2010s
Havana Baptist Theological Seminary provided assistance to storm survivors after a tornado caused destruction in a densely populated section of Havana. The assistance was thanks in large part to ministry spearheaded by the Waco families of Peter Dyson, BBA ’10, and Dr. L.M. Dyson, BBA ’71, MSEco, ’72, a retired Baylor business professor. The story was covered March 14 by the Baptist Standard.
Dionne B. Jackson, EdD ’10, is executive director of AR Kids Read, an organization that recruits and trains volunteers to help children improve reading skills. Jackson has been with Hendrix College in Conway, AR, since 2010, most recently serving as vice president for diversity and inclusion, as well as associate professor of education.
Susan Kincannon, EdD ’10, superintendent of Belton [TX] ISD, was honored as a Distinguished Baylor Woman in February during the 25th annual Baylor Women’s Scholarship Brunch in Temple. The event raises money for the Central Texas Endowed Scholarship for local Baylor students. Kincannon has spent 29 years as a public educator and has had a significant influence on the community. She and her husband Keith have lived in the Temple-Belton area since 1988. Their daughter Kale is a Baylor sophomore.
Alicia Myers, PhD ’10, received the 2019 D. P. Russ Jr. and Walter Jones Sr. Alumni Award for Research Excellence at Campbell University in North Carolina. She is associate professor of New Testament and Greek at Campbell University’s Divinity School. Myers authored Blessed Among Women: Mothers and Motherhood in the New Testament (Oxford UP, 2017). Her current book project is a commentary on the Gospel and Letters of John for the Reading the New Testament Series (Smyth & Helwys).
Dr. Amy Poerschke, BSEd ’10, principal of Durham Elementary School in Houston ISD, is Houston ISD’s Elementary School Principal of the Year. She was surprised by the announcement Feb. 27 in front of more than 600 of her students. Poerschke holds a master’s degree in educational leadership from the University of St. Thomas and a doctorate from the University of Houston. She served two years as a Teach for America Corps member.
Ronnie Turner Jr., JD ’10, a trial lawyer with Texas-based Provost Umphrey Law Firm, was named to the 2019 Texas Rising Stars list of top young attorneys for the fifth year. Turner also earned recognition in The Best Lawyers in America.
Lynn Wallace, BSN ’10, of Victoria, TX, authored The Heart of Everything while working part-time as a nurse. The book is about a woman’s awakening of her true self and her dealings with mystical forces.
Brig. Gen. Shan K. Bagby, MHA ’11, is chief of the U.S. Army Dental Corps and its first African American Army dental officer to be promoted to brigadier general. He has taught oral surgery at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, served in fellowships for reconstructive surgery in Houston and worked at Brooke Army Medical Center, the Army’s level-one trauma center in San Antonio. He also was commander of eight dental facilities in northern Iraq for two years before climbing the ranks in strategic leadership positions.
Ekpe Udoh, BSEd ’11, Edmond, OK, native and Utah Jazz center, was in Oklahoma City (OKC) in February to announce a partnership between Oklahoma State University (OSU) and his Edmond-based hydroponic farming company, LGR Farms. Udoh started the business in July 2018 with the hope of increasing awareness of healthy food options for OKC-area schoolchildren, while also producing enough food to supply local schools. As part of the partnership, OSU-OKC will host an LGR Farms hydroponic shipping container inside the OSU-OKC Farmers Market pavilion. Udoh’s company sells its produce from its headquarters in Edmond and at local markets. More at lgrok.com.
Hunt Whitten, BSEd ’11, of Houston is founder and CEO of Metis Tactical, which focuses on creating personalized exercise regimens for first responders to prevent job-
related injuries. Whitten is a firefighter, health and safety officer, and emergency medical technician (EMT) with the Ponderosa Fire Department. Previously, he was an outreach athletic trainer for Memorial Hermann Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation. He was featured in an April edition of the Houston Chronicle.
Dustin F. Williams, BBA ’12, of Nashville, TN, joined Vanderbilt University Medical Center as senior director of development for children’s health. He will also develop the grateful patient and family fundraising program for the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt. Williams holds the certified fundraising executive credential.
Logan Allison, BSEd ’13, a custom hat maker, won the Fashion Group Institute Rising Star Award in March. Contact @TheHeartHatter or thehearthatter.com.
