BROWNWOOD – December 15, 2017 – Dr. Robert Bicknell, who has served at Howard Payne University for almost 30 years, retired from his role as accreditation liaison at the close of the fall 2017 semester after stepping down from his concurrent role as dean of extended education in May. In appreciation of Dr. Bicknell’s faithful service to the university, Dr. Bill Ellis, HPU president, named Dr. Bicknell HPU’s first Provost Emeritus.
Dr. Bicknell began his career at HPU in 1989 as vice president of academic affairs before being named provost. He has since served the university in a variety of administrative and academic roles. Prior to coming to HPU, Dr. Bicknell served at Enterprise State Junior College, Wayland Baptist University and Southwest Baptist University.
As accreditation liaison to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), Dr. Bicknell has successfully shepherded HPU through three decennial reaffirmations, numerous substantive change proposals and countless period reports and has served on 24 SACSCOC visiting and off-site committees, many of these as committee chair. He is a sought-after speaker regarding the subject of regional, peer-reviewed accreditation and is frequently enlisted as consultant to institutions beginning the reaffirmation process.
Dr. Bicknell also led the university in the innovation of distance learning, including the development of curriculum and the initiation of HPU’s extension centers in El Paso and New Braunfels.
He is active in the community and has served as an officer of the Brownwood Rotary Club, the Brownwood Economic Development Corporation, the Brownwood Regional Medical Center Institutional Review Board, the Brownwood Technology Board and the West Texas Telecommunications Consortium.
Dr. Ellis informed Dr. Bicknell of his Provost Emeritus designation in a recent letter thanking the retiree for his many years of dedicated leadership.
“Your service to Howard Payne and your commitment to the cause of Christian higher education deserve nothing less,” Dr. Ellis wrote.
Dr. W. Mark Tew, HPU’s provost and chief academic officer, commended Dr. Bicknell on his leadership and said his presence at HPU will be missed.
“Dr. Bicknell approached his time at HPU not only as his career but as his calling,” Dr. Tew said. “We’re appreciative of his dedication to the university and wish him all the best in the years to come.”
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Cutline: A Resolution of Appreciation honoring Dr. Robert Bicknell was read during HPU’s fall 2017 Commencement ceremony. Left to right: Dr. W. Mark Tew, Dr. Bicknell and Dr. Bill Ellis.
BROWNWOOD – December 13, 2017 – Howard Payne University’s annual Mustache Wheel of Doom fundraiser recently raised more than $5,000 for the Baptist General Convention of Texas’ Go Now Missions. The event is sponsored by HPU’s Baptist Student Ministry.
“Mustache Wheel of Doom is a fun event and we look forward to it every year,” said Keith Platte, director of HPU’s BSM. “We’re blessed to be able to support Go Now Missions and the people all over the world who are impacted by this ministry.”
BROWNWOOD – December 12, 2017 – Dr. Kylah Clark-Goff, dean of Howard Payne University’s School of Education, began a term this fall as secretary of the Texas Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (TACTE). Additionally, Dr. Clark-Goff will begin a term in January as secretary of the Education Deans of Independent Colleges and Universities of Texas (EDICUT).
BROWNWOOD – December 11, 2017 – Howard Payne University recently competed at the Northwest Model United Nations Conference in Seattle, Washington, winning the Distinguished Delegation Award, second place for overall team performance.
BROWNWOOD – December 7, 2017 – Howard Payne University will graduate 100 students during the fall Commencement ceremony this Saturday, December 9, beginning at 10 a.m. at the Brownwood Coliseum. The Coliseum is located at 500 E. Baker Street in Brownwood.
Additional program participants include: Corey Ash ’92, associate professor of music and director of bands; Dr. Donnie Auvenshine ’75, dean of the School of Christian Studies and professor of Christian studies; Bryan Baker, candidate for graduation; Dr. Robert Bicknell, accreditation liaison to the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools; Dr. Kylah Clark-Goff, dean of the School of Education and professor of education; Dr. Gerry Clarkson, faculty president and associate professor of physical science; Dr. Gary Gramling ’81, director of the Christian studies graduate programs and professor of Christian studies; Matthew Haynie ’09, president of the Alumni Association; Dr. Millard J. Kimery, Jr., dean of the School of Humanities and professor of English; Dr. Brad Lemler, dean of the School of Business and professor of accounting; Dr. Wendy McNeeley, assistant vice president of university records; Dr. Matthew McNiece ’03, director of the Guy D. Newman Honors Academy and associate professor of history; Dr. Jane Metty-Samons, associate professor of education; Dr. Debra Powell, associate professor of business administration; Dr. Christopher Rosborough ’08, assistant professor of music; Carter Sharpe, chairman of HPU’s Board of Trustees; Dr. W. Mark Tew, provost; and the HPU Instrumental Ensemble.
BROWNWOOD – December 6, 2017 – With wins at two final tournaments, Howard Payne University’s Moot Court team ends its fall 2017 season undefeated. The team’s win at the last tournament of the fall secured HPU’s spot in the American Moot Court Association’s national competition to be held in January at the University of North Texas at Dallas College of Law.
BROWNWOOD – December 5, 2017 – Three students from Howard Payne University’s El Paso Center were recently named recipients of the 2017-18 Howard Payne University El Paso Center Scholarship. The scholarship, in its inaugural year, was created by a donation from the Ladies Auxiliary of IBBI-HPU.
BROWNWOOD – December 4, 2017 – Students in Howard Payne University’s Sport, Media and Culture course within the university’s Department of Communication took two academic trips to professional sporting events this fall – a Texas Rangers baseball game and San Antonio Spurs basketball game – to meet with the communications staff of each organization.
The class attended a Texas Rangers game during the last week of the Major League Baseball regular season in September. The students met with four members of the Rangers’ marketing, communications and social media staff. Each staff member explained his or her role in the organization and answered questions from the students.