Nineteen70s

M. Doolittle Stone (’72) was elected to the Johnsonville City Council in June 2015.

Diane Scarborough (’77) was awarded the Lawrence F. Swails Award at the 2015 biology alumni awards reception.

Dennis Sullen (’77, ’91) was awarded the Professional Psychology Award at the 2015 psychology alumni awards reception.

Gene Newell (’78) passed away in September. The Hemingway native lived in Marietta, Ga.

 

Nineteen80s

Kathy Heustess (’81) joined the FMU Education Foundation Board of Directors in May 2015.

Cecilia Meggs (’83) served on the Advisory Committee for the Leadership of Florence class of 2015-2016.

Amey Lewis (’84) published a book entitled, “Nipper of Drayton Hall” in August 2015.

James Harrell (’85) joined the FMU Education Foundation Board of Directors in May 2015.

Dr. Terricita Sass (’87) was named Southern Connecticut State Universities Associate Vice President for Enrollment Management in July 2015.

Ken Jackson (’84) was named chairman of the FMU Board of Trustees.

Lisa Rivers (‘88) has been named girls basketball coach at Northwestern High in Rock Hill, SC. This is Rivers’ second stint at the helm of the Northwestern girl’s program. She was 109-46, including two region championships, from 1995-2000. She teaches science at the school and has been the Girls JV coach. Rivers (then Waldrop) was a freshman all-American at FMU in 1984 and a member of FMU’s 1986 NAIA National Championship team. She shares the school’s career record for games played, and is among the all-time leader in points and rebounds.

 

Nineteen90s

Dr. Shirley Bausmith (’91, ‘94) has been appointed to the South Carolina Council for Competitiveness. Bausmith is Dean of the FMU School of Education and an FMU faculty member. She was recently promoted to full professor.

Wendy Frazier (’92, ’93) accepted the position of Principal at Dewey L. Carter Elementary School in June 2015.

Brian Bonds (’93) was named the 2014-2015 SC Surveyor of the year by the South Carolina Society of Professional Land Surveyors.

Brian Coll (’93) & wife Christy welcomed a new baby boy, Bodhi Patrick Coll in April 2015.

Jennifer Cribb Evans (’93) has been promoted to Senior Director at Lauritzen Gardens (Omaha Botanical Gardens) in Omaha, Nebraska.  She has been employed with Lauritzen Gardens for 11 years.

Chad Hensley (’93) participated in the 2015-2016 Leadership of Florence Class.

Amy Richardson (‘94) was named the 2015-2016 Teacher of the Year at J.C. Lynch Elementary School.

Tim Hill (‘95) joined the FMU Alumni Association Board of Directors in 2015.

Laura Stuckey (’97) participated in the 14th Non-Profit Leadership Institute class at FMU .

Patricia Boatwright (‘98) has joined the faculty as an assistant professor of education. She has an M.Ed. in Learning Disabilities from Francis Marion University and a B.S. in Elementary Education.

Jason Hewitt has joined the faculty as a teaching assistant in nursing. He has an MSN (Family Nurse Practitioner) and BSN from FMU.

Antwoin Bryant (‘98) was awarded membership into the Business Records 16th Annual Forty Under 40 class of 2015.

Brian Gandy (‘98) has been selected as the new Director for the Darlington County Historical Commission in July 2015.

Christina Lawson (‘98) participated in the 14th Non-Profit Leadership Institute class at FMU in 2015.

Emma Cromedy (‘99) operates the Southern Cake Queen Food Truck, which was named one of the 12 best food trucks in Charlotte in 2015.

Noah Garrett (‘99) was awarded membership into the Business Records 16th Annual Forty Under 40 class of 2015.

RobAnne “Rami” Moody (‘99) passed away on January 17, 2016.

Shane Ridgeway (‘99) joined the Emmanuel Christian School staff in Hartsville as the Upper School Principal and Athletic Director in June 2015.

 

Two Thousands

Kelly M. Smith Arias (’00) has been rated an AV Preeminent Attorney by Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings, a noted legal rating service. Arias a managing partner with the Arias Law Group in Hollywood, Fl.

Ruben Freeman (‘01) was nominated for The Social Scene Award for Best DJ/Radio Announcer in 2015.

Rod Ruth (‘01) was named principal of Clover High School in August 2015.

