Around the State: UMHB awards Wallace E. Davis an Honorary Doctorate

At its May 4 commencement, the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor awarded Wallace E. Davis an Honorary Doctorate of Humanities degree for his many contributions to the university. Davis then delivered the commencement address to the graduating class of 2024. Davis earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees at Baylor University and a Doctor of Philosophy degree from the University of Texas. After serving in the U.S. Army in Korea, he taught elementary school and served the Corpus Christi Independent School District in several other roles. In 1973, he became one of the first four educators employed by the newly founded Corpus Christi State University—now Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. In 1991, Davis became president of Wayland Baptist University, where he served more than nine years before being named the university’s first chancellor. Upon his retirement in 2002, he was named chancellor emeritus of the Wayland Baptist University System. After moving to Salado, Davis and his late wife, Patsy Lewis Mayfield, connected with UMHB. He has been a faithful donor to UMHB for the past 17 years. This was the university’s 168th graduating class, with 485 students awarded degrees—366 baccalaureate degrees, 107 masters’ degrees and 12 doctoral degrees.

East Texas Baptist University presented 186 graduates with degrees during its commencement ceremony, May 10. ETBU President J. Blair Blackburn presided over the ceremony, during which 165 students received undergraduate degrees and 21 received graduate degrees. During the first ceremony, Sam Moseley was presented with an honorary doctorate. Moseley’s legal career included serving as assistant city attorney for Marshall, co-founding the firm Moseley and Moseley, and working in the administrations of Presidents Reagan and Bush from 1985-1993. Congress appointed him to the Millennial Housing Commission in 2000. Blackburn presented Steve and Penny Carlile with honorary doctorates during the second ceremony. The Carliles have been connected to East Texas Baptist University for many years. After graduating from Baylor University, they returned to their hometown of Marshall, where they have supported local organizations and initiatives, including Mission Marshall, the Boys and Girls Club of the Big Pines, Marshall Independent School District, Marshall downtown revitalization and Marshall City Park. Steve and Penny Carlile Hall is named in honor of them for their generous investment through institutional service, campus building initiatives, and encouragement to expand and increase the impact of East Texas Baptist University.

Howard Payne University freshman Shadia Herrera of Azle recently was named a recipient of the Dr. Juan Andrade Scholarship for Young Hispanic Leaders, presented at the United States Hispanic Leadership Institute National Conference in Chicago. Herrera was one of 23 recipients of the scholarship. The institute has awarded more than $1.6 million in scholarships and internships to Hispanic college students throughout the United States. The annual national conference drew 4,650 students from 63 high schools and 115 colleges and universities in 24 states. Herrera first met Juan Andrade, a 1970 graduate of HPU, at the university’s Hispanic Alumni Fellowship in the fall, and she briefly spoke about her plans upon graduation. Andrade encouraged her to apply for the scholarship. She soon was notified of her acceptance, as well as a trip to Chicago and admission to the conference. “I hand-picked Shadia because, when she shared her plans, she mentioned what she wanted to be, but then went on to speak about what she wanted to do and why, and that clinched it for me,” Andrade said. “Knowing what you want to do and why adds tremendous meaning and value to whatever you want to be.” Herrera is majoring in biomedical science and plans to become a physician’s assistant after she graduates. Her goal is to become a missionary and bring medicine and the gospel to remote places in the world.

Wayland Baptist University raised more than $25,000 for the Mark and Linda Murdock Endowed Scholarship during its Denim and Diamonds Scholarship Gala. President Emeritus Paul Armes introduced longtime Wayland supporters and civic leaders Mark and Linda Murdock. An Air National Guard and Air Force veteran, Mark enjoyed a 36-year career with Crossmark, a sales and marketing company for the food industry. He retired in 1999 after serving as Crossmark’s president for more than 16 years. He serves as a deacon at Southcrest Baptist Church, where he and Linda currently attend. The couple were members of Oakwood Baptist Church for more than 40 years. It was noted the couple is committed to ensuring future generations of students can receive a quality education in a Christian atmosphere.

East Texas Baptist University received a $475,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration. The funds will enable ETBU to address economic challenges in Marshall and the surrounding region by developing and implementing long-term economic revitalization strategies to serve the local economy. The award will enhance the ability of ETBU’s Synergy Park to serve the economic development needs of Marshall and Harrison County. With this funding, ETBU now may implement new, market-driven programs to serve both local business owners and workforce participants while expanding the array of services already offered at Synergy Park. Since opening in April 2023, Synergy Park has become a major driver of economic revitalization in downtown Marshall. At 48,000 square feet, the former East Texas home of Capital One now serves as the headquarters for 12 local corporations, five of which are nonprofits. “ETBU’s vision for Synergy Park was to create an innovative center for educational and professional activity within downtown Marshall, catalyzing further economic development,” said ETBU President J. Blair Blackburn.

