more God-centered vision for work,” she said, “rather than have them go about it as a chore or drudgery.” A self-proclaimed night-owl, Moore works on the ministry and her part-time contract writing after the kids are in bed or when they are in school, napping or in childcare.
Moore and Wiley launched Women & Work with a panel discussion at the June 2018 Southern Baptist Convention in Dallas. (For more information, check out their website at womenwork.net.) Moore earned her Bachelor of Arts in religion from UM in 2002 and later earned a Master of Arts in biblical counseling from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary; Wiley received a Bachelor of Arts in English and theology in 2009.
Wrestlings of the Heart Moore, a contract writer whose clients include LifeWay Christian Resources, lives in Brandon, Mississippi with her pastor husband and three small children. She conceived of Women & Work when she was struggling with her own conflicts about working outside the home. “Women & Work began primarily as the outworking of the wrestlings of my own heart,” Moore said. “Ironically, I never intended to work outside the home. Though I felt called to ministry as a high school student, my vision for how I could serve the Kingdom of God as a woman was narrow. Over time I began to believe that supporting my minister
Wiley, who lives in Nashville with her husband and two small children, is the marketing strategist for women’s books at LifeWay Christian Resources, hosts a “Questions Kids Ask” podcast, and is pursuing a master’s in theological studies at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. “Courtney does most of the day-to-day work,” Wiley said of Women & Work, “but I’m so thankful to be able to use what I learn daily at work or in other endeavors to pour back into other women. A. Courtney Moore & family (Photo by Rachael Boyer) B. Mary Wiley & family (Photo by Devin Maddox)
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A Framework to Honor God University of Mobile is intertwined with not only their history, but also their present and future. “I use what I learned at UM daily as I seek to write and edit content that rightly illustrates concepts presented in Scripture,” Wiley said. “I do a lot of writing as a part of my job, and also outside of work, so I put that English degree to good work as well.” Both Moore and Wiley say they enrolled in UM to answer their individual calls to the ministry, but they contend that a Christ-centered education helps students from all walks of life.
I have been the sounding board and have helped with marketing, since my background is marketing women’s books. We’ve each written for Women & Work, and many other women will be joining the ranks in that role soon.”
Making Connections Hannah Attaway, another childhood friend, recently joined the Women & Work team. A certified personal trainer, Christian writer, ministry wife, and mother of three children, Attaway attended UM for two years, moving away when she married in order for her husband to attend seminary and enter the ministry. They’ve recently returned to Alabama for her husband to pastor a church in Bessemer, while she pursues her own theological education.
“I chose to attend the university because I wanted a Christ-centered education and like-minded Christian friends,” Moore said. “These friends were massively important to my walk with God, and they help set the foundation for my theology today. “A Christ-centered university is important not only because some students are preparing for ministry, but also because all students are preparing for ministry, no matter the field in which they end up working,” “Just as the vision for Women & Work seeks to expand the Kingdom of God through productivity in the workplace,” Moore added, “offering students a Christ-centered worldview and education provides them with the framework they need to honor God out in the world through their future vocations.”
