FRESH OFF EARNING THE “GOLD STAR OF ACCREDITATION,” MBU’S GRADUATE COUNSELING PROGRAM HAS EMERGED AS A RESPECTED LEADER IN THE COUNSELING PROFESSION AND AT A TIME WHEN THE NEED FOR MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS HAS NEVER BEEN GREATER
The MBU Magazine is published by the University Communications Office of Missouri Baptist University, One College Park Drive, Saint Louis, Mo. 63141-8698. Copyright 2022. All rights reserved. Issues are published in summer and winter. Send change of address notification at least a month before effective date, including both old and new addresses. Postmaster send address changes to MBU Magazine, Missouri Baptist University, One College Park Drive, Saint Louis, Mo. 63141-8698. Articles and letters to the editor are welcome. Email submissions to editor@mobap.edu All submissions are subject to editing and will not be returned. Free subscriptions are provided to University alumni, donors and friends. Contact 314.392.2304 or editor@mobap.edu for details. We are serious and intentional about our Christian faith. We will freely and responsibly search for truth. We strive for excellence. We believe in the importance and cultivation of character. We believe in social change through service and leadership.
News pg. 5
MBU’s latest happenings and updates.
Nice to Meet You pg. 12
Meet Assistant Professor of Biology and Biochemistry Mark Duerr.
My Moment to Shine pg. 14
The MBU Women’s Volleyball team wins its second NAIA national championship title in two seasons.
Our Founders Hair pg. 16
MBU Professor of History Dr. Keith Beutler’s new book connects, of all things, George Washington’s hair to the origins of early American nationhood and identity.
God’s Sovereign Timeline pg. 26 Dr. Bennett Wilkins had no idea how the Lord would use MBU to shape his life back in 1993 when the then 29-year-old high school dropout showed up at Missouri Baptist College to take his GED.
The Race of a Lifetime pg. 28 MBU Alumnus Nick Christie (‘15) represented Team USA in the 2020 Summer Olympic Games held August 2021 in Tokyo, Japan.
Where Are They Now? pg. 29 Updates on the successes of MBU’s ever-growing alumni community.
Dear Friends, Greetings from Missouri Baptist University. I pray this letter finds you well in this season! As the Lord contin ues to bestow His blessings on MBU, we look forward to embracing our bright future. Despite the various challenges related to the recent COVID-19 pandemic, the University is on the move and we are excited about our many accomplishments, particularly new academic offerings in the areas of nursing and mental health care. The past several years have highlighted the ever increasing need for healthcare professionals, especially those with a Christian worldview, and MBU is responding to help meet those significant challenges.
With that in mind, I am pleased to share a few of these achievements, one of which is the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program that began last fall.
This program offers concentrations in Family Nurse Practitioner, Nurse Educator and Executive Leadership.
MBU’s MSN equips individuals with the skills and knowledge to combine clinical expertise and one’s pas sion for caring for others. Another unique opportunity that complements the University’s mission is the new Nursing Across Cultures minor. This academic program allows nursing students to take courses in various disciplines in preparation for working with a diverse patient population, particularly related to medical mission endeavors.
Moreover, the University recently received approval to begin offering an Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nurs ing (ABSN) this summer. This unique program will allow students to complete an expedited path to RN licensure and help fill the rising number of vacancies within the healthcare industry brought about by the pandemic.
These innovative academic programs will further strengthen and expand the influence of the MBU School of Nursing as it prepares compassionate healthcare pro fessionals who are well equipped to serve in a globally and culturally diverse society.
In addition, MBU continues to maintain a strong reputa tion in the region for its preparation of school and mental health counselors. The recent accreditation by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Proposals (CACREP) validates that the University offers a rigorous, high quality program that serves our students well. As one of the only faith-based counseling degrees in the region, this exceptional program provides another avenue for the University to expand its Christian mission and meet the growing need for well-trained mental health professionals locally and nationally.
Each of these important endeavors mentioned above presents an opportunity to exercise our faith and more fully engage those who are in need of care, all while loving God and our neighbors well. ■
Many Blessings,
More than 750 degrees were conferred to the class of 2022 at Missouri Baptist University’s 50th graduation ceremony held on May 3 at the Family Arena in St. Charles, Missouri.
The evening began with gratitude to the graduates’ families and faculty by President Keith Ross along with praise for MBU students who have shown their resilience.
“Every one of you has an interesting story to tell, and tonight is about celebrating you, the class of 2022. This evening is indeed a momentous occasion. MBU is celebrating its 50th commencement ceremony,” said Dr. Ross. “Graduates, after this evening you will join over 18,000 MBU Alumni who are accomplishing kingdom work in all 50 states and across this globe.”
This year’s commencement speaker was author, speaker and president emeritus from Samford University, Dr. Andrew Westmoreland.
“We are all proud of you and we believe that you are going to put your degree to good use. Who knew that the phrase you read when you looked at the MBU website when considering this as your college choice would become the lesson of your life. ‘Shine On.’ It may not have been an overt part of your curriculum, but it must become the focus of your life,” said Dr. Westmoreland.
To end the evening, Cathy Benton, professor of music and director of MBU Ringers, was presented with the Distinguished Professor Award. ■
BY THE NUMBERSTotal Degrees: 754
Doctor of Education: 21 Educational Specialist: 35
Graduate degrees and certificates: 301 Undergraduate degrees: 397
The Missouri Baptist University football program has joined the Heart of America Athletic Conference as an associate member. The new partnership is slated to begin in fall 2023.
“The Heart of America takes pride in the strength of our institutions and its athletics programs, and I am so pleased that Missouri Baptist University will be joining the Heart as an associate member in the sport of football,” said Heart Commissioner Lori Thomas. “Missouri Baptist is a great institution in the NAIA both in commitment to community and enriching students’ lives for the better.”
Missouri Baptist University’s men’s volleyball program also competes as an associate member in the Heart of America Athletic Conference.
MBU will remain in the American Midwest Conference for other sports, but since the AMC does not sponsor football, the associate membership in the Heart allows the university to compete in an established, competitive regional football conference. The university has been a member of the Mid-States Football Association since the program began in 2014.
The Spartan football program is led by head coach Jason Burianek,
who has helmed the team for the entirety of the program’s history. The team plays its home games at Spartan Field on the MBU campus in St. Louis, Mo.
The Spartans will join the Heart South Division along with Central Methodist University, Baker University, Missouri Valley College, Benedictine College and MidAmerica Nazarene University.
The Heart North Division consists of Grand View University, CulverStockton College, Peru State College, William Penn University, Clarke University and Graceland University.
“We want to thank the Mid-States Football Association for the opportunity to be a part of such a successful conference as a brand new program back in 2014,” said Missouri Baptist Associate Vice President & Director of Athletics Dr. Tom Smith. “The growth of this football program has been exciting to watch, and joining the Heart of America Athletic Conference is just another step in the right direction. The Heart offers a competitive schedule year in and year out with its strong history and tradition while minimizing travel time for our student-athletes. This move makes perfect sense for our future goals as a program.” ■
Missouri Baptist University launched a one-year-long Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program this past June.
The Missouri State Board of Nursing unanimously approved MBU’s request to offer an ABSN at their regularly scheduled meeting in December of 2021. More specifically, the approval allows MBU to begin a cohort of 24 students beginning this summer.
“Since its inception, the Missouri Baptist University School of Nursing has filled an important role in the St. Louis region and beyond through the intersection of innovative preparation with Christian perspectives,” said Dr. Keith Ross, MBU president. “The new ABSN will allow MBU to expand this worthy mission while also helping to address significant nursing shortages both locally and nationally.”
MBU’s ABSN program is among the quickest and most affordable in the bi-state area. The one-year program cost $39,600, which includes tuition, all fees and a new Apple iPad, which enables students to learn how to communicate relevant patient data in an active learning class room, lab and clinical setting.
As demand for nurses continues to rise locally and nationwide, the ABSN program at MBU was developed to provide an expedited pathway to RN licensure for post-traditional learners, including, but not limited to, those who already possess a bachelor’s degree in another field.
“The ABSN is designed for students who are motivated to enter the nursing workforce as quickly as possible,” said Dr. Amber Pyatt, dean of the School of Nursing. “Particularly as the nursing shortage has been amplified with the impact of COVID-19, our program seeks to pro vide an avenue to prepare students using the same level of innovation and excellence as our traditional BSN program, but in the quickest manner possible.”
