UNIVERSITY OF THE SOUTHWEST
Summer 2014
University of the Southwest Confers Degrees
University of the Southwest held Commencement Ceremonies on May 3,
2014 in the Jack & Mabel Maddox Student Life Center on campus. The
night before, Dr. Gary Dill provided the message for the Baccalaureate
ceremony, which was held in the Mabee Southwest Heritage Center.
Outgoing SGA President,
Brianna Trevizo, addresses
fellow graduates
Forty-five students earned bachelor’s degrees and more than 120 received
master’s degrees in their respective studies. As part of the commencement
exercises, USW students graduating with a master’s degree participated in
a hooding ceremony, which signifies a scholarly and personal achievement.
Brianna Trevizo, graduating with a bachelor of science degree, and outgoing President of the USW
Student Government Association, gave the student address. Brianna talked about her memories gained
while at USW and expressed her excitement about the future. Following Brianna’s speech, state Rep.
Donald Bratton, R-Hobbs, gave the commencement address, wherein he advised graduates to continue gaining knowledge and wisdom as their future unfolds.
Dr. James Smith, USW Provost, presented student awards to graduates who distinguished themselves
academically or who performed outstanding service to USW and the community. The recipient of the
President’s Award was Ciara Fraher, who graduated with a bachelor of science degree. Recipient of
the Trustee’s Award was Marisol Ramirez, graduating with a Bachelor of Business Administration.
Recipient of the Academic Excellence Award was Mariah Faifer, who graduated with a Bachelor of Science. And the recipients for the Dean’s Award were Selena Evans and Jeffery Hicks, graduating with
a Master of Science in Education and a Master of Business Administration, respectively.
President Gary Dill Announces Retirement
University of the Southwest president, Dr. Gary A. Dill, has announced that
he plans to retire in summer 2015. In preparation for this announcement,
the university’s Board of Trustees has established a special committee that
planned for this transition and will oversee the search and selection of a new
president.
Dill was inaugurated as President of University of the Southwest on August
26, 2002, making him the 10th president of the university. Dill previously
served as President of McPherson College in McPherson, KS, as Senior VP
at
Schreiner College in Kerrville, TX, as a member of the faculty of St. Cloud
Dr. Gary A. Dill, President
State University in Minnesota, as a planner for the Texas Education Agency,
and as a pastor in Indiana, Illinois, and Minnesota.
Dill’s educational background includes a Doctor of Philosophy degree (Ph.D.) from the University of Texas at Austin, a Doctor of Ministry degree (D.Min.) from Southern Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY,
and a Master of Divinity degree (M.Div.) from Princeton Theological Seminary. Philosophy and religion
were his undergraduate majors at Houston Baptist University, where he earned his bachelor’s degree.
Dill and the Board of Trustees chose to delay this public announcement until after the 2014 Commencement. “I am very grateful for the honor, privilege, and responsibility of serving as President of
University of the Southwest. Marilyn and I have been warmly embraced by the USW campus, the City
of Hobbs, and the wider community. After the conclusion of the coming final year of service, we look
forward to retiring to our home south of Alpine.”
A national search for a new president is currently under way.
Inside this issue:
Former Enron VP Speaks About Ethics
2014 Free Enterprise Dinner
2
Students & Staff in the News
3
USW Announces New Dean
3
USW Hires New Coaching Staff
4
National Geographic Photographer, 5
Sam Abell, Brings Photos to Life
Mustangs Softball Team Boasts
6
Winning Season
USW Provost Selected for 6
National Leadership Program
USW Announces New Grant 7
Opportunities
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David Arnold, USW Campus Steward and faculty member, recently received his Doctor of Management from Colorado Technical University. David
holds a bachelor’s degree in management and finance from Baylor University, a bachelor’s degree in accounting from University of the Southwest,
and a master’s degree in business
administration from University of Texas, Permian Basin.
Jim Britton, friend of USW and former member of the USW Board of Trustees, was named to the District 4 Lea County Commission seat in April by Gov. Susana Martinez. Britton will officially run for the seat in November during the general election.
