Today, October 20, marks the day that 国产探花 DEMSN grad Kolton Barber gets to see a dream officially become a reality.

The spark of the idea came to him because, frankly, he understands firsthand how demanding鈥攁nd exhausting鈥攊t can be to work in the healthcare field. As an ICU nurse, he has dealt with the long shifts, mental fatigue, and irregular sleep schedules that the job requires鈥攁s well as the need to fully recover before doing it all over again when the next shift comes around. 鈥淚 started thinking about how little support is specifically designed around the realities of shift workers,鈥� the 2025 grad says. 鈥淭hat idea became OnCall Supplements.鈥�

But it鈥檚 quite a leap from an idea to its fruition鈥攐ne that requires time, energy, and a lot of faith. Barber started building his company from the ground up in the time he had. The result: He created a supplement designed specifically for nurses, healthcare professionals, first responders, and others who work demanding schedules. 鈥淥ur first products, WAKE and SLEEP, are designed to support energy and focus during the day and complement relaxation and recovery afterward.鈥�

But the supplements themselves are only the beginning. The true mission is much broader. 鈥淯ltimately, I want OnCall to be about more than supplements. I want to help the people who spend their days taking care of others be more intentional about taking care of themselves, too.鈥�

Barber completed his Direct Entry Master of Science in Nursing (DEMSN) degree on 国产探花鈥檚 New Braunfels campus, interning at Resolute Baptist Hospital. 鈥淭he program was a major part of my journey into nursing and helped prepare me for the challenges of critical care,鈥� he says.

And while mastering the many ins and outs of nursing from classrooms to clinicals, he learned a lesson he鈥檒l never forget. 鈥淥ne of the biggest lessons I learned was how important it is to look beyond the numbers and see the person behind the patient,鈥� he says. 鈥淚n the ICU, it鈥檚 easy to get caught up in labs, hemodynamics, medications, and managing complex conditions. Those things are critical, but it鈥檚 just as important to remember that you鈥檙e caring for a person and a family going through one of the hardest experiences of their lives. That perspective has stayed with me throughout my nursing career.鈥�

The Intensive Care Unit is one of the most high-pressure environments in any hospital, and Barber says working as a nurse there is challenging physically, mentally, and emotionally. 鈥淵ou鈥檙e constantly making decisions, managing competing priorities, and caring for patients who can deteriorate quickly. You have to stay focused even when the pressure is high.鈥� But on the flip side, he adds, the work can be incredibly rewarding. ICU nurses make a difference for patients and their families during some of the toughest moments of their lives.

These days, Barber is happy to be doing this work in the place he calls home. 鈥淎fter graduating from 国产探花, I accepted an ICU nursing position in my home state of Utah, which allowed me to continue growing as a nurse while returning home. Being part of a team that helps patients recover from critical illness is incredibly meaningful.鈥�

He says he鈥檇 wholeheartedly recommend 国产探花鈥檚 DEMSN program to up-and-coming nurses. 鈥淭he program gave me the opportunity to pursue nursing through an accelerated pathway while building the foundation I needed to enter a demanding field. Nursing requires adaptability, critical thinking, and a willingness to keep learning, and my experience at 国产探花 helped prepare me for that. I鈥檓 grateful for the education and experiences that helped me get to where I am today.鈥�

As a native of nearby New Braunfels, Maggie Bergeron had always felt that 国产探花 was a comfortable, inviting community. After getting accepted and coming to campus in the fall of 2008, she knew that 国产探花 was the place for her. Because she鈥檇 attended a smaller high school, the idea of a large university like UT was intimidating. 鈥淚 was pretty sure I鈥檇 get lost in the crowd, and not in a good way,鈥� she says, looking back. During her time at 国产探花, Bergeron homed in on the skills and strategies needed to step into her current role as the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) Administrator for Victoria, Texas.

