Around the State: UMHB creates College of Health Sciences

The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor brought together its academic programs in nursing, sport science, physical therapy, counseling and related disciplines to create the Mayborn College of Health Sciences, named in honor of donor and former trustee Sue Mayborn. The Mayborn College of Health Sciences under the direction of Colin Wilborn, executive dean, will include three schools. The Scott & White School of Nursing, led by Dean Sharon Souter, offers both the undergraduate Bachelor of Science in Nursing and graduate degrees at the master’s and doctoral levels. It is housed in the Isabelle Rutherford Meyer Nursing Education Center. Cliffa Foster has been named dean of the new School of Exercise and Sport Science, which offers five undergraduate degrees in exercise and sport science specialties as well as two degrees at the master’s level. The School of Health Professions includes three graduate degree programs—the Doctor of Physical Therapy, the Master of Science in Occupational Therapy and Master of Arts in Counseling. A fourth graduate program will be added when a Master of Science in Physician Assistant degree program is launched in Spring 2021. A dean for the new school will be selected later. “The unification of these outstanding programs into a single college marks the emergence of UMHB as a leader in Christian healthcare education, dedicated to meeting the need for highly trained, compassionate caregivers at all levels of the healthcare system,” said President Randy O’Rear. “We expect the Mayborn College of Health Sciences to quickly become known as the source of the finest healthcare professionals to be found.”

Hardin-Simmons University is partnering with Communities Engaging Difference and Religion to provide CEDAR’s first experientially based educational program in Texas. Participants from 10 countries will gather at HSU July 14-27 to live and learn together during a program called “Hospitality and the Stranger.” Twenty-eight scholars, religious leaders, nongovernmental organization officials and community activists from Uganda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Georgia, Bulgaria, Romania, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Zimbabwe, Tajikistan and the United States will meet at the HSU campus for learning activities and volunteer service opportunities. Since 2003, CEDAR has facilitated over 40 programs in countries from China to Bulgaria to Uganda. Chad Moore, CEDAR network organizer, is Hardin-Simmons graduate and doctoral student at Boston University. The Abilene CEDAR committee is co-chaired by two HSU graduates—Jacob Snowden, minister at First Central Presbyterian Church, and Nathan Adams, missions minister at Pioneer Drive Baptist Church.

Houston Baptist University’s School of Nursing and Allied Health received a $200,000 gift from the John S. Dunn Foundation to fund scholarships for undergraduate and graduate nursing students. The award brings total support from the John S. Dunn Foundation to $2.3 million. The new funds will support 10 undergraduate and 11 graduate scholarships. The new scholarships, combined with Dunn Endowed Scholarships, will provide 29 nursing students with scholarships in the fall of 2018.

Baylor University named Amy Armstrong, executive director of philanthropic operations at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, associate vice president of alumni engagement at the university in Waco, effective July 23. She will oversee planning, implementation and promotion of all alumni and annual giving programs, ensuring all meet diverse alumni needs, while also supporting Baylor’s Illuminate strategic plan and comprehensive campaign in collaboration with university development and other departments across campus. Armstrong served previously as assistant vice president for alumni relations and development at Trinity University in San Antonio and as senior director of operations and senior director of strategic planning and performance enhancement in the division of advancement at the University of North Texas in Denton. Armstrong earned her bachelor of business administration degree in marketing from Texas Tech University in 1996 and her master of business administration degree in strategic management from the University of North Texas in 2012.

East Texas Baptist University received $30,000 from Hal and Joyce Cornish for enhancements to the Cornish Soccer Field. Originally built in 2000, the field was initially upgraded in 2007 with funds also provided by the Cornish family.

Retirement

Cleve Kirby after 23 years as pastor of First Baptist Church in Slaton and 45 years in ministry.