Opportunity is knocking for Trinity University, now ranked by U.S. News & World Report as the No. 40 liberal arts college in the nation. Across our campus and our community, we’re ready to rise to the challenge of a bigger stage.
And we rise with a vision of collaboration and curiosity. Rooted in our liberal arts foundation, we seek out and appreciate perspectives different from our own, immersing ourselves in hands-on experiences that push us beyond what we’ve always known. We emerge as empathetic, creative learners and problem-solvers who lead their fields, and their lives, with meaning and purpose.
In a world that seeks courageous connection, it’s our time
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
Dear Reader,
Trinity University is on the rise. The fall semester has provided more evidence of our upward trajectory.
In September, we saw a 19-spot increase in our ranking from U.S. News & World Report in only our third year in the National Liberal Arts Colleges category, putting Trinity University at No. 40 and in the top 20% in the nation. We celebrated the naming of the D. R. Semmes School of Science, reaffirming our commitment to providing the best undergraduate science education in the nation. We also have a new strategic plan, to be shared with the public in the spring.
These achievements reflect our dedication to Trinity’s core mission as a community of learning. In this issue, you will see some of the numerous opportunities along our students’ educational paths. By providing mentoring, internships, scholarships, and other support, your commitment to our students is truly inspiring.
Indeed, inspiration itself is a central theme of the story of psychology professor Carolyn Becker and her former student, Lisa Kilpela ’04, featured in this issue. It is a powerful example of how our faculty’s commitment to undergraduate research can change the lives of our students as well the communities they go on to lead and serve.
Moving forward, I invite each of you to continue to play a part in the University’s rise. Together, we will ensure Trinity University remains a beacon of enduring excellence with our students at the heart of all we do.
Warmly,
Vanessa B. Beasley, Ph.D. President, Trinity University
TRINITY Fall 2024
Editor Molly Bruni
Magazine Staff
Jeanna Goodrich Balreira ’08
Gloriana Cardenas
Anh-Viet Dinh ’15
Jeremy Gerlach
Copy Editor
Ashley Festa
Interns
Caleb Aguiar ’25
Drew Cain ’24
Luciana Castro ’27
Samuel Damon ’24
Mackenzie Gasner ’23, M’25
Contributors
Cade Bradshaw ’14
Kenneth Caruthers ’15
Abigail DeNike ‘20
Ryan Finnelly
Reign Kingsberry
Sarah Moser
Art Director
Laura Rodriguez
Kennice Leisk ’22
Mason McLerran
Josh Moczygemba ’05
Ryan Sedillo
Layal Khalil ’27
Carter Nicol ’25
Eve Slemp ’27
Justin Parker ’99
Tom Payton
Aimee Rowse
Carla Sierra
Claire Siewert ’22
Amanda Wise ’06, M’08
Trinity is published by the Office of Strategic Communications and Marketing and is sent to alumni, faculty, staff, and friends of the University who remain engaged with Trinity.
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Trinity University | Strategic Communications and Marketing 1 Trinity Place, San Antonio, TX 78212-7200
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President
Vanessa B. Beasley
Board of Trustees
Ruth K. Agather
Shari Becker Albright ’83, M’86
April Ancira ‘02
Erin M. Baker ‘99
Annell R. Bay ‘77
Ted W. Beneski
John Brozovich
Stephen W. Butt ‘77
Miles C. Cortez ‘64
Sally Deitch M’03
Janet St. Clair Dicke ‘68
Cydney C. Donnell
Thomas E. Evans ‘84
Marshall A. Hess ‘88
Gen. James T. Hill (Ret.) ‘68
Jelynne L. Jamison M’88
E. Carey Joullian IV ‘82
The Rev. Dr. Richard R. Kannwischer ‘95
Christopher M. Kinsey ‘79
Katherine Wood Klinger ‘72
John C. Korbell
Oliver T.W. Lee ‘93
Michael Lynd Jr. ’95
Steven P. Mach ‘92
Melody B. Meyer ‘79
Jeffrey Mueller ’00
William Scanlan Jr.
Thomas Schluter ‘85
Pat Semmes
Nicholas A. Severino ’88
Darsh Preet Singh ’08
L. Herbert Stumberg Jr. ‘81
Jessica W. Thorne ‘91
John Thornton ’87
Scott W. Tinker ’82
Nadia Islam ‘12
National Alumni Board, President
The Rev. Dr. James D. Freeman ‘83
Synod of the Sun Rep.
Just one of the movie posters tacked to the walls of my freshman dorm room (and, looking back on it, quite fitting for the situation)
Dear Tigers,
While this issue didn’t initially have a theme, a clear through line appeared once we began digging in to the stories you’ll find in these pages: the appreciation of perspectives different than our own.
Sure enough, this is the hallmark of a liberal arts education, and it’s the natural byproduct of a commitment to lifelong learning and curiosity. A liberal arts education exposes us to viewpoints we’d never considered before, to experiences that confront our assumptions and expand our empathy. We learn to hold space for people, places, and opinions of all kinds.
For me, and I’m guessing for many of you, this personal journey began in college. I attended a massive public high school in a well-to-do suburban area of San Antonio; I wasn’t really exposed (or perhaps didn’t pay attention) to classmates with backgrounds and experiences that challenged my view of the world. College abruptly changed that.
Freshman year, I—an only child from, again, a large public school— was paired with a roommate who had been homeschooled with her many siblings most of her life. The experience was…contentious, to put it mildly. I wasn’t used to sharing a room; she finally had her own space. We battled it out, and, though I wouldn’t say our relationship ended amicably at the time, I recognize years later that we learned a lot from each other (and probably would have benefited from setting some boundaries). Underneath our differences, there was a reason we were paired together: We were actually a lot alike—two highly anxious musicians (me, a singer; her, a violist) just trying to navigate a new chapter of our lives. Had we met later in our college careers, I think we would have been best friends.
That experience was a wake-up call that my way wasn’t the highway (an absolute revelation at the time). For the next four years, people from all walks of life enriched my college experience. I have always said that the most important thing I learned in college was the value of people with life stories unfamiliar to my own.
Don’t be like freshman-year-me, Tigers. (Or, if you do, please do your roommates a favor and keep your laundry off the floor!) Stay humble. Challenge your own perspectives. Listen to those around you. Learn something new. College may end, but your capacity for learning shouldn’t—and life would be so much less interesting if we were all the same, anyway.
Sincerely,
Molly Bruni Editor, Trinity Magazine
The Big Picture
During New Tiger Orientation, Trinity students painted a mural together at First Fiesta, a celebration of community, culture, and the lively spirit of San Antonio’s traditions. The mural now adds a splash of color to campus in its permanent home on the side of Coates Student Center.
Photo by Cade Bradshaw ’14
TRINITY TODAY
Brothers Walk Two Paths
Opportunities in chemistry and music give both Cipolla siblings space to shine
by Jeremy Gerlach
Jake Cipolla ’26 had one gut reaction when he saw who his first-ever Trinity University RA was going to be— his older brother, Nicholas Cipolla ’25.
“I just cracked up on the stairs of our house when we got the news, and Nicholas was not very happy about it,” says Jake, a music education major from Houston. “I love him, but we had also just spent 17 years together, and we were ready to live our own lives.”
Trinity specializes in delivering the resources and opportunities of a larger school with the personal faculty attention and supportive vibes of a smaller institution, a potent combination that gives students like the Cipollas the chance to tread paths that seem worlds apart. And there’s no better example of this than the work both brothers did in their respective research labs this past summer.
Jake, who wants to be a conductor one day, spent his summer tracing the origins and connections of a centuries-old piece of religious musical text (called a manuscript) under the supervision of music professor Kimberlyn Montford, Ph.D. Nicholas, a chemistry major who wants to be a professor with his own research lab one day, spent his summer working with chemistry professor Christina Cooley, Ph.D., on one of the latest iterations of her work with fluorogenic polymerizations (using light to monitor reactions).
This dichotomy is a major draw of a liberal arts university like Trinity, where students like Nicholas
get the chance to indulge in their STEM passions with hands-on opportunities just as in-depth as students like Jake get to make time for music. Jake is a member of the Trinity Chamber Singers, takes voice lessons, and has directed music for theater shows, all while being in Mu Phi Epsilon, the music fraternity on campus.
But just as much as Nicholas and Jake both enjoy their space, paths have a way of crossing at Trinity, too. Nicholas, who also plays french horn in the Trinity Symphonic Orchestra, is one of countless Trinity students who join music ensembles without being music majors.
“I think we get to see each other just the right amount,” Nicholas says. “He’s in the choir, and I’m in the orchestra, so it’s cool still being able to support each other and show up to our musicals or choir concerts. And we do occasionally get to perform together (on larger productions), so our parents love that they get to see us both up there. That’s what you get with the small nature of the University.”
And sharing a campus—that’s just big enough for both brothers—does have another draw for the Cipollas.
“This is also convenient if somebody is going home and the other one of us has forgotten something,” Nicholas says, laughing. “In situations like that, you are reminded of the other person’s existence pretty fast.”
Nicholas (left) and Jake Cipolla may both be Tiger musicians, but each brother is making his Trinity journey his own.
LSAMP Supported with $100,000 Grant
USAA bolsters San Antonio university partnership program
USAA has awarded a $100,000 grant in support of Trinity University’s Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP) program. LSAMP, a joint program between Trinity, St. Mary’s University, Our Lady of the Lake University, and the University of the Incarnate Word, supports historically underrepresented and economically disadvantaged students in STEM.
Engineering professor Jack Leifer, Ph.D., worked this summer with students from Trinity and St. Mary’s University using photo measurements to examine how car seat positioning affects vehicle ergonomics and safety. “My students have really energized this project,” Leifer says. “It’s been a pleasure watching them both learn about the project and gain an understanding of how photogrammetric approaches can be applied to challenging measurements in other disciplines.”
Cortez Legacy Challenge Reaches Halfway Mark
Challenge recognizes donors who name Trinity in their estate plans
Since he came to Trinity in the early 1960s, Miles Cortez ’64 has been active on campus. He majored in economics, was a member of the Triniteers, and played varsity tennis, leading to his induction into the Trinity Athletics Hall of Fame. And, he has served on Trinity’s Board of Trustees since
2005. It’s no wonder, then, that Miles and his wife, Jan, believe in securing this same type of experience for future generations of Trinity students.
The couple established the Cortez Legacy Challenge in 2022, after making Trinity a beneficiary of their own estate. The one guideline for the Challenge is simple: If you name Trinity University to receive a gift of $10,000 or more in your will or estate plans, you will unlock $1,000 from the Cortez Legacy Challenge for immediate use on campus today.
Today, the Challenge is halfway complete: Challenge-inspired alumni and friends of the University have arranged more than $15.2 million in wills and estate gifts and directed $50,000 to support their favorite programs and departments across campus, including academic departments, athletic teams, and scholarships. “My Trinity experience set the course for the rest of my life,” Miles says. “I am especially excited about the multiplier effect and hope it encourages those who love Trinity to give back to their alma mater through their estate plans.”
To learn how you can help complete the Cortez Legacy Challenge, contact Kris Howland, director for gift and estate planning, at khowland@trinity.edu or 210-999-7697.
The Trinity Commitment Celebrates One Year
Scholarship initiative matched with more than $8 million from University’s endowment
One year ago, Trinity introduced the Trinity Commitment, a forward-thinking initiative aimed at enhancing the prestige and accessibility of a Trinity education for students from all backgrounds. As the initiative reaches its first anniversary, the University celebrates the early success of its scholarship endowment efforts and the tangible impact this support is already having on students this semester.
The initiative, which launched in November 2023, raises scholarship funds to support Trinity. Through the Trinity Commitment, the University aims to compete for the best students by offering donor-funded scholar-
Meet the Class of 2028
More students want to be Tigers than ever before. Applications for the Class of 2028 rose and admit rate fell, both to record numbers in University history. And even more students knew without a doubt they wanted to be Tigers: This academic year, a quarter of the incoming class—another record high—applied Early Decision, and Trinity also had a record high number of transfer students.
26% admit rate (Lowest in University history)
12,505 applications (Most in University history and almost 10% increase from 2022-23)
650 enrolled students
Middle 50% of Admitted Students 1360-1500 SAT 31-34 ACT
3.7-4.0 GPA (unweighted 4.0 scale)
TRINITY TODAY
Trinity Community Rallies for 10th Annual 1869 Challenge
Tigers come TUgether to raise $876,263 for Trinity students
For the past 10 years, Trinity University’s 1869 Challenge has been more than a tradition—it’s been a testament to the strength and generosity of our entire community. From September 25-26, the Trinity community rallied TUgether to join this legacy of support.
This year saw 5,174 gifts from 4,080 donors (smashing through our goal of 3,000 donors)
who met 66 challenges, ultimately raising $876,263 for students
ship packages that bring them to Trinity and support them through graduation. In just one year, $8.13 million has been dedicated to scholarship endowments through the Trinity Commitment. These funds are already at work as part of our robust financial aid and merit-based scholarship packages.
Renovations Beginning for Parker Chapel’s Formation Center Wing will be renamed the Judd Center for Spiritual Life and Formation
Trinity’s beloved Parker Chapel’s formation wing, including the offices and meeting spaces, is in need of renewal after nearly six decades of storied use. Renovations will transform this high-use space into a dynamic, flexible, and accessible gathering space that creates new opportunities for Trinity students, faculty, and staff of all faiths to wholly engage in spiritual reflection, gathering, formation, learning, and community.
The Judd Center for Spiritual Life and Formation will be named to honor Reverend Raymond Judd ’56, who served as chaplain of Parker Chapel for more than 30 years, and his wife, Mary Jane ’57. Rev. Judd served as Minister-in-Charge of the Margarite B. Parker Chapel and University Chaplain from 1967 to 1999. Judd filled many roles for students, such as pastor, counselor, teacher, and friend to the Trinity community. Mary Jane, too, was known by many Trinity students, faculty, and staff for her warmth and hospitality.
These renovations are in need of your support. To honor the Judds through this transformational project, visit bit.ly/ JuddCenter or contact Monica Martinez, senior director for major gifts and planned giving, at mmartin5@trinity.edu.
University Extends Warm Welcomes
Trinity taps experts for positions around campus
New and familiar faces filled open roles and newly created positions across Trinity’s campus in 2024.
Mark Detterick
Vice President for Finance and Administration
Brandi P. Jones, Ph.D.
Vice President for People, Culture, and Community
Jessica Edonick, Ph.D.
Associate Vice President for Student Affairs & Dean of Students
Clarence R. Wyatt, Ph.D.
Special Adviser to the President
Alicia Moreno, Ph.D.
Director for Student Inclusion and Belonging
Terris Tiller ’00
Director of Alumni Career Engagement & Networks
Rachel Boaz Toppel ’10 Director of Residential Life
Michaela Postell, Ed.D. Director of Title IX Compliance
Wiley Graham, J.D.
Director of Equal Employment Opportunity Compliance
Trinity Receives an “A” Grade for College Financial Health
Forbes analysis places Trinity at 35th in the nation on its financial health grades list
Trinity has been listed as No. 35 in the nation for overall college financial health on Forbes’ 2024 list of college financial grades. The “A” grade—a score of 3.92 out of 4.50—indicates operational soundness and long-term balance sheet health. Trinity was one of only four Texas schools to be listed in the top 50.
Institutional financial health will be a key factor in weathering the “long-forecasted
demographic cliff,” Forbes notes. Starting in 2026, the organization states, the number of high school graduates will drop precipitously, a direct effect of slowed birth rates during the recession between 2007-09.
According to a model by Carleton College economics professor Nathan Grawe, who gave an invited talk at Trinity last year, the traditional college-age population will decline by 15% within two years, and hundreds of colleges in the U.S. will be competing to woo a shrinking pool of available first-year students.
“Anyone who wants to spend their four years on the same campus, with the same friends, professors and programs, would be wise to pick a college with strong operating revenues and balance sheet,” the article states.