Rene Cantu, ’05 (MSE,
Educational Administration), was recently named as the principal of Heizer Middle School in Hobbs. Cantu has taught in Hobbs since 1996.
Laura Castillo, ’00 (BS,
Psychology), was recently appointed by NM Gov. Susana Martinez as the newest district judge for the Fifth Judicial District.
Castillo has had her own law
practice since 2010 and works as a volunteer for many youth programs in Lea County.
continued on page 2
Former Enron VP Speaks About Ethics
at 2014 Free Enterprise Dinner
Sherron Watkins provided the keynote address
at the 2014 Free Enterprise Dinner on March 25,
2014 at 6:00 p.m. in the Jack & Mabel Maddox
Student Life Center on the USW campus.
Sherron Watkins is the former Vice President of
Enron Corporation who, in August 2001, alerted
then-CEO Ken Lay to accounting irregularities within the company, warning him that Enron “might implode in a wave of accounting scandals.” She has
testified before Congressional committees from the
House and Senate investigating Enron’s demise.
Sherron Watkins signs a book for
USW Board of Trustee Judy Britton
Lauded in the press for her courageous actions,
Time magazine named her, along with Coleen
Rowley of the FBI and Cynthia Cooper of WorldCom, as their 2002 “Persons of the
Year,” for being “people who did right just by doing their jobs rightly.”
On the afternoon of March 25, 2014, Watkins met with community leaders in a
panel discussion regarding ethics in business. Present at the panel were NM State
Representative David Gallegos; Pasty Hodges, business owner and realtor; Greg
Haston, Hobbs High School Athletic Director; Walter Cooper, Assistant Warden of
Programs with GEO Group, Inc.; and Dr. Elyn Palmer, Dean of the School of Arts &
Sciences at USW.
The panel discussed several questions and scenarios regarding ethics including,
how a servant leader demonstrates responsibility and takes initiative when faced
with ethical challenges in the community or workplace, how a person should
behave advocating and participating in the productive commerce of free enterprise,
and how the privilege of self-government affects our responsibility to act when
faced with unethical behavior in the workplace. The panel was attended by approximately 100 people from the community, USW faculty, staff and students.
As the keynote speaker for the annual Free Enterprise Dinner, Watkins discussed
the history of the Enron collapse and her specific participation in the trials regarding
the scandal. She indicated that although the event happened over a dozen years
ago, it is still a hot topic because the underlying cause has not yet been fixed. She
encouraged the audience to be aware of who they are working for and the ethics
the companies or people they work for uphold. Watkins indicated that leadership
is key and that the ethical behavior of a company starts at the top. She encouraged the audience to never give up on a “gut feeling” when it comes to appropriate
behavior, whether in their professional or personal lives. Individuals should always
adhere to their beliefs, values and morals. The dinner had an audience of over
300 and included members of the local community, as well as those from the
surrounding area.
In addition to Watkins’s keynote address, Trustee of Free Enterprise Award was
presented to Hobbs resident Gary Schubert. Schubert is a longtime resident of Lea
County and has owned and operated Schubert Construction since 1980. Schubert
Construction has been involved in over 6,000 construction projects ranging from
roofing jobs to the construction of the Boca Burger facility in Hobbs. Schubert
currently serves as Board Chairman of the Economic Development Corporation of
Lea County and also worked diligently on economic development in Lea County
during his 8 year tenure as a Lea County Commissioner. Gary has also served
on the boards or volunteered his time for organizations such as the Hobbs Chamber of Commerce, New Mexico Junior College, New Mexico Chile Commission,
Lea Regional Medical Center, First Presbyterian Church, Hobbs Rotary Club, and
First Methodist Church. He received the Paul Harris Fellow Award from the Hobbs
Rotary Club.
continued from page 1
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Stacy Davis, ’99 (MSE,
Counseling) and ’03 (MSE, Educational Administration),
was hired as the principal of
Coronado Elementary in Hobbs.
