Tarleton Magazine - Spring 2016

Pedaling for their lives

Giving clients a precious second chance

Breaths of fresh air A new lease on life for cardiac patients

Traveling with a purpose Study Abroad turns core values into actions

Pedaling for their Lives

2 s horts

Briefs on the new graduate programs and certificates, new parking spaces for wounded veterans and a new partnership with the Botanical Research Institute of Texas.

4 l iving l egend

Dr. Steve Simpson owns a place in the hall of fame.

Preparing Leaders

Dr. David Frazier’s role in producing National FFA officers

Traveling with a purpose

Study Abroad turns core values into actions

Breaths of fresh air

Helping patients have a better tomorrow

Tarleton-fort Worth adds two graduate programs, two certificates

True to its commitment to help North Texas meet its growing workforce needs, Tarleton’s Fort Worth campus will add two graduate programs and two graduate-level certificates to its 2016 fall semester lineup.

New programs are a master’s in communications studies, a master’s of public administration, a certificate of organizational communication and a certificate of social media.

The four programs are tailored to meet individual educational and career goals, with classes offered evenings, weekends and online— convenient for a diverse population of working adults.

Tarleton dedicates parking spaces for Combat Wounded veterans

University officials were joined by several U.S. military veterans, including some currently enrolled as students at Tarleton and others from the Stephenville community, to dedicate four parking spaces for current or former troops who have received the Purple Heart Award.

“I’m very proud to know that we’re the first university in The Texas A&M University System, if not the entire state of Texas, to have designated spaces for combat wounded veterans,” said President F. Dominic Dottavio.

The reserved parking spaces—painted in Tarleton purple and outlined in white—are located across the university’s campus and are marked with special signs provided by the Wounded Warriors Family Support organization. The signs include the words “Combat Wounded” and an image of the Purple Heart medal, which itself features a profile of George Washington.

Tarleton receives $294,000 USDA grant for gardening programs, outreach

The College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences is one of 10 non-land-grant colleges and universities to receive a share of $4 million in competitive awards from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to further agricultural research and teaching.

Tarleton’s share—$294,084 as part of fiscal year 2015 funding—will be used to increase campus and community awareness of food and nutrition sustainability through several education, research and outreach programs.

The USDA grant money will help increase campus and regional awareness of the health benefits associated with the use of fresh food; call attention to the importance of reducing food waste; introduce students and local communities to the benefits of life-long gardening through on-campus and community vegetable and fruit plots; and recruit undergraduate and graduate students into food-related careers.

In addition, Tarleton will develop new courses related to food and nutrition sustainability.

Student receives ExxonMobil, GSA research scholarship

Justin Brundin, a senior geoscience major is recipient of one of six $1,500 scholarships from ExxonMobil and the Geological Society of America (GSA).

Brundin’s research focuses on ecosystems from the early Cretaceous period—more than 100 million years old— and the reconstruction of behaviors for animals as large as the gigantic dinosaur Sauroposeidon to the smallest ghost shrimp digging in the mud. His research site is located near Gatesville, Texas.

Botanical research institute of Texas and Tarleton sign agreement

Tarleton signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the Botanical Research Institute of Texas in Fort Worth to formalize collaboration in areas of education and research and in finding ways to jointly support their common interests in biodiversity and sustainability education.

The Department of Wildlife, Sustainability and Ecosystem Sciences in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences will lead the Tarleton effort.

The MOA sets the groundwork for the institutions to work together, sharing ideas and knowledge to provide unique learning experiences for students, enhanced academic and research opportunities, and broader understanding between students, faculty and staff.

The agreement promotes collaborative research, co-supervision of student interns and internship projects, and joint application for project and program funding support. In addition, the agreement provides for the open exchange of research information and faculty and staff professional development initiatives through joint meetings, training activities and cooperative programming.

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texan facts

7.24

Size in pounds of the largest bass caught at the Collegiate Bass Fishing Open by Tarleton Bass Club member Dakota Ebare 89

Percent of first-time-incollege students retention rate from fall 2015 to spring 2016 20,000

Number of dollars the Tarleton Foundation gave in grants to help students affected by a tornado in Stephenville

Biology professor defines five new snake species in Mexico

Dr. Jesse Meik, assistant professor of biological sciences, is defining new species of snakes in Mexico.

From 2001-2004, Meik traveled between Mexico and Texas, gathering research on what he thought might be one new species of vine snakes. After years of DNA research—including collecting specimens, tissue samples and reading research papers from over 100 years ago— Meik and his team are finalizing documents for scientific journals defining four different species of vine snakes and one species of rattlesnake found in western and southern Mexico.

According to Meik, the evolution of this species is rare, and the process has been quick when considering the thousands of years it usually takes for a species to evolve and diverge from its ancestors.

l eslie Stanley-Stevens named A&M System r egents Professor

Dr. Leslie Stanley-Stevens, professor of sociology, was one of 12 faculty members from The Texas A&M University System selected as a 2014-15 Regents Professor.

Stanley-Stevens joined the Tarleton faculty in 1995 as assistant professor and has taught undergraduate and graduate courses ranging from social anthropology and gender in society to sociology of the family and social psychology.

She has authored or had scholarly articles appear in more than two dozen publications, including a book, What They Didn’t Know When They Were Expecting: And How They Became Better Parents (2012). She is author of several book chapters and a dozen magazine and news articles.

In addition, Stanley-Stevens has served as principal, coprincipal or adviser in more than 30 grant-funded research activities, ranging from investigations into gender and job satisfaction to factors related to religious agreement between parents and their grown children.

Stanley-Stevens has received numerous honors, awards, fellowships and research grants during her tenure at Tarleton, including the 2012 A&M System Award for Excellence in Teaching and the 2005 Tarleton Faculty Excellence in Scholarship Award.

She received her bachelor’s in secondary education from Texas Tech University, a master’s in religion from Asbury Theological Seminary and her doctorate in sociology from the University of North Texas, where she was named the Outstanding Graduate Woman.

Faculty Focus

Living Legend

By M A ry G. S A l TA r E lli

In a world where champions are measured by trophies, Dr. Steve Simpson owns a place in the hall of fame. During his 37-year career in sports medicine, Simpson has achieved a record number of international and national awards. Last year, the Southwestern Athletic Training Association honored his successes by inducting him into its Hall of Fame.