As a member of the Delta Alpha Delta sorority, Bergeron learned a lot about what it takes to be a great coordinator, between talking to people and organizing activities for the group. 鈥淚 kind of knew I had a knack for creating schedules and events, getting things set up,鈥� she says. As it turned out, she wasn鈥檛 just planning social gatherings and events for her sorority; she was learning the planning and administration practice that she would eventually utilize in her career. She learned from her successes鈥攂ut even more, she learned from her mistakes. 鈥淓veryone has a different learning style, but for me, failure is the best learning experience.鈥�

Bergeron had always found political science and analytical thinking interesting. 鈥淚 was the kid who watched C-SPAN,鈥� she says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 being able to be decisive. Give me something to solve or fix. I love problem solving.鈥�

At 国产探花, she took advantage of the political science major鈥檚 internship requirement by working with the City of Seguin鈥檚 Planning Department and Main Street Program. Bergeron remembers talking with Dr. Germaine Walsh, professor of political science and director of International Studies, about her internship, telling Walsh that she initially found the work to be boring. Yet she persisted, later working on Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for the City of Dallas.

That experience changed Bergeron鈥檚 perspective, and it turned out that the initial projects leading up to that work were invaluable early components in her career. At 国产探花, she鈥檇 learned a lot of lessons that proved priceless in graduate school and beyond. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not always going to be something in your lane, but you still have to do it,鈥� she says in hindsight. 鈥淵ou have to do the right thing. The diversity in learning and thinking really followed me.鈥�

After graduating 国产探花, Bergeron went on to Texas State to pursue her master鈥檚 in sustainability studies. There, doing assignments was standard, but being able to bring critical thought into conversations was something that she was prepared for鈥攖hanks to 国产探花. 鈥淸国产探花] made it much less intimidating once I got into the [graduate school] classroom.鈥�

Now, as the regional transportation decision-making authority for an area encompassing some fifty thousand people, Bergeron finds herself doing a wide variety of tasks around Victoria. 鈥淚 can go from mapping, to building a model, to budgeting, to running socio-demographics for an area,鈥� she says. 鈥淵ou have to wear a lot of hats, but if you have the willingness to learn, there鈥檚 not much you can鈥檛 get done.鈥�

To better understand transit needs, Bergeron found herself riding public transit along with commuters, asking face-to-face questions about what their thoughts were. Getting personal comments from the people directly affected by changes to public transit proved to be one of the most important types of feedback that informs her planning processes.

Sometimes things like attending events hosted at libraries, and appealing to children and their families, are parts of the job. She asks attendees how they feel about the current system, how they would feel about their children walking on area streets, and whether there might be any known deficiencies. Through experiences such as this, Bergeron has learned that public education, transparency, and meeting the people of the community where they are all make for better transportation planning.

One valuable lesson from 国产探花 she鈥檒l never forget: 鈥淟earning never stops. Always try to communicate and approach things on different sides.鈥� Opportunity and discovery change the way you approach your daily life and overarching goals, but, at every step, life experiences have shaped Bergeron鈥檚 career.

Adam Sanchez 鈥�28 is a junior communication studies major.

When most of us who鈥檝e been at 国产探花 over the past few years think of Ezra Acero, we picture him in the air, swooshing over the crossbar, making the whole pole-vaulting thing look effortless. Acero did, in fact, end his Bulldog Athletics career as the best pole vaulter in Texas Lutheran history, setting records at both indoor and outdoor events and proving himself to be a champion multiple times.

The 2025 grad鈥檚 favorite college memory might surprise some, because it happened on a day that didn鈥檛 go exactly as he would鈥檝e liked it to. 鈥淚 think my favorite memory would have to be the first time I qualified for nationals in pole vault,鈥� Acero says. 鈥淚t was held in Rochester, New York, and although I didn鈥檛 get the results I wanted, just being there with my teammates and going to Niagara Falls with Coach Holland and Coach Wolf will always stick with me.鈥�

These days, Acero, who earned his BS in applied physics at 国产探花, lives just under six hundred miles south of where that memory was made, in Indianapolis, Indiana. 鈥淚 do miss Texas quite a bit (the food quite a lot),鈥� he admits, although he鈥檚 made friends in his new locale, which has helped him feel at home.  But even though his current life is a world away from Seguin and 国产探花, his work there is touched by his undergrad years.

He works as a biochemist for Lilly鈥攁lso known as Eli Lilly and Company鈥攂y way of a global testing company called Eurofins PSS. 鈥淎t Lilly I work in the raw materials lab where I run samples using various methods such as FTIR (Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy), Raman Spectroscopy, Gas Chromatography, Inductively Coupled Plasma Spectroscopy, Melting Point Analysis, and pH measurement,鈥� he explains.

