Our Alumni

Abilene Christian University cultivates thoughtful creators, avid activists and empowered problem-solvers who step up in a world that requires thoughtful leadership.

 
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Abilene Christian University cultivates thoughtful creators, avid activists and empowered problem-solvers who step up in a world that requires thoughtful leadership.

 

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Since 1906, our alumni have demonstrated the lifelong possibilities of an ACU education. Among our ranks are bestselling authors, award-winning journalists and physicists, CEOs, Olympians, NFL players, members of Congress and a former president of the Navajo Nation—and we know they represent just the beginning of the impact ACU graduates will have for decades to come.

Every member of the ACU community brings energy and passion to each endeavor, impacting every corner of the world for the better. We’re proud to encourage leaders, creators and world-changers to go forth and live into their purpose. To learn more, visit the Alumni and Friends Site

Notable Alumni

April (Bullock) Anthony. Class of 1989

April (Bullock ’89) Anthony

CEO of Encompass Home Health and Hospice, one of the nation’s largest providers of integrated healthcare services, offering care in 39 states and Puerto Rico. Anthony founded the company in 1998, growing it from a single start-up location to an industry leader with approximately 42,700 employees. It is the nation’s fourth largest provider of Medicare-certified skilled home health services. In 2019, Encompass Health earned $4.7 billion in revenue and treated more than 364,000 patients. It is ranked as one of Fortune’s 100 Best Companies to Work For. Anthony serves as chair of the ACU Board of Trustees.

A headshot of Brown Bannister, class of 1975

Brown Bannister (’75)

Contemporary Christian music producer and songwriter who has won 14 Grammys and 25 Dove awards and is a member of the Gospel Music Hall of Fame. He has written songs and produced award-winning albums for such artists as Amy Grant, Steven Curtis Chapman, CeCe Winans, Debby Boone and Third Day.

 

Lance Barrow, class of 1978

 

Lance Barrow (’78)

Coordinating producer of golf for CBS Sports, winner of 13 Emmy Awards, and only the second person ever to hold the position of lead producer for the network’s golf coverage. He has produced numerous Super Bowls and Masters Tournaments. He retired from CBS in 2020.

Michael Blanton, class of 1973

 

Michael Blanton (’73)

Award-winning Christian music producer who helped launch the careers of such artists such as Amy Grant, Michael W. Smith and Rich Mullins. He was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 2017.

Kent Brantly giving a speech at a commencement ceremony

 

Dr. Kent Brantly, M.D. (’03)

Medical missionary who, while serving in Liberia, became the first American to survive Ebola and was named 2014 Time Person of the Year as part of “The Ebola Fighters.” He and his family returned to the medical mission field in 2019 and are serving at Mukinge Mission Hospital in Zambia.

Jeffrey S. Boyd, J.D. class of 1983

 

Jeffrey S. Boyd, J.D. (’83)

Texas Supreme Court justice since 2012. He was named a Texas Super Lawyer for government practice six times and has been a member of the Supreme Court Advisory Committee since 2003. He was re-elected in November 2020 to a term that ends Dec. 31, 2026.

Randy Brewer, Executive Producer, Revolution Pictures

Randy Brewer (’93)

Founder of Nashville-based Revolution Pictures. He has produced award-winning music videos for Carrie Underwood and Taylor Swift, and has worked with high-profile clients, including Home Depot, ESPN 30/30, Verizon, Sony Pictures, BOSE, Tim McGraw, Miranda Lambert, Blake Shelton, Justin Bieber and others. Revolution has garnered numerous ACM, Telly, Emmy, Dove awards, and won MTV’s Female Music Video of the Year for the now-famous moment when Kanye West jumped on stage and took the mic from Taylor Swift.

Ronnie Dunn, Class of 1976

Ronnie Dunn (’76)

Country music artist who, with Kix Brooks, formed Brooks & Dunn in 1991. Together, they sold more than 30 million albums with 21 No. 1 singles on Billboard and have more Country Music Association awards and Academy of Country Music awards than any act in the history of country music. Dunn has 15 Grammy nominations, 24 BMI Million-Airplay awards and was BMI Country Music Songwriter of the Year in 1996 and 2001. His 27 ACM awards include Top Vocal Duo and Entertainer of the Year. In 2019, Dunn was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.

