2022 Distinguished Alumni Recipients Bring Honor to the Schools, Departments in Which They Studied
They have excelled in a number of professional disciplines, from business, healthcare and the law to academia, ministry, and the arts.
They have inspired countless students to follow in their footsteps and one day surpass their many achievements.
They have represented Mississippi College with distinction, personifying the University’s values while serving others and modeling their Christian faith.
They are recipients of individual school and departmental Alumni of the Year awards for 2022, and they embody the best characteristics of the MC Family.
Department of Art Distinguished Alumnus of the Year
Derek Walker ’12, ’14, is the owner and creative director of Dnubb Design, a creative design studio in Madison. He had previously served as creative director at Broadmoor Baptist Church in Madison, and has also put his creative skills to work for Solve Design Studio, Creative Distillery, and the Hightower Agency.
Since founding his own studio, Walker has partnered with more than 100 local, national, and international churches, ministries, and businesses on graphic design, branding, and visual identity projects. He leads design talks at church ministry conferences and has served as an adjunct instructor with MC’s Department of Art.
Department of Biological Sciences Distinguished Alumnus of the Year
Dr. Charles Lindsey Belknap ’01, a dentist with the Pediatric Dental Group of Hattiesburg and Laurel, was previously chief resident in the University of Mississippi Pediatric and Public Health Dentistry Program. A graduate of the University of Mississippi School of Dentistry, Belknap also studied in Germany as an undergraduate exchange student.
Recipient of the International College of Dentists Student Leadership Award and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry Student Award, he has received many honors recognizing his outstanding scholarship and service in his field.
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry Distinguished Young Alumna of the Year
Dr. Ashley McDonald ’04 is a tenured associate professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at California Polytechnic State University. She earned her Ph.D. in theoretical chemistry at Georgia Tech and was a postdoctoral fellow in the Center for Computer Aided Drug Design at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy.
At Cal Poly, she and her team of undergraduate research students recently developed a computational model for a protein that could someday be used in treating breast cancer. Recipient of Cal Poly’s 2018 Outstanding Faculty Award, she serves on the board of the Molecular Sciences Software Institute and is the author of the book, “Teaching Programming Across the Chemistry Curriculum.”
Department of Christian Studies Distinguished Alumnus of the Year
Dr. Gordon Sansing ’64 is director of church relations at Mississippi Baptist Hospital, a position he has had for more than a decade. Previously a staff pastor at Baptist churches in Marks, Pontotoc, Vicksburg, and Forest, his denominational service includes positions on the boards of trustees of MC, Blue Mountain College, Mississippi Baptist Medical Center, and Mississippi Baptist Health System. He has also served on the Mississippi Baptist Convention Board.
Department of Communication Distinguished Alumna of the Year
Patrice Guilfoyle ’12 is communications director for the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson, where she oversees magazine and news operations of the state’s only academic medical center. She previously served as communications director for the Mississippi Department of Education. A former journalist, she worked at “The News-Star” in Monroe, Louisiana, and “The Clarion-Ledger” in Jackson.
A past president of the Public Relations Association of Mississippi, vice president of membership for the Southern Public Relations Federation, and communications representative for the Group on Institutional Advancement of the Association of American Medical Colleges, she serves on the board of Ballet Mississippi.
Department of Communication Distinguished Young Alumna of the Year
Kaley Winstead Olson ‘13 is director of creative programming at Proverbs 31 Ministries in Charlotte, North Carolina, where she partners with teams on strategic planning and oversees ministry programming for events and video productions. She plans communication activities for ministry program launches, including the She Speaks Conference for Christian communicators. She is the producer and co-host of the Proverbs 31 Ministries Podcast, which has garnered more than 14 million downloads since its launch in 2018.
Department of Engineering, Computer Science, and Physics Distinguished Alumnus of the Year
Dr. D. Brian Letort ’01 has worked in the IT organization of Northrop Grumman Corporate for more than two decades. He now serves as a fellow and chief enterprise architect for the Grumman corporate office, overseeing the strategies, investments, and contributions to major initiatives needed to run the enterprise.