And believe it or not, that work connects to his capstone project at 国产探花. 鈥淢y capstone was about Surface Modified Gold Nanoparticles for biomedical applications. While working on that project I learned a lot of lab techniques that have been very helpful in the job I currently have. Although I am still waiting to get my training passed through Lilly, I feel like my project prepared me the most for the wet chemistry tests that I will be running here in the lab soon.鈥�

But even as he rises to new heights career-wise, Acero expresses gratitude for how his undergrad years prepared him for the challenges that lie ahead. 

国产探花 is famous for its small class sizes, which foster a sense of community in which students support one another. 鈥淢y physics cohort such as Aaron Salinas, Khalen Wilkerson, Martin Ortega, Jason Castro, Adrian Martinez, Ian Wollard, and Luciano Trejo helped me get through the extremely challenging physics classes and sleepless nights, and if it wasn鈥檛 for them, I would not have graduated,鈥� Acero says.

He also points to the faculty at 国产探花 as being instrumental in his success. 鈥淚 feel that the 国产探花 Physics Department, mostly Dr.Sauncy, Dr.Berggren, and Dr.Tek, prepared me very well for the real world past college,鈥� he says. 鈥淭he time and effort that they put in to change me from just a normal kid into a scientist is something that I will always be grateful for.鈥�

[Feature photo: Ezra Acero (center) with roommate Jackson (left) and brother Seth (right)]

国产探花 alum Jennifer Biry is having a full-circle moment.

Soon after crossing the stage at 国产探花, having earned her degree in business administration, she went to work for telecommunications giant AT&T. She worked there for more than two decades, climbing ranks before eventually moving on to other opportunities at Warner Media and then McAfee.

But this year, she鈥檚 returned to her old stomping grounds at AT&T鈥攖his time around as Deputy CFO. And come January, she鈥檒l transition into the role of Senior Executive Vice President and CFO. 鈥淭he company helped shape my career, and I’m excited to bring back the cross-industry perspective and expertise I’ve learned along the way to help lead the next chapter,鈥� Biry says.  鈥淲hen I joined the company out of college, I never imagined I would one day return to AT&T as its future CFO.鈥�

But it makes sense, when you think about the broad range of knowledge Biry has collected over the course of her career thus far. She knows AT&T because she worked her way through it.  鈥淥ver the years, I was fortunate to take on roles across finance, strategy, operations, and media, and each one gave me a deeper understanding of how the business operates鈥攁nd more importantly, how decisions create long-term value for customers, employees, and shareholders.鈥�

From where she鈥檚 standing now, she can look over her career and clearly see the first big break. 鈥淓arly in my career at AT&T, I was asked to support the BellSouth and Cingular merger,鈥� she recalls. 

Some readers will remember Cingular, an American mobile phone company. It was owned by AT&T and BellSouth, but after the two companies became one, it was fully owned by AT&T. And Biry was right in the middle of that acquisition.

“Growth comes from saying yes to the uncomfortable. Some of the best opportunities are the ones that feel a little bigger than you鈥檙e ready for.鈥�

鈥淚 was one of the younger members of the team, and it was a tremendous opportunity that gave me exposure to a high-stakes transaction, insight into different parts of the business, and the ability to interact with leaders I wouldn鈥檛 have otherwise worked with so early in my career,鈥� she says. 鈥淟ooking back, that experience was pivotal. It broadened my perspective and accelerated my development as a leader. It also reinforced what I learned at 国产探花: Growth comes from saying yes to the uncomfortable. Some of the best opportunities are the ones that feel a little bigger than you鈥檙e ready for.鈥�

Sound advice for up-and-coming Bulldogs鈥攁nd pretty much everyone, no matter what phase of their careers they are in. But Biry is a strong believer in supporting and encouraging the next generation of leaders. To that end, she has a few words of advice for current students: 鈥淭ake full advantage of the opportunities you have in front of you today. My career has been built on a strong foundation that started with the quality of education I received at 国产探花,鈥� she says. 鈥淎nd I believe that a true difference maker is 国产探花鈥檚 focus on giving its students access to professors who bring real-world business experience into the classroom. It鈥檚 an incredible advantage to learn from people who have navigated the challenges and opportunities you are studying, and who can connect lessons with practical business situations.鈥�

