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: president’s letter

This fall also made our hearts heavy with the loss of many outstanding faculty, staff, alumni and friends. Among these were Dr. Frank Romano and Coach Gary Deboy. Please keep the families and friends of all those listed in your thoughts and prayers. As always, I hope you enjoy this issue and that you and your family have a happy and safe holiday season! I look forward to seeing you on campus in 2013.

Sincerely,

William A. Meehan, Ed.D.President

Dear alumni & frienDs,

The holidays are upon us once again and we have a lot to be thankful for here at Jacksonville State University. As we take a break at the end of this month to spend time with our family and friends, we look forward to the upcoming year and great things to come in 2013 for the university. We will welcome approximately 745 new graduates to our alumni family this month. This fall class brings our total new alumni to almost 1,700 for the year! You will be proud to read about the growth and success that we have experienced at JSU this fall. In this on-line edition of the GEM, you will be introduced to the university’s three new trustees and read articles about how our students are being rewarded through the JaXspots program, about the new addition to our University Police Department and how we continue to be a leader in the field of cyber security. By bringing inspiring individuals to campus like Doc Henley, we continue to instill in our students the need for service to others. With more scholarship money available than ever before, our average incoming freshman ACT score this fall was 22.3, up from 19 in 2009. As you read these stories and others in this magazine, you will understand why we excited about the opportunities and continued growth that 2013 will bring.

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Gem OF

THE

HIL

LS

JSU PreSidentWilliam A. Meehan, Ed.D. ’72/’76

ViCe PreSident FOr UniVerSity AdVAnCeMentDr. Charles Lewis

direCtOr OF ALUMni reLAtiOnSAnd editOrKaci Ogle ’95/’04

COOrdinAtOr OF PUBLiCAtiOnSMary Smith ’93

GrAPhiC deSiGnMorgan Christopher ’10

StAFF writerSPatty HobbsAngie FinleyJulie SkinnerEmil LoekenHeather Greene

PhOtOGrAPherSteve LathamMatt Reynolds

COPy editOrBill Hubbard

ALUMni ASSOCiAtiOn exeCUtiVe OFFiCerS:

David Hammett ’73/’81/’94PreSident

Emily Bonds ’87PASt PreSident

Darren Douthitt ’88/’97/’00ViCe PreSident

Chris Reynolds ’85treASUrer

Nancy TurnerreCOrdinG SeCretAry

Kaci Ogle ’95/’04exeCUtiVe direCtOr

Alan Renfroe ’88/’07ASSiStAnt direCtOr

Gem of the Hills is published by the Division of University Advancement: 700 Pelham Road North, Jacksonville, Alabama 36265 © 2012 Jacksonville State University

phone: (256) 782-5404 or 877-JSU-ALUMfax: (256) 782-5502email: alumni@jsu.eduweb: jsu.edu/alumni

437-12 University Publications 12/12JSU is an equal opportunity/affirmative action institution and does not discriminate based on age, religion, race, color, sex, veteran’s status, national origin, or disability. Pursuant to Section 504 of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Director of Government Relations, 101 Bibb Graves Hall, phone 256.782.5278 is the coordinator for Sec. 504/ADA.

DOC HENDLEY VISITS JSU: CNN Hero and Wine to Water Founder

4

MEET JSU’S NEW: Board of Trustees Members

20JSU SCHOLARSHIPS PROVE SUCCESSFUL26COVER: CYBER SECURITYDr. Guillermo Francia & JSU Continue to Lead

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DeParTmenTs

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with alumni

alumnotes36

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news

doc hendley visits jsuCNN Hero aNd WiNe to Water FouNder

various service opportunities that focus on both global citizenship and service. The 2012 Summer Reading Program and related activities will allow students and faculty to partner with organizations and join in activities where they can serve their university, community and ultimately, the world.

the immense power of relationships to transcend perceived barriers and proves the power of one to transform the impossible into the inevitable. After the program, Doc signed copies of his books, which were available for purchase at the event. The goals of Jacksonville State University’s Summer Reading Program are to unite the freshman class and to promote thought and action on a variety of relevant issues by reading a common text prior to beginning the first semester of college. The text will prompt discussion in English composition and first year student experience courses as well as serving as the catalyst for discussion in Freshman Forum and the C.O.C.K.Y. Experience through the Department of University Housing.

Jacksonville State University’s Summer Reading Program committee presented Doc Hendley, author of Wine to Water to a large group of students and faculty at Leone Cole Auditorium in September. As an introduction to the JSU year-long theme of service, Doc Hendley visited the campus of Jacksonville State University on September 11 to speak to students about the Wine to Water organization, as well as share his personal experiences in service. As a college student with no clear direction, Hendley related to many freshmen as he searched for his purpose and finally found it. His inspiring speaking teaches us to do what we can with what we have, illustrates

The 2012 selection, Wine to Water, is a biographical tale written by Hendley, a small town bartender who launched a series of wine-tasting events to raise funds for clean-water projects and to bring awareness to the world’s freshwater crisis. Initially planning to donate the proceeds of his events through traditional humanitarian channels, Hendley found himself traveling to one of the world’s most dangerous hot spots: Darfur, Sudan. While on his journey, he witnessed a government sponsored genocide where the number one weapon wasn’t bullets: it was water. Today, Hendley and his Wine to Water events continue to help stricken peoples repair and maintain water containment systems in places like Darfur, Cambodia, Uganda, and Haiti.

Hendley’s book, Wine to Water, is a gripping story about braving tribal warfare, natural disasters and encounter-ing fascinating characters in far-flung regions of the world. It is also an authori-tative account of a global crisis and an inspirational tale that proves how ordinary people have the ability to impact the world. The themes of humanitarian-ism, service and perseverance are the compelling ideas that made Wine to Water the perfect selection for Jacksonville State University’s Summer Reading Program in 2012. In line with Hendley’s themes, Jacksonville State University students and faculty have numerous opportunities to respond to Hendley’s challenge through

news

for more informaTion

VISIT The webSITe

www.winetowater.org

6 : GEM OF THE HILLS FALL 2012 : 7

In addition, businesses around JSU have joined the university and other small busi-nesses in nearly 1,000 cities nationwide in offering loyalty programs through SpotOn. This is convenient for JSU students because only one card or smartphone app is needed for all participating businesses. The more the student frequents them, the more rewards they earn there, as well.

Beginning this fall, Jacksonville State University introduced JaXSpots, a rewards program exclusively for Jacksonville State University students. The program, which allows students to check in at campus events and bank “spots” or points that they can trade in later for prizes and privileges, is the culmination of about four years of research into the easiest and most cost effective way to reward students for plugging into their campus community. For the program, JSU partnered with SpotOn, a startup company based in San Rafael, Calif. Since 2010, SpotOn has connected primarily with small businesses needing budget-friendly loyalty programs. But due to a chance meeting on an airplane between a JSU staffer and a SpotOn rep, Jacksonville State finally found the ideal program that was afford-able and easy to use while SpotOn found its first university client. JaXSpots is simple to use and students are already receiving rewards. During the first two months of implementation, stu-dents earned or won JSU spirit bracelets, t-shirts, invitations to a special

semester-end party, tailgate parties, and “all access” campus parking passes. One lucky student even won an iPad in a random drawing from check-ins at a recent football game. Here’s how it works:•The student can participate either by downloading the SpotOn app to his or her smartphone or by activating a special card that contains a personal QR Code. •Extra points can be earned immediately by opting in to the SpotOn app on the JSU Facebook page (www.facebook. com/JacksonvilleStateUniversity) •At campus events such as games, concerts, lectures, the student scans his or her smartphone or loyalty card at the special JaXSpots terminal. •For each event, a “spot” is awarded. •Once the student earns the number of “spots” needed for a reward, he or she can redeem it. A complete list of JaXSpots events is on the program home page, accessible from the JSU website (www.jsu.edu/jaxspots).

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To learn more abouT

jaxSpoTS Scan The

qr code below

www.jsu.edu/jaxspots

for more informaTion

JA SPOTSa reWard program For jsu studeNts

facebook.com/jacksonvillestateuniversity

twitter.com/jsunews#JacksonvilleState

JACKSONVILLE STATE UNIVERSITY

MASTER OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

Earn Your MBA Online

Education is more than just a destination, it’s a journey. So if you’re looking for an MBA experience that will engage your mind, enrich your perspective and expand your horizons–instead of looking for just another degree–you’ve come to the right place.

For more information please visit our website at www.jsu.edu/mbainfo

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news

jsu AWARds 408 deGReesduriNg summer CommeNCemeNt 2012

lefT: Jsu welcomed over 1300 freshmen to campus on august 27 with the annual freshman Convocation held at the stadium. The freshman class was welcomed by Jsu administration and faculty members as well as the Jsu Cheerleaders and marching southerners who taught them the Jsu fight song. following convocation, a picnic was held for the class on Dillon field.

*

Four hundred and eight candidates for graduation crossed the stage to receive their degrees during Jacksonville State University's Summer 2012 Commencement exercises at Pete Mathews Coliseum on August 10, 2012.Former Alabama Governor Jim Folsom Jr., who recently received an Honorary Doctor of Letters degree from the university after serving on the JSU Board of Trustees for more than two decades, was the commencement speaker. A 1974 graduate of JSU, Gov. Folsom brought lasting impact to the state during his

service as lieutenant governor and governor, directing Alabama's efforts to secure the first Mercedes-Benz automobile manufacturing plant outside of Germany, which created 150,000 Alabama jobs.Under his leadership as chairman of JSU's Athletic Committee, the university entered Division I and in 2003 was accepted into the Ohio Valley Conference. Leading the class were top graduates Heather Leigh Greene of Gadsden, gradu-ating summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in English; Emily Lauren Glaser of Demorest, Ga., graduating summa

cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication; James Walter Parker of Vance, graduating summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing; Ashley White Blair of Opelika, graduat-ing summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing; and John Charles Benefield of Rainbow City, graduating summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice. Fall 2012 graduation is set for December 14.

Consider an Intern fromJACKSONVILLE STATE UNIVERSITY

To learn more about this partnership visit www.jsu.edu/careerservices or www.calhounchamber.com

facebook.com/JSUCareerServices

twitter.com/jsucareer#WhereYouAreGoing

did you know...seven out of ten students who have had an internship are hired by that same employer?

Check out www.internships.com for internship opportunities and to find good interns in the Calhoun County area!

1. Visit www.internships.com

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and resume

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GET STARTEd TOdAY!

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news

jsu WelcoMes FuRRy FRiendmeet dot tHe BLaCK LaB

Dot, a two-year-old black Lab, is Jacksonville State University Police Department’s (UPD) newest family member. Dot is an exceptionally smart dog, trained from birth to assist officers in locating firearms and explosives. The process of obtaining Dot has been a sunshine story, according to JSU Director of Public Safety Shawn Giddy. “It all started when John Pearce, director of training and operations for Auburn University’s Canine Detection Training Center, notified us about a Department of Justice grant,” Giddy said. “Then the university administration gave us their full support.” Once the grant was approved, the ball started rolling. Officer Ashley Roper volunteered as Dot’s trainer and handler. Together, they have recently finished a ten week training camp at the Auburn K-9 training center. Roper says it has been a pleasure working with Dot. The UPD has received assistance from many in the effort, for which Giddy

is grateful. Chief Bill Partridge of the Oxford Police Department donated a “hotdog” system, which prevents Dot’s cage from becoming too hot during transport. The cage was installed into a Ford Crown Victoria supervisor unit by JSU’s maintenance department. When Dot is not in Auburn training, she stays at Roper’s private residence in Jacksonville. Dot’s kennel, which was purchased by Roper, sits on top of a concrete platform built by Logan’s Construction and other private funds. “Logan’s Construction was very generous with the concrete and time spent on the project,” Giddy said. Together, Officer Roper and Dot are making tremendous progress, according to Sgt. Brian Mann of the UPD. “During a training session, one of the Auburn K-9s hit on a locker in the Pete Mathews Coliseum,” Mann said. “It turned out to be a track and field starter pistol.” Dot will also be able to locate firearms when the training is complete.

This is not the first time a K-9 has found firearms at JSU. Last year, during an emergency exercise, an Auburn K-9 indicated a vehicle contained a firearm. The participants did not even know whether the car was part of the mock exercise, but soon learned that the dog had found an exercise instructor’s personal weapon. The UPD will continue to work closely with the Auburn K-9 group after Dot’s graduation in order to keep her training up to date. “We would never be able to afford this on our department budget,” Giddy said. He expressed his sincere thanks for the support given as well as the expertise provided to the department. For more information, contact UPD at 256-782-5050 or 800-231-5291.

