Baylor Interdisciplinary Core

Kristina “Krissy” Doerner Guidi (’00): Read our recent interview with Krissy for an update on her life and work. Krissy is a Baylor Regent and an attorney at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. She will be our distinguished guest for our 2020 BIC Alumni Homecoming Lecture.

Rob Sinclair (‘01): I am still living in Annapolis, MD with my wife Ann, four-year-old son Robbie, and one-year-old daughter Evie. I recently celebrated my 10 year anniversary with Anne Arundel County Police Communications where I work as a police dispatcher and 911 call taker (although the real celebration will come in 20 years when I retire). I hope everyone is staying safe and sane through the pandemic. Mask up, Black Lives Matter, and in the immortal words of Marshawn Lynch, take care of y’all’s chicken. One love.

Rachel Smith (’01): Read our recent interview with Rachel for an update on her life and work. Rachel practiced law at Baker Hostetler as an associate and then partner  for nearly 15 years. She left the firm in June 2019 to move with her husband, Michael, and two daughters, Olivia (11) and Claire (7) to Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Roman Hamidan (‘02): BA Arts Anthropology – Baylor 2002, M.Ed.- instructional specialist – UTEP 2007. Current profession- Secondary Mathematics Active Learning Leader for El Paso ISD. Previous: 15 years as a math teacher

David Ocamb (‘03): This year we moved up to the Northern Virginia / Washington DC metropolitan area so my wife could take over as Chief Development Officer for the Armed Services YMCA. I continue to work at the same advertising agency as the Chief Research Officer. Our son is now one year old and is still somehow relatively low maintenance and relaxed (comes from his mom!). While we have had to cut back on all of our usual international travel, we do continue with some domestic travel and anxiously await the time we can return to exploring this world around us!

Elizabeth (McDaniel) Kemker (’04) will be celebrating 15 years of marriage this fall to Benjamin Boone Kemker, Jr, who works for International Paper and is a Captain in the Tennessee National Guard. She and her husband live in Collierville, TN, a suburb of Memphis, and have two children, son Liam (9) and daughter Meredith (6). Elizabeth will also be marking her 12-year anniversary with CACI, Inc. as a senior business analyst supporting the United States Navy MyNavy HR enterprise.

Caleb Gardner (’05): Read our recent interview with Caleb for an update on his life and work. Caleb has worked for nonprofits, startups, and professional firms like Edelman and Bain & Company. Some of his most meaningful years were spent running digital strategy for President Obama’s political advocacy group, OFA. A few years ago, he co-founded an innovation consulting firm, 18 Coffees.

Mimi Wiggins Perreault (‘05): I recently moved from teaching at Appalachian State University to East Tennessee State University  (Fall 2020), where I am now an Assistant Professor of Media and Communication. I still live in Boone NC and commute to Johnson City, TN for work. In the past year I have worked on several teaching and research projects, including some with current Baylor faculty. I am still doing research on crisis communication, disasters, journalism, and Public Relations and advising the regional publication Overlooked in Appalachia (overlookedinappalachia.org).

Ashley Turner Parker (‘05): Since graduating, Ashley has been living in the Dallas area building a career in brand marketing. She earned her MBA from SMU in 2012 and has held a few different marketing and advertising positions with various companies since graduating from Baylor in 2005. More recently, she was the Head of Brand Marketing for Travelocity, and then when her son was born she made the move to a small advertising agency where she runs the client services group and consults with small and large businesses on how to build effective and meaningful brands. She married Talley Parker, an attorney in Dallas (originally from northwest Arkansas) back in 2013. They have a 2.5 year old son named Henley Brooks Parker and are expecting a baby girl in November!

Jessica (Govers) Darrouzet (‘09): After earning my BA degree in Economics with minors in Math and Political Science from Baylor, I taught high school math at an inner city school in Dallas. In 2010, I married Peter Darrouzet in Dallas. I became a stay at home mom when our first son William was born in 2011. He is now 9 and I also have a  7 year old son, Oliver, a 5 year old little girl, Amelia, and a 3 year old son, Henry. Three of my children have autism so much of my time is spent helping them with therapy and operating my successful Etsy business. As a family we are very involved in Scouts BSA (Boy Scouts of America). My husband is an Eagle Scout and I earned my Gold Award in high school. I recently took the Wood Badge course, the premier leadership training course in Scouting and was the first in my course to earn my beads after completing 5 projects for the betterment of scouting totalling over 100 hours of service. I am also the Activities Chair for our scouting district in the DFW area and a Unit Commissioner. I love being able to give back to my community in this way and I love instilling the values of scouting in my kids and the kids in our community.