In light of the continuing COVID-19 pandemic, along with a signifi cant number of anticipated retirees in Missouri, the launch of MBU’s ABSN program comes when the demand for registered nurses who have earned a BSN is high. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Employment Projections 2014-2024, Registered Nursing (RN) is listed
among the top occupations in terms of job growth through 2024. The RN workforce is expected to grow from 2.7 million in 2014 to 3.2 million in 2024, an increase of 439,300 or 16 percent. The Bureau also projects the need for 649,100 replacement nurses in the workforce bringing the total number of job openings for nurses due to growth and replace ment to more than 1 million by 2024. According to the Missouri Hospi tal Association (MHA) Annual Workforce Report, the RN Vacancy in Missouri is 12 percent and in the St. Louis region is 11.2 percent.
According to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the annu al mean wage for registered nurses in Missouri is $65,900; meanwhile, those registered nurses in the 75th percentile are making $78,290 a year.
Courses for the ABSN are taught in MBU’s state-of-the art School of Nursing, located in the Walker Medical Building neighboring MBU’s main campus. The 8,000-plus square feet space has been transformed into an innovative learning space, which includes a simulation lab, technology-equipped training classrooms and community meeting areas. ■
MBU alumna and graduate student Ansley Little received the Missouri East Rising Star Nurse of the Year Award this past November. The award is given annually to an individual who shows dedicated leadership and exception al patient care. Little is a clinical nurse at Mercy Hospital in the surgical oncology unit.
“The nursing program at MBU makes me excited to be a nurse. In my undergraduate degree, MBU prepared me for the field by having systems and community in place, even after graduation. I was given the confidence that I could
change the nursing world. It just takes someone to believe that,” said Little.
Upon graduating in 2020 with her bachelor of science in nursing, she gained certifications in chemotherapy and hospice care. She is currently in MBU’s MSN program pursuing the executive leadership track, where she hopes to be a chief nursing officer at a hospital. Little was the top award winner at the Robert W. Taylor MD Research Symposium at Mercy Hospital in July of 2021. She has also been nominated for seven Daisy Awards. ■
program that serves our students well and expands MBU’s distinc tively Christian mission,” said Dr. Keith Ross, president of Missouri Baptist University. “Our School of Education and Counseling faculty are committed to exceptional counselor preparation and a culture of continuous improvement that is well demonstrated in this significant achievement.”
The accreditation is retroactive, so all counseling graduates who began the Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling or Master of Arts in School Counseling programs in the fall 2017—when MBU began the accreditation process—or later will be considered a graduate from a CACREP-accredited program. Additionally, MBU grad uates will now have a fast-track option to receive National Counselor Certification Credentialing and will have more opportunities to pursue licensure in other states and work with more competitive employers.
After a nearly four-year-long application process, Missouri Baptist University’s counseling preparation programs have received eight-year accreditation from the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).
This “gold standard of accreditation” evaluated Missouri Baptist Uni versity through a rigorous set of nearly 300 standards and procedures. CACREP-accredited counseling programs evidence commitment to meeting the highest level of standards for counselor preparation in the United States, and to engaging in a discipline-specific peer-review quality assurance process.
“This important accomplishment elevates our counseling program and validates that the University offers a rigorous, high-quality
MBU’s Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Master of Arts in School Counseling degree programs draw upon the University’s core purpose to equip students to serve their communities in an ethical, professional, and caring manner.
“We seek to develop conscientious, professional, and highly skilled counselors who promote and facilitate the personal growth, develop ment, and empowerment of the clients they serve,” said Dr. Christine Ward, director and associate professor of counselor education. “The Counselor Education program is rooted in the Christian faith that calls us to love God and love one another.”
Missouri Baptist University first submitted a self-review in May of 2019 followed by a site visit in February 2021. The CACREP board awarded MBU’s counseling programs an eight-year accreditation, the most robust accreditation period offered. ■
MBU Theatre’s production of “The Drowning Girls” was selected to participate in the Invited Scenes Showcase for the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival.
The production was chosen out of hundreds of collegiate shows across a seven-state region to present a 10-minute portion for confer ence attendees. Theatre professors from participating universities felt that MBU’s production was outstanding and deserved recognition. “I could not be prouder that this is the production that represented Missouri Baptist University at the regional festival,” said Kasey Cox, director of theatre.
The Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival was held January 2022. ■
Beginning fall 2022, Missouri Baptist University will offer its Master of Social Work (MSW) program fully online. MBU launched the MSW pro gram in August of 2020, providing students a degree no other Christian institution in the area offers.
The MSW program was designed so full-time students can complete the program in two years, while students completing the program part-time can do so within three years. Shifting to a fully online modality provides greater flexibility and accessibility for the growing number of students interested in such a program, said Dr. Nikki John son, director and associate professor of MBU’s social work program.
“The MSW program is simply responding to the needs of our students. Most of our students are working professionals who are juggling various life demands. They need flexibility. An asynchronous online program provides flexibility by allowing students to access courses at their convenience,” Dr. Johnson said. “This also increases ac cessibility and allows us to expand our reach and serve more students. Students can complete the program entirely from a distance, with no required campus visits.”
Social work is a fast-growing and in-demand field. The U.S. Depart ment of Labor –Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that the average growth rate for all occupations is seven percent; however, overall employment of social workers is projected to grow 16 percent from 2016 to 2026.
MBU is the only evangelical Christian institution to offer the MSW degree in the St. Louis area, and one of only four schools in the region to offer the degree. MBU’s first cohort graduated spring 2022. ■
MBU alums Luke Little (‘22) and Mikayla Harrison (‘22) received the 2021 Portz Interdisciplinary Fellowship Award. This award is a $5,000 research grant for cross-disciplinary research given to students in an honors program.
The Portz Interdisciplinary Fellowship program launched in 2010 to recognize the significance of honors education and increase through collaboration among students.
Harrison and Little’s research project, “Mitigating Chronic Stress in University Students: A Mixed-Methods Comparative Analysis of Cogni tive Behavioral Therapy on Psychological and Physiological Response to Chronic Stress,” received one of the top three prizes.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is an evidence-based psycho therapy approach that empowers individuals to reframe unhealthy thought patterns and in return, effectively respond to challenges. The study uses qualitative and quantitative measures to determine the effects of stress focused CBT. The quantitative portion of the research was conducted in the natural sciences division and the counseling ses sions for the study were conducted by graduate students in the MBU
counseling program. The counsel ing sessions used CBT techniques to help MBU students manage chronic stress.
“Mikayla and Luke are both bright students. They have a thirst for knowledge and work diligent ly,” said Dr. Mary Vedamuthu. Dr. Vedamuthu is a professor of nat ural sciences at MBU and worked closely with the students during this project. “Both students have a strong desire to pursue higher education in the field of medical research.” The students’ staff sponsor, Dr. Carrie Wahlman, said, “This award was well deserved and will sup port the continuation of their research project. They both have bright futures ahead of them and this is just the beginning.”
Their research began fall of 2021 and was completed spring 2022. ■
The Missouri Baptist University Board of Trustees has appointed Jon Hessel, ’03, as vice-president for student development and dean of students. The move marks a return to MBU for Hessel, who previously served in a variety of staff roles, including director of admissions and director of residence life. In his new capacity, Hessel will also serve on the President’s Cabinet and President’s Administrative Council. He began his duties August 10, 2022.
“Mr. Hessel will provide leadership and vision that reflects an inspirational, innovative and unified student development program that will be the catalyst for a comprehensive and successful culture of student engagement,” said MBU President Dr. Keith Ross. “As a former student, staff member and supporter of the university, Jon has demonstrated a deep love for and commitment to MBU. That passion combined with his pastoral heart and experience will greatly benefit our students and student development team.”
Hessel, who holds a Bachelor of Science in religious education from
MBU and a Master of Divinity degree from Cov enant Theological Seminary, re-joins the MBU community after nearly 15 years in full-time Christian ministry. He served as a pastor at The Journey in St. Louis, Mo., from 2008 to 2020, and most recently as a campus pastor at Waypoint Church in St. Charles, Mo.
“I look forward to working alongside the exceptional MBU faculty and staff to provide transformational experiences for our students,” said Hessel. “MBU has been a significant part of my story, and I am honored to return to my alma mater as we create a Christ-centered culture that allows for the true flourishing of all students.”
