Anderson University Announces 2022 Alumni Awards
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Anderson, Ind. — Anderson University has announced the honorees of its annual alumni awards to be celebrated at this year’s Homecoming event on October 15 at 5 p.m. in York Performance Hall. All honorees were nominated by peers for their respective award before selection by the AU Alumni Council.
“There is no shortage of remarkable alumni coming out of Anderson University,” said Trent Palmer, director of Alumni Relations. “This year we again are acknowledging five who exemplify servant leadership and distinguished lives lived for our 2022 class of award winners. Each of these graduates have aligned themselves with distinction to AU’s mission of a life of faith and service in the church and society and we are elated to celebrate them and their remarkable achievements this Homecoming.”
Distinguished Alumni Award: Janeth (Simpson) Brown ’86
Janeth Simpson Brown was born in Chapelton, Jamaica and in 1982, she enrolled at Anderson University with the encouragement of Dr. James Earl Massey. After graduating from AU, Janeth earned her Master’s degree in language and international trade from Eastern Michigan University, followed by further studies in the areas of management and marketing from Mississippi State University and is on track to complete her Ph.D in psychology with a specialization in industrial organizational psychology from Walden University.
In 1989 Janeth began serving alongside her father in the community of Chapelton and began an intense program to challenge youth to dream and to make a difference called Symphony of Praise. Later, in 2002, she founded the Fergus Simpson Foundation, Inc., a 501(c)3 Tennessee-based organization to carry on the combined work of Symphony of Praise and her father, Rev. Fergus Astus Simpson.
Distinguished Young Alumni Award: Andrew Gale ’06 ’08
Andrew Gale is the executive director at Global Strategy, the international arm of Church of God Ministries, Inc. Andrew moved from Kansas to attend Anderson University, joining over 60 people in his family to attend at least a semester at AU.
At Global Strategy, Andrew moved into his role as executive director in 2017. He now oversees more than 55 global personnel serving in 22 countries, 50 international development projects in 24 countries, and partners with national leadership in nearly 90 countries. He also co-hosts a podcast called A World of Good that highlights what ministry leaders are doing around the world, advocates for their work, and brings awareness to ways people can support, pray, and engage the work of these global leaders.
John Kane Loyalty Award: Brian Schultz ’06
Brian Schultz has long been a part of the Raven community. He enrolled in 2003 at the recommendation of friends to study computer science & information systems.
After graduation, Brian became a software engineer working for Interactive Intelligence later acquired by Genesys and is now completing his twelfth year at the company. From 2013 to 2015, he facilitated an internship program at Purdue University. It inspired him to begin the process of bringing an on-campus internship to AU in the fall of 2015 with the help of Jim Ostrognai ‘99, Chris Estelle ‘04, and Professor Charles Koontz whom Brian studied under in college and has continued to respect throughout the years. Due to Brian’s leadership, this paid internship program continues to succeed by employing current AU students then helping them acquire jobs in the field after graduation.
Distinguished Service Award: Dr. Jerry Fox ’79
Student Jerry Fox arrived on the, then, Anderson College campus in August of 1975. Service began right away for Jerry. To help pay expenses, he worked as a janitor in Dunn Hall, in the campus post office, and for three years as a lifeguard and swim instructor at Bennett Natatorium. He also served as a resident assistant and discipleship group leader.
Now, he’s now beginning his 38th year on faculty where he has served on nearly every standing committee and was selected by his faculty colleagues as their chair and representative to the executive cabinet and board of trustees.
Jerry is the director of business internships and works to connect students with businesses and non-profit organizations in mutually beneficial ways. He also serves as the director of global business studies and has taken hundreds of students to dozens of countries around the world to meet and learn from business, government and educational leaders.
But his favorite place to serve students and the broader community is in his role as a Certified Financial Planner teaching the principles of financial stewardship and life planning.
MOSAIC Multicultural Award: Dr. Mamie Thorns ’73
Dr. Mamie T. Thorns serves as the Associate Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at Saginaw Valley State University. Having joined SVSU in 2002, Thorns has over 30 years of extensive administrative experience in higher education. She has served as an adjunct faculty member for SVSU’s Scott L. Carmona College of Business, as well as an instructor for the Gerstacker Fellowship Program, an SVSU-sponsored leadership development initiative for K-12 educators.
As Associate Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Dr. Thorns leads SVSU’s programs related to diversity, equal opportunity and Title IX. She serves as the primary adviser to the president and leads a community-based advisory council that focuses on matters related to maintaining and enhancing a diverse and dynamic campus environment. Dr. Thorns serves as Chair of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Council at SVSU. The DE&I Council is composed of 75 students, administrators, faculty, and staff. This DE&I team both advise and implement innovative programs for the campus and Great Lakes Bay Region.
Anderson University is on a mission to educate students for lives of faith and service, offering more than 60 undergraduate majors, 30 three-year degrees, 20 NCAA Division III intercollegiate sports, alongside adult and graduate programs. The private, liberal arts institution is fully accredited and recognized among top colleges for its business, computer science, cybersecurity, dance, engineering, nursing, and teacher education programs. Anderson University was established in 1917 in Anderson, Indiana, by the Church of God.