Alyssa (Brown) Brynsvold (’10) married Kyle Brynsvold in December 2019, and they currently reside in the DFW area. In May 2020, Alyssa graduated with her Masters in Theology (ThM) degree, with an emphasis in Bible Translation, from Dallas Theological Seminary. Alyssa now serves the children and families of the Bachman Lake community as the Director of Elementary School Literacy of a non-profit organization called Casa Del Lago.

Samantha (Rylander) Wallace (’10) is currently in the process of publishing her second book, a paranormal romance short story anthology titled The Supernatural Reasons Why I Love You. She is also busy editing the sequel to her original novel, The Heart of Everything. Both will be available under her pen name, Lynn Wallace, in print and digital forms through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and many other retailers – visit www.lynnwallaceauthor.com for more information! You can also connect with her (as Lynn Wallace) via Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. She continues to work part-time as a nurse for the Victoria Eye Clinic in Victoria, TX while her husband serves as teacher/ librarian/ media center director for Edna ISD. Their son Luke turns two this fall, and they are now hoping for a second baby in the near future!

Steven Follis (’10) joined Amazon Web Services in August, where he leads business development activities for a portfolio of cloud services. In June, Steven and his wife Kimberly established the George Allen Haile Endowed Scholarship Fund for Truett Seminary in honor of his grandfather, a life-long Baptist minister in Louisiana. Steven and Kimberly reside in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Danielle Cooper (‘16): After her time at Baylor, Danielle attended the University of Texas School of Law, graduating in 2019. She passed the Texas Bar in 2019 and has been practicing employment law in-house since then. She lives in downtown Austin, TX and recently adopted an eight-year-old pup named Wilbur. If you have questions about going to law school or other career questions, she’s can be reached at danielledakotacooper@gmail.com.

Will Nations ( ‘16): I’ve been working from home to save Baylor ITS web services from COVID-19. There’s been tremendous effort put in, but it’s all paying off, and I can say I’m quite proud of the work that’s been done. Still, working from home has its own drawbacks. I’ve found that rescuing dogs during the pandemic helps replace tedious days at home with love, cuddles, and energy. Participating in virtual events with others is also a great way to connect with Christian communities. I recently attended and gave a talk at the Christian Game Developer Conference (Virtual) about a new cutting-edge game technology to great success. With the combination of Baylor’s C++ programming courses and BIC’s rhetoric skills, expressing my ideas to a group and bringing those ideas to life has never been easier. Now I co-author Godot Engine, software used by tens of thousands of people across the world.

Shannon McClenahan (‘17): After graduating from Baylor with a B.S. in Environmental Health Science, I spent 2 years as an ORISE Fellow at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta, Georgia.  Last November I moved to Fairbanks, Alaska to join the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps.  As an Environmental Health Officer for the USPHS, I work with an Alaska Native health corporation to provide a wide variety of environmental health services to Native communities in Interior Alaska.

Priyankaa Bhatia (’17): I am currently starting the second year of my PhD at UT Southwestern in Dallas in Cell and Molecular biology.  I am studying oocyte aging and why female eggs go “bad” in your 30’s! I use microscopic worms (C. elegans) for my research.  During the lockdown, a classmate and I decided to start a science podcast! We launched it very recently—it’s called “Incubation Time.

Alex Plott (‘17): After graduating in May 2017, Alex moved to Washington, D.C. and joined Deloitte to work as a consultant serving government and public sector clients. In late 2018, he became a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in Virginia and began volunteering as Board Member and Treasurer of the Humane Society of Loudoun County. Last November, Alex married Amanda Beere (BBA ‘19) at Luttrellstown Castle in Dublin, Ireland. In their free time, Alex and Amanda enjoy playing with their two adopted cats and reading.

Valeria Rivera (’17): Graduated from Baylor with a B.A. in Medical Humanities and a minor in Religion. Throughout her time in the BIC, Valeria served as a Peer Mentor and a Rhetoric Peer Instructor. Valeria is currently a 3L at The University of Tulsa College of Law, where she serves as a Staff Editor for the ABA SEER The Year in Review. Additionally, she is a traveling team member of her school’s National Trial Competition (NTC) team. She will be graduating with her Juris Doctor and a Healthcare Law Certificate in May 2021. Valeria plans on working as Legal Counsel for a private hospital after passing her Texas Bar Exam in July. She can be reached at val-rivera@outlook.com.