Jacksonville State University suffered the loss of one of its most beloved faculty members earlier this year. Dr. Frank Romano, retired head of the Biology Department, passed away in August after an extended illness. Dr. Romano joined the JSU faculty in 1989 and became department headin 2002. He retired in May 2012.Throughout his career, his expertise, professionalism and rapport with his students and colleagues were unparalleled. In addition to his life’s work in the classroom and his numerous presenta-tions, workshops and publications, Dr. Romano conducted extensive research on the physiological ecology of limno-terrestrial, freshwater and marine invertebrates with emphasis on tardigrades and mollusks. In recent years, he worked with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Marine Fisheries Service on northern Gulf of Mexico deep-sea microscopic animal communities with emphasis on tardi-grades. This led to the discovery of four new species of tardigrades. Among his recent accolades was his selection for the Association of Southeastern Biologists’ (ASB) 2010 Meritorious Teaching Award. Earlier this month, Dr. Romano and a team of col-leagues were awarded a Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI)

grant supporting studies of the effects of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Dr. Romano received his Ph.D. in Physiological Ecology from Syracuse University, New York and was a member of Beta Beta Beta, the biology honor soci-ety. He held professional society member-ships in the Alabama Academy of Science, the Association of Southeastern Biologists, the American Microscopical Society, the International Tardigrada Society, and the International Meiofauna Association. In addition to the ASB Meritorious Teaching Award, his honors included a Syracuse University Summer Fellowship (1977), selection to Men and Women in American Science (1984), Leadership Kennessaw State College (1987), Jacksonville State University College of Letters and Sciences Distinguished Teaching Award (1994), Service Award from the U.S. Forest Service for continuing activities with personnel from the Shoal Creek District of Talladega National Forest (2004), and nomination as The 2005 International Scientist of the Year.

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dR. FRAnk RoMAno pAssesFormer jsu BioLogy departmeNt Head

jeffrey a. parker, jacksonville State university executive in residence, played a major role in a nationally-televised documentary that aired on pbS’ Frontline in june. Frontline spent eleven hours in anniston filming the episode entitled “dollars for dentists.”

parker heads the nationally-acclaimed not-for-profit Sarrell dental centers. Sarrell dental has been the largest employer of jSu ccba undergraduates and mbas during the last seven years. The documentary was made in conjunction with The center for public Integrity.

Jsu Business Professor aPPears on PBs’ FRONTLINE

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news

students stAy the couRsejsu duaL eNroLLmeNt

Jacksonville State University is discovering more reasons why high school students might want to consider dual enrollment classes to kick-start their college education and cut some of the financial cost of a college education. According to Dr. Alicia Simmons, director of JSU’s Office of Institutional Research and Assessment, information is showing “that students who attend at least one JSU dual enrollment class and then attend JSU are retained at a much higher rate (eighty-five percent) than all JSU first-year freshmen (sixty-eight percent)...a seventeen point difference. With dual enrollment costing half of JSU tuition, it seems to be a great investment for preparing high school students for college.” So, what is dual enrollment and how does it work? Dual enrollment allows a high school student to take a 100 or 200 level college course with permission from their school superintendent and earn both high school and college credit for half the cost of college tuition. Dr. Joe Delap, director of the dual enrollment program at JSU, states that the program “provides high school students a preview of university life and the opportunity to earn college credit while still enrolled in high school. Students must have completed ninth grade with at least a B average and have permission from their schools.” Delap explained that the classes take place in the local high school and are instructed by a high school faculty member who would meet the qualifications to be a JSU adjunct. Like any other JSU

student, a high school student seeking dual enrollment must complete a JSU admission application. Alexandria, Anniston, Donoho, Jacksonville, Oxford, Pleasant Valley, Sacred Heart, Saks and Weaver are the nine high schools that participated with JSU in the dual enrollment program for the 2011-2012 school year. With more than three hundred participants each year, Oxford High School has the largest number of dual enrollment students and offers quite a diversity of available classes, according to Dr. Delap. Caitlin Turecek, a 2011 JSU graduate who took two dual enrollment courses during her years at Jacksonville High School says of her experience with the program, “I think it helped ease my anxiety about taking a college class…I would definitely recommend dual enrollment to high school students. It may seem daunting to add another class to an already-hectic schedule, but the rewards are worth the added work. The structure and atmosphere of college classes are different from high school classes (for the better, I think) and already having experience with it can definitely ease the transition from high school to college.” Turecek majored in English at JSU and is now in her first year of law school at the University of New Hampshire. Delap feels that the success of the dual enrollment program “might be attributed to the fact that this program helps students connect early on with other students and professors and

assists in making them feel comfortable in their transition between high school and college.” The financial advantage of dual enrollment is that it allows students to complete college courses at half the cost. Also, students who have completed dual enrollment courses would still be eligible to apply for ACT/SAT based scholarships, if they meet the qualifications and restric-tions for the scholarships and fill out the JSU scholarship application, according to JSU’s scholarship director, Martin Weldon. Weldon adds that the new scholarship application for the 2013-2014 school year is currently available on JSU’s website, and the deadline for application will be March 1, 2013. It is important to keep in mind that although JSU dual enrollment courses will, of course, transfer to JSU, some universities, such as private colleges, might not accept the dual enrollment classes as college credit. The student’s future college plans should be taken into consideration when thinking about dual enrollment classes. However, by allowing high school students a head start on their college education at half the normal cost of tuition, dual enrollment at Jacksonville State University is a program that local high school students and their parents might wish to consider.For more information on dual enrollment, visit JSU’s website at www.jsu.edu.

This article originally appeared in the Jacksonville News 9/18/2012.

news

jsu AMsti Receives GRAntmatHematiCs aNd sCieNCe partNersHip graNt - $235,936

The Alabama Math, Science, and Technology Initiative (AMSTI) at Jacksonville State University received $235,936 from the Mathematics and Science Partnership grant program. The grant award period is from October 1, 2012 to September 30, 2013. The AMSTI initiative is funded through the Alabama State Department of Education. The primary purpose of the Alabama Math, Science, and Technology Initiative at JSU is to raise student achievement by providing instructional support that builds capacity in AMSTI schools and fosters sustainabil-ity at the school level. The goals of this project are to 1) expand math and science professional development opportunities and instructional support services provided by AMSTI JSU within the AMSTI JSU In-service Region and to provide experiences in in-service education that model effective teaching strategies to be used by teachers in Grades K -12, and to promote an awareness of and an interest in current educational research; 2) provide a strong collaboration and instructional involvement between colleges/departments of education, individuals from the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) faculty, and in-service activities with teachers of math and science; and 3) improve and expand training of math and science teachers, including training such teachers in the effective integration of technology into curricula and instruc-tion and mentoring them as they begin to use this technology in their lessons.

These goals will be accomplished by providing professional development that has meaningful math and science content, incorporates technology and models research-based instructional strategies. AMSTI JSU will collaborate with school personnel to determine specific instructional needs and develop a framework for addressing these needs through mentoring, Professional Learning Teams and/or professional development designed to improve and sustain instruc-tional skills. AMSTI JSU will use videoconferenc-ing to bring STEM faculty and math and science teachers in Grades K-12 together to increase the teachers’ subject matter knowledge and improve instructional skills. AMSTI JSU will provide math professional development that provides experiences in effective teaching strate-gies and provides opportunities to read and study current research. The math professional development will focus on implementing strategies from the Ongoing Assessment Project (OGAP). Math teachers from partnering schools will participate in additive reasoning, multiplicative reasoning, fractional reasoning or proportional reasoning sessions according to their grade level. AMSTI JSU will partner with Alabama Science in Motion (ASIM) JSU to provide science teachers professional development opportunities to increase their content knowledge in engineering, science and technology and to excite interest in STEM careers in the

traditionally impoverished east central Appalachian region of Alabama. The first year of the partnership will focus on eighth grade students at high needs middle schools and will be open to all schools wanting to participate in a robotics program. The partnership’s mission is to inspire students to pursue careers in engineering, science, technol-ogy, and math through participation in a sports-like science and engineering-based robotics competition. Student interns from JSU’s Technology and Engineering Department will be paired with teachers as the eighth grade students learn about building robots.

haVe newS and weaTher updaTeS SenT STraIghT To your compuTer

or cell phone.

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follow Jsu

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JACKSONVILLE STATE UNIVERSITY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT

Getting You Ready for the Challenges Ahead. Online or on Campus.

bAChelOR Of SCIENCE IN EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT

mAsteR Of SCIENCE IN EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT

dOCtOR Of SCIENCE IN EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT

www.JSU.EdU/IEp

twitter.com/JSUnews#WhereYouAreGoing

facebook.com/jacksonvillestateuniversity

FALL 2012 : 15

news

coMe on And tAke A FRee RideNaBi CoNduCts Campus testiNg oN NeW dieseL HyBrid eNgiNe

and bus delivery with JSU to kick-off the vehicle testing. According to James McKellar, Chassis Engineering Manager for NABI, the engine is also being tested to ensure that NABI’s engineering designs meet Cummins and 2013 EPA emissions requirements. This will clear the way for NABI to offer the bus engine configuration to its customers in the coming year. McKellar added that the partnership with JSU is a good match because it allows the company to test locally and also could lead to future mentoring programs for students in engineering and technology. A second Cummins diesel hybrid engine currently in development could pave the way for similar NABI-JSU partnerships in the near future, McKellar said. “There are a lot of good things that can come of this,” Whitmore said. “The NABI bus is more spacious and it holds more students. We’re running it on our busiest routes since it can hold more students. It will allow us to increase our efficiency by running it during peak times.” Whitmore added that although the bus will be run on the red route during peak hours, it will be tested on all the routes. According to Whitmore, the original fleet of ten Gamecock Express shuttles cost less than the high-tech NABI bus. The original GX shuttles were funded with a federal transportation grant.For more information about NABI, please visit their website, www.nabusind.com/index.asp

It’s big, it’s plastered with Gamecock Express decals, and it’s turning heads as it weaves its way around the JSU campus.The purple and silver transit bus is on loan to JSU free of charge to test a new type of engine that could make mass transit greener and less expensive. According to Joe Whitmore, direc-tor of Institutional Support Services at JSU, North American Bus Industries, Inc. (NABI) in Anniston is working with Cummins Inc., to add a new diesel hybrid engine to its product offering. The bus on loan to JSU has been retrofitted with this Cummins ISL diesel hybrid engine, which NABI and Cummins wanted to test in real-life circumstances. In return for volunteering as the test facility, JSU gets free use of the $700,000

bus for four months or approximately 10,000 miles as per the test program guidelines, which means it should navigate the campus well into spring semester. NABI has done everything it can to make the bus fit in on campus, right down to outfitting it with the familiar GX decals. To conduct the testing, engineers will come to the JSU campus every week or two to run diagnostics on the vehicle. Ideally, they will find their bus design and engine performance is all they have designed it to be--greener, less expensive to operate, much more fuel efficient and requiring less maintenance. One of NABI’s engineers, Jess Ford is project lead on the program. He has been instrumental in conducting preliminary testing, coordinating training

