When Langley Smith boarded her flight to Uruguay to study abroad, she expected a semester of travel and new scenery. What she didn’t anticipate was how deeply the experience would reshape her sense of identity, community and calling.

Smith’s first study abroad experience was to Ģ����ý’s hub location in Montevideo, Uruguay, in Fall 2023. Later, she interned in Leipzig, Germany, with Leipzig Notenspur, a public-history organization dedicated to preserving the city’s musical heritage. Her research focused on how music helped two Jewish girls survive forced labor during the Holocaust.

The academic learning was only part of the experience for Smith, a senior from Murrieta, California, with a double major in political science and history.

“I believe there are many different purposes of education,” she says, ranging from acquiring hard skills and field knowledge to “learning how to present oneself, navigating independence, and developing our emotional boundaries and moral beliefs, all while introducing us to a diverse set of ideas and individuals.”

Smith found her study abroad experience was a catalyst for all of those aspects of her education, she says. Her time in Montevideo challenged assumptions and expanded her cultural understanding. Leipzig strengthened her research abilities and gave her professional experience in an international workplace.��

“To put it simply, studying abroad made my education bigger than simply my classes or extracurricular activities,” she says. “It’s a cringy statement, but I really do feel like the world is my classroom now.”

A competitive edge

Smith, a Rhodes Scholar finalist for 2026, believes her global experiences elevated her application for the prestigious award. “Studying abroad provided the opportunities to practice cross-cultural and interdisciplinary communication,” she says. “Studying abroad also developed my global perspective. I believe that this global perspective also contributed to my application and ultimate selection as a finalist.”

And as a bonus, she adds, “I made lifelong friends and had life-changing experiences all before I turned 21.”

Smith’s reflection echoes a pattern Ģ����ý sees year after year – students discovering not just new places, but new parts of themselves. It’s a defining strength of Ģ����ý’s student experience, and one the university has been nationally recognized for once again in the 2026 U.S. News & World Report �����԰쾱�Բ���.��

Ģ����ý earned honors in four categories that spotlight programs proven to enhance the student experience: Learning Communities (#11), Service Learning (#11 and highest-ranked in Texas), First-Year Experiences (#13) and Study Abroad (#36).

A broader worldview��

“Study Abroad is widely recognized by educational researchers as one of the ‘highest impact practices’ a student can engage in as a college student,” says Dr. Mark Barneche, director of Ģ����ý’s program. “When students step onto Ģ����ý’s global campuses in Leipzig, Oxford or Valencia, or when they attend one of our other international programs around the world, they’re invited to engage their faith, intellect and curiosity in new and meaningful ways.”

Barneche stresses that immersion changes how students learn and who they become.��

“Learning in another culture strengthens independence and resilience, deepens relationships with faculty and peers, and helps students connect their academic work with the realities of an interconnected world,” he says.

“Because high-impact practices are proven to strengthen engagement and personal growth, Ģ����ý students often return from Study Abroad with a clearer sense of calling, renewed confidence, and a broadened understanding of how their education can serve God and neighbor across cultures,” he notes. “It’s not just a semester or short-term program away from home – it’s a formative experience that shapes students for life.”

For Smith, the practical and the personal came together across two continents. Her semester in Montevideo offered community and language practice; the Leipzig internship provided workplace experience and specialized archival research tied to her double majors in political science and history.

The support before, during and after the experience “really makes it feel like there’s a slice of the Abilene campus abroad,” she says.

The Ģ����ý difference

Barneche echoes the importance of that support. “What truly sets Ģ����ý’s Study Abroad program apart is the level of care, intentionality and community woven into every part of the experience,” he says.

Because Ģ����ý owns its global properties and employs its own faculty abroad, he explains, “we have an unusually high degree of control over the environment in which students live and learn.”

Each location is directed by Ģ����ý alumni who were once Study Abroad students themselves. Faculty-in-residence accompany students overseas, living, learning, worshiping and traveling alongside them.

“Each site becomes a vibrant living-learning community marked by strong relationships, shared experiences and a genuine sense of belonging,” Barneche says. “We find this chapter abroad becomes a defining part of a student’s Ģ����ý story.”

A program built on purpose

At many universities, studying abroad is a luxury. At Ģ����ý, it is a deeply integrated educational strategy, one that shapes students academically, spiritually and personally.

The program’s national recognition aligns with measurable outcomes: 46% of Ģ����ý’s university scholars last year were Study Abroad alumni and��applications for 2025, released in November, reached 302, an increase of 60 over the previous year.

Students also participate in spiritual formation overseas, including baptisms, small groups, and communal worship. Earlier this year, two students were baptized at Cenchrae, a sacred site visited during the Leipzig program.

The recognition by U.S. News and World Report affirms what he sees every day, Barneche says – that the depth of care, creativity and excellence poured into Ģ����ý’s global education programs is genuinely making a difference in students’ lives.

“For our team, this ranking isn’t just a badge of honor – it’s external confirmation that the intentional work of resourcing and improving our global campuses, investing in spiritual and academic formation, and creating a transformative community abroad is being noticed beyond our own walls,” he notes. “It validates the long hours, the behind-the-scenes work, the cross-cultural partnerships, and the commitment to delivering a high-impact educational experience shaped by Ģ����ý’s mission. Most of all, it encourages us to keep innovating and expanding the opportunities our students have to engage the world with curiosity, courage, and Christian purpose.”

For students like Langley Smith, the journey has been both academic and deeply personal.