Austin Allaire (’18) recently completed a Master’s of International Management at Imperial College Business School in London. Austin has recently started as an Associate Consultant with Teneo, a CEO Advisory firm in London with operations around the world. He is excited to continue his adventure across the pond! Feel free to connect with Austin on LinkedIn with any leads or advice for job hunting amidst a financial crisis!

Hannah Byrd (’18) graduated from Baylor with a BA in International Studies and Arabic and Middle East Studies. After graduation, Hannah taught English in Tunis, Tunisia as a Middle East and North Africa Regional (MENAR) Fellow for the 2018-19 academic year. Hannah moved to Washington, D.C. in August 2019 to begin her current position as a Program Associate for the Middle East and North Africa at the Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE). In this role, Hannah works on the Livelihoods Innovation through Food Entrepreneurship (LIFE) Project which supports refugees and host community members build successful food businesses and create sustainable livelihoods in Turkey.

Arianna Gomez Lopez (‘18): After graduating, I moved to Atlanta for my MPH in Global Health at Emory’s Rollins School of Public Health (RSPH). One of my most significant accomplishments while at Emory was chartering the university’s Catholic Graduate Student Association—an incredible community of faith that has made Atlanta my home. Currently, I am an ORISE Fellow at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), where I am serving on the International Task Force for COVID-19’s Emergency Response Capacity Team (ERCT) in the role of Response Capacity Coordinator. Jumping into the humanitarian arena during this time has been an unbelievable learning opportunity (though at times it might feel like drinking from a firehose!). I am grateful for my time in the BIC. The emphasis it places on exploring and living out all of our passions, rather than hyper-focusing on separate academic disciplines, has uniquely prepared me for the multidisciplinary health diplomacy career I’m now pursuing.

Francesqa Kaggwa (‘18): I graduated in December of 2018 from the BIC. I moved to London, England to pursue a Masters in Human Rights and International Relations. I’m currently working on my dissertation and completing my degree in January of 2021. I’ve enjoyed London so much I’ve decided to stay another year and intern with an international law attorney and volunteer for the Amnesty International London office!

Reid A Pinkerton (‘18): Dear BIC family, while 2020 has been a year of crisis for a lot of people, I’ve been fortunate to see many pieces of my post-college life coming together rather harmoniously. I’m living in Fort Worth with my wife, Drue, and our 18 month old daughter, Willa. I’m working for Oncor Electric Delivery as a distribution operations Utility Designer Associate, and I’m leading a project to improve the map of the grid, which puts me on track to become certified as a Lean Six Sigma Greenbelt by spring 2021. At home, I’m blessed that my daughter is very healthy and happy to play in the backyard where I stay busy tending the garden. I’m eternally grateful for my experiences with the BIC (class of 2018) for equipping me with the tools I’ve needed to begin “living the examined life,” thereby discovering a glimpse of Saint Paul’s path to “contentment during both times of scarcity and times of abundance.” — “I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.” (Philippians 3:12-14 NLT)

Carolyn Robbins (‘18): After graduating with my BA in sociology and philosophy in 2018, I stayed at Baylor to pursue my MA in communication while working with Dr. Perry and Dr. Walden in the BIC. I spent the first year of my MA taking classes and working as a TA, and in my second year I wrote my thesis and taught a couple of sections of rhetoric in the BIC. Since graduating with my MA in May, I have moved to Maryland to pursue my PhD in communication with a focus on rhetoric and political culture at the University of Maryland. I am continuing to pursue anti-prison activism through academia and hope to have my first journal article published soon.

Heath McCabe (‘19): I am a year into working with Lockheed Martin as a Systems Engineer. I have just begun an online graduate program through Johns Hopkins University where I will be earning a Master’s of Electrical and Computer Engineering Degree. Best wishes to all the new BIC students just beginning their journey in college.

Veronica Meredith (’19) graduated with a BA in English and a minor in Film and Digital Media. Largely thanks to her experience working in Armstrong Browning Library at Baylor, she currently works as a library assistant and content editor for LexisNexis in Colorado Springs, Colorado. On breaks at the library, she works on her novel, Wintry Sea, and listens to way too many audiobooks.