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Oyetunji Akisanya ................................................ Instructor, Nursing and Health SciencesAmy Anderson .............................Account Executive, Center for Economic DevelopmentDonnie Andrews ..................................... Assoc. Professor, Health and Physical EducationLaura Barrow........................................................ Instructor, Nursing and Health SciencesLakischa Brown ............................................................................. Financial Aid CounselorDonna Callan ................................................ Manager, Athletic Marketing & PromotionsRobert Cochran ........................................................................................ Instructor, MCISCynthia Conner ................................................Asst. Professor, Curriculum & InstructionMisty Cothran ....................................................................................Instructor, PsychologyWilliam Denni ............................................................Director, English Language InstituteDenise Devito .........................................................Assoc. Professor, Secondary EducationKevin Fathi ................................................................................................ Instructor, MCISGloria Frazier ................................................... Instructor, Family and Consumer SciencesValerie Gamble ........................................................ Instructor, Curriculum & InstructionApril Gilbert ..............................................................................Athletic Academic AdvisorWendell Harris ......................................................................Asst. Coach, Men’s BasketballVictoria Hill ........................................................ Instructor, Nursing and Health SciencesLori Hill ............................................................... Instructor, Nursing and Health SciencesAndrew Hinds ................................................................................. Asst. Trainer, AthleticsBlake Hunter ................................................................................... Computer ProgrammerJennifer Ivey ........................................................................Visiting Asst. Professor, DramaLeigh Keith ....................................................Asst. Professor, Nursing and Health SciencesLacey Kinsey ..................................................................................... Admissions CounselorDavid Lambert ...................................................................................Asst. Professor, MusicEd Lett.......................................................................Assoc. Dir., Athletics-External AffairsJill Marsh ......................................................... Instructor, Family and Consumer SciencesKayla McCay .................................................................................... Admissions CounselorBelinda McGrady ................................................. Instructor, Nursing and Health SciencesCliff McMahon ...................................................................................... Asst. Professor, ArtSarah Moersch ........................................................................................ Instructor, EnglishCourtney Payne ............................................................... Asst. Coach, Women’s BasketballMargaret Poplin ..................................................................................... Asst. Professor, ArtRuth Porter ..................................................Director, Academic Services, Arts & SciencesKatie Robinson .................................................... Instructor, Nursing and Health SciencesBrandon Romans ................................................................................Asst. Coach, BaseballJeremiah Russell .....................................Asst. Professor, Political Science & Public AdminRichard Simon ............................................................................. Asst. Professor, SociologyHung Tseng ..................................................... Instructional Designer, Distance EducationJeffrey Van Slyke ..................................................Asst. Professor, Emergency PreparednessKen Washington .................................................Fitness Coordinator, Recreational SportsThomas White ...............................................Network Specialist, Information TechnologyJason Williams ................................................................. Asst Coach, Women’s BasketballSonquez Williams .......................................... Coordinator, Student Athlete DevelopmentGarland Wilson ............................................... Coordinator, Men’s Basketball Operations

jsu WelcoMes neW FAculty & stAFF

wIllIam carrgraduate Studies

gaIl chIldSSocial work

margareT copelandenglish

mark FaganSocial work

ronnIe harrIShealth and physical education

IrIS henrybuilding Services

clark hudSpeThSociology

jameS kelleymcIS

Frank kIngdistance education

paTrIcIa lowrycurriculum and Instruction

lInda mccrelleSlibrary

paula napolIFamily and consumer Sciences

SheIla newellInstitutional Support Services

mary owenSeducational resources

lInda pInSonInformation Technology

jameS poweSocial work

jIm roberTSmusic

carlTon warddrama

errIn whITemcIS

daVId ZeIglerjSu mcclellan

TWenTY Jsu faCulTY & sTaff

reTireD THis Year

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jsu institute FoR ReseARch & collAboRAtion

VISIT The Irc webSITe

www.jsu.edu/irc or emaIl Irc@jSu.edu

VISIT The Irc on Facebook aT

www.Facebook.com/jSuInSTITuTe

ForreSearchcollaboraTIon

for more informaTion

Research centers are partners that leverage, market, and position the university to bring in additional grants and contracts ultimately supporting faculty and student research. With the IRC’s commitment to research and collaboration, JSU’s reputation as a regional research institution will be elevated.

Research is an essential element for a learning-centered university. The JSU Institute for Research and Collaboration (IRC) was officially recognized by the Alabama Commission on Higher Education in June 2011. As part of a learning-centered university, JSU’s IRC provides centralized infrastructure to support research and collaboration among faculty, staff, students, and community partners. Project support is provided throughout the lifecycle to include pre-award, award, and post-award activities. The organization is led by an executive director, Dr. Alicia Simmons, who is assisted by Allison Newton, proposal coordinator, Lynn Garner, project manager, Robin Yarbrough, certified public accountant, and Tony Bennett, external funds compliance and internal auditor. The team combines extensive experience in project manage-ment, research, center development, marketing, website management, administrative support, project evaluation, and developing processes and procedures to meet deliverable requirements.

Additionally, the IRC assists faculty and staff with the establishment of research centers. Research centers are comprised of multi-disciplinary faculty teams that bring research accomplishments and ideas to attract potential funders. Faculty are encouraged to establish research centers with a charter describ-ing the mission and vision of the center, and the IRC provides support to get the research center recognized through the Alabama Commission on Higher Education. Current research centers include, the Institute for Emergency Preparedness, Dr. Jeff Ryan, director; the Center for Information Security Assurance, Dr. Guillermo Francia, III, director; the Center for Disaster Preparedness and Community Resilience, Dr. Jane Kushma, director; the Center for Applied Forensics, Dr. Dean Buttram, director; the Center for Tick-Borne Disease Ecology, Dr. Benji Blair, director; the Center for Mountain Longleaf Pine Ecosystems, Dr. Robert Carter, director; and the Center for Innovative Learning Environments, Dr. Rebecca Turner, Dr. Alicia Simmons, Dr. John Hammett and Ms. Lisa Williams, directors.

news

jsu Receives heRbARiuM GRAnt$392,384 From tHe NatioNaL sCieNCe FouNdatioN

The Collections in Support of Biological Research Program of the National Science Foundation (NSF) has awarded a three-year, $392,384 grant to Dr. Jimmy Triplett, assistant professor and curator of the Jacksonville State University Herbarium. The funding will support a project entitled “A Hidden Treasure in Northeastern Alabama - Revitalizing the Jacksonville State University Herbarium.” The Herbarium of Jacksonville State University consists of more than 75,000 plant specimens, making it one of the largest (and more diverse) botanical collections in Alabama while also being largely unknown to the general scientific community. The three-year project will alleviate overcrowded storage,

provide long-term collection security, and fully modernize access and educational outreach. Specific actions during the project include 1) installation of new herbarium cases and a mobile storage system; 2) acquisition of digital documentation equipment; 3) curation and computeriza-tion of the entire JSU Herbarium collection; and 4) enhancement of visibility and synergy, utilizing new Internet resources and interdisciplinary initiatives. The NSF-funded project represents a dynamic resource for science education in rural Alabama that will provide training opportunities for graduate and undergrad-uate students and long-lasting outreach in

an underserved community. Backlog curation and full integration of the holdings will result in a fully functional, easy-to-use resource for natural history research, and computerization will make it broadly accessible to scientists, educa-tors, students, and the general public alike. The JSU Herbarium project will add a vast diversity of new specimen records and digital images to Internet databases, including the Alabama Plant Atlas, thereby supporting collaborative efforts to create a comprehensive online database for the flora of Alabama.

20 : GEM OF THE HILLS FALL 2012 : 21

news

Meet jAcksonville stAte univeRsity’s neW boARd oF tRustees MeMbeRs

Jacksonville State University’s three new trustees, confirmed in late April, participated in their first quarterly board meeting in July followed by their second meeting last month. Each has an abun-dance of talents to offer JSU. Clarence William Daugette III, State Senator Vivian Davis Figures, and Gale Saxon Main are not only highly qualified for the job, they are enthusiastic and eager to serve JSU and the community. JSU’s Board of Trustees was estab-lished in 1967 as the school’s guiding body. Among the board’s powers and responsibilities are the hiring of faculty and oversight of courses of instruction, the governance of the university, the setting of tuition and fees, and the confer-ring of degrees, as well as any other action it deems best for promoting the interest of the university. The board consists of two members from Jacksonville’s congres-sional district, one from each of the other congressional districts in the state, one at-large member, the state superintendent

of education, and the governor, who is the ex officio president of the board. Trustees serve twelve-year appointments. Clarence William Daugette III comes from a family whose roots run deep at JSU. Daugette’s grandfather, Dr. Clarence William Daugette, was president of JSU (then named State Normal School and then Jacksonville State Teachers College) from 1899-1942. His father, Colonel Clarence William Daugette, Jr., was both a graduate and trustee of JSU. He also was the chairman of the board of the International Endowment Foundation, and JSU’s International House is named after him. Clarence Daugette III graduated from JSU in 1974 and went on to serve for eighteen years in the United States Army Reserve. He is a member of the Chamber of Commerce, and serves on the boards of the Greater Alabama Council Boy Scouts of America and the local Boys and Girls Club. He is president of the International House Foundation Board at JSU.

“My family has a lot of history within the school, and I’m certainly proud of that history and also that I have the opportunity to serve the school, the students and the community,” Daugette says. “I’m excited about the opportunity to influence the school and be a part of giving guidance in helping it to grow.” State Senator Vivian Davis Figures began her political career in 1984 when she ran as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention. Her work ethic and drive make her an ideal trustee; she strives to help as many people as she can. After the death of her husband, State Senator Michael A. Figures, she was elected in 1997 to serve the remain-der of his term, making her the first African-American woman to serve as the state senator from the 33rd District (Mobile County). She became the first African-American woman to become the Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate, and was elected by her Democratic state senate colleagues to serve as minority leader for years 2013 and 2014.

Senator Figures has served on countless boards, including the following senate standing committees: Finance and Taxation, Education; Rules; Education; Governmental Affairs; and Children, Youth Affairs and Human Resources, among others. Senate President Pro Tem Del Marsh appointed her to serve on the Children’s Policy Council, and she was awarded the National Tobacco Award for her campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. “Education is very important to me, and I believe that all of our children should have access to an excellent education and be given the opportunity,” Figures says. “So this is going to afford me the opportunity to do that on another level.” Gale Saxon Main’s experience and civic involvement within the community have prepared her to be an ideal addition to the JSU Board of Trustees. A native of Clay County, she holds a master’s degree in education from JSU. She taught for ten years for four different school systems, and

has served as chairperson on the Scenic Byways Advisory Council for the State of Alabama, treasurer and board mem-ber for the Alabama Trust for Historic Preservation, Landmarks Advisory Board, as a member of The Alabama Commission on Higher Education, the Alabama Historical Commission and The Antiquarian Society of Montgomery, among others. Main looks forward to get-ting to know the students and faculty that comprise JSU, as well as making sure that JSU stays the best university it can pos-sibly be. “I hope to talk with some of the students and faculty in order to learn their hopes, dreams, aspirations and some of their issues with the campus,” Main says. “The two most important things we must do are keep JSU at its academic peak while trying to keep education affordable.” JSU is proud to welcome these three new trustees, and knows that with their knowledge, drive and thoughtfulness, JSU will continue to grow both in numbers and excellence.

news

CLareNCe WiLLiam daugette iii ViViaN daVis Figures gaLe saXoN maiN

STay In Touch wITh your jSu alumnI & acTIVITIeS! IT IS

a greaT reSource For receIVIng jSu InFo. and

proFeSSIonal neTworkIng.

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22 : GEM OF THE HILLS

sports

GeRAld “GARy”

deboyjackSonVIlle STaTe unIVerSITy

mournS The loSS oF Former rIFle coach

JSU rifle program and to acknowledge his efforts which contributed significantly to the growth and success of the Gamecock rifle team as an intercollegiate sport during his tenure.

District Coach of the Year in 1998 and 2003 and also was a two-time conference coach of the Year. In 1998 and again in 2004, he received the National Rifle Association Distinguished College Coach of the Year Award.

The Jacksonville State University Board of Trustees approved a resolu-tion in October which was presented to Coach DeBoy’s family at the November 10 football game. Also on the field for the presentation were many of Coach DeBoy’s former athletes. The resolution expresses appreciation to Coach DeBoy for the loyalty and dedication that he had for the

Coach Gerald “Gary” DeBoy passed away on September 27 after complications from a spinal cord injury he suffered in an accident more than eight years ago. He served as the rifle coach for Jacksonville State University for sixteen years and helped establish the Gamecock team as one of the top programs in the nation.

During his tenure, the rifle team ranked in the top ten in the nation for the final ten years of his leadership and produced numerous all-americans. Coach DeBoy was named the Collegiate Rifle Coaches Association Coach of the Year in 1995, the National Rifle Association

aBoVe: Halftime presentation in memory of Deboy with his family and former rifle team members.

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sports

FALL 2012 : 23

laDY GameCoCK

softball 2013daTe opponenT TIme

Feb. 8-10 aT SouTheaST la InVITaTIonal TbaFeb. 15-17 aT SouThern mISS InVITaTIonal TbaFeb. 19 alabama a&m 4 pm & 6 pmFeb. 22-24 aT kenneSaw STaTe TournamenT TbaFeb. 27 georgIa Tech 5 pmmar. 1-3 aT unIVerSITy oF arkanSaS TournamenT Tbamar. 6 aT georgIa STaTe unIVerSITy 4 pmmar. 8 aT alabama a&m 1 & 3 pmmar. 12 mISSISSIppI STaTe 6 pmmar. 16 aT TenneSSee STaTe 1 & 3 pmmar. 17 aT TenneSSee STaTe 1 pmmar. 23 auSTIn peay 1 & 3 pmmar. 24 murray STaTe 12 & 2 pmmar. 26 aT SamFord unIVerSITy 5 pmmar. 29 aT belmonT unIVerSITy 1 & 3 pmmar. 30 aT belmonT unIVerSITy 1 pmapr. 2 aT unIVerSITy oF alabama 6 pmapr. 6 SouTheaST mISSourI 1 & 3 pmapr. 7 unIVerSITy oF TenneSSee-marTIn 12 & 2 pmapr. 9 alabama STaTe 5 pmapr. 13 aT morehead STaTe 12 & 2 pmapr. 14 aT morehead STaTe 12 pmapr. 20 aT eaSTern IllInoIS unIVerSITy Tbaapr. 21 aT SIu-edwardSVIlle 12 & 2 pmapr. 25 aT mIddle TenneSSee 5 pmapr. 27 eaSTern kenTucky 1 & 3 pmapr. 28 eaSTern kenTucky 1 pmmay 1 aT uab 4 pmmay 4 aT TenneSSee Tech 1 & 3 pmmay 5 aT TenneSSee Tech 1 pmmay 9-11 oVc TournamenT Tbamay 16-19 ncaa regIonalS Tbamay 24-26 ncaa Super regIonalS Tba

may 30-june 5 college SoFTball world SerIeS Tba

all TImeS cT (Schedule and TImeS SubjecT To change)

FALL 2012 : 25 24 : GEM OF THE HILLS

GameCoCK

baseball 2013daTe opponenT TIme

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all TImeS cT (Schedule and TImeS SubjecT To change)

sports sports

did you know?The Jacksonville state athletics department posted its best overall GPa during the 2011-2012 academic year with a 3.017!