And for Ģ����ý, that journey is exactly the point.

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The inaugural event will take place October 19-21, 2026. The three-day tournament will feature nine men’s and nine women’s golf teams with three rounds of stroke play at the new Halbert National in Granbury, Texas. Ģ����ý will host the tournament with both the men’s and women’s teams competing annually in the field alongside some of the country’s top collegiate golf programs.

Early commitments on the women’s side include 2025 NCAA semifinalist University of Oregon in addition to Baylor University and Purdue University. Initial teams on the men’s side feature Southern Methodist University, University of Houston and Texas A&M University.

Located 40 miles southwest of Fort Worth on 170 acres along Lake Granbury, Halbert National is a private 18-hole golf course in Granbury, Texas, owned by medical biotech entrepreneur and founder of Caris Life Sciences David D. Halbert and designed by legendary golf designer Tom Fazio. Halbert, an Abilene native and Ģ����ý alumnus opened the 7,542-yard, par-72 course in 2025.

“Partnering with Golf Channel and competing at one of Texas’ most remarkable courses gives us an incredible opportunity to showcase college golf at its highest level. We’re proud to launch an event that we believe will grow into one of the sport’s premier traditions,” said Zack Lassiter, Ģ����ý vice president for athletics. “This tournament highlights the national profile of Ģ����ý, the excellence of our student-athletes and the power of collaboration with our partners at Halbert National. It’s a celebration of what’s possible when vision and commitment come together, and we’re excited to see it become a signature moment on the college golf calendar.”

Golf Channel will present live coverage of all three rounds of the Abilene Christian Intercollegiate from October 19-21.

“We’re thrilled to partner with Ģ����ý and HNS Sports Group to present the inaugural Abilene Christian Intercollegiate at Halbert National live on Golf Channel in 2026,” said Glenn Grimshaw, Golf Channel vice presidnet for programming and partnerships. “Golf Channel has introduced viewers to future PGA TOUR and LPGA Tour stars through our comprehensive college golf coverage for more than a decade. We’re proud to add the Abilene Christian Intercollegiate to our robust college golf portfolio as we continue to showcase the stars of the future.”

The event will honor the late Johnny Perkins, a Granbury native and standout wide receiver at Abilene Christian from 1974-76, where he became the program’s all-time leader in receiving yards and earned All-American honors. His record-setting career at Ģ����ý helped launch him to the NFL, where he was drafted by the New York Giants in 1977 and went on to play seven seasons. As a member of the Ģ����ý Sports Hall of Fame and the university’s All-Century Team, Perkins remains one of the most celebrated athletes in Wildcat history.

“I’m honored to host the Abilene Christian Intercollegiate at this premier golf course. The event unites the innovative spirit of Caris Life Sciences with my Ģ����ý heritage, all while celebrating my friend and Ģ����ý classmate, Johnny Perkins,” Halbert said. “I look forward to welcoming the Golf Channel and a national TV audience to experience competitive collegiate golf at Halbert National.”

HNS Sports Group, an Ohio-based event management LLC specializing in golf, will manage the Ģ����ý Intercollegiate.

For more information on the Abilene Christian Intercollegiate, please visit: . For the latest news and updates on social media, follow the Intercollegiate on Instagram at and on .

ABOUT ABILENE CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS
Competing at the NCAA Division I level as a proud member of the Western Athletic Conference, Ģ����ý fields 17 varsity sports and has built a strong tradition of athletic and academic excellence. The Wildcats are known for championship performances, competitive spirit, and a commitment to developing student-athletes who excel in the classroom, in competition, and in life. The Wildcats boast 62 team national championships and 226 conference championships.

Abilene Christian serves a diverse student population of about 7,200 with world-class teaching in a Christ-centered community. Founded in 1906, this Carnegie Research 2 university is nationally recognized for undergraduate teaching and undergraduate research. Students choose from 90 baccalaureate majors that include more than 186 areas of study, 77 areas of study in master’s degree and specialist programs, and five doctoral programs. Ģ����ý’s mission is to educate students for Christian service and leadership throughout the world.

Learn more at or .

ABOUT GOLF CHANNEL’S COLLEGE GOLF COVERAGE
Golf Channel is the television home for college golf, currently providing live coverage of 11 college golf championships throughout the spring and fall seasons. Golf Channel deploys its comprehensive portfolio of news, digital and social media coverage year-round in covering collegiate golf, including season preview shows, signing day specials, regional and national qualifying coverage, serving as the exclusive media partner of PGA TOUR University and exclusive annual coverage for the Haskins and ANNIKA Awards Presented by Stifel.

Following its announcement in 2013 as the exclusive television provider of the NCAA Golf Championships, Golf Channel has provided live coverage of the men’s NCAA Championships since 2014 and the women’s NCAA Championships since 2015, which are hosted at the same venue in consecutive weeks at Omni La Costa, San Diego, Calif. Golf Channel also annually televises the three-day East Lake Cup at historic East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, Georgia; the Western Intercollegiate Presented by Titleist, one of the longest-running college tournaments in the U.S. taking place at Pasatiempo Golf Club in Santa Cruz, Califfornia; the Darius Rucker Intercollegiate Presented by Principal Financial at Long Cove Club in Hilton Head, S.C.; the PGA WORKS Collegiate Championship; the Jackson T. Stephens Cup; the NB3 Match Play at Twin Warriors; the St Andrews Links Collegiate and the Folds of Honor Collegiate at American Dunes in Grand Haven, Michigan.

