2026 Winter Archives | ɬ /news/category/magazine/2026-winter/ The official website of ɬ Tue, 14 Apr 2026 18:49:36 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 Winter 2026 Highlander Athletic News /news/winter-2026-highlander-athletic-news/ Tue, 14 Apr 2026 18:49:36 +0000 /?p=97850 The post Winter 2026 Highlander Athletic News appeared first on ɬ.

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Excellence:It’sAbout the Pursuit, Not Perfection

By Kyra Binney ’26

Houghton staff member Matthew Webb.

The start of Houghton’s fall semester marks another year of pursuing the Athletics Department’s motto:“Excellence for the Glory of God.”But what does excellence actually look like within Houghton’s teams?Dr. Matthew Webb, Director of Athletics, offers a perspective that reframes the idea entirely.

“I think a misconception would be that excellence equates perfection… Idon’tthinkthat’sthe case,” Webb says. “To me, excellence is more about a pursuit.”
Webb emphasizes that perfection—whether as an athlete, student, oremployee—is impossible. What matters isthe effort. “We’re not going to be perfect,” he says. “But I think we can still be excellent without being perfect.” He draws a parallel to Christian life: believers will never be perfect, yet their pursuit of God is what truly matters.

Whenidentifyingexcellence among Houghton’s athletes, Webb looks beyond wins and losses. While victories are celebrated, he believes true excellence is embedded in the culture of each team. “The excellence that I see in our programs is more behind the scenes,” he explains. “It’s the culture—things that teams are doing to pursue Christ culturally.”

Each team expresses this culture differently.The men’s basketball team sits together at the front of chapel services.The women’s soccer team carries a wooden cross across campus during their annual cross run,prayingand fellowshipping along the way. These traditions rarely take center stage, yet they reveal each team’s deeper commitment to growth and faith.

At the start of the year, the Athletics Department holds its all-athlete meeting. While it covers required policies and expectations, Webb also uses it to remind athleteswhythey compete. His hope is that each student-athlete not only performs well but grows spiritually through their sport and team community.

Looking ahead, Webb says each team stands in a unique place based on its history and current needs. Some programs with new coaches are focused on building culture; others aim tobuild onlast year’s progress. With a strong start to the fall season—both in performance and team culture—Houghton’s ongoing pursuit of excellence is already in motion.

Houghton Elevates Holistic Athlete Development Through Physical and Mental Performance Initiatives

ɬ Athletics has taken significant steps in recent years to elevate the holistic development of its student-athletes—pairing a structured strength and conditioning program with a new mental performance partnership. Together, these initiatives reflect the department’s commitment to equipping Highlander athletes with the tools needed to thrive physically,mentallyand spiritually.

Strength and Conditioning: Building Stronger, Safer Athletes

Launched three years ago under Head Athletic Trainer Austin Walden, Houghton’s strength and conditioning program has quickly become a cornerstone of athlete development. The program is designed to enhance performance while reducing injury risk by offering structured, intentional training for athletes both in-season and out-of-season.

“The goal is to provide structured training programs for our athletes—to help them perform on the field while minimizing the risk of injuries,” Walden explains. “Once our athletes are physically stronger and faster, there’s a decreased chance of injuries.”

Each session includes dynamic warmups, agility drills,sprintsand full-body strength work. Walden collaborates closely with coaches to ensure each program aligns with team goals and reflects sport-specific needs.

Athletes have already seen measurable benefits. Women’s basketball playerᲹԲԲ󲹰’27credits the program for improvements in explosiveness, agility, and injury prevention.“Austin does a great job at implementing exercises that are game-like,” she said.“I’ve seen growth in my explosiveness and agility, and I’ve been blessed to avoid major injuries.”

Walden has likewiseobservedfewer muscular injuries and stronger team cultures around training. His long-term vision includes expanding the program to allow teams up to three sessions per week.

Holos 360: Training Mental Excellence

Complementing the physical training program, Houghton recently partnered withJason Rollins, founder ofHolos 360and a certified Mental Performance Mastery Coach, to bolster athletes’ mental preparation and resilience.

Director of AthleticsDr.Matthew Webbsays the partnership grew from a desire to give student-athletes proactive mental performance resources: “It’s not mental health resources particularly—it’s proactive, intentional mental performance training.”

Rollins’ curriculum guides athletes through three phases—preparing well, performing well, and reflecting well—each centered on developing mental habits and disciplines that directly influence performance. He works with teams and individuals through online meetings, focusing on personalized support.

One unique element of Holos 360 is its Christian foundation. Rollins helps athletes understand theirImagoDei—their identity as people created by God—so they compete from a place of purpose rather than pressure.

“When athletes understand that their identity is placed in who God made them to be, it releases them to perform at their best,”Rollinssays.