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26 : GEM OF THE HILLS FALL 2012 : 27

The university scholarships are: Gem of the Hills Scholar - requires

an ACT score of 22 or an SAT score of 1030, covers six in-state tuition hours per semester.

Gamecock Scholar - requires an ACT score of 24 or an SAT score of 1110, covers nine in-state tuition hours per semester.

Faculty Scholar - requires an ACT of 26 or an SAT score of 1190, covers sixteen in-state tuition hours per semester and books.

Elite Scholar - requires an ACT score of 30 or an SAT score of 1340, covers sixteen in-state tuition hours per semester, housing and meal plan.

Camellia Scholar (Out of State) – re-quires an ACT score of 30 or an SAT score of 1340, covers sixteen in-state tuition hours per semester.

Magnolia Scholar (Out of State) - re-quires an ACT score of 26 or an SAT score of 1190, covers nine in-state tuition hours per semester.

Mimosa Scholar (Out of State) - requires an ACT of 24 or an SAT of 1110, covers six in-state tuition hours per semester.For more on JSU scholarships, please visit the Financial Aid website at www.jsu.edu/finaid

According to Weldon, the improved ACT scores have impacted the faculty by filling classrooms with high achieving students.

At the end of the 2013 spring semester, we will have our first four years complete and we will be able to determine the graduation rate for each scholarship,” Weldon said. “The results of the evalu-ation will be determined in a few years. That way, we can make a comparison for each academic year.”

JSU still works hard on their Strate-gic Enrollment Management Plan geared toward bringing more students to the “friendliest campus in the South.” The plan aims to provide more non-loan-based financial aid opportunities. According to Weldon, a lot of work is performed by the Office of University Development, which coordinates the university’s private sector fundraising efforts.

“In the face of shrinking state support for higher education, JSU relies increasing-ly on the generous support of its friends, alumni, and benefactors,” Weldon said.

“These scholarships are transforming JSU, bringing in even more hardwork-ing students,” says Dr. Rebecca Turner, Provost and Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs. “Even with the shrinking state support, JSU awarded over $3,800,000 in scholarships to a total of 1,050 students this semester.”

Each academic scholarship comes with its own requirements and advantages. The scholarships benefit students with ACT scores of at least 22 and SAT scores of at least 1030. In order to renew the assistance, students must be enrolled as full-time students, completing a minimum of twelve hours. The students must also maintain the minimum qualifying grade point average, which varies from 3.0 to 3.25.

The scholarships are not only avail-able to Alabama residents, but also to residents in ten contiguous counties in Georgia.

In 2010, Dr. Tim King, Associate Vice President for Enrollment Management and Student Affairs, said the university’s scholarship change would take JSU in a new direction.

Even though JSU’s enrollment goal of 10,000 students has yet to be reached, the change has proved successful. The last two academic years have set a record high for first-time freshmen enrollment and the average ACT score for incoming freshmen has increased from 19 to 22.3.

Jacksonville State University has always strived to assist students with the financial burden of college by offering scholarship opportunities and finan-cial aid. In 2010, JSU announced some major changes concerning their university scholarships. Students who applied to JSU with the qualifying ACT or SAT score and appropriate grade point average would automatically be offered a scholarship.

According to Martin Weldon, As-sistant Director of Student Financial Services, Scholarships and Veteran’s Af-fairs, the university’s academic scholarship

budget has, since 2010, increased by more than fifty percent, now totaling over five million dollars.

“We went from approximately four hundred academic scholarships offered to over thirteen hundred during that time frame,” Weldon said. “We have been fortunate that President Meehan and the Board of Trustees are committed to our academic scholarship program and con-tinue to support its funding. By offering these scholarships, it lessens the need for student loans.”

jsu scholarships prove successful

By Emil loEkEn

Photo By stEvE latham

lefT: Jsu student recipients of annual scholarships, are shown with mrs. Pearl William, in front of Bibb Graves Hall. Two of the group received scholarships honoring maj. Dwayne Williams, mrs. Williams son who was killed in the terrorist attack on the Pentagon, september 11, 2001. from left, seated are: anna Borders (Williams scholarship), mrs. Pearl Williams, and Vanessa Wiggins (Williams scholarship). standing, from left, front are: Cadets Jonathon farmer, Dalton murphy, Kimberly stiles and sarah Pugh. standing, from left, back are: Cadets Joseph Burnett, Desmond Clay and William Benefield. not shown is a Williams scholarship recipient, Keenan Brown.

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28 : GEM OF THE HILLS FALL 2012 : 29

With the fast-paced technology of our twenty-first century world, it is no wonder that cybersecurity, also known as information assurance or security, is in high demand and has become a rapidly growing field of study. Recognized in 2008 by the National Security Agency (NSA) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Education, Jacksonville State University has been keeping pace with this realm of study by offering students cutting

edge technology and the knowledge to equip them in the workplace.

JSU’s Center for Information Security and Assurance (CISA) “provides a venue for research and education in the various fields of cybersecurity,” according to its founding director Dr. Guillermo A. Francia, III. In addition to eighteen years experience teaching computer science at JSU, Dr. Francia has been researching and instructing about cybersecurity since 2002.

On September 27, 2012, in its effort to provide students with the best informa-

tion assurance education possible, JSU’s CISA brought Thomas Madden, Chief Information Security Officer of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDCP) in Atlanta, Georgia, to inform students about cybersecurity and tell some of his personal experience working with America’s security in the Defense Nuclear Agency. A two-time JSU alumnus, Madden graduated with his Bachelor of Science in business administration in 1983 and a Master of Public Administration in political science in 1995. Madden has

fifty-two people who work for him and the CDCP currently has about 12,000 employ-ees. According to Madden, “CDCP is a lot like JSU-everyone knows what everyone is doing.”

Madden warned students about the very present threat of identity theft in to-day’s world of technology. Besides discuss-ing current threats present in the realm of cybersecurity, Madden gave students advice on pursuing government jobs. Madden was able to share relative information with students to assist them

in their computer science studies and job pursuits. He advised students to visit www.usajobs.gov to find out more information about landing a government job and even gave students his personal e-mail address should they have any questions he could answer. For students interested in working a government job, Pathways is a new scholarship program designed to pay for a student’s education on the condition that the student will work for the government for an agreed upon period of time. Madden also suggests that computer majors do an internship or temporary contract job for either the government or a business to work towards their dream job.

In addition to providing students with the opportunity to learn from cybersecurity experts like Madden, JSU’s computer science department, as a designated National Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Education, allows computer assurance majors the opportunity to compete for “prestigious scholarships awarded by the Department of Defense and the National Science Foundation annually,” according to Dr. Francia. He explains that, “In addition to their diploma, our graduates receive two cybersecurity professional certificates which are fully endorsed by NSA and DHS.” Earning a computer science degree from JSU, as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Education, gives students an edge when searching for a job and makes their degree more marketable.

Various grants have been awarded to JSU’s computer science department since its recognition in 2008. However, according to Dr. Francia, the most recent grant awarded to JSU from the Depart-ment of Defense “funds a cybersecurity outreach program and the creation of game-based cybersecurity awareness training programs.”

According to Department Head for Technology and Engineering Terry Marbut, JSU students are reaping benefits in the early stages of receiving this grant. He states, “The grant has already provided opportunities for our students to gain practical experiences relating to their degree program and we anticipate more oppo rtunities even be-yond the time period of the grant. It also allows our faculty members access to the latest in controls technology so that they can remain current in the field.”

By accomplishing this, Dr. Franciais optimistic that JSU can take its programs “to the next level.” For more information about JSU’s Center for Information Security and Assurance, please visit their website at www.jsu.edu/mcis/cisa/

By hEathEr grEEnE

Photo By stEvE latham

Cyber securityDr. gUillErmo FranCia & JsU ContinUE to lEaD

lefT: Dr. Guillermo francia, Jacksonville state university professor of computer science, mathematical, Computing and information services (mCis) and student lydia Berkey are in a lab designed to study and enhance cyber security. specifically, how to prevent hackers from breaking into a nuclear facility. Jsu is strategically moving forward with similar programs.

*oN The

cover

30 : GEM OF THE HILLS FALL 2012 : 31

Proceeds from this brick program will be used to fund scholarships for deserving students at JSU. Thank you for your support!

Alumni Brick Order FOrmPlease complete the following information and return to: JSU Alumni Relations Office, 700 Pelham Road North Jacksonville, AL 36265

Purchaser’s name (please print) ____________________________Address______________________________________________city_____________________State_________Zip_____________Phone (Home)__________________(Work)___________________e-mail Address ________________________________________

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Account # _________________Exp. Date_________

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Samples: or

Brick SiZe: 4” x 8”Three lines, 16 characters or spaces per line (indicate your engraving information in the boxes below)

Did you leave your name in

sTone... aT Your alma maTer?Make sure you left your mark at

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Purchase a brick to be placed at

the JSU Alumni house for only $50. www.jsu.edu/alumni/alumniservices.html

“It was a great honor to be chosen as Military Alumnus of the Year,” Lt. Col. Dabbs says. “When I heard some of the names who had received this honor in the past, it was an honor to have my name be among them.”

So what makes JSU so appealing to their family?

“JSU is a small university with the teachers that interact with the students,” Lt. Col. Dabbs says. “It’s not too big. You’re a name not a number, and they know who you are here.”

Today, Lt. Col. Dabbs works in Virginia after being assigned to the staff for the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff at the Pentagon. He encourages soldiers to pursue an education, as he did.

“I always tell soldiers to not go for the big name when it comes to a school, but go for where you’ll fit in,” he says. “I knew I would fit in at JSU. The instructors made it so much fun.”

For the Dabbs family, JSU has become a family legacy, and we’re happy to have their family as part of JSU’s family.

The dabbs familynine decades of JSU tradition

In 2011, Lt. Col. Craig Dabbs was selected as the Military Alumnus of the Year at Jacksonville State University. While he was preparing his acceptance speech, he realized that JSU was more intertwined in his family history than he ever imagined-- nine decades worth, in fact.

The Dabbs family can account for a member of their family being enrolled at JSU for nine consecutive decades, a total of fifty-seven people, beginning with Marion Sue Shaddix and William E. Dabbs in 1937, when JSU was Jacksonville State Teachers College. They met at the school and fell in love. Marion received her two-year teaching certificate, but William was sent to fight in World War II in 1941, during his senior year of college. They were married before he served overseas. In 1956, Marion Sue returned to Jacksonville State College to complete her Bachelor of Science in Education. While Marion Sue and William’s daughter, Brenda Dabbs, was a student from 1966-1970, Jacksonville State College became Jacksonville State University. She received her Bachelor of Science in Education.

Marion Sue has passed away, but William still has fond memories of JSU even at the age of ninety-four.

“JSU gave a country boy from Walnut Grove a little enlightenment and an idea of what education really means,” William says. “It’s where I met my wife of seventy years, the late Marion Sue Shaddix. It’s just home to us because so many have been there.”

Brenda says that JSU lived up to its reputation as “friendliest campus in the South,” and she enjoyed the beautiful

setting of the campus. When she decided that she wanted to be a teacher, her family made sure to find a way to help her attend JSU. She is now a retired elementary school teacher of thirty-one years.

“I think that the academic background that you get at JSU is excellent. But as well as that, I came from a small town, and, for me, it exposed me to people that were from different backgrounds and different cultures,” Brenda says. “That has a won-derful effect on a young person from a small town.”