 Biry says 国产探花鈥檚 smaller-sized classes are a great asset, because they allow professors to really lean in and influence the careers of their students. 鈥淚n fact, it was one of my professors, Ron Huntsman, who encouraged me to pursue accounting,鈥� she adds. 鈥淗e thought that my passion for business combined with a solid understanding of the financial statements would be a unique and valuable combination. That advice ended up putting me on a path that shaped the rest of my career and ultimately led me to where I am today.鈥�

She鈥檚 still connected to her alma mater鈥攆or example, she鈥檚 served on the university鈥檚 Executive Advisory Council for the Business Department, now called the Business Advisory Council. She鈥檚 also the recipient of the 2016 Distinguished Alumni Award.

And she still carries with her the most important lessons she learned back in her undergrad days. Among those lessons: Growth happens when you鈥檙e willing to step outside of your comfort zone. 鈥淢y time at 国产探花 gave me a strong business foundation, but more importantly, it taught me how to stay curious, ask questions, and keep learning,鈥� she says. 鈥淲hen I started my career, I was solely focused on 鈥榗limbing the corporate ladder,鈥� but I soon learned to think of my trajectory as a lattice rather than a ladder. The roles that helped me grow the most were often the ones that stretched me in new directions鈥攁nd many weren鈥檛 promotions. That mindset of embracing new experiences and continuous learning is something I still rely on every day.鈥�

Alongside those lessons, there are fond memories of her undergrad years鈥攏ot necessarily of a specific event, but more about the sense of community that permeates the 国产探花 campus. 鈥湽交� is a place where people genuinely invest in one another’s success,鈥� she says. 鈥淭he relationships I built with classmates, professors, and mentors had a lasting impact on me and helped shape the person and leader I’ve become. It’s one of the reasons I’ve stayed connected to the university over the years and why I’m so passionate about giving back to current students.鈥�

It all started in 1975, when four recent 国产探花 graduates鈥攁ll of them Sigma Lambda Chi fraternity brothers鈥攑roposed the idea of a spring gathering so that they could stay connected with their fellow Bulldogs as the years passed. The first Spring Party took place the following year, 1976, and those four鈥擲tephen 鈥淲hip鈥� Wendel, Vance 鈥淰y鈥� Youens, John Miller, and Frank Burk, later joined by Henry 鈥淒utch鈥� Schonenberg and Belinda Schmidt鈥攈ave worked to keep the Spring Party alive for fifty years now. Gaeylyn Burk, Frank鈥檚 wife who passed away in 2023 after a courageous battle with cancer, was also a driving force behind the party, and in fact, became known as the mother of the Spring Party, as the event is usually held at the Burks鈥� home, and she was known to be such a gracious hostess.

This year, some seventy-five friends came together on a Saturday in June, celebrating their shared histories at 国产探花 and the bonds of enduring friendship. One has to wonder if they could鈥檝e imagined, back in 1976, that they would still be faithfully gathering fifty years later.

As always, everyone chipped in to help cover costs鈥攂ut with a generous donor choosing to foot the bill, the group once again was able to present a sizeable donation to 国产探花, this year benefitting the Frank and Gaelyn Burk Scholarship endowment fund, so that future generations of Bulldogs will live as a legacy, forging new paths, serving in new ways, and celebrating friendships yet to come.

So when it came time to choose which college to attend, 国产探花 was a seamless fit for Hiner. She chose communications and media studies as her major and enjoyed the small class sizes, the dedication of her professors, and the chance to explore her faith鈥攁ll the while soaking in the liberal arts curriculum, which would provide the foundation for her career. 鈥淭he coursework made me a more well-rounded person and professional, someone who can see the big picture,鈥� she says. And those small classes? They boosted her faith in herself. 鈥淏eyond academics, 国产探花 gave me exceptional access to campus leaders, which gave me the confidence to hold my own in a room with senior business leaders.鈥�

The Liberal Arts Mindset

Hiner鈥檚 undergrad years equipped her well for a very rewarding career journey鈥攁nd she says the liberal arts mindset remains a valuable asset in today鈥檚 job market. 鈥淎t a time when everyone is becoming so specialized, this education gives you a broad, inclusive perspective. In a corporate environment, that translates into what I call 鈥榚nterprise thinking鈥欌�攚hich means taking all functions and teams into consideration as you create solutions for the total business.鈥�

Hiner had watched for years as her father cultivated long-term relationships with his students, so she sought that same attention and enduring collaboration with her own professors. 鈥淔ast forward to today, the same is true with the leaders and co-workers that I interact with every day,鈥� she says. 鈥湽交� is special because of the students, faculty, and staff. In the same way, people are what drives a company鈥檚 culture and makes it unique.鈥�

Hiner knows a thing or two about company culture. Since graduating, she鈥檚 held positions that have allowed her to transform corporate communications over a wide range of companies鈥攖he most recent of which is Illumina, an American biotechnology company.

