Author: Kathy Dean

Kathy Dean uses her passion for storytelling and "playing with words" to share the stories of people, place and purpose that make the University of Mobile unique. As associate vice president for university communications, she manages media relations, edits the TorchLight alumni magazine, and oversees university communications. A former award-winning journalist, she is a two-time recipient of the Baptist Communicators Association grand prize for feature writing. Kathy and her husband, Chuck, live with three extremely loud miniature schnauzers.

Accreditation Announced for Alabama’s First Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice Program at University of Mobile

by Kathy Dean

MOBILE, Ala. – The new Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice program at the University of Mobile is now fully accredited and will begin interviewing applicants in July for the first cohort of students, the university announced today. This is the first and only DNAP program in a four-state region that includes Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Georgia. Classes begin in August.

The university was notified today (June 15, 2021) that accreditation has been approved by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA). The program has also been approved by the Alabama Board of Nursing and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).

University of Mobile President Lonnie Burnett said, “We are excited about this latest addition to the University of Mobile’s academic offerings. This program will address a critical need in the field of nurse anesthesia along the Gulf Coast as well as the State of Alabama.”

Leading the DNAP program as professor of nurse anesthesia and director of the new School of Nurse Anesthesia is Todd Hicks, DNP, CRNA. Most recently, Dr. Hicks served as an assistant professor and the associate pathway coordinator of the BSN-DNP Nurse Anesthesia Pathway at University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB).

In addition, Hicks is the Expert Clinical Sciences Lecturer for Valley Anesthesia Review, which is a nurse anesthesia board review course given multiple times per year across the country. In this role, he has assisted more than 1,000 nurse anesthesia graduates to prepare for the National Certification Examination (NCE).

Matthew Hunter Speeg, DNP, CRNA, joins UM as assistant professor and associate program director of the School of Nurse Anesthesia. Most recently he served as an adjunct assistant professor within the BSN-DNP Nurse Anesthesia Pathway at UAB while maintaining a clinical anesthesia practice at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Birmingham.

“Opening a new nurse anesthesia training program is a crowning achievement in my career, and the University of Mobile is the perfect setting,” Hicks said. “The School of Nurse Anesthesia offers an opportunity for Gulf Coast nurses to pursue advanced training in the form of the DNAP degree in order to become a CRNA and fill an employment gap, culminating in the increase of access to anesthesia services for the Mobile metro area and beyond.”

The new doctoral program provides more career options for healthcare professionals and is a response to the increasing demand nationwide for nurse anesthetists. The specialty is expected to grow by more than 30 percent in the next decade, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The 36-month doctoral degree program is designed for students on a path to becoming Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists. The curriculum is offered in a blended format, combining on-site and online learning. Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree and more than one full year of critical care nursing experience.

Students earning the DNAP are eligible to take the National Certification Examination required to become a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist.

The university is accepting applications for the second cohort of students who will begin the program in August 2022. To learn more or apply for admission, visit umobile.edu/dnap. For more information, call Enrollment Services at 251.442.2222.

About the University of Mobile

The University of Mobile is a Christ-centered liberal arts and sciences institution with a vision of higher education for a higher purpose, founded to honor God by equipping students for their future professions through rigorous academic preparation and spiritual transformation. Core values are: Christ-Centered, Academically-Focused, Student-Devoted and Distinctively-Driven. The university offers on-campus and online bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in over 75 academic programs. Founded in 1961, the University of Mobile is affiliated with the Alabama Baptist State Convention and is located 10 miles north of Mobile, Alabama on a campus of over 880 acres.

 

For more information about the University of Mobile, visit the website at www.umobile.edu or call Enrollment Services at 1.800.WIN.RAMS or 251.442.2222.

Q&A with UM History Professor Matthew Downs

by Kathy Dean

Knowing the past can help us make sense of the present and plan for the future. That’s just one benefit of studying history, says Dr. Matthew Downs, University of Mobile history professor and dean of the College of Arts & Sciences.