Yet, for Simpson, his proudest accomplishments are the successes of his students. More than 125 successful Tarleton Sports Medicine alumni serve in numerous settings including secondary school, junior college and university, professional ranks, private and corporate health care settings.

“Our graduates still call me to share big things that happen in their lives,” Simpson said. “It’s fun to hear them tell stories of how they apply lessons learned here, like caring for people and building relationships.”

Simpson believes in transforming students by following up knowledge acquired in the classroom with extensive clinical, hands-on experience treating athletes.

“Critical thinking and decision making is tough for students to learn, and hands-on experience helps them develop those skills,” Simpson said. “They don’t believe they’re ready until they make their first independent decision and then they realize, ‘Hey, I do know this.’”

Since joining Tarleton in 1984, Simpson established the university’s athletic training department and has served dual roles as assistant athletic director for sports medicine and director and professor of sports medicine and athletic training. Last May, Simpson retired as assistant athletic director to lead the kinesiology department.

During summers, Simpson volunteers his expertise. The U.S. Olympic Committee accepted him as an athletic trainer in the 1990s. Working at the training center in Colorado Springs and two Olympic Festivals, he expanded his skills to many different sports, including gymnastics, cycling, speed skating, fencing, water polo, sailing and wind surfing.

In 1995, Simpson served as athletic trainer at the Pan American Games in Argentina, where he worked with athletes on U.S. softball teams. That year, the women’s “dream team” won their third consecutive gold medal.

“All of those sports and athletes opened my eyes to possibilities for professional athletic trainers,” Simpson said. “Today, athletic training is on the fast track as a growing profession, evolving from school settings to nontraditional venues like working with law enforcement and the military or with ballet troupes and dancers like the Rockettes.”

In his new role, Simpson is looking to the future. This summer, Tarleton will launch its new master of science degree in athletic training. The two-year athletic training graduate program will provide students eligibility for both a state license and national certification. As one of five universities in Texas offering this nationally accredited graduate program, Tarleton is “ahead of the game” regarding sports medicine education.

Edwards named to fort Worth Science Museum Board

The Fort Worth Museum of Science and History named Dr. Anthony Edwards to its 37-member board of trustees. Edwards is the director of Tarleton’s Global Campus and will serve on the museum’s innovations and education committees.

Edwards joined Tarleton in 2012, and is responsible for the university’s online learning program. Today, Tarleton’s Global Campus offers more than 20 bachelor and master’s degree programs.

He also serves on boards and committees for a number of local organizations, including the United Way of Tarrant County, and is a member of Leadership Fort Worth. He has a bachelor’s in biomedical science from Texas A&M University, a master’s in health administration from Texas A&M Health Science Center and a doctorate in education from Tarleton.

Professor selected to Chancellor’s Academy of Teacher Educators

Dr. Anita Castañeda, assistant professor of curriculum and instruction, was inducted into The Texas A&M University System

2016 Chancellor’s Academy of Teacher Educators. The Academy recognizes individuals who make significant contributions to teacher education.

Inductees are selected by past Academy members and nominated by university students, faculty and staff. They receive a $1,000 stipend, commemorative medallion and recognition at the Chancellor’s Century Council annual meeting in Austin.

Castañeda joined Tarleton in 2001. She has a doctorate in reading, a master’s in reading and bilingual education and a bachelor’s in elementary education from Texas Woman’s University.

PrePAring LeAders for national FFA office

“I look at it every day and I just think, this is why I do what I do,” said Frazier. “I train teachers so they can learn how to train kids, and then these kids can go out and be successful in whatever career they choose. There are so many incredible things those candidates and officers are doing now. I just look at the map and reminisce about how great they all are.”

Frazier knows a thing or two about developing leaders through agricultural education and the National FFA Organization. In five years at Tarleton, he’s garnered a national reputation as the authority for college-age students seeking FFA national office.

A 15-year public school agricultural teacher, Frazier has devoted his energy to seeing students fulfill the FFA motto— Learning to Do, Doing to Learn, Earning to Live, Living to Serve.

His passion for agricultural education began at New Mexico’s Mel Rose High School FFA Chapter, and continued when he was elected state FFA president in 1986. The following year, while at Texas Tech, Frazier made an unsuccessful bid for national FFA office.

He recalls “going into the process blind” after the organization introduced a new selection process.

AUnited States map, dotted with 150 colored pushpins, decorates Dr. David Frazier’s office wall— the pins holding names of students he’s mentored to seek national FFA office. Plaques, certificates and other FFA memorabilia surround his desk.

Some of the memorabilia are from dozens of FFA members guided to leadership roles by the assistant professor of agricultural and consumer sciences. The pushpin map—a gift from one of the candidates he trained—serves as a constant reminder that his impact stretches beyond Tarleton’s rock gates.

“I wasn’t prepared,” he admitted. “Now I look back and think, if I had only known a few things, I might have done better. In hindsight, had I been elected I don’t think I’d be doing what I’m doing now—helping national officer candidates.

“It put a fire in me and, at that point, I decided I’m going to do whatever I can for any candidate who wants to run for national office,” said Frazier, who welcomed 36 candidates from across the United States and Puerto Rico to campus last year. “I believe every kid deserves to have a fair chance and they deserve to know what the process is like.”

Beginning in 1995 with one candidate and ballooning to more than three dozen, Frazier has become the sought-after expert for FFA candidacies. Working with candidates from coast to coast, he has successfully mentored 33 national officers to a place on the nine-member officer team, including five national

The three-day workshop Frazier designed and hosts each year prepares candidates for the rigorous interview process, and propels Tarleton into the spotlight as the place for learning what it takes to make the FFA officer team.

During the training hosted by the College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences, he bombards candidates with interview questions, FFA history, social interaction scenarios and other aspects of the national selection process—all at no cost to attendees. Their only expense is traveling to Stephenville. Frazier reduces the cost to attend by providing accommodations and meals, often prepared by Drs. Ted Ford

Frazier’s mentorship with young men and women from nearly all 50 states has prompted a number of students to transfer to Tarleton, including several past national officers. Among them are Ryan Best, the 2011 national FFA president and former Frazier apprentice, who transferred from New Mexico State University to earn his bachelor’s degree with teaching

“As a former national FFA president and protégé of Dr. Frazier who experienced this unique way of encouraging others, I can attest to the genuine love and care he pours out to each and every person he works with,” Best said.