Jon and his wife, Lisa, ’04, have three children, Kaden, Max and Ivy. The Hessels live in west St. Louis County. ■
Dr. Aaron Lumpkin has been tapped to serve as Missouri Baptist University’s first Associate Vice President for Spiritual Formation.
“I’m hopeful to see this position cast vision for a vibrant student experience that is driven by the Great Commandment and focused on the Great Commission,” Lumpkin said. “I hope that through my work at MBU, I’ll be able to point people to Christ so that they might know His steadfast love, abounding mercy and magnificent grace.”
Reporting to President Keith Ross, Lumpkin will lead the Office of Spiritual Formation, which will be responsible for promoting, support ing and advancing the University’s Christian mission, both internally and externally. More specifically, Lumpkin will lead the effort to continue building a culture that fosters theological depth, intellectual inquiry, spiritual wholeness and missional living. As part of his role, Dr. Lumpkin, who will carry faculty rank as an assistant professor of theology, will teach in the Department of Christian Studies.
Lumpkin will serve on the President’s Cabinet and President’s Ad ministrative Council.
The decision to create a senior leadership position focused on spiri tual formation comes after the MBU Board adopted a reimagined stra tegic plan that empowers MBU to emerge at the forefront of Christian liberal arts education over the next five years. More specifically, the
plan calls for MBU to provide transformational student experiences focused, in part, on an unwavering Christian commitment, exceptional academics, vocation and calling and serious integration of faith and learning.
“As Missouri Baptist University ushers in its next chapter, our University is uniquely positioned to be a model Christian liberal arts institution in the Midwest,” Dr. Ross said. “Dr. Lumpkin’s winsome per sonality, academic pedigree, love for others and, most importantly, love for the Lord will serve him well as he works to enhance our commit ment to Christ in every aspect of MBU.”
Lumpkin comes to MBU after serving as professor of historical the ology at Grimké Seminary. Lumpkin formerly served as associate dean of students, campus minister, and instructor in the Department of Christian Studies at MBU. Lumpkin is the co-author of “The Sum and Substance of the Gospel: The Christ-Centered Piety of Charles Haddon Spurgeon,” and he has written other publications with The Gospel Coalition and various academic journals. He holds a doctor of philos ophy and a master of divinity from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and a bachelor of arts in pastor leadership and biblical exposition from Liberty University. While in St. Louis, Lumpkin served as a pastor at Church of the Redeemer (formerly a campus of August Gate Church) in the Tower Grove East Neighborhood.
Lumpkin and his wife, Sara, have four sons, Isaiah (10), Jonathan (8), Samuel (5), William (6 mo.), and a daughter, Charlotte (1). ■
Dr. Paulo Ribeiro, MBU alumnus, has been named National Middle School Physical Education Teacher of the Year by SHAPE America. This past November, Ribeiro was named the Central District Middle School Physical Education Teacher of the Year by MOSHAPE, then named Parkway School District’s Teacher of the Year only three months later. Ribeiro has worked for the Parkway School District for nearly 13 years.
SHAPE America presents the award to an individual who conducts high-quality comprehensive and diverse programs that reflect best practices, utilizes teaching methodologies that meet professional standards and upholds high-quality assessment standards. The award process is highly competitive with nominees come from all over the United States.
Parkway’s Coordinator of Health and Physical Education Dr. Eddie Mattison said, “Paulo has such a positive influence on not only his school building but his community. The projects he provides for his students are preparing them for life. He truly is one of the best.”
Ribeiro was selected as the Missouri Middle School Physical Edu cation Teacher of the Year at the MOSHAPE Convention in November of 2021 then named Parkway’s Teacher of the Year this past February. As the Central District Teacher of the Year, Ribeiro was one of three finalists for SHAPE America’s National Middle School Physical Education Teacher of the Year Award.
Ribeiro graduated from MBU in 2008 with his bachelor of science in kinesiology. He returned to MBU in 2010 and 2012 to obtain his master of arts in education and educational specialist degrees. In 2009,
Ribeiro was awarded MBU’s Service Award and MBU’s Educator of the Year Award in 2013, showing his dedication to the university as an outstanding alumnus.
The Missouri Society of Health and Physical Educators (MOSHAPE) was founded in 1936 to provide assistance and promote programs in health and movement in schools. Ribeiro was announced as the National Middle School Physical Education Teacher of the Year in April of 2022 at the SHAPE American National Convention in New Orleans. ■
MBU Assistant Professor of Health and Sport Sci ences Guy Danhoff was awarded the Lynn Imergoot Scholar Award at the Missouri Society of Health and Physical Educators (MOSHAPE) Convention on Nov. 12, 2021. This annual award is given to an indi vidual who demonstrates competence in research through grant proposals, research papers, publica tions, artistic performances or media presentations. Along with being awarded the Lynn Imergoot Scholar Award, Danhoff was also named the president-elect for MOSHAPE in 2021. During this three-year term, he will be leading
advocacy marketing strategies, building relationships within the higher education community and aid in decision making for the society.
Danhoff has been teaching in the Health & Sport Sciences Division for nearly 13 years. He released his debut book, co-authored by MBU Admission Counselor Lauren Krebs, titled “Zagging: Building Advocacy Through Digital and Social Media” in August of 2021.
Founded in 1936, MOSHAPE was instrumental in revising statewide Health & Physical Education curricula. Their mission is to provide assistance and promote programs in health and movement for the enrichment of human life.
This past November, Missouri Baptist University’s Alumni Association honored outstanding alumni who have made a significant impact on the community.
These awards reflect the commitment and influence of MBU alumni in their communities and workplaces. Missouri Baptist University’s Alumni Association seeks out alumni to honor each year.
VOCATIONAL EXCELLENCE AWARD
PARIS FOREST
B.S. IN BIOLOGY ’99
Paris Forest is the director of information technology and data analytics for the Boeing Company. She serves as the co-lead and executive committee member of Boeing’s racial equity task force. This council aims to elevate equity and inclusion in the workplace. Forest represents Boeing on the board of the national girl’s collaborative project, an initiative working to advance gender equity by encouraging girls to pursue careers in STEM. Forest has remained a strong figure at MBU, supporting the women in leadership events each year.
OUTSTANDING YOUNG ALUMNI AWARD ANDREA SCOTT
M.A. IN TEACHING ’16
Andrea Scott is the founder and CEO of Smile Big, Dream Bigger LLC. She is an award-winning author for the children’s book, “Smile Big Dream Bigger.” Taking inspiration from her book, Scott was inspired to start a business that provided bilingual tutoring services to students and adults. Her business is St. Louis’ first and only black-owned bilingual tutoring program. It landed her the honor of being on the St. Louis Business Journal 2019 “30 Under 30” List. Scott is the recipient of the 2019 Phenomenal Woman, Gateway’s Dream Champion Award.
JAMES KEETON
M.A. IN CHRISTIAN MINISTRY ’13, M.A. IN COUNSELING ’19
James Keeton is the director of programs at St. Vincent Home for Children. He serves on the executive leadership team, leads the clinical services department in providing individualized care and oversees all programs for St. Vincent. Keeton currently serves as the Vice President on the board of directors at Phoenix Behavioral Health, a leading trauma non-profit agency in St. Charles, Missouri. Keeton is an author, public speaker and licensed professional counselor.
VOCATIONAL EXCELLENCE AWARD
DR. WILLIAM WESLEY KIMBERLIN
B.S. IN BIOLOGY AND B.A. IN PSYCHOLOGY ’05
Dr. William Wesley Kimberlin works as a small animal surgeon, specializing in orthopedic and soft tissue surgery at Veterinary Specialty Services in St. Louis. He is a board-certified surgeon with the American College of Veterinary Surgeons. Kimberlin is one of six small-animal surgeons in St. Louis. He occasionally does procedures on animals from the St. Louis Zoo. During his time at MBU, Kimberlin played on MBU’s volleyball team.
SERVICE TO THE UNIVERSITY AWARD JON HESSEL B.A. IN RELIGION ’03
Jon Hessel was recently named vice-president for student development and dean of students at MBU. Prior to this role, he served as campus pastor at Waypoint church and pastor/elder at the Journey church, both in West County. Hessel actively serves as the MBU Alumni Advisory President. His love for MBU has led him to speak at many events throughout the years, as well as chapel services each school year.