Trinty Earns National Recognition for Voter Engagement
Student-focused initiatives promote civic discourse and engagement
Trinity has been honored to receive the Highly Established Action Plan Seal for the 2024 election cycle. This recognition comes from developing a nonpartisan democratic engagement action plan based on the Strengthening American Democracy Action Planning Guide Rubric. Trinity is among
Prominent Experts Speak at Trinity
Speakers bring variety of perspectives to University community
192 campuses nationwide that received the recognition this year.
The Highly Established Action Plan Seal is awarded to campuses that demonstrate a strong commitment to fostering civic engagement and voter participation. It is part of the ALL INN Campus Democracy Challenge, which encourages colleges and universities across the United States to develop comprehensive plans that promote informed and active citizenship among students.
Renowned lecturers spoke to the Trinity University community in Fall 2024 on topics from politics and biology to economics and art.
DISTINGUISHED LECTURE SERIES
Michael Steele, J.D.
Former chairman of the Republican National Committee and leading political analyst
Paul Begala, J.D.
CNN commentator, Emmy and Peabody Award Winner, New York Times bestselling author
MAVERICK LECTURE
Nicholas Kristof, J.D.
Two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author
POLICY MAKER BREAKFAST SERIES
Michael Smerconish, J.D.
CNN television host and SiriusXM radio host
DECOURSEY LECTURE
Robin Wall Kimmerer, Ph.D.
Renowned plant biologist and author
DECOURSEY NOBEL ECONOMIST LECTURE
Guido Imbens, Ph.D.
Nobel Laureate
STIEREN ARTS ENRICHMENT SERIES
Natasha Trethewey, MFA 19th Poet Laureate of the United States
Emmanuel Osei-Kuffour, MFA
Film and television director
Bret Price P’03, MFA
Contemporary sculptor
Visit trinity.edu/events for upcoming speakers.
TRINITY TODAY
Trinity Celebrates Naming of D. R. Semmes School of Science
Event marks a seven-decade legacy (and beyond) of supporting undergraduate science education
On Friday, September 27, the Trinity campus community gathered at the Center for the Sciences and Innovation to celebrate a legacy: the Semmes Foundation’s historic $26.5 million gift and naming of the D. R. Semmes School of Science.
“It is impossible to overstate the influence the Semmes family has had on Trinity. Through decades of generosity, leadership, and vision, they have supported our growth, inspired our students, and helped to propel Trinity to new heights,” Vanessa B. Beasley, Ph.D., president of Trinity University, said at the celebration.
Pat Semmes, Ph.D., Trinity Trustee, expressed, “We are inspired by President Beasley’s vision to make Trinity University the best liberal arts institution in the country for science education. I firmly believe we are on that path.”
Experiential learning was at the heart of the afternoon, with hands-on activities and poster presentations from the nine departments in the Semmes School. Guests saw chemistry in action by creating their own fruit drinks or enjoying ice cream made using liquid
nitrogen. Among several activities, attendees sampled DNA from strawberries with the Department of Biology, built their own pencil holders and card boxes with the Makerspace, and nailed it lying down on a bed of nails from the Department of Physics and Astronomy.
The Semmes name has been synonymous with scientific excellence at Trinity, beginning with the creation of the Thomas Semmes Chemistry Hall in the 1950s, the establishment of the D. R. Semmes Distinguished Professorship in Chemistry and the Semmes Distinguished Scholars in Science Scholarship Program, and the nurturing of our undergraduate research programs. The Semmes family and the Semmes Foundation have been steadfast partners with Trinity.
“This is a moment to recognize the power of philanthropy, of vision, and of a shared belief in what education can achieve. The Semmes Foundation has shared with us a gift that is more than financial—it is a gift of trust, a gift of belief in what our students and faculty are capable of achieving,” Ted Beneski P’11, P’14, chair of the Board of Trustees, said during the event.
The celebration of the D. R. Semmes School of Science included poster presentations (left) and DIY construction in the Makerspace (right)
A Summer of Research, Experience, and Growth
Trinity celebrates hands-on learning at Undergraduate Research and Internship Symposium by Jeremy Gerlach
Innovation, discovery, and real-world experience are at the heart of the Trinity University journey.
This approach is why Trinity is nationally recognized for its commitment to research and special projects and why every summer, when class ends, the learning continues. In Summer 2024, an estimated 240 Trinity students completed some type of internship, research or experiential opportunity, according to Trinity’s Center for Experiential Learning and Career Success.
At the University’s annual Summer Undergraduate Research and Internship Symposium at Trinity, held in July, the full impact of Trinity’s commitment to hands-on opportunity was on display. Here, about 230 students, under the guidance of more than 95 faculty and staff mentors, gathered to celebrate the end of 10 weeks of hands-on learning.
At Trinity, these students are supported not only by a rich and robust series of programs, scholarships, grants, and awards from both institutional and prestigious external sources, but also by a dedicated, acclaimed set of faculty mentors that form truly collaborative partnerships thanks to the University’s relatively small size.
Meet some of the students at the Symposium and glimpse their passion for discovery:
Mahira Nooruddin ’27 studied a lipid phosphatase whose mutations have been linked to neurodegenerative diseases such as ALS and Charcot-Marie Tooth’s Disease.
Alexis Ibarra ’26 analyzed the growth of new political movements in Latin America over the last three decades.
Camille Heidelbaugh ’24 spent her summer designing and machining a worm gearbox system using a CNC lathe and mill in Trinity’s Makerspace.
Olivia Walshak ’25 interned with the Greater Edwards Aquifer Alliance through Trinity’s Arts, Letters and Enterprise program.
As part of Trinity Entrepreneurship’s Summer Accelerator Program, Ryan Kyle ’25, Khoi Tran ’26, and Faysal Al-Zand ’24 spent their summer honing their business product, the Powerlifting Depth Checker.
Trinity is USNWR’s No. 40 National Liberal Arts College
Ranking reflects a 19-spot rise and underscores a commitment to student success
Trinity University is on the rise: The close-knit and multicultural institution in the heart of San Antonio, Texas, was ranked by U.S. News & World Report as the No. 40 liberal arts college in the nation for 2025. This ranking represents a 19-spot rise above our 2024 ranking of No. 59. And while this historic jump in our national ranking comes in our third year of classification as a baccalaureate liberal arts and sciences institution, the University sees this increase as a reflection of decades of unwavering commitment to academic excellence and student support.
This year, Trinity’s increased graduation rates drove the rise in the ranking, particularly due to our commitment to enrolling and graduating Pell-eligible students. Other factors that influenced our ranking included first-year retention rate; the quality of our student body as indicated by SAT and ACT scores; faculty salaries; and student-to-faculty ratio.
“This recognition is evidence of the dedication and hard work of every member of the Trinity community, and it sets us on a shared trajectory,” says Vanessa B. Beasley, Ph.D., university president. “With even more focus and alignment, Trinity will continue to improve upon the well-rounded, interdisciplinary education we have always offered, one that prepares students for successful careers and meaningful lives.”
The recognition placed Trinity alongside Berea College, Spelman College, and Union College (NY), colleges that were also ranked No. 40. Trinity’s Michael Neidorff School of Business was ranked No. 248 for Best Undergraduate Business schools among more than 530 AACSB-accredited undergraduate business programs nationally. Additionally, Trinity’s engineering science program was lauded as No. 53 for Best Undergraduate Engineering programs that do not offer doctoral degrees, placing the University in
the top 20% of 286 U.S. universities with ABET-accredited undergraduate programs.
Among schools that ranked in the top 50 for national liberal arts colleges, only three have ranked business and engineering programs: Trinity, the United States Air Force Academy, and Bucknell University.
“Our No. 40 ranking propels us well into the company of the nation’s leading liberal arts colleges, all of which share a reputation for delivering the highest level of value in higher education,” says Ted Beneski P’11, P’14, chair of the Trinity University Board of Trustees.
2024-25 Rankings Roundup
#40
National Liberal Arts College
U.S. News & World Report, 2025
#95 College in America Forbes, 2025
#20
Liberal Arts College in America
Niche, 2025
#62
Best Colleges in Nation for Developing Future Leaders
TIME Magazine
U.S. News & World Report, 2025
#37 Best Value, National Liberal Arts Colleges
#30 Most Innovative Schools, National Liberal Arts Colleges
#56 Best Undergraduate Teaching, National Liberal Arts Colleges
Niche, 2025
#20 Best small College in America
#79 Best College in America
#1 Liberal Arts College & Small College in Texas
Forbes, 2025
#23 Liberal Arts Universities
#59 Private Colleges in the Nation
Princeton Review
Best 390 Colleges: 2025 Edition
Top Ranked Colleges that Create Futures and Best Value Colleges
#9 in the nation, Best Science Lab Facilities
#12 in the nation, Best Student Support and Counseling Services
#23 in the nation, Best Health Services
Trinity University is on the rise. Watch as we step into our bright future.
SYLLABUS
Bringing Chemistry to Life
Kristy Trevino’s course applies chemistry to the real world
words by Layal Khalil ’27
photos by Drew Cain ’24
Chemistry lecturer Kristy Trevino, Ph.D., is dedicated to revealing to the Trinity University community how chemistry manifests in everyday life. During Fall Family Weekend, she invited parents, students, and other curious minds to attend a chocolate sommelier event titled “The Chemistry of Tasting Chocolate.”
Trevino walked participants through the art of chocolate tasting and gave them a variety of chocolates to sample. She asked the participants to consider the chocolate’s taste, scent, texture, and sound when it is snapped in half. After enjoying the chocolates, Trevino gave everyone a chemistry lesson that resonated with any pet owner: How much chocolate could a pet have before the treat became harmful?
Trevino developed this Chemistry of Tasting Chocolate event by drawing inspiration from her class, “Chemistry in Everyday Life” (CHEM1303). This class is a non-major Pathways course that covers chemistry often found in the real world.
“We incorporate basic chemistry lessons so students can understand stuff they see in the news and on social media,” Trevino says. “We do lab experiments with things you can find at home and at the grocery store, watch shows about chemistry and how it relates to their daily use products, and do individual research projects that bring any type of science to light that a student is interested in.”
The class can cover atomic and molecular structure, chemical bonds, acids and bases, liquids and solids, energy, medicinal chemistry, and food chemistry. Trevino
introduces and demonstrates these topics in both lectures and laboratory activities, allowing students to apply concepts learned in class in a hands-on approach.
Trevino not only exposes her students to fundamental chemistry concepts but also encourages them to think critically and apply these concepts and their findings to the real world. This course also allows students to develop their communication skills through lab reports and stretch their qualitative and quantitative skills to evaluate data.
This course resonates perfectly with Trinity’s mission to cultivate scientific learning alongside the liberal arts, as students effectively learn to see the application of scientific concepts in their everyday lives. “I can mesh anything current that we see in the news, such as toxic levels of lead in Stanley cups, into a lesson in my class and can easily make that concept a lab that the students can actually test qualitatively and quantitatively,” Trevino says.
Trevino hopes students will walk away from this course with a newfound appreciation for chemistry. “Most students that are not STEM majors do not like chemistry. When you ask them about it, they typically say, ‘I hated chemistry in high school,’” she says. “I want my students to gain respect for chemistry and learn chemistry concepts that they can see play out in the real world, such as baking a cake and brewing a cup of hot vs. iced coffee, and to be conscious of the products they buy because of the chemicals that are in them.”
During Fall Family Weekend in October, families learned about the art of chocolate tasting.
Teaching, Research Drive
Chemistry Professor
Adam Urbach receives national recognition, looks to bright future for Trinity chem, STEM
by Jeremy Gerlach
As a scientist at a liberal arts university, Adam Urbach, Ph.D., walks a fine line between gathering new knowledge and sharing that knowledge with undergraduates. And Urbach has been nationally recognized for doing just that: He has received one of the Research Corporation for Science Advancement’s Cottrell SEED Awards for 2024 in the Exceptional Opportunities category for his research project, “Order from Disorder: Programmable Induction of Polypeptide Folding with Synthetic Receptors.” Urbach was one of only 11 chemistry researchers across the nation to receive this recognition.
Additionally, he was recently named a 2023 Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)—one of the most prestigious recognitions possible for U.S. scientists.
Urbach’s research areas include supramolecular chemistry, bio-organic chemistry, drug formulation, protein engineering, and biosensors. His research program has developed rules for predictably interacting with proteins, leading to applications in drug formulation, biosensors, surface chemistry, materials science, and nanoscience.
This past spring, Urbach’s group of student researchers were featured in not one, but two national chemistry journals: the Journal of the American Chemical Society for their work on unfolded proteins and Chemical Science for their work on the interaction between a small protein and a synthetic receptor.
“When I interviewed at Trinity, I was immediately taken by how student-focused the faculty were, and by how excited they were about teaching, doing research, and especially doing research with undergraduate students,” Urbach says. “It was clear that the combination of rigorous classroom and laboratory courses combined with undergraduate research creates the best possible chemistry education, and that Trinity had the infrastructure and the culture needed to carry out high-quality research.”
Chemistry Professor Named Cottrell Scholar
Rebecca Rapf shines a light on environmentally relevant pollutants
by Jeremy Gerlach
Trinity University chemistry professor Rebecca Rapf, Ph.D., wants to shine a light on environmental pollutants.
Literally.
Rapf was named a 2024 Cottrell Scholar, receiving a national-level award of $120,000 from the Research Corporation for Science Advancement (RCSA). Rapf is one of only 19 early-career scholars to receive the 2024 Cottrell Award from the RCSA. This past summer, she launched her proposed project for the award, titled “Interface-Induced Changes to Electronic Structure and Reactivity of Environmentally Relevant Polycyclic Aromatic Species.” The project will examine how the chemistry of environmentally relevant pollutants changes at air-water interfaces compared to bulk “beaker” chemistry using a special type of spectroscopy (UV reflection absorption).
“Being named a Cottrell Scholar is very meaningful, especially at Trinity, because it is really a teacher-scholar award,” Rapf says of the honor. “This award not only funds my research program but also supports my work in the classroom. One of the things I think we do well at Trinity is focusing on being innovative in the classroom, while also conducting high-quality, nationally competitive scholarship with our students.”
Rapf is the latest in a line of Trinity chemistry department faculty who’ve been supported by RCSA, including Adam Urbach, Ph.D., Laura Hunsicker-Wang, Ph.D., and department chair Corina Maeder ’99, Ph.D.
SYLLABUS
Eva Tuba Receives 2024
ACM-Rising Star Award
Trinity computer science professor recognized for early-career research on international stage
Trinity University computer science professor
Eva Tuba, Ph.D., won the 2024 Association for Computing Machinery’s Women in Computing (ACM-W) Rising Star Award. The ACM is the premier organization for computing worldwide, and this award is only given to one early-career researcher internationally each year. Previous recipients include faculty from large research institutions and Ivy League institutions.
The ACM selection committee was impressed by Tuba’s “international collaboration, cutting edge research, endless enthusiasm and significant impact.” Tuba’s recognition not only reflects her personal achievements but also how her work is paving the way for aspiring women in the computing field.
To challenge the stereotype that suggests technology is a male-dominated field, Tuba told ACM-W Connections, “Early exposure to technology is crucial. We should encourage girls to explore coding and tech-related activities from a young age through workshops, camps, and school programs.
“The most common advice I give to female students is to be confident and courageous, to believe in themselves, and to be their own best friend, not their worst enemy,” she continued. “Too often, I witness extraordinary female students who doubt and harshly judge themselves. Together, we can create an environment where women feel empowered to pursue and excel in careers in technology.”
Kathleen Surpless Studies North American Cordillera Through NSF Grant
Nearly $200,000 will support faculty and undergraduate research from California to Canada
Dawn, 165 million years ago: The breakup of the supercontinent Pangaea is ongoing, the brand new Atlantic Ocean is widening, and North America is moving westward. Significant geological and biological events are shaping the evolution of the landscape, the climate, and various life forms. And amid the western Sierran foothills in California, Kathleen Surpless, Ph.D., Trinity University professor of earth and environmental geosciences, is right in the middle of it all.
Surpless was recently awarded a National Science Foundation (NSF) grant in the amount of $191,257 for her project, “Collaborative Research: RUI: Continental-Scale Study of Jura-Cretaceous Basins and Melanges along the Backbone of the North American Cordillera-A Test of Mesozoic Subduction Models.” In short, Surpless and her team are studying the geologic processes that formed the North American Cordillera, mountains that extend from western Mexico to Alaska. But in depth—figuratively and literally—Surpless hopes to discover more about how the Cordillera developed, despite more than a century of accepted findings.
