Alumni

Cameron Conn ('05)

Cameron Armstrong Conn, Ph.D., a native of Dyersburg, Tennessee, graduated from Union University in 2005 with a Bachelor of Arts in biblical studies and teaching English as a second language. She now serves as president of the Tennessee Independent Colleges and Universities Association (TICUA), where she leads advocacy efforts for 34 private colleges, including her alma mater, at both the state and federal levels. She also oversees professional development programs and initiatives that strengthen and support Tennessee's independent higher education sector.

Prior to joining TICUA in 2024, Conn spent two decades in leadership roles within higher education. She began her career in student affairs at Mississippi College, later serving in academic and administrative leadership at Baylor University and Baptist Health Sciences University in Memphis, where she helped launch the College of Osteopathic Medicine.

Conn holds a Master of Science in Higher Education from Florida State University, a Doctor of Philosophy in Higher Education from Azusa Pacific University, and a doctoral certificate in strengths-oriented higher education. An active researcher, she frequently presents at national conferences and mentors doctoral students. Her research focuses on student- faculty interaction, student outcomes, and Christian higher education.

Conn and her husband, Patrick, live in Nashville, where they enjoy traveling, exploring new restaurants, and cheering on college sports.

Chris Nadaskay

Christopher Nadaskay has served on Union University's faculty since 1993 and is currently Professor of Art and Chair of the Department of Art. He teaches painting, drawing, foundations, sculpture, digital imaging and has been instrumental in shaping Union's art program for more than three decades. He previously taught at Southern Arkansas University Tech and Hannibal- LaGrange College.

Nadaskay is an accomplished artist whose work has been featured in solo and group exhibitions across the country. His notable projects include 1000 Pardons: Art as Social Grace, an installation of 1,000 ceramic crosses at Crosstown Arts in Memphis, and public commissions such as the Unity Park Sculpture Project in Jackson, Tennessee. His exhibitions span from local galleries to international juried shows, and his scholarship includes published articles and essays on art and culture.

He has been recognized with Union University's Faculty of the Year Award, faculty research and development grants, and external honors such as Addy Awards for design. In addition to his academic and artistic contributions, Nadaskay has received a Lilly Network Grant and continues to produce thought-provoking art addressing faith, grace, and the human experience.

Linda Shoaf

Linda Ross Shoaf, a native of Gibson County, Tennessee, pursued a lifelong passion for teaching and nutrition. She earned her bachelor's degree in food systems management and teaching certification from the University of Tennessee, a master's degree in food science, and a Ph.D. in adult education with emphasis on administration and program planning from the University of Southern Mississippi.

Shoaf began her career teaching nutrition before directing one of the nation's first accredited training programs for food service supervisors. She later developed and led an accredited dietetic internship and helped initiate a master's degree program for dietitians. A 50-year member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, she has held numerous leadership roles, authored professional standards, and is published widely. She was honored with the Distinguished Service Award by the Academy's Healthy Aging Practice Group.

Her passion for education extends beyond the classroom,leaving a legacy of excellence, generosity, and service at Union. For 18 years, Shoaf served on the Board of Trustees and spent three of those years as the Secretary for the Executive Committee. In 2011, she and her late husband established a scholarship to aid students interested in pursuing a career in the medical field. Five years later, her family did the same to honor their parents' love and dedication to Union.

Active in church and community service, Shoaf has also contributed Christian writings and devotionals. She is the mother of two daughters and grandmother of five. She credits her late husband of 63 years, David, as her greatest support and encouragement.

Courtney Powell ('11)

Courtney Powell serves as Operations Director for the Resource Development Team at Strategic Resource Group (SRG), a nonprofit organization that funds indigenous ministry efforts throughout the Middle East and North Africa. In this role, she helps strengthen global ministry partnerships that advance the gospel in one of the most spiritually significant and challenging regions of the world.

A 2011 graduate of Union University with a Bachelor of Music degree and emphasis in Christian Studies, Powell went on to earn a Master of Arts in Church Ministry from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in 2014. She also serves as Director of Ministry Content for Women & Work, a ministry dedicated to equipping women to live out their faith in the workplace through biblical teaching and practical resources.

Her writing has appeared in The Gospel Coalition, The Daily Grace Co., and ECAP, where she focuses on theology, vocation, and the integration of faith and work. In 2023, she contributed a chapter to Women & Work: Bearing God's Image and Joining His Mission Through Our Work (B&H Publishing).

Powell lives in Arvada, Colorado, with her husband and three children. She is an active member of her local church, where she serves through worship leading and teaching women's Bible studies.

Warren Nunn

Warren Nunn dedicated his career to the banking industry as President and Chairman of the Board at The Bank of Halls, where he demonstrated steadfast leadership and a deep commitment to financial education and community growth in West Tennessee. His professional legacy reflects both excellence in finance and a heart for service that strengthened the communities he served.