MISSION IN ACTION AWARD JORDANNE MICKLEY B.A. IN SPECIAL EDUCATION ’22
Jordanne Mickley recently graduated this spring with a degree in cross-categorical special education. She is very passionate about working with children with disabilities. Since 2014, Mickley has volunteered at a non-profit therapeutic horsemanship organization, Helping Hands and Horses. Mickley serves as a student fellow in the School of Education where she mentors fellow students in their education courses. ■
Missouri Baptist University Associate Professor of Biology and Biochemistry Mark Duerr joined MBU’s faculty in the fall of 2016. Since then, Duerr has taught over 1,000 students covering 12 different courses. Duerr holds a Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education (biology) and a doctorate in biochemistry and molecular biology from Saint Louis University.
Duerr, who grew up in a modest neighborhood in Detroit, learned the value of community from his parents, three siblings and friends. His mother, a kindergarten teacher, and father, a pastor, along with his blue-collar neighbors, taught him the value of hard work.
Just before Duerr’s sixteenth birthday, his father took him car shopping. After wandering the lot, the father and son decided on a Ford Escort ZX2. Duerr was so thrilled to get the car that he failed to mention to his father or the salesman that he didn’t know how to drive a stick shift. The car was purchased anyway, and Duerr’s father spent the coming weeks teaching him how to drive his new car. To this day, Duerr refuses to buy a car without a stick shift.
As a young student, Duerr played sports. Particularly, Duerr fell in love with basketball. During his high school and college years, Duerr spent his free time coaching middle school basketball. This coaching experience developed into an appreciation for basketball and, more importantly, a passion for teaching. Duerr, who’d always admired his mother, had hoped to become a kindergarten teacher before pursuing a career in higher education.
Growing up, Duerr spent many weekends traveling around the United States in his family’s pop-up camper. Duerr has visited 46 states and has camped in 10 National Parks. Now, as a father of three, he wants to provide the same experiences he had growing up to his children. Each weekend, his family admires the beauty of God’s creation through hiking, camping or fishing.
The Duerr family has hiked every trail within a 200-mile radius.
Duerr’s love of a good challenge isn’t confined to the classroom or academic pursuits. He ran his first marathon during graduate school and has completed seven marathons to date. He averages 15-20 miles of running each week.
DID YOU KNOW? Less than 1% of the population will complete a marathon.
As a full-time professor and homeschool educator, Duerr spends his weekends focused on family and personal restoration. When thinking of his dream weekend, he is confident it would consist of homemade avocado toast, a family hike and watching his favorite movie, Disney’s “Encanto.”
Duerr is the first person in his family to earn a doctorate. From a young age, he was an overachiever and won various prestigious awards throughout his academic journey. Duerr says his most valuable reward is the exposure to diversity and travel experiences he had growing up. Through travel, he has learned the beauty of culture and the value of diversity. Approaching differences with respect is something he works to instill in his children and students. Being exposed to different experiences and people has shaped his view on humanity. ■
The Missouri Baptist University Women’s Volleyball team raises the NAIA national championship trophy for the second time in two seasons following a thrilling five-set victory over former AMC rival Park University [25-18, 20-25, 25-15, 14-25, 15-8] on Dec. 4, 2021. The Spartans became the first team to repeat as NAIA Women’s Volleyball national champions since 2010 and just the sixth program all-time to do so.
NAIA National Championship Coach of the Year Chris Nichols guided the Spartans to a storybook finish at 33-2 overall, which set a record for fewest matches lost and highest winning percentage in a single season. ■
Dr. Keith Beutler poses for a photo inside the vault at George Washington’s Mount Vernon, which holds more than 60 purported extant Washington lovelocks (courtesy of Thalia Romero, George Washington’s Mount Vernon, 2021).
MBU Professor of History Keith Beutler’s new book “George Washington’s Hair: How Early Americans Remembered the Founders,” guides readers into the key features of early American patriotic memory culture.
At Philadelphia’s Independence National Historical Park, combing through documents held by the National Park Service, I related to a member of its staff the question that lured me to the archives. Did early Americans have beliefs about the nature of memory itself that, by giving shape to their efforts to remember their nation’s birth, affected foundational patriotic American memory and identity? Afraid of boring my still-attentive auditor, I then quickly described evidence I was finding that in the young United States, between 1790 and 1840, “memory” was defined in increasingly popular physi cal terms. New physicalist understandings of memory demanded concrete placeholders to preserve the nation’s founding memories. Many artifacts that early Americans collected as such—including locks of George Washington’s hair—are with us still. Yet, we no longer understand them as our forebearers did.
At my mention of surviving fragments of George Washington’s mane, the archivist’s eyes brightened. If the Founders’ follicles were what I sought, there was, she volunteered, a little known—and, by present-day lights, bizarre—collection of Washington’s and other early Americans’ tresses at Philadelphia’s Academy of Natural Sciences. Intrigued, I pro ceeded across town as fast as public transport would allow to the Academy’s library at the intersection of 19th Street and the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. Within minutes, a curator, Robert Peck, visibly pleased that someone wanted to see the then-obscure collection, showed me the extant “hair pile” and “Presi dential Hair Book” of Academy alumnus Peter A. Browne. In the mid nineteenth century, Browne used his wealth and connections as a prominent attorney to gather hirsute speci mens. He hoped to develop scientific calculi by which to read people’s moral character from the physical attributes of their hair. Dying in 1860, the jurisprudent left his hairy trove to the Academy. Now, leafing through his presidential hair book, one page at a time, one lock at a time, one chief executive at a time, I encountered actual surviving filaments clipped from the heads of U.S. presidents from George Washington through James Buchanan. The surreality of that whole experience made my own hair stand on end.
What I could not know then was that I was, more or less, surrounded by George Washington’s hair. Scores of institutions hold locks, purportedly preserved from the pate of the Pater Patriae, the Father of His Country,
George Washington. Especially along the northeastern portion of the Interstate 95 cor ridor, one is never very far from that Founder’s fragments. To drive the ten-hour stretch from Richmond, Virginia, to Portland, Maine, for ex ample, is to pass within fifty miles of a lock of his hair nearly four dozen times—an average of about once every fourteen minutes. Like breadcrumbs leading us back to the scenes of the Revolution, the debris field, as I have since mapped it, stretches from the East Coast across the Midwest (including into St. Louis, where the Missouri Historical Society holds a few Washington snips), verges into baldness in sparsely populated areas in the West, then re appears on the West Coast. “George Washing ton’s Hair: How Early Americans Remembered the Founders,” is a guidebook into key features of the early American patriotic memory culture that spawned this remarkable, now little-remembered bodily diffusion. The new United States’ culture of commemoration that it excavates, was not merely passionate. It was also intellectually sophisticated. To recover it historically is to comprehend anew the origins and leading elements of early American na tionhood and identity.
Thus, may George Washington’s hair be summarized analytically. Yet, as a work of history, it is intended not only to make persuasive arguments, but also to tell compel ling true stories. One meets in its pages such characters from the early American republic as a museum owner interested in preserving the Founders’ bodies, an African American storyteller brandishing a lock of Washington’s
Dr. Keith Beutler teaches history and political science courses at Missouri Baptist, including upper-level courses in his specialty, the United States’ Founding era, and is the author of “George Washington’s Hair: How Early Americans Remembered the Founders” (Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press, 2021). In addition to a Ph.D. in history from Washington University in St. Louis, Beutler holds an M.Ed. from Union University, an M.A. in history from The University of Tennessee, and concurrent B.A. degrees in history and philosophy from Liberty University.
hair, an evangelical preacher burned in effigy for voicing his impolitic understanding of the Founders’ religious beliefs, and a school mistress who politicized memory theory to privilege women as conveyors of patriotic memory. Sitting at the feet of these charac ters, and attentively listening to their recov ered histories, the book affords new historical genealogies of science, religion, race, education and patriotism in America. Stories about the strange, and still-continuing, career of Wash ington’s lovelocks serve as its points of entry into a larger, long-forgotten history of memory in Early America. Do come to the book, then, for its scintillating hirsute tidbits, but stay en tangled in George Washington’s Hair for that greater analytical and historiographic updo, As a Christian called to teaching and research, I am privileged and enjoined to feel the weighty motivation of God’s demand that we do everything—even, by implication, write history—to the highest standards possible, “with all of” our “might,” but I am aware too that I and my work are weightless, airborne dust, compared to Him, His knowledge and His teaching. No human being can ever give that final word that Christ alone, who is the Word, is able to give—on history or anything else. Where all of those truths intersect, I invite readers to join with me in humbly, but engagingly; in high humor, yet vigorously; exploring the telling questions and evidence concerning American history, memory, and patriotism into which “George Washington’s Hair: How Early Americans Remembered the Founders” offers entrée. ■
The COVID-19 pandemic has claimed the lives of more than 1 million Americans. But its impact goes far beyond even that grim statistic.