The project is a collaboration with researchers at Montana State University, Purdue University, and the University of Arizona. Field teams from the four universities, which include Trinity undergraduates, an alumna getting her master’s degree at Montana State, and undergraduate and Ph.D. students at the other universities, will be mapping and sampling along four east-west transects across the western Cordillera in central Alaska, Southeast Alaska, British Columbia, and California. Surpless’s team will then process the samples on campus to isolate specific minerals for analysis. “Together with the field work, we hope our isotopic and age data will allow us to test various hypotheses related to the two main models of Cordilleran development,” Surpless says.
Carolyn Becker Receives National Lawrence H. Cohen Outstanding Mentor Award
Trinity psychology professor becomes first faculty from a liberal arts college to receive this distinction by Abby DeNike ’20
With 25 years at Trinity University under her belt teaching students and researching alongside them, psychology professor Carolyn Becker, Ph.D., has won the Lawrence H. Cohen Outstanding Mentor Award, granted by the Society for a Science of Clinical Psychology (SSCP). She is the first awardee not employed at an R1 institution, a title given to premier research institutions with a set value of their budget put toward research expenditures.
Becker’s philosophy on education and mentorship has always been to view her students as junior collaborators. “I think that makes the transition to later stages of mentorship easier because I’m already working with them at a high level and believe they can do a lot,” she says. Students are frequently authors on her publications.
Salomé Wilfred ’14, a nominator, explained that it was Becker’s initial belief in her as a student that set her apart as a mentor. “Carolyn was the first educator who genuinely believed in me.” she says. Now working toward completing her Ph.D. at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, Wilfred still values Becker’s influence: “Her mentorship is why I want to work in academia. I experienced firsthand the difference a teacher can make in your life.”
Becker also received the Piper Professor award in 2017 for her dedication to the profession of teaching in the state of Texas. In 2012, she was granted the Dr. and Mrs. Z.T. Scott Faculty Fellowship Award for excellence in teaching and advising at Trinity.
Still, she admits the Lawrence H. Cohen Award, awarded by contemporaries in her field, means something different to her: “It was a certain kind of validation that a ceiling had been broken,” she says. “It acknowledges that liberal arts college professors play an important role in the advancement of our field and in creating future clinical psychological scientists, even at a small college in Texas.”
Read about Carolyn Becker’s $2.2 million research grant on page 40!
Amy Foshee Holmes Wins Outstanding Accounting Educator Award
Texas Society of CPAs recognizes Trinity professor for service to the accounting profession
Trinity University accounting professor Amy Foshee Holmes, Ph.D., received the Texas Society of CPAs (TXCPA) Outstanding Accounting Educator Award in the Small College category. This accolade is a testament to Holmes’ exceptional dedication and excellence in accounting education.
Funded by the TXCPA Accounting Education Foundation, the Outstanding Accounting Educator Award is given to Texas accounting educators who excel in teaching and distinguish themselves through active service to the accounting profession.
Holmes makes it her mission to not just teach with innovative methods but also to encourage her students to make connections with the local San Antonio community. For example, in 2017, her students learned how to complete a production cost report by assembling Valentine’s Day treat bags with candy, which were then delivered to the St. Peter-St. Joseph Children’s Home in San Antonio.
Holmes thanks Dean Robert F. Scherer, Ph.D., and Julie Persellin, Ph.D., “for their support and guidance, allowing faculty to excel, develop their interests, and play to their strengths.”
Becker (second from left, back row) with her colleagues and former Trinity students.
Holmes (left) made accounting a bit sweeter with Valentine’s Day treats.
SYLLABUS
Joe Kneer Wins International Conducting Competition
Conductor of Trinity’s Symphony Orchestra recognized at the 34th International Conductors Workshop and Competition
Joe Kneer, D.M.A., music professor and conductor of Trinity University’s Symphony Orchestra, was one of the winners of the 34th International Conductors Workshop and Competition (ICWC) in Atlanta this summer. The ICWC is recognized as one of the most prestigious conductor training programs in the nation.
Kneer was one of 10 conductors from France, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Oklahoma, Texas, and Utah to attend the ICWC and compete as well as attend a workshop. The competition involved conducting the professional ICWC Orchestra in four rehearsals in preparation for a concert that featured works by Barber, Bernstein, Brahms, Mendelssohn, Mozart, Strauss, Verdi, and Wagner.
“To me, this competition is a strong affirmation of the work the musicians of the Trinity Symphony Orchestra (TSO) and I embark on every school year,” he says. “My goal has always been to build and maintain a culture of musical excellence in the TSO while also holding firm to the inclusive nature of music in the liberal arts and its power to shape our graduates’ creativity, vision, and empathy, regardless of their field of work. I hope this competition can spotlight the rich tradition of music-making at Trinity.”
Celebrating Trinity’s Recent Fulbright Students and Scholars
Recognizing the exceptional Fulbright achievements of Trinity’s faculty and alumni by Drew Cain ’24
Ever wondered what it’s like to teach English in Spain or study ancient Greek literature in Athens? Trinity University’s Fulbright students and scholars have done all this and more!
The Fulbright Program offers incredible opportunities for students, faculty, and alumni at universities across the United States to study, teach, and conduct research abroad. Meet four recent Fulbright scholars from Trinity.
Jenny Browne, MFA | Northern Ireland
English professor Jenny Browne returned to Northern Ireland for a second Fulbright scholarship, receiving the 202324 Fulbright-Queens University Belfast Scholar Award in Irish Literature. Her project is titled “The Habit of Looking: A Survey of Northern Irish Ekphrasis”.
Jorge Colazo, Ph.D. | Colombia
Finance and Business Analytics professor and associate dean Jorge Colazo received a Fulbright scholarship to teach at the Industrial University of Santander in Bucaramanga, Colombia. There, he trained faculty on Collaborative Online International Learning and led masterclasses for business and engineering students.
Maria Pia Paganelli, Ph.D. | Chile
Economics professor Maria Pia Paganelli returned to Chile for her second Fulbright scholarship to Chile in Fall 2024 for her second Fulbright scholarship.. Paganelli is continuing her research on the origins of free banking in Chile, a country with a notable history of this banking system during the nineteenth century.
J’Leen Saeger, Ph.D. | El Salvador
Spanish language and literature professor J’Leen Saeger received a Fulbright scholarship to teach at the José Simeón Cañas Central American University in San Salvador, El Salvador, in January 2025. There, Saeger will teach TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) courses, mentor faculty, and conduct workshops on developing effective lesson plans and innovative teaching strategies.
In addition to these four Fulbright scholars, two Trinity alumni recently received Fulbrights: Acacia Oyler ’23 received a Fulbright scholarship to teach in Greece, and Katherine Webster ’23 is teaching English as a Second Language this fall in Ourense, Spain.
University Honors the 2024 Faculty and Staff Awardees
Faculty and staff recognized for excellence, inclusivity, and dedication to student success
This spring, Trinity University recognized members of the faculty and staff for their outstanding commitment to student advocay, inclusivity, advising, research, teaching, and mentorship.
Dr. and Mrs. Z. T. Scott Faculty Fellowship
The highest recognition of excellence in teaching and advising at Trinity
Charlene Davis, Ph.D. | Business Administration
Current and former students describe Davis’s teaching as challenging, creative, and supportive. They praise her ability to bring marketing concepts to life in the classroom, and they express gratitude for her determination to continue mentoring alumni as they pursue careers after graduation.
Danny J. Anderson Faculty Prize
Recognizes exceptional mentorship of research students in honor of former Trinity president Danny J. Anderson, Ph.D.
Dr.
Deneese
John Anders, Ph.D.
Economics
L. Jones Award for Inclusive Excellence
Recognizes outstanding support of inclusive excellence in honor of Deneese L. Jones, Ph.D., former Trinity vice president for Academic Affairs
LadyStacie Rimes-Boyd, J.D. Strategic Communications and Marketing
Corina Maeder ’99, Ph.D. Chemistry
President’s Award for Exceptional Service to Students
Recognizes significant support of student success both inside and outside the classroom
Betty Curry, M.Ed. Academic Support
Kelly Grey Carlisle, Ph.D. English
Distinguished Achievement Awards
Recognizes faculty and staff who have shown outstanding dedication and accomplishments at the University
Early Career Award for Distinguished Teaching and Research
Erin Kramer, Ph.D. History
Early Career Award for Distinguished Teaching and Research
Kathryn Vomero Santos, Ph.D.
English
Award for Distinguished Advising and Mentoring
Kyralyssa Hauger-Sanchez, Ph.D. Chemistry
Award for Distinguished University, Community, and Professional Service
Glenn Kroeger, Ph.D. Geosciences
Award for Distinguished Scholarship, Research, or Creative Work or Activity
Claudia Stokes, Ph.D.
English
2024 Trinity Athletics Hall of Fame
Trinity University inducted 11 former student-athletes into the Trinity Athletics Hall of Fame on October 26 during halftime of the Tiger football game against Berry College (GA).
Emily Loeffler Daum ‘09
Cross Country & Track and Field
Daum was a four-time All-American for Trinity cross country and indoor and outdoor track & field. She led the Tiger cross country team to the NCAA Championships from 2006-08 and competed at the NCAA Track & Field Championships from 2006-09. Daum finished 17th at Nationals in 2008—the second-best individual finish at Trinity— and led the team to a sixth-place finish, which is still the best in school history. She earned the NCAA Ethnic Minority Enhancement Award in 2009.
Doug Grigar ’99, M’00 Baseball
Grigar was a two-time ABCA AllAmerican for the Tiger baseball team. In the 1999 season opener, he hit three home runs in three swings and was featured in Sports Illustrated’s Faces in the Crowd for the achievement. Grigar led Trinity to the 1999 SCAC Championship, leading Trinity in home runs and RBI that season. He broke or tied 11 school records and remains in the top 10 in school history in 17 categories.
Nancy Hamad ’99 Volleyball
Hamad was an AVCA Second Team AllAmerican, a two-time All-Region player, a four-time All-SCAC honoree, and the 1998 SCAC Player of the Year. She led Trinity to two SCAC Championships and four NCAA Playoffs. Hamad still ranks in the top 20 in 14 school record categories and remains Trinity’s all-time record-holder in kills for a single match. She is the only Tiger to ever record 23 or more kills in five different matches.
Roy Hampton ’03 Football
Hampton was an All-American in 2001 and 2002, securing the honor from four different organizations his senior year. He was a two-time SCAC Offensive Player of the Year, leading the Tigers to four straight SCAC titles and four appearances in the NCAA Playoffs. Hampton led Trinity to the NCAA Quarterfinals in 2000 and led the team to its first and only appearance in the Stagg Bowl in 2002. He still holds 10 Trinity football records and ranks in the top five in 50 categories.
Becky King ’01 Soccer
King was a two-time AllAmerican and three-time All-SCAC performer, leading the women’s soccer team to its first appearance in the NCAA Semifinals in 2000. She also led Trinity to three SCAC Championships and four appearances in the NCAA Playoffs. King broke the Tiger record for career goals and points, and she still ranks in the top 10 in career goals, assists, and points. King is one of just eight Tiger players to score 20 or more goals in a season.
Sarah Scott Handy ’98
Swimming & Diving
Rush was the Tiger tennis team’s No. 1 singles and doubles player (with Ed Rahn) for their 2000 NCAA Championship. He was the runner-up in the 2000 NCAA Singles Tournament and finished second in the NCAA Doubles Championship (also with Rahn) in 2001. He was a two-time SCAC Player of the Year and two-time All-American in singles and doubles. Rush received the NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship in 2001.
Scott was Trinity’s first female All-American in swimming & diving, garnering the honor in multiple events in 1995, 1997, and 1998. She remains one of just two Tiger swimmers to earn All-American honors in three different years, and she competed at the NCAA Championships every season at Trinity. Her top finishes were seventh in both the 200 individual medley (1997) and the 400 individual medley (1998).
Patti McBee ’78 Multiple Sports
McBee played basketball, softball, track & field, and volleyball at Trinity. She led the Tigers to major upset wins in both softball and basketball during her career. McBee and the Tiger women’s basketball team won the Zone Championship in the 197576 season and advanced to the team’s first-ever TAIAW State Tournament. She earned All-Conference accolades twice and broke 11 school records, where she remains in the top 10 in 8 categories.
Todd Wildman ’09, M’10 Track & Field
Wildman won back-to-back National Championships in the indoor pentathlon in 2009 and 2010. In 2009, he was named the USTFCCCA Indoor Field Athlete of the Year and the SCAC Athlete of the Year, and he was an All-American in the indoor high jump, the outdoor 110-meter hurdles, and the long jump. He remains Trinity’s record-holder in the 110-meter hurdles, the 400-meter hurdles, and the high jump.
Joseph Moore ’00
Swimming & Diving
Moore was Trinity’s first threetime All-American in swimming & diving, receiving recognition in the 50 freestyle and 100 freestyle in 1997, 1998, and 1999. He broke the school records in both the 50 free and 100 free and remains in the top 10 in both categories. Moore led the Tigers to their first SCAC Swimming & Diving Championship in 1999, winning two individual events and seven All-SCAC honors during the meet.
Woods set 13 different school records during her career, and her .425 batting average in 2001 remains the best in school history. She was a four-time All-SCAC performer and was named the 2001 SCAC Player of the Year. Woods also made the National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-Region team three times, leading the Tiger softball team to four SCAC Championships and three NCAA Playoff appearances.
Sloan W. Rush ’01 Tennis
Ali Woods ’02, M’03 Softball
Division III Athletics Program in the Country
(2023-24 Division III LEARFIELD Directors’ Cup)
Winner of the SCAC President’s Trophy (13th straight win and 24th overall, both new conference records)
10
conference championships
Putting
17
18
30 of 18 teams in the NCAA Postseason
of 18 teams with win percentages over .500
the “Student” in Student-Athlete
52
national academic award winners
369
250
Did You Know?
All-Americans
2
National Strength & Conditioning Association All-Americans
named to conference* honor rolls (3.25 GPA or better for the semester of competition) *SCAC or SAAA
named to the Trinity Dean’s List NCAA Postgraduate Scholars
Trinity is one of the top universities in the country for NCAA Postgraduate Scholars. Each sports season, the NCAA awards up to only 42 scholarships (21 for men, 21 for women) across all athletic divisions. These $10,000 scholarships are awarded to student-athletes who excel both academically and athletically and are used for their postgraduate education.
28+
All-Time NCAA Postgraduate Scholars
2
Tied for No. 16 among all Division III institutions
Tied for No. 57 among all NCAA institutions
2023-24 Winter Athletics
Men’s Basketball
Head Coach Jimmy Smith led Trinity to a 23-4 overall record last season, with the Tigers reaching the SCAC Tournament semi-final and advancing to the NCAA Playoffs. Smith was named the SCAC Coach of the Year and the National Association of Basketball Coaches District Coach of the Year. Seven Tigers were named to the NABC Honors Court for their excellence in the classroom and on the court. Christian Green was the most decorated Tiger last year, being named the SCAC Freshman of the Year and winning D3hoops.com National and Regional Rookie of the Year honors and NABC 1st Team All-District honors. Jacob Harvey was an All-SCAC honoree who came just three three-pointers short of tying Trinity’s single-season record. He then represented the United States 3x3 basketball team for the second straight year, playing this past summer in Mexico. Smith also coached one of the USA 3x3 teams at the end of the summer, taking the silver medal in Mongolia.
Women’s Basketball
The “Together Tigers” finished the year with a 23-6 record that included a 15-1 mark in
SCAC play and a perfect 10-0 record at home. Head Coach Cameron Hill led the team to its fourth straight SCAC Championship, which is a new school record. It also marks the 10th overall conference title for the Trinity women, which is the most in SCAC history. Jamie Ruede was the SCAC Freshman of the Year and the D3hoops.com Regional Rookie of the Year. Josie Napoli earned 1st Team All-SCAC honors and was also named 2nd Team All-Region by D3hoops. com. The Tigers have won six NCAA Playoff games over the last three years and have advanced past the first round each season.