Katie Martin, BA ’13, leads digital media services as digital account manager for A. Larry Ross Communications, a Dallas-based public relations agency. Martin joined A. Larry Ross Communication in 2013 as an account executive.
Jenifer Fallon Pfanzelt, JD ’14, joined the insurance defense practice of Taylor English Duma LLP in Atlanta. She also actively engages in pro bono activity with the Truancy Intervention Project and the Georgia Bar High School Mock Trial programs.
Nick Rodriguez, BS ’14, of McAllen, TX, will be the first graduate of a dual-degree program offered by UTHealth School of Dentistry and the School of Public Health. He has served in a number of leadership roles, including president-elect of the American Association for Dental Research’s National Student Research Group, president of the Hispanic Student Dental Association, and student trustee for the Hispanic Dental Association. He was named an Albert Schweitzer Fellow in 2018. Rodriguez plans to enter a pediatric dentistry residency at Harvard School of Dental Medicine/Boston Children’s Hospital. Contact at nickrodriguez114@gmail.com.
Brandi Spurlock, BS ’14, took part in a white coat ceremony as she begins her first year of medical school for health professions at the University of Texas Health and Science Center at San Antonio.
Kellie Hooker, BSEd ’15, and Aaron Harder, BA ’15, were married Jan. 20. After being friends throughout college, their love story began last year. Kellie teaches kindergarten in Garland [TX] ISD, and Aaron works for a recruiting company in Plano, TX.
Barrett Pollard, EdD ’15, was named superintendent of Gatesville [TX] ISD. He had been acting superintendent since January after serving nearly three years as assistant superintendent of academics.
Franky Burciaga, BBA ’16, and Alfonso Masso, BBA ’16, of Austin were awarded Franchisee of the Year by franchisor Restoration 1,
one of the fastest-growing restoration franchises in North America. They accepted the award at the annual convention in Las Vegas.
Ryan Sinclair, JD ’16, was appointed district attorney for the 355th Judicial District in Hood County by Gov. Greg Abbott. He previously served as first assistant district attorney for the 355th Judicial District Attorney’s Office in Hood County and has worked for district attorney offices in Texas’ Ellis and Limestone counties.
Justin Joy, BS ’17, received a master’s degree in industrial and organizational psychology from the University of Houston-Clear Lake. He moved to San Antonio to work as a change management analyst with Accenture Federal Services. Contact at justin.joy2013@gmail.com.
Entrepreneur Noelle Randall, MBA ’17, of Dallas is founder and president of FDR Horizon Enterprises, which has created top-selling brands, including her signature product, Tea More Skinny. Randall also is co-founder of Bella J Hair, a premiere hair extension brand and international hair and wig distributor. She hopes to empower more women to join the growing field of real estate investing.
Christopher Qualls, MSW ’17, of Waco has written his first book, Body and Soul: 30 Day Devotional for Spiritual Growth and Fitness.
Heather Trotter, BA ’17, was named press secretary for the Tennessee Republican Party. She previously worked in the music business as publicity manager and director of publicity for 117 Entertainment Group, where she worked on campaigns for country music stars such as Mickey Gilley, Jerry Lee Lewis and Randy Travis.
Aaron Brown, MFA ’18, temporary full-time lecturer in theatre arts in Baylor’s College of Arts and Sciences, directed WaterTower Theatre’s special limited-
engagement run of Stephen Schwartz’s musical Godspell. Brown previously served as assistant director for the WaterTower Theatre’s world premiere production of Regina Taylor’s Bread.
Jeffrey Cavanaugh, BA ’18, and Ashley Kasbohm, BBA ’19, celebrated their marriage March 11 at The Chandelier of Gruene in New Braunfels, TX. Jeffrey is a second lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force, training to be an RPA Pilot. Ashley is pursuing a Master of Accountancy and certified public accountant (CPA) accreditation.
Bianca Hill, BA ’18, was honored for her selection as a Transfer Student Ambassador at the 17th annual National Institute of the Study of Transfer Students (NISTS) in Atlanta. Transfer Student Ambassadors are selected to recognize students who embody the heart of transfer work.
Lauren O’Connell, BA ’18, made it to the finale of CBS’s Survivor. She earned her degree in medical humanities at Baylor, where she was a member of the soccer team and Pi Beta Phi.