Wendell Edwards, class of 1992

 

Wendell Edwards (’92)

Award-winning co-host of the CBS WFSB-TV Morning Show in Hartford, Connecticut. He previously anchored and reported at ABC 3340 News in Birmingham, Alabama, and KOCO 5 News in Oklahoma City. He’s an Emmy-nominated journalist with a number of accolades to his name, including the Oklahoma Broadcasters Association award for outstanding investigative reporting and two National Association of Black Journalists Salute to Excellence awards.

Greg Feasel, class of 1981

 

Greg Feasel (’81)

President and chief operating officer for MLB’s Colorado Rockies. Feasel was a professional football player from 1983-87. He is a former offensive tackle in the NFL whose career included time with the Green Bay Packers, San Diego Chargers and the USFL’s Denver Gold.

Doug Ferguson, class of 1983

 

Doug Ferguson (’83)

Veteran professional golf writer for Associated Press who was awarded the PGA Lifetime Achievement Award in Journalism by the AP in 2019. He joined the AP as a news reporter in 1988 and became its full-time national golf writer a decade later. He has covered more than 500 golf events, 92 major golf championships, 11 Ryder Cups, 10 Presidents Cups, three Solheim Cups, two Olympics and one Super Bowl.

 

Janice Hahn (’75)

Former U.S. congresswoman from California and winner of numerous honors, including the Rosa Parks Award from the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. Hahn has been a member of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors from the 4th district since 2016, and was a member of the LA City Council from 2001-11, representing the 15th district.

David D. (’78) and Kathy (Gay ’78) Halbert

David is chairman, founder and CEO of Caris Life Sciences and one of the most successful entrepreneurs in the United States. Caris is a pioneering precision medicine company that helps patients receive better quality care through access to individualized medicine. Kathy helped found Caris Foundation, a non-profit private foundation begun in 2002 to aid and empower impoverished people. The foundation primarily operates in Kenya and Haiti and employs more than 435 people.

A headshot of Tobie Hatfield, class of 1987

Tobie Hatfield (’87)

Senior engineer and athlete innovation director of Nike’s Innovation Kitchen. Though he is responsible for some of Nike’s most recognized products – among them Nike Free technology – his heart is with athletes who face special challenges. He invented the Nike Sole for athletes with prosthetic legs and Flyease technology, an easy-entry footwear system, developed in response to an open letter to Nike from a 16-year-old with cerebral palsy.

Ben Jeffery, class of 2006

 

Ben Jeffrey (’06)

Broadway actor and singer, best known for his role as the jovial warthog Pumbaa in the long-running Broadway musical The Lion King. He also has played Babkak in the Broadway version of Disney’s Aladdin and performed in Oliver at the London Palladium Theater.

Jeff Kimble, Class of 1971

Dr. H. Jeff Kimble (’71)

World-renowned physicist specializing in quantum optics at California Institute of Technology. He is a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the American Physical Society and the Optical Society of America, and is a member of the National Academy of Sciences. His numerous accolades include the Einstein Prize for Laser Science, Julius Edgar Lilienfeld Prize of the American Physical Society and Herbert Walther Award from the German Physical Society and the Optical Society of America.

A headshot of Max Lucado, class of 1977

Max Lucado (’77)

Minister, speaker and best-selling Christian author whose books have sold more than 120 million copies across 54 languages worldwide. Lucado was dubbed “America’s Pastor” by Christianity Today, called “The Best Preacher in America” by Reader’s Digest and named him one of the most influential leaders in social media by The New York Times. He serves as teaching minister at Oak Hills Church in San Antonio, Texas. His papers are archived in the Max Lucado Collection at ACU.

Danieal-Manning - ACU Alumni

Danieal Manning (’07)

Former All-Pro defensive back for NFL’s Chicago Bears and Houston Texans. While at ACU, he was named NCAA Division II third-team All-America defensive back as a sophomore, first-team All-America return specialist as a junior and first-team All-America defensive back as a senior. Manning was Chicago’s top selection in the 2006 NFL Draft. His uniform number 11 is one of four retired at his alma mater.

Stephen Lee Mansfield, class of 1988

Stephen Lee Mansfield (’88 M.L.A.)