Lead data architect for proposals of up to $13 billion in contract value, he also enjoys teaching data science as an adjunct professor at Southern New Hampshire University and Colorado Technical University. He obtained his doctorate from Capella University, holds two patents, and has authored multiple publications, including two books.
Department of Counseling Distinguished Alumnus of the Year
Heath Gerald Ferguson ’19 is director of pastoral care and faith relations for the Mississippi Baptist Medical Center. A graduate of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, he is an ordained Southern Baptist Minister, board-certified chaplain, and licensed professional counselor.
During the height of the COVID-19 epidemic, he and his staff pledged to be at the bedside of every COVID-19 patient in Mississippi Baptist Medical Center; their commitment kept hundreds of patients from being alone when their families and friends were not allowed to be with them. He is an elder of Redemption Church in Madison.
Department of English and Philosophy Distinguished Alumnus of the Year
Edsel Eugene Cliburn ’90 followed in his grandfather’s (L E. Cliburn ’28) footsteps as a teacher and administrator. During his time in the classroom, he was selected as the Philadelphia Elementary Teacher of the Year and Wal-Mart Teacher of the Year. Cliburn later served in principal and assistant superintendent roles and was selected as Administrator of the Year four times by the Union Public School District.
During his tenure as principal, Union Elementary School received the Champions of Change and Lighthouse Awards from the Mississippi Department of Education and was recognized as one of the top-performing elementary schools in the state. Cliburn now works for a private education company that partners with school districts across the Southeast to provide high school dropouts the opportunity to earn their diplomas.
Department of History and Political Science Distinguished Alumnus of the Year
Clyde Earl Shelley, Jr. ‘86 is a personnel security specialist with the FBI Security Division. He is a senior law enforcement executive and a strategic planner with a track record of building FBI teams ready to respond in high-pressure environments. Shelley’s expert understanding of risk management, security operations, and investigations is based on 30 years of federal law enforcement experience with the FBI and the Drug Enforcement Administration.
He was previously the top executive for the Dallas Field Division of the DEA, where he coordinated the work of 400 staff members, managed a $14 million budget, and developed a strategic plan for targeting criminals across a 175,000-square mile of responsibility.
Department of Kinesiology Distinguished Alumna of the Year
Dr. Randi Moak Richardson ’07 is a clinical assistant professor in the University of Central Florida’s School of Kinesiology and Physical Therapy. She provides physical therapy care to the UCF community in the UCF Physical Therapy Clinic and assists with mentorship and clinical instruction of doctoral students in the UCF physical therapy program.
She has a doctorate from the University of Mississippi, where she also received extensive training as a sports physical therapy resident working with high school, college, and professional athletes. Her clinical experience includes treating and managing a large outpatient orthopedic and sports medicine clinic in Orlando. As a student at MC, she played collegiate softball.
Masters of Health Services Administration Program Distinguished Alumnus of the Year
Hulio Griffin ’06 has been fighting Medicare and Medicaid fraud, waste, and abuse for 19 years. As the acting deputy director of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Center for Program Integrity, Fraud Investigations Group, he provides oversight to all state Medicaid program integrity units in the country.
Griffin was previously a branch chief manager in the Atlanta Regional Office of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, where he provided direction and guidance to inspectors in eight states, including Mississippi. He has served as a state auditor with the Mississippi Medicaid Agency, conducting performance audits to identify fraud, waste, and abuse. He received the 2022 Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Honor Award for operational excellence, and was also named the Center for Program Integrity 2021 Fraud Investigations Group Employee of the Year.
Masters of Higher Education Administration Program Distinguished Alumnus of the Year
Pernell Howard Goodwin ’16 has focused his career on providing services to students identified as being at-risk, including disabled students and students of color. Goodwin has made a personal commitment to impacting students’ lives in a way that will maximize their collegiate experience and personal growth.
He has had positions in student development, admissions, and enrollment with Belhaven University, Mississippi Valley State University, Jackson State University, and Hinds Community College, where his successes have included measurable enrollment increases and increased student involvement. Goodwin founded the 100 Men of Utica program to start conversations surrounding real young men, real situations, and real solutions.