“Studying history will not only help students understand themselves, their community and their world, but it will also provide a set of skills like critical thinking, analytical writing and effective communication. History is an exciting, interesting and adaptable major that fits a number of career and professional paths,” Dr. Downs said.

We asked him about teaching history at a Christian university where students are known by their professors.

Q: We say UM is a place where students can “Know and Be Known.” What does that mean to you?

A: I know my students. I see them in class, they visit me in my office, we pass on the quad, and we chat in the halls. The relationships we’re able to build allow me to meet the needs of my students in ways impossible at larger schools. For example, when an advisee expresses their interest in historical archives, we can work together to create an internship experience that explores that career. It’s one of the reasons I love working at UM.

Q: What is your favorite class to teach?

A: I teach a range of history courses, but my focus is usually on Modern American History. My favorite course has to be World War II, a popular class that I offer regularly. The War was a transformational event in modern history, and it gives me the opportunity to talk about the men and women whose wartime service resulted in an American and Allied victory. My grandfather was a WWII veteran and my grandmother was a “Rosie” Riveter – teaching the class helps me remember my own past as well!

Q: What history degrees are offered at the University of Mobile?

A: We offer a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science in History, and students have the option of taking additional courses to become certified to teach history at the secondary level. We also offer a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science in Public History that provides students with the knowledge, skills and experience to pursue a career in historical interpretation, historic and archival preservation, and museum work. The public history option combines traditional history courses with marketing, public relations and organizational communications courses.

Q: What is something students might not know about you?

A: It’s a poorly guarded secret that I play the banjo. I started as a teenager and took lessons before I went off to college. I love bluegrass, and the banjo is a great stress reliever; I can pick it up at night after a busy day and pluck out a few songs. It’s not uncommon, during the summer, for me to bring the banjo to campus and pick around in my office (with the door closed, of course).

New Master of Music Education Program Enrolling Now at University of Mobile

by Kathy Dean

MOBILE, Ala. – The Alabama School of the Arts at the University of Mobile is accepting applications for the new Master of Music in music education program.

The non-certification program is designed for both part-time and full-time music educators interested in pursuing professional graduate training in a Christ-centered environment. Classes offered in online and hybrid formats are taught by faculty who are teacher-artists active in their field.

The Master of Music in music education prepares graduates to continue toward doctoral programs in music education. Graduates may gain qualification for career advancement opportunities while expanding the reach of their current music academic program. The Master of Music in music education program is approved by the National Association of Schools of Music and SACSCOC.

“The Alabama School of the Arts is one of only a handful of graduate music programs in the United States that offers cross-stylistic musical training in both the applied studio and classroom,” said Dr. Maryann Kyle, chair of graduate programs and professor of voice and vocal pedagogy.

“Our creative and caring environment will broaden your knowledge and application of performance and teaching skills that will equip you to thrive in this ever-changing music marketplace,” Kyle added.

Apply at umobile.edu/apply for classes beginning in August. For more information about the Alabama School of the Arts at the University of Mobile, visit umobile.edu/asota or call Enrollment Services at 251.442.2222.

About the University of Mobile

The University of Mobile is a Christ-centered liberal arts and sciences institution with a vision of higher education for a higher purpose, founded to honor God by equipping students for their future professions through rigorous academic preparation and spiritual transformation. Core values are: Christ-Centered, Academically-Focused, Student-Devoted and Distinctively-Driven. The university offers on-campus and online bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in over 75 academic programs. Founded in 1961, the University of Mobile is affiliated with the Alabama Baptist State Convention and is located 10 miles north of Mobile, Alabama on a campus of over 880 acres.

For more information about the University of Mobile, visit the website at www.umobile.edu or call Enrollment Services at 1.800.WIN.RAMS or 251.442.2222.