Scottie Scheffler, Collin Morikawa, Jon Rahm, Viktor Hovland, Jennifer Kupcho, Rose Zhang and Maria Fassi are just a few of the professional golfers who appeared on Golf Channel while competing in college.

ABOUT CARIS LIFE SCIENCES
Caris Life Sciences is a leading, patient-centric, next-generation AI TechBio company and precision medicine pioneer that is actively developing and commercializing innovative solutions to transform healthcare. Through comprehensive molecular profiling (Whole Exome and Whole Transcriptome Sequencing) and the application of advanced AI and machine learning algorithms at scale, Caris has created the large-scale, multimodal clinico-genomic database and computing capability needed to analyze and further unravel the molecular complexity of disease. This convergence of next-generation sequencing, AI and machine learning technologies, and high-performance computing provides a di erentiated platform to develop the latest generation of advanced precision medicine diagnostic solutions for early detection, diagnosis, monitoring, therapy selection and drug development.

Caris was founded with a vision to realize the potential of precision medicine in order to improve the human condition. Headquartered in Irving, Texas, Caris has offices in Phoenix, New York, Cambridge (MA), Tokyo, Japan and Basel, Switzerland. Caris or its distributor partners provide services in the U.S. and other international markets.

ABOUT HNS SPORTS GROUP
HNS Sports Group is well positioned to assist companies that find value in the golf industry and build and execute comprehensive golf branding or sponsorship strategies. E ectively understanding the golf marketplace today is a significant challenge, and the HNS Sports Group team possesses over 125 years of collective experience that is applied to lead companies in their e orts to maximize value from golf sponsorship and event participation. To learn more about HNS Sports Group, visit .

MEDIA CONTACT
Ashley J. Grimmer
Communications Manager, HNS Sports Group
agrimmer@hnssports.com
(513) 349-3389

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When senior Abigail Countess arrived on the Ģ����ý campus four years ago, she didn’t yet know where to find her classrooms or how to navigate college life. But she did know one thing: she wanted community.

She found it in the Honors College, surrounded by classmates who shared her curiosity, drive and faith — and that sense of connection, she says, made all the difference.

“Being in the Honors College gave me an immediate sense of community because it made campus seem much smaller and more personal,” Countess said. “From the beginning, I felt welcomed and supported, and that helped me adjust to college life so much more easily.”

Stories like Countess’s are part of the reason Ģ����ý was once again recognized among the nation’s best universities for programs that help students succeed.

In the 2026 U.S. News & World Report rankings released this fall, Ģ����ý earned national distinction in four categories — No. 11 in Learning Communities, No. 11 in Service Learning, No. 13 in First-Year Experiences and No. 36 in Study Abroad.

It marks the seventh consecutive year Ģ����ý has been honored in the U.S. News list of “Programs That Enhance Student Experience,” which highlights colleges and universities that foster engagement beyond the classroom.

“A national research university that is intentional about spiritual formation, impactful co-curricular experiences and forming lifelong relationships is unique in the higher education marketplace,” notes Dr. Phil Schubert, Ģ����ý president. “We’re thrilled when others recognize the value of what we see happening every day here at Ģ����ý.”

A culture of connection

For Ģ����ý, “learning communities” are a core part of the university’s approach to education. In these programs, students live and learn together through shared coursework, residence hall life and faculty mentorship.

The concept has been woven into the fabric of Ģ����ý’s mission: to educate students for Christian service and leadership throughout the world. One of the most visible examples is the Honors College Living Learning Communities, launched in 2023.

Honors freshmen participate in the Living Learning Community housed in Wessel, Ģ����ý’s newest residence hall, said Dr. Trey Shirley, associate dean of the Honors College and associate professor of art and design.

“Through this experience, students live together, learn together in Honors courses such as Cornerstone, and grow together through shared experiences that extend beyond the classroom,” he said.

The success of that first-year community was immediate. “In our first year of our Freshman Living Learning Community, we really didn’t know what to expect,” he said. “At our first event, and multiple subsequent events, we noticed that we were getting 100% attendance rates. The students were present and engaged, and anxious to join in all of the activities we planned.”

And when students prepared to leave at the end of the year, many expressed sadness at losing daily contact with friends they had come to see as family, he said. That feedback prompted the creation of a sophomore Living Learning Community in Barret Hall the following year.

Faculty in residence and mentorship in action

One of the defining features of Ģ����ý’s learning communities is the close relationship between students and faculty who mentor, model faith and participate with students in daily campus life.

In the Honors College, that relationship extends into residence life through a faculty-in-residence program, where professors live alongside students in Wessel Hall. It’s part of a broader philosophy of holistic learning that blends academic rigor, personal growth and spiritual formation.

“Faculty also supervise undergraduate research projects, from nuclear engineering to fine arts performances to high-level biblical scholarship,” Shirley said. “They mentor students applying for national scholarships, guide them through research, and even travel with them to present at conferences.”

Beyond the classroom, faculty help students discern their calling. “In our college we have a mantra that we use as a guiding light to keep us on the right path,” Shirley said. “It is a quote from the 20th-century Christian essayist Frederick Buechner. Buechner writes, ‘The place God calls you to is the place where your deep passion and the world’s deep hunger meet.’

“Working with high-achieving students, we know that they bring many talents to the table.�� But this quote reminds us that our talents are not to be hoarded for ourselves, but are intended to be shared with the world.�� So our goal is to partner with our students, to help them find the intersection between that which brings them deep gladness and the world’s deep need,” he said.