“My desire to become an effective agricultural education teacher, as well as my leadership training experiences with him, led me to transfer to Tarleton. It was an honor to work more closely with the man who has changed my life in ways for which I can never adequately thank him.”

Candidates frequently ask Frazier for his secret formula, but he denies having one. “It’s all about how you treat people and what you do for others. I can’t take responsibility for any of these students getting elected. They did it on their own. I just ask questions and guide them, and I open the door for them to say, ‘It’s OK for me to be who I am.’

“So many times we tend to put people in cookie cutters and you’ve got to be this or that,” he said, “and I come along and we throw the cookie cutter out the window and say forget that, just be you. When they do that, their mind opens up, and we look at how the processes work and what we are doing. We make it comfortable because it’s an intense interview process for the candidates.”

The results are tangible.

“These kids are making impacts wherever they go,” Frazier said. “They’re rock star kids making huge impacts in different avenues other than as FFA national officers…some are ag teachers and some work for Fortune 500 companies.

“It’s cool to see this map and think how those candidates will never forget their trip to Tarleton.”

Attendees pose in front of the Tarleton gates during the 2015 National FFA Officer Training Workshop

Study Abroad opportunities allow students to turn core values into actions

B y Ch A n D r A An D r EW

Integrity. Civility. Leadership. Tradition. Excellence. Service.

These are the core values that define the education students receive at Tarleton. Those six words help develop our students as Tarleton Texans and set them apart in the world. While the core values hold a predominant place on campus, not all learning occurs in the four walls of a classroom. Many students enhance their collegiate experience by enrolling in Study Abroad, which transforms the curriculum to an international level and enables students to take the core values global.

Traveling with a

Civility. Service.

Civility and service go hand in hand. Civility often refers to how we treat others, which is on display when we are in the service of others.

Randi Morgan, a communications major from Killeen, traveled to the Dominican Republic.

“Because we were on a service-learning trip, I expected Jarabacoa to be more of an impoverished region,” Morgan said. “What I found was a country rich in culture and very nice people.”

In addition to helping improve another country, the trip provided Morgan with an opportunity for self-reflection.

“The experience changed me by helping me become more aware of my unconscious biases and what it really means to be a global citizen,” she said. “By working on projects there, I learned how important it is to be aware of global issues. Poverty, inequality and sickness are not specific to one region. To assume that they are makes it hard to find solutions.”

The trip also increased Morgan’s awareness to cultural differences that will prove valuable in her career goals.

“I want to be a social worker, so I need to be able to acknowledge differences and be comfortable interacting with others instead of pretending we are all the same,” Morgan said. “I also had to get out of my comfort zone and speak up. It was challenging to be in a new environment and where I felt incompetent and embarrassed to try and speak Spanish.”

Excellence. Integrity.

Integrity is often an intangible, hard-to-define quality. In the simplest terms, integrity helps define one’s character.

Excellence on the other hand, is easier to quantify. It refers to never settling and always striving for something more, something better.

Morgan Cavitt, a music major from Stephenville, had the opportunity to travel to Ireland.

“The experience changed me in more ways than I can count,” Cavitt said. “Traveling without family forced me out of my comfort zone and experiencing another culture changed the way I think. I learned how important it is to look at things from different angles, not just from my point of view.”

Perhaps the biggest lesson for Cavitt though, was the need to disengage from technology and work at improving and strengthening relationships.

“I never realized how completely glued to my phone I am,” Cavitt said. “I hardly ever saw anyone in Ireland on a cell phone. This experience made me tone down my phone usage. Now I make the best effort possible to stay off of it and embrace the time I have with family and friends.”

Purpose

Leadership. Tradition.

A “leader” isn’t always a title, but is often a designation earned through one’s actions.

McKenna Harwell, a criminal justice major from Stephenville, ventured to Scotland. It was during a pre-trip meeting where Harwell realized she might have to step up into a leadership role on the trip.

“I was the oldest in the group,” Harwell said. “I knew that since I was the oldest, I would need to be strong in case anyone on the trip became homesick or had difficulty adjusting to a life in a new country.”

Harwell embraced her new position.

“Knowing I had to be strong changed my view about the trip and showed me how much I am capable of,” Harwell said. “I was able to be a leader when it was needed.”

The trip also established a familial network for students on the trip, which led to a tradition the group brought back to Texas.

“We created a little family while we were away,” Harwell said. “We still have ‘Scotland Family Nights’ each week or so with all of us who went on the trip so that we can keep in touch.

“We were from all walks of life and all different majors and backgrounds, but we had to learn to survive together in a foreign country. Truly a wonderful experience.”

Pedaling for

Dr. Joe Priest and two of his students work with one of their clients at the Psycle Lab.

their Lives

A unique Tarleton program gives clients a new lease on living

By C EC ili A J AC o BS

The stories are as different as the people telling them.

Each begins with an illness or injury and includes the fight to recover, depletion of health care benefits and loss of hope.

Then the plot shifts. The characters meet Tarleton kinesiology students and professors who believe anything is possible. Together they devise a strategy, follow the plan and celebrate impossible milestones. Things like riding a horse, returning to work, showing up at their grandchildren’s graduation sans wheelchair or walker.

There are no promises, but celebrations happen almost daily.

Some call it an exercise program, others rehabilitation, a few favor academic research. Kinesiology students say it is life changing.

Professors define the program as science paired with a strong will to overcome. Those benefiting the most by what takes place in the Lab for Wellness and Motor Behavior (LWMB) and its Clinical Exercise and Research Facility call it a precious second chance. 

l ab for Wellness and Motor Behavior

Stop by the LWMB on any morning and you’ll find a doctor, plumber, couple of rodeo cowboys, construction worker and a 1960s high school football legend.

All are here for the same reason as another 50 or so— complications from a stroke, neurological disorders or spinal cord injuries. Each has undergone conventional treatments and programs, exhausted health care dollars and been told “this is as good as it gets.”

“That’s where we step in,” said Dr. Joe Priest, founder and director of the LWMB, “designing activities that work the weakest areas of the body—the ones others say can never be used again. We see results and restore hope.”