Rachael M. Power (‘19): A Fall ’19 graduate from the BIC, I am following my passion for foreign policy work in Washington D.C. During my first post-grad summer, I traveled to CO and spent time backpacking through the Rockies, spending the beautiful summer months with family and friends. Afterwards, I began an internship with the US Senate, where I observed what Hill operations and mechanics looked like on the ground. Following my position’s conclusion in December, I began the job hunt for positions in the DC metroplex, specifically pursuing foreign policy research positions. Although I did not get the positions I most coveted, I signed on as an Executive Assistant at Convergence Media, where I follow the ins and outs of campaigning and polling. As I look at law-school and the USAF, I am taking one step at a time, wherever the Lord leads.

Gabbi Mucerino (‘20) graduated from Baylor in May 2020 with a BA in Political Science and a minor in History. During her final year at Baylor, Gabbi received the Charles B. Rangel International Affairs fellowship from the U.S. Department of State. This fall she will begin her graduate studies, as a Rangel Fellow, at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University. There she will study Gender Analysis in International Affairs and International Security Studies. Gabbi will receive her appointment to the Foreign Service in the Summer of 2022 and begin training as a U.S. Diplomat. She looks forward to traveling the world representing the U.S. Government as well as Baylor University. Gabbi can be reached at gabbi.mucerino@gmail.com.

Candace Weddle Livingston (’99): After graduating Baylor (Classics) in the first BIC class, Candace earned an MA in Art History from Tulane University and a PhD from the University of Southern California, specializing in Greco-Roman art and archaeology. Since 2012, she has taught at the South Carolina School of the Arts at Anderson University, where she is Associate Professor of Art History. Her research focus is the sensory experience of ancient animal sacrifices. A popular speaker, Candace travels worldwide lecturing on art and archaeology, and appeared as an expert in the 2015 PBS documentary series Ancient Roads: From Christ to Constantine. In 2018, she was elected a Fellow in the Explorers Club, the world’s most prestigious organization dedicated to exploration, an honor she shares with such well-known individuals as Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay, filmmaker James Cameron, and all of the men who have walked on the Moon. Candace lives in Greenville, SC with her husband Todd Livingston, who writes comics and writes, directs, and produces for film and television.

Omoniyi Omotoso (’00), MD.MPH (BIC program, B.A. Biochemistry 2000). Since graduation, slowly my dream has become reality as I’m now a proud dad to my bright daughter Soley (7 3/4 as she’d say). After training at Washington University in St Louis Medical School, I moved out to Northern California for pediatrics residency. Since then we’ve made a home now in Alameda. For the past 7 years, I’ve worked at LifeLong Medical Care – a Federally Qualified Community Health Center network. Now I serve as the Associate Medical Director for a pediatric-only clinic and the Pediatrics Clinical Lead for the organization as a whole. Looking forward to the summer with lots of hiking planned.

Emily Nicholson Simcox (’03) is the Vice President of Development for the Newseum and Freedom Forum Institute in Washington, D.C. She and her husband of 11 years , Rob Simcox, live in Arlington, Virginia, and have two boys R.J. (4) and Max (2).  They love seeing Baylor friends who visit the national capital and can be reached at emysimcox@gmail.com

Ben Davis (’04) and his wife Gracy recently moved to Denver, Colorado. Ben is a Communications Specialist for Boeing. He and his wife also are expecting a child sometime in November. Ben has already experienced the gracious hospitality of fellow Denver residents and BIC’ers Renee Bouchardy Hardy (2004) and Lindsey Deal Bratcher (2004), who are teaching him how to survive life at a mile elevation. Contact at bendbear@gmail.com.

Holly Joyner (’07) recently celebrated her 10th wedding anniversary with Ryan Joyner, Baylor graduate (’07), a Baylor theatre professor. They have one son Jameson (4) and live in Waco, TX. Holly recently was promoted to Global Baylor Program Manager. In this position she co-leads the Global Baylor Initiative which is Baylor’s Quality Enhancement Plan to lead Baylor students and Baylor as a whole to a more globally engaged community through course work, a certificate program, study abroad, and leadership series. Holly looks forward to working with a new generation of Baylor students (such as BIC) on this initiative.