Swimming and Diving
Led by Head Coach Cathleen Pruden, the men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams once again finished in the top 25 at the NCAA Championships. The women’s team finished 12th for its best finish since 2010-11, scoring a school-record number of points at the meet. Neely Burns was the biggest highlight with her National Championship in the 400 IM, but that was just one of 11 All-American performances at the meet for the Tiger men and women. Michael Kohl, who was the SCAC Swimmer of the Meet and Swimmer of the Year, earned All-American honors in the 100 fly and the 100 free. Nathaniel Early picked up similar accolades in the 200 free for the Trinity men. For the women, Burns had three individual All-American honors (including her championship), while also being part of the All-American 800 free relay team. Amy Benson had two individual honors and had a part in three All-American relays. Kyla Foxhoven, Emma Hagan, Audrey Jacobson,
and Caroline Myers were also part of two of the award-winning relays. The Tiger teams swept the SCAC Championships for the third time in three years under Pruden’s guidance. Burns was also the SCAC Women’s Swimmer of the Meet and Swimmer of the Year. Konstantine Partalas swept the Men’s Diver of the Meet and Diver of the Year awards. Trinity had one NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship recipient in Kendal Southwell and one College Sports Communicators Academic All-American in Hagan. Ten individuals were also named Scholar AllAmericans by the College Swimming & Diving Coaches Association of America.
Spring 2024 Athletics
Baseball
Head Coach Tim Scannell led the 2024 Tiger baseball team to a 32-15 overall record, winning the SCAC Regular Season Championship and earning the top seed for the SCAC Tournament. Trinity fell just short in the championship game to finish as the runner-up but still earned a bid to the NCAA Playoffs. The Tigers were regional finalists but fell short in a best-of-five series. Jonathan Newman (1st Team) and Joseph Chavana (2nd Team) were selected to the D3baseball.com All-Region teams, while Newman also found a spot on the American Baseball Coaches Association 2nd Team. Jackson Teer was a 1st Team honoree on both All-Region squads and earned the Regional Pitcher of the Year awards from both organizations. Teer also earned the
Green
Ruede
Kohl
Teer
TIGER PRIDE
National Pitcher of the Year award from D3baseball.com and was a 1st Team AllAmerican selection by both. As if that wasn’t enough, Teer also earned 1st Team Academic All-America accolades from the CSC.
Men’s Golf
Head Coach Sean Etheredge led the Tiger men’s golf team to a second-place finish at the SCAC Championships last spring, and Trinity senior Jacob Mason qualified as an individual for the NCAA Championships. Mason has participated in the NCAA event twice in the last three years while also competing with the team in 2023. He earned his third straight All-American honor in 2024, making it to the PING 2nd Team. He was also a CSC 2nd Team Academic AllAmerican and a 1st Team PING All-Region honoree. Mason and Carter Code were named Cobalt Golf All-American Scholars.
Women’s Golf
Third-year Head Coach Shelby DeVore, who earned another SCAC Coach of the Year award this past spring, led the Tigers to their best season ever in 2024. Trinity won the SCAC Championship for the fourth straight time, and the Tigers have made three straight appearances at the NCAA
Championships. This past season, Trinity moved up to 11th place overall—the highest finish in school history. Kiona Hsiu won medalist honors at the SCAC Championship, while newcomer Jessica Mason was the SCAC Golfer of the Year. Mason was also a Women’s Golf Coaches Association 1st Team All-Region honoree and a 2nd Team AllAmerican. Mason, Hsiu, and Kate Schulle were named WGCA All-American Scholars.
Softball
First-year Head Coach Bailey Wittenauer earned SCAC Coach of the Year honors after leading the Tiger softball team to a 31-13 overall record, breaking the school record for wins in a season. Trinity reached the SCAC Tournament Championship game, going 2-2 at the tournament. Hannah Boudreaux was the SCAC Newcomer of the Year, and both Boudreaux and Jordan Arce were selected to the National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-Region 3rd Team.
Men’s Tennis
Head Coach Russell McMindes led Trinity to its 14th straight SCAC Championship, which is also the 28th overall conference title for the program—the most in SCAC history. He earned SCAC Coach of the Year honors
for his leadership. First-year Jared Perry was the SCAC Newcomer of the Year and ended the season with Intercollegiate Tennis Association All-American recognition in both singles and doubles. Connor Whittington was also an All-American in doubles and was the ITA Regional Player to Watch in 2024. Whittington was one of seven players to earn ITA ScholarAthlete recognition along with Aashish Dhanani, Dalton Locke, Eric Liao, Ethan Ruppanner, Hai Vo, and Ivan Nikolovski.
Women’s Tennis
Head Coach Drew Cohn earned SCAC Coach of the Year honors, and he and Assistant Coach Annie Wise earned Regional Coach of the Year honors from the ITA. Ruth Hill and Olivia Kim were ITA All-Americans in doubles, with Hill also collecting the honor for singles. Ellie Hughes was the ITA Regional Most Improved Player, while Rosabella Andrade picked up the SCAC Newcomer of the Year award. Hill and Hughes were joined by Alessandra Ceccarelli, Cate Cushing, Constanza Gomez, Ella Cummings, Rebecca Stepleman, Sam Miller, Trinity Hatchett, and Trinity Levy as ITA Scholar-Athletes.
Mason
Hsiu
Perry
Hill
Boudreaux
Track & Field
Track & Field was covered in both the winter and spring sports seasons, ending with five All-American performances by four student-athletes. The NCAA Indoor Championships saw both Will Salony and Azariah Anderson qualify, and both ended up with All-American honors. Salony earned 2nd Team recognition in the mile, while Anderson made the 1st Team in the 60-meter hurdles. Head Coach Marcus
top
Whitehead led the men’s team to another SCAC Championship and earned SCAC Coach of the Year honors in the process. The women’s team finished as the runner-up. Justin Johnson was the SCAC Field Athlete of the Year for the men, while Price Schultea picked up the SCAC Newcomer of the Year award. For the women, Joy Areola earned SCAC Field Athlete of the Year honors as well. The Tigers also had several All-Region performances in both indoor and outdoor track & field, then saw seven individuals qualify for the NCAA Outdoor Championships. Areola and Johnson were All-American in the triple jump at the NCAA event, while Anderson picked up another All-American award in the 400-meter hurdles.
Neely Burns Wins 400 IM National Championship
Tiger swimmer Neely Burns ’26 won the 2024 NCAA Championship in the 400 individual medley. Burns is the first women’s swimmer to win the NCAA Championship at Trinity, and she is the first individual NCAA champion at Trinity since 2014. Her championship swim came with a time of 4:15.67, which beats her previous school record by nearly three seconds.
Tigers Represent Silver-Medal-Winning Team USA
Tiger player and coach represent their nation in 3x3 World Cup play
Jimmy Smith, Trinity University Men’s Basketball Head Coach, and Jacob Harvey ’25, Tiger basketball player, represented their nation as coach and player, respectively, for the 2024 USA 3x3 Men’s U23 National Team.
Harvey and the rest of the USA 3x3 team competed this summer at the 2024 FIBA 3x3 Nations League Americas Conference in Mexico City. Team USA qualified for the FIBA 3x3 U23 World Cup 2024, which took place in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, in September.
Coach Smith was selected as the head coach of the 2024 USA 3x3 Men’s U23 National Team in Mongolia, where the team excelled in pool play, beating Chile, Lithuania, Kenya, and Latvia. With an impressive 4-0 record, the USA advanced to the quarterfinals to face China. Team USA secured a 21-11 victory and went on to the semifinals, narrowly edging out Spain with a 21-19 win. However, they fell short in the finals, losing to Germany 21-13. Coach Smith and Team USA left Mongolia with a silver medal.
“Coaching a team in the U23 World Cup was an amazing experience,” Smith says. “It was so fun to watch the pride in which everyone takes competing for their country. FIBA 3x3 is still a relatively new game in America but is very established in most other countries. I am really appreciative of USA Basketball for giving me the opportunity to work with this amazing group of players and staff. It definitely helped me grow as a coach, and I picked up a lot of things throughout this experience that will also benefit our program here at Trinity.”
This win comes on the heels of Team USA representation last summer, too. Smith, Harvey, and several Trinity teammates represented Team USA in the Asia-Pacific Conference in China in June 2023, finishing in third place.
Anderson
Jimmy Smith (second from left) led Team USA to a silver medal at the FIBA 3x3 U23 World Cup 2024. bottom Jacob Harvey ‘25 represented his country at the FIBA 3x3 Nations League Americas Conference this summer.
TRINITY UNIVERSITY PRESS
Native Texan: Stories from Deep in the Heart
Joe Holley
In 30 curated stories, Holley offers a revealing and entertaining view of the Lone Star State in search of what makes Texas unique.
Fly-Fishing with Leonardo da Vinci
David Ladensohn
Fly-Fishing explores the unlikely intersection between da Vinci’s life and Ladensohn’s deep knowledge of the art of fly-fishing, accompanied by some never-before-seen reproductions of da Vinci’s water drawings.
Mestizaje: The Feminist Art of Kathy Sosa
Kathy Sosa
Sosa presents a cross-sectional view of Mexican American culture in the Texas-Mexico borderlands with a rich visual exploration of the blended traditions of women in these areas.
This Is How a Robin Drinks: Essays on Urban Nature
Joanna Brichetto
In 53 short, lyrical essays, Brichetto offers commentary with keen observation, unsentimental wit, and an earthy humor in this urban almanac.
A Story of Stories: The Texas Border Barrio Life and Writings of Doña Ramona González
Cristina Devereaux Ramírez
With the eye of a scholar and care of a granddaughter, Ramírez shares the life and work of Doña González, her abuela, whose writing celebrates the rich heritage of the West Texas border.
Wishbone: An American Odyssey in Asia
Carol Folbre
In the spirit of Eat, Pray, Love, Folbre shares the story of her 18-month excursion that led to a reassessment and rediscovery of the core skills, values, and presumptions she held.
We Are Animals: On the Nature and Politics of Motherhood
Jennifer Case
Case’s collection of personal essays tackles social stigmas surrounding motherhood, offering a much-needed nuanced perspective to the social problems mothers face that affect us all.
Navigating Rocky Terrain: Caves,
Karsts, and the Soul of
Unseen Spaces
Laurie Roath Frazier
Set in the ever-changing landscape of the Texas Hill Country, Frazier’s nature memoir in essays examines how we begin to heal personally and ecologically.
Marfa Garden: A Field Guide to Plants of the Chihuahuan Desert
Jim Martinez, Mary Lou Saxon, Jim Fissel, and Martha Hughes
A valuable and essential field guide, Marfa Garden celebrates more than 100 flowering plants of the Mexican and southwestern U.S. Chihuahuan Desert.
Trinity University Press is committed to civic engagement with ideas. Published books, public programs, and related media focus on helping us all understand our place in a crowded world with a particular focus on the following areas: bilingual early childhood literacy; the human relationship to the physical environment ranging from wilderness to constructed, urban life; social equity and justice; the interdependence of animal and human life; and southwestern U.S. and Mexican regional studies. For more information, visit tupress.org
At Home in Monte Vista
by Tom Payton, director of Trinity University Press
When I was a graduate student at Georgia Tech studying urban planning, a professor said to me, “Where you are defines who you are ... or thereabouts.” As a pithy starting point to think about the role of place in our lives, that comment has stayed with me over the decades. In an age of movement and migration, isolation that challenges identity, and a (re?)discovery of cultural heritage, we hear a lot about the importance of place and, within that, the idea of home. As the writer and cultural observer Rebecca Solnit says, “Place is a sixth sense.”
We’re happy to share the news that Trinity University Press is home! Following years of working remotely, we are proud to call our new offices, on North Main Avenue in the historic Monte Vista neighborhood, home. The space includes a small event area and the gallery Libros / Arte. Our new offices make an important statement about who we are and what we seek to accomplish on behalf of Trinity University.
As a community-facing and mission-driven organization, we know that where we work is as important as the books we produce. Book publishing revolves around a fairly cloistered set of tasks, but the finished product can be a meaningful platform for engagement with others near and far. We have always said that a book should be the beginning of something, not the end. It should open doors to learning, celebrate cultural identity, and debate our shared and conflicting interests—and that happens best in person. Don’t be a stranger; you’re welcome anytime!
IN MEMORIAM
JOHN E. PLAPP
John E. Plapp, Ph.D., professor emeritus of engineering science, died in February, just a week before his 95th birthday.
Plapp grew up in El Paso, Texas. He studied mechanical engineering at the Rice Institute and California Institute of Technology, earning his doctorate in 1957. After graduation, he returned to Rice as an assistant professor and taught courses in fluid mechanics and other mechanical engineering-related topics. During this time, Plapp wrote a textbook, Engineering Fluid Mechanics, which was published by Prentice-Hall in 1968.
Plapp joined Trinity’s Department of Engineering Science in 1968 to support the mechanical engineering specialty for the University’s engineering science program. Plapp taught classes and laboratories in fluid mechanics and thermodynamics. He retired from Trinity in 1988 but remained close to campus until his death.
Plapp’s retirement hobbies included fly fishing, welding, computers, amateur radio, and fixing anything mechanical. He was a devout Christian and a member of the First Baptist Church of San Antonio.
SCOTT BAIRD
Scott James Baird, Ph.D., professor emeritus of English, died on March 22. He was 84.
At Trinity, Baird directed the linguistics program and was known for his research tracking language across gravestones. Baird used his love of linguistics to develop the Department of English’s first “History of English” course, which ultimately became required for all majors.
Baird was commissioner of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Education in Washington, D.C., from 1991-94 and received numerous grants, including one from the American Folklife Center and one from the National Endowment for the Humanities. He was a member of multiple linguistics associations and societies, including the American Dialect Society, where he held leadership positions.
After his retirement in 2009, Baird continued his involvement with the San Antonio RoadRunners, Rise Recovery, various choirs, and the Bexar County Historical Society.
Baird is survived by his loving companion, Kay Johnson, as well as his two daughters, five grandchildren, a great-grandchild, three brothers, and a sister.
JOHN GARCIA GONZALES JR.
John Garcia “J.G.” Gonzales Jr., head coach of Trinity University Track and Field and Cross Country from the mid-’90s to early 2000s, died on May 18. He was 75.
As one of Trinity’s first cross country and track coaches, Gonzales helped establish the program in the mid-’90s. Gonzales spent 45 years teaching and coaching in Catholic school and university settings in San Antonio, primarily at St. Anthony Catholic High School, Ursuline Academy, and Trinity University. He coached over 200 individual state champions in track and field and cross country, nine team high school state titles, and four university conference championships, and he was Coach of the Year five times. He is also remembered for his contributions to the Amateur Athletic Union and the Junior and Senior Olympics.
Gonzales is survived by his wife, Theresa, his four siblings, his six children and their spouses, and his nine grandchildren.
RICHARD M. “DICK” BURR
Richard M. “Dick” Burr, Ph.D., professor emeritus of business administration, died on June 8.
Burr started his teaching career in Trinity’s School of Business in 1972. For two decades, he was fundamental in creating faculty-led programs at Trinity, including to Monterrey, Mexico; to Madrid, Spain; to the European Union; and to Vietnam.
Burr received many awards from Trinity, including the Dr. and Mrs. Z.T. Scott Faculty Fellowship. In 2008, he was honored along with Donald N. Clark, professor emeritus of history, by a Trinity alumna who established an endowed chair, the Richard M. Burr and Donald N. Clark Professorship in Business.
Burr served many nonprofit organizations, including the Baptist Hospital Advisory Board. His love for animals was unsurpassed, and he adopted, loved, and cherished many dogs and cats.
Burr is survived by his spouse, Pat LeMay Burr, Ph.D., his sister and her spouse, and many nieces and nephews. He is predeceased by Ashley LeMay Burr, his and Pat’s only child.
Ready. Set. EXPLORE.
Tigers embrace learning in Vietnam and Japan
photos and words by Anh-Viet Dinh ’15
At Trinity, education isn’t confined to classrooms—it’s a passport to the world. This summer, two groups of Tigers embarked on journeys far beyond campus, diving into immersive experiences in Vietnam and in Japan. In Ho Chi Minh City, 18 students lived the city’s vibrant rhythms, building friendships with local university students and gaining hands-on experience through internships. A visit to the ancient streets of Hôi An added layers of history to their journey, bringing Vietnam’s rich heritage to life.