A student perspective on community

Countess, a senior kinesiology pre-occupational therapy major, says that sense of shared purpose and mentorship defines her Honors College experience.

“I loved my Honors Cornerstone class,” she said. “That’s where I made some of my very first college friends, and many of those friendships have lasted all four years. It felt like a space where everyone wanted to grow and learn together.”

She credits the smaller class sizes and collaborative learning environment with helping her find her voice as a student and as a leader.

“Within the Honors College, everyone is motivated and genuinely wants to learn – not just to get a grade, but to understand how what we study connects to the world,” she said. “The professors also take a more personal approach and get to know you as a person.”

Through her Honors contracts, Countess has worked one-on-one with professors on specialized projects that align with her interests. Those experiences, she said, have given her confidence and a deeper sense of ownership in her education.

“Being part of the Honors College has inspired me to work harder and strive for excellence,” she said. “It’s taught me balance – how to handle challenging academics while still building relationships and enjoying college life.”

Learning that extends beyond the classroom

In addition to the residential communities, Ģ����ý’s Honors College fosters connection through an Honors Commons – a shared space for study sessions, tutoring, Chapel services and social gatherings. The Honors Student Council organizes a variety of events including formals, service projects and field trips.

Shirley says those activities help students integrate “faith, scholarship, and service” into their Ģ����ý experience — a reflection of the university’s broader commitment to spiritual formation and leadership.

“The Honors College offers many opportunities for students to engage in Ģ����ý’s mission from the start of their freshman year through graduation,” Shirley said. “Through our four Honors tracks — Design Thinking and Innovation, Global Service and Leadership, Social and Environmental Justice, and Research and Scholarship — students learn what it means to be a person of faith seeking to do God’s work in the world.”

As for Countess, she’ll soon leave campus with a degree and a clear sense of direction. But what she’ll remember most, she said, are the people — the friends who became family and the professors who saw her potential before she did.

“The Honors College isn’t just about academics,” she said. “It’s about being part of a supportive, encouraging community. That’s what makes Ģ����ý feel like home.”

– Robin Saylor

Nov. 10, 2025

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Service learning – a hallmark of the Ģ����ý experience – is one of the many reasons U.S. News & World Report has again recognized Ģ����ý among the nation’s best in its 2026 rankings.

For the seventh consecutive year, Ģ����ý earned top marks in the “Programs That Enhance Student Experience” category, including ranking #11 in the nation in service learning.

But service learning at Ģ����ý is more than just a ranking – it’s a hands-on way for students to transform classroom knowledge into real-world impact.

Last year, 178 students, along with nearly 30 faculty, staff and alumni, participated in service learning projects across 20 countries, from Japan to Nicaragua. This year, students continue their outreach in places like Brazil, Peru and Denver, Colorado.

With majors ranging from finance to nursing, students apply their skills in meaningful ways, offering expertise, gaining cross-cultural experience and deepening their faith. For some, it’s their first time traveling abroad, stepping into new cultures and environments. Others serve locally, addressing challenges in their own communities.

For several years, students in Ģ����ý’s speech-language pathology program have traveled to Uganda to work with Hope Speaks, providing evaluations and speech therapy. They were joined this year by students from the Department of Kinesiology and Nutrition who were working on producing a locally sourced food thickener.

“There’s a dire need for speech therapists in Uganda,” said Anna Kate Bradford, one of the students who went on this trip. “Hope Speaks did 90 evaluations in a year, and we surpassed that in a week and a half. Imagine the help they would have if they had more SLPs here. You see drastic changes just by being seen once – in one 30-minute time of reading a book to them, playing with a ball, hearing their laughter. It helps give kids their voice back and that’s what’s amazing.”

Ģ����ý students have made a difference in communities worldwide, including:

Rwanda –�� The Department of Engineering and Physics worked with Ģ����ý alumnus Serge Gasore to survey the campus of Rwanda Children in preparation for a future erosion control project. Communication sciences and disorders students also joined to offer speech pathology services to children in the community.

Brazil – Social Work students traveled to Itu, Brazil, to work with Ģ����ý alumni Mark and Ali Kaiser on their local initiatives to partner with those who are underserved in their community.��

Uganda – Students from the Department of Kinesiology and Nutrition partnered with Hope Speaks to continue their work on producing a locally sourced food thickener, while students in the speech-language pathology program continued to offer services to local families.

Poland – Lynay students and faculty have hosted sports and VBS-style activities for Ukrainian refugee children. Read about one of their trips.

Ghana – Students from the College of Business Administration worked alongside students at Heritage Christian College and Ateiku Christian Ministries to explore entrepreneurial startups that might benefit the students and their communities.��

Nicaragua – Students from agricultural and environmental sciences developed vertical gardens for local communities.

Guatemala, Peru, and Denver, Colorado – Nursing and pre-health teams worked alongside healthcare providers to provide support and deliver care.

Throughout these experiences, students from the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication served as embedded reporters, creating documentaries to show the impact.

“The bravery of these students reminds us all that we are called to live out God’s Kingdom in ever-diverse contexts,” said Dr. Zane McGee, director of the Halbert Center for Missions and Global Service. And the integration of faith, learning and service is what defines Ģ����ý’s approach to education.

Kari David, who along with her husband co-founded Uganda’s Hope Speaks, talks about the impact Ģ����ý students have made.