Well into its third year, the pandemic continues to wreak havoc on the mental health of millions. Surveys reveal sharp increases in the number of individuals reporting symptoms of anxiety, depression and other mental and health conditions. Consequently, the need for mental health treatment has skyrocketed.
Against this backdrop Missouri Baptist University learned that its counseling programs had been awarded the “gold standard” of accreditation from the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs, or CACREP.
The designation underscores the fact that MBU is at the forefront of training and preparing graduate students for careers that will help the nation heal.
CACREP awarded MBU’s counseling education program an eight-year accreditation — the most robust period possible.
“This important accomplishment elevates our counseling program and validates that the University offers a rigorous, high-quality program that serves our students well and expands MBU’s distinctively Christian mission,” said Dr. Keith Ross, president of Missouri Baptist University. “Our School of Education and Counseling faculty are committed to exceptional counselor preparation and a culture of continuous improvement that is well demonstrated in this significant achievement.”
Missouri Baptist University offers accredited master of arts degrees in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and in School Counseling. The School Counseling master’s degree has two program tracks: Traditional, which prepares students for certification as a professional school counselor, and Licensure, which prepares students for certification and allows students to pursue licensure as an LPC post-graduation.
The effort to gain accreditation from CACREP predated the existence of COVID-19. In fact, school officials began the pro cess nearly six years ago, recalls Dr. Christine Ward, director and associate professor of Counselor Education. The program had to demonstrate that it meets more than 250 standards for performance in multiple areas.
After the lengthy process that was extended by COVID restrictions, CACREP awarded MBU’s counseling education program an eight-year accreditation – the most robust period possible.
“It built our credibility as a program and put a stamp on the work that we are doing,” Dr. Ward said. “The accreditation means that we are a gold-standard program that is achieving high levels of excellence for ourselves and our students.”
MBU’s counseling education program differs from many similar graduate-level programs in that it is rooted in a faithcentered mission, Dr. Ward said.
“There are very few faith-based counselor education programs that are CACREP accredited,” she said. “We are uncompromising in the fact that we are a Christian institution, and we prepare our students to serve as the hands and feet of Jesus and to serve their mission and calling.”
MBU’s Christian identity means that students and faculty are encouraged to see their vocation as a calling, and to speak openly about their faith. However, all graduates of the program are fully trained and equipped to serve individuals of other faiths, or no faith at all. Such service to people of all backgrounds, traditions and world views is part of a Gospel mission, Dr. Ward said.
“We talk a lot about this profession being a calling. It’s not just a job that you go out and do. It’s not even just a career. Serving others is a calling and helping people achieve wellness is a calling,” she said. “One of the fun parts about our program is that we are free and open to talk about our faith. We’re not a ‘Christian counseling’ program, but we are a counseling program that relies on our faith to help inform our students and guide them in helping others.”
Multiculturalism, Dr. Ward said, is embedded across the entire curriculum. In order to serve a diverse population, counseling students are taught to “bracket” their personal beliefs during therapy sessions and focus on their clients’ and PK-12 students’ individual needs, Dr. Ward said.
“It’s a delicate balance,” she said. “I talk to my own students frequently about the fact that I pray first, silently and internally, when I meet a client or a PK-12 student. My prayer is always: ‘God, help me help this person.’”
That kind of care is needed more now than at any time in recent memory.
The COVID-19 pandemic has placed an unprecedented strain on mental wellness, experts say. Whether it was the pain of isolation from friends, co-workers and family, the grief that accompanies the death of loved ones, the fear of contracting the disease or frustration with seemingly everchanging health guidelines, Americans continue to feel the strain more than two years after COVID began.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that the percentage of adults who had symptoms of an anxiety or depressive disorder increased significantly from August 2020 to February 2021. The largest increases were recorded among those aged 18-29 and those without a high school diploma. Similarly, individuals with lower incomes were statistically more likely to say that worry or stress related to the pandemic had damaged their mental health, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation.
In research recorded earlier this year, the CDC found more than two in five adults 18 or older reported experiencing symptoms of an anxiety or a depressive disorder during the past seven days. And fully half of women with children under 18 at home say they have experienced symptoms of anxiety or depression during the pandemic, the foundation says.
The research also suggests that people with close friends
Before receiving her doctorate, Ward worked as a school counselor in elementary and middle schools, and specializes in the application of the ASCA National Model®.
Ward’s research interests include school counseling and academic achievement, rural school counseling and supervision, understanding and responding to issues facing military-connected children and their families, and resiliency in military families.
“My prayer is always: ‘God, help me help this person.’”
Prior is a therapist in St. Louis, and uses a Christian framework in her approach. Before working with Agape, she worked at a residential eating disorder treatment center. She uses multiple therapy modalities including eye movement.
or family members who died of COVID-19 are more likely to say that the pandemic has had a major impact on their mental health.
Kat Prior (‘09, ‘11), a licensed professional counselor in the St. Louis area who earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees at MBU, testifies to the devastating impact the pandemic has had on mental health.
“A lot of it is anxiety,” Prior said. “I see a lot of people struggling with going back to the workforce, and the fear of getting sick – ‘Is it safe? Am I going to do harm to other people?’
“There’s also a lot of anxiety around our society and our government. There was a lot of anxiety around elections, then COVID happened, and it’s like – ‘Who can we trust?’”
The isolation that the pandemic sparked has led to depression among some of Prior’s clients.
“When you have people working from home and they can’t socialize and can’t avoid themselves, they are stuck in their thoughts, and that causes more awareness of depression,” she said.
Not only has the pandemic contributed to an increase in mental health issues, it also has exacerbated underlying mental health conditions among many — especially those who have lost a loved one due to COVID, said Dr. Lekesha Davis, a member of MBU’s counseling program faculty.
“For individuals who already have mental health disorders such as depression and anxiety, when the entire nation is shut down and you can’t visit family and have physical contact, isolation is one of the worst things for depression,” she said. “Top that with family members who are dying as a result of the pandemic. They are literally drowning in their grief without an outlet.”
In some cases, the pandemic’s pressures have brought up emotions that have their roots deep in the past, Prior said.
“What has happened with COVID is that all this stuff that came up from people was already there,” she said. “For most people, it comes from childhood development.”
That’s one reason, she argues, that fully trained, professional counseling is so important — to help individuals identify the root causes of their mental or emotional pain.
“I always work with clients to help them identify their emotions, where they feel their emotions in their body, and identify the truth about why they’re feeling that way. We ask, ‘Is it the truth or is it something distorted based on past experiences?’”
The role of the counselor can be misunderstood, even among Christians seeking to trust God for their health and well-being.
Most believers acknowledge and embrace the role of doctors, physical therapists and other medical professionals who can help the body heal. However, some people of faith question whether counseling and other mental health tools are even necessary. Why, they ask, can’t people who are suffering in such a way just “pray away” the problem?
“There are going to be naysayers,” Dr. Ward said. “There will be some who want us to focus exclusively on the relationship with God. However, there is a point where individuals need to seek help from counselors and other professionals.”
“Being alone with your thoughts can be very isolating,” she said. “If you pray about your situations, obviously you are talking to a real, living God. But in counseling, we create a safe space for people to take these isolating feelings and bring them out to the open, to look at them from all angles –including from their faith perspective.”
Prior argues that Scripture is full of exhortations to seek Biblical counsel from each other, to take up each other’s burdens and to show emotion.
“If we say we are Christians and we say that we can’t cry – really? Because what did Jesus do when Lazarus died? He wept,” Prior said.
Prior acknowledges the teaching in Philippians 4:6-8: “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God, and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
However, Prior says, that doesn’t mean that anxiety is sinful — especially considering the experiences of Jesus Himself.