Nunn's devotion to West Tennessee extended beyond his career into his lifelong support of Union University. Following the example of his father, David Nunn — who served on Union's Board of Trustees for more than 30 years — Warren has continued the family tradition of leadership and generosity. He has served four years on Union's Board of Regents, nine years on the Board of Trustees, and, together with his late wife, Eleanor, provided enduring support through the David R. and Mildred Nunn Endowed Scholarship, which benefits generations of Union students.

In 2022, Union University honored Nunn's faithful service and impact by inducting him into the Bicentennial Hall of Honor. His life exemplifies integrity, generosity, and a commitment to Christian education.

Jane Hopkins ('71) Family

Jane Welch Hopkins, a native of Brownsville, Tennessee, continued her family legacy, that began in 1924, by graduating from Union University in 1971 with a Bachelor of Arts in history and secondary education. She later earned a Master of Arts in elementary education and additional graduate hours in counseling from the University of Memphis.

Hopkins devoted nearly 30 years to teaching in the Haywood County School System, shaping the lives of countless students before retiring in 2007. Throughout her career she was known for her dedication to excellence in education and her commitment to student success.

Beyond the classroom, Hopkins has been active in civic and educational organizations that promote literacy, award college scholarships, and provide resources for community improvement projects. Her life reflects a commitment to service and a deep love for education.

Jane and her husband, Richard, have three sons — Richie, Jim, and Welch — all Union graduates — along with daughters-in-law Jamie and Leigh Ann and two grandchildren, Kayler Grace and Richard. They are active members of Woodland Baptist Church in Haywood County, where Dr. Hyran Barefoot officiated their wedding more than 53 years ago.

Business: Craig Dismuke ('98)

Craig Dismuke serves as Managing Director and Chief Market Strategist for Stifel's Fixed Income Capital Markets group, where he leads market analysis and strategy for institutional investors across the country. With more than 26 years in the financial services industry, Dismuke is widely recognized for his expertise in U.S. economic trends and interest rate forecasting.

Before Stifel's acquisition of Vining Sparks, he served as Executive Vice President and Chief Economist, where he helped guide one of the nation's leading fixed-income broker-dealers. He is a frequent speaker at national financial conferences and appears regularly on CNBC, Fox Business, and Bloomberg TV. His commentary is often cited in major financial publications.

A four-time recipient of Stifel's Revenue Leadership Award, Dismuke is recognized by colleagues for his leadership, professionalism, and contribution to company growth. Outside of his professional achievements, he and his family are deeply involved in community service through St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. The Dismuke family received St. Jude's Jerry Nicholson Award for extraordinary volunteer service.

Craig and his wife, Ashley, live in Memphis, Tennessee, with their three children.

Health Care: Lee Sanders ('97)

Dr. Lee Sanders earned bachelor's degrees in biology and chemistry with a minor in business administration from Union University in 1997. He went on to complete a Ph.D. in pharmaceutical sciences at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in 2003 and an M.D. in 2007. He trained in internal medicine at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, where he also served as chief resident, before completing fellowships in general and transplant nephrology at Vanderbilt University.

Sanders is board-certified in internal medicine and nephrology. He serves as associate professor at the University of Iowa and the Iowa City Veterans Affairs Health Care System, where he is also Medical Director of Transplantation Services. A leader in medical education, he co-directs the internal medicine clerkship at the Carver College of Medicine and oversees residency teaching rotations.

His scholarship includes numerous publications and invited lectures, and he has been elected a fellow of the American College of Physicians, the American Society of Nephrology, and the American Society of Transplantation. In 2022, he received the Laureate Award from the Iowa Chapter of the ACP in recognition of excellence in medicine. He and his wife, April ('97), live in Iowa with their children, Matthew and Rachel.

Education: Fondra Magee ('86)

Fondra Magee, a Union University graduate in elementary education, began her career as a teacher before pursuing a master's degree in school counseling. She has served in Tennessee and now in Spokane, Washington, where she developed an award- winning counseling program recognized at the district and state level. A credentialed School-Based Registered Play Therapist, she also mentors future counselors through Whitworth University's advisory board.

In 2024, Magee was named Washington School Counselor of the Year and received the Spokane Chase Youth Commission Award. Beyond her professional work, she has served on the National Woman's Missionary Union Executive Board, volunteered at a children's bereavement center, and maintained a 40-year clown ministry bringing joy to children. She also advocates nationally for Breakthrough T1D following her son's diagnosis. Fondra and her husband, Tom ('87), are the parents of Mason and Carson.

Church Ministry: Jerry ('69) and Becky ('10, '11) Drace

Jerry Drace grew up as the son of a pastor and initially planned to pursue a career in medicine. While a student at Union University, he sensed God's call to ministry and redirected his path. He later earned a Master of Divinity from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and a Doctor of Ministry from Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary.

In 1975, he founded the Jerry Drace Evangelistic Association, through which he led revivals, crusades, and conferences throughout the United States and internationally for more than three decades. In 2014, he was called to serve as pastor of Friendship Baptist Church in Friendship, Tennessee, where his father once pastored.