Meanwhile, 2,400 miles away, 15 Tigers traveled by bullet train through Japan, from the bright lights of Tokyo to the reflective peace of Hiroshima’s historical landmarks. These are just two of the 15+ programs that take Trinity students around the world to explore, connect, and grow. As you turn these pages, you’ll follow Tigers through the bustling streets of Hanoi and the peaceful temples of Kyoto, and you’ll see how Trinity’s education extends beyond campus, preparing students not just for successful careers but also for a lifetime of global exploration and personal growth.
VIETNAM
In Vietnam, Trinity students spent their summer living in Ho Chi Minh City, surrounded by the aroma of street food and the hum of scooters. They explored the historic landmarks, including Independence Palace and the War Remnants Museum, and bridged cultures with local students through shared experiences.
See more photos from the program, and watch how students made the most of their experience.
A weekend in Hôi An led Tigers through lantern-lit streets and riverside markets, where locals shared layers of history and tradition. These images show highlights from their journey, a mix of cultural immersion, classroom learning, and real-world internships.
left Students uncovered the stories behind historic landmarks like Independence Palace in Ho Chi Minh City, deepening their understanding of Vietnam’s complex past. top right Charles Walker ’25 and Brandon Haub ’27 weave through the lively streets of Ho Chi Minh City, fully embracing the energy and rhythm of local life. bottom Trinity students gather in front of the Fujian Assembly Hall in Hôi An, a UNESCO World Heritage site, soaking up its vibrant architecture and cultural history.
top
“One of the really interesting things about studying abroad is it forces you to get outside of your comfort zone. I feel like that’s the best way to grow as a person.”
- Ify Ikenga ’24
left page In Hôi An, Trinity students were guided by locals as they toured historic temples, shopped at local businesses, and sampled food from street markets.
right page In Ho Chi Minh City, students gained firsthand experience in Vietnamese work culture through internships across various industries, applying their academic knowledge in new, cross-cultural settings. Trinity faculty and staff led reflections and discussions during evening classes, deepening students’ understanding of Vietnamese culture.
Trinity students journeyed through Japan, visiting Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Okayama, and Hiroshima—where tradition and modernity seamlessly intertwine. In Hiroshima, they listened to the powerful testimony of an atomic bomb survivor, and in Okayama, they visited the secluded Nagashima Aiseien Sanatorium, a sanctuary for people with Hansen’s disease, also known as leprosy. In Kyoto, they honed their skills
top Students and faculty visit the Kaminarimon gate at Sensoji Temple. bottom left A local guide gifts students paper cranes during a tour of Miyajima Island. bottom right (left to right) Christabel Eke ’28, Alyssa LaGrone ’25, and Arial Baker ’26 in front of a pagoda
in traditional Japanese wood carving. Their experiences in each city deepened their understanding of Japan’s rich history and cultural resilience.
From Tokyo to Hiroshima, explore more photos of Trinity students on their journey across Japan.
Trinity faculty and students visited historic temples and shrines across Japan, including in Kyoto and
Island, exploring sites such as
and
to learn more about Japan’s heritage.
Miyajima
Fushimi Inari Shrine
Itsukushima Shrine
Trinity students embraced Japanese culture through hands-on experiences such as learning traditional woodcraft from
on
in Kyoto and making momiji
They also listened to an atomic bomb survivor’s testimony in Hiroshima and connected with locals across cities, including Ikuno Korea Town in Osaka, deepening their appreciation for Japan’s history and many communities.
miyadaiku carpenters
manju sweets
Miyajima Island.
A Community of Researchers
$2.2 million study of eating disorders and food insecurity unites longtime Trinity collaborators
words by Jeremy Gerlach photos by Bria Woods ’16
At Trinity University, research works best when done together: collaborating across disciplines, viewpoints, communities, and even generations.
And there’s perhaps no better case study than a $2.2 million project currently unfolding in the jointly run lab of psychology professor Carolyn Becker, Ph.D., and her former student Lisa Smith Kilpela ’04, Ph.D., a researcher at UT Health San Antonio (formerly called the University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio) School of Medicine’s Center for Research to Advance Community Health (ReACH).
Becker and Kilpela’s project, which dates back to 2016 and is now funded through the National Institute on Aging, examines Prospective Health Impacts of Chronic Binge Eating Disorder in Hispanic Older Women Living with Food Insecurity (PROSPERA). It will study the impact of binge eating disorder on the health of Latina women over 50 years of age over a two-year period.
It’s a staggering collaboration. There’s a remarkable community-building partnership
between Trinity and UT Health San Antonio (who each provide co-principal investigators on the project) and the San Antonio Food Bank (where the data are being gathered). And just about everywhere you look, there’s a Trinity connection: Kilpela was Becker’s student and research partner as an undergrad, and the pair are joined on the project by fellow Trinity alumna Salomé Wilfred ’14, Ph.D., a postdoc at UT Health San Antonio who’s another former student of Becker’s.
This project is a cautionary tale for any prospective Trinity researcher, Becker says.
“You can leave Trinity, but I don’t let you go,” she says, laughing. “We hold on—and we hold onto—these partnerships and collaborations and friendships, and that’s what makes us successful in the first place.”
INNOVATIVE RESEARCH
As a psychology researcher, this study fits right into Becker’s wheelhouse, and that of her protégés. For decades, Becker’s expertise has focused on various elements of cognitive and behavior therapy, particularly in the
areas of eating disorders, anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, and exposure therapy.
Many Trinity alumni will recognize Becker’s involvement on the Body Project, a positive body-image program at Trinity (that has gone by various names over the years) that has addressed many related socio-cultural components of the current Food Bank project and in some ways served as a springboard to Becker’s current work.
Becker says her research “bounces all over the place in large part because I listen to what my students are interested in researching. Many of my best ideas were not my ideas; they were my students’.”
That’s a common theme at Trinity, which draws faculty like Becker because of the opportunity to treat students as true collaborators. And that mindset led to the eating disorder food insecurity project in 2016.
“For the Food Bank partnership, I had two students, Brigitte Taylor ’16 and Clara Johnson ’16, come to me and say, ‘Hey Dr. Becker, we really want to work with you, but we want to work with marginalized communities here in San Antonio,’” Becker recalls. “I suddenly was like, ‘Wait a minute. What if we looked at eating disorder pathology in people with food insecurity?’”
“I remember getting looked at like I’d grown two heads because the stereotype for eating disorders is that they are a problem confined to reasonably affluent, young, thin white women.”
Becker also notes that former Trinity political science professor Keesha Middlemass, Ph.D., who is now at Howard University and at the Washington, D.C.-based think tank the Brookings Institution, played a role in shaping the direction of the project.
“I remember getting looked at like I’d grown two heads because the stereotype for eating disorders is that they are a problem confined to reasonably affluent, young, thin white women,” Becker says. “But that means anybody who deviates from that stereotype has largely been ignored because nobody in the field thought of people with food insecurity as being at risk for an eating disorder. So, this was really groundbreaking research coming out of Trinity.”
Students such as Michelle Okyere ‘24 have come to appreciate Becker’s lab for its collaborative approach, where Tigers feel empowered to help shape the direction of research.
Over the past eight years, the project has evolved into a series of studies examining the negative psychological factors associated with food insecurity, including eating disorder pathology.
“Food insecurity can range from mild to quite severe and very severe,” Becker says. “The most severe level of food insecurity is when adults are reporting they have hungry children at home. Because if your children are hungry, then the general presumption is that adults are even more hungry because they’re going to prioritize feeding children over themselves. Our research indicates that those living with the highest level of food insecurity also have the greatest eating disorder pathology, depression, and anxiety.”
COLLABORATIVE APPROACH
As the project has grown into a multi-million-dollar study involving ambitious, cross-community partnerships, the work has thrived thanks to a series of Trinity connections.
Becker and Kilpela, for example, first met in Becker’s psychopathology class.
“I had no clue what psychopathology even meant, but my friend told me it was a
great class,” Kilpela says. “I scored an ‘A’ on my first exam, and [Becker] asked if I wanted to join her lab.”
Kilpela, who would graduate from Trinity in 2004 as a psychology major, went on to earn her doctorate from Emory University. She interned at the Duke University School of Medicine before joining the faculty at UT Health San Antonio. And the whole time, she and Becker found ways to stay connected, including when Kilpela returned to Trinity to do postdoctoral research before joining UT Health San Antonio.
“We continued to collaborate while I went to graduate school [and] through my internship. We just never stopped working together, and she always served as a mentor for me,” Kilpela says. “Whenever I needed guidance, I would call her up, and she always made time, never a question about it.”
And Wilfred, a current postdoc at UT Health San Antonio who’s lending her expertise to the PROSPERA project, remembers the magnetic pull Becker had on her as an undergraduate as well.
“I actually didn’t have much of an interest in research when I first came to Trinity,” Wilfred says. “But [Becker] does a really
Trinity psychology professor Carolyn Becker (left) and UT Health SA researcher Lisa Smith Kilpela ‘04 (center), are undertaking a $2.2 million research project studying eating disorders in people living with food insecurity.
phenomenal job of allowing you to make the research your own. I’d never seen a lot of women of color in research, so I just kind of never envisioned myself doing that until she gave me the ability to do that.”
Wilfred, who went on to receive her doctorate from the University of Missouri, Kansas City, and completed her internship at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, was also unable to escape the pull of collaborating with Becker and Kilpela after leaving Trinity’s campus.
“We just never stopped working together. Virtual happy hours on Zoom during the pandemic—we kept writing together and kept working together and kept problem-solving together through all sorts of things,” Wilfred says.
ACTIVE IMPACT
Kilpela says that active problem-solving is a key component of the current $2.2 million award. Yes, the team is studying an underserved group of women, but the work is also making an impact on this population beyond the study.
“As a part of the grant, we wrote in significant give-back to the clientele of the San Antonio Food Bank, who are called ‘neighbors,’” Kilpela says. “I think that’s a really innovative piece that I haven’t seen written into other grants like this.”
For the neighbors, this giveback includes free phone counseling sessions, access to a community health worker who can offer navigation services for health care, and blood test screenings with immediate results. The project also commits to holding annual virtual food drives for the Food Bank, as well providing annual volunteers.
Wilfred says this aspect of the research is meaningful during a political and economic period when many underserved communities are seeing a frustrating series of disinvestment in public resources and opportunities.
“There are so many marginalized people who are missing out in terms of programs being defunded, and I think it’s been sad to see,” Wilfred says. “I think what this study does is bring [funding] back to them to an extent and allows us to be one example of
how people can stay dedicated to serving these kinds of spaces that are losing money and say, ‘No, we’re not giving up on this yet.’”
That’s why, Becker adds, the community ties are such a meaningful aspect of the research. “You’re seeing three major insti-
“The most severe level of food insecurity is when adults are reporting they have hungry children at home. Because if your children are hungry, then the general presumption is that adults are even more hungry because they’re going to prioritize feeding children over themselves.”
tutions here in the city of San Antonio—UT Health San Antonio, Trinity University, and the San Antonio Food Bank—collaborating in a way that we have not done before across those lines to accomplish something that none of us could have done individually,” she says. “This really represents the type of community that we have here in San Antonio.”
MORE THAN A MENTOR
Having a team that knows how to research together is crucial for a project with the type of impact the PROSPERA study has, the group says. But having a team that has stayed together because it wants to work together elevates the process, too.
“This type of research is so much bigger than I ever thought I would do at Trinity,” Becker says. “When I came to Trinity, I quickly realized that by fostering the right types of collaborations and the right types of partnerships, both with students and then with other collaborators, we were able to do studies that were much bigger than what I originally envisioned. And that’s because students like Salomé and Lisa showed me that we could do things that were bigger.”
As a testament to this approach to mentoring, Becker was recently honored with
UT Health SA postdoc Salomé Wilfred ‘14 (center) is a former student of Carolyn Becker’s and joins the team on the project.
the Lawrence H. Cohen Outstanding Mentor Award from the Society for a Science of Clinical Psychology. She’s the first liberal arts college professor to receive the honor, which is usually given to faculty at doctoral programs. “We as an undergraduate liberal arts institution have been so successful,” Becker notes, “at getting students into clinical psychology doctoral programs.”
In short, $2.2 million projects are possible for researchers like Wilfred and Kilpela because faculty like Becker invest in them as undergraduates, and as people, first.
“After going on to get my master’s degree, seeing what my cohort [at the University of Missouri] had been exposed to as undergrads was drastically different [from my Trinity experience],” Wilfred says. “I was actually running projects; I had a very thorough understanding of how research worked and how to create a study. I think having the foundation of [Becker’s] lab set me up to be able to do research independently.”
Kilpela notes that she originally wanted to be a physician or a lawyer, and Becker laughs as she recalls “stealing her as a researcher.” But after her Trinity experience with Becker, Kilpela says she learned how research can be just as active and impactful as any other profession.
“Now, I’m actually able to do studies that
impact real people,” Kilpela says. “And one of the things that sets Carolyn above a lot of other folks is that she’s exceptional at throwing us in the deep end and letting us figure out new questions to shape our research. And you know what? You learn how to be a really amazing swimmer when you’re thrown in the deep end.”
“I have found that if you give our students the chance to really fly, they go places that I never thought possible.”
As the group gears up to continue building out and implementing their grant, Becker is thrilled to be throwing her former students in the deep end once more.
“At Trinity, you learn to trust your students. You have to trust their passion. You give students a lot of leeway to show you that they can do more than you ever thought possible,” Becker says. “I have found that if you give our students the chance to really fly, they go places that I never thought possible. And that’s been one of the great things about being here.”
at Trinity University
New series invites students to lean into constructive dialogue and productive disagreement
by Kyle Gillette ’01, Ph.D.
When I remember my transformative experiences as a Trinity student, they’re all about the conversations. Conversations in class about revolutionary ideas and historical events. Conversations after a field trip to a Hindu temple about life cycle rituals across religious traditions. Conversations with my roommate at 3 in the morning about ideas across disciplines, not to mention political debates and questions about the meaning of life. Remembering these transformative discussions made me thrilled to return to Trinity as a faculty member and have conversations with students.
Undergraduate students are at a critical stage of development as recent adults and citizens. As they come into maturity with the freedom to choose what they study and how to live, Trinity students also learn what it means to participate in the civic life of democracy. Democracy depends on debate, deliberation, and dialogue between citizens. It depends on freedom and responsibility informed by a deep understanding of the world.
Trinity’s “Liberal Arts +” education is a laboratory for democracy. College, like democracy, depends on freedom of expression. By thinking freely and asking questions,
students become informed, thoughtful citizens capable of taking responsibility for the future. By engaging freely in conversation, students explore what’s at stake and the nuanced positions around key issues. They challenge received wisdom and imagine new possibilities. By studying multiple disciplines and participating in cocurricular programs, they discover what they think in relation to others discovering what they think. They develop the fundamental connection between freedom and responsibility. Just as individuals can only be held responsible for saying or doing things they freely choose, they are only truly free once they take responsibility for their choices— individually and collectively.
During the 2024–25 academic year, the University started a new series of
“By thinking freely and asking questions, students become informed, thoughtful citizens capable of taking responsibility for the future.”
programming: The Conversation at Trinity. I launched this initiative in order to hone the power of conversation to develop understanding and transformation, to expand minds and create community. The Conversation includes events to promote constructive dialogue, spaces to encounter diverse perspectives with courage and humility, and programs to distinguish Trinity’s “Liberal Arts +” education as a laboratory for democracy.
The first year of programming ranges from public debates about climate change,
The Conversation’s fall events lineup included National Voter Registration Day (top) and the 2024 Distinguished Lecture (bottom), a conversation between Paul Begala, a Democratic political commentator, and Michael Steele, the former chairman of the Republican National Committee.