Davis has been working for
HMS since 1996 and has been a
counselor since 2000.
Katrina Fuller, ‘05 (BS,
Elementary Education) and ‘06 (MSE, Curriculum & Instruction), received the Childbirth & Post-
partum Professional Organization’s (CAPPA) Faculty of the
Year Award. Katrina received
her Ed.D. in Teacher Leadership
in 2013 and owns Natural
Nesters in Hobbs.
David Gallegos, ’90 (BBA), was chosen to train with the Global Organization of
Parliaments Against Corruption, as the sole representative from NM and an emerging GOP
leader. Legislators from 21
states were selected for the year-
long training.
Ida Garcia, ’97 (BS,
Elementary Education), was selected for a Veteto Foundation Excellence in Teaching award this year for her work as a third-
grade dual language teacher at Jefferson Elementary in Hobbs.
Judy Hanna, ’83 (BBA,
Management) and ’06 (MSE), recently published a book,
“Ageism Activism: Deadly Secrets
Revealed That Could Save Your
Life.” The book focuses on
providing information to baby boomers about the dangers of aging, their rights and how to avoid being victimized.
Yazmin Izquierdo, ’00 (BS, Special Education), received the Bilingual Education Award in January. Yazmin is a fifth-grade dual language teacher with the Lovington Schools.
Karen Jackson, ’05 (BS,
Secondary Education), was selected for a Veteto Foundation Excellence in Teaching award this year for her work as a
teacher at Hobbs High School.
Zeke Kaney, ’05 (MSE,
Educational Administration), was named Hobbs High School principal replacing another USW alum, Jeff Cearley (’03 MSE), who is retiring. Kaney has been teaching in the Hobbs schools since 1999 and was most
recently the principal at Heizer Middle School.
Dorothy Noseff, ’96 (BS,
Elementary Education), was selected for a Veteto Foundation Excellence in Teaching award Students & Staff in the News
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this year for her work as a Special Education teacher at Edison Elementary school
in Hobbs.
Pam Randall, ‘00 (MSE,
Educational Administration), was
named as the principal at Jefferson Elementary in Hobbs. Pam
has worked for the Hobbs school
since 1995.
Dude Slate, ’99 (BS, Athletic Training/PE) and ’12 (MBA), was name Lea Regional Medical Center’s non-clinical director of
the year in January. Dude currently serves as LRMC’s
Director of Rehabilitation Services
and Center for Industrial
Medicine. He also works as an athletic trainer for the Hobbs Municipal Schools.
Tonya Toomey, USW’s Preceptor of Criminal Justice and
Assistant Online Advisor, received the Outstanding Educator award at the Hobbs Chamber/Jaycee banquet in June.
Rhonda Tyler, ’90 (BS, Math/
Science) was recently named as
the new Director of the
Community Drug Coalition of
Lea County.
Maria Vick, ’03 (BAS, Human Relations/CJ), was honored with the Outstanding Citizen award at this year’s Hobbs Chamber/
Jaycee banquet in June.
Dixie Vejil, ’96 (BS,
Elementary Education) and
’03 (MSE, Educational
Administration), was promoted
from principal to the Bilingual/
Testing Director for the Hobbs Municipal Schools. Dixie began her teaching career in Hobbs
in 1997.
Dakota Rice, a three year USW Volleyball
member, has been chosen to attend the Disney
College Program at Disney World in Orlando,
Florida. Individuals must go through an intensive selection process, including multiple interviews and GPA requirements, to be selected for
the college program. Second semester freshmen
Dakota Rice, USW volleyball player
through juniors are eligible to apply for the program. Once selected, individuals are assigned
to a Disney location and work assignment. While at Disney, individuals work for
the parks while taking college credit courses toward their degree program. Rice will
attend the Disney College Program from May 2014 through January 2015. She will
return to USW to finish the spring semester prior to graduation. The Tularosa, New
Mexico native has been a member of the Lady Mustang Volleyball team since the
resurgence of the program in 2011. Rice is working toward a Bachelor of Business
Administration with an emphasis in Marketing.