But to understand what led her there, let鈥檚 rewind a bit, back to Hiner鈥檚 professional goals in her college days. 鈥淢y favorite class at 国产探花 was mass communications,鈥� she recalls. 鈥淔or a brief period, I thought I wanted to work in broadcast news. After an internship at a local news desk and a brief stint in radio, I found my professional home in corporate communications. In the early days of my career, it became clear that those first few jobs were not going to be my long-term path. I鈥檓 thankful that they helped me understand more about what I liked and what I was best at.鈥�

Finding Her Voice

She wrapped up her degree in 1992 and headed out into the field, working her way through her first jobs, moving across the country to be where the opportunities were. Then came her first big break: a position with Lucent Technologies. 鈥淎t the time, the telecommunications company was a giant, with over 200,000 employees across the globe, and a Wall Street darling,鈥� she says. 鈥淚t was my first formal corporate communications role and the first time I directly supported an executive. It was so daunting! Mentors within the company helped me find my voice and, over time, I gained the courage to use that voice.鈥�

Unfortunately, Lucent fell on hard times, eventually merging with another company and finally being acquired by yet another. 鈥淭imes were good, until they weren鈥檛,鈥� says Hiner. 鈥淭he company faced a downturn and quite literally couldn’t keep the lights on. I was still diligently working when a senior leader shared one of life鈥檚 most important lessons: knowing when to stick it out and knowing when to move on to the next opportunity. That experience also taught me the importance of transparency. It also taught me that character towers above corporate politics.鈥�

Just like she did in college, Hiner packed up every lesson she鈥檇 learned and took them with her as she moved forward in her career鈥攁nd she used the experience at Lucent to her advantage. 鈥淭hroughout my career I have been drawn to companies that are in the midst of deep transformation or change,鈥� she says. 鈥淔or example, I joined Capital One as they were transitioning from a credit card company into a bank. My team built, from scratch, the communications structure for the new banking business. The same holds true for my current role at Illumina. I joined when the company had an entirely new C-suite and a communications strategy that needed a full and global refresh. That blank slate gave me a massive voice to shape the next era of Illumina鈥檚 communications.鈥�

The Path to Illumina

On the journey toward Illumina, Hiner worked at companies like Citigroup, AMD, and Lumen Technologies. She crisscrossed the country, basing in New York, New Jersey, Virginia, Louisiana, Texas, and now, California. But looking over the whole of her experience thus far, Hiner can see the common threads that run through all these positions, and the important lessons that she鈥檚 learned: 鈥淥ne, change is constant鈥攅mbrace it! Two, everyone has a story, and it鈥檚 the honor of a communicator to share that story. Three, transparency is key. Transparency drives trust with your employees and confidence with your audience.鈥�

鈥淥ne, change is constant鈥攅mbrace it! Two, everyone has a story, and it鈥檚 the honor of a communicator to share that story. Three, transparency is key. Transparency drives trust with your employees and confidence with your audience.鈥�

Today, as head of communications at Illumina in San Diego, Hiner finds that she still loves the work. 鈥淚 believe that communications is the best job in corporate,鈥� she says. 鈥淲hy? Because we get to make connections and tell stories. When done well, we move market perception, help sales teams drive revenue, position our senior leaders in fantastic media moments, ensure employees are engaged, protect the company brand, and so much more.鈥�

Illumina is on the cutting edge of the development of DNA sequencing systems. It works with companies worldwide to provide next-generation genetic analysis tools so that scientists can read and study genetic material to understand disease and lead the way toward advances in medicine. And it鈥檚 Hiner鈥檚 job to get the word out, all the while keeping the lines of communication ever open within the company as well.