The Conversation series invites discussion between speakers, such as Simran Singh ’06 and Dave Levy ‘05 in the 2024 Tinker Memorial Lecture (left), and with audience members (right)
“Students encounter opinions and ideas that they contend with and grow from, even—or especially—when these ideas make them uncomfortable.”
immigration policies, and reproductive rights to vulnerable discussions about the value of care shared between medicine and religious studies. The Conversation includes a podcast, a class on listening, public debates, workshops on constructive dialogue, film screenings, listening circles, town halls, tabletop exercises for student leaders, and discussions across differences between notable guests.
But The Conversation is more than a series of events. It’s a way of framing what lies at the core of the liberal arts experience, where artistic experimentation is in conversation with scientific experimentation and the humanities are in conversation with business, where research is in conversation with teaching and the campus is in conversation with the city. At Trinity, people from diverse backgrounds and disciplines learn from one another’s perspectives. Students encounter opinions and ideas that they contend with and grow from, even—or especially—when
these ideas make them uncomfortable. They develop their understanding of the world and other people by exchanging ideas, testing their knowledge, and rethinking basic assumptions. They not only recognize one another’s different perspectives, but they also engage those different perspectives to expand and transform their understanding. They learn about disciplines and discourses that have developed over centuries. They learn to join the conversation.
Learning deeply and widely in a liberal arts context requires students—as well as faculty and staff—to develop their capacity for conversation. A complex constellation of skills, conversation benefits from both mentorship and experimentation. The Conversation at Trinity gives students the opportunity to learn about the act of conversation by listening to discussions between experts and attending workshops about expressive activities, difficult dialogues, and conflict resolution. Students practice conversation
through their participation in moderated discussions about complex issues. The Conversation cultivates courage and humility: the courage to recognize that you have a valuable point of view, but the humility to recognize that others do, too—and that minds change.
Through The Conversation, Trinity students develop their capacity to take responsibility for their freedom and to synthesize what they know with what they hope. They experiment; they test out ideas. They listen to a conversation that has gone on long before they entered it and that will continue long after they depart. Most importantly, they learn to add their voices.
Kyle Gillette ’01, Ph.D. is the interim associate provost and a professor in the Department of Human
“The Conversation cultivates courage and humility: the courage to recognize that you have a valuable point of view, but the humility to recognize that others do, too—and that minds change.”
The Conversation aims to help Trinity students contend with ideas different from theirs and expand their understanding of the world.
Trinity debate students held public debates on climate change, immigration, and reproductive rights as part of The Conversation’s events series.
Communication and Theatre at Trinity University.
Scan the QR code to see upcoming events in The Conversation series.
ATTACK UNDER STACKS
Trinity alumni lawyers fight book bans in high-profile Llano County court case
by Molly Bruni
Tucked away on a specially designated shelf in the Llano County Public Library, each branded with a red dot on its spine reminiscent of a scarlet letter, 17 books quietly await their fate. One features a farting leprechaun, another a kid with a broken butt. Others tackle heftier topics, such as the history of racism, the KKK, and transgender voices. Despite their varied subjects, the books have all been deemed inappropriate by Llano County officials and removed from their ordinary spots on the shelves.
These 17 books are at the center of a high-profile lawsuit that has made its way to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. Trinity University alumni Noah Hagey ’95 and Katherine Chiarello ’95 and their law firms represent seven library patrons suing officials with the Llano County library system and the county government for restricting access to information. Though Llano County, located around 70 miles northwest of Austin, is home to only about 21,000 people, the case has made national headlines for its implications regarding censorship in public libraries.
In March 2023, the district court ordered a preliminary injunction barring the library from removing the 17 books from shelves while litigation is ongoing.
The defendants appealed that decision and, in June 2024, a divided three-judge Fifth
Circuit panel upheld the injunction for eight of the books. The order was vacated in July, though, and the alumni returned to court in September for a rehearing en banc by 18 members of the Fifth Circuit. As of press time, Chiarello and Hagey await the court’s decision, and the books remain on the shelves.
PAGES UNDER PRESSURE
The Llano County case is just one of many book-banning cases currently circulating through the legal system, with closely watched litigation ongoing in Arkansas, Florida, Iowa, and Alaska. Each case typically centers on the same question: Is it constitutional to censor the books people can access?
“I don’t think anyone wants to co-parent with the government.”
Chiarello says. “It’s up to us [as parents]. If there are books
“At its core, book banning involves some individual or group essentially saying, ‘I don’t like this content or idea for some reason, and thus it should not be available or not exist,’” explains Tom Payton, director of Trinity University Press.
Book removal, or “banning,” has been around since the 1600s, with several landmark court cases happening in the past 80 years ultimately protecting readers’ rights to choose their books. With decades in the publishing industry, Payton has seen calls for book bans in many forms—not just with libraries, but also with booksellers—and for many reasons, from religious and economic to political and social.
“Book banning comes from all types of agendas,” Payton says. “And it has been around for a while. It’s not anything new.”
What is new is the sharp increase in calls for book bans over the past three years. The American Library Association (ALA) reported 4,240 unique book titles targeted for censorship in 2023, a 65% surge over 2022 numbers and the highest level ever documented by the organization. Texas is one of the top states for book challenges (second only to Florida), with 1,470 titles challenged in 2023.
“We’re a big state, and we like to throw our weight around,” says Benjamin Harris, Trinity’s dean of Coates Library. “Consider the way a successful challenge in Texas can support or encourage similar challenges elsewhere. When it happens here, people know about it. Our influence in the wider conversation about these issues is tangible.”
Nearly half of the challenged titles in 2023 represented LGBTQ+ and BIPOC voices, as do some of the books in the Llano County case. While some might link this to Texas’ conservative culture, Harris contends that Texans are vocal regardless of their political beliefs. Hagey even points out that the seven plaintiffs in the Llano County case don’t all share the same political views.
“This case is not a partisan issue because no Texan wants the government to tell them what they can and cannot read,” Hagey says. “We all get to choose what we read.”
LIBRARY LITIGATION
The Llano County case is receiving national attention because it is one of the first book ban court cases involving a public library. Book challenges at public libraries are growing fast—up 92% in 2023 over the previous
year, according to the ALA—with court cases sure to follow, so the Llano County case is poised to set a precedent for future disputes.
Most book challenge court cases involve school libraries and the extent of protecting children from content potentially deemed inappropriate. Public libraries serve entire communities, though, raising the question: Who gets to decide what the public can read?
different from mine, and she has chosen books accordingly,” Chiarello says. “It’s important that all...ideas are available in the library, even if they are offensive to some people.”
This is the core debate of the Llano County case. Library patrons argue that the removal of the 17 books is unconstitutional, infringing on free speech. Llano County officials counter that this is a form of constitutionally protected government speech, giving them the unfettered right to determine which books go on shelves. So, whose free speech takes priority—the citizens’ or the government’s?
Payton frames it as a question of the library’s responsibility to the public. “If I want it, is it my library’s responsibility to have it?” he says. He expects more pushback in the future as millennials and Gen Z’ers, known for being vocal about issues important to them, have become the primary people visiting libraries, according to Pew Research. “They want to read what they want to read, and they envision the library as a place where that should be available,” Payton says. “They think, ‘If I want to read it, it should be accessible to me.’”
Chiarello highlights another question: Who bears responsibility for children’s access to books—the parents or the public library? Some of the 17 challenged titles are children’s titles, removed under the pretense of protecting young readers from inappropriate content.
The 17 library books at the center of the Llano County court case range in topics from butts and farts to race, LGBTQ+ identity, and sex education.
“I don’t think anyone wants to co-parent with the government,” Chiarello says. “It’s up to us [as parents]. If there are books that I don’t want my children to have access to, I’m responsible for enforcing that.”
Chiarello mentions that one of the challenged books in the Llano County case is a sex education book recommended by her daughter’s pediatrician. Next to it on the shelf in the Austin public library, she says, is another child-focused sex education book from a different perspective.
“It’s not the perspective that I want my daughter to read, but our librarian has seen that there are other parents in our community who want their children to think about puberty through a lens different from mine, and she has chosen books accordingly,” Chiarello says. “It’s important that all of those ideas are available in the library, even if they are offensive to some people.”
Harris sees parallels between the open access to ideas both in a public library and in a liberal arts education. “A liberal arts education is committed to engaging with and considering the widest possible range of ideas and perspectives,” he says. “Exposure to a broad range of voices can help you confirm your own place and position in a conversation.”
Hagey sees the Llano County case as part of a broader struggle against the polarization of ideas in America. “Constructing our public library systems or other public institutions to censor or guard against particular ideas is a terrible idea,” he says. “It’s contrary to the First Amendment.”
Katherine Chiarello ‘95 (left) and Noah Hagey ‘95 (right) and their law firms represent seven library patrons fighting against book bans in the Llano County library system.
PARTNERING FOR PURPOSE
Hagey’s not unfamiliar with cases dealing with big-picture constitutional rights. He is the co-founder and manag ing partner of BraunHagey & Borden LLP, a successful bi-coastal law practice that emphasizes impact litigation—taking on issues other firms might shrug off in favor of more profitable ones.
the weaknesses in the other side’s position. “I think a liberal arts education—being intellectually curious and looking at issues from all different sides—helps us be better advocates for our clients.”
“The impact practice was always centered around doing things at the core of what I always thought being a lawyer was about, which is engaging in the harder, bigger questions of the day and trying to do good,” Hagey says. “You don’t think, ‘How am I going to get paid?’ It’s more, ‘These are bad things that are happening, so let’s put some force and effort behind stopping them.’”
Chiarello is a founding partner at Botkin Chiarello Calaf, an Austin-based practice that focuses on business litigation. Chiarello’s firm
partnered with Hagey’s firm for this case to offer a strong local presence near Llano County. “Each of us [at the firm] has a personal commitment to doing good in the world with our law degrees,” Chiarello says of her practice, which has taken on cases such as asylum work and challenging the constitutionality of the winner-take-all electoral college system.
Though the two only crossed paths in their pre-law courses at Trinity—Hagey was a political science and business administration double major on the Tiger baseball team, while Chiarello was a political science major, first-year mentor, and member of Sigma Theta Tau—they both attended the University of Texas School of Law after graduation. From there, Hagey built his law firm, which spans from San Francisco to New York, and Chiarello worked in California and Washington, D.C., before returning to Texas.
“I’m proud that we both busted out of our region,” Chiarello says. “We’re examples that you can take a Trinity degree and go anywhere with it.”
BATTLES OF THE BRAIN
Hagey and Chiarello agree that the basis of the law practice is advocacy, which isn’t possible without understanding all sides involved.
“To be an effective advocate for your side, you have to be able to see the case from the other side’s perspective,” Chiarello says. “That’s what shows weaknesses in your own position, and it’s what helps you expose the weaknesses in the other side’s position. I think a liberal arts education—being intellectually curious and looking at issues from all different sides—helps us be better advocates for our clients.”
“The best universities, like Trinity, expose students to different and competing ideas within a liberal arts education,” Hagey adds. “They prepare you for the broader controversies in one’s personal or professional life and for society as a whole. Whatever one may
think about the individual books at issue, this case is about that liberal tradition, our First Amendment protection, and our libraries as places that have all kinds of books.”
Hagey says that the late Coleen Grissom, Ph.D., introduced this concept of neuroplasticity in her invocation for first-year students. “It’s all about getting competing ideas, competing concepts, and letting them do battle together,” he says. “That was why I loved my Trinity education. It was full-on combat with all kinds of interesting ideas and perspectives.”
wide access to different ideas, because
“The library shouldn’t tell you what to think—it should help you figure out how to think.”
Chiarello found this especially relevant for her oral argument in June during the case’s appearance in federal appeals court.
“I knew that there might be judges who would agree with me and judges who would not agree with me on that panel,” she says. “And so having trained, as Noah said, to do battle with competing ideas helped because I wasn’t just arguing my client’s position. I was doing battle with, ‘What is the other side saying? What is the strength in their argument, and how do I respond?’
“Trinity didn’t teach me what to think. It taught me how to think,” Chiarello continues. “And we think that’s important for all members of the community. The public library is a place where the First Amend ment protects your right to have wide access to different ideas, because the library shouldn’t tell you what to think—it should help you figure out how to think.”
A Passport to Possibility
First Stamp, a nonprofit founded by two Trinity alumnae, empowers high school girls from rural communities with the experience of a lifetime
by Kenneth Caruthers
‘15
Growing up in rural Texas , “archaeologist” wasn’t even on the list of potential career choices for one high school student. That all changed this past summer with a private viewing of the Rosetta Stone at the British Museum.
Jenna Fagnan ’95 and Sarah Widoff Williams ’95, P’27 know the impact of a travel experience like this on a young woman’s life. Fagnan grew up in a small town in coastal Oregon, and Williams was born and raised in a small town in central Pennsylvania. The two met as first-year students at Trinity University, but their time traveling together outside the country solidified their friendship. After Williams completed a semester studying abroad in Europe in 1994, Fagnan
Through their nonprofit, First Stamp, Jenna Fagnan ’95 and Sarah Widoff Williams ’95, P’27 (bottom right) took high school girls from rural communities on the trip of a lifetime. The girls traveled to England and France (left) after an orientation on Trinity’s campus (top right)
joined her for a backpacking trip. That experience planted the seed for First Stamp, their nonprofit organization that offers a global travel experience to high school girls from rural communities in the United States.
Named for the significance and possibility that the first stamp on a passport represents, the organization takes girls in the summer before their junior year of high school on a two-week international trip, all expenses covered.
“These types of opportunities just don’t come to rural communities that often,” Williams says, explaining that cities usually tend to get a much larger share of philanthropic funding. “Young women in fairly confined towns are not able to see a lot. It does sometimes limit their thinking about what they can do—the careers available to them, the college opportunities available to them, the people they can be exposed to. The whole purpose of First Stamp is not to change minds, but rather to open them.”
The inaugural group of First Stamp adventurers included 15 high school girls from Oregon, Pennsylvania, and Texas. They traveled to different locations in England and France, from Windsor Castle and Big Ben to Stonehenge and the Eiffel Tower. The girls even received behind-the-scenes access to the House of Parliament and a personal tour of the Louvre.
recently established a permanent endowment fund at Trinity through participation in the Trinity Commitment Scholarship Match. They created the Sarah and Jason Williams Endowed Fund to help others benefit from the full Trinity experience, just as they did and their son, Beck, currently does.
Fagnan and Williams also partner with Trinity’s Master of Arts in Teaching program, specifically for First Stamp. Angela Breidenstein ’91, M’92, Ed.D., Yvette Peña ’18, M’19, and four new Master of Arts in Teaching alumni—Daisy Rodriguez ’23, M’24, Maeve Armand ’23, M’24, Olivia Roybal ’19, M’24, and Sophie Zertuche ’23, M’24—served as mentors and assisted with the program. Peña and the four MAT alumni even traveled with Williams and the girls as small group leaders.
“Through First Stamp, our MAT graduates were able to think about how to develop a strong learning community and put that into practice,” Breidenstein says.
“The fact that these new teachers spent two weeks 24/7 outside of the U.S. with a group of high school students and just crushed it convinced them that they can pretty much handle anything that’s thrown their way,” Williams adds.
More than developing community or building resilience, Peña says seeing the students’ bravery in going abroad was a transformative experience.
“Young women in fairly confined towns are not able to see a lot. It does sometimes limit their thinking about what they can do—the careers available to them, the college opportunities available to them, the people they can be exposed to.”
Prior to their trip, the girls met in person for the first time for a two-day orientation at Trinity. The experience, Fagnan says, did more than bond the girls before they even stepped foot on an airplane. The girls, who may not have considered leaving their rural communities for college, got to experience a university campus as a comfortable, safe environment.
Fagnan and Williams cite a continuing partnership with their alma mater as imperative to the growth of First Stamp. Fagnan is a staunch supporter of the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE) and has mentored recent Trinity alumni who were finalists in the Stumberg Competition. More recently, she has supported CIE programming that discusses female entrepreneurship. Williams and her husband, Jason,
“This was a risk for a lot of the girls,” she says. “A lot of them had never been on a plane or spent time in a bustling major city, but they kept saying ‘yes’ throughout the trip. Whether it was trying escargot for the first time or adjusting to a change in the itinerary, they were just constantly saying ‘yes.’ It wasn’t lost on them how big of an opportunity this was, and they committed themselves to trying things. That was transformational for them, but also for us as teachers.”