The 2014 All-Conference Baseball awards were
announced on Thursday night at the conference banquet in Shreveport, LA. Edgar Medero was named
First-Team All-Conference Outfielder representing the
2014 Mustang Baseball team. Medero, a senior
from Carolina, Puerto Rico, had a stellar season
to finish off his collegiate career. Starting all 39
contests in the outfield, Medero finished the season
Edgar Medero, USW baseball player
with a team leading .383 batting average and 49
hits including 14 doubles, 1 triple, 5 home runs, and 29 RBI (all of which led the
team). His batting average and RBI total were 4th best among the Red River Athletic
Conference.
Several USW employees were recognized for their
years of service at an employee reception in June.
Left to right: Dr. Mary Harris (15 years), Linda
Woodfin (10 years), Becky Sheppard (20 years)
and Dr. David Arnold (20 years).
USW Announces New Dean
Dr. Elyn Palmer has been appointed as the Dean of the School of Arts & Sciences at University of
the Southwest effective June 1.
Dr. Palmer received her B.A. from the School of Arts & Sciences with a major in English and
completed her Master of Science in Education with an emphasis in Guidance and Counseling, both
from University of the Southwest. Most recently, she completed her Ph.D. in Higher Education from
Texas Tech University and returned to USW as a faculty member in the School of Arts & Sciences.
Previously Dr. Palmer served as a grant officer for the J. F Maddox Foundation of Hobbs. Dr.
Palmer also worked as a mental health counselor in the Eunice schools for three years and as
Dr. Elyn Palmer
a therapist for women and children at Zia Consulting in Hobbs for approximately six years. She
maintains an independent Clinical Mental Health Counselor’s license in New Mexico.
In her new capacity as Dean, Palmer will lead faculty members of the School of Arts & Sciences, and work with the USW
Provost to improve and expand programs offered through the school.
Palmer has served in both faculty and staff capacities at USW and participated as member of the USW Board of Trustees.
“In addition to my commitment to my students, I care about the institution’s future development and success. I am excited
to have the opportunity to be a part of the team moving University of the Southwest forward as a progressive institution of
higher learning,” stated Palmer.
USW Hires New Coaching Staff
The Mustang Athletic Department announces the hiring of several new head coaches. New Head
Men’s Soccer Coach Robert Ssejjemba is a native of Uganda and spent the past 5 years as the
Head Men’s Soccer Coach at Virginia Intermont, an NAIA Division I institution and member of the
Appalachian Athletic Conference. In 2008, Ssejjemba helped resurrect the Cobra soccer team and
built the program from the ground up. Under his guidance, the Cobras finished as Appalachian
Athletic Conference Tournament Runners Up in 2012 and 2013.
As a student-athlete with the Virginia Intermont soccer team, Ssejjemba was named an NAIA
All-American and helped lead the Cobras to national tournament appearances in 2000 and 2003.
Robert Sseiiemba
From 1999 to 2006 he was part of the Uganda National Team and competed in the 2006 World
Cup Qualifying matches. In 2006 he was part of DC United, a Major League Soccer (MLS) club in Washington, DC. He
also spent 3 years in the USL PRO league where he earned a league MVP while becoming the league Scoring Champion, and Goal Scoring Champion, all in the same season, in which he led his team to the USL PRO Championship.
Steve Appel has been hired as the new Head Baseball Coach. Appel comes to USW having most recently served as the
Head Baseball Coach at Oklahoma Pan Handle State University in Goodwell, OK. While at OPSU,
Appel transformed the Aggie baseball team into a disciplined program, built to succeed in the
highly competitive NCAA Division II Heartland Conference. Under his leadership, OPSU baseball
student-athletes also excelled in the classroom as the team GPA improved from 2.20 in 2011 to
3.30 in 2014. During his tenure as Head Baseball Coach, Appel was the catalyst for a number
of facility enhancements that turned the OPSU baseball field into one of the top facilities in the
Heartland Conference.