Q&A with RamCorps Music Prof Kenn Hughes

by Kathy Dean

A RamCorps performance is something you’ll never forget. What you might not notice right away is the quiet professor who is usually standing off to the side as these talented students in the Alabama School of the Arts capture the spotlight. Kenn Hughes, music chair and associate dean for the Alabama School of the Arts, teaches more than musical excellence at the University of Mobile. He wants his students to be known for their compassion and heart for ministry, as well.  It’s something he models in his own life by helping organize music mission trips so that Christian musicians can share Jesus Christ with the world, encourage believers and minister to people through music.

We talked with Hughes about teaching at a Christian university where students are known by their professors.

Q: What do you like most about teaching at the University of Mobile?

A: Sharing a biblical world-view is extremely important to me as we join together as faculty, staff and students to share the love of Christ. The opportunity to not just “perform,” but to actually have students minister through their talents, is a great blessing.

Q: What courses do you typically teach?

A: In addition to the ensembles I direct, I teach Brass Pedagogy, Finale (music notation program), and my favorite course, Jazz History & Culture. The history of jazz is much more than a study of extraordinary American music. Jazz is a prism through which American history can be seen. Jazz is a story about race and race relations, the music that it created then shared with the rest of the world.

Q: What are some of the performance opportunities available to students?

A: We offer a one-of-a-kind performance opportunity with RamCorps which is a touring, high-powered, precision brass and percussion performance team that travels the world representing the university. Also, the University of Mobile Jazz Band has garnered much acclaim in recent years for our dynamic concerts featuring classic big band standards as well as innovative, contemporary arrangements.

Q: You have taught at UM for 11 years. What is your background?

A: I hold a master’s degree in music education from The Wichita State University and a bachelor’s degree in music education from The University of Oklahoma. As a trombonist, I have traveled to over 36 countries and toured with Casting Crowns, Natalie Grant, Avalon, Jaci Velasquez, Carman, TRUTH, Denver & The Mile High Orchestra, Salvador and Michael English. Additional performances with artists include Mandisa, Phil Keagy, Israel Houghton, Amy Grant, Bob Hope, Rosemary Clooney, Debby Boone, Dino and Russ Lee. I was also the principal trombonist with the Imperial Symphony Orchestra in Florida.

Q&A with UM Golf Coach TJ Jackson

by Kathy Dean

There is nothing better than being on a golf course when the weather is nice, says TJ Jackson. Fortunately, there are a lot of nice days in Mobile, Alabama, where Jackson is head men’s and women’s golf coach at the University of Mobile. Plus, UM’s 4-day academic week gives students Fridays off, meaning even more time on the golf course.

When he recruits student-athletes to one of the largest athletic programs in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics, Jackson said character, personality and strong faith are good starting points, then he looks for the most talented golfers who are committed to their academics.

We asked Jackson about his passion for golf and coaching at a Christian university where student-athletes are known.

Q: What is a typical week for student-athletes in men’s and women’s golf?

A: Commitment to being a student-athlete is the key. Our players have different class schedules which requires them to be both flexible and determined to achieve their goals, both academically and athletically. We typically condition twice a week and practice/play 4-6 days per week, weather permitting. It is difficult to get all the players together (we currently have 15 total players) for a team practice, so not having classes on Fridays is nice for that reason. Mondays through Thursdays we do mostly single or small group practices around their classes at the golf course. We are fortunate to have a lighted driving range on campus and Robert Trent Jones Magnolia Grove, which is about 15 minutes from campus, as our home practice facility.

Q: How do you help student-athletes balance their academic life and their athletic life?

A: First and foremost, our players are here to get their degree, so communication is a huge factor in scheduling practices around their class demands. Most of our players are very good at balancing everything, but sometimes they may need time away from golf for academic purposes.  As long as they are taking care of their priorities, then I am willing to be more flexible.

Q: You have coached at UM for almost 6 years. What is your background?

A: I graduated from the University of South Alabama where I majored in English in 1989. I played collegiate golf at the University of Kentucky, Spring Hill College and South Alabama and then gave it a shot at professional golf for 5 years on a variety of mini tours. I coached the South Alabama women’s team for 15 years prior to my current position here at UM.

Q: What are you passionate about?

