2010s
Nicole Cornish, BA ’10, dean of Early College High School in the Athens [TX] ISD, has coached eight state champions and many more state qualifiers in speech and debate. Her proposed policy debate topic on immigration was selected by the National Federation of State High School Associations as the 2018-2019 policy-debate topic throughout the country.
Becca Johnson-Spinos, MFA ’10, artistic director of Outcry Youth Theatre in Plano, TX, will direct Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic adventure, “Treasure Island.” Becca and her husband Jason Johnson-Spinos, a film and theatre artist and educator, founded Outcry Theatre in 2012 with the mission to draw young adults to theatre.
Mari Low, BA ’10, JD ’12, launched Poppy and Bear, a company named after the state flower and the state animal of California. The online shop sells gift boxes with California products. Learn more at poppyandbear.com.
Capt. Clancy Morrical, BSEd ’10, became the first-ever female F-16 Weapons Instructor Course pilot in December. She graduated from the U.S. Air Force Weapons School (USAFWS) 16th Weapons Squadron Class 17B. Morrical is a 480th Fighter Squadron instructor pilot assigned to Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany.
The USAFWS school produces doctorate-level tactical experts and leaders for the joint force, requiring students to demonstrate dedication and perseverance throughout a rigorous six-month course.
Morrical’s decision to attend the USAFWS was grounded in her passion for education and her parents’ military service with the U.S. Army. With a bachelor’s degree in education, she chose to become an instructor pilot with the U.S. Air Force rather than teach in the private sector. Attending weapons school was the next logical step in honing her teaching skills as well as an opportunity to integrate with other squadrons and platforms.
The weapons school’s pace challenges students to manage their time wisely and learn quickly from the instructors’ constructive feedback, which focuses on areas for improvement. This allows students to stay on track with the course’s dynamic timeline of complex missions.
John Calaway, MDiv ’11, was named executive director of Mission Waco, succeeding his former Truett Seminary professor, Jimmy Dorrell, BA ’72, MES ’93. Mission Waco operates programs under the names Manna House, My Brother’s Keeper, The Meyer Center, Jubilee Theater and Urban Expressions, among others. Approximately 24,000 people have participated in Mission Waco’s “poverty simulation.” Mission Waco organizes trips to Haiti, Mexico and India. Calaway leads the organization with 70 employees, an estimated 125 weekly volunteers, and an annual budget of $3.5 million.
Rachel Cobb, BA ’11, and Simon Müller were married Nov. 25, 2017, in Hüttenberg, Germany. They met in August 2015 when Rachel stayed in his parents’ home while on tour with Eurobrass. Rachel works as an assistant in customer relations works with Smart Up Healthcare. Simon is an attorney. They reside in Hüttenberg.
Gregory Kerr, JD ’11, of Weslaco, TX, was re-elected to a three-year term on Weslaco’s City Commission. His family is also welcoming their fourth child in 2018.
Melissa Bohls, BSEd ’12, and Eric Metcalf-Doetsch, BS ’12, were married Oct. 7, 2017, surrounded by friends, family and many Baylor Bears at Houston Oaks Country Club. The two met in Houston after graduating from Baylor, only later to find out they had both worked on the same Homecoming float a few years earlier. They were engaged during Homecoming 2016 at Burleson Quadrangle before the parade.
Grant Gibson, JD ’13, joined Burdett, Morgan, Williamson & Boykin LLP as a partner, at the firm’s Happy [TX] State Bank location. His concentration is in civil litigation.
Natalie Fletcher, BA ’14, director of innovation for the Dallas Regional Chamber, connects North Texas corporations, entrepreneurs, investors and educators with the goal of catalyzing innovation across the region. She was recently featured in D CEO Magazine.
Geoff Heppes, BA ’16, was named sports editor of The Paris News in Paris, TX. He worked as a sports writer for the newspaper for the previous 10 months.
Zachary Ledford, MBA ’16, a former Army field-artillery officer, works with SpaceX’s human resources data and automation team in McGregor, TX. He was recruited via LinkedIn while earning his MBA at Baylor. His grandfather worked at California’s Vandenberg AFB, where SpaceX now launches some of its rockets.
Cole Moore, BS ’16, and Ashlyn Foster, BSEd ’16, were married Jan. 6. They reside in Irving, TX. Cole writes, “To all our Baylor friends: yes, you called it! We finally tied the knot and celebrated with many of you. Thanks for being there throughout our four years! To Ashlyn: I love you immensely and look forward to our adventures together!”
Emmanuel Roldan, MDiv ’16, pastor of Primera Iglesia Bautista in Waco, introduced the church to liturgical practices that have helped the congregation diversify and expand its reach in the community. Roldan and his congregation recently were covered in the Baptist Standard.
After a year and a half working as a capital markets analyst with Santander Bank in Dallas, Steven Sakara, BBA ’16, accepted a position with MUFG Bank in New York City as an investment banking analyst in securitized products.
Lee Shaw, BA’17, was hired by Pavlov as a copywriter, developing creative ideas and composing copy for newsletters, print ads, radio and television spots and content for digital search campaigns. He interned with Pavlov twice, was a project lead for Baylor’s professional writing and rhetoric major, interned for The Voices in Our Heads blog and was a senior editor for MXDWN.
Christian S. Dickinson, PhD ’18, was hired as an assistant professor of English at the Baptist College of Florida (BCF) in Graceville. He holds degrees from the University of North Florida and Florida State University. His research interests center on the Victorian novel and the Victorian Era’s sectarian religious conflicts and “crisis of faith.”