Moore, Wiley and Attaway share more than their desire to serve working women of faith. They also have a shared history, growing up in the same town and attending First Baptist Church of Tallassee, which is pastored by Attaway’s father, Derek Gentle. “Everybody knows everybody in a small town,” Moore said. “That is definitely true of Tallassee, Alabama. Though I was a few years ahead of them in school, Hannah, Mary and I always shared a love for the Lord and all things ministry-related.” Even though the three friends attended UM at different times, they eventually reconnected to join forces in the Women & Work ministry. A. Mary Wiley | B. Courtney Moore
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Photo by Maria Estes
“A Christ-centered university is important … because all students are preparing for ministry, no matter the field in which they end up working.” -Courtney Cassady Moore ’02 umobile.edu
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A PLACE TO GROW Michael Casey ’12 By Valerie Cockrell
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University of Mobile prepares students for the real world. For Michael Casey ’12, that means a world filled with travel, from Los Angeles to New York to Paris. Casey is sales manager for L-Acoustics, the main audio system used this year in Christmas Spectacular. He sells products to performing arts centers, churches, and integration and rental companies. Each day, he uses the communication skills he learned from UM instructors and leaders to interact with customers and potential clients. Casey was back on UM’s campus in October for the dedication of a new mixing and visualization lab in Martin Hall that allows students to work on the latest high-tech equipment. He said it was like visiting family: “...you may be gone for a while, but you pick right back up where you left off.” “UM is a place for you to grow, and it gives you opportunities to learn how to live well,” Casey said, words that have certainly proven true when looking at his life today. As a student in the Alabama School of the Arts, Casey participated in Christmas Spectacular and traveled with Voices of Mobile and Ignite, formerly known as Impact, where he mixed audio and gained hands-on experience. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science in worship leadership. He remembers college with fondness: riding his mountain bike around campus with friends and eating buffalo chicken wraps in the dining hall. One professor was a tremendous influence. Dr. Steve Bowersox, chair of the Department of Worship Leadership and Technology, taught Casey the value of persistence, time management and attention to detail. More importantly, Bowersox taught life lessons by showing compassion toward others. “He always encouraged me to take care of my relationship with God and my family first, rather than get too focused on my work,” Casey said. He and his wife, Tiffani Tallent ’11, met when she was singing soprano for Voices. They will welcome their first child in December.
Photos by Katie West
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The Resolution Dana Watson ’00 By Rivers Brunson
Dana Watson is the chief operating officer for the South Alabama division of Alabama Baptist Children’s Homes, holds three master’s degrees, and in pursuit of a doctorate in organizational leadership. But before the University of Mobile alumnus achieved all of this, he was first a resident of the Children’s Home himself. He relayed his life story recently to RamLegacy, a support organization for first-generation-to-college students at University of Mobile. “I remember waking up to watch cartoons on a Saturday, hungry. All I found was a bag of cornmeal. I made a patty, cooked it and put ketchup on it. And that was all I had to eat that day,” he explained. When he came to the Children’s Home, he was given three meals a day, a family environment, and most importantly, his faith. Eight years later, he chose University of Mobile for college. He graduated in 2000 with a Bachelor of Science in sociology with a minor in religion.
“I just loved that the culture of UM was centered on Christ,” But his story of growth did not end with believing in God and attending a Christ-centered university. As a student, he had a realization. “I was not a person of integrity,” Watson revealed. “When I said I was going to be somewhere, I didn’t show up. If I said I was going to do something, I didn’t do it. And I began to get a reputation. “So I sat down one day and wrote down all of the things I was realizing about myself that I didn’t like. I wrote, ‘From this day forward, I will be a man of integrity.’ And then I made a list of all the things I wanted to do differently. “After that, everything changed.”
Photo by Heath Vester
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The coffee-stained paper is still in his desk drawer today. He keeps it, he says, as a reminder of the day he realized that who he was becoming was who he would be. It reminds him of the resolution he made at University of Mobile – which now impacts hundreds of families through his work with the Alabama Baptist Children’s Homes.
David & Barbara Green
UNIVERSITY OF MOBILE
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THANK YOU! Thank you for being a part of the exciting new growth we are experiencing at University of Mobile. Your support continues to provide opportunities to increase and enhance our academic programs, design innovative and effective ways to educate the next generation, and prepare our students with the skills and character our world needs. With the end of the year approaching, we respectfully ask you to consider making a gift to University of Mobile. Your support is one of the most significant ways our current and future students receive a higher education with a biblical worldview that provides both intellectual development and spiritual formation, setting them apart for a Kingdom-purposed future.
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Building for a Kingdom Impact For over 50 years, University of Mobile has existed to provide Higher Education for a Higher Purpose. You have laid a firm foundation to position UM to continue pressing forward to enhance our academic programs, design innovative and effective ways to educate the next generation, and prepare our students with the skills and character our world needs. After cutting the ribbon on the newly renovated Weaver Hall, establishing the Good Work agency, and launching our first doctoral degrees, University of Mobile continues to set its focus on building future leaders to pursue their Great Commission calling. This can only be achieved through the generous support of our alumni, friends and parents of students. As you reflect on your journey with UM, we respectfully ask you to consider a financial year-end gift to continue expanding University of Mobile’s Kingdom impact. We invite you to come experience the growth and take pride in the impact you have made at University of Mobile. To schedule a visit to campus, contact alumni@umobile.edu or call the Office for Advancement at 251.442.2587. To make a gift, contact advancement@umobile.edu or give online via our secure website at giving. umobile.edu.