“In the garden right before He was to be taken by jailors, He literally was sweating blood. Why was He sweating blood? Because He was anxious,” she said. “It’s just about recognizing that Jesus was surrounded by his disciples. Jesus had counsel from God. The disciples took counsel from Jesus. We’re supposed to be helping each other as Christians.”
Dr. Davis agrees.
“There’s still a huge stigma surrounding mental health services and treatment,” she said. “I ask people, ‘What you would do if you break your arm? Without exception, they say: ‘We’re going to the hospital.’
“We understand the needs of physical condition, but some times we act as if the brain is not a part of the human body.”
I THINK THE BIGGEST THING I ALWAYS WORK ON WITH CLIENTS IS HELPING THEM IDENTIFY THEIR EMOTIONS, WHERE THEY FEEL THEIR EMOTIONS IN THEIR BODY AND IDENTIFY THE TRUTH ABOUT OUT WHY THEY’RE FEELING THAT WAY.”
PH.D. IN COUNSELOR EDUCATION AND SUPERVISION, WITH AN EMPHASIS IN TRAUMA AND CRISIS, WALDEN UNIVERSITY
Davis has worked in community mental health for more than 20 years including serving as the vice president of behavioral health services and director of children’s services at the Amanda Luckett Murphy Hopewell Center in St. Louis. She is an expert regarding intimate partner violence, depression, trauma and crisis, children and families, and multicultural issues in counseling. Community and academic presentations include: self-care when working with children who experience trauma, the most common mental illnesses in adults and children, the effects of gun violence on youth, the impact of trauma on diverse populations, intimate partner violence, and many other topics.
Just as an expert is sometimes required to help heal the body, counselors can use their training and ability to help heal the spirit.
“When someone is struggling and comes to me,” Prior said, “I’m going to show them where they’re struggling and help them, not judge them and shrug them off.”
Prior said modern culture fills life with so many distractions and pressure points that it’s hard to find a healthy mental balance.
“In our society we don’t realize the importance of slowing down,” she said. “I think the biggest thing I always work on with clients is helping them identify their emotions, where they feel their emotions in their body and identify the truth about out why they’re feeling that way.”
The impact of the last few years has been felt worldwide — even within the confines of MBU’s counseling program.
One of the major changes the pandemic has wrought is an explosion in telehealth, where counseling sessions that traditionally have been held in person are now conducted by video. This has major implications for how counselors do their jobs — and it has been a new focus with the university’s counseling program, Dr. Ward said.
“Just the mere notion that you can’t read body language the same way creates a different level of challenge for the counselor as well as the client,” she said. “Sitting in person with somebody is very different from having a Zoom conver sation. It’s definitely a shift.”
Additionally, she said, students need to understand that counselors who are licensed in one state may not offer counseling services to someone in a different state without another license, despite the technology that would allow such remote sessions.
Moreover, MBU students are feeling the same stress as the rest of us, Dr. Ward said. That’s one reason why all counseling students are required to create a comprehensive self-care plan.
“Our students are people, and they are going through some of these same emotions as the general public,” she said. “This profession is not for the faint of heart. We have high levels of burnout in the profession. So in our program, one of our major focus areas is self-care, helping students understand that you cannot pour from an empty cup.”
Professors understand that students experience a wide variety of stresses, Dr. Davis said.
“There is a lot of exhaustion with trying to balance person al lives during the pandemic,” she said. “A lot of our students have families, they have fulltime jobs. They were balancing having kids at home while trying to go through a program
while trying to work, and so all of that became over whelming. As professors we have to be understanding.”
Indeed, care and compassion for students is a hallmark of the MBU counseling program’s family atmosphere, Dr. Ward said. Such support is a crucial part of preparing the program’s students to help heal a fallen world.
“We care immensely for our faculty and our students,” Dr. Ward said, “and we are really lucky to get to work with such incredible individuals who are out there making a difference.
“Our society as a whole is feeling unrest and uncertainty and that translates frequently into anger,” she continued. “As far as the role we at MBU can play, our tagline for our counseling program is ‘Shine On,’ just like the university. We talk to students about being the light and being the beacon of hope for our clients.” ■
As far as the role we at MBU can play, our tagline for our counseling program is ‘Shine On,’ just like the university. We talk to students about being the light and being the beacon of hope for our clients.”
Dr. Bennett Wilkins had no idea how the Lord would use MBU to shape his life back in 1993 when the then 29-year-old high school dropout showed up at Missouri Baptist College to take his GED.
On a quiet, cloudy weekday morning, 8-year-old Bennett Wilkins was the first to awaken in his family home. Concerned that his hurried movements would wake up the rest of the family, he moved cautiously getting ready for school. He’d forgotten to switch the laundry from washer to dryer the night before. Nevertheless, it was time to get dressed.
Wilkins tiptoed downstairs and removed his wet clothes from the washing machine. They were too damp for him to wear, but he was afraid to risk the rumble of the clamorous dryer, which would certainly wake up the slumbering household. Besides, he figured there was no time for the dryer anyway. Instead, he plugged in the iron, allowing a few moments for it to heat up to the highest setting. The iron got hot. Was it too hot? He wasn’t sure, but he took the iron to his damp clothes, more an effort to dry them than to straighten them.
Almost immediately the smell of burnt fabric filled the room, lingering like a bothersome cloud over him. Still, he pressed on, powering through the sizzle and steam, slowly straightening and drying his pants and collared shirt.
The excessive heat of the iron discolored the material, rendering it crisp and stiff, and the scorched smell would not be ignored. Wilkins learned that day that wet clothes and hot irons do not pair well. He dressed and walked to the bus stop, boarding with the pungent stench of singed cloth following him, haunting him to his seat.
When he arrived at school, he hoped a teacher or administrator—any adult—would approach him, offering some kindly wisdom to deliver him from his anxiety and embarrassment. The look and smell of his clothes and his unsettled demeanor surely revealed to anyone paying attention that something wasn’t right. Yet, no teacher came. No administrator stepped up to help him. As the day progressed, he found himself becoming an unwilling conversation piece among his jeering classmates, yet no adult seemed to care.
To this day, Wilkins wonders why no one offered him a new set of clothes or even approached him to make sure everything was all right. That enduring memory and its accompanying questions about the lack of adult engagement and intervention continue to propel Wilkins
to be the kind of educator and leader that not only notices when a student is in need but responds.
Wilkins, the new dean of students at Central Elementary for Ferguson/Florissant School District, received his doctorate in education leadership from MBU in 2021. He describes himself as being on a mission to make sure no student feels invisible. Such inspiration comes, in part, from the experience of being cared for by his grandmother, who Wilkins says excelled in making him feel special.
“All my life, my grandmother was a source of stability. She never rejected me when I made bad decisions. She made me feel significant and she loved me unconditionally,” says Wilkins.
His path to success has not been easy, but his is a journey marked by resilience. After feeling neglected by the education system, he decided school wasn’t for him.
At 17, Wilkins dropped out of high school. Years later, he found himself reevaluating that choice. He wanted to make his grandmother proud. He’d always credited her support, along with God’s faithfulness to him, as the building blocks of his life’s foundation.
As his grandmother approached the end of her life, Wilkins knew he needed to make a change in his. He wanted more for himself than he was currently experiencing, and he wanted his grandmother to see him succeed. Wilkins knew what he needed to do in order to get where he wanted to be. He needed to enter again into the place that spawned so much self-doubt and insecurity in his early life. He needed to go back to school.
That’s when, at age 29, Wilkins found himself on the campus of Missouri Baptist University. The year was 2001—nearly 12 years after dropping out of high school. MBU’s testing center was offering the GED, giving Wilkins a chance to earn a high school equivalency degree. Though he couldn’t have known at the time, that visit to MBU marked the start of an inspiring educational journey that included degrees from Lindenwood University, Webster University and, to bring it full circle, the doctor of education leadership degree (Ed.D.) from Missouri Baptist University.
Wilkins, who has also served as a restorative justice supervisor and dean of students for Confluence
Academies, has put the knowledge gained from his doctoral program into action. While researching his dissertation, titled “Measuring Successful Mentorship with Black Middle School Males in a Low-Income School,” Wilkins developed an educational approach that has already paid dividends in his academic settings.