In its 22-year existence, the LWMB has not charged for its services. The only requirement is a physician’s consent. Under Priest’s guidance, Tarleton kinesiology majors develop and supervise physical workout programs based on each client’s specific needs and personal goals.

Physician Neal Sutherland travels 60 miles roundtrip to work out on the Psycle, a direct-drive, energy-regeneration bike. Only three such bikes exist in the world—Tarleton has two, NASA has the other one.

Sutherland does 1,000 or more Psycle revolutions per day—500 forward, 500 backward—five days a week, an activity his medical colleagues find hard to believe for someone who’s suffered a major stroke.

“I was a physician for 30 years and never saw the results I see here,” Sutherland said. “I’m amazed at my own improvement. I’m regaining mobility, improving my sense of well-being and learning a stroke doesn’t have to steal some of the best years of your life.”

Sutherland heard about the LWMB from Clarence Young. The longtime Stephenville plumber suffered a stroke about the same time as Sutherland did three years ago. The two met at a Fort Worth medical facility.

Young plans to get back in the saddle—literally—and senior

kinesiology student Shon Gibson, from Taylor, Ariz., is doing everything he can to help. In addition to overseeing Young’s daily workout, Gibson is designing and constructing a portable saddle stand sturdy enough for Young to practice getting on and off.

“Anytime a client reaches a personal goal, we all celebrate,” said Bailee Mauldin, a second-year graduate assistant from Haslet, Texas. “It doesn’t happen overnight.

“Clients come in wheelchairs but, with time in the lab and their resolve to improve, leave on their own two feet,” she said. “Some come with ‘frozen’ shoulders and arms, but regain the ability to lift their hands above their heads. It’s life-changing.”

Rodeo cowboys Monte Elms and David Mayfield, along with tradesman Jeff Moore and high school All-American fullback Robert Priest, couldn’t agree more. Like Sutherland and Young, they’ve come a long way.

Elms suffers from Gullian-Barre Syndrome, a disease that attacks the immune and nervous systems. A roping accident left Mayfield a quadriplegic, and a spinal infection put Moore in a wheelchair. Robert, Dr. Priest’s older brother, had a major stroke.

“More than two million people suffer a stroke each year,” Dr. Priest said. “My brother is one of them. That makes the LWMB even more personal. After months of physical therapy, Robert had minimal improvement. He’d used up his health care benefits and was dipping into his personal savings without much hope of recovery. His physical therapist told me he was out of options.

“That was a just few months ago. Now, Robert’s walking, gaining strength and, like Neal, turning more than 1,000 Psycle revolutions a day.”

Each client’s success is worth celebrating and sharing, which Dr. Priest is doing in a book scheduled for release later this year.

“Exercise is some of the best medicine in the world,” Dr. Priest said. “Mix it with the science of kinesiology, some oneof-a-kind equipment, the heart of student interns and the personal resolve to overcome. It’s a second chance at life. Pure and simple.”

Clinical Exercise and Research Facility helps patients have a better tomorrow

By C EC ili A J AC o BS

Jim Carr shows up three mornings a week at the Better Breathers Club for an individualized workout that helps keep him—and others with chronic cardiac, lung and metabolic disorders—out of the hospital and going strong.

With his doctor’s consent, Carr signed up for the

The Better Breathers Club is a collaborative initiative of Tarleton’s Clinical Exercise and Research Facility (CERF) and Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital-Stephenville. CERF oversees and staffs the program with kinesiology students— trained, directed and supervised by Dr. Jennifer Blevins—and Harris Methodist provides the building, some equipment and Brian Andrews, director of cardiopulmonary services.

“The hospital recognized the need for a cardiac-pulmonary rehab program about three years ago,” Andrews said. “But we needed the expertise of folks like Dr. Blevins, who understands the correlation between chronic disease and exercise, to make it work.

“Patients recovering from a cardiac or pulmonary event had to drive 30 minutes or more to participate in a formal insurance-based rehabilitation program because there wasn’t one in Stephenville,” he said. “While the Better Breathers

Dr. Jennifer Lancaster, director of Tarleton’s master’s in athletic training program, is part of that team. She instructs kinesiology students on best practices to deal with the aches and pains of exercise, while Blevins prepares them to work in environments like the Better Breathers Club.

Graduate students develop training programs and supervise clients. Undergraduates assist with exercise sessions, monitoring client vitals before, during and after workouts.

The relationships they build are priceless.

Meghan Brown, a second-year graduate intern originally from Maryland, calls it a love relationship.

“I love helping people,” Brown said. “I love seeing them improve.”

Brown loves it so much that she volunteered most of last summer to the program.

“I learn as much from the clients as they do from me,” said David Monreal, a first-year graduate intern from Devine, Texas. “I help improve their quality of life, and they help me grow the skills I’ll need as a cardiac-pulmonary rehab specialist.”

Graduate assistant Morgan Walker said CERF’s partnership with Texas Health gives kinesiology students true-to-life learning opportunities with “real human beings” versus reading

Walker’s numerous volunteer hours, certification as an exercise physiologist, strong academic standing and enthusiasm for Better Breathers have earned her a graduate

According to Blevins, student commitment is key to the

“Their dedication is commendable,” Blevins said. “Most are looking at careers in cardiac-pulmonary rehab, adult fitness and clinical personal training. Some are thinking of medical school. To say the clients appreciate the CERF students is an understatement.”

“Meghan, David, Morgan, Jacob Harp and others make sure I get a workout that’s best for me,” Carr said. “Thanks to them and Harris Methodist-Stephenville, I’m able to help my daughter with her business, cook my own meals, walk almost a mile at a time with little to no discomfort. I owe them my life.”

Since the doors opened in April 2014, Better Breathers has grown from a few clients to a steady 50. Last year, clients put in 2,800 exercise hours in 60-minute sessions. A $10 fee is required to join and then $20 per month for three sessions weekly.

“We’re seeing incredible results,” Blevins said. “Clients who participate at least 80 percent of the time are more likely to avoid emergency room visits directly related to their cardiacpulmonary illness. Almost all see remarkable improvements in their vital scores.”

In addition to targeted, supervised exercise regimens, clients learn about everything from healthy cooking and eating to buying affordable shoes for workouts.