鈥淢y role at Illumina puts me at the center of an industry-leading biotech company,鈥� she says. 鈥淚llumina is working to improve human health with DNA sequencing. Illumina鈥檚 life science solutions advance cancer research, diagnose genetic disease, track infectious disease, and so much more. My role encompasses internal, external, and social media communications as well as the company鈥檚 employee experience, community relations, and philanthropic efforts. There鈥檚 honestly not one thing I love most . . . because I love it all.鈥�

But that doesn鈥檛 mean there aren鈥檛 challenges. 鈥淥f course, there are parts of this job that are not so easy,鈥� Hiner admits. 鈥淲hen the company faces challenges, the communications team makes sure that we are sharing a transparent story that keeps confidence in the company. If the press gets a story wrong, we need to correct it. If there is a lawsuit halfway around the world, we have to address it. We also work as a global team, which is fantastic, but those 4 a.m. calls with our colleagues in China mean I will need a lot of extra caffeine that morning! That said, every difficult day is in service of a mission to improve lives . . . well . . . that is bigger than any tough moment.鈥�

国产探花 Memories

And even though there are a lot of miles between Seguin and San Diego, Hiner still carries those 国产探花 memories with her wherever she goes. Picking out a favorite from among the years she spent on campus鈥攚hether from her childhood or her college days鈥攊sn鈥檛 easy. 鈥淎s a professor’s kid, I have 23 years of 国产探花/campus memories to choose from,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 think about my summer job lifeguarding at Mabee pool. And getting a C in the intro to psychology class taught by my own dad! We still argue about that grade. Probably my favorite memory would be July 4^th potlucks with all of the professors and their families at Dr. Giesber鈥檚 property. The backyard was banked against the Guadalupe River, and it was a time where the amazing faculty and staff really came together as a family.鈥�

Really, all of those memories boil down to one thing. 鈥淏ottom line, my favorite memories have been and will continue to be about the people. Across 国产探花鈥檚 social media and communication platforms鈥攜ou can see the quality and caliber of the talent this university is sending out into the world. It鈥檚 impressive and I feel very fortunate to count myself as a fellow grad. 国产探花 is such an incredible place and I鈥檓 grateful to have spent so many years involved with the school.鈥�

This story begins with the dream that Garcia had held since she was a teenager: to become a nurse. It was a dream she shared with her mom, who couldn鈥檛 pursue that goal for herself due to financial hardship. So Garcia was dreaming for two, and the fact that she found herself struggling in nursing school must鈥檝e felt like something incredibly important was slipping from her grasp.

Back in high school, the idea of pursuing a degree in nursing butted up against the harsh realities of the cost of higher education鈥攁nd the cycle that Garcia鈥檚 mother had dealt with threatened to repeat itself. 鈥淲e knew that we couldn鈥檛 afford it for me either, so it was not something we discussed at home,鈥� Garcia says, looking back.

But then, things changed. 鈥淒uring my high school years, two teachers came into my life who believed in me, invested their time in me, and helped me find a way.鈥� Those teachers must鈥檝e seen the potential in young Garcia. For one thing, she was an A student. For another, she was a hard worker. 鈥淏efore I knew it, I had earned enough money in scholarships to help pay for nursing school. I believe God sent them to me. These two educators taught me many things, but most importantly, they taught me what faculty support should look like.鈥�

So she entered nursing school, ready to break the cycle and pursue the dream, but the difficulty faced by anyone aspiring to become a nurse was compounded, ironically, by some of her professors. 鈥淚 was always a 4.0 student in high school, so I thought nursing school would be a breeze,鈥� she says. 鈥淚t was not. I really struggled and most of my nursing professors were not supportive or encouraging. One professor regularly reminded me how close I was to failing each semester.鈥�

Yet instead of giving up, Garcia decided to turn that struggle into a promise. 鈥淚 prayed constantly, asking God to help me graduate. I promised Him that if He carried me through, I would one day devote myself to helping struggling nursing students like I had been. I wanted students to have a positive nursing school experience, rather than the one I experienced.鈥�

Putting the Promise into Play

You鈥檝e probably already figured out that Garcia persevered. She successfully weathered nursing school鈥攂ut she didn鈥檛 stop there. After earning her associate鈥檚 degree, she went on to pursue her bachelor鈥檚 as a registered nurse, and then her master鈥檚 in nursing education.