A strong proponent of fostering intentional relationships with students and their families, Wilkins believes the strategy has led to increased student retention rates and fewer behavioral problems for students. When a student shows interest in a specific field of study, Wilkins searches out someone in that career to connect with students through presentations and question and answer sessions. Not only has the speaker series initiative been a learning opportunity for the students, but he believes it has led students to feel more connected, valued and understood. Leslie Muhammad, principal of Confluence Academy Old North, agrees.
“Dr. Wilkins has established a systems approach to mentoring and decreasing behavioral issues within the school. He maintains this from a proactive approach which has sustainability in the milieu,” said Muhammad. “He is on a mission to educate and expand the minds of his students. He is a rare find.”
Ultimately, Wilkins just wants students to know that they matter.
“I want to be for my students what I never had,” Wilkins says.
His relentless pursuit of learning paired with this intentionality has led to impactful change at Confluence, and Wilkins expects the same results in his new role with the Ferguson-Florissant School District as well. The data supports his hopefulness, but so does Wilkins’s own experience. His story is like a shelf full of educational victories, with key MBU moments as bookends.
“The staff members and faculty at MBU made my experience here great. They were intentional, encouraging, and spoke life into my life when I needed it the most,” Wilkins says. His goal is to provide the same for other students and families on their own educational journeys. Wilkins adds, “I want to relentlessly pursue an intentional relationship with my students and parents. I never had that, and I know my students need that.” ■
His story is like a shelf full of educational victories, with key MBU moments as bookends.
Missouri Baptist University alumnus Nick Christie (’15) represented the United States in the men’s 20km race walk during the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Competing in August 2021 following a year-long delay brought on by the coronavirus pandemic, Christie finished 50th, posting a time of 1:34:37.
A three-time NAIA national champion and three-time American Midwest Conference champion while at MBU, Christie’s chance to compete on the world’s biggest stage almost didn’t happen.
Though he won gold in the men’s 20km race walk at the U. S. Olympic Team trials in June 2021, punching a ticket for the Tokyo Games required a top 60 finish in the world rankings. His gold medal performance was followed by a grueling nine-day waiting period as results on other races trickled in from around the globe. As the final rankings settled into place, Christie found himself on the outside looking in—with a rank of 61. Still, Christie held out hope
that he would find his way to Tokyo. He waited.
“It was about a week that I was in total limbo. It was totally stressful,” Christie said.
The wait, he soon learned, was well worth it. When an athlete from another country was not invited to participate in the Tokyo Olympics, Christie’s Olympic dream was realized.
Reflecting on his time as a Spartan student-athlete, Christie, who graduated from MBU with a B.S. in exercise science, was quick to praise former MBU track and field coach, Tish Hanna.
“Tish Hanna was a massively supportive coach and brought us in with the mindset that someone was going to make the Olympics someday. As far as competition was concerned, Hanna was always super supportive of us, created a good competitive environment, asked us our long-term goals, and helped support us along the way. We had a great coach. There’s no other way to say it.” ■
Photo Credit: Kevin J. Cunningham(B.A. in Natural Sciences ’76)
Lives in St. Charles, Missouri, with his wife, Patty (’76). He works as a medical director of utilization and management for BJC Healthcare.
1 Rev. Timothy Bonney
(B.A. in Behavioral Sciences ‘86)
Lives in Indianola, Iowa, with his wife, Michelle. He currently serves as the lead pastor for First United Methodist Church in Indianola. Bonney is also a member for the Board of Trustees of Simpson College.
(B.S. in Business Administration ’87)
Lives in St. Joseph, Missouri, with his wife, Rena. He works as the director of athletics for Missouri Western State University.
(B.S. in Accounting ’97, M.B.A. ’06)
Lives in St. Louis, Missouri, with his wife and three children. He serves as a senior accountant at his alma mater, Missouri Baptist University.
4 Amy Simmons
(B.S. in Business Administration ’98)
Lives in Dexter, Missouri, with her husband Westley. She works as a special education teacher for the Dexter School District.
(B.A. in Music Education ’99)
Lives in Festus, Missouri, with her husband. She serves as a music teacher at Grandview R2 School District. This year, she celebrated 23 years of marriage with her husband.
(B.S. in Elementary Education ’99)
Lives in Boonville, Missouri, with her husband Chris (’98). She serves as the Parents as Teachers supervisor for the Boonville R1 School District. They stay busy attending church activities and baseball events for their sons.
(B.A. in Communications ’02, M.S in Education ’05)
Lives in St. Louis, Missouri, with his wife. He is a recruiting manager for TEN Healthcare.
(B.M. in Music Education ’03)
Lives in St. Charles, Missouri, with her husband. She works as an enrollment services assistant at St. Charles Community College.
(B.A. in Religion ’06)
Lives in Fayette, Missouri, with his wife, Shannon (’06). He serves as the pastor for First Baptist Church of Fayette and serves as a member of the MBU Board of Trustees.
Kristina Curnutt
(B.A. in Psychology ’06)
Lives in Florissant, Missouri, with her husband and children. She recently became a licensed clinical social worker.
8 Dr. Jordan Cox
(B.M. in Education ’10)
Lives in Eureka, Missouri, with his wife, Kasey (’10) and children. He currently serves as the Fine Arts Division Chair, assistant professor of music and director of choral activities & music education for Missouri Baptist University. In 2020, they planted College Park Church and welcomed their fourth child, Lawson, in 2021.
(B.A. in Business Administration ’10)
Lives in Maple Grove, Minnesota, with his wife, Loranna (’12). He works as a product manager at Marsh McLennan Agency. They welcomed their first son in December 2021.
(B.S. in Education ’10, M.A. in Curriculum and Instruction ’12)
Lives in DeSoto, Missouri. He works as a high school assistant principal at Normandy Schools Collaborative.
2 Meredith Lewis
(B.S. in Public Relations ’11)
Lives in Dayton, Ohio, with her husband Andrew. She works as an accounting assistant for CHOICES, Inc., a foster care agency. The couple welcomed their first child in September 2021.
Dr. Lacey Miller
(B.S. in Exercise Science ’11)
Lives in Arnold, Missouri, with her husband, Brett. She works as a chiropractor for her own business in St. Louis County.
Meaghan Rocco
(B.S. in Biology ’11)
Lives in St. Paul, Missouri. Rocco was the first graduate to obtain a biochemistry degree from MBU. She currently works as a lead scientist for Pfizer.
3 Justin Seffens
(B.S. in Exercise Science ’11)
Lives in Herculaneum, Missouri, with his wife Torrie (’11) and his two children. He is the general manager for The Exercise Coach.
(Education Specialist ’12)
Lives in Arnold, Missouri. She recently retired from her curriculum administrator position at the Special School District after 31 years of service.
Desiree Morris
(M.A. in Education Administration ‘12, Ed. Specialist ’21)
Lives in Arnold, Missouri, with her husband. She works as a school supervisor for the Missouri School for the Blind.
4 Rev. Casey Peterson
(B.A. in Religious Education ’12)
Lives in St. Charles, Missouri, with his wife Brittany and three children. He serves as the lead pastor at Main Street Church in St. Charles.
Sarah Hawkins
(B.P.S. in General Studies ’13, M.A. in Teaching ’18, Education Specialist ’18)
Lives in Farmington, Missouri. She is a process coordinator at Farmington School District.
5 Kathleen Bahan (Education Specialist ’14)
Cheyenne Morris is on the path of accom plishing a lifelong dream as she embarks on a journey of learning and research.
The MBU alumna graduated in 2018 with a bachelor’s degree in biology and minors in chemistry and biochemistry with a dream of becoming a scientist and professor. Her dream became a reality when she landed a spot in a highly-competitive doctoral pro gram at Washington University.
Washington University’s competitive plant and microbial biosciences Ph.D. program receives thousands of submissions and only selects 13 exceptional students each year.
Accepted students receive full tuition and a monthly stipend in exchange for their
research. Morris was one of the students selected for the 2021 start.
Over the next 5 years, Morris will be conducting research for the university as she works to obtain her degree. Morris plans to graduate in 2026.
When thinking of the future, Morris wants to continue down a path that was carved out by her professors at MBU. “Ever since I was young, I’ve wanted to be a teacher — my dream was confirmed while at MBU. The professors there inspired, challenged and led me with unwavering grace. They are pas sionate about their jobs and students. I want to bring that passion to my students one day,” Morris said.
Lives in O’Fallon, Missouri. She serves as the assistant principal for the Fort Zumwalt School District.