Steve Appel
Appel, a Socorro, NM native, began his intercollegiate athletic playing career at Fort Scott Community College in Fort Scott, KS where he received his associate’s degree before continuing his collegiate playing career
at the University of Bridgeport in Bridgeport, CT. At UB, he served as team captain for the baseball program, earned
his Bachelor of Science degree with Magna Cum Laude honors, and was also awarded his Master of Science degree.
Immediately following his collegiate playing career, Appel joined the coaching staff at his alma mater as an assistant
pitching coach and began his progression in the baseball coaching profession. Appel was named the UB baseball program’s top assistant and pitching coach in 2006 and by 2009 had constructed a pitching staff that finished the season
with a 3.25 ERA and was ranked 6th in the nation.
Betty Casey joins USW as the new Head Women’s Soccer Coach. A New Jersey native, Casey has coached in numerous positions throughout her career including most recently as the Assistant Women’s Soccer
Coach at the University of Southern Mississippi, an NCAA Division I institution and a member of
Conference USA, when she was appointed to the post in 2012.
Casey attended Mississippi State University, a member institution of the Southeast Conference
(SEC), where she became one of the most decorated women’s soccer student-athletes in the
program’s history, leading the Bulldogs in many statistical categories. Her career marks for points
(51), goals (20), assists (11), shots (191) and game-winning assists (6) all rank in the top 10
in MSU history. She led the Bulldogs in scoring, shots and points for three consecutive seasons
Betty Casey
(2003-05), and in two of those years, she also led the team in assists to wrap up an outstanding
four year career at the NCAA Division I level.
Following her graduation from MSU in 2006, Casey first served as the head women’s soccer coach at Coral Springs
Christian Academy, in Florida, and then began her professional soccer playing career with the Miami Kickers F.C. in
the Women’s Professional Soccer League (WPSL). As a professional soccer player in the WPSL, Casey was named
All-Sunshine Conference while earning league honors as Offensive MVP in which she led the league in overall points
and scoring points for the 2008 season. Casey added to her professional playing career in 2009 when she joined on
to play with the Vancouver Whitecaps of the W-League in Canada. Most recently, Casey was a member of the
Mississippi Fuego F. C. professional soccer team in the WPSL.
Jamene Caldwell was hired as the new Head Women’s Basketball Coach. As the top assistant
coach at Sam Houston State University (SHSU), an NCAA Division I institution and member of the
Southland Conference, Jamene Caldwell established herself as an integral part of an impressive
turnaround for the SHSU Lady Bearkat Women’s Basketball program. She was a key component
in the transformation of a Lady Bearkat basketball team that had not posted a winning record
since 1996 into the squad that claimed the 2012-13 Southland Conference regular season
championship and garnered the program’s first post-season invitation to the Women’s National
Invitational Tournament (WNIT).
Jamene Coldwell
A Bowling Green, Kentucky native, Caldwell graduated with her Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the
University of South Alabama and later earned her Master of Education degree from Sam Houston State University. As
a standout student-athlete, Caldwell was a four-year letter winner at South Alabama where she still ranks as one of
the Jaguars’ all-time leading shot blockers. She played in 102 games during her South Alabama career, scoring 595
points and pulling down 367 rebounds. Following her NCAA Division I intercollegiate playing career, Caldwell began her
collegiate coaching career with Mercer University where she served on the Lady Bears coaching staff for two years prior
to being named to the women’s basketball coaching staff at SHSU in 2006.
Vice President for Advancement and Director of Athletics William Weidner stated, “The commitment of these coaches
to student-athlete success in the classroom and on the field of play will be a great fit with the USW athletic department
core values as well as the university mission statement. On behalf of our USW Athletic Department and University of the
Southwest, we welcome all of our new coaching staff to the Mustang Family.”
National Geographic Photographer, Sam Abell, Brings Photos to Life
Meet the man behind the lens of some of National Geographic’s most intriguing photographs.