Department of Mathematics Distinguished Alumna of the Year
Charlotte Madden McMath ’77, ’80 launched what would become a 35-year teaching career at MC in 1984. During her tenure, she served as chief judicial officer and was a member of the Student Services and Activities Committee, whose major responsibility was the selection of students for the annual Who’s Who. She also served on the faculty council, supervised and managed the mathematics tutoring center, and sponsored the MC chapter of the Mathematical Association of America.
As passionate supporters of the MC basketball and golf team, she and her husband, John, are two-time recipients of the National M Club’s Distinguished Service Award. She recently received emerita status from MC. The University’s new golf facility will be christened the John and Charlotte McMath Golf Center.
Department of Modern Languages Distinguished Alumna of the Year
Ruth Ann Broom Moss’ passion for education and justice led her to serve as a Teach for America Corps member shortly after her college graduation in 2012. She taught Spanish in Jackson Public Schools before joining the staff at Teach For America-Alabama, where she was consistently ranked as one of the top 10 highest-performing coaches in the national organization.
Moss shifted to the early childhood education sector in 2019 to launch Birmingham Talks, one of the largest ed-tech providers in the country. She now serves as executive director of the organization. Moss has a master’s degree in education from Samford University.
Department of Music Distinguished Alumnus of the Year
Dr. Lewis E. Oswalt ’75 joined the MC faculty in 1989 and served MC for 30 years. He taught courses in church music, theory, and music history, and conducted the MC Madrigal Singers, Women’s Chorus, and Men’s Glee. He also served as the announcer for hundreds of MC sporting events, including more than 20 years as the public address announcer for Choctaw football.
Oswalt has been the primary PA announcer for the Midsouth Association of Independent Schools for more than 15 years and is a former radio play-by-play announcer for Clinton High School football. A committed church musician, he served approximately two dozen Mississippi churches in a part-time or interim music leadership capacity. A member of the executive committee of the Southern Baptist Church Music Conference, he is editor of the conference “Journal.”
Department of Music Distinguished Young Alumna of the Year
Dr. Kristen Johnson Gunn ’03 has received national acclaim as a singer and teacher. She has performed at New York’s Lincoln Center and on stage in Italy, Belgium, and South Africa. She had the title of Mississippi, Southern Regional, and national finalist in the 2014 National Association of Teachers of Singing Artist Awards.
A former associate professor of voice and coordinator of musical theatre and opera productions at MC, she directs the Meridian Symphony Chorus and remains an active performer, private voice teacher, and voice adjudicator at the state, regional and national levels. She has a master’s degree and doctoral degrees from Florida State University.
Department of Physician Assistant Studies Distinguished Alumna of the Year
Joanna Mason ’15 is a physician assistant in family practice at Baptist Medical Clinic in Richland. She returned to full-time clinical practice following four years as an assistant professor in the MC Physician Assistant Program. Mason is affiliated with the Mississippi Academy of Physician Assistants.
Department of Psychology Distinguished Alumna of the Year
Anne Elizabeth Sinclair ’03, ’08 is a licensed professional counselor and therapist working in private practice at mindCARES in Ridgeland. She is also an adjunct instructor of psychology at MC. She began her clinical experience at Grace Christian Counseling Center in Vicksburg, a resource that provides therapy for those in need, regardless of ability to pay.
Sinclair specializes in trauma treatment and is a certified EMDR (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing) therapist. EMDR is a specialized psychotherapy method used to help people recover from traumatic events and from PTSD, anxiety, depression, and other mental health conditions caused by the memories of those traumatic events. She advocates for reducing the stigma surrounding mental illness.
School of Business Distinguished Alumna of the Year
Paula Graves Ardelean ’83 majored in accounting at MC before graduating cum laude from the University of Mississippi School of Law. As an attorney with Butler Snow, Ardelean has represented employers throughout the United States. In 2022, Best Lawyers in America named her Management’s Lawyer of the Year in Employment Law. She is also a fellow of the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers.
Ardelan received the Mississippi Bar Young Lawyer Division President’s Award for Public Service and later served as president of the division. She also served on the governing body of the Labor and Employment Section of the American Bar Association. She currently serves on the executive board of the Andrew Jackson Council, Boy Scouts of America, and the MC School of Business Advisory Board.