Kim Garrett Director of Annual Giving
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CLASS NOTES 70s
Elizabeth Frazer Keyser ’79 (Art, Education) is a self-employed voice-over actor, nature photographer and artist. She resides in Littleton, CO. Elizabeth Munger Walker ’79 (Music) has been married to Robert Walker for 32 years and they have three children. She has worked 25 years with the Department of Human Resources, and as an occasional church choir and music leader.
80s
Vita Clarke ’83 (Nursing/Biology) attended Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and now lives in Bayou La Batre, AL. She has two grandchildren and works as a camp nurse in New York and North Carolina. She recently participated in two mission trips to Guatemala and a mission building trip to Sikeston, MO. Benjamin Hayes ’84 (Psychology/Sociology) currently serves as senior pastor of FBC Dadeville.
90s
Jan Koh Scoper ’93 (Early Childhood/Elem Education) is a stay-at-home mom and her husband Travis Scoper ’97 (Enviornmental Management) works in Chemical Sales at Chemtreat. They have three children ages 23, 18 and 15 and reside in Saraland, AL. Lynne Pearson ’93 (Nursing) was named chief operations officer at FirstLight Home Care of Mobile and the Eastern Shore in Fairhope, AL. Robert Harvey ’93 (Mathematics/Civil Engineering) is sr. structural engineer manager at Thompson Engineering where he has worked for over 25 years. In his roles he has worked on many buildings in downtown Mobile including the Van Antwerp Building, Battle House garage, RSA Tower, Cooper Riverside Park, Maritime Museum and Mobile Cruise Terminal. In 2017 he was awarded “Civil Engineer of the Year” by the Mobile Area Council of Engineers. He also serves as minister of music and College Minister at Pine Grove Baptist Church in Bay Minette, AL. He is married to Jenni Harvey 95’ (Elementary Education) ’03 (Nursing). She serves as a registered nurse at Diagnostic Medical Clinic and has been employed with Infirmary Health Systems since 2003. She leads the children’s choir at Pine Grove Baptist Church in Bay Minette, AL. They have been married for 26 years and have four children: Josh, Mindy, Luke and Chase. Jennifer Wasson ’94 (Marketing) is the director for athletics at St. Mary Academy Bay View in Rhode Island. After a 21-year career in Div. 1 college coaching and administration, she has embarked on a new career mentoring, coaching and overseeing high school sports.
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David Valentine ’97 (Vocal Performance/Theatre) received his Actor’s Equity card after graduation and moved to Orlando to do his first professional show, and did some work for Disney as well as some studio recordings. While in Orlando, he got his first cruise ship contract for Cunard as a lead male singer. He did cruise ships off and on for 15 years, working for Royal Caribbean, Holland America Line, Renaissance and Carnival. He is currently teaching private voice and is a vocal coach and musical director for various high schools throughout the Tampa Bay area. Aileen Garcia ’99 (Marketing) earned a scholarship from INCAE in Alajuela, a Women’s entrepreneurship program, and was chosen by Mastercard from 2,600 women entrepreneurs in central America as the top 40 best women entrepreneurs and leaders. She began a start-up specialty coffee plantation and is the marketing manager for Cafe del Sur in Nicaragua. Kenneth Norman ’00 (Religion) is senior pastor of Bush Memorial Baptist Church in Troy, AL. He received a Doctor of Ministry degree in May 2017 from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. He is married to Amanda Norman ‘00 (Business Management) and they have four children. Tracy Duck Turner ’00 (Religion) serves as a teacher at Central Christian School. Meghan Dove ’08 (History) has recently been named corporate brand specialist at Intelex Technologies in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Gimel Lewis ’08 (Accounting) started a new position as inventory control coordinator at Ansa Coatings Limited. Leah Kathryn Mills Venable ‘08 (Worship Leadership) is married to Jonathan Mills. She works as a mortgage loan coordinator for Renasant Bank. Their first child, Joanna Leigh Venable, was born on November 17, 2016. James Fisher ’11 (Athletic Training) obtained a Master of Science in kinesiology from the University of Texas at Tyler. He and Lauren Holloway married in July of 2013 and welcomed their son, James Harrison Fisher, in June of 2017. After a six-year career as a clinical certified athletic trainer at The Orthopaedic Group in Mobile, James has begun the physician assistant studies program at The University of South Alabama.