Celebrating the 2024 Alumni Award Winners
Ten alumni honored during October’s Alumni Weekend
The Trinity University community came together during Alumni Weekend to celebrate this year’s alumni award recipients. The Trinity University Alumni Association recognized eight alumni, and the Health Care Administration Alumni Association honored two alumni.
Alumni Association Awards
Maj. General Dianne Del Rosso ’89
Distinguished Alumni Award
Del Rosso has been deployed to Iraq and Kuwait, earning the Bronze Star Medal and the Army Meritorious Service Medal (3 OLC) among other awards and decorations for her service. In 2002, she started her career at IBM, where she is now the global vice president of Technology Expert Labs Software Services. She received the rank of major general in 2023 and is currently the commanding general of the 79th Theater Sustainment Command.
Gerald ’70, P’05 and Kay ’72, P’05 Reamey
Spirit of Trinity Award
The Reameys have maintained close ties with the University by chairing class reunions, recruiting students, serving on the Alumni Association Board, and volunteering for countless committees, task forces, and special projects. They established the Reamey Family Endowed Scholarship to support current and future Trinity undergraduate students with the greatest financial need.
Chris Garagiola ’15
Outstanding Young Alumni Award
At Trinity, Garagiola was the first broadcaster for Tiger Network, the University’s live streaming network. After graduation, Garagiola worked his way up the ranks of baseball broadcasting and is now the official radio play-by-play broadcaster for the Major League Baseball Arizona Diamondbacks.
Jena Daggett ’13
Tower Award
Since joining NORAD and USNORTHCOM in 2018, Daggett has distinguished herself through her work ethic and commitment in helping the Bahamas through crises such as a 2019 hurricane and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ashanté M. Reese ’07, Ph.D.
Tower Award
Working at the intersection of critical food studies and Black geographies, Reese is an author, anthropologist, and award-winning associate professor of African and African Diaspora Studies at the University of Texas at Austin.
Michael Quintanilla ’76
Tower Award
A former Los Angeles Times reporter who covered major events such as the aftermath of 9/11 and the AIDS crisis, Quintanilla is now fondly known as Mr. Fiesta, personifying the spirit of San Antonio’s annual Fiesta celebration with his handcrafted hats and costumes.
Jill Grace ’85, P’16
Fraternity/Sorority Life Alumni Adviser of the Year Award
Grace has served as a member of the Alumni Association Board, volunteered on her class reunion committee, and has given back to her sorority as Chi Beta Epsilon’s alumni adviser, helping alumni and students stay in touch.
HCAD Alumni Association Awards
Doug Lawson M’93, Ph.D.
The Duce Award
Recognizes outstanding leadership and significant contributions to the health services administration field, named in honor of former Trinity dean Leonard A. Duce
Lawson leads the South Region of CommonSpirit Health, overseeing a network of 35 hospitals and over 40,000 staff across multiple states. With a career spanning leadership roles at places including Baylor Scott & White, Saint Luke’s Health System, Cabell-Huntington Hospital, and Baylor University Medical Center, Lawson has been recognized with numerous awards, including the Earl M. Collier Award for Distinguished Health Care Administration, and has served on several boards across Houston.
Jared Shelton M’10,
FACHE
The Momentum Award
Recognizes early careerists age 40 and under for outstanding achievements in the field of healthcare management
Shelton is the president of Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital HEB, a position he has held since July 2022. He has extensive experience in healthcare leadership, including past roles as president of Texas Health Allen and vice president of Professional & Support Services at Texas Health Dallas, and he is actively involved in organizations such as the American College of Healthcare Executives, Texas Hospital Association, and the HEB Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.
Know any outstanding Trinity alumni who should be considered for next year’s Alumni Awards? Scan the QR code or visit gotu.us/alumniawards to nominate a Tiger.
Trinity Unveils Alumni Career Engagement Office
New office helps empower lifelong growth for Trinity alumni
This fall, Trinity University launched the Alumni Career Engagement (ACE) Office, offering innovative programming designed to support and empower alumni while fostering a culture where “Tigers help and hire Tigers.”
Traditional university career services often evoke images of student-focused offices offering limited resources to alumni, but ACE is changing this narrative. By meeting Tigers where they are in their professional journeys, ACE is committed to forging powerful, lasting connections with Trinity alumni, equipping them with the tools, networks, and opportunities they need to excel and thrive—regardless of where they are in their careers.
Terris Tiller ’00 is leading the charge as the program’s director, bringing with him a wealth of experience from the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee. Having formerly worked with Team USA athletes from eight Olympic/Paralympic Games, Tiller successfully assisted athletes in transitioning their careers beyond their sports.
“Career transition and development is a normal part of every professional’s experience,” Tiller says. “I’m excited to build offerings in this space to support my alumni community’s lifelong pursuit of career fulfillment.”
ACE has already successfully launched a pilot of its Career Consulting Program and presented a career-development-focused Alumni College track during Alumni Weekend. In Spring 2025, ACE and Alumni Relations will host their inaugural Young Alumni Summit for recent graduates looking to grow their network, hone their skills, and get insider tips on navigating the professional world with confidence.
Scan the QR code or visit gotu.us/ace to view ACE programming and register for upcoming events.
The Date! Alumni Weekend 2025
TUGETHER AGAIN
More than 1,200 Tigers reunite for Alumni Weekend 2024
Alumni from across the nation came together October 24-27 for a spirited celebration of school pride, rekindling old friendships and creating new memories at a series of events designed to showcase Trinity University’s vibrant community. More than 1,200 Tigers spanning seven decades and from 35 states attended this year’s Alumni Weekend. From thrilling athletic competitions to nostalgic campus tours, Trinity’s largest engagement event of the year was packed with moments that reminded us why our alma mater continues to hold a special place in our hearts.
1 The Trinity community enjoyed food, drinks, lawn games, and music at the Tiger Football Tailgate, sponsored by the Bengal Lancer Alumni Foundation. 2 Fans packed the stands for Trinity Football’s 38-35 overtime win against Berry College. 3 Furry friends joined in on tailgate fun.
4 Tigers cheered on Trinity Volleyball in their 3-0 win against Concordia University. 5 Alumni said “Howdy!” to classmates and friends at the Block Party on Oakmont. 6 Oakmont Court transformed into a lively homage to San Antonio’s rich rodeo culture for the Block Party.
7 Alumni shared moments of reconnection throughout the weekend. 8 Alumni Weekend was a wild ride from start to finish!
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CLASS NOTES
1969
The artwork of Susan Masinter Riley was shown at Cappy’s Restaurant in San Antonio from August to October. The display featured vintage photos taken from 1885-1928 of actors, dancers, and stage personalities that had been restored, colored in Photoshop, and printed on fine art paper. The gowns and costumes are embellished with crystals, tiny pearls, glitter, and hand painting. The pieces are available; more may be seen at SusanRiley.com.
1971
Carol Austin-Weeks just celebrated a sapphire wedding anniversary. “Forty-five years and still going!” she says.
Diane Henderson retired after teaching for 30 years and moved to Lubbock to be close to her family. She now spends her time visiting with her granddaughters, Harper and Allie; volunteering at Joe Arrington Cancer Center; and teaching Sunday school. She would love to hear from her classmates!
1972
Thomas Benke concluded a 48-year, self-employed career in sales and marketing to public and private schools across Texas, involving public speaking and customer service. He serves as a deacon at First Presbyterian Church of San Antonio, doing home and hospital visits to Covenant Partners of their congregation. Benke and his wife, Lecy Barton Benke, were married by the Reverend Raymond Judd at Margarite B. Parker Chapel. They celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on August 24. They enjoy traveling in their RV, looking for cooler climates to escape the Texas summers.
Doug Hawthorne meets with a group of alumni who were Teers in the late ’60s and early ’70s. They retreat together annually for a long weekend. April 2024 marked their 49th year together. They are the LGF group (Let’s Go Fishing) and continue to share their common bond of Teers and Trinity University.
1973
Since 2017, Chris Scruggs has been writing, publishing, and revising reflections on making disciples in the challenging environment of contemporary culture. The results of this work are embodied in his new book, Crisis of Discipleship: Renewing the Art of Relational Disciple-making, published in a revised and expanded format by Living Dialog Ministries. The book is available at https:// livingdialog.org/product/crisis and other venues, including Amazon. Living Dialog has sacrificially assisted in this reprint. After graduating from Trinity, Scruggs attended The University of Texas at Austin School of Law, and then, after 15 years of practicing law, he attended Union Theological Seminary in Richmond, Virginia, receiving a Master of Divinity in 1994. In his ministerial career, he has served three churches, all of which had discipleship programs. Scruggs also has a Doctor of Ministry from Asbury Theological Seminary. Now retired, Scruggs and his wife, Kathy, live in San Antonio near Trinity’s campus.
1974
Wayne A. Christian retired as a Bexar County Texas state judge after he retired as a colonel in the United States Army Special Forces. His awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, Master Parachutist Badge, Expert Infantryman’s Badge, and British, Thai, and Canadian Parachutist Badges. Christian participated in the invasions of Panama and Afghanistan. He
was a member of the Trinity National Championship Skeet Team in 1974.
Randy Dietz earned his master’s degree at Baylor University and then continued his education, earning his Ph.D. in kinesiology. He served as athletic director at Louisiana College for several years.
Molly Koch Groff and her husband, Joey, celebrated 50 years of marriage on August 17, 2023. They were married in the Margarite B. Parker Chapel on Trinity’s campus, and they revisit the chapel every year for their anniversary. She is a retired Northside Independent School District high school teacher.
Ronald Wyatt retired as director of music and the organist of historic Trinity Episcopal Church on Galveston Island after 48 years of service. The City of Galveston proclaimed Ronald Wyatt Day to honor the occasion.
1976
The Rev. Jeff Cover celebrates the publication of his book, Going Public: How Biblical People Help Us Find Our Voice for Public Life, published by Outskirts Press. He and his wife, Debbie ’76, are retired and live in Jeffersonville, Indiana.
1977
Paul Goode retired in Richmond, Virginia, after a 30-year career in software development and banking and finance technical publications, including positions at Apple, Microsoft, and Capital One. He lives with his partner, Jeanne, and their
CLASS NOTES
Alumnae Athletes Receive Varsity Letters
Female Tiger athletes receive overdue recognition at Alumni Weekend
This year, Trinity University’s Office of Alumni Relations partnered with Trinity Athletics, Valerie Alexander ’90, and Betsy Pasley ’77 to wrap up a special initiative that honored women who played varsity sports between 1972 and 1991.
As noted in Pasley’s From the Sidelines to the Headlines, a history of Trinity women’s sports, many female student-athletes at Trinity during the ’70s, ’80s, and early ’90s didn’t receive varsity letters. During Alumni Weekend 2024, these trailblazing alumnae could pick up their varsity letters on campus. If they couldn’t make the event, they would be mailed their felt T’s, ensuring they receive the recognition that may not have been given during their playing days.
This initiative began in 2022, marking the 50th anniversary of Title IX, and reflects Trinity’s commitment to making sure these women feel seen, appreciated, and celebrated for their contributions to Trinity’s athletic legacy.
golden retriever, Della. They travel as much as possible.
1979
Eric Blackwelder has been married to Patty Blackwelder for 40 years. He has two daughters and two grandchildren. He owned a residential real estate sales company for 35 years, and his hobbies are flying, sailing, playing guitar, and playing pickleball. The couple has a house in northern Virginia, 20 miles south of Washington, D.C., and a house in Wilmington, North Carolina, near the coast.
1981
Dane Boneau retired in 2023 after 44 years in engineering and laboratory consulting.
Ron Boerger retired after working for 45 years in the information technology industry. He has worked for Lockheed, Tandem Computers, Compaq, HP, and nearly a decade at Home Depot. (It takes a lot of IT work to sell that many hammers!) He looks forward to traveling with Leslie, volunteering at a local pet shelter, and continuing to play French horn as he did while in San Antonio.
David P. Otey is recognized as a leading authority on presentation skills for scientists, engineers, and other technical experts. Author of three books, Otey has coached speakers around the world. He explores
his approach to storytelling in his podcast, The Power of Story and Science. Find out more at EngineerYourSpeaking.com. Otey lives in the Denver area, where he is active in Trinity’s Colorado Alumni Club.
1984
Colin Campbell has been elected as the first chair of the Board of Managers for the newly established Texas section of the Visual Effects Society, a global honorary society dedicated to advancing the arts, sciences, and applications of visual effects in the entertainment industry. Campbell is also finishing his sixth term as a member of the society’s global Board of Directors.
1985
Marcy Rothman became vice president, litigation for Enterprise Products in Houston after 36 years of practice as a trial lawyer representing business interests statewide and nationally.
1986
Corinne Smith owns a law firm, Law Offices of Corinne S. Smith, and an executive coaching business, Corinne Coaches. She works with women lawyers, women doctors, and other professional women to accelerate their careers with clarity and confidence. She teaches health law as an adjunct professor at Trinity in the Department of Health Care Administration.
Peggy Dornberger
Duderstadt ’48
June 14, 2024
Katherine Gregg Edwards ’50
March 1, 2024
Roy Ritchey Lockhart ’51
April 9, 2024
Phillip Snyder ’51 March 25, 2024
Irene Edgerton Shaw ‘52
October 1, 2023
Barbara Glascock Cubbison ’54
June 15, 2024
Donald Forbrich ’55
July 13, 2024
Andrew Uviary ’56
February 21, 2024
Jo Ann Barbee Dockery ’57
April 26, 2024
Franklin Haegelin ‘57
July 25, 2024
Rose Sanchez Dehoyos ’58
March 13, 2024
Thompson Griffin ’58
March 25, 2024
Phyllis Lyte ’58
August 17, 2024
James Power ‘59 September 11, 2024
Betty Cotulla Child ’60
June 17, 2024
David Foulds ’61
June 5, 2024
Daravene Daniel Thomas ’62
August 3, 2024
David Loeffler ’63
August 14, 2024
Patrick Olfers ’63
August 15, 2024
Diane Cook-Lee ’64
April 27, 2024
Faith Cook Mahaffrey ’64
April 27, 2024
Gail Sullivan Meyer ’64
August 9, 2024
Henry Mattingly ’65
December 7, 2023
George Tolar ’65
March 7, 2024
Kristina Stephens Fett ’68
July 23, 2024
Ron Gauny ’69
April 30, 2024
Frank Johnson ’69
January 19, 2024
Hal Cameron ’70
April 23, 2024
John Freund ’70
March 11, 2024
William Mason ’71
July 2, 2024
Jeffrey Arnold ’72 January 27, 2024
Isabel Zsohar ’73
March 3, 2024
Michelle Hensley Detterick ’74
April 4, 2024
Margery Huntress Muegge ’74 October 16, 2023
Linda Jolly Rowe ’74 August 2, 2024
Mary McAlpine Thomas ’74
August 21, 2024
Nathan Eisenberg ’75
March 6, 2024
Peggy Kelly ’75
August 25, 2024
Mark T. Leonard ’75
November 11, 2023
Betty Maroscher ’75
May 11, 2024
David Polhemus ’75
April 10, 2024
Edward Escobedo ’76
August 6, 2024
Ronald Larson ’77 March 29, 2024
Susan Schiller ’77
May 5, 2024
Bonnie Schroeder Weikel ’77
July 14, 2024
Irene Collier ’78
March 26, 2024
Alex Greene ’80
March 25, 2024
Suzette Brinegar Lawrence ’80
May 9, 2024
Thomas Crotty ’83
June 9, 2024
Laura Hankins DiSilverio ’83
June 14, 2024
Penny Walzel Dwyer ’86
April 7, 2024
Barbara Reaves ’86
August 21, 2024
William Waldon ’86
October 28, 2023
Sarah Smith Leibold ’87
March 25, 2024
Susan Vasilakis ’87
August 17, 2024
Andrew Lamb ’88
June 5, 2024
Susan Sweeney ’88
April 15, 2024
Aaron Pohl ’90
June 4, 2024
Susan Boettcher ’91
April 14, 2024
Sarah Smith ’03
March 25, 2024
William Johnson ’13 February 26, 2024
CLASS NOTES
1987
Joseph Van Wyk says, “Do you have a dream you’ve put on the shelf? I had one, and a couple of years back, I finally stopped fighting destiny. So, guess who’s a first-time author at age 59?” Van Wyk’s book, The Mindful Photography Field Guide, is a very personal story of victory over emotional struggles, healing through creativity, and the deepening of faith through mindfulness. Emphasizing smartphone photography practices for inner peace, the book is a practical guide for intervening in negative thought spirals. “I now know what my writing coach was talking about
when she said, ‘Once you publish the book, that’s when the real work begins!’” Van Wyk says. In recent months, he faced the fears of putting himself out there, creating content, building his social media presence, teaching, appearing on podcasts, and showing up at Alumni Weekend. “I’m so grateful for the miracles in my life, many of which occurred during those four formidable years of my life up on that beautiful hilltop in San Antonio,” Van Wyk says. Read more about Van Wyk at gotu.us/vanwyk.