Candice Carver
(B.S. in Business Administration ’14)
Lives in High Ridge, Missouri, with her husband. She is a business analyst for BJC Healthcare.
(M.A. in Counseling ’14)
Lives in Blackwell, Missouri ,with her husband Glen. She works as a career counselor for the Desoto School District.
(B.S. in Exercise Science ‘14)
Lives in Saint Charles, Missouri. He works as a wellness coordinator at Aegis Therapies.
(B.A. in Social Science and Secondary Education ’14)
Lives in DeSoto, Missouri, with her husband, Brandon. She serves as a teacher for the Jefferson R-VII School District in Festus, Missouri.
8 Janet Fowler
(Teacher Certification ’15)
Lives in Farmington, Missouri, with her
husband Joey. She is a second-grade teacher for the Central R3 School District. She was recently accepted into the Teacher Academy for the upcoming year.
(B.S. in Business Management and Accounting ’15)
Lives in Eureka, Missouri. She works as a compliance supervisor for McCormack Baron Management.
Shawn Brown
(B.S. in Unified Science and Secondary Education ’16)
Shawn lives in St. Louis with his wife. He is a science teacher for Fox High School.
9 Shane Howell
(B.S. in Business Administration ’16)
Lives in Charleston, Missouri. He currently works as a business teacher for the Oak Ridge School District.
Amar Kahlon
(B.S. in Psychology ’16)
Lives in St. Peters, Missouri. He works as a marketing support specialist for First Heartland Capital.
(B.A. in Business Administration ’16)
Lives in Arnold, Missouri, with her husband, Brian. She is a realtor and owns her own real estate business.
(M.B.A. ’16)
Lives in St. Louis, Missouri. He currently works as a dentist at Premier Dental Partners.
(M.A. in Educational Administration ’16)
Lives in Washington, Missouri, with her husband Michael. She works as a process coordinator for the Wentzville School District.
Lydia Snowden
(B.A. in Broadcast Media ’16)
Lives in St. Charles, Missouri. She is an administrative assistant for CustomEyes Cameras. She is getting married to her fiancé, Brett, this fall.
Kevin Tennill
(M.A. in Counseling ’16)
Lives in O’Fallon, Missouri, with his wife, Sherry. He currently serves as a licensed professional counselor at a private practice specializing in substance use disorders.
2 Jake Gingerich
(B.A. in Marketing ’17)
Lives in St. Louis, Missouri, with his wife, Damaris (’18). He works as a marketing campaign specialist for Lifeway.
Andrea Joyce
(B.S. in Elementary Education ’17)
Lives in Fort Collins, Colorado, with her husband, Brian. She works as a prekindergarten teacher at The Children’s Workshop. She is currently enrolled at MBU pursuing a master of arts in clinical mental health counseling.
Jennifer Morecraft
(B.S. in Exercise Science ’17)
Lives in Davenport, Iowa, with her husband Lane (’17). She is currently a chiropractic student at Palmer College of Chiropractic.
(B.S. in Psychology ’17)
Lives in St. Louis, Missouri, with her husband, Travis. She serves as a crisis intervention specialist for Provident. She is currently pursuing a master’s degree in counseling.
Christina Saani
(M.A. in Counseling ’17)
Lives in Jefferson City, Missouri, with her husband, Julius. She owns an independent practice, Lighthouse of Hope and Healing LLC, and serves as a counselor.
4 Catherine Schwartz
(B.A. in Business Management ’17)
Lives in Imperial, Missouri. She is a patient access representative for SSM healthcare.
(M.S. Sport Management ’17)
Lives in St. Louis, Missouri. She is a business and development manager for Mercy Sport Performance.
5 Adam Jitmoud
(B.S. in Exercise Science ’18)
Lives in South Hackensack, New Jersey. He works as a personal trainer.
Joseph Legendre
(M.S. in Sport Management ’18)
Lives in Jacksonville, Illinois, with his wife, Melissa. He currently serves as an admissions counselor for Illinois College.
6 Kayla Moore
(B.S. in Psychology ’18)
Lives in Troy, Missouri. She works as an integrated health specialist at Compass Health Network.
7 Andrea Santarsiero
(B.A. in Marketing ’18)
Lives in Evansville, Indiana, with her husband. She works as a marketer for Felts Lock & Alarm.
8 Jay Scherder
(M.B.A. ’18)
Lives in St. Charles, Missouri, with his wife, Nicole. He is currently the director of
marketing and communications for St. Louis Community College. He also volunteers at Second Chance Rant and the Wet Nose Project.
(B.P.S. in Leadership and Christian Ministry ’19)
Lives in Houston, Texas, with his wife, Brenda. He is an associate pastor at Westway Baptist Church. Daniel is pursuing a master of divinity degree from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.
(B.A. in Elementary Education ’19)
Lives in Festus, Missouri, with her husband, Devin. Nicole is a paraprofessional for the Festus School District.
(Ed.D ’19)
Lives in O’Fallon, Missouri, with her husband, Thomas. She is a teacher at Francis Howell School District.
(B.S. in Elementary Education ’19)
Lives in St. Louis, Missouri. She is a fifthgrade teacher for Affton School District.
(M.B.A. ’19)
Lives in St. Louis, Missouri. He is a service specialist at Edward Jones.
9 Madelyn Shotton
(B.A. in Journalism ’19)
Lives in Chesterfield, Missouri. She works as a receptionist and community affairs assistant at FOX2/KPLR 11 News.
(B.S. in Marketing ’19)
Lives in Wildwood, Missouri. He is an admissions representative for transfer athletes at Webster University.
(M.A. in Teaching ’19)
Lives in Columbia, Missouri. He is a seventh-grade math teacher for Columbia Public Schools.
(B.A. in Christian Ministry ’19)
Lives in West Plains, Missouri, with her husband, Michael. She is a stay-at-home mother and just welcomed her second son in March of 2021.
Jennifer Alva
(B.S. in Human Services & Psychology ’20)
Lives in O’Fallon, Missouri. She serves as a community support specialist at Preferred Family Healthcare.
Paulette Baker (B.P.S. in Applied Management ’20)
Lives in Florissant, Missouri, with her husband, Clinton. She is a network operation lead analyst for Cigna.
(M.A. in Healthcare Management ’20)
Lives in Imperial, Missouri, with his wife. He serves as a manager for BJC Healthcare.
(B.A. in Accounting ’20)
Lives in St. Louis, Missouri. She is an accountant at Academy Air.
Laura Glenn (B.M. in Music ’20)
Lives in St. Peters, Missouri, with her husband. She serves as a creative and logistics manager for Child Evangelism Fellowship. The couple had their first son in February of 2022.
(B.S. in Accounting ’20)
Lives in Fredericktown, Missouri, with her husband. She is a provider reimbursement auditor for Centene.
(B.S. in English & Secondary Education ’20)
Lives in Mineral Point, Missouri. She is a secondary english and language arts teacher for Valley R-VI High School.
10 Rev. Michael Knox (B.A. in Ministry and Leadership ’20)
Lives in Baytown, Texas. He is the technical coordinator at BridgePoint Bible Church.
(M.B.A. ’20)
Lives in Troy, Missouri. She works as a proposal development coordinator for Inotiv.
Dr. Santita Nunn
(Ed.D. in Higher Education Leadership ’20)
Lives in Springfield, Illinois, with her husband. She is a grand administrator for the State of Illinois.
Jacqueline Schilling
(B.P.S. in Applied Management ’20)
Lives in Godfrey, Illinois, with her husband. She works as a division assistant for Lewis and Clark Community College.
Angela Schneider
(Ed. S. in Curriculum and Instruction ’20)
Lives in St. Louis, Missouri. She works as a teacher for the Rockwood School District.
Kelaynew Seyoum
(B.A. in Christian Ministry ’20)
Lives in St. Louis, Missouri. He is currently pursuing a degree at Covenant Theological Seminary.
Adam Gimble
(B.S. in Business Administration ’21)
Lives in St. Peters, Missouri. He is a relationship manager for One Financial Group.
(B.P.S. in Organizational Leadership ’21)
Lives in Herculaneum, Missouri, with his wife. He works as a product strategy senior advisor for Express Scripts.
ways,
Missouri Baptist University
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Beginning this fall, MBU will be one of only a handful of Christian universities in the country to offer a fully-online MSW program. Learn more at mobap.edu/master-of-social-work
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