Axe ’Em, Jacks!
Published in the upcoming Spring 2025 issue
1960s
Sen. Kenneth "Kim" Brimer '67 was honored by the National Cutting Horse Association in recognition of his leadership, service and dedication to the NCHA. Brimer and his family have donated approximately $38 million through the years to the NCHA Futurity finals for prize purses and to keep the event in Fort Worth, Texas. Brimer served as state senator from 2003-09 after seven terms in the Texas House of Representatives from 1989-2003. Brimer earned a Bachelor of Science in general business.
1970s
Robert "Bob" McCullough '70 retired from his communications role at Morgan's Wonderland after 15 years of service at the world's first theme park designed for those with special needs. McCullough earned a Bachelor of Arts in journalism.
Glenda Born '73 & '74 has been reappointed to the Rehabilitation Council of Texas. Born earned a Bachelor of Science in rehabilitation services and a Master of Education in counseling.
Robin Dawley '77 was recently elected to his third term as Nacogdoches County commissioner for Precinct 3. Dawley also served on the SFA Alumni Association board of directors from 2008-17. Dawley earned a Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences in criminal justice.
Patricia Taylor Wells '77 released her book "Carousel, Short Stories and Musings" in November. Wells earned a Bachelor of Arts in French.
Laurie O'Connor '79 received the Governor's Award for Excellence for her work as a compliance officer with the Utah Occupational Safety and Health Division. The honor is awarded to 25 of approximately 23,000 employees. O'Connor earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in finance.
1980s
Bill Wachel '81 was named vice president of information services at Buckner International. Wachel earned a Bachelor of Science in computer science.
Larry Fields '82 was appointed Panola County criminal district attorney. Fields earned a Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences in criminal justice.
Robbie Goodrich '82 retired as director of arts information for SFA's Micky Elliott College of Fine Arts. Goodrich earned a Bachelor of Science in communication.
Deidre Douglas '86 & '88 was named the 2024 Texas Choral Directors Association's Texas Choirmaster of the Year. Douglas earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in music/voice and a Master of Arts in music.
Dr. Elizabeth (Libby) Wallace '89 & '96 was named to the 1st University Credit Union board of directors. Wallace serves as the assistant vice president for the Lozano Long Division of Global, Community and First-Gen Initiatives at Tarleton State University. Wallace earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in marketing and a Master of Business Administration.
1990s
Melissa Hunt '90 was named senior vice president and chief product officer of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas. Hunt earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in general business.
Richard Boyer '91 was reelected to a second term as mayor of The Colony, Texas. Boyer earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in management.
James Wills '92 was named head tennis coach at Bullard Independent School District. Willis earned a Bachelor of Science in kinesiology.
Dr. Shelly Gehrke '93 was named associate provost for student success at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Gehrke earned a Bachelor of Science in environmental science.
Dr. Roel Lopez '93 received the 2025 Conservationist of the Year Award from the Houston Safari Club Foundation. Lopez earned his Bachelor of Science in Forestry in forest wildlife management.
James Barge '95 retired from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department as a Texas game warden with more than 27 years of service. He was the lead for the department's Peer Support Team for the eastern half of the state from its inception in 2004. Barge received a Bachelor of Science in environmental science.
Dr. Brent Hawkins '95, '01 & '11 was named superintendent for Copperas Cove Independent School District. Hawkins earned a Bachelor of Science in kinesiology, Master of Education in educational leadership, and a Doctor of Education in educational leadership.
Dr. Aaron Pierce '95 was reappointed to the Texas Council on Sex Offender Treatment. Pierce earned a Bachelor of Arts in psychology.
Ashley (Pasquier) Klamfoth '98 was named psychotherapist at Lamar University's Student Health Center. She continues to see clients outside the university at NewPath Counseling and Wellness. Klamfoth earned a Master of Social Work.
Jason Novak '98 was named head athletic performance coach for the University of California, Berkeley football program. Novak earned a Bachelor of Science in kinesiology.
Sereniah Breland '99 was elected to the International City/County Management Association board of directors as vice president of the Mountain Plains Region after serving as president of the Texas City Management Association. Breland earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in management.
Sarah (Symmank) Shearer '99 received Leonard Independent School District's Elementary Teacher of the Year award. Shearer earned a Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies.
2000s
Garrett Foster '00 was named police chief of Jasper, Texas. Foster earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in finance.
Peyton Jones '00 was named Houston market president for Veritex Community Bank. Jones earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in finance.
Wes Moorehead '00 was named deputy director of the Texas A&M University Forest Service. Moorehead earned a Bachelor of Science in forest management.
Rebekah (Bear) Riemenschneider '01 & '07 was named Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service family and community health agent in Houston County. Riemenschneider received a Bachelor of Science in fashion merchandising and a Master of Interdisciplinary Studies.
Braeden Rountree '02 was named to Billboard's 2025 Power 100 List. Rountree earned a Bachelor of Music.
Dr. April Sanders '02 was named dean of the College of Innovation and Design at East Texas A&M University. Sanders earned a Master of Education in educational leadership.