Leah Barley (‘02) was named the 2015-2016 Florence School District One Teacher of the Year in September 2015.

Bernadette Johnson (‘02) was promoted to reference librarian at FMU in August 2015.      

Atwood McIntosh (‘02, ’05) debuted a men’s wear line, “Homegrown Cotton” in July 2015.

Staci Stevens (‘02) was named the 2015-2016 Teacher of the Year at Lake City Early Childhood Center.

Richard Warrin (‘02, ’05) has joined the staff of Springs Memorial Hospital in Lancaster, SC., as their Assistant Chief Executive Officer.

Joshua Barr (‘03) was named Director of the Des Moines, Iowa) Civil and Human Rights Department, a branch of the Des Moines city government. Barr’s department is responsible for investigating discrimination claims in the city and educating residents on civil rights issues.

Susan Oliver (‘03) was featured in the play “Crimes of the Heart” at the Florence Little Theater in November 2015.

Nicole Brooks (‘04) was named the 2015-2016 Teacher of the Year at J. Paul Truluck Intermediate School.

Charlie Griffin (’05) has joined Bank of America Merrill Lynch’s commercial banking team in Columbia, S.C. as a vice president and relationship manager. Griffin joined Bank of America in 2011.

Jonathan Grimes (’05) was featured in the publication “Be Modern Man” in 2015.

Erin Gandy (‘06) & Jeremiah Stache were married in October 2015.

Erving Rivers (‘06) was inducted into the Battery Creek (S.C.) High School Athletic Hall of Fame. Rivers played basketball at FMU and later, for the Harlem Globetrotters.

Angie Follweiler Smith (‘06) has been inducted into the Newberry College Athletic Hall of Fame. Follweiler Smith was a softball pioneer at Newberry where she was the first Newberry softballer to earn all-conference honors and led the Lady Indians to the 1999 South Atlantic Conference title. She earned her Masters in Education from FMU and teaches and coaches in Kershaw County where she lives with her husband and their son Dylan.

Meg Temple(‘06) participated in the 2015-2016 Leadership of Florence Class.

Andrea Luppe (‘07) participated in the 2015-2016 Leadership of Florence Class.

Michelle Anderlik (‘08) participated in the 2015-2016 Leadership of Florence Class.

Tina Duarte (‘08) was named the 2015-2016 Teacher of the Year at Scranton Elementary School.

David Bounds (‘08) has been named General Manager of the new Ripken Baseball Experience operation in Pigeon Forge, Tenn. Bounds will oversee operations at new $22.5 million facility for youth baseball in Pigeon Forge. Bounds has been with Ripken Baseball for five years.

Dr. Erica James (‘09) has joined the faculty as an assistant professor of psychology. She has a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from the University of Georgia, an M.S. in Applied Psychology from FMU and a B.S. in Psychology from the College of Charleston.

Dr. Jennifer K. Lyles (‘09) has joined the faculty as an assistant professor of biology. She has a Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences from the University of Florida and a B.S. in Biology from FMU.

Lauren Stanton (‘09) participated in the 2015-2016 Leadership of Florence Class.

 

Two Thousand10s

Erica Buffkin (‘10) joined the FMU staff as a Student Service Counselor in the Registrar’s Office in September 2015.

Michael Courtney (‘10) & Ada Bickers were married in August 2015.

Jennifer Evans (’10) received her Doctorate of Chiropractic from Palmer College of Chiropractic in December 2013 and received the Leadership FMU Alumni Legacy Award. Dr. Evans is chiropractor with Eastern Carolina Medicine.

Amanda Gudgel (’10) received her Doctorate of Veterinary Science from the University of Tennessee in May 2015. She is an intern at Nashville Veterinary Specialists and Animal Emergency.

Jami Kirby (’10) was named the 2015-2016 Teacher of the Year at Olanta Elementary School.

Sam McLellan (’10) served as a Baptist Collegiate Ministry Intern at FMU for the 2015-2016 school year and joined the staff of First Baptist Church in Florence as the Minister of Students.

Leigh Ann Woods (‘10) has joined the faculty as a teaching assistant in nursing. She has a BSN from FMU.

Kayla L. Duncan (‘11) has joined the faculty as an instructor of psychology. She has an M.S. of Applied Psychology in Clinical Psychology and a B.S. in Psychology from FMU.