This spring, Paula McKeehan, registered dietician and associate professor specializing in sustainable food studies, plans to put in an herb garden just south of where Better Breathers is located. In addition to the workout from gardening, clients will get cooking demos, take home prepared foods and harvest herbs for personal use.

“Like all of us, regardless of age, our clients simply want to enjoy life,” Blevins said. “They want to feel better, increase mobility and flexibility, strengthen muscles, improve overall well-being, increase life expectancy. They want a second chance.”

Schooled in Giving Texas Pioneer Foundation improving education for all students

By C EC ili A J AC o BS

People like Fred Markham don’t toot their own horn. They don’t have to. Their commitment to improve the lives of others speaks for itself.

Those who benefit from selfless giving often applaud the giver with a one-of-a-kind award. Tarleton did so this winter, when President F. Dominic Dottavio honored Markham and the Texas Pioneer Foundation with a 2016 Legacy Award.

The president personally picked Markham and the Texas Pioneer Foundation for the Tradition of Service Award because the group’s efforts exemplify the philanthropic ideals of John Tarleton, the university’s founder.

Tarleton’s gift to the university helped make higher education a reality for students who might not otherwise have the opportunity. The Texas Pioneer Foundation gives to improve the quality and results of education for all Texas students.

“Our primary purpose is to help young people build successful lives by getting the best education possible,” Markham said. “Education eliminates poverty, strengthens families and communities, and revives local economies. It improves overall quality of life.”

Following his successful 30-year banking career and his work with a number of nonprofit organizations, Markham became executive director of the Central Texas Higher Education Authority in 1996 and worked with members of the board of directors to create the Texas Pioneer Foundation in 2004.

Grants from the private, independent group support access and success in post-secondary education and promote programs that develop character and leadership.

“The history and traditions of Tarleton fit hand-in-glove with what we do,” Markham said. “We enjoy a partnership that’s changing lives and building futures, and we’re doing it with grants that support the university’s outreach and recruitment efforts, foster student development and create opportunities that inspire leadership.”

In total, Texas Pioneer Foundation has awarded Tarleton more than $500,000 in grant funds over the last three years.

About $170,000 built and equipped two Mobile Go Centers— trailers and companion trucks wrapped head-to-tail in Tarleton colors and images—designed to reach a growing number of Texas students without the resources to register for college.

Another $174,000 will equip a STEM Mobile Learning Center, scheduled to hit the road later this year. The fully equipped learning lab will help educate and recruit educators and professionals in science, technology, engineering and math. Thanks to the generosity of the Texas Pioneer Foundation, Tarleton faculty and students will bring STEM education to Texas public schools within a 90-mile radius of Stephenville.

“Along with our endowed scholarship program created in 2006, these are the kinds of educational opportunities that promote access and success in education,” Markham said. “They benefit all students.”

This summer, Texas Pioneer Foundation awarded Tarleton a $150,000 grant to create a new Department of Leadership and Strategic Studies in the College of Liberal and Fine Arts, offering a minor in leadership studies to all students regardless of their undergraduate pursuits. The new department will complement the applied-learning experience of the Texan Corps of Cadets when it’s re-established this fall.

A $20,000 grant helps fund mentoring and professional development opportunities for Tarleton’s MENtal Freedom initiative, encouraging underrepresented males to stay in school and graduate.

“This is a tremendous effort by Tarleton,” Markham said. “One we’re extremely proud to help fund. MENtal Freedom empowers these young men to improve their lives and those of others by getting a college degree.”

That’s important, considering only 33 percent of AfricanAmerican and Latino men nationwide finish college—if they attend at all. Thanks to Markham and the Texas Pioneer Foundation, that number looks a lot more positive for Tarleton.

“The Texas Pioneer Foundation believes in Tarleton,” Markham said. “The more I see and hear, the more I realize what great work this university is doing to shape the future of our state and transform young lives for a promising tomorrow. Tarleton doesn’t just say it’s a student-focused university, it lives up to that commitment every day, without exception.

“It’s the legacy of John Tarleton, a man schooled in giving. It’s a legacy the Texas Pioneer Foundation takes pride in supporting.”

“ Tarleton doesn’t just say it’s a student-focused university, it lives up to that commitment every day, without exception. ”

— f r ED M A r K h AM , T E x AS Pion EE r f o U n DAT ion

teXAns

Overcoming Insurmountable Obstacles

Elicia Leal refused to let medical complications dictate her life

By M A ry G. S A l TA r E lli

Overcoming adversity and persevering against all odds are hallmarks of Elicia Leal’s life that she learned from her parents, her mentors and the competitors she has helped during her career as an athletic trainer. She especially leaned upon their wisdom during the last year as she recovered from a near-fatal car accident, followed by a debilitating stroke.

“I’m happy to be alive,” Leal said, who was honored as Tarleton’s Outstanding Young Alumna in 2005. “I tell people that you have to have hope and a positive attitude to survive and strive to be better.”

In July 2014, Leal passed out behind the wheel of her car along a highway in West Virginia. At the hospital, doctors said she had a super-bowl sized aneurism on the left side of her brain above her eye socket. After discussions with specialists worldwide, she agreed to undergo surgery to insert a stent in her artery.

Leal flew home on a commercial flight sitting between two friends, knowing the aneurism could bleed and nothing could be done to save her. In the midst of surgery at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Leal suffered a stroke, paralyzing the right side of her body. Doctors said she would probably remain immobile for the rest of her life.

Close friends and family supported Leal, guiding her medical care and encouraging her rehabilitation. Other friends helped with medical expenses by selling “Team Leal” T-shirts. At Tarleton, Dr. Steve Simpson, Leal’s mentor, organized “Lunch for Leal” and raised $6,000.

“How many people have that kind of support?” Leal said. “I’m one lucky lady.”

Recovery meant enduring three months of in-patient rehabilitation, where Leal re-learned how to walk, talk and make proper brain associations, and another three months of outpatient therapy. Today, she is back at work as an athletic trainer at McKinney North High School.

“She really bounced back and still knows everything about

athletic training,” said Aaron Holcomb, a senior at McKinney North. “Watching Elicia taught me that perseverance and determination can motivate you to come back from tragedy.”