A: I am passionate about the game of golf and the history of it. As I have aged, I have become very interested in history, which is funny, because I didn’t like it at all when I was in school. I am fortunate to have the opportunity to teach the golf class on campus, KIN 201, and part of that is the history of the game which dates back to the late 1800s in the U.S. The game itself basically has remained the same, but the styles, equipment, golf courses and technology have allowed the game to evolve drastically.

Q: UM offers “Higher Education for a Higher Purpose.” What does that mean for student-athletes?

A: It means that not only are they receiving a quality education with a very good professor/student ratio of 1 to 13, but when they graduate, they are prepared to not just start a career and make a living, they also have a faith-based perspective to share with others as they make their way through life.

Sarah Thomas to UM Grads: ‘Prove to Yourself that You Belong’

by Kathy Dean

MOBILE, Ala. – University of Mobile alumna Sarah Thomas broke glass ceilings to become the first female official in the National Football League, and she shared lessons learned on that journey during her commencement address to the UM Class of 2021.

The Christian university awarded the Doctor of Humane Letters to Thomas during an outdoor ceremony held on campus May 8. Degrees were awarded to 265 graduates, including the first doctoral degrees from the new Doctor of Nursing Practice and Doctor of Musical Arts in vocal performance programs.

Dr. Thomas graduated from the University of Mobile in 1995, having earned a basketball scholarship and Academic All-American honors. She began her football officiating career in 1996 when she attended a meeting for aspiring football officials with her brother. She became the first full-time female official in NFL history in 2015, and on Feb. 7, 2021, she became the first female to officiate a Super Bowl, serving as down judge for Super Bowl LV.

“I want to share a few things that I’ve learned after leaving the University of Mobile that have truly helped me to become the first female in the National Football League. But I don’t hide behind that title, it does not identify who I am,” Thomas said.

So many people get wrapped up in titles, she said, but graduates shouldn’t go through life trying to do things for the recognition.

“Do not go out in life trying to prove people wrong. That list of people will never end. It will exhaust you. Instead, you prove to yourself that you belong,” Thomas said.

“Go out and do something because you love it. The recognition will come. People will see it in you. The people you thought you had to prove wrong, they will fall by the wayside. Or, they will get in line and start respecting you on your merit.”

As she began her address, Thomas noted that UM President Lonnie Burnett told her she would have about 15 minutes to speak, “but no one would boo me if I cut it short. I think he failed to remember that I’m an NFL official. We get booed in a split second.”

As the audience laughed, she asked football fans to raise their hands and repeat after her: “I promise…from this day forward…I will no longer…boo the officials.”

Thomas congratulated and challenged graduates.

“What you did to be able to sit in that chair today is a huge accomplishment. But what you do with that accomplishment when you get out of that chair today will matter.”

She urged graduates to not fear failure.

“You’re going to come to a fork in the road at some point, and let’s say you choose left instead of right. When you get to that roadblock on the left, don’t start letting self-doubt creep in and make you wish you had chosen right. Instead, look at that roadblock as a speed bump, and the quicker you get over the speed bump, the faster it is in your rearview mirror,” Thomas said.

“When you put that in your rearview mirror, don’t look behind you. Don’t focus on it…Your windshield is so much bigger, and there are so many opportunities in front of you.”

Failing does not mean someone is a failure.

“Your best successes will come from your greatest failures,” she said.

She encouraged graduates to succeed in the right way.

“I’m going to leave you with this: It takes all kinds of people to run this world. But that doesn’t mean we can’t be kind to each other in making it a better place. Leave here today and go leave your mark, and make this world a better place.” 

About the University of Mobile

The University of Mobile is a Christ-centered liberal arts and sciences institution with a vision of higher education for a higher purpose, founded to honor God by equipping students for their future professions through rigorous academic preparation and spiritual transformation. Core values are: Christ-Centered, Academically-Focused, Student-Devoted and Distinctively-Driven. The university offers on-campus and online bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in over 75 academic programs. Founded in 1961, the University of Mobile is affiliated with the Alabama Baptist State Convention and is located 10 miles north of Mobile, Alabama on a campus of over 880 acres.