Sam Abell will be the featured speaker for the upcoming Fall 2014 Jack Maddox Disginguished
Lecture Series. His visual presentation will be held on October 7, 2014, at 7:00 p.m., at Tydings
Auditorium on the Hobbs High School campus. Doors will open at 6:00 p.m. and seating is first
come, first seated.
Photographer, Sam Abell
Sam Abell learned photography from his father at their home in Sylvania, Ohio, where he was born
on February 19, 1945. He graduated in 1969 from the University of Kentucky in Lexington with
a B.A. Abell has worked with the National Geographic Society since 1970 and has photographed
more than 20 articles on various cultural and wilderness subjects.
In 1990, Eastman Kodak published a retrospective monograph of his photographs titled Stay This Moment: The Photographs of Sam Abell. A companion exhibit of his work was shown at New York City’s International Center of Photography
in November of that year. Abell’s book credits include Contemplative Gardens, The Inward Garden: Creating a Place of
Beauty and Meaning, Australia: Journey Through a Timeless Land, and Seeing Gardens.
In 1998 he collaborated with the late historian and author Stephen Ambrose on Lewis
& Clark: Voyage of Discovery and again in 2002 on The Mississippi: River of History.
That same year, he worked with author Leah Bendavid-Val to produce a retrospective of his life and work titled Sam Abell: The Photographic Life. Two additional book
projects, Four Stories and The Life of a Photograph, were published in October 2007
and October 2008, respectively.
Abell’s presentation, entitled The Photographic Life, will explore the stories behind his
award-winning photographs. Abell will take the audience on a visual journey through
Photo by Sam Abell
his life as a photographer, from his teenage years of working with his father in the
home darkroom to developing his own style with a distinctive photographic vision. He will also share stories of his various assignments with National Geographic and discuss how he composed some of his most memorable shots.
A limited number of copies Abell’s book, The Life of a Photograph, will be available for sale at the event and a book signing by the author will immediately follow the lecture.
Tickets for this event are FREE but required to enter. Contact Laurie Dean at 575-492-2108 or at [email protected] to
reserve your tickets via regular US mail. You may also pick up tickets from an area ticket location beginning August 18,
2014. Ticket distribution locations are: Chambers of Commerce in Artesia, Carlsbad,
Hobbs, Lovington, Denver City (Texas) and Seminole (Texas); Western Commerce
Bank in Carlsbad and Hobbs; Woolworth Library in Jal; Tatum Schools Administration
Office; and University of the Southwest Administration Office, Lea County State Bank,
Hobbs Public Library, First American Bank, Hobbs Municipal Schools Administration
Office, and the President’s Office of New Mexico Junior College, all in Hobbs.
We make every effort to accommodate requests from persons with special needs.
Notify Laurie Dean at 575-492-2108 of any such requests at the time tickets are
acquired. Tydings Auditorium is wheelchair accessible.
Mustangs Softball Team Boasts Winning Season
The 2014 Lady Mustang Softball Team had 5 players named to the RRAC
All-Conference Softball team on Friday evening along with Jessica Zamora being
named Co-Defensive Player of the Year and Head Coach Ron Landschoot being
named Coach of the Year for the second season in a row.
The 2014 USW Lady Mustangs Softball Team
Arleen Alamanza was named All-Conference third baseman for her senior
season as the Lubbock, TX native hit .355 on her 44 games played. Her 33 hits
were fourth most on the team as she tallied 6 doubles, 2 triples, and 2 home
runs along with RBI.
Ciara Fraher took home All-Conference pitcher honors as the senior had a stellar season to cap off her USW career. An El
Centro, CA native, Fraher led the team with a .387 batting average with 41 hits in her 42 games played on the season.
She racked up 8 doubles, 2 triples, and 5 home runs while driving in 32 RBI in 106 at bats. On the mound the senior
finished the season with a 15-7 record in 139 innings pitched. Her 2.77 ERA was third best in the RRAC and she finished her four year career with a 2.66 ERA in 584.2 innings pitched for the Lady Mustangs.