Speaker and best-selling author who writes about history, modern culture, religion and men’s issues. He rose to global attention with his book The Faith of George W. Bush, a bestseller that Time magazine credited with helping to shape the 2004 U.S. presidential election. The Faith of Barack Obama was another international bestseller. He has written biographies of Booker T. Washington, George Whitefield, Winston Churchill, Pope Benedict XVI and Abraham Lincoln.

Janice Massey, M.D., class of 1968

Janice (Munn ’68) Massey, M.D.

Professor of neurology at Duke University School of Medicine, recognized internationally as clinical researcher and expert in neuromuscular diseases. She is senior vice chair of the Duke University Department of Neurology and is former vice chair of the Board of Directors for the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. She received the Distinguished Alumna Award from Duke School of Medicine in 2015.

Elise Mitchell, class of 1983

Elise (Smith ’83) Mitchell

CEO and founder of three companies, most notably Mitchell Communications Group, one of the top 10 fastest-growing public relations firms. The firm was twice named Agency of the Year by PR Week and Provoke Media. In 2013, she sold the firm to Dentsu Inc., the world’s largest ad agency, and served as dual CEO as she led the integration into a newly established global parent company, Dentsu Aegis Network. She was inducted into the 2020 International Communications Consultancy Organisation Hall of Fame and currently advises clients in leadership and business development. 

wilbert-montgomery - ACU Alumni

Wilbert Montgomery (’77)

Former NFL All-Pro, Super Bowl champion and inductee into the College Football Hall of Fame. He became the Philadelphia Eagles’ all-time leading rusher, was a two-time All-Pro, two-time Pro Bowler and led the Eagles to Super Bowl XV. As an assistant coach, he helped the Rams win Super Bowl XXXIV and the Baltimore Ravens win Super Bowl XLVII. He is now retired after a 19-year career as an assistant coach that saw him work in St. Louis, Detroit, Baltimore and Cleveland.

Bobby Morrow (’58)

Three-time champion at the 1956 Olympic Games and Sports Illustrated “Sportsman of the Year.” At age 21 as an ACU junior, he became the first person since Jesse Owens in 1936 to win three Olympic gold medals in track and field. He appeared on the covers of Life, Sport, Track and Field News and other magazines, and won the James E. Sullivan Memorial Trophy from the AAU in 1957 as the outstanding amateur athlete in the U.S. He also was named Athlete of the Year by Sport magazine and by the Knute Rockne Foundation.

U.S. Rep. Ted Poe (’70)

Former congressman from Texas and former state district judge known for his creative sentencing. He represented the 2nd Congressional District from 2005-09 before retirement. Prior to that, he was appointed a felony court judge in Harris County in 1981, becoming one of the youngest judges in the state. He is namesake of the Judge Ted Poe Endowed Chair of Political Science and Criminal Justice at ACU.

Jack Pope (’34) 

Former chief justice of the Texas Supreme Court who holds the record of the longest sitting justice in Texas Supreme Court history, having served for 38 years. He was the inaugural recipient of the Judicial Lifetime Achievement Award from the Judicial Section of the State Bar of Texas and is the namesake of ACU’s Jack Pope Fellows program, which prepares students for public service. He died in 2017.

 

 

Jasmin Richardson (’09)

Broadway actress, singer and director whose credits include Gettin’ the Band Back Together and The Bodyguard. She made her directorial debut with The Bubbly Black Girl Sheds Her Chameleon Skin by Kirsten Childs.

Hal Runkel (’94 M.M.F.T.)

Speaker, author and founding president of The ScreamFree Institute who has inspired countless parents with his new paradigm on parenting. He is The New York Times best-selling author of ScreamFree Parenting, ScreamFree Marriage and The Self-Centered Marriage, and his book Choose Your Own Adulthood was 2017’s Amazon Bestseller. He has been featured on more than 1,000 media outlets, including NBC’s Today Show, Business Insider, Huffington Post, Redbook and Good Housekeeping. 

Dr. Jack Scott (’54)

Scholar-in-residence at Claremont (California) Graduate University and former chancellor of California Community Colleges System, the nation’s largest system of higher education.

He was elected to serve in the California State Assembly in 1996, and from 2000-08 he represented the state’s 21st Senatorial District.