Early feedback from athletes has been highly positive. Webb notes that while conversations with Rollinsremainconfidential, students have expressed appreciation for the program’s impact.

A Unified Approach

Kyra Binney photo, current student.

Together, Houghton’s strength program and mental performance partnership represent a unified effort to strengthen the whole athlete. By investing intentionally in both physical readiness and mental excellence, Houghton ispreparingits teams to compete with confidence, resilience, and purpose—reflecting a holistic vision of athletic success.

Kyra Binney ’26 is a senior majoring in Writing and Communication. A native of Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, she is a mid-distance runner for the ɬ Track and Field team and a member of the ɬ Cross Country Team.

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]]> From the Archives /news/from-the-archives/ Tue, 14 Apr 2026 18:47:52 +0000 /?p=97845 The post From the Archives appeared first on ɬ.

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DorahBurnell & The Pasteur Pre-Medic Society

The 1926-1927 academic catalog is the first to show pre-medical as a possible major—described as a “composite major”—at Houghton College & Seminary. This coincides with the hiring of ProfessorDorahBurnell, who came to Houghton in 1926 to teach chemistry.

A native of Nebraska and graduate of State Teachers College (1916) and the University of Nebraska (B.S. 1924, M.A. 1925), Professor Burnell single-handedly built the college’s chemistry department while fulfilling countless other roles on campus.

Along with colleagues in the ScienceDepartment, Professor Burnell helped studentsestablishedThe Pasteur Pre-Medic Society.In its inaugural appearance in the Boulder in 1928, the society described its aim as“…to promote a feeling of comradeship, to gain inspiration for future tasks, and to learn something more of the nature and extent of this their chosen field of endeavor.” The inaugural group boasted 27 membersand by the 1950s, the club was one of the largest and most active on Houghton’s campus.

Today known as thePre-Health Professions Club, the groupremainsone of Houghton’s largest and most active clubs. Their aim, similarly, is“…to serve as an information resource and generate opportunities for fellowship, career exploration and volunteer service for students interested in health-related fields.”

In the dedication of the 1954 Boulder, studentsobservedof Professor Burnell that“[h]er influence was there… Lights were shining out from the meticulously kept chemistry lab until the early morning hours. On the desk were carefully graded papers—around the room was all the valuable equipment she hadprocured. From this lab alumni went forth to succeed… herinfluencewas there.”

Professor Burnell’sinfluenceremains—in Houghton’s chemistry labs, in the Pre-Health Professions Club, in thelives of service led by so many ofour alumni.Professor Burnell’s influencehasplayed a role in helping to shape thousands of doctors, nurses, researchers, dentists, pharmacists, public health servants, medical missionaries and more who have gone on to, as Willard J. Houghton would say,“fix up the world for Christ.”

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]]> Giving Back Through Mentoring /news/giving-back-through-mentoring/ Tue, 14 Apr 2026 18:46:20 +0000 /?p=97608 The post Giving Back Through Mentoring appeared first on ɬ.

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By Dr. Jenna (Hill ’15) Smith

I began my Houghton journey in 2011 as a biology major with a chemistry minor. I completed the firstyearScienceHonors program, andwasvery involvedin thePre-healthProfessionals club and Sigma Zeta math and science honors society. I took quite a few of the upper-level biology electives, especially during my last couple of years there. These classes really helped prepare me for thechallengingcurriculum that was comingingraduate school.

I applied to veterinaryschoolmy senior year and was accepted to Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine. Thecourseload was intense in depth and breadth, butI felt Ihad a solid foundation from Houghton. I graduated from Cornell in 2019 and started working at Perry Veterinary Clinicin Perry, New York,as an associate veterinarian. I became a partner at Perry Vet in the beginning of 2023. Currently, I practice both small and large animal medicine, splitting my time between cats and dogs in the office, and dairy cows and other large animals on farms throughoutWestern NewYork. I even go to calls at the Houghton Equestrian center—talkabout coming full circle!

Jenna Hill with a horse

One of the joys in this profession is the opportunity I have to mentor students—whetherthey’re in veterinaryschool or are in theirpre-vetstudies.GivenPerry Veterinary Clinic’sproximity to Houghton, wehave the privilege tohost quite a few pre-vet students, includingZachary Wolfer ’24, who is now a D.V.M. candidate at Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine, andcurrent pre-veterinary studentGreg Loper ’28.This isa greatopportunityfor me to be able to give back to a community that gave me so much. Recently,I’vehad some students join me who went to Houghton fortheirundergraduateand are now in veterinaryschool.

During these externships,we always haveample time to chat in thetruck inbetween calls. The conversationinevitablygoes back toourfairlyuniversalHoughton experiences—”Organic chemistry was so challenging, wasn’t it?” or “Did you love microbiology?” Maybe“Did youtakeaMaytermoff-campus?” or“Were you purple or gold?”(Team Purple!)