Throughout her life, Leal has taken advantage of guidance offered by mentors. The youngest of 11 children of migrant farm workers, she attended De Leon High School, where the basketball coach sent her to an athletic training course and encouraged her to enroll in Tarleton’s Upward Bound program.

Leal came to Tarleton, worked with the women’s basketball team, and met Simpson, who counseled her to major in sports medicine. In 1989, she became the first member of her family to graduate from college.

After obtaining her master’s degree in education, Leal volunteered as an athletic trainer for Olympic athletes. In 2003, she worked with the women’s water polo team at the Pan American Games in Santa Domingo, and team members requested her as their trainer for the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens. There, she walked in the opening ceremonies with the American team.

“We all lined up and entered the stadium as 72,000 spectators shouted ‘USA, USA,’” Leal remembered. “There I was, a female athletic trainer at the pinnacle of my career, who as a little kid was never even supposed to go to college, and I got to experience an Olympic thrill.”

Leal uses her Olympic involvement to inspire students to strive for their dreams, and her own recovery has given her more patience with rehabilitating athletes.

“I tell them ‘if you work hard, it will make you better,’” she said. “You may not be able to run today, but if you do these walking treatments, you might be running tomorrow.”

Leal wants to share her story of determination with others by writing a book and becoming a professional inspirational speaker.

“God kept me alive for a reason,” she said. “My whole life has started over. Sharing my life story to inspire others might be my purpose.”

“ God kept me alive for a reason. My whole life has started over. Sharing my life story to inspire others might be my purpose. ”

— Eli C i A lEA l, ‘89

teXAns

WPRA honors alumnus with prestigious award

By Ch A n D r A An D r EW

Before a gate ever swings open, a barrier breaks, a clover-leaf pattern is run or clowns hop in barrels, the crowd is captured by the sound of a voice—the announcer. Regardless of venues, announcers have the ability to draw audiences in with their charisma, knowledge and quick wit.

Chad Nicholson epitomizes everything that makes a great announcer. Not only does he make a point to do the extra work that goes into putting on an event, but he is also blessed with “the voice”—the kind that has you on the edge of your seat listening in anticipation of what is to come.

For more than 23 years, Nicholson has been the man with the microphone for more than 35 rodeos and events held each year, including many Women’s Professional Rodeo Association (WPRA) rodeos. In honor of the exceptional efforts Nicholson puts in promoting and announcing at WPRA rodeos, he was selected as WPRA’s Announcer of the Year for 2015.

“Receiving the award was as much of a shock to me as anyone else,” Nicholson said. “I don’t go around looking for awards. I just do my thing. But when I got the call, I was driving home and about ran off the road when she told me I had been selected.”

For Nicholson, receiving the award from an all-female rodeo organization has even more meaning.

“I’ve dedicated my life to empowering young ladies through what we do here at Riata Ranch,” Nicholson said. “I love to see women actively involved in mainstream sports, like rodeo. I’m honored to have this selection from the WPRA.”

Riata Ranch International is a girls ranch located in Three Rivers, California, which is where Nicholson and his wife, Jennifer, call home.

Another group calling the ranch home are the Riata Ranch Cowboy Girls. The group is a trick-roping, trick-riding group that is instructed and choreographed by Jennifer.

“My wife has been involved in the Riata Ranch Cowboy Girls since she was young,” Nicholson said. “We are one of the foremost western performance arts schools on the planet. Our girls have been nominated PRCA Act of the Year four times and worked the National Finals Rodeo five times. The group also performed for Queen Elizabeth at Windsor Castle in England for the Queen’s 60th Diamond Jubilee.”

Nicholson and his wife met later in life and never had children.

“Now we’re surrogate parents to a bunch of really cool young ladies,” he said, “and it is wonderful.”

For all of his travels and successes, Nicholson is quick to acknowledge that he wouldn’t be where he is today without Tarleton.

“I credit it all back to my Tarleton roots,” Nicholson said. “That’s where I really fell in love with the rodeo business. I got to see it, how it worked, up close and personal as a contestant.”

Nicholson grew up in Carrollton, Texas, and was involved in FFA and rodeo in high school.

“One of my ag teachers was a Tarleton alum and we would go to Stephenville for judging and leadership contests,” he said. “I wanted to be an ag teacher and Tarleton was the clear choice.”

Once Nicholson got to Stephenville, it wasn’t long before he decided competing in rodeo might not be in the cards.

“With the level of talent here, I figured out pretty quick I wasn’t going to be a world champion,” he said. “I entered a few rodeos and enjoyed it, but couldn’t compete on that level.”

Fortunately for the rodeo team, Nicholson chose to stay involved and helped with fundraisers for the rodeo club. He also became heavily involved in the Plowboys, including serving as president for two years.

“I was president when we started Bull Fest in 1992,” Nicholson said. “We raised a lot of money and helped a lot of places in town. One of my goals in being part of the Plowboys was to build an event like Bull Fest that could be a landmark event that would raise a lot of money.”

It was also at Tarleton where Nicholson met Randy Schmutz, who is one of the top announcers in the industry.

“Randy was very instrumental in my career, giving me good advice, mentoring me and throwing me some work,” Nicholson said. “It was because of Randy’s example that helped me decide to do the same for other people wanting to be announcers.”

Nicholson is now in his 11th year putting on his rodeo announcer school, where he focuses on the magnitude of an announcer’s role.

“The job of an announcer is much more than being the voice of an event,” he said. “You’re the ambassador of the show. It isn’t just the rodeo; you’ve got to be able to give the sponsors a return on their investment.

“I mentor and coach my students once they come and after for as long as they need me. I get as much pleasure mentoring other people as I do working a show.”

“ I credit it all back to my Tarleton roots. ”

— Ch AD n i C hol S on, ‘92

ClassN�tes

’70d r. d ennis hA ll F ord, B. s . in general agriculture, was named one of the top animal science professors in the nation by VetTechColleges.com. Hallford began his career at New Mexico State University teaching anatomy and physiology of farm animals. In his 40-plus year career, Hallford has received numerous awards and honors as well as teaching thousands of students. In addition to his degree from Tarleton, Hallford received his master’s degree in animal science in 1973 and his doctorate in animal breeding/physiology in 1975, both from Oklahoma State University.