For more information about the University of Mobile, visit the website at www.umobile.edu or call Enrollment Services at 1.800.WIN.RAMS or 251.442.2222.

Super Bowl’s First Female Official Sarah Thomas to be Awarded Doctorate at University of Mobile

by Kathy Dean

MOBILE, Ala. – The University of Mobile will award the Doctor of Humane Letters to Sarah Bailey Thomas, a UM graduate who shattered glass ceilings and became the first female official to work a Super Bowl earlier this year.

Thomas will deliver the commencement address at the outdoor ceremony beginning at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 8. Graduation will be held at the Christian university campus on the Dr. Fred and Sue Lackey Great Commission Lawn and live streamed at umobile.edu/graduation.

More than 270 degrees will be awarded, including the first doctoral degrees from the University of Mobile’s new doctoral programs: the Doctor of Musical Arts in vocal performance, and the Doctor of Nursing Practice. The new Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice (DNAP) program begins in August.

University of Mobile President Lonnie Burnett said the university family looks forward to welcoming Thomas back to the campus where her career started in the basketball program as a Lady Ram.

“Sarah epitomizes what we want from our graduates. We tell them to go and make a difference in your chosen field. She never let obstacles keep her from pursuing her dreams,” Burnett said.

Thomas was born in Pascagoula, Mississippi, and earned a basketball scholarship to the University of Mobile, where she played from 1992 to 1995 and earned Academic All-American honors. She graduated in 1995 with a bachelor’s degree in communication and pursued a career in pharmaceutical sales.

Thomas also had a passion for sports. In following her calling, she has made history and shattered glass ceilings. She began her football officiating career in 1996 when she attended a meeting for aspiring football officials with her brother. She officiated at as many high school, junior varsity, middle school and pee-wee games as possible. Her hard work paid off, and in 2007 she was hired by Conference USA to become the first female to officiate for the NCAA’s Major College Football Bowl Division.

In 2015, she became the first full-time female official in NFL history. Her history-making game happened on Sept. 13, 2015, between Kansas City and Houston. Her hat, whistle and flag from that game are now on display at the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

On Feb. 7, 2021, she became the first female to officiate a Super Bowl, serving as down judge for Super Bowl LV.

Off the field, Thomas is a marketing specialist for Mid-South Rehab Inc., a national speaker for Keppler Speakers Bureau, and a skin care consultant for Rodan & Fields. She has been a national spokesperson for Activia yogurt; appeared on the Today Show, CBS Morning show and Good Morning America; been featured in Good Housekeeping and the New York Times; and was named ABC’s World News Tonight’s Person of the Week in April 2015.

About the University of Mobile

The University of Mobile is a Christ-centered liberal arts and sciences institution with a vision of higher education for a higher purpose, founded to honor God by equipping students for their future professions through rigorous academic preparation and spiritual transformation. Core values are: Christ-Centered, Academically-Focused, Student-Devoted and Distinctively-Driven. The university offers on-campus and online bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in over 75 academic programs. Founded in 1961, the University of Mobile is affiliated with the Alabama Baptist State Convention and is located 10 miles north of Mobile, Alabama on a campus of over 880 acres.

For more information about the University of Mobile, visit the website at www.umobile.edu or call Enrollment Services at 1.800.WIN.RAMS or 251.442.2222.

Former President Dr. Michael A. Magnoli Remembered

by Kathy Dean

University of Mobile flags have been lowered to half staff in honor of the university’s second president, Dr. Michael A. Magnoli, who died May 1, 2021.

Dr. Magnoli served as president of his alma mater from 1984 to 1997.

He was a member of the then-Mobile College charter class of 1967 where he served as editor of The Rampage yearbook and was a campus leader, helping establish many of the university’s traditions that continue today.

He joined the Mobile College administration and served in development, becoming president upon the retirement of founding president Dr. William K. Weaver Jr.