1991
Dr. Vikram Durairaj is a professor at The University of Texas at Austin Dell Medical School and
a managing partner at Texas Oculoplastic Consultants Eye and Face.
Kristin Fraser is producing the podcast She Has a Name (SheHasANamePodcast.org), which is about a woman who went missing in 1987. Vulture and The Guardian have written about She Has a Name as one of the best podcasts.
Stay Connected
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Find an Alumni Club
Stay connected with Trinity’s latest alumni news, events, and more!
Network, volunteer, and attend events with Tigers in your area. There are Alumni Clubs throughout the United States—visit gotu.us/alumniclubs to find one near you!
Dr. Cori McBride assumed the role of chief of general, minimally invasive, and bariatric surgery at the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) in Omaha, Nebraska. McBride is a professor of surgery and has been at UNMC for 22 years.
1993
Gus Guzman, Ph.D., retired from the San Antonio Police Department after 30 years. Guzman earned his Ph.D. in 2008 and accepted an assistant professor position at St. Mary’s University teaching in the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences in the Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology.
Rodney Kirkpatrick spent a dozen years (2007-19) living in Durban, South Africa. He and Trina (his wife since 2000) made
another international move in April—they now live in Oxford, England, and frequently travel around Europe. Kirkpatrick and his wife would love to catch up with any alumni living in Europe or the United Kingdom!
1994
Louisa Glinski is joyously single (for a few years now) in Houston. She recently accepted a society services coordinator position with the Harris County Medical Society, which allows her to use her event-planning experience and communication skills.
George Tye Liu ’94 was recently inaugurated as the 73rd president of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons (ACFAS), a professional surgical society of 8,000 board-certified members. The induction took place at the ACFAS Annual Scientific Conference in Tampa, Florida, on February 2. Liu earned his doctoral degree at Temple University School of Podiatric Medicine. He completed his surgery residency at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (now UT Health) and received advanced training through orthopedic trauma fellowships at the University of Catania Emanuele Hospital in Italy and the Carl Gustav Carus University Hospital in Dresden, Germany. Liu is currently an associate professor in the Department of Orthopedic Sur-
gery at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School in Dallas, Texas. He is board-certified in foot surgery and reconstructive rearfoot/ankle surgery.
1995
Julie Lundquist left her professorship after 14 happy years at the University of Colorado Boulder to move to Johns Hopkins University to become the Bloomberg Distinguished Professor of Atmospheric Science and Wind Energy. Lundquist and her husband, Branko Kosovic, are now empty nesters as their son is starting college. Helping him pack brought back fun memories of their early days at Trinity! She is looking forward to reconnecting with Trinity friends on the East Coast.
Mark Moody is based in Saratoga Springs, New York, where he works as an independent educational consultant, helping students apply to college as well as to day and boarding independent schools. This step follows 20 years as director of college counseling at great schools in Seattle; Denver; Silicon Valley; and Shanghai, China, preceded by five years in University Admissions at Trinity. He would love to hear from Trinity alums looking for help in these areas. His current clients include the children of five of his Class of ’95 classmates graduated in 1995.
1998
Warren Irwin was accepted into the 2024 Louisiana Contemporary exhibition at the Ogden Museum of Southern Art. The juror selected 42 works by 37 artists out of more than 1,100 submissions. The exhibition ran from August through October. Read more about Irwin at gotu.us/irwin.
1999
Sheryl Stoeck received the 2024 YARI (Young Adult Reading Incentive) Award from the Texas Library Association. The YARI Award honors a librarian each year for exceptional ability to motivate teens to read through the development and implementation of a creative and effective reading program for students in grades 6-12. She received this honor for her role in founding and serving as planning chair for LibraryPalooza, an annual young adult-genre author festival for middle and high school students in San Antonio and beyond, an event that’s now in its 13th year.
2000
Rachel Pineda hopes to join The University Club of New York City and would appreciate the help of any fellow Trinitonians who are members and willing to support her journey toward applying. Pineda lives in central Connecticut. She completed a Broadway producer internship
with the Commercial Theater Institute in 2017 and has a son who just earned his Webelo Cub Scout badge. She is in her fifth year as a letter carrier with the United States Postal Service.
2001
Felicia Leo Kemp was promoted to business development senior counsel in the Law Department of Delta Dental Insurance Comp. Kemp also co-authored Moon Travel Guides’ Northern California Hiking, published in April. Pack a lunch, lace up your boots, and head out to discover the rugged coastline, towering redwoods, and best hiking trails in northern California with this book.
2003
Lee Mason, Ph.D., shirking current economic trends and general good judgment, opened a self-service bicycle repair shop
in the Fairmount neighborhood of Fort Worth, Texas. He says, “Next time you’re in the area, stop by Fairmount Community Cycles and roll one for yourself!”
Edward Poppe established Poppe Marketing, a fractional and project-based digital marketing advisory firm that helps companies with revenues between $10 million and $300 million unlock revenue growth with proven digital marketing strategies.
2004
Leslie Shaffer South was named general counsel for the Tennessee Department of Transportation in Nashville.
2011
“The Burke family has had an eventful year!” Amanda (Ong) and Sean Burke ’14 welcomed their second son, Noah, into the world in July. The family also moved into a new house, marking a fresh start in a new home. Amanda is celebrating her 12th work anniversary at PwC as a finance manager, and Sean is in his third year as the band director at Strake Jesuit College Preparatory in Houston, continuing to inspire and lead the next generation of musicians.
2013
Alex Carruth is the managing director of healthcare at the Arbinger Institute in Utah.
CLASS NOTES
NEW ADDITIONS
MARRIAGES
This issue of Class Notes includes notes submitted from February 2024 through August 2024.
For more recent Class Notes, visit gotu.us/classnotes.
2019
Luke Ayers began a Master of Arts at the University of Dallas in January 2024. He also accepted a position as assistant headmaster of middle and high school at Great Hearts Arlington, a charter school in Arlington, Texas.
Amy Walz became the market director with Universal Health Services Inc., serving as director of operations over a multi-specialty medical group. In one year, she improved overall margin, productivity, and cash collections and reduced physician expense from the prior year.
2020
Jack Janezic completed his administrative residency at Havasu Regional Medical Center in Arizona. He was then promoted to assistant administrator at Trios Health in eastern Washington. He oversees all ancillary services and also serves as the market ethics and compliance officer over three hospitals, including an acute behavioral health hospital.
2021
Jackson Braley earned his Bachelor of Science in physics and astronomy, and then he changed fields and became a plant scientist
at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center in St. Louis, Missouri. He’s highly motivated to help discover climate solutions and found his way to the largest nonprofit plant science research facility in the world. He is a technician who works on a variety of projects aimed at expediting the breeding process of perennial grains. Perennial grains offer an alternative to the annual monocrop that is the backbone of modern agriculture. There are a variety of benefits these crops offer to the soil ecosphere, all while being naturally more drought- and stress-tolerant.
2022
Cade Blalock and Abby Sproles met during their freshman year in their dorm, Witt-Winn Hall. They began dating during their first semester and made it through all four years. Blalock graduated in May 2022, and Sproles graduated in December 2021. They moved to Massachusetts after graduation for Abby to attend graduate school at Assumption University. In May, they finally got engaged on Nantucket Island. They say, “Without Trinity, we never would have met, and we’re super thankful for that! Wedding details are coming soon!”
Noah Burke to Amanda (Ong) ’11 and Sean Burke ’14 July 2024
Anna Patel ’21 to Anish Patel ’21 April 2024
Alumni Club Showdown
Alumni clubs across the nation participated in the first-ever Alumni Club Showdown—a thrilling competition in support of the 1869 Challenge! Clubs competed for ultimate bragging rights and the chance to score extra funds for their local activities. Divided into two categories—Texas Clubs and Nationwide Clubs—alumni from every corner of the country showed their Tiger pride.
Club events were held in San Antonio, Houston, North Texas, Denver, Washington, D.C., and New York. San Antonio took top honors in the Texas Club category, while Denver roared to victory in the Nationwide Club category! The Alumni Relations Office extends a huge thank you to all of its alumni clubs for their enthusiasm and dedication.
More than 4,000 Tigers joined the Alumni Clubs in supporting Trinity University during this year’s 1869 Challenge. Check out the final results on page 10!
Houston Alumni Club
San Antonio Alumni Club
Washington, D.C. Alumni Club
North Texas Alumni Club
New York Alumni Club
CLUB ACTIVITIES
1 Albuquerque Alumni Club members volunteered at the Bosque clean-up event (pictured); enjoyed an Isotopes baseball game; and hosted current students, new Tigers and their families, and alumni at their annual Summer Send-Off event.
2 Atlanta Alumni Club members hosted a summer happy hour and volunteered with Concrete Jungle on its urban farm to cultivate fruit trees (pictured).
3 Austin Alumni Club members volunteered with Keep Austin Beautiful in a citywide clean-up day (pictured) and hosted a summer kick-off happy hour.
4 Denver Alumni Club members volunteered their time to plant a spring garden (pictured), gathered together for a happy hour to kick off spring, and hosted an 1869 Challenge fall welcome mixer.
5 Houston Alumni Club members hosted a spring happy hour and networking event (pictured) and celebrated the 1869 Challenge with a Tiger Tap Takeover at Saint Arnold Brewing Company.
6 New York Alumni Club members kicked off summer with a Texas barbecue dinner and a chili cook-off. They also enjoyed a Mets baseball game (pictured) and held a Fiesta for a Cause event in support of the 1869 Challenge.
7 The San Antonio Alumni Club hosted a guided tour of the “Age of Armor” exhibit at the San Antonio Museum of Art, got sporty with a Cool Crest Mini Golf tournament and a pickleball event, cheered on the San Antonio Missions for an evening of baseball, traveled north for a happy hour in Boerne, and hosted an 1869 Challenge happy hour at Europa. The club also partnered with Trinity’s Office of Alumni Relations for its annual Fiesta River Parade event (pictured).
8 Seattle Alumni Club members participated in a VIP tour of the Climate Pledge Arena; attended a private, behind-the-scenes tour at Seattle Chocolates (pictured); and celebrated summer with a happy hour and a Texas garden party.
9 St. Louis Alumni Club members hosted a Summer Send-Off event for current students, incoming students and their families, and alumni. They also celebrated fall with their annual Fall Cocktail and Poolside Networking event. The board visited with Trinity President Vanessa B. Beasley for a happy hour and cheered on the Trinity volleyball team during their visit to St. Louis (pictured).
10 Washington, D.C., Alumni Club members celebrated with a Halfway to Spring Fiesta (pictured), cheered on the Nationals baseball team, and held an 1869 Challenge social.
not pictured The North Texas Alumni Club hosted an 1869 Challenge social at Community Beer Company.
Thousands of Trinity graduates participate in alumni clubs all around the country! Scan the QR code to find the club nearest to you and see events happening around the U.S.
COMMENTARY
A Broadcasting Pipeline
As Tiger Network enters its second decade, hear from its latest graduate in the pros
by Brian Yancelson
‘22
My voice was muffled by a mask. My legs trembled under the table. Somehow, I managed to say into my headset that the Trinity Tigers were hosting the Austin College Kangaroos.
My nerves were at an all-time high as I made my play-by-play broadcasting debut for Tiger Network in April 2021. However, I quickly realized after one inning that I had been doing this—talking about baseball—my entire life. The only difference? Now, people were listening. What I didn’t realize was how much my life had just changed.
I went on to broadcast more than 150 baseball, basketball, football, and volleyball games at Trinity University, and along the way, I discovered a new passion. I fell in love with being on air and having a new way to tell stories, just as I had enjoyed doing as a writer for many years prior.
Fast-forward to the present day, and I am the broadcast engineer for the San Antonio Missions, the Double-A affiliate of the San Diego Padres. I produce every game and travel with the team, jumping on air for both play-by-play and color commentary.
As I sit in broadcasting booths across the Texas League, from Wichita, Kansas, to Corpus Christi, Texas, I still feel like I’m in the Tiger Network control room in Calgaard Gym. After two years as the sports editor for the Trinitonian and, before that, reporting for Sports Illustrated Kids in high school, I had wanted a different side of journalism. To venture out in front of the camera, I had been doing video interviews with players and coaches on Tiger Network, Trinity’s live streaming network that broadcasts athletics and special events worldwide.
After fall sports were postponed in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all 18 intercollegiate teams at Trinity were scheduled to compete in the spring. That meant all hands on deck at Tiger Network to cover nonstop action. Josh Moczygemba ’05, executive producer of Tiger Network, needed help with a packed schedule, and he understood my desire to try new things as well as my love for baseball. He asked me to jump on air for my first Tiger baseball game.
Brian Yancelson got his start in broadcasting with Tiger Network (left, with Josh Moczygemba) and is now the broadcast engineer for the San Antonio Missions (bottom)
Despite my familiarity with other realms of sports journalism, broadcasting was still new to me. Thankfully, Trinity encourages experiential learning, and Tiger Network was at the heart of that for me and so many other Trinity students.
Hiring students to produce its broadcasts, which are well-known in Division III for their quality, Tiger Network encourages exploration while still requiring preparation. Never operated a camera? How about you shadow another student during a game and try it yourself? Don’t know what live production looks like? Sit in the control room for a few games to pick up roles like replay and graphics.
And for someone like me, having never broadcast a game? Watch someone like Ryan Figert ’22 do it. Be alongside him while he does play-by-play before feeling comfortable enough to do it yourself.
From having detailed notes ready for air to scheduling conversations with coaches ahead of games, Figert showed me what was possible as a student broadcaster. Just like I had Figert in front of me, he had others in front of him, like Callum Squires ’16 and Chris Garagiola ’15. Now, all three of them work in broadcasting or sports media. As the radio play-by-play broadcaster for Major League Baseball’s Arizona Diamondbacks, Chris even got to call the team’s trip to the 2023 World Series.
Having multiple alumni working at the professional level in broadcasting while the program is barely a decade old showcases the impact of Tiger Network, Josh Moczygemba, and Josh’s full-time staff at Trinity—Ryan Sedillo and Mason McLerran, and Taylor Stakes before them—who guide students to learn and grow. I am honored to join those who went before me as the latest Tiger Network broadcaster in the pros, and I know I won’t be the last.
Despite having no official broadcasting curriculum, Trinity is home to a burgeoning broadcasting pipeline because Tiger Network has proven that there’s no better way to learn than by doing. As Tiger Network enters its second decade, I’m excited to tune in for what’s next.
Introducing Trinity’s newly created
Alumni Career Engagement Center
ACE creates professional development opportunities, connections, and communities to help Tigers grow their careers and pursue lives of meaning and purpose.
Enrich
Scan the QR code to register for this programming and to see how ACE can help you reach your professional goals. Upcoming programming for Trinity alumni
1 Trinity Place San Antonio, TX 78212-7200
CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED
Parting Shot
Rainbows may be a sign of good luck, but our Tiger student-athletes didn’t need the extra help in their 2023-24 seasons. Ranked the No. 22 Division III athletics program in the country, the Tigers clinched 10 conference championships, made 17 postseason appearances, earned 30 All-American honors, and brought home the SCAC President’s Trophy this past year.
Check out the full Tiger Athletics Year in Review on page 24!