Rachel Muldez (’07): I very much enjoyed my time at Baylor as a Studio Art major. Since then, I have acquired two Master’s degrees in Ceramics and Sculpture and one Master of Fine Arts degree in Art. I currently teach Ceramics at Richland Community College and have a full time studio art practice that has taken me to many exciting places. As a professional artist I’ve shown in galleries and universities all over the US and in the Czech Republic, been a gallery director at one of the oldest artist run galleries in North America, been written about in numerous magazines, news papers, and even the occasional student essay. I’ve shown work in National Museums and spoken on public radio. The art I create is nature based. I use only natural materials and reference nature from the microscopic to the macroscopic. I’m 11years into my professional career and I’m excited for the years to come. For a look at my art work Google my name or find me on Instagram @muldezart.

Kevin Nguyen (’07): I graduated from Baylor with a Bachelor of Science in Biology in the College of Arts and Sciences. I spent a year teaching English in Bangkok, Thailand after I graduated from Baylor. I graduated with a Master of Science in College Counseling and Student Development from Azusa Pacific University in California in 2010. Since then, I have worked at the University of Houston for over 8 years. Currently, I am the First Year Experience Undergraduate Advisor for the College of Technology. I completed another Bachelor of Science degree in Health within the College of Education at the University of Houston and also completed a Corporate Entrepreneurship Certificate within the Bauer College of Business at the University of Houston. I received the 2019  “Inclusion and Advocacy Award” by the Center for Student Involvement at the University of Houston. I also serve as a member of Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner’s LGBTQ Advisory Board. I have also volunteered for a couple of non-profit organizations like Bunnies on the Bayou, Inc., Human Rights Campaign (Houston Chapter), and Pride Houston

Keisha Ray (’07): New job. From assistant professor at Texas State University to assistant professor at University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, McGovern Medical School, McGovern Center for Humanities and Ethics (UT medical school for short). I teach ethics and humanities to medical residents, medical students and students at other schools in the university (dental, nursing, etc.).

Erin Greneaux (’08 ): In the past year I have published two books. Learnable Moments for Moms: 100 Devotions to Discover God in the Everyday was released in November 2018. It helps moms discover the many ways that God reveals Himself in the everyday experiences of motherhood. Inconceivable Redemption: God’s Presence in Miscarriage and Infertility released in May 2019 and hit new release bestseller status on Amazon in its genre. The book takes women by the hand and walks them through the giref of losing a baby, the uncertainty of waiting, and the hope and redemption available that can be found in the midst of loss through Christ.

Suzanne Kraai (’09) has a deep-seeded love of Baylor, and the BIC experience! She graduated in 2009 and also holds an MS in Educational Administration. She has served at Eastern Christian School, outside of NYC, in a variety of roles including HS Honors and CP English teacher, HS Musical Theater and HS/MSChoral Director. The past 2 years she has served in an administrative role as Director of Extended Learning, which includes programs such as Before and After School Care and Clubs Pk-6th grade, Service Learning Pk-12th grade, Camps Pk-8th grade, Early College program development, and several short term international/cultural exchange programs. She and her husband are also co-owners of a small business in Warwick, NY, “Pine Island Brewery” and are opening another brewery this fall highlighting barrel-aging production, the local terroir, as well as a venue space with some retail operations. They are proud parents to a 3-year old son and a daughter on the way and give our Lord all the glory for any successes and challenges along the journey.

Zaire Paschal (’09) (formerly Adams) recently moved to Japan to teach English to Japanese students. He currently resides in Hiroshima City. He was teaching English in Texas public schools the previous five years. He is also working on completing three novels based on a world of his own design like a true BIC nerd. He hopes to finish in the next year or so. Beyond this, he posts memes on Facebook. Zaire was an 09 graduate.

Meaghan (McNeill) Bond (’10) and Greg Bond welcomed their son Daniel Gregory in October 2018. Meaghan is working as a research scientist and lecturer in the Rice 360 Institute for Global Health.

Raymond L. Panneton (BIC, ’10) has joined the law firm of Daniel & Associates, LLC in Houston, Texas.  Having spent almost three-years practicing in the area of complex business litigation, Ray has returned to his roots and is again practicing in the area of personal injury litigation, with a focus on pharmaceutical and medical device litigation.  He can be reached at ray@dpdlawfirm.com.