’78 W A lter dA ns B y, m . e . in education, served as the guest speaker for the Harrison County branch of the NAACP 32nd annual Martin Luther King, Jr. celebration. Dansby serves as the senior education adviser for Dikita Enterprises. Prior to that, he served as the superintendent of schools for Fort Worth Independent School District. In addition to his degree from Tarleton, he received his bachelor’s from the University of Texas at Arlington and an honorary doctorate from Southwestern Christian College.

t erry gA m B ill, B. s . in physical education and history and M.S. in physical education, was named as the head football coach and assistant athletic director at Allen, which was the state’s most substantial vacancy. Prior to accepting the position, Gambill was Waco Midway’s head football coach. Gambill took the Midway position in 2010, but had spent nine seasons before as an assistant and defensive coordinator for Allen, including the Eagles’ first state championship in 2008. Gambill began his coaching career in Garland and also coached at Duncanville, Southlake, Carroll and Forney.

In addition to coaching, Gambill was a four-year football letterman and honorable mention All-American selection at defensive end. Gambill was inducted into the Texans Sports Hall of Fame in 1997. He was first team all-conference and Tarleton’s

most valuable defensive player as a junior. As a senior, he was first team all-conference, first team all-District 8, and honorable mention NAIA All-American. He received the Higgs Award for MVP in 1983, had 19 sacks his senior year and accumulated 212 tackles during his playing career.

’84 Bill (Willi A m) Brod, B.B.A. in accounting, was selected as senior vice president and CFO for American Electric Technologies Inc. Prior to accepting the position, Brod was CFO for OceanGeo BV, a global provider of ocean bottom seismic services. He is a certified public accountant and received his master’s from the University of Houston with a certificate in global energy management. He also currently serves as a governor appointee to the Texas Judicial Compensation Commission.

’86 s h A un s hort, B. s . in criminal justice, was named as the police chief of the Joshua Police Department. Prior to taking the role, he was the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport assistant police chief and had served with the DFW airport since 1988. In addition to his degree from Tarleton, Short earned his master’s in public administration from the University of North Texas.

’89

John B A iley, B.A. in government, served as guest speaker for the Pecan Valley Republican Women’s Club. He is a Justice for the 11th District Court of Appeals. Justice Bailey was appointed in October 2013 by Governor Rick Perry as a justice on the 11th Court of Appeals at Eastland. In addition to graduating summa cum laude from Tarleton, he graduated with honors from Texas Tech School of Law in 1992.

’93

’84h . Andre W B A ll, B. s . in business and m . e d. in ’05, was elected as a State Executive Officer for the Texas Association of Secondary School Principals. Ball is one of only seven members on the executive board and will chair the State Membership Committee. Ball is in his fourth year as principal of Clifton Middle School in Clifton ISD.

’94

c ody m c c leery, B. s . in agricultural services and development, served as the market swine judge for the 64th annual Brown County Youth Fair. McCleery has judged in several states and counties in national shows. He is an executive board member of the National Swine Registry and a member of the Texas Pork Breeder’s board. He has operated McCleery Family Durocs for 30 years.

’94 Joe cA rden A s, m . e d. and superintendent certification, received the Dr. José Rivas Distinguished Service Award from Howard Payne University. He has been employed by Brownwood ISD for

20 years and currently serves as its administrator. He and his wife, Ronnie, have three children—Natalie, Juanita and Gabriel. In addition to his degree from Tarleton, Cardenas received his bachelor’s in political science from Howard Payne.

addition to her degree from Tarleton, Sharp received her bachelor’s and master’s in elementary education from the University of Central Florida.

’12

c l A yton s eggern, B. s . in agribusiness, received the Agriculturist of the Year award at the 51st annual Stiles Farm Foundation Field Day. Seggern produces, corn, cotton, wheat and raises cattle. He and his wife, Renea, have a daughter named Chelsea.

’95

Kim m iles, B. s . in human sciences education, was named as the family and consumer sciences agent in Jones County. Prior to taking the position, Miles served as the family and consumer sciences agent in Brown County. She began her career in 1997 as an agent for 4-H and youth development in McLennan County. She then took a family and consumer sciences position in Comanche County in 2008, a post she held until transferring to Brown County in 2010. In addition to her degree from Tarleton, Miles received her master’s from Texas Woman’s University.

’97

’01 c ourtney ‘B A r B ee’ r edm A n, B. s . in human sciences, was named as the family and consumer sciences agent for Tom Green County. Prior to this, she was serving as the youth development agent for the county. Before joining AgriLife Extension, she was a family and consumer science teacher for Clear Creek ISD and for Alvin ISD. In addition to her degree from Tarleton, she received her master’s in guidance and counseling from Sul Ross State University.

l onny mA tthe W “ mA tt” Berend, B. s .W. in social work, was appointed by Governor Greg Abbott to the Rehabilitation Council of Texas. Berend is a vocational rehabilitation counselor for the Texas Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services. He is a member of the National Association of Social Workers and the Texas Rehab Action Network. In addition to his degree from Tarleton, Berend received his master’s in rehabilitation counseling from Texas Tech University Health Science Center.

’13

J AK e Ad A ir, m . s . in agricultural economics, was promoted to assistant vice president at Community National Bank & Trust. In addition to his degree from Tarleton, Adair received his bachelor’s in agricultural economics from Texas A&M University.

’14g eri Kline, B. s . in agricultural economics, was named as the assistant agent in ag literacy and youth development for Gonzales County. She also works with the Luling Foundation, a demonstration farm that serves Gonzales, Caldwell and Guadalupe Counties. In addition to her degree from Tarleton, Kline received her associate’s in diesel engine technology from Texas State Technical College.

’05

lA rry m yn A rci K , m . e d. in education administration, was named as the district superintendent for Bynum ISD. Mynarcik has 18 years in public education, including nine years as an agricultural teacher and nine as a principal. He and his wife, Jennifer, have two sons, Dakota and Blane. In addition to his degree from Tarleton, Mynarcik received his bachelor’s in agriculture education from Sam Houston State University.

’14h e A ther o rtiz, e d. d . in educational leadership and policy studies, was named as a senior programmer for the Charles A. Dana Center at the University of Texas-Austin. Prior to taking the position, Ortiz was the Division Head/Director of Developmental Studies for Ranger College. In addition to her doctorate, Ortiz received her bachelor’s in liberal arts-history and her master’s in educational administration from Tarleton.