“We’ve really seen how providing services and building that relationship with families opens the door for a conversation about the Gospel,” she said. “And there’s really no better way to show the Gospel to them than through loving their kids, especially in a culture where everyone else has pushed them away.”

– Robin Saylor

Oct. 16, 2025

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For the seventh consecutive year, the student experience at Ģ����ý is one of the nation’s best, according to the 2026

According to U.S. News & World Report’s methodology, the are a��national benchmark of “outstanding examples��of academic programs that are believed to lead to student success.” In the 2026 report, U.S. News recognized Ģ����ý in four categories – and in the top 15 nationally in three of them. The university has been recognized in multiple categories each year since the benchmark’s debut in 2020.

• #11 in Service Learning [highest-ranked Texas university]
• #11 in Learning Communities
• #13 in First-Year Experiences
• #36 in Study Abroad

One of the pillars of is to “provide a vibrant student experience that strengthens Ģ����ý’s commitment to spiritual formation and leverages Ģ����ý’s national leadership in student success.”

The rankings come on the heels of an eighth consecutive year of record enrollment, with the university topping 7,000 for the first time. In the spring, Ģ����ý was designated as a Research 2 university by the Carnegie Institute for Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education – a milestone that reflects the university’s intentional commitment to research growth and academic excellence.

“A national research university that is intentional about spiritual formation, impactful co-curricular experiences and forming lifelong relationships is unique in the higher education marketplace, and we’re thrilled when others recognize the value of what we see happening every day here at Ģ����ý,” said Dr. Phil Schubert, Ģ����ý president.

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More than 7,200 students enrolled at Ģ����ý this fall, marking the university’s largest-ever student body and an eighth consecutive year of record enrollment. The student total of 7,274 reflects an increase of 787 students or 12% over last year, 37% over the past five years and 60% over the past 10 years.��

A large class of residential freshmen, an intentional focus on retention and continued growth in Ģ����ý’s online programs have all contributed to the eight consecutive years of record enrollments, said Dr. Phil Schubert, Ģ����ý president.

“The high numbers we’re seeing this year, and for the past seven years, confirm that students are attracted to our unique offering: a world class academic education delivered in a Christ-centered community,” Schubert said. “We are committed to welcoming each of them as an integral part of our mission to educate students for Christian service and leadership throughout the world.”

This fall’s record enrollment includes 1,031 new freshmen who come from every region of Texas, the continental United States and across the world with 22 valedictorians, one National Merit Finalist, two National Merit Semifinalists and 31 international students. Among the top programs of interest for incoming students are nursing, kinesiology, finance, psychology and management.

Ģ����ý’s overall undergraduate enrollment is up 10% compared to last year. Among residential undergraduates, first-year to second-year student retention hit a record 82%, and the university’s four-year graduation rate recorded an all-time high.

Demand continues to be strong for Ģ����ý Online offerings as well, with online enrollment up 25% compared to last year. Undergraduate enrollment in online programs is up 39%, and graduate enrollment is up 13%.

Fall 2025 Quick Facts

• Total enrollment: 7,274
• Undergraduate students: 5,101
• Graduate students: 2,173
• Abilene campus: 3,675
• Ģ����ý Online (Dallas):�� 3,599
• International students: 212

This university-wide enrollment growth is supported by key institutional achievements, including the university’s new Research 2 (R2) status from the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education and the recent completion of a $300 million comprehensive fundraising campaign.

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The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has a plan to provide high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU) to Ģ����ý and its partner, , for their cutting-edge nuclear research. This crucial fuel allocation will support the university’s Nuclear Energy eXperimental Testing (NEXT) Lab in the development of a next-generation molten salt reactor.

Ģ����ý’s research reactor will be the first deployment of the Natura MSR-1 – a 1-megawatt thermal molten salt reactor system. Access to HALEU is essential for advancing the design and testing phases of this pioneering project.

Because HALEU is not yet commercially available from domestic suppliers, the DOE established a process for nuclear developers to request the material. Ģ����ý is one of just three new entities selected to receive an allocation, following an initial round of awards to five companies earlier this year. The DOE is expected to finalize the contracting process and potentially deliver HALEU to recipients later this year.

This announcement follows another significant milestone as the DOE recently named Natura Resources as one of only 11 projects nationwide to participate in the new . This federal initiative is designed to fast-track the development and deployment of advanced nuclear reactors by 2026.

These recent federal announcements propel Ģ����ý’s NEXT Lab into the national spotlight, solidifying the university’s position as a key contributor to U.S. nuclear energy innovation. The Ģ����ý research reactor project is the only university-led reactor project in the country with a construction permit from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. It also marks the first time a liquid salt-fueled reactor has been licensed by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

“Ģ����ý is grateful to the Department of Energy and Secretary Wright for their leadership in advancing America’s nuclear energy future, and we deeply appreciate Congressman Jodey Arrington, Senator John Cornyn and Senator Ted Cruz for their continued support of our groundbreaking nuclear research,” said Ģ����ý president Dr. Phil Schubert. “This access to fuel enables Ģ����ý and our partners at Natura Resources to take the critical next steps in designing and testing advanced nuclear technology – paving the way for safe, clean and reliable energy while creating extraordinary opportunities for our students and faculty to contribute to innovative research with global impact and strengthening our nation’s energy security.”

The project has also received significant support at the state level, as the 89th Texas legislature’s recently approved budget directed $120 million to benefit the NEXT Lab and Natura partnership, in conjunction with Texas Tech University and the Texas Produced Water Consortium.