Rebecca "Becky" Hight Drace ('10, '11) of Humboldt, Tennessee, has dedicated her life to ministry and encouragement through the Jerry Drace Evangelistic Association, which she and her husband, Jerry, founded in 1975. Together they have led evangelistic crusades and family conferences across the U.S. and abroad, including in Scotland, South Korea, and Hong Kong.

After returning to Union University later in life, Becky earned both her Bachelor and Master of Social Work degrees, exemplifying her belief that "you're never too old to fulfill God's calling." She is coauthor of 44 Ways to Strengthen Your Marriage and Hope for the Home Study Bible and author of The Bright Side of Blue: Finding Hope in the Dark Places of Life (2024).

Becky and Jerry cohost Hope for the Home on American Family Radio, a program reaching millions of listeners. They also coauthor a weekly marriage and family column for The Jackson Post. They are the parents of two children, Drew and Becca — both graduates of Union University — and the proud grandparents of five grandchildren.

Government/Public Service: Steve Maroney ('87)

Steven W. Maroney graduated from Union University in 1987 with a Bachelor of Science degree, where he was president of the junior and senior classes, Phi Beta Lambda business fraternity, and Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity, and was inducted into Alpha Chi honor society. He went on to earn his Juris Doctor from the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law in 1992, where he received multiple awards for academic excellence and advocacy.

Maroney practiced law for nearly three decades, first with Waldrop & Hall and later with Teel & Maroney, before being appointed Chancellor of Tennessee's 26th Judicial District in 2021. He has since served as presiding judge of the district and as a member of the Tennessee Judicial Conference, where he contributes to the Domestic Relations and Legislative Committees. He is also active with the Tennessee Trial Judges Association, serving on its executive committee.

Beyond the bench, Maroney has been deeply engaged in public service, holding positions as Madison County Attorney, City Attorney for Bolivar and Three Way, Tennessee Republican Party Executive Committeeman, and Madison County Election Commissioner. He has also served on the boards of the University School of Jackson, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and the Jackson Area Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependency.

Maroney and his wife reside in Jackson, Tennessee.

Research/Sciences: Ward Howard ('15)

Ward Howard, a 2015 Union graduate in physics and mathematics, is a NASA Sagan Fellow hosted by the University of Colorado Boulder in the Department of Astrophysical and Planetary Sciences. His research uses data from the James Webb Space Telescope and other observatories to study how stellar activity impacts the atmospheres and habitability of distant planets.

After Union, Howard earned a Ph.D. in physics and astronomy at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2021. His work combines advanced astrophysics research with a passion for teaching and mentoring undergraduate students. He also engages in dialogue about science and faith, shaped by the Christ-centered education he received at Union.

Humanities: Renee Emerson ('08)

Renee Emerson is the author of three full-length poetry collections, Keeping Me Still (2014), Threshing Floor (2016), and Church Ladies (2023), along with several chapter books and a middle- grade novel. Her work has appeared in leading journals including Shenandoah, The Georgia Review, The Southern Review, and Virginia Quarterly Review.

She earned an MFA in poetry from Boston University, where she received the Academy of American Poets Prize, and in 2016 she was awarded an Individual Artist Grant by the Arkansas Arts Council. Her work has also been nominated multiple times for the Pushcart Prize.

Emerson teaches writing courses online for Indiana Wesleyan University and Shorter University. Originally from Tennessee, she now lives in Missouri with her husband and five children.

Not-for-Profit: Michele Walton ('02)

Michele Bennett Walton serves as Publishing Director for seeJesus^®, a global discipling ministry that helps the church see and reflect the life, death, and resurrection of Christ through discipleship resources and training. In her role, she leads the organization's publishing ministry, overseeing the development of materials designed to form disciples who love and imitate Jesus.

Before joining seeJesus, Michele served in various ministry and communications roles, including publicity, marketing, and editing, experiences that prepared her well for her current work in Christian publishing. She has described her position with seeJesus as a calling where her skills and passions meet — helping the church rediscover the central passions of the Christian faith: love for Jesus, imitation of Him, and deep communion with the Father.

Michele lives in Upstate South Carolina with her husband and their 8-year-old son. She remains committed to living out the truths she helps communicate, learning daily from Jesus how to love and serve her family and community well.

Arts/Media: Pam Andrews ('78)

Pamela Simmons Andrews, a native of Poplar Bluff, Missouri, is an internationally recognized children's Christian songwriter, music educator, and breast cancer survivor. She earned her Bachelor of Music Education degree from Union University and a Master of Arts in Music Education from the University of Hawaii at Manoa.

Andrews has written more than 700 songs and produced over 70 children's choir musicals, many of which present the gospel message to young audiences. She has worked with leading Christian publishers and later established her own company, Pam Andrews Music. A frequent conference speaker and choral director, she has taught at music camps nationwide and led school choirs to award- winning performances.

She has been nominated for multiple Dove Awards and honored with Christian Supply's "Heart of the Servant Award." As an educator in Sumner County Schools and later Liberty Creek High School, she developed innovative programs including a recording studio and dual-enrollment opportunities for students.

Andrews and her husband, David, live in Hendersonville, Tennessee, and are parents to Matthew and Leigh and grandparents to seven grandchildren.