JSU not only supplied the Dabbs family with a great education, but also true love. It’s where Marion Sue and William met, and also where Brenda met her husband, Charles ’71 and Brenda’s nephew, Craig, met his wife, Susan Thompson ’97.

Four grandchildren of Marion and William have attended JSU. David Walker attended from 1984-1988 and received a Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Technology. Patti Dabbs attended from 1985-1987 and received a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice. Craig Dabbs attended from 1987-1992 and received a Bachelor of Science in Education and an Army commission through the ROTC program. Emily Morgan attended from 1997-2001 and received a Bachelor of Science in Education. She also received a Master of Arts in Education in 2003. In 2010, the first great grandchild of the Dabbs family, Ethan Owens, enrolled at JSU and is currently a member of the Marching Southerners. In 2011, Emily Morgan continued the tradition when she completed her education specialist degree, and Craig won Military Alumnus of the Year.

32 : GEM OF THE HILLS FALL 2012 : 33

with alumni

with alUmnijSu alumnI aSSocIaTIon haS chapTerS all around The counTry. look For alumnI eVenTS In your area and joIn In The Fun!

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with alumni

jsu alumNi associaTioN

dr. meehan congraTulaTed Former Sga oFFIcerS From The claSS oF 1962. (leFT To rIghT:

Sga preSIdenT wayne hIllIard, VIce preSIdenT charleS

“Sam” houSTon, SecreTary Sandra leSTer rodgerS, and TreaSurer ThomaS young).

memberS oF The 1992 naTIonal champIonShIp FooTball

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SpecIal ThankS To Tony ’70 and glorIa’69 Ingram and charlIe waldrep’71 For

hoSTIng a pre-game brunch For our gamecock alumnI

and FanS aT The hampTon Inn In gaIneSVIlle, FlorIda prIor To The jSu VS. FlorIda game.

on noV. 10, oVer SIx hundred and FIFTy alumnI and

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STudenTS perFormIng on The FIeld.

alumni assoCiaTion

life memBersDavid Bowles ’80

Paul Brown ’72

Sharon Elaine Armstrong Conner ’95/’97

Kristen Belyeu DeLauney ’06

Bryan DeLauney ’08

Tonya Wilson Douthitt ’97/’99/’02

Meredith L. Harvey ’09

Sharron Herman Hedden ’69/’75

Allison Brasher Kay ’85

Morris O. Kay ’05

THanK You for Your suPPorT!

34 : GEM OF THE HILLS

gamecocks rounding up the racers))JSU HOMECOMING AND FAMILY DAY OCTOBER 27, 2012

SprInG 2012 : 35

The jSu national alumni association’s outstanding

alumni of the year were recognized during halftime of the

football game. pictured above mr. david hammett, jSu

alumni association national president, congressman mike

rogers, alumnus of the year, mrs. gloria hice, alumna of

the year, mrs. emily williams messer, young alum of the

year, ms. lacey bacchus, representing greater birmingham

area alumni chapter of the year, mrs. Teresa Stricklin,

outstanding Faculty member of the year and brig. gen.

ken roberts, military alumnus of the year. nominations for

the 2013 outstanding alumni of the year are now being

accepted. go online at www.jsu.edu/alumni and nominate

someone you know. nominations will close on may 1, 2013.

In honor of former football coach charley pell, his wife,

mrs. ward pell did the coin toss before the game. She was

joined at centerfield with jSu seniors, brooks robinson and

marques Ivory and miss jSu, beth milam.

over two hundred former students and friends of dr. glen

browder reunited with him during homecoming weekend for

a reception to celebrate his 40th year at jSu and his out-

standing career.

as always, the jSu marching Southerners wrapped up

the annual homecoming parade filling the streets of

jacksonville with the amazing sounds of our famous

marching Southerners.

members of the kappa Sigma Fraternity presented a

check to the jSu Foundation for their chapter scholarship.

pictured above are kappa Sigma Fraternity alumni Steve

camp, dan perry, hugh robert , kappa Sigma national

Vice president, jake camp, undergraduate president, brett

Socha , dr. charles lewis, Vice president of university

advancement and leann crowe, jSu major gifts officer.

jSu students cheer on the gamecocks for a homecoming

victory over murray State.

at the criminal justice alumni reception during the week-

end, dr. greg Sumner of rome, ga. was recognized as the

2012 outstanding criminal justice alumnus of the year.

dr. Sumner is currently serving as a professor of criminal

justice at georgia highlands college in rome, ga. In addi-

tion to dr. Sumner’s recognition, the jSu criminal justice

department dedicated the new memorial wall in brewer

hall for former students who have lost their lives in the

line of duty. Family members of the first known fallen jSu

alumni, cpt. kyle comfort, cpt. donnie belser and justin

Solluhub, were in attendance for the dedication.

graduates of the class of 1962 reunited on campus for

homecoming this year for their 50th year anniversary. dr.

meehan presented those in attendance with their “golden

gamecock” medallions.

members of the 1955 Football Team gathered for breakfast

on Saturday for their annual reunion. as always, coach don

Salls and his wife diane were present to welcome back his

former players.

36 : GEM OF THE HILLS FALL 2012 : 37

alumnotes

1930-1939

Virginia Bell Watters ’36/’41, Sylacauga, Ala., April 28, 2012. The alumni office was notified by her niece that Ms. Watters is deceased.

Frances J. Sheppard ’39, Gadsden, Ala. The alumni office was notified by the post office that Ms. Sheppard is deceased.

1940-1949

Helen Pate Landers ’45/’60, Anniston, Ala., September 16, 2012. She was a retired teacher with the Calhoun County Board of Education.

Ovelle Edith Benefield ’47, Rainsville, Ala., March, 2009. The alumni office was notified by a family member that Ms. Benefield had died in 2009.

William J. “Bill” Farrell ’47/’59, Anniston, Ala., May 4, 2012. Mr. Farrell played football for JSU. He was selected JSU’s Alumnus of the Year in 1978, was a life member of the JSU Alumni Association and was elected to the Alabama High School Sports Hall of Fame.

Susie Cochran Whitmore ’47, Cary, N.C. July 9, 2012. The alumni office was notified by a family member that Mrs. Whitmore is deceased. She was a retired high school guidance counselor.

George P. Hendrix ’48, Piedmont, Ala., August 10, 2012, following a short illness. He served in the Air Force during World War II. He was employed by the Army Missile Command at Redstone Arsenal where he received various distinguished service awards during his years of service. Mr. Hendrix served as mayor of the City of Piedmont from 1996 to 2000.

Paul Eugene Boozer ’49/’60, Jacksonville, Ala., August 7, 2012. Mr. Boozer taught school and was assistant principal at Oxford High School and served as principal at Oxford Middle School.

1950-1959

Terry H. Hodges ’50, Anniston, Ala., April 25, 2012. Mr. Hodges served in the Army in World War II. He coached at various schools in Alabama and Georgia until his retirement in 1983. In 1990, he was inducted into the JSU Athletic Hall of Fame and was selected one of the 100 greatest athletes in the first 100 years of the university. He was also selected as a member of the All-Century Football Team. Mr. Hodges, or “Shakey” as he was known to his teammates, played football for JSU between 1946 and 1949 and was a member of the football J-Club. His wife, Doris “Dot” Gray Hodges, passed away on August 11, 2012, shortly after her husband.

Elmer Lee Chaney, March 4, 2012, Concord, N.C. Mr. Chaney had been a professor of psychology at JSU for over forty years. He had a great passion for music and was a collector of keyed musical instruments --- some dating as far back as the 1830s. Four of these instruments will be donated to the Smithsonian Institution. While living in Alabama, he gave many organ concerts throughout the South.

John Thomas “Tommy” Hulsey, July 24, 2012, Jacksonville, Ala. Mr. Hulsey retired from JSU after thirty-three years of service as a campus electrician.

Katherine Burns White, June 23, 2012, Chattanooga, Tenn. Mrs. White was retired from JSU. She also served on the Board of the Jacksonville Public Library and was an elder at First Presbyterian Church of Jacksonville. Not many people know that in 1940 she flew solo at the Chattanooga Airport!

aTTended only or daTe oF graduaTIon unknown

John Wayne Culver, Warrior, Ala., died June 15, 2012, in an accident. He was an active member of the JSU Sixties Group.

Michael Marion Hutcheson, Gadsden, Ala., January 31, 2012. He had played football for JSU. The alumni office was notified by his wife of his death.

Elizabeth Holcombe Merrill, St. Louis, Mo., April 12, 2012. Mrs. Merrill was employed by the law firm of Merrill, Merrill, Vardaman & Williams and later by the Tax Assessor’s Office in Anniston, Ala. She was a member of Alpha Xi Delta.

Millard F. Penney, Fort Collins, Co., August 8, 2012. He was employed for twenty-eight years with the US Department of Health, Education and Welfare and was instrumental in improving national health care by creating special projects in burn medicine and problem oriented medical records. While at the National Institute of Mental Health he helped create rehabilitation programs for national comprehensive community mental health centers. After retiring, he and his wife served in the Peace Corps in the Solomon Islands.

Willard D. Smith, Pell City, Ala. The postal service advised the alumni office that Mr. Smith is deceased.

Charles T. “Charlie Tom” Wright, Gadsden, Ala., October 5, 2012. Mr. Wright was active in the JSU Sixties Group and loved attending JSU Homecoming events every year. He was a retired AAA travel agent, specializing in international tours.

Joan Bassett Wynn, Ashland, Ala., June 2, 2012. She taught in the Talladega County School System for several years before becoming a businesswoman, owning and operating Bassett’s Dry Goods store in Ashland.

James Paul “J.P.” Cain ’51, Hartselle, Ala., April 7, 2012, after a brief battle with cancer. Mr. Cain served in the Army during the Korean War. He played football for JSU, earning Little All-American honors as a center. Mr. Cain coached at Hartselle from 1957 to 1968, served as Hartselle Junior High’s first principal from 1969 to 1980 and was principal of Hartselle High from 1981 until he retired in 1988. He was honored by being inducted into the first Hartselle High Hall of Fame, the first honoree for the John Frank Parker Freedom Award, Morgan County Sports Hall of Fame, Alabama High School Sports Hall of Fame, JSU Hall of Fame, and was selected Citizen of the Year by the Civitan Club.

Lucille Walker Gibbs ’51, Arab, Ala., February 21, 2012. She was a retired teacher. The alumni office was notified by her son that she is deceased.

Rubye Hall Edge Sisson ’51/’70, Ragland, Ala., August 7, 2012. Mrs. Sisson taught school in Anniston, Ala., Atlanta, Ga., Cobb County (Ga.), and St. Clair County.

Charles D. McGeehon ’52, Orange Beach, Ala., February 10, 2012. Mr. McGeehon was a retired teacher from the Birmingham City Board of Education. The alumni office was notified by a family member that Mr. McGeehon is deceased.

Frances Treadaway Arrington ’53, Cleveland, Tenn., August 2, 2011. She served Lee University for almost fifty years, including twenty-four as Director of Lee College Library/William G. Squires Library. She was instrumental in the expansion of the library, including several phases of automation. After she retired, Mrs. Arrington volunteered with the Dixon Pentecostal Research Center where she focused on organizing the archives of Lee University.

Reginald Dewey Carlton ’53, Sylacauga, Ala., January 7, 2012. Mr. Carlton and his wife, Mabel Weaver Carlton ’55, had been in a bad car accident shortly after Christmas, 2011. Airlifted to UAB Hospital, Mr. Carlton died several days later. Mrs. Carlton was severely injured but has recovered. Both retired from the Talladega County Board of Education in 1985, he as a teacher and she as a counselor. Mrs. Carlton notified us of her husband’s death.

Ruth Lowrey Garrett ’53, Opelika, Ala., August 14, 2012, at the age of 97. Mrs. Garrett was retired from the Gadsden City School System. The alumni office was notified by her daughter that she is deceased.

Niles Howard Graham ’53, Northport, Ala., August 20, 2012. Mr. Graham played basketball for JSU. He was a retired enforcement officer with the State of Alabama Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms Bureau. The alumni office was notified by a family member that Mr. Graham is deceased.

Aubrey Ford Cowan ’04/’09 and Heather Marie Reaves, October 13, 2012. Mr. Cowan is pursuing his education specialist degree at JSU andis employed by The Learning Tree.

Jordan Leah Fowler ’05 and Michael Chad Humphries, May 19, 2012, Ft. Payne, Ala. Mrs. Humphries is employed by the Etowah County Board of Education and is pursuing a psychometry degree at the University of Alabama in Birmingham.

Brittany Shay Heath ’06 and Jeremy Phillip Cruse, June 2, 2012, Key West, Fla. Mrs. Cruse is employed by ABS Business Systems, Anniston, Ala.