— Wendy Kilmer
Aug. 28, 2025

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A recent appropriation from the Texas Legislature, signed by Gov. Greg Abbott, focuses on water desalination and directs research funding to to help accelerate their research partnership with Ģ����ý and its molten salt reactor project, sponsored by .��

In January, Ģ����ý entered into a memorandum of understanding with Texas Tech, Natura and the to address Texas’ most pressing water and energy challenges. A key goal of the collaboration is to integrate MSR technology with water desalination systems, aiming to purify produced water from oil and gas operations for beneficial use.��

The Natura Resources MSR-1, a liquid-fueled molten salt reactor that was licensed last year by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to be constructed on Ģ����ý’s campus as a university research reactor – the nation’s first in more than 30 years – is the first step toward commercial deployment of the technology in the Permian Basin to provide energy and beneficial use of produced water. The appropriation to Texas Tech will include a subaward to Ģ����ý for research, development, permitting, licensing and construction of the MSR-1 the university’s Nuclear Energy eXperimental Testing Laboratory.

“Texas Tech University is proud to partner with Ģ����ý and Natura Resources in advancing desalination of produced water through cutting-edge molten salt reactor technology,” said Lawrence Schovanec, president of Texas Tech University. “This collaboration exemplifies our commitment to innovation, sustainability and addressing critical energy and water security challenges.”

Natura’s MSR technology will also generate life-saving medical isotopes essential for cancer treatment, diagnostic imaging and other advanced medical procedures, which will help alleviate global shortages and establish Texas as a leader in medical innovation.

“We are deeply grateful to the Texas Legislature for their historic commitment to advanced nuclear innovation,” said Doug Robison, founder and CEO of Natura Resources. “This appropriation allows Natura and Ģ����ý to deploy the nation’s first advanced, liquid-fueled reactor in late 2026. Such milestones position Natura as the leader in the advanced reactor space and Texas as the leader in clean energy, water technology and the production of life-saving medical isotopes. Thanks to this unprecedented support, Texas is poised to shape the future of energy, water and medical science for the world.”

The ongoing partnership between Texas Tech, Ģ����ý and Natura Resources also contributes to workforce development, research and the establishment of a robust supply chain within Texas. These efforts, supported by the state’s recent investment, will help ensure reliable, affordable and sustainable energy, water and medical resources for Texas communities and beyond.

“Ģ����ý is honored to partner in this historic initiative with Texas Tech University and Natura Resources,” said Dr. Phil Schubert, Ģ����ý president. “Ģ����ý, along with our partners, is positioned to become a national leader in advanced nuclear training and research, setting a global standard for clean energy and medical advancements. We are especially grateful to Sen. Perry, Rep. Lambert and Rep. Darby for their leadership and support in making this partnership possible.”

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This spring, a record number of students shared short films at the historic Paramount Theatre downtown as part of Ģ����ý’s 21st annual FilmFest. Narrative and animated films from 16 teams showcased student storytelling and creativity from across campus, with awards presented in 15 categories.

For the second year, an award was given for Best Animated Film among the four animated films premiering at the event. Ky (McLeod ’24) Myers and Caleb Myers, senior digital entertainment technology major, won the top honor for their 3D-animated film ELON. The film took 13 months to produce, with Myers and Myers leading a crew of animators, modelers and musicians. A new award was also given for Best Voice Actor, which went to Olivia Cromis, senior multimedia major, for How to Get a Girlfriend, a film she wrote and directed, along with voicing its ominous lead character.

Caleb Shields, senior theatre major, had two films screened with Thumbs Up winning him awards for Best Director, Best Picture and Best Cinematography. Shields was participating this year in his third and final FilmFest before beginning the Master of Fine Arts in film and digital media at Baylor University in the fall.

“Being able to hear and feel the audience around you as they react to your film at the Paramount is about as euphoric as anything can be,” Shields said. “They gasp when you hoped they’d gasp, they jump when you hoped they’d jump, and then afterwards you get to talk to so many people who saw your work and hear how it affected them.”

The film process begins in September as students return to campus and culminates in a gala each April, with several opportunities for collaboration, feedback and support throughout the academic year. This year, FilmFest kicked off in the fall with the Story Workshop, led by screenwriter and past FilmFest judge Jason Baumgardner, and students also received early feedback on scripts from Baumgardner and screenwriter Melinda Hairston.

Earlier this spring, FilmFest worked with Ģ����ý’s Student Life office to bring Ashley Jay Sandberg to campus. Sandberg was an executive producer on Twisters and – in addition to screening the film – met with students to discuss the process of making a blockbuster and the skills needed to become a working producer.

Finally, weeks before the gala, film teams met with Nate Corrona, Atlanta filmmaker with Dustbrand Films, who looked at near-final cuts and provided feedback on editing and sound.

The gala weekend also gives students opportunities to hear from industry professionals who judge the event. This year’s judges included Hairston, returning for her second year, and Randy Brewer (’93), Ģ����ý’s chief storyteller and founder of Revolution Pictures, who has been a judge from FilmFest’s first year on campus in 2004. Joining the panel for the first time was Lara Morgan (’08). In Austin, Morgan works regularly with filmmaker Richard Linklater in a variety of roles on projects like Hitman, Apollo 10 ½, and his current multi-year production of Merrily We Roll Along.