Yongli Luo has been named the 2023-2024 Houston Christian University Piper Professor. Luo is an associate professor of finance and serves as program coordinator for the Finance and Bachelor of Business Administration degree programs and coordinator of the Archie W. Dunham College of Business online programs. Given by the Minnie Stevens Piper Foundation, the Piper Professor Award recognizes outstanding achievement in teaching in colleges and universities throughout Texas. The foundation gives 10 awards annually to teachers who are devoted to their professions and have made a special impact on their students and their community. A single nominee is selected each fall to represent HCU as the university’s nominee to the Minnie Stevens Piper Foundation. Luo earned a Bachelor of Science in International Business from Chongqing University in China, a Master of Science in Management from the University of Science and Technology of China and his Ph.D. in Business Administration from the University of Texas-Pan American. He has taught a range of courses from corporate finance to international business to risk management. He was a 2014-2015 Minnie Stevens Piper Professor nominee at the School of Business of Wayland Baptist University. His research interests focus on corporate financial management and global financial markets and institutions.

Howard Payne University’s Department of Criminal Justice recently hosted Voices from the Field, a seminar on restorative justice. The event was open to all HPU students, but focused on students majoring in social service fields, including criminal justice, social work, psychology, Christian studies and nursing. Four guest speakers presented on topics related to their respective fields. Texas Baptists’ Christian Life Commission sponsored the event as part of a larger restorative justice grant awarded to the HPU Department of Criminal Justice. Gina N. Gibbs, chair of the Department of Criminal Justice and assistant professor of criminal justice said: “Restorative justice is an approach that embraces the core values of forgiveness and accountability found in Christianity and influences several career paths. It is vital that students going into ‘people helping’ fields hear directly from practitioners and know how what is taught in the classroom may be used in future careers.” The guest speakers were Tomi Grover, presenting “Restorative Justice: Healing Community, and Accountability,” Scott McIntosh presenting “The Victim’s Side of Restorative Justice,” Lisa Medlin presenting “Restorative Justice in Action: Being Trauma Informed in Fostering and Adoption” and Michelle Salzman presenting “Handle With Care: Trauma and the Crime Victim.” Lynn Humeniuk, assistant professor emeritus of sociology and adjunct faculty in criminal justice and sociology, spoke on the history of the restorative justice emphasis offered at HPU.

Houston Christian University hosted a half-day conference on May 7 for faculty, staff and members of the community on “Exploring the Christian Framework on Neurodiversity in Classroom, Church, and Workplace Settings.” The conference sought to offer an informed awareness of a variety of physio-psychological conditions that impact how individuals engage in educational, social and spiritual settings. It was designed to provide practical guidance about how to honor the dignity of people with neurodiversities as image-bearers of God and the unique strengths and perspectives they bring to churches and campuses. Participants heard presentations from Angie Maxey, a local expert on educational access and accommodations, from Lacey Madeley, who helps to lead Young Life’s Capernaum ministry in Houston, and from a panel of HCU alumni with neurodiversities who shared about their own experiences as students and the ways in which faculty and staff were able to support their flourishing as whole people. 

Howard Payne University’s School of Science and Mathematics invites high school students to apply for admission to the second annual Summer Research Symposium, scheduled for July 1 through Aug. 5. Applications are now open and will be accepted until May 17. The symposium provides students with a paid laboratory experience prior to their attending university. This program lasts for four weeks, during which each student will partner with another applicant as well as an HPU student researching a current topic in STEM—science, technology, engineering and mathematics. At the conclusion of the research, students will present their results to their family and friends. “Participants will be able to perform one of three proposed research topics,” said Dennis Gibson, associate professor of chemistry and department chair of physical sciences. “These topics include developing an alternative to inhibit the growth of bacteria in preservative-free eye drops, extracting and testing novel fluorescent probes for understanding the formation of microplastics, and optimizing a new extraction technique of a common biopolymer.” Interested students may apply at www.hputx.edu/summerresearch.

Dan Stiver has been named president of Jesse C. Fletcher Seminary. Fletcher Seminary is an online- and San Antonio-based seminary. Established after the closure of Logsdon Seminary, Fletcher is intentionally inclusive and multidenominational. Stiver taught at Logsdon and has been teaching at Fletcher Seminary since it began. He succeeds founding president Donald Williford.

Anniversary

Literacy Connexus marked 20 years of ministry May 1. Literacy Connexus was established by Texas Baptists in 2004 to help churches help people with literacy needs. They collaborate with churches of all denominations in Texas and beyond—aspiring to give voice to the millions who struggle with speaking, reading and writing English—mobilizing churches to meet those needs. Lester Meriwether serves as executive director.