He led a change in organizational structure that resulted in Mobile College becoming the University of Mobile on July 1, 1993. Under his leadership, the college expanded athletic facilities and started an intercollegiate athletic program that is now one of the largest in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics. The university won its first NAIA national championships in men’s and women’s tennis, men’s golf and women’s soccer during his tenure. The first master’s degree programs were started in education, business administration, nursing and religion. Residential and academic facilities were constructed. The university opened a branch campus in Nicaragua, graduating over 250 students until the campus was sold in 2000.

Several of the university’s signature landmarks were established during Dr. Magnoli’s presidency, including the Sentinel 18 Fountain sculpture. Lyon Chapel, originally built in 1883 as St. Stephens Baptist Church in St. Stephens, Alabama, was moved to campus and restored in 1988.

A Memorial and Celebration of Life service will be held Friday, May 7, at 2 p.m. at Dauphin Way United Methodist Church in Mobile, Alabama.

Q&A with UM School of Nursing Dean Barnes-Witherspoon

by Kathy Dean

Caring for people who are sick and afraid requires more than the ability to give an injection or set up an IV. As a student in the School of Nursing at the University of Mobile, you learn from a team of professors with more than 100 years of combined clinical experience, plus you have the advantage of the state-of-the-art Center for Excellence in Healthcare Practice. We asked Dr. Sarah Barnes-Witherspoon, dean of the School of Nursing in the College of Health Professions, for an inside look at what it’s like to teach and learn in this Christ-centered academic community.

Q: What is your background?

A: My career in health care began in 1973 as a mental health worker, License Practical Nurse (Southwest State Technical Institute), Registered Nurse (Bishop State), BSN and MSN (Mobile College/University of Mobile). I learned how to balance family, church, work and school. Failure was never an option. I had over 27 years of employment at Searcy Hospital (never a dull moment!). During those years, I was certified as a psychiatric-mental health nurse and worked with the State of Alabama as a legal nurse consultant. My professional first love is psychiatric-mental health nursing.

Q: You said God called you to teach at UM. Tell us your UM story.

A: My employment at the University of Mobile happened unexpectedly. One Sunday evening, a former colleague called and asked if I was interested in teaching psychiatric-mental health nursing. Later that day, Dr. Rosemary Adams, dean of the School of Nursing, called and asked me to come in for an interview on Monday morning. I had a job offer mid-week, and I didn’t know what to do.

So I began to pray to God for direction. I was working at a job that I loved, and a new opportunity was mine as well. After about a week, God spoke to me and said, “I gave this to you.” My response was, thank you, Lord! August 2021 is my 20th anniversary at UM. In 2016, I received my terminal degree (Ph.D.) at William Carey University. While at UM, I advanced from instructor through all of the various ranks. Now, I serve as the dean of nursing. I have not regretted one moment. I challenge whoever is reading my statement to do your part, and the Lord will elevate you in due season.

Q: Why should someone choose to study nursing at UM?

A: The University of Mobile School of Nursing program is personable. The nursing faculty members maintain an open-door policy and know each student by name. They have worked at the bedside and have many years of experience and expertise to share. The faculty expects professionalism, honesty, integrity and compassion from our student nurses.

Q: What is your favorite class to teach and why?

A: My favorite class is Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing because I can reminisce about my Searcy years and provide many real-life experiences. Then I have the opportunity to role-play some of the psych-disorders. Many people fear the idea of working with individuals who are diagnosed with a psych disorder. Working in a psychiatric facility is disturbing when a person is experiencing a psychotic episode. But, I’m delighted when the medications begin to work, and the individual can return home.

Q: UM offers “Higher Education for a Higher Purpose.” What does that mean to you?

A: We all have a purpose-driven life. In health care, “it’s not about you.” Nurses serve individuals when they are in their most vulnerable states. Education is the foundation that prepares nurses for a higher purpose. As a nurse, a touch, smile, greeting, or conversation may be the only kindness a patient receives.

 

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