’15K A tie mA ngold, B. s . in family and consumer sciences, was named as the new AgriLife Extension assistant for family and consumer sciences and 4-H for Swisher County.

’05

sA m Kieschnic K , B. s . and m . s . in biology, spoke at a meeting for the Cross Timbers Chapter of the Native Plant Society of Texas. Kieschnick is a biologist and explained the new iNaturalist app, which he uses in his work as Nature Education Specialist for the city of Mansfield. He also has taught biology at Weatherford College and worked as a botanist for the Botanical Research Institute of Texas, a naturalist with the Fort Worth Nature Center and Refuge, and a science interpreter at the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History.

’15J A ce m elvin, B. s . in agricultural services and development, was named as the 2015 Top All-Around Rookie by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association. Melvin earned the all-around rookie honor with $29,756.28 in earnings. He finished ranked 33rd in the world in steer wrestling and also earned money in tiedown roping. Melvin helped Tarleton win its 2015 National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association national championship and is pursuing his master’s at Tarleton.

’10

lA urie s h A rp, e d. d . in educational leadership and policy studies, was appointed as the Dr. John G. O’Brien Distinguished Chair in Education at West Texas A&M University. Prior to going to West Texas A&M, Sharp was an instructor and assistant professor in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction at Tarleton. In

Contact us

Send your alumni and class updates to Tarleton State University Box T-0730, Stephenville, TX 76402 media@tarleton.edu | (254) 968-9460

2016 Tarleton Alumni Association

Distinguished Honorees

Tarleton State University honored several distinguished alumni and former faculty and staff members Saturday, Feb. 13, during the Tarleton Alumni Association’s (TAA) annual dinner and awards banquet.

Distinguished Alumnus c huc K g illil A nd, ’90

Chuck Gilliland graduated in 1990 with his bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. As a student, Gilliland was a member of Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity, Purple Poo and the “Toro Team.”

After graduating, Gilliland worked for the Dallas Police Department from 1990 to 1992. Gilliland then went to work as a firefighter with the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport Department of Public Safety. In 1994, Gilliland returned to law enforcement, where his cross training as a firefighter, EMT and police officer served him well. He was promoted to sergeant in 2001 and is still on the force of one of the most unique law enforcement agencies in the United States.

Gilliland has published two books— The Gospel of Matthew Through the Eyes of a Cop and The Book of Proverbs Through the Eyes of a Cop

Chuck’s family has a rich history with Tarleton—his parents attended Tarleton in the 1960s and his wife, Angie, is also a Tarleton graduate.

Distinguished Staff v ic K ie sWA m, ’83

Vickie Swam holds both a Bachelor of Applied Arts and Science degree and a Master of Science degree in Human Resource Management from Tarleton. She began her career at Tarleton in April 1986 as an administrative services coordinator in the College of Arts and Sciences.

In 1999, Swam transferred to Tarleton State University-Central Texas (now Texas A&M UniversityCentral Texas) in Killeen to serve as Executive Director Dr. Lamar Johanson’s “right hand.” Swam continued to work at Central Texas as the graduate admissions coordinator after Dr. Johanson retired. She returned to the Stephenville main campus in 2000 to serve as Assistant to the President for Presidents Dennis McCabe and F. Dominic Dottavio.

Swam was promoted in 2011 to Director of University Compliance in the Finance and Administration division and served in that position until she retired in March 2015.

Outstanding Young Alumnus John c onsidine, ’01

Major John Considine graduated with a Bachelor of Science in animal production in 2001. As a student, Considine was a member of the Texan Reps, Tarleton Army ROTC Texan Battalion, Wainwright Rifles and the Tarleton Plowboys.

After graduation, Considine began his Army career as a recruiter for Tarleton’s ROTC program where he worked with and helped train cadets to become officers in the U.S. Army. During his nearly 14 years on active duty, Considine was deployed to several of the most dangerous places in the world including Iraq and Afghanistan. Considine also served as an assistant professor of Military Science for the Senior Army ROTC Battalion at Tarleton.

Considine is a highly decorated soldier, awarded numerous medals including the Bronze Star Medal and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.

Distinguished Faculty d r. Jill Bur K

Dr. Jill Burk is the former Dean of the College of Education at Tarleton and served the university for 25 years. Burk worked incessantly to improve public education in Texas by serving on boards, task forces, and foremost by being a great teacher. She taught public school before working on her doctorate and brought this knowledge and credibility into the higher education classroom. Her experience and integrity were second to none at Tarleton, where she conducted undergraduate, graduate and doctoral classes.

Burk’s passion as an advocate for education was seen across Texas. She canvassed the state to not only recruit new teaching sites for student teachers, but also to visit with current partners and ask questions to determine how Tarleton was doing with its graduates, how it could help the partners or improve the program. Her relationships with superintendents enhanced Tarleton’s ability to widen the region where Tarleton students were placed.

Burk left a enduring legacy at Tarleton through her works in and out of the classroom, and from our campus to the capitol.

Pick up your phone for TA rl ETon’S S P rinG

Phon AT hon

o n the other end of the line, you will meet Chrishae Powell. Chrishae is a freshman education major from Arlington, Texas. She is studying to become a third-grade teacher and hopes to open her own school one day for low-income children. On campus, Chrishae is involved with Tarleton Mentors and Big Texans.

“I love to hear about alumni’s time at Tarleton,” Chrishae said. “It’s kind of like comparing notes. We get to learn how much is the same and what has changed.”

On behalf of the Tarleton Office of Development, every spring and fall students call donors, friends and alumni to ask for a gift to support our Tarleton Fund . Gifts to the Tarleton Fund are unrestricted, and as such, are used to meet the greatest academic needs. Such gifts provide funds for student scholarships, faculty enrichment and to enhance academic programs.

Deja View

A flash back to 1988…Coach Lonn Reisman gives pointers to his team at the Lone Star Conference playoff game in Wichita Falls. Reisman won his 600th career game with the Tarleton Texans in the Lone Star Conference opener on Jan. 2, 2016. Reisman becomes the sixth active Division II head coach and 16th all time to win 600 career games. He is currently the winningest active coach in Texas amongst all levels of play.