Tekia Rocker ’11 (Biology) was named campus dean at Remington College - Mobile Campus. Katherine Looney Sparks ’12 (Social Science/ Education) is married to Matthew Sparks ’11 (History). She is a teacher for Thomasville City Schools and he is the parks and recreation director for the city of Thomasville, AL. Epsie Long ’12 (Business Administration) started at new position as case administration at U.S. Bankruptcy Court. Anna Williams ’12 (History) is the assistant director for Youth Advocate Programs and lives in Albertville, AL. Carly McCulloch ’13 (Intercultural Studies) married James McCulloch ’10 (Athletic Training) on July 24, 2016. She serves as an administrative assistant at Prism Systems Inc., and James serves as athletic trainer for St. Paul’s Episcopal School under Bob Fleming Rehab and Sports Medicine. They welcomed a baby girl, Eloise Virginia McCulloch, on April 3, 2017. Matthew Jordan ’15 (Theology) has been named director of youth ministries at Enterprise First United Methodist. Leslie Ann Godwin Middleton ’15 (Music Education) married Broox Middleton in 2016. She is an elementary music teacher in the Pascagoula-Gautier School District. They live in Mobile and are actively involved in music ministry at First Baptist Tillman’s Corner. Laura Vinzant ’15 (Intercultural Studies) recently accepted a job through Council for International Education Exchange as a middle school social studies teacher at Sanguan Ying School in Suphan Buri, Thailand. Tinsley Griffin (’06, Political Science) is the first woman ever to pursue the joint JD/PhD program at the University of Alabama. She will earn her law degree in May 2019, and then continue to pursue her doctorate in the Department of Political Science. Tinsley was the recipient of UM’s Annie Boyd Parker Weaver Award in 2016. David Haney ’16 (Sociology) is the public address announcer/promotions coordinator/public relations assistant for the Mobile BayBears baseball team and hopes to one day be a part of a Major League Baseball club.
Marcio Murakami ’16 (Business Administration) has been named business Intelligence lead at Grupo Ideal Trends in Sao Paulo, Brazil. He previously served as a financial analyst at Siemens in Charlotte, NC. Steven Goff ’17 (Political Science) was named vice president of Student Veterans of America at Columbia Southern University in Orange Beach, AL. Sydnee Eckberg Andrews ’18 (Elementary Education) resides in Mobile with her husband Troy Andrews ’17 (Finance Management). Sydnee is a 3rd grade teacher with Chickasaw City Schools and Troy is a car salesman with Joe Bullard Automotive.
BIRTHS Rachel (Lasher) Bruley ’08 (Elementary Education) and Nathan Bruley ’07 (Business Management) had a baby boy, August Brian Bruley, born on Aug. 24, 2017. Patrick Weaver ’12 (Theology) is married to Leah. They welcomed their first son, Gideon, on March 15, 2018. He is the minister of youth and pastoral care at Metairie Baptist Church in Metairie, LA, and is working on his PhD at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. Whitney McMurtrey Whitacre ’13 (Communication) is married to Matthew Whitacre ’13 (History); their daughter, Georgia May Rose Whitacre, was born on July 17, 2017. Whitney is a stay-at-home mom and Matthew received a Bachelor of Science in biomedical science from Auburn University in 2017. He is currently enrolled in the biomedical science graduate program at Troy Montgomery, and works as a pest control Technician for Knox Pest Control. They live in Millbrook, AL.
WEDDINGS Miles McAuley ’10 (Music) married Meredyth Greening on June 16, 2018. They reside in Birmingham, AL. Debby Faught Cullum ’12 (Communication) married Richard Cullum on April 28, 2018. They reside in Auburn, AL. Matthew Jordan ’15 (Theology) married Mary Evelyn Owens on June 16, 2018. They reside in Enterprise, AL.
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