“Returning to Ģ����ý FilmFest after almost 20 years was a surreal, full-circle experience,” said Morgan. “I participated in 2006 and 2007 and was blown away by the quality of the films in 2025. It was inspiring to see how far the program has come and to speak with passionate film-loving students. It was an honor!”

During the weekend, the judges met with students to discuss their unique paths to careers in film and media. Then on Saturday morning, they took time to provide detailed feedback on this year’s films and encouragement to filmmakers interested in submitting to regional and national festivals.

“The judges are always amazing,” Shields said. “Each year FilmFest connects students with experts in their field who are passionate about helping young artists. The judging pool has always been an invaluable resource to support students as they seek to take their films to the next level.”

Visit acu.edu/filmfest to learn more.

— Kyle Dickson
April 30, 2025

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Although Black History Month is February, for Ģ����ý alumna Regina L. Burns (’83) it has become a year-round passion.��

Her fascination with key figures in Black history was sparked in the 1990s, while she served as news director for a country music station in Memphis, Tennessee. She was asked to produce a radio documentary about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., which later won an award in the News/Public Affairs category from the National Association of Black Journalists.��

Since then, her interest in both journalism and history have interwoven and continued to grow.����

After earning a bachelor’s degree in mass communication from Ģ����ý in 1983, Burns went on to earn two master’s degrees – one from the University of Memphis in journalism administration (1995) and one from the University of North Texas in history (2024).

Her master’s thesis for her history degree was about the nation’s first African American barber college chain, which was founded in Tyler, Texas. She is currently working on a book about the chain and its founder, Texas millionaire Henry Miller Morgan.

Learn more about Burns’ life and career in this Q&A:

What has been your career path since you graduated from Ģ����ý?��

My career has principally focused on multimedia journalism, entrepreneurship and higher education. My news media background spans radio, television, newspapers and magazines, as well as The Associated Press in two states. Moreover, I have international exhibition marketing and agency publicity experience. I served as the community relations director for a Memphis advertising agency, Sossaman and Associates’ client the Imperial Tombs of China exhibition. It provided travel to Hong Kong, Beijing and Xi’an, China, prior to the exhibitions’ 1995 opening in my native Memphis. My higher education career spans a range of positions such as adjunct professor and writing consultant.

What are you currently working on?��

I am continuing to research the topic of my University of North Texas master’s thesis: “Texas African American Millionaire Henry Miller Morgan’s Social Justice Crusade: Tyler Barber College Chain, 1933-1974.” I plan to write a book about Tyler Barber College Chain, the nation’s first African American barber college chain founded by Texas millionaire Henry Miller Morgan.

You’ve combined your journalism experience with delving into historical research – how have the fields complemented each other?����

Very well. They both require accuracy, attention to detail, critical analysis, interviewing and effective storytelling. Being an award-winning multimedia journalist helped me during my history graduate coursework because I was already familiar with research, writing and shaping narratives. What history taught me was how to leverage primary sources, how to conduct oral history interviews, as well as how to construct an evidence-based original argument using primary sources. Additionally, as an emerging historian and journalist, I have a deeper appreciation for what my late parents, Rowena and Prince Whiting Jr., experienced in terms of Jim Crow segregation, discrimination and racial violence in Memphis.

What first sparked your interest in African American history?

This started in Memphis during the early 1990s when I was the news director at a country music radio station, WGKX-KIX 106 FM. Our station was held accountable for some racist on-air comments about Dr. Martin L. King Jr. The then-general manager, John Bibbs, asked me to research and produce a radio documentary about Dr. King. At the time, I was a one-woman news department with temporary high school/college interns. I asked for a budget and I hired an amazing researcher-writer named Dawnelle Hurd. Together, we crafted a 32-minute program called “Dr. Martin L. King Jr.: The Man, The Movement, The Momentum.” Our engineer was Leon Griffin and he mixed the interviews I did into a powerfully rich documentary. Bibbs had that program broadcast on several Memphis radio stations simultaneously and the local National Public Radio affiliate, WKNO-FM, also rebroadcast it. The King documentary relied on primary source material from the Memphis Sanitation Workers’ Strike and other information at The University of Memphis’ Hooks Institute Collection. This program won a second-place award in the News/Public Affairs category from the National Association of Black Journalists in 1990 in Los Angeles. I went on to produce two other award-winning KIX 106 radio documentaries: “Faces of Memphis” and “A Way Out.”

Tell me about your research on the first Black barber college chain, which began in Texas. Any other special topics of interest you’ve explored?��

During my graduate study at the University of Texas at Arlington and at the University of North Texas, I found additional Tyler Barber College Chain graduates and gathered their information through oral histories. I included some of this material in my master’s thesis. The barber college closed in the 1970s and I am having trouble locating business records. I also want to interview more of Morgan’s family members and learn more about the chain’s impact across the nation.

I am deeply interested in the role of academic mentors and graduate students of color. I certainly benefited from these types of connections. Looking back, I realized my mentoring started in junior high school in Memphis. My then-guidance counselor, Viola O. Cole, helped me get accepted into a prep school program, now known as REACH Memphis. I was selected to attend a six-week summer experience at Phillips Academy Andover, in Andover, Massachusetts, just before starting the 10th grade in high school. I am the product of a working-class and impoverished background, and attending a prep school demonstrates mentoring’s power and possibilities.