Tara Lorai Herren ’07 and Lewis Alexander Payne, March 31, 2012, Anniston, Ala. Mrs. Payne is employed by Trinity Christian Academy and In His Steps Studio and Dance Arts.

Casey Leah Sandel ’07 and Kenneth William MacAllister, March 13, 2012. Mrs. MacAllister was a member of Delta Zeta and is employed by the Hampton Inn of Jacksonville, Ala., as general manager.

Will Ginn ’08/’10 and Maggie Nunnelly, March 24, 2012 at Janney Park. Mr. Ginn played basketball for JSU and is employed by the Calhoun County Board of Education at Alexandria High School.

Stacy June Hansen ’07 and Frederick Eugene Schroder III, August 18, 2012, Cedar Mountain, N.C. Mrs. Schroder was a member of Zeta Tau Alpha. She is employed by Bon Secours St. Francis Health System as a registered nurse. They reside in Greenville, S.C.

alumnotesBirTHs*pictures listed top to bottom left to right

2000 – 2010

David Adam ’00 and Jennifer E. Kelly* ’11/’12, Jacksonville, Ala., announce the birth of their daughter, Joy Elizabeth, October 2, 2012.

Michael Shane ’05 and Brandy Nicole Hammett Morrow ’05, Piedmont, Ala., welcomed the birth of their daughter, Mayley Shayne, July 19, 2012. The Morrows also have a son, Mason.

Thereasa Marie Baird Willis* ’06 and her husband Nathan, Gadsden, Ala., announce the birth of their first child, Luke Ray, July 27, 2007. Mrs. Willis was a member of Alpha Omicron Pi.

Dustin Mobley ’09 and his wife Dana, Piedmont, Ala., welcomed the birth of their daughter, Macie Paige, Feb. 13, 2012.

WeDDinGs2000-2012

Tom Lacy Tolley ’02 and Anna Marie Ricks, August 4, 2012, Sylacauga, Ala. Mr. Tolley is employed by the Department of Examiners of Public Accounts for the State of Alabama.

Brooke Lynn Bell* ’03/’09 and David Lyon, May 19, 2012. Mrs. Lyon was a JSU Ambassador, former Resident Assistant and member of Phi Mu. She is employed by JSU as Assistant Director of Student Development and Educational Programming, University Housing and Residence Life.

Kathryn Elisabeth Condit ’08 and Matthew Donald Brown, September 22, 2012. Mrs. Brown graduated summa cum laude from JSU. She has been employed by MDA Professional Group, P.C. as a certified public accountant since 2008.

Amanda Elizabeth Adcock ’09 and Brenton William Young ’09, August 11, 2012, Oxford, Ala. Mrs. Young is also a graduate of the University of Alabama School of Law and will enter law practice. She wasa member of Delta Zeta and was a JSU Ambassador. Mr. Young is employed by Grizzard Living Aids.

John Paul Madrigal ’09 and Courtney Brooke Hammett ’10, September 22, 2012, JSU Alumni House. Mrs. Madrigal is employed by the Calhoun County Board of Education. Mr. Madrigal is employed by the Jefferson County Board of Education.

Christopher Duke ’10 and Kristen Stinson ’10, August 18, 2012, JSU Alumni House. Mrs. Duke is employed by First Educators Credit Union. Mr. Duke played tennis for JSU.

Deborah Ann Gagnon ’10 and Dr. Christopher Alan Murdock. Dr. Murdock is an associate professor of biology at JSU.

Jennifer Leighann Noah ’10 and Christopher David Bright, May 5, 2012, Gadsden, Ala. Mrs. Bright is employed by Gadsden State Community College.

Lindy Baird ’11 and Alan Mange, March 24, 2012, Gadsden, Ala.

oBiTuaries(Unless otherwise noted, the following information was taken from newspaper obituary notices)

jSu FaculTy/STaFF

James H.D. “Don” Allen, March 12, 2012, Gadsden, Ala. Mr. Allen taught computer science at JSU between 1983 and 1994.

alumnotes

Joy Elizabeth Kelly (left), Luke Ray Willis (middle), Brooke Lynn Bell (right)

38 : GEM OF THE HILLS FALL 2012 : 39

alumnotes

Phillip Ray Hart ’66, Elizabethton, Tenn., April 20, 2012, of pancreatic cancer. He was head of the Music Department at Wharton County Junior College, Wharton, Tex., for thrity-four years, retiring in July 2008. Mr. Hart was a member of the JSU Marching Southerners and the Baptist Campus Ministry. The alumni office was notified by his wife of his death.

Jane Davis Fry ’67, Montgomery, Ala., November 21, 2011, after a battle with cancer. The alumni office was notified by her husband that she is deceased.

Bill E. Denkins ’68, Jacksonville, Ala., May 14, 2012. He had been an industrial engineer in the apparel manufacturing business.

Larry D. Musick ’68, LaGrange, Ga., February 28, 2012. He was a retired principal with the Troup County Board of Education. Mr. Musick was a proud former member of the JSU Marching Southerners. The alumni office was notified by his wife that he is deceased.

Lt. Col. Marion Miller Monk ’69, Jacksonville, Ala., August 12, 2012 at age 97. He was interred in Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors. LTC Monk served in the US Army for twenty-one years, serving in World War II, Korea and Vietnam before retiring in 1963 after the Cuban Missile Crisis.

Terry W. Owens ’69, Decatur, Ala., October 27, 2012. After signing a football scholarship with the University of Alabama, he transferred to JSU and played for the Gamecocks in both football and basketball. After graduation he was drafted by both the NFL’s Chicago Bears and the AFL’s San Diego Chargers. He joined the Chargers and played eleven years until a back injury forced him to retire. After his football career, Mr. Owens became a State Farm insurance agent for over thrity-five years until his illness forced him to retire in March of 2011. He has donated his tissue to the Boston University School of Medicine and the Center for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy. By participating in this research, Mr. Owens will be able to create knowledge and awareness that will make sports safer for all athletes at all levels of play, as well as facilitate research that will generate treatment and eventually find a cure for chronic traumatic encephalopathy.

Ophelia Monzia Stamps ’69, Gadsden, Ala., died several years ago. She was a retired teacher with the Gadsden City Board of Education. The alumni office was notified by her husband that she is deceased.

1970-1979

Lonnie Nelson Acton ’70, Griffin, Ga., July 1, 2012. He was retired from the Georgia Department of Labor. The alumni office was notified by his wife, Mabel Joyce Bates Acton ’61, that he had died. She said she will always remember his great laugh!

Marlene Boozer Pyron ’53, Mexico Beach, Fla., July 31, 2012. Mrs. Pyron was a retired teacher. She had been married to the late Steve Pyron ’53. The alumni office was notified by her son that she is deceased.

Lecil N. Smith ’53, Cullman, Ala., October 11, 2012. Mr. Smith was retired from the Cullman County Parks and Recreation Board.

Dr. Donald H. Henderson ’54, Birmingham, Ala., January 17, 2012. Dr. Henderson was a professor emeritus at the University of Alabama Birmingham. The alumni office was notified by his wife that he is deceased.

James Barney Hood ’54, Birmingham, Ala. The alumni office was notified by the postal service that Mr. Hood is deceased. He played basketball for JSU.

Loree Yates Teal, ’55, Gadsden, Ala., December 26, 2011. The alumni office was notified by her daughter that she is deceased.

Larry L. Lyda ’56, Birmingham, Ala., April 18, 2012, after a long illness. Mr. Lyda owned and operated Golf Headquarters, also known as Lyda’s Golf Shop, with his two sons for twenty-five years. He lettered in baseball and tennis at JSU and was commissioned through the JSU ROTC program. Mr. Lyda was married to Ann Parker Lyda ’60.

Ronal Dennis Kirkpatrick ’57, Fernandina Beach, Fla., October 27, 2011. Mr. Kirkpatrick played tennis for JSU. The alumni office was notified by his wife of his death.

Jack Lanier McClendon ’57, Weslaco, Tex., May 5, 2012. Mr. McClendon served in the US Army during the Korean War. He was retired from J.P. Stevens as a system engineer responsible for the computerization of dye and finish operations.

Clarence B. Oaks, Jr. ’57, Ohatchee, Ala., July 9, 2012. He was an Army veteran with twenty-five years of service. Col. Oaks was commissioned through the JSU ROTC program.

Dean Akin ’58, Gadsden, Ala., September 20, 2012. He was retired as the Assistant Director of the Alabama Department of Rehabilitation. Mr. Akin played football for JSU. He was married to Wanda Lou Roberts Akin ’60.

Barbara Ann Leach McFall ’58, Huntsville, Ala., April 15, 2012. She was a retired teacher from the Huntsville City Board of Education. Mrs. McFall was a member of the Marching Southerners at JSU. The alumni office was notified by her husband that she is deceased.

Crawford B. Pike ’58, Section, Ala., April 6, 2012. Mr. Pike was a retired librarian with the Muscogee County Schools in Columbus, Ga. The alumni office was notified by the funeral home, at the family’s request, of his death.

1960-1969

Iva M. Sherrard ’60, Atlanta, Ga. The postal service notified the alumni office that Ms. Sherrard is deceased.

Therman Leslie Smith ’60/’63/’75, Anniston, Ala., March 21, 2012. Mr. Smith served in the Air Force. He taught at Wellborn High, Bynum Elementary, and served as principal at Bynum and then Wellborn Elementary.

Millard H. Handley, Jr. ’61, Gadsden, Ala., January 30, 2012, from lung cancer. The alumni office was notified by his wife that he is deceased.

Wilka Evans Neighbors ’61, Alexander City, Ala., May, 2012. She was a retired teacher from the Coosa County Board of Education. The alumni office was notified by Mrs. Neighbors’ former JSU roommate of her death.

Charles S. Patterson ’61, Gadsden, Ala., May, 2012. The alumni office was advised by family members during the annual Phonathon that Mr. Patterson is deceased.

Robert K. Edwards ’62, Roanoke, Ala., April 30, 2012. Mr. Edwards served in the Air Force during the Korean War. He had been a practicing CPA in Roanoke from 1968 until his retirement in 2010.

Margaret Truitt Harrison ’62, Ohatchee, Ala., May 13, 2012. She was retired after thirty years as a teacher, ending her career as a special education teacher at Ohatchee.

Billy George Kuykendall ’62, Clermont, Fla., April 14, 2012. He taught and coached in North and Central Florida for twenty-seven years, ending with Ocoee High and Ocoee Middle Schools. Mr. Kuykendall played football for JSU.

Marjorie Deason McKleroy ’63, Tampa, Fla. The alumni office was notified by the postal service that Mrs. McKleroy is deceased.

Alice Deakins Carpenter ’65, Knoxville, Tenn., September 24, 2012. Mrs. Carpenter was a retired teacher from the Sevier County Board of Education. She had been a Marching Ballerina at JSU and was married to the late Tommy Carpenter, who played football for JSU. The alumni office was notified by a friend that Mrs. Carpenter is deceased.

Sandra Kay Geer Bush ’66, Huntsville, Ala., June 24, 2012, after a battle with kidney cancer. She had been married to Morgan Bush, Jr. ’68 who notified the alumni office of her death.

Elizabeth McCauley Cook ’66, Anniston, Ala., August 30, 2012. She was a teacher for more than twenty years, having spent seventeen of those years as a home economics teacher at Ohatchee High School.

William G. Davis ’70, Gretna, La., November 7, 2011. He was a retired human resources consultant with Entergy in New Orleans. The alumni office was notified by a family member that he is deceased.

Cathy Paulette Anderson ’71/’75, Grant, Ala. The postal service notified the alumni office that Ms. Anderson is deceased.

Robert Norton Keathley ’71, Jacksonville, Fla., date of death unknown. Mr. Keathley was a member of Alpha Tau Omega. The alumni office was notified by his wife that he is deceased.

Thomas Michael Oliver ’71, Attalla, Ala., February 1, 2012. He taught school at General Forrest and Cory Middle Schools and was retired from the Gadsden City Board of Education after thirty years of service.

Thomas Bryan Townsend ’71, Talladega, Ala., September 29, 2012. Mr. Townsend was self employed as a motivational speaker. He had been married to Judy Solley Townsend ’74.

Sammie Owen Mayben ’72, Gadsden, Ala., date unknown. She had been a teacher with the Etowah County Board of Education. The alumni office was notified by a family member that she had died in 2011.

Charles Michael Beale ’75, Ashland, Ala., July 22, 2012, in a car accident. The alumni office was notified during the annual Phonathon that Mr. Beale is deceased.

Patricia Thacker Gillilan ’76, Albertville, Ala., July 30, 2008. She had been a teacher with the Albertville City Board of Education. The alumni office was notified by her husband that she is deceased.