Erika Tolar '02 was named chief of staff and senior director of government and commercial business development of Shipcom. Tolar earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in marketing.
Amanda (Windham) Horne '03 & '05 was named executive director of student engagement and operations at East Texas A&M University. Horne earned a Bachelor of Arts in journalism and a Master of Arts in communication.
Brandon Lockwood '04 established an independent wealth management firm, Lockwood Wealth Strategies, in Clear Lake, Texas. Lockwood earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in finance and served on SFA's Mast Student Investment Roundtable.
Cynthia Devlin '05 wrote the book "Texas Women Are on the Money: Three Centuries of Female Entrepreneurs in the Lone Star State." Devlin earned a Master of Arts in history and served as an adjunct faculty member.
Ryan Horne '06 was named program director of first-generation student success at East Texas A&M University. Horne earned a Bachelor of Science in kinesiology.
Adam M. Miller '06 was appointed district judge in Iowa's Judicial District 3A. Miller earned a Bachelor of Arts in psychology.
Voke (Gbemre) Ogueh '06 earned the U.S. President's Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching. Ogueh earned a Master of Science in mathematics.
Elaine (Temple) Williams '06 was named chief financial officer of Southwest Electric Co. in Oklahoma City. Williams earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in accounting.
Daniel '07 and Carissa Imrecke '07 welcomed their first child, Finn William Imrecke, Aug. 1. Daniel earned a Bachelor of Science in geology, and Carissa earned a Bachelor of Science in biology.
Dr. Kent L. Willis '08 was named SFA's inaugural senior vice president for enrollment and student engagement. Willis earned a Bachelor of Arts in communication studies.
Dr. Eralda Lameborshi '09, faculty member at East Texas A&M University, received the prestigious Fulbright U.S. Scholar Award. Lameborshi earned a Master of Arts in English.
Holly Mikesh '09 was named director of human resources at Lufkin Independent School District. Mikesh earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in general business.
Monty Pepper '09 was named superintendent at Sabine Independent School District. Pepper earned a Master of Education in kinesiology.
2010s
of Las Vegas has been named senior vice president of Human Resources at CoLab Software. Winder earned a Bachelor of Science in psychology.
PiPa McCollister '11 was appointed to Texas' State Independent Living Council. McCollister earned a Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies.
Lance Treviño '12, an adjunct faculty member in SFA's School of Music, was invited to join the Recording Academy, the organization responsible for the Grammy Awards. Treviño earned a Bachelor of Music in music composition.
Adam Brinkley '13 was named vice president and chief claims officer of Berkley Financial Specialists. Brinkley earned a Bachelor of Arts in criminal justice and law enforcement.
Taylor Clonts '13 was named director of EIKON-X. Clonts earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in management.
Charlotte Mahar '13 was named manager of administration for Cetane Associates. Mahar earned a Bachelor of Arts in English and linguistics.
Aaron S. Williams '13 was named assistant basketball coach at East Texas Baptist University. Williams earned a Bachelor of Science in kinesiology.
Collin Weyand '14 was elected partner at Adams and Reese. Weyand earned a Bachelor of Arts in economics.
Macie Nicole Mattila '17 completed a master's degree at The University of Texas Health Science Center of San Antonio in cell systems and anatomy and attended Tufts University School of Dental Medicine. She also completed her intern year in Augusta University's Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery department and is currently in her first year of residency in this program. Mattila earned a Bachelor of Science in biology.
Andrew Alvarado '18 was named vice president of Weitzman. Alvarado earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in finance.
2020s
Victoria Quiroz '20 was named 2024 Rookie Teacher of the Year at Dueitt Middle School. Quiroz earned a Bachelor of Arts in psychology.
Isaiah Schreiber '20 was named account executive for the Houston Astros. Schreiber earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in sports business.
Kyle Smith '20 was named area manager II for Amazon Air. Smith earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in general business.
Jonathan Gassiott '21 was named health inspector for the City of Kilgore, Texas. Gassiott earned a Bachelor of Science in health science.
Rick Lowry '22 is broker and owner of Rick Lowry Properties. Lowry earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in general business.
Holly Schuh '21 and Liam Wolff '22 celebrated their marriage in Big Bend National Park Nov. 11. Holly earned a Bachelor of Science in agriculture, and Liam earned a Master of Science in forestry.
Elena Bleicher '23 & '24 helped carry the Olympic torch to its final destination in Paris. Bleicher earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in sports business and a Master of Business Administration. She also was captain of SFA's tennis team.
Bailey (Cryer) Lee '23 and River Lee '23 got married June 15. Bailey earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in management, and River earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in marketing.
Matthew Morgan '23 was named group sales account executive for Houston Dynamo FC. Morgan earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in marketing.
Cameron Shepherd '23 was named legislative director for the Texas House of Representatives. Shepherd earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in management and is pursuing a Master of Public Administration.
Curtis Tran '23 was appointed as registered representative of NYLIFE Securities. Tran earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in finance.
Jacob Van Buskirk '23 was named sales academy representative for Orlando City SC. Van Buskirk earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in sports business.