In 2020, after years in the field, she came to 国产探花, true to her promise, and began offering a hand up to aspiring nurses. 鈥淪o here I am, having come full circle, and God has me in a position to do just that.鈥�

She became to her students the kind of teacher she herself had needed back in nursing school. Clearly, she takes great joy in that. 鈥淚 love watching students succeed, especially those who have the odds stacked against them,鈥� she says. 鈥淪eeing them overcome challenges and realize they are capable of becoming excellent nurses is incredibly rewarding.鈥�

Garcia is humbled by her role. 鈥淚 believe God allows me to be part of those moments, and it is an honor to encourage students as they discover that they are capable of far more than they imagined. Completing a nursing degree can change the trajectory of not only their lives, but the lives of their families for generations. Being part of that journey is one of my greatest blessings and one of my personal ministries.鈥�

A New Challenge

So there Garcia was, not only a registered nurse herself, but a teacher to other nurses; not only the bearer of the dream she shared with her mother, but a person in a position to help others rise to meet their own goals.

But there was still room to grow鈥攁nd there were still hurdles to clear.

鈥淚 dreamed of obtaining a doctorate but didn鈥檛 feel it was financially possible,鈥� Garcia says. 鈥淢y husband and I prayed about this for years. In January of 2023 we got serious about making a decision and started looking at schools and comparing prices. Again, I felt defeated looking at the costs.鈥�

But all of that was about to change. 国产探花 was launching its first doctoral program鈥攁 doctor of education degree鈥攁nd looking for a few outstanding individuals to join the first cohort. 鈥淕od came through once again,鈥� Garcia says. 鈥淗e laid this opportunity in my lap. In February 2023, I received an email that notified me that 国产探花 would be covering my tuition at 100 percent. I cried. Getting my doctorate was the missing puzzle piece that was going to allow me to continue doing the work I promised God that I would do. I saw it as God equipping me with the knowledge and credentials to continue the work He had called me to do.鈥�

In May, Garcia, in the presence of her family, professors, fellow students, and colleagues, made yet another dream come true鈥攁nd saw yet another prayer answered.

She says the 国产探花 EdD is set apart from other such programs by its emphasis on personalized attention. 鈥淢y professors began as instructors but became trusted mentors. They genuinely cared about me as a person, not simply as another student on the roster. Dr. Pe帽aranda鈥檚 leadership, along with Dr. Bollinger and the rest of the faculty, set the tone for an exceptional program. They created a culture where students were challenged academically while also being supported personally.鈥�

So this spring鈥攁 lifetime away from those years of struggle in nursing school鈥攁 triumphant Garcia earned her doctorate. And as it worked out, her own young son donned cap and gown right along with her鈥攊n his case because he had just completed kindergarten. He will grow up within a new cycle, one forged by his mother, and by her mother . . .  And he will carry that legacy and, no doubt, have dreams of his own鈥攁long with the courage to make them come true.  

We鈥檙e sending a huge Bulldog round of applause to 国产探花 alum and U.S. District Judge Fred Biery, who recently received the San Antonio Bar Association Joe Frazier Brown Sr. Award of Excellence. According to SABA, 鈥淭his well-deserved recognition honors his exceptional service, distinguished leadership and unwavering commitment to the legal profession. His contributions have made a lasting impact on the legal community, making him a truly deserving recipient of this prestigious award.鈥�

Biery, who earned his BA at 国产探花 in 1970, was president of the student body and played varsity basketball during his undergrad years. He then attended law school at SMU, earning his Juris Doctor in 1973. He has served as a member of the 国产探花 Board of Regents and Corporation Board.

His career is marked by many awards and distinctions, and 国产探花 sends warmest congratulations for this latest achievement!

Briscoe鈥檚 mother started out as an elementary school teacher, then became a principal, and is now superintendent of curriculum at Needville ISD, where Briscoe grew up. Two of his mom鈥檚 sisters are educators as well. 鈥淭heir dedication to serving others helped shape my respect for the profession and gave me an appreciation for the important role schools play in people’s lives. School pride was everything to me when I was growing up.鈥�

Briscoe鈥檚 career has been something of a whirlwind. After graduating 国产探花, he took a job in Hallettsville, teaching history and coaching baseball, before returning to his hometown, where he spent nearly two years as their head baseball coach. After that, he went back to Hallettsville, taking a job as offensive coordinator and head baseball coach.