MC School of Law Distinguished Lawyer of the Year
Hon. David Bell McCarty ’04 is a judge on the Court of Appeals for the State of Mississippi. He served as an adjunct professor for MC Law from 2005-20, and was named MC Law Adjunct Professor of the Year in 2017. He was a cum laude graduate of MC Law, where he served as articles editor of the “Law Review” and competition chair of the Moot Court Board.
McCarty co-founded the Appellate Practice Section of the Mississippi Bar. As a solo practitioner, he presented more than 30 oral arguments before the Mississippi Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, and Fifth Circuit, and was counsel of record in more than 80 state and federal appeals. He serves as a bencher in the Charles Clark Inns of Court and co-chair of the Bench and Bar committee of the Capital Area Bar Association.
MC School of Law Distinguished Young Lawyer of the Year
Tamarra A. Bowie ’18 uses her legal skills to help those who otherwise would have no voice in the legal system. In addition to her work with the Bowie Law Firm, she is the founder of the Criminal Appeals Law Center of Mississippi and the founder and CEO of the People in Poverty Legal Group, Inc. She also serves as a parent defender in the Hinds County Youth Court and as a contract attorney with the Mississippi Center for Justice.
During her service with the Youth Court, she realized the critical need for housing for parents and children. Bowie is currently working on a grant-funded project building a tiny house village for parents and children.
School of Nursing Distinguished Alumnus of the Year
Donald Gregory Tisdale, Jr. ‘12 is a nurse practitioner and founder of On-site Health, a company that provides much-needed, in-home healthcare for low-income Mississippians and those living in rural areas without easy access to healthcare facilities. In addition to providing physical care, Tisdale focuses on hands-on patient education, teaching Mississippians to take better care of themselves and their families.
Tisdale saw first-hand the desperate need for care for “unreached” people during medical mission trips to the Philippines, Haiti, Guatemala, Iraq, and Cuba. He soon realized there were equally “unreached” populations in Mississippi. Tisdale opened On-site Health, the modern version of house calls, in 2021.
School of Nursing Distinguished Young Alumna of the Year
Brianna Pendergrass ’12, ’14 graduated cum laude and magna cum laude from MC, earning bachelor’s degrees in nursing and exercise science. Before entering graduate school, she gained experience as an emergency room and post-anesthesia care nurse. She earned her master’s in nursing from Belmont, graduating magna cum laude, and became a family nurse practitioner.
In 2020, Pendergrass joined the U.S. Air Force as a flight nurse. She was the Distinguished Graduate at the School of Aerospace Medicine, an award bestowed upon the top student. She practices as a nurse practitioner at Maxem Family Urgent Care Clinic in Flowood, and serves part-time as a flight nurse for the Mississippi Air National Guard.
Department of Sociology and Social Work Distinguished Alumna of the Year
Kristen Lorraine Torres ’16 works on Capitol Hill as a legislative assistant for Congressmember Judy Chu of California’s 27th District. Torres’ legislative portfolio includes issues related to immigration, civil and voting rights, labor, social security, and child welfare. She previously worked for First Focus on Children, a bipartisan federal advocacy organization.
Torres led the State Policy Advocacy and Reform Center, a coalition of 65 state child welfare advocacy organizations with a focus on improving outcomes for children in the welfare system. During her time as an MC student, Torres served as the first social work intern for the Hinds County Public Defender’s Office. She has a master’s degree in social work from the University of Alabama.
Department of Teacher Education and Leadership Distinguished Alumna of the Year
Dr. Stephanie Henderson ’06, ’15 is an associate professor in the MC School of Education. She has a degree in economics from Spelman College, an M.B.A. from Millsaps College, and education specialist and education doctorate degrees in educational leadership from MC. She has built a career of “firsts” - she was the first African-American female and the youngest person to serve as interim superintendent of the Brookhaven School District, and was the first African American to serve as chair of the Department of Teacher Education and Leadership at MC.
A sponsor of MC’s Multicultural Student Association and Kissimmee Social Tribe, Henderson is active in the National Association of Junior Auxiliaries, the National Alumni Association of Spelman College, Magnolia Speech School, and Mission First.
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