Robert J. Reynolds ’76/’79, Spotsylvania, Va., August 27, 2010, from complications from a 2003 stroke. Mr. Reynolds was an educator and taught in various colleges and universities including the Fort Bragg campus of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Campbell Methodist College and Fayetteville Technical Community College. The alumni office was notified by his sister that he had passed away in 2010.

Vivian Marie Hodges ’77/’89, Cave Spring, Ga., September 2, 2012. She had taught special education at Coosa Middle School and retired from the Floyd County Board of Education after twenty-two years of service. The alumni office was notified by her husband that she is deceased.

William Earl Tucker ’77, Northport, Ala., April 30, 2012. Mr. Tucker had been an educator. The alumni office was notified by his wife that he is deceased.

Wanda Jean Pruitt Williams ’78, Piedmont, Ala., August 19, 2012. Mrs. Williams had taught school and served as an assistant postmaster.

Robert Taft Holt ’79, Jacksonville, Ala., September 30, 2012. A member of Carpenters for Christ, he had been on several mission trips throughout the United States and in Honduras, Mexico and Israel.

Vicki Clark Patterson ’79, Adamsville, Ala., date unknown. The postal service advised the alumni office that Mrs. Patterson is deceased.

1980-1989

Mildred Smith Laney ’80, Oxford, Ala., August 20, 2012. Mrs. Laney had worked for many years as a registered nurse but another passion was genealogy. She had written many books on the history of Calhoun and surrounding counties and also helped others to research their own ancestry.

Paul Heflin Savage III ’80, Spring Garden, Ala., August 20, 2012. Mr. Savage served in the National Guard for thirty years, retiring as a lieutenant colonel. He was a member of the Spring Garden Volunteer Fire Department. An avid photographer, he owned Savage Photo and Studio Labs of Cherokee County before retiring and assuming the postmaster position at the Spring Garden Post Office, which had been run by his family for the past ninety-nine and a half years!

Jo-Ann Bailey Harper ’81/’83, Heflin, Ala., August 28, 2012, after a long illness. She taught for over thirty years in the Cleburne County School System.

Tamara Curvin Norton ’81/’84, Lawton, Okla., April 15, 2012. She was a member of the Baptist Campus Ministry at JSU.

Patti Dianne Aaron Howard ’82, Albertville, Ala., April 27, 2012. She had been a teacher with the Albertville City Board of Education.

Isaac “Butch” Kohen, Jr. ’84/’87, Anniston, Ala., September, 2012.

Claire Lou Cooper Little ’84, Birmingham, Ala., August 14, 2012. Mrs. Little spent many years living abroad and traveling the world. Returning to Birmingham, she pursued her passion for bowling, belonged to several leagues and toured the country competing in national tournaments.

Gordon Ray McKinney ’84, Heflin, Ala., March 16, 2012. Mr. McKinney was retired from the U.S. Navy as a chief petty officer in 1975 and retired from A.G. Edwards in 2005 where he had worked as a financial consultant.

Beverly Gwyn Self ’84, Equality, Ala., date unknown. The alumni office was notified by the postal service that Ms. Self is deceased.

Joyce Marie Mayse ’89, Piedmont, Ala., June 11, 2012. Mrs. Mayse had been employed by the Calhoun County Department of Human Resources as a social worker. She had been married to the late David Lee Mayse ’89.

1990-1999

M. Sgt. Oswald “Wally” O. Madrid ’90, Anniston, Ala., October, 2012. He was retired from the U.S. Army and from JSU.

Jonathan Todd Paris ’91/’96/’03, Anniston, Ala., August, 2012. He was a magna cum laude JSU graduate.

Karen Wilson Cobb ’93/’95, Alexandria, Ala., April 16, 2012. She was a teacher at Alexandria High School for twenty-three years.

Brent Grimek Kulig ’94, Houston, Tex., January 18, 2012. He had been a systems administrator.

Cassie Lee Lipham Brown ’95, Heflin, Ala., date unknown.

2000-2012

Theresa Elizabeth Wolfert Lowery ’01, Fyffe, Ala., June 7, 2012.

Frederic Lajohn “Coach T” Taylor ’03, Piedmont, Ala., October 28, 2012. Coach Taylor had served on the football coaching staff at Cherokee County High School as well as Piedmont High School. He was a former football player at JSU.

Judy Penn Biggs ’05, Attalla, Ala., May 24, 2011. Mrs. Biggs had been a teacher in the Attalla City Schools. The alumni office was notified by her husband that she is deceased.

Leo Christopher “Chris” Searcy ’09, Oxford, Ala., October 14, 2012. He enjoyed serving as an umpire for the Oxford Baseball for Youth program.

2nd Lt. Matthew Alexander Blount ’11, Jacksonville, Ala., March 10, 2012, of cancer. He served in the Army for thirteen years and was deployed during the first Iraqi invasion, specializing as a field medic. He had wanted to be commissioned into the Army as an officer after ROTC but his cancer halted the plan. After a discussion of his case with the U.S. Army Reserves Accessions Branch on March 6, an endorsement was received for a direct commission into the USAR. On March 7, dressed in his uniform one last time, his brother administered the oath of office and Matt signed the paperwork, his father saluting him next to his bedside.

alumnotes

40 : GEM OF THE HILLS FALL 2012 : 41

alumnotes alumnotes

Susan Camilla Howard Lockridge (left), Vanessa A. Jackson Austin: Cries in the Wind (middle), Jim Epik (middle)

alumnoTes*pictured below

aTTended only or daTe oF graduaTIon unknown

Ralph Keith Battle, Huntsville, Ala., has been inducted into the Huntsville-Madison County Athletic Hall of Fame. He was a four-year letterman at JSU, a two-time All-Gulf South Conference selection at JSU, and was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals. He is now a neighborhood programmer for the City of Huntsville’s Recreation Services.

Cedric Wayne Brownlee, Huntsville, Ala., has been inducted into the Huntsville-Madison County Athletic Hall of Fame. He played football for JSU, leading the team in rushing in 1979 and 1980 and named the team’s MVP. He signed as a free agent with the New York Giants. He is now retired from Federal Express and B & J Landscaping and Excavation Company.

Maurice A. Dupree, Leesburg, Ala., was recently named the Professional Indoor Football League 2012 Offensive Player of the Year. He plays for the Columbus Lions and had a record-setting year in his second season in the league. Mr. Dupree played football for JSU. He was a multiple All-Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) selection in 2008 where he was a first-team wide receiver and a second-team specialist for the Gamecocks. He set a JSU record after catching ten touchdown passes as a senior in 2008, while finishing the season with 799 yards on forty-nine catches and averaged 72.6 yards per game. As a return specialist, he led the OVC in kickoff returns and was second in punt returns.

Gary Lett, Hattiesburg, Miss., has a new novel just out titled Sideline. In the story, Northeast Alabama University is JSU and references are made to former JSU Coach Charley Pell and former JSU players E.C. “Baldy” Wilson and Lyle Darnell. Dr. Lett played football and golf at JSU. The book can be ordered at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Authorhouse or from Dr. Lett at chirolett@aol.com or through his web site at www.garylett.com. Dr. Lett is a practicing chiropractor.

David Luttrell, Cedar Bluff, Ala., was inducted into the Calhoun County Sports Hall of Fame this past June. He rushed for more than 1000 yards in each of his four high school seasons, was first team all-county his last three and state Class AA back of the year as a senior. The 322 points he scored in his career stood as the county record for many years. He went on to play football at JSU.

Anthony “Lefty” Perry, Hazel Green, Ala., has been inducted into the Huntsville-Madison County Athletic Hall of Fame. He originally signed with Alabama and was a member of the 1973 national championship team there. He then transferred to JSU and was a Division II All-American. He is now an ordained and licensed minister in Hazel Green.

Julia Harwell Segars*, Anniston, Ala., vice president, Eastern Division, Alabama Power Company, was honored by the Girl Scouts as a 2012 Women of Distinction with the Frances E. Couch Award, the highest adult recognition for a lifetime of leadership and service in the East Alabama Area. Mrs. Segars currently serves as president of the JSU Foundation Board.

1960-1969

Thomas Edward Bailey* ’69, Birmingham, Ala., has created Alabama Roots, a biography series for young readers that so far has told the story of forty-five men and women who have shaped the state of Alabama. Alabama students can learn the stories of remarkable Alabamians, their childhood triumphs and tribulations as well as the trails they blazed. Mr. Bailey worked for the Anniston Star while a JSU student. He later moved to Birmingham and became managing editor or the Birmingham News. He also founded Seacoast Publishing. Since 1999, about five hundred schools have used some or all of the forty-five Alabama Roots titles in their classrooms and libraries.

Bobby M. Junkins ’69/’72, Gadsden, Ala., probate judge of Etowah County, has been selected as one of the icons of The Central Carver Foundation for Outstanding Achievement. He was selected because he has demonstrated, and continues to demonstrate, the qualities taught by the Central and Carver High Schools such as integrity, perseverance, vision, quality and achieving success in his career.

1970-1979

Charlie D. Waldrep* ’71, Birmingham, Ala., has recently been selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America (2013 edition). He was recognized for his work in government relations practice. Mr. Waldrep is a founding partner of Waldrep, Stewart & Kendrick, LLC. He represents public agencies with a primary emphasis in civil litigation and governmental relations. He has been recognized for his accomplishments as an attorney by the Birmingham Business Journal and Alabama Super Lawyers and was honored in 2004 by the Alabama State Bar for his twenty-five years of service as a part-time municipal attorney and prosecutor. Mr. Waldrep is a former president of the JSU National Alumni Association and served on the JSU Foundation Board.

Dr. William Meehan ’72/’76 and Sandra Fox Sudduth ’75, both of Jacksonville, Ala., were honored at the New Alabama Voters League in June. Dr. Meehan, JSU president, was given the Community Covenant Award. He was a member of Delta Chi at JSU. Mrs. Sudduth received one of the Women of Excellence Awards. She is retired from JSU.

Charles Ronnie Gaddis ’73, Dalton, Ga., has successfully completed his designation as a certified property and casualty licensee. Employed by the Ronnie Siniard Insurance Agency, Inc., Mr. Gaddis also holds Life and Health Insurance licenses for the states of Georgia, Alabama and Tennessee. Mr. Gaddis was a member of the JSU Marching Southerners and the Baptist Campus Ministry.

Deborah Little Young ’73, Hokes Bluff, Ala., has been promoted to auditor and vice president of Farmers & Merchants Bank in Anniston. She began her banking career with Farmers & Merchants in 1981 as a teller and has been the internal auditor for the bank since 2001.

Cathy Acker Lanigan ’74/’77, Piedmont, Ala.., has retired after thirty-seven years of teaching at Spring Garden. She follows in the path of a long line of teachers in her family---her great-grandfather, her grandmother and her own mother who taught for more than thirty years. Mrs. Lanigan’s own daughter is now teaching in Centre, Ala. She had planned to retire last year but had the opportunity to have her own grandchildren in her school and classroom so she stayed to spend more time with them.

Dr. Robert Edward Blackwelder ’75/’76, Piedmont, Ala., will donate his collection of data on criminol-ogy and serial killers, such as Charles Manson and Ted Bundy, to JSU. He has studied serial killers for more than fifty years and has developed much of the collection through personal interaction with these killers. The collection will be one of the most extensive and significant collections of primary data on the subject held at any academic institution in the nation. Dr. Blackwelder and his wife are also donating a scholarship to JSU for a student majoring in social work.

Larry K. Deason ’77, Anniston, Ala., has been named president of Farmers & Merchants Bank in Anniston. He has been with the bank since 1988, but began his banking career in 1974 with Anniston National Bank. Mr. Deason opened the first branch for Farmers & Merchants in Anniston in 1988 and has held the title not only of a senior lender, but also of executive vice president and chief operations officer.

Dr. Mary Looney Harrington ’77/’90, Anniston, Ala., has been appointed interim superintendent of the Cleburne County Board of Education. She is married to Joe Nathan Harrington ’03.

Charles Lowery Stewart ’78, Ooltewah, Tenn., recently became Health Management Associates’ Missouri Market chief executive officer at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. He is also responsible for HMA’s Twin Rivers Medical Center at Kenneth, Mo. He has been in administrative positions at for-profit and non-profit hospitals in Birmingham, Ala., Raleigh, N.C., Amory, Miss., Oxford, Miss., Tuscaloosa, Ala., and Ft. Oglethorpe, Ga.

1980-1989

Vickie Ledbetter Saxon ’80, Birmingham, Ala., has been appointed senior vice president, enterprise resources for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama. She has more than twenty-five years of experience with Blue Cross.