Any notable people you’ve met during your career?��

Ģ����ý alumna Martha (Colglazier ’78) Avance��was the first reporter I ever met when I was a freshman. One day she was on campus with a videographer working on a story. My legs could not move fast enough to reach her. I had to find out what I had to do to get a TV news job. Martha worked at KRBC-TV at the time, and her advice led to my being hired in a reporter/photographer role (now called multimedia journalist or MMJ). I sold a story to CNN while I was working at KRBC. Later after I graduated from Ģ����ý, I landed on-air news jobs at Memphis gospel radio station WLOK-AM and country music radio station WGKX-KIX 106. I conducted news interviews back in the day with country music superstars The Judds and Charley Pride, Roots author Alex Haley, Danny Thomas of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, powerhouse vocalists Nancy Wilson and Lou Rawls, and iconic actors Cybill Shepherd and Dennis Quaid. I met then-ABC News anchor Peter Jennings in November 2003 while I was working on a news gig at Dallas’ WFAA-TV and that was a magical moment.

What publications have you written for?��

I was a freelance journalist through my agency, Harvest Reapers Communications, in Memphis and published in magazines and newspapers. I have bylines in the Tri-State Defender, Memphis Health and Fitness Sports magazine, Black Enterprise, The Commercial Appeal and Memphis Woman magazine. I worked for The Associated Press in and , and some of my AP work was published in and , among others. I also reported for The Dallas Morning News’ Metro Plus section.

What inspired you to go back to school and earn a second master’s degree?

I wrote a profile of Terrell, Texas, for Texas Highways magazine in December 2020 at the behest of my then-editor Matt Joyce. This assignment led me to interview one of Terrell’s legendary entrepreneurs, Edmund Morrow, who is Oscar and Grammy winner Jamie Foxx’s former barber. Morrow graduated from Tyler Barber College Chain in 1962. When I told Dr. Charlie Marler (’55) (the late chair of Ģ����ý’s Department of Journalism and Mass Communication) about my article, he “ordered” me to go back to graduate school. “There aren’t enough African American historians. I want you to go back to graduate school and get a degree in history. You can make a difference in your community,” he said during a phone conversation that December. He told me he had taken an African American History course during his doctoral studies at the University of Missouri-Columbia and there was only one Black professor, . I attended University of Texas at Arlington, thanks to two scholarships from Dallas historian and history professor Dr. W. Marvin Dulaney, who is also an administrator at the African American Museum of Dallas. I received support from other Ģ����ý connections, including longtime friend Susan Perry (’77). Dr. Cheryl (Mann ’76) Bacon introduced me to Dr. Tracy (McGlothlin ’80) Shilcutt, professor emerita of history and global studies, and she provided a wealth of insight. I certainly received wonderful support from my former classmate, Dr. Doug Mendenhall (’82), associate professor of journalism at Ģ����ý.

You were a guest presenter for Dr. Doug Mendenhall’s Race and Media Colloquium at Ģ����ý? What was that experience like? What were some of the highlights you talked about?

Yes, that happened in Fall 2024. Teaching history and journalism to the Colloquium’s students was a fantastic experience. Dr. Mendenhall provided an open invitation and encouraged me to do what I do best – connect journalism and history. I prerecorded video interviews (done via Zoom) with two Abilene cosmetology-school and barber experts. One of them was Joyce Ayers, who owns and operates NeeCee’s Barber and Cosmetology College, and the other was barber/entrepreneur and Cooper High School college advisor Gerald Wilkerson (’92) of Wilkerson’s Barbershop. I played these videos during the weekend course to provide context about the history of the barbering industry, Jim Crow segregation and discrimination. I also did a live in-person interview with Floyd Miller, owner and publisher of The West Texas Tribune, and his family. These interviews provided students with firsthand connections to history and helped them with their video and essay assignments.

Tell me about your time as a student at Ģ����ý. Were there any particularly influential professors or memorable experiences?��

My parents did not have the financial means nor the wherewithal to take me to Abilene, so I rode a Greyhound bus from my native Memphis to Abilene, and the trip paid off. Attending Ģ����ý provided the media training necessary to have a dynamic broadcast journalism career. Coming from an impoverished background, I brought scholarships from the Memphis chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority and the NAACP, and Ģ����ý’s Betty Whiteside provided resources for me to get a loan and other funding to pay for my Ģ����ý education.��

My first broadcast “job” was working as a KĢ����ý-FM DJ. Some of the professors who influenced my career, directly and indirectly, were Dr. Marler, Dr. Jeff Warr (’72), Dr. Cheryl (Mann ’76) Bacon, Dr. Paul Faulkner (’52) and Dr. Carl Brecheen (’52).��

Additionally, I had a student job working in the maintenance department with Ross Blasingame (’58). A few years ago, I wrote another magazine profile about Abilene and Ross.��

Many, many other names come to mind, including Dewby (’50) and Amos Ray, Earline Perry (’48), and her daughter, Susan (’77). I am especially grateful to Phillip Morrison and his late wife, Mary Margaret, who gave my late mother, Rowena Whiting, a ride from Memphis to Abilene for my 1983 graduation. Their son, Jim Morrison, M.D., also graduated that same year.��

I recall how generous some of the students were who also lived in the then-McDonald Hall. When I did not have the funds to purchase a meal ticket or needed clothes, several students donated their meal tickets and extra clothing items to me.��

Lastly, I will always cherish the memory of the home economics professor who gave me a pair of state-of-the-art scissors for her sewing class. My parents did not have the resources to pay for such luxuries.

– Robin Saylor

Feb. 25, 2025

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