The final three selections are returning players that look to make another impact in 2015. Brittany Martinez (So. Outfield),
Briana Minjarez (Fr. 2B), and Jessica Zamora (Jr. SS) were All-Conference Selections that will have a chance to do it
again next season. Martinez, a Lubbock native, hit .364 on the season with 39 hits in 107 at bats. Her 27 stolen bases
was most on the team and second highest in the RRAC.
Minjarez ended the season with a .375 batting average in 35 games played with 24 hits in 64 at bats. The freshman
from Las Cruces, NM hit 2 doubles and 6 triples along with one home run and drove in 17 runs in her rookie year. She
also ended the year with a .946 fielding percentage, committing just 5 errors in 92 chances.
The last selection for the Lady Mustangs did it with her bat as well as her glove to earn Co-Defensive Player of the Year.
Jessica Zamora hit .364 on the season in her 44 games at the short-stop position. In 135 chances on the field the Roswell native committed just 6 errors along with 83 assists to give her a .956 fielding percentage.
Senior Mariah Faifer was named to the Champions of Character Team as the Albuquerque native finished her college career with a 4.0 GPA while being named the 2013-2014 Outstanding Student in the Biology field. Her efforts also earned
her the Academic Excellence Award during the 2014 Commencement Ceremony.
The 2014 season was one for the record books for the Lady Mustangs as they finished the regular season 32-14 while
going 17-3 in RRAC play, good enough for a second place finish. They ended their season much too soon, dropping two
games on Friday at the conference tournament to be eliminated. Head Coach Ron Landschoot was once again named
Coach of the Year in the RRAC. Coach Landschoot has taken his teams to the conference tournament in all 10 seasons of
the programs existence.
USW Provost Selected for National Leadership Program
University of the Southwest is pleased to announce that Dr. James Smith, Provost, is one of 20
senior college administrators selected by the Council of Independent Colleges (CIC) to participate in a year-long Presidential Vocation and Institutional Mission program for prospective
college and university presidents. The seminar-based program is designed to help individuals
with the potential to serve as college and university presidents to understand the alignment
between their personal and professional goals and the missions of institutions that they might
lead in the future.
Dr. James Smith, Provost
Participants, including Smith, will engage in two seminars, participate in consultations with experienced mentors, and undertake a series of readings about the vocation of college presidents
and the role of vision and mission in institutional leadership.
Smith earned his BBA in Management from Northeast Louisiana University, his M.Ed. in Vocational Agriculture Education
from Louisiana Tech University, and his Ph.D. from Texas A&M University. Smith has been with the University since 2011
and is currently Provost for the University, overseeing academics and online learning.
This approach to the preparation of new presidents has proven itself highly successful in the short period that the program has been operating. Since 2005, 29 program participants (nearly 30 percent) have been named to college
presidencies.
The program is directed by William V. Frame, CIC senior advisor and president emeritus of Augsburg College and author of The American College Presidency: Easing the Burden, Enhancing the Joy (2013). The Council of Independent
Colleges is an association of 744 nonprofit independent colleges and universities and higher education affiliates and
organizations that has worked since 1956 to support college and university leadership, advance institutional excellence,
and enhance public understanding of private higher education’s contributions to society.
University of the Southwest
Announces New Grant Opportunities
University of the
Southwest (USW) has
developed a new grant
program geared toward
non-athlete students. The
grants will be offered to
undergraduate students
enrolled in courses on
the campus of USW
beginning in the fall.
Share Your News!!
Have you recently been married or do you have a new
little bundle of joy? Do you have a new job you are
excited about? University of the Southwest would like to
hear from you! Share your news with classmates and the
USW community by completing and mailing in the form
below or by sending the information via email to
[email protected]. Your news may be printed in the next
issue of The Mustang. Our newsletter is published twice
per year and will include as many alumni updates as
space allows. Send completed form to USW, Attn: Laurie
Dean, 6610 Lovington Hwy., #501, Hobbs, NM 88240
USW Alumni & Friends Information Update Form
Each grant has a minimum cumulative high school GPA that
must be achieved by the student, as well as test scores (ACT
or SAT) meeting a set scoring range. The grants range from
$1,000 to $8,000 per academic year and include the Presidential Grant and Dean’s Grant, which are based on academic merit, as well as the Achievement Grants, which includes funding
for transfer students.