Susan Camilla Howard Lockridge* ’80, Huntsville, Ala., has been appointed to the TRS/PEEHIP Board of Control for The Retirement Systems of Alabama.

Brenda Lindley Anderson ’81, Huntsville, Ala., is now a system safety representative on the Safety Assessment Team at the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville. She has also been the recipient of two awards this year – the Individual Time Off Award for outstanding efforts in the development and delivery of the Space Launch System, System Safety Analysis Report in support of the SLS System Requirements Review/System and the Group Achievement Award for outstanding support to the Safety and Mission Assurance Review Team for the Space Launch System Systems Requirement Review and Systems Development Review.

Kelly Mangus Maltagliati ’81, Burtonsville, Md., is a special agent in charge of the Archival Recovery Team with the Office of Inspector General at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). She was instrumental in establishing NARA’s Archival Recovery Team eight years ago. Thousands of historical documents have disappeared over the years from the National Archives and her team seeks to recover them. She has set up recovery programs, sting operations, engaged in old-fashioned

police work, visited memorabilia and Civil War shows, used social media to reach the public, established a hot- line for information and built a network of “sentinels” throughout the nation to be on the lookout for stolen documents.

Vanessa A. Jackson Austin* ’82, Harvest, Ala., recently published a new non-fiction, inspirational book entitled Cries in the Wind which chronicles her 2009 cancer journey. She is a poet, writer, greeting card designer, and jewelry and stained glass designer. She has also published two poetry and quotation books entitled Live On and Refreshments for the Heart. Mrs. Austin also owns and manages CABBIT Designs, where she sells handcrafted and one-of-a-kind inspirational items. An excerpt of her book can be viewed at www.westbowpress.com or www.barnesandnoble.com. Her website is www.cabbitdesigns.net.

Robin Thomas Volker ’82, Delaware, Oh., is the first Unity minister to be ordained in Delaware County, Ohio. She teaches Unity’s philosophy of positive thinking in popular weekly classes and Sunday morning services. She began as a dedi-cated volunteer in Unity churches. She launched her speaking and teaching ministry in Blairsville, Ga., in 2001.

Jim Epik* ’83/’87, Weaver, Ala., former special agent turned author, once again opens the dialogue on our nation’s failure to be proactive in its security planning with his second novel, 12th and D: Al Qaeda’s Revenge. In this book he examines the devastating effect a terrorist attack on an unprotected fuel depot located in downtown Washington D.C. could have. In Jim’s first novel, Phantom Controller, he articulates his twenty year battle with the FAA to secure air traffic control tower communications with passenger aircraft. Jim’s stories are inspired by over twenty years of work as one of the nation’s leading security experts and his tireless effort to remove the vulnerabilities that threaten every American. His novels can be purchased through Amazon.

Julia Harwell Segars (left), Thomas Edward Bailey (middle), Charlie Waldrep (right)

42 : GEM OF THE HILLS FALL 2012 : 43

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James Kevin Riffey (left), Taylor Larry Wiggins (middle) SprInG 2012 : 43

James Willet Ackley ’85, Savannah, Tenn., has published his first book with Westbow Press, Footprints Into Your Faith, to help people of the Christian faith examine their own personal walk of faith. The theme of each chapter has a scriptural basis and is centered around personal events. The book is available at most outlets in paperback and hardback formats. Mr. Ackely was a member of the Delta Phi Chapter of Kappa Alpha Order.

Christa Davis* ’85, Centre, Ala., has been honored with a resolution by the Alabama State Senate with its highest commendation for helping shed light on the medical condition suffered by her mother, Patricia Davis Harton. Medical professionals in orthopedic and neurological specialties agree that hers is a rare and unique case and the research Ms. Davis initiated will benefit many people suffering from similar symptoms. Steel Standing, shares the true story of Mrs. Harton’s extraordinary journey from suffering to recovery which connected a new link between metal allergies and muscle inflammation when joint replacements, or any type of metals, are implanted in the body. Her mother was diagnosed with Inflammatory Myopathy in 2009 and Ms. Davis gave up her job to be a full time caregiver. At that time she initiated her own medical research, hoping to find a cause for her mother’s unexplained symptoms. This research helped to link her mother’s muscle problems with her knee and hip replacements. Ms. Davis’ theory was considered unlikely and far-fetched by specialty physicians in orthopedics at the time. However, once her mother’s allergy-inducing implants made of cobalt-chromium-nickel were replaced with titanium ones, Mrs. Harton’s body began to grow new muscle tissue and she completely recovered. A large part of Ms. Davis’ career has been spent working in medical centers with primary care and specialty physicians in clinical and non-clinical settings.

Hugh Stephen Camp ’86, Douglasville, Ga., was recently appointed coaching ministries director in Douglas County, Ga., for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. He served as editor-in-chief of the Chanti-cleer and was the radio voice for Gamecocks Baseball at JSU. Mr. Camp is a member of Kappa Sigma.

Emily Sides Bonds* ’87, Mountain Brook, Ala., has recently been included in The Best Lawyers in America 2013, the definitive guide to legal excellence. Mrs. Bonds is an attorney with Jones Walker and, for the sixth consecutive year, the firm has sat atop the an-nual peer-review attorney rankings among Louisiana-based firms. Ratings are based on peer-review surveys where thousands of attorneys cast more than two million votes on the legal abilities of other lawyers in their practice area. It is the most respected referral list of attorneys in practice. Mrs. Bonds was a member of Alpha Xi Delta. She was a Ballerina in the Marching Southerners and a member of the Baptist Campus Ministry at JSU. Mrs. Bonds is serving on the JSU Alumni Association Board of Governors as the im-mediate past president of the Board.

Debra Rena Creed Burroughs ’87/’93, Jacksonville, Ala., has been selected by the Jacksonville City School System as Teacher of the Year for Kitty Stone Elementary School. She teaches sixth grade.

Lynn Renee Johnson Greene ’87, Lawton, Okla., has completed her degree at the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine.

1990-1999

Dr. Jesus Mario Aguilar ’90, Jacksonville, Ala., has been selected to receive a Teledyne Scientific & Imaging 2011 Recognition Award. He was recognized for his contribution as both a technical innovator and a business development leader. He was team leader of Teledyne’s Neurotechnology for Intelligence Analysts (NIA) Team which won Team of the Year, continuing to secure Teledyne’s position as a world leader in neurotechnology research and technology. Dr. Aguilar was a member of the JSU International House Program. He is married to Jennifer Smith Aguilar ’89.

James Robert Newell ’91, Sevierville, Tenn., has been appointed by Alabama Governor Bentley to the State of Alabama Independent Living Council. A former resident of Deatsville, Ala., he previously served on the JSU Alumni Board of Governors as president of the Central Alabama Alumni Chapter and recently moved to Tennessee to accept a position there.

Shane McGriff ’91, Norcross, Ga., has joined the global professional services firm Alvarez & Marsal, as a managing director. He has more than fifteen years of experience in providing enterprise risk management solutions to financial services institu-tions. In his new role, he will advise clients on the development of stress testing infrastructure, risk analytics services and capabilities and the implemen-tation of economic capital solutions.

Derrick Jordan* ’92, Birmingham, Ala, is a senior district sales manager for Watson Pharmaceuticals and has recently started the Hope Everlasting Ministry in Birmingham. On Labor Day weekend, the doors opened to the first service and with the mission of encouraging people to pursue and live out the plan, the purpose and the will of God. Mr. Jordan met his wife LaTanya at Rowan Hall while at JSU and they have been together ever since. To learn more about his ministry, contact him at hempastor@yahoo.com

Jimmy Dewayne Bowen ’93, Calhoun, Ga., is a finan-cial advisor with Edward Jones in Calhoun. He was elected chairman of the Board of the Gordon County Chamber of Commerce in 2011 and is also an elected school board member with his term running through 2014. Mr. Bowen was a member of Pi Kappa Phi.

James Kevin Riffey* ’93, Tampa, Fla., has been hired by American Momentum Bank as a senior vice presi-dent and business banking manager. He manages the bank’s system-wide small business banking depart-ment and two key Small Business Administration lending programs. He previously served in a similar capacity at Florida Bank and at Capstone Capital as a managing member. Mr. Riffey has seventeen years of financial services experience. He was a member of Kappa Alpha Order.

Gregory Mikell ’95, New York, N.Y., is a professional actor and has formed his own entertainment produc-tion company, Acclaim Theatricals. His first film on racial profiling is in production. Mr. Mikell has done work with many top stars including Kristin Wigg, Sam Rockwell, Helen Hunt and Brian Dennehy and has done voiceover work for ABC 20/20 and National Geographic.

Chris F. Latta ’99, Jacksonville, Ala., has been promoted to vice president and chief financial officer with Farmers & Merchants Bank in Anniston. He has been with the bank since 2002, but began his banking career in 1999 at National Bank of Com-merce in Birmingham. Mr. Latta is married to Kelly Susan Creswell Latta ’05/’09.

2000-2012

Maria Seale Dresser ’00, Ashville, Ala., is now the full time director of the Blount County office of the state Department of Human Resources. A licensed gradu-ate social worker, Ms. Dresser has served ten years with the DHR, specializing in child welfare, and has had assignments in St. Clair and Calhoun County DHR offices. She previously served as director/assis-tant director over child welfare in Calhoun County.

Taylor Larry Wiggins* ’00, Gadsden, Ala., has been recently honored by Northwestern Mutual Life Insur-ance with a national Top 20 Award in recognition of an exceptional year of helping clients achieve financial security.

Jennifer Cobb Murrell ’00/’03, Munford, Ala., is living the struggle along with her husband, James. He was born with a transposition of the great vessels of the heart, the major vessels go into the heart in reverse, and he is waiting for the gift of life on the transplant list. Please keep the Murrell family in your thoughts.

Burton S. Lavender ’04/’08, Hokes Bluff, Ala., has been recognized as Jacksonville’s Teacher of the Year for Jacksonville High School. He teaches advanced math.

Jennifer Lynn Brenneman Neville ’05, Cincinnati, Oh., is an internal medicine chief resident at University of Cincinnati Hospital. Mrs. Neville graduated from Southern Illinois University School of Medicine in 2009 and completed a training program in internal medicine at the University of Cincinnati. She plans to apply for a Pulmonary-Critical Care Fellowship. Mrs. Neville was a member of the JSU volleyball team.

Erin Chupp Sintos ’05/’09, Atlanta, Ga., has started Tin Can Photography along with her husband Bryan ’09 (a former Marching Southerner). She also works part time at Miss Mamie’s Bakery in Marietta and appeared on the Food Network’s hit show Cupcake Wars in March AND WON! She loves her career in photography and both she and Bryan often put in fifteen hour days. While at JSU, Mrs. Sintos show-cased her writing talents on the staff of the Chan-ticleer and in the Office of Public Relations, which included writing articles for the GEM of the Hills.

Krystle Nicole Lange ’07, Colby, Wis., has completed her degree at the Des Moines University School of Osteopathic Medicine.

Ryan Alan Youngblood ’07, Cedar Bluff, Ala., has completed his degree at the Des Moines University School of Osteopathic Medicine. He is in the field of Health Care Administration.

Andrew Russell Christie ’08, Knoxville, Tenn., has completed his degree at Lincoln Memorial University-DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine in Harrogate, Tenn.

Ashley Elizabeth Ward ’08, Winston-Salem, N.C., has completed her degree in pharmacy from Campbell University in Dunn, North Carolina.

Michael Wayne Finn ’11, Washington, D.C., recently served as a graduate intern with the U.S. Senate Committee on the Budget Minority Office under Sen. Jeff Sessions. He was accepted as a degree candi-date for the Master of Science in Applied Economics at Johns Hopkins University’s Zanvyl Krieger School of Arts and Sciences Advanced Academics Program and began his studies in May.

Dustin Gerald King ’11, Ponca City, Okla., has joined The Bass Federation’s staff as the digital sales and marketing manager. He’s right in his element as Mr. King is an avid angler and promoter of all things related to fishing.

Christa Davis (left), Emily Bonds (middle), Derrick Jordan (right)

Jennifer Aiken ’11, Delmar, N.Y., is continuing her education in radiation therapy at Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, N.Y. This is a great field for her since she is in remission with Hodgkin’s Lym-phoma. Ms. Aiken was a member of Alpha Xi Delta.

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Visit the alumni website at www.jsu.edu/alumni and submit a nomination form online or contact the alumni relations office for more information.

Nomination deadline for Homecoming 2013 is May 1, 2013.

Jacksonville State University held it’s annual JSU In Lights ceremony at the Presidents’ House, where students, faculty and staff gathered for hot beverages and the countdown to the campus Christmas lights being turned on.

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