Lucas C. Rodriguez (’10), MS, PhD- CEO, CerSci Therapeutics. As an update I am including an article which was done on me and my company I started during graduate school. Click on link to learn more: https://dallasinnovates.com/meet-the-innovators-lucas-rodriguez-cersci-therapeutics/

Samantha (Rylander) Wallace (’10) is happy to announce both the safe arrival of her son, Lucas Michael, last September, and the official publication of her first novel, The Heart of Everything, last December!  The Heart of Everything is “a paranormal romance with a Christian twist” published by Covenant Books under her pen name, Lynn Wallace.  The book is available in both print and digital formats via Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Apple, among other retailers – visit www.lynnwallaceauthor.com to learn more!  She continues to work part-time as a nurse for the Victoria Eye Clinic in Victoria, TX while her husband serves as teacher/ librarian/ media center director for Edna ISD.  They also recently bought their first house and are excited to be moving in this summer!

Joben David (’11) After graduation in 2011, Joben spent a year working for the Walt Disney Company before returning to Baylor for Graduate School, graduating in 2015.  After a stint living and working in Washington, DC he embarked on a year long adventure traveling through the United Kingdom, Ireland and Australia. Joben returned to his home country of India in 2017 to serve as the Director of Operations at Justice & Hope, a non-profit that fights against sex-trafficking, child sexual abuse and domestic violence. He continues to credit the BIC for his unbreakable New York Times addiction, cultivated disdain for all other “honors” programs and friendships that defy the bounds of distance and time.

Katy (Johnson) Stevick (’11): Graduated from Baylor with a double major in International Studies and Russian. She lives in Fayetteville, North Carolina with her husband and fellow Baylor grad Michael Stevick (BA ’09 and MA ’11) where he serves in the US Army and she found her passion helping military families plan for financial security through her work as a Financial Advisor. His work did not take them to far off places together (as promised) so they make up for their stateside location in frequent overseas trips and welcomed their greatest adventure yet, baby Audrey Elise, in July 2018.  That same year Katy was named 2018 AFI Fort Bragg Military Spouse of the Year.

Cole Short (’13) After graduating from Baylor in December 2013 with a degree in International Studies, Cole moved to Boston for his Masters in Economics. Following his time in Boston, he completed a PhD in Business Administration (Strategy and Entrepreneurship) at the University of Georgia. Cole and his wife Kristin–who is currently working on her PhD in Financial Planning–are moving to Los Angeles this July where he will start a new job as an Assistant Professor of Strategy at Pepperdine University.

Chris Ha (’14): After graduation from Baylor in 2014, Chris started medical school at the University of North Texas Health Science Center in Fort Worth, and is set to graduate in May of 2019. Most recently, he completed an additional one-year fellowship at Duke Divinity School as part of the Theology, Medicine and Culture Initiative.  Chris and his wife Melissa are ecstatic to have welcomed their first baby boy, Alden, into the world in December of 2018. They look forward to moving as a family up to Rochester, Minnesota this summer for Chris to pursue his residency training in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the Mayo Clinic.

Lance Hitt (’14): I graduated in 2014 (BIC: Political Science, Philosophy). After graduation I went home to Nashville and worked for the Tennessee General Assembly and then a law firm for a year. Thereafter, I went to Florida State University College of Law where I will graduate this May. I’ve worked in several areas of law over the past few years, and hope to transition into a compliance role with a broker-dealer in NYC after taking the bar exam in July.

Rachel (Slate) McKinley (’15): I will be graduating from Texas Tech University School of Medicine in May of this year and will be moving to the East coast to complete my Pediatrics residency at MUSC in Charleston, SC. I am excited to finally be a physician! Plus, I even matched to the same residency program with a fellow BIC graduate, Mary Hamilton! Another big accomplishment this year is that I got married! Though my new husband didn’t go to Baylor, he still came to Waco with me to watch a Baylor football game and proudly wears his Baylor shirt. We’ll be cheering on the bears from the beach in Charleston!

Anthony Farfan (BSW ‘16, MSW ‘17): After graduating with his masters in social work in 2017 from the Houston campus, Anthony stayed in the city and took some time to study for his state licensure exam. Afterwards, he worked in Houston ISD until an opening for a pediatric clinic in the Texas Medical Center presented itself. The UT Pediatric High Risk Clinic treats babies right out of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) through 21 years of age who depend on tracheostomies, ventilators, have cystic fibrosis, are severely premature, and other chronic and life endangering complications. Anthony is currently a social worker in this clinic helping educate families on resources and coping skills, advocating for the patients rights, and addressing mental health issues like postpartum depression. His internship experience in Waco, his work in Houston, and his faith have taught him to serve with a full heart. He plans to begin supervision for his Licensed Clinical Social Worker accreditation in 2020 and pursue a doctorate in education down the road.