Dr. / Mr. / Mrs. / Miss (circle one)
Special grants for mission and ministry are also available for
students coming from a secondary private Christian school or
those students who wish to participate in the campus ministry
team. Also offered is the Lea County Resident Grant, providing
a graduate of any Lea County high school who enrolls at USW
with $3,000 per year. Job Title ___________________________________________
Dean of Enrollment Management & Campus Life, Michele
Goar, stated, “The new academic grants will help USW recruit
a broader student base, helping the campus become a more
well-rounded community.”
Maiden name or name used while at USW ________________
For more information, contact the USW Office of Admissions at
575-392-6563 or visit the USW website at www.usw.edu.
Class Notes
FRIENDS PASSED
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Sabrina Elliott, ’96 (BBA, Accounting), passed away on
February 13, 2014. Sabrina owned her own accounting firm
in Hobbs.
Glynese Floyd, founder the Theatre program at USW, where she taught for over 20 years, passed away on February 19, 2014.
MaryNá Gage, beloved USW faculty member who won
numerous awards during her tenure, passed from this life on February 22, 2014.
Robert David Cheney, ’74 (BS), former Hobbs police chief and
longtime law enforcement officer, passed away on February
26, 2014.
Emmett Cohagen, former USW employee, passed away on
April 6, 2014.
Neva Faye Brown, ’04 (MSE, Educational Administration),
passed from this life on May 16, 2014. Neva taught in the
Hobbs Schools for 17 years.
Barbara Janet Parks Houston, former USW faculty member and longtime educator with the Hobbs Public Schools, passed away on May 29, 2014.
Lillian Marie Ellie,’03 (BAS, Human Relations), passed away
on June 10, 2014.
Al Arnold, longtime friend of the university and former chair of
the University of the Southwest Board of Trustees, passed away on July 13, 2014.
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LIFE TOGETHER
• Tommy Kemp, ’91 (BAS, General Business), and his wife
Charlsie, celebrated 50 years together on December
23, 2013.
• Deryl Wieser,’65 (BS, Elementary Education), and his
wife, Joan Cummings Wieser,’69 (BS, English/SS),
celebrated 60 years of married life in February.
• Bill and Kathee Jamison, ’98 (MSE, School Counseling), celebrated 50 years of marriage on June 28.
• Jared Emrick and Emily Jackson, ’11 (BS, Psychology), were married on March 15, 2014. Emily works as the children’s coordinator for Taylor Memorial Baptist Church and Jared is employed by Enterprise Products.
• Alexander Matthew Brown and Leslianne Brown, USW adjunct professor, will be married on July 26, 2014. Alexander works with URENCO and Leslianne teaches music for the Lovington Schools in addition to her
courses at USW.
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University Mission Statement
University of the Southwest is a Christ-centered educational community dedicated to developing men and women for a lifetime of servant
leadership by emphasizing individual faith, responsibility, and initiative.
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Laurie Dean
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Garrett Bertola
Richard Trout
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Instructor, School of Arts & Sciences
University of the Southwest
President: Dr. Gary A. Dill
Board of Trustees:
Cliff Brunson, Chair
Judy Britton
Ken Bromley
Suzie Brown
Cindy Bryan
Garry Buie
Brad A. Caress
Laura K. Castillo
Dr. Christopher Driskill
Shannon Duncan
Gary Eidson
Heather Evans
Gary Fonay
Will Hawkins
Debra Hicks
Rev. Calvin Hill
Dr. George L. Klein
David Pyeatt
Larry Scott
Nancy Shaw
Gary Sims
Finn Smith
Samuel S. Spencer, Jr.
Michael Whitehead
Russell Williams
Mission of The Mustang
The mission of The Mustang is to share with the alumni and friends of USW news and happenings regarding the University and each other.
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