Lara Seibert, class of 2006

 

Lara Seibert Young (’06)

Broadway actress and singer. She has appeared in numerous Broadway, regional and national tour productions, including Chicago (as Velma Kelly), Pippin, A Christmas Story, Big Fish, The Producers, Young Frankenstein, The Sting and more. Young performed as a soloist in Australia for Hugh Jackman’s arena tour, Broadway to Oz, and recently returned home from performing in Jackman’s latest world tour.

Gen. Paul Selva, class of 1984

(Ret.) Gen. Paul Selva (’84 M.S.M.H.R.)

Former vice chair of Joint Chiefs of Staff and former commander of U.S. Transportation Command. As vice chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, he was the nation’s second high-ranking military officer. He was recently named to the Board of Directors for the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments, an independent, nonprofit, Washington, D.C.-based think tank specializing in U.S. defense policy, force planning and budgets. 

Dr. Joe Shirley, class of 1973

Dr. Joe Shirley (’73)

Former president of the Navajo Nation and the only person elected to serve two terms in that office. He began his career as a social worker where he had first-hand exposure to problems faced by Navajo communities. He has served on the Navajo Nation Council, the Board of Directors of the National Association of Counties in Washington D.C., the Advisory Committee to the President’s Commission of Sustainable Communities in Washington, D.C., and the Public Lands Committee. He also was appointed by Native American leaders to co-chair the Bureau of Indian Affairs’ Tribal Budget Advisory Council and the Sovereign Protection Initiative.

Gilbert Tuhabonye (’01)

Author and director of the popular Gilbert’s Gazelle’s running club in Austin, Texas, and co-founder of the Gazelle Foundation, which creates clean water resources in Burundi. A former ACU track and field All-America honoree, he is a survivor of the Rwanda genocide and wrote a book about his experiences titled This Voice in My Heart. He is included in George W. Bush’s 2021 book Out of Many, One: Portraits of America’s Immigrants, featuring portraits and inspirational stories of 43 immigrants.

A headshot of B. David Vanderpool, M.D., class of 1952

B. David Vanderpool, M.D. (’52)

Pioneering surgeon and former president of the Texas Medical Association, the Texas Surgical Society, the American Board of General Surgeons and the Dallas County Medical Society. As an attending surgeon at Baylor University Medical Center, he was a pioneer in laparoscopic surgery and performed the first gallstone lithotripsy in the U.S. under approved protocol by the U.S. Federal Drug Administration. He also led medical mission efforts in several countries, most notably Ukraine.

Aaron Watson playing guitar on stage, class of 2000

Aaron Watson (’00)

Country music recording artist and inductee into the 2020 Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame. Watson built a 20-year career as an independent artist. His 2015 album The Underdog reached No. 1 on Top Country Albums, and his 2019 album Red Bandana opened at No. 2 on Billboard’s country sales chart. His last four studio albums have debuted in the Top 10 on the Billboard chart.

J. McDonald Williams, class of

J. McDonald Williams (’64)

Former president and CEO of Trammell Crow Co. and founder of Foundation for Community Empowerment, a nonprofit that helps revitalize low-income neighborhoods in Dallas. He has served as a director of Belo Corp., on the Dean’s Council of Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government, and on the boards of Tenet Healthcare Corporation, Abilene Christian University, the Hoblitzelle Foundation, and Southern Methodist University’s Perkins School of Theology.

Lori Windham, J.D., class of 2001

 

Lori (Halstead ’01) Windham, J.D.

Senior counsel at The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty. She has served as lead counsel for several high-profile cases tried before the U.S. Supreme Court. Recognized in Washington as an expert on religious freedom issues, she has testified in Congressional oversight hearings before the U.S. House of Representatives Judiciary Committee and before the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights.

Dr. James E. Womack, class of 1964

 

Dr. James E. Womack (’64)

Geneticist known for conducting pioneering research in the cattle genome. He has a joint appointment as a Distinguished Professor in the Department of Veterinary Pathobiology and in the Department of Molecular and Cellular Medicine at the Texas A&M College of Medicine. He has been a member of the National Academy of Sciences since 1999 and received the Wolf Prize in Agriculture in 2001.

 

Earl Young (’62)

1960 Olympic gold medalist and founder of the nonprofit Earl Young’s Team. He showed strength as an Olympic athlete but even greater strength as a blood cancer survivor whose life was saved by a blood marrow transplant. He now travels frequently with his nonprofit organization sponsoring bone marrow swab drives.