Courtenay Klauber (’16):  I am graduating this spring from NC State University with a M.Ed. in Higher Education Administration. As part of my program, I got to study abroad in China to learn more about Chinese higher education. Visiting Qufu, the hometown of Confucius, was a highlight of the trip, especially after reading the Analects in World Cultures years ago! After graduation, I will stay at NC State to work as an International Student and Scholar Advisor.

Priyankaa Bhatia (’17): I am at the NIH in my postbac lab position until July of this year, after which I will be heading back to Dallas to start graduate school at UT Southwestern! I’ll be doing the PhD program in Biomedical Sciences. I don’t know what I’ll be researching yet but I’m excited to start go back to school and spend a year rotating in labs to find a good fit for my thesis work.

Isabeau “Beau” Posey (‘17): joined the Baylor Teaching in Thailand Program directly after graduation. After spending a year in Waco, Beau is currently living in Sagamihara, Japan as a Professor of English Foreign Language at Sagami Women’s University through Westgate.

Audrey (Hamlin) Kelley (’18) graduated from Baylor with a BS in All-Level Special Education. After graduation she married the love of her life a fellow and current BICer, Connor Kelley (’20). She currently works in her dream job as a Functional Academics teacher working with an amazing group of students in 4th through 8th grade with moderate to severe disabilities at Robinson Intermediate School, just down the road from her alma mater. She teaches each academic subject, as well as functional skills such as cooking and communication, including American Sign Language and Braille.

Katie Méndez (’18): I am about to finish my first year of law school at American University Washington College of Law. This spring was busy but successful – I wrote on to the American University International Law Review and accepted a judicial intern position with the Eastern District Court of Virginia for this summer. I will also be working as a research assistant with a professor to help him edit his administrative law textbook and writing my comment for the International Law Review over the summer. Next fall, I will be starting my Masters in International Affairs in addition to my J.D. I’m looking forward to using the skills the BIC taught me as I continue working towards my J.D./M.A. in international law and affairs.

Rachel Davy (’18): I graduated in May of 2018 from Baylor LHSON. During a long initial job search, I moved back home to wintry Illinois and began volunteering in the high school ministry with . . . surprise! A fellow BICer! (Mand Elliott, class of 2015). I now work as a nurse on a medical-surgical/oncology floor at a local community hospital. When I’m not at work, I can be found volunteering at church in the high school ministry and the food pantry, pursuing my joy of swing dancing that began at Baylor, and playing open gym volleyball. Plus, most recently, a spontaneous weekend trip to visit former roommate and fellow-BICer Gracie Davis (class of 2018)!

Sofie Sonner (‘18) graduated from Baylor with a BS in Biology with a concentration in Ecology and a minor in French. She has been living on Kinmen Island, Taiwan, for the past year on a Fulbright fellowship to teach English. In the fall, she will attend Walla Walla University to research octopus physiology and pursue an MS in Biology for the next two years.

Calleigh Swift (‘18): I have just finished my first year of graduate school at the Diana R. Garland School of Social Work!

Soo Matthews (’18):  I am currently tutoring part-time while studying for the LSAT. I will be moving to Denver in July to get ready to do a teaching fellowship with Teach for America Colorado. I have already been hired by a school called University Prep. It’s an elementary school in the heart of Denver.

Austin P Allaire (’18) graduated a few short months ago with a BBA in Accounting and International Business. Since graduating in December, Austin has spent time working with KPMG’s International Tax practice in Dallas, Texas, and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Keeping with the passion for international work he developed as a student in the Baylor Interdisciplinary Core, Austin will undertake an MSc in International Business as City, University of London’s Cass Business School this fall. London BICers, feel free to reach out at Austin_Allaire@alumni.baylor.edu

Zane Zovak (’18) Since graduating in December, Zane has been a fellow at the John Jay Institute outside of Philadelphia where he has explored political philosophy and Christian traditions in this semester-long residency program. He encourages anyone interested in public service who has a strong faith background to consider this fully-funded program as it has been extremely influential in his vocational development. In the summer, he will be interning with California Policy Center where he hopes to gain experience from grassroots-level policy work. He hopes to return to DC on the other side of summer to focus on foreign policy approaches to China and hopes to build upon his appreciation for different cultures that was cultivated during his time in the BIC. Zane truly believes “the unexamined life isn’t worth living” and hopes to pay homage to Socrates in his continued studies.