Then he moved into administrative work, first becoming assistant principal in Hallettsville, then head principal. And now, at only 34 years old, he鈥檚 taking on a new role as superintendent for Edna Independent School District.

Briscoe has said that one of the best things about working in the field of education is the joy of watching kids succeed. And even though the nature of his work is shifting with his new role, he has no intention of distancing himself from the students in his district. 鈥淥ne of the greatest parts of education is building relationships with students and I want that to remain a priority for me as superintendent,鈥� he says. 鈥淲hile my role will look different, I plan to stay visible and engaged on our campuses by attending student events, visiting classrooms, participating in school activities, and making time to interact with students regularly. Staying connected to our students helps ensure that the decisions we make at the district level remain focused on what matters most鈥攖heir success and well-being.鈥�

Back in his years at 国产探花, Briscoe enjoyed his time playing Bulldogs baseball, and he counts being part of the team in 2014, when they advanced to the regional tournament, as one of his favorite undergrad memories. 鈥淚t was an incredible experience competing alongside such a talented group of teammates and coaches, and it’s a memory that still stands out today,鈥� he says.

Briscoe also fondly remembers the unexpected snowstorm that hit 国产探花 during his sophomore year. Classes were canceled and he joined a group of friends to play football in the snow and have snowball fights around campus. 鈥淚t was one of those unique college experiences that created lasting memories and friendships. Both memories reflect what made 国产探花 special for me鈥攖he relationships, experiences, and sense of community.鈥�

Once he graduated, Briscoe knew for sure that he wanted to get into coaching鈥攈e鈥檇 always seen himself in that role. 鈥淚 loved sports growing up and wanted to help young people succeed both on and off the field,鈥� he says. 鈥淎 lot of credit goes to Bill Miller, Greg Burnett, Fla Strawn, and Rick Heines for being great mentors as baseball coaches/athletic director.鈥�

It didn鈥檛 take long for Briscoe to know that he鈥檇 made the right career choice. 鈥淎s I began coaching and teaching, I quickly realized that education was where I belonged. Throughout my career, I have drawn inspiration from my family’s commitment to service, hard work, and doing what is best for students. Looking back, I can see how those values shaped my leadership philosophy and guided me through each stage of my career, from teaching and coaching to campus leadership and now the superintendent role.鈥�

These days, when he鈥檚 not shaping young minds and watching over the schools in his district, he enjoys spending time with the people he loves most. 鈥淚 have been happily married to my wife for eight years, and together we have two sons, Mason V (5) and Ty (4),鈥� he says. 鈥淭hey keep us very busy and are the center of our lives. As a family, we enjoy spending time outdoors, whether it’s hunting, fishing, or working on our family’s ranches. I still have a strong passion for sports and enjoy following collegiate athletics closely. When I’m not working or spending time with family, I enjoy being around friends and connecting with people. For me, those opportunities to spend time with family and friends are the best way to recharge and stay grounded.鈥�

After getting her feet wet in the classroom, she returned to 国产探花 and earned her master鈥檚 in education (MAEd) in 2022. She鈥檚 just wrapped up her eighth year in the field, five of which were spent in elementary classrooms, and three of which were spent as an instructional facilitator. Before leaving the classroom, she completed her administrator certification as well.

鈥淚 did three years at the school I went to as a kid in what was my 鈥榙ream job鈥� growing up,鈥� said Moran. 鈥淭hen I did a little over half a year in Wisconsin as an ESL push in/pull out teacher.鈥� After that, she moved to her current school district鈥擳uloso-Midway ISD in Corpus Christi鈥攖eaching for a year and a half before shifting into a position as an instructional facilitator.

And as the next school year gets underway, she鈥檒l take on a new role as assistant principal at the middle school level for TMISD. A district post sang Moran鈥檚 praises: 鈥淭hrough her leadership, support of teachers, commitment to high-quality instruction, and dedication to student success, she has made a lasting difference across our campuses.鈥�

鈥淚鈥檓 a little nervous but very excited for the new experience and different age group!鈥� said Moran.

We鈥檙e sending Shelbi a big Bulldog round of applause, along with hopes for a smooth transition and a great school year!