James R. Hill (’11) has joined the faculty as a teaching assistant in nursing. He has a BSN from FMU and an ADN from Florence-Darlington Technical College.

Whittney A. Godwin (’11) has joined the faculty as an instructor of nursing. She has a MSN from the University of Phoenix, a B.S. in Nursing from FMU and a B.S. in Biological Sciences from the University of South Carolina.

Kelsi Harper (’11, ’13) has joined the faculty as an instructor of psychology. She has an M.S. in Applied Psychology and a B.S. in Psychology from FMU.

Kinsey Coyt Byrd (’12) married Jeffrey Heyward Johnson in September. Byrd Johnson teaches 5th grade ELA at Brunson-Dargan Elementary in Hartsville.

Caren Chinich (’12, ’15 ) married Lee Maxwell on November 8, 2015. Chinich Maxwell is employed as a nurse at Pee Dee Cardiology and the emergency room at McLeod Hospital; she received her Master’s of Nursing: Family Nurse Practitioner degree from FMU in December 2015.

Roger Polsky (’12) has joined the faculty as a teaching assistant in nursing. He has a BSN and a B.S. in Mathematics from FMU.

Gregory Belk (’12) & Madeline Reed were married in July 2015. Belk was accepted into the mechanical engineering program at Midlands Technical College.

Joshua Gause (’12) & Megan Benson were married in June 2015.

Mark Warrin (‘12) participated in the 2015-2016 Leadership of Florence Class.

Miranda Y. Christy (‘13) has joined the faculty as teaching assistant in Nursing. She has a MSN in Nursing Education and a BSN from FMU.

Paulo De Guzman (‘13) was elected as the Student Body President of the Davao Medical School Foundation, Inc. in 2015.

Tiara Felder (‘13) began teaching at Ronald E. McNair Middle School in 2015.

Madeline Reed (’13) & Gregory Belk were married in July 2015. Reed-Belk was was accepted into USC School of Pharmacy.

Kirby Register (’13) was named the 2015-2016 Darlington School District Teacher of the Year in September 2015. Register graduated with a Master in Education from FMU in December 2015.

Joseph O. Sande (’13) has joined the faculty as a teaching assistant in nursing. He has an MSN (Family Nurse Practitioner) and the BSN from FMU and the AAS in Nursing.

William “Cody” Simpson (’13) served as the Co-Chair of the Leadership of Florence class in 2015. Simpson accepted the title of Admission’s Counselor in August 2015.

Brittany Stephenson (’13) & James Edwards were married in September 2015.

John Tellis (’13) married Genevieve Kennebeck on December 12, 2015. Tellis has accepted the position of Industrial Engineering Intern at Otis Elevators. Genevieve is a senior at FMU.

Mary Batchelor (’14) served as a Baptist Collegiate Ministry Intern at FMU for the 2015-2016 school year.

Joshua Lloyd (‘14) was the winner of the first-ever “Skating with the Stars” event at the Florence Civic Center. Lloyd was skating as a celebrity contestant, based on his position as a staff writer with the Florence Morning News. He donated his winnings to the Miracle League of Florence.

Paden Capps (’14) participated in the 14th Non-Profit Leadership Institute class at FMU in 2015. Capps recently accepted a position with McLeod Health.

Hannah Williams (’14) was named the 2015-2016 Teacher of the Year at Main Street Elementary School.

Jessica Imbimbo (‘14) has accepted a position as a staff reporter with the Florence Morning News.

Ciera Cyrus (’15) accepted the position as Art teacher at Fairfield Central High School in August 2015; she was also awarded the 2015 Donna H. Goodman Community Service Award in Art Education by the FMU Department of Fine Arts.

Dustin James (’15) joined the FMU staff as an Admission’s Counselor.

Benjamin Keane (’15) began teaching at Southside Middle School in 2015.

Virginia Ott (’15) & Bradford Robinson were married in June 2015.

 

Friends & Faculty

Dr. Makram A. Bishara, Professor Emeritus of Education, passed away on January 13, 2016. Dr. Bishara was a member of the faculty of the FMU School of Education from 1986 to 2000.

Professor Joseph T. Stukes, professor of history emeritus and former chair of the FMU Department of History, passed away on January 12, 2016.