And often,most commonly— “Wasn’t Houghton the best? I loved it there.”

Jenna (Hill ‘15) Smith, D.M.V.is a large and small animal veterinary and partnerwithPerry Veterinary Clinic in Perry, New York. Sheholds abachelor of sciencein biology from ɬ and adoctorate of veterinary medicinefrom Cornell University

“My time at ɬ was instrumentalformy success in veterinary school and provided me with the foundation to excelimmediatelyat Kansas State University. The pre-health professions program challenged me academically, offered me research opportunities, and provided me with connections to gain valuable experiences to help bolster my application. The incredible support from faculty I received both when I was a student and after graduation has had a lasting and meaningful impact on my professional journey.”

Zachary Wolfer’24
DVM Candidate, Class of 2028
Kansas State University

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]]> Live It Out and Serve Christ Well /news/live-it-out-and-serve-christ-well/ Tue, 14 Apr 2026 18:44:59 +0000 /?p=97566 The post Live It Out and Serve Christ Well appeared first on ɬ.

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Live It Out

Erica Haefner with dog

By Salim Ford ’28

EricaHaefner ’27 isa ɬ junior studying pre-physical therapy in the hopes of becoming a pediatric physical therapist. Her aspirations began when she was a junior in high school. She says, “After a lot of injuries and physical therapy sessions, I realized this is something I am really passionate about.” After further research and shadowing opportunities, shedeterminedthat this is whatshe’scalled to do.

Erica’s goals to become a physical therapist align with her faith and her passion for serving others. Shestates, “I have a very strong passion for helping people, especially helping them learn more about their own bodies.” She draws from her own experience as a patient attending physical therapy sessions, explaining that “The physiciansand doctors I connected with most were the ones who taught me what was actually going on in a simple way that I could understand.” As a future physical therapist, she hopes to draw on her positive experiences to help her patients understand themselves andenhance recovery.

Erica namesAnatomy and Physiology,taught by Dr. Donald Wilcox,as her favorite class.She’salso enjoyed shadowing, which is a core requirement for her major. She enjoys learning through actual experiences. Erica cites Dr. Ransom Poythress, her advisor, as an encouragement to her, along with Dr. Jamie Potter and Dr. Wilcox, with whom she takesa number ofclasses.She’slooking forward to takingInjury and Evaluationthis Springsemester, andeagerlyanticipatesentering more major-specific classes as she furthers her studies.

Erica enjoys being a member of the Pre-Health Professions Club, attending campus events, and her role as a teacher’s assistant. “It’s a really good way to connect with people,” Erica shares.

About her goal to become a pediatric physical therapist, Erica says,“This is what God is calling meto do.I need to live that out and do the best that I can do.”

EricaHaefner ’27 isa junior from Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, majoring in exercise science on the graduate track.

Salim Ford ’28 is a sophomore from Arkport, New York, majoring in English and Writing. He is a member of theCross Countryteam, the Highlander Chorus and Chamber Choir.

To Serve Christ Well

By Sam Gerardi ’18

Iarrived atɬin2014and like many young adults, Iwasconfident that I knewpreciselywhat I wanted to do. Iplanned tomajor incommunication and focus on videography and photography. That plandidn’tlast long. I found myself drawn tobiochemistry, a fieldthat fit how I was wired.I’vealways wanted tointegratescience and faith in a way that allowedme to love people well, and Houghton became the place where that desiretookshape.

What made Houghton so formative was not that it told me what to think, but that it taught me how to think. I can distinctly remember asking my chemistry professor, Dr. John Rowley ’03, for help during an experiment. He responded, “No, you figure it out.” Dr. Rowley and many of my professors understood that true learning happens at the interface between what you know and what you don’t. That approach cultivated my curiosity and desire for discovery rather than just memorization. I entered uncertain of my path and left still discerning what God was calling me toward, but with the tools, confidence, and spiritual grounding to navigate that journey.

Completing mybiochemistry degree at Houghton also fulfilled my pre-pharmacy prerequisites, and Iwouldn’thave wanted to prepare anywhere else. The academic rigor and community-built study habits, critical thinking, and perseverance that carried me through graduate school, residency, and now my workat Buffalo General Medical Center as an Emergency Medicine Clinical Pharmacist.I learned to take ownership of my learning, stay motivated, and value collaboration.

I still rely on the habits and mindset Houghton fosteredto thinkcritically, evaluatedata, and apply knowledgethat knowledge to my patients. To serve Christ well is to serve others well, and Houghton gave me the foundation to do exactly that.

SamGerardi’18 completed abachelor’s of sciencein biochemistry with a pre-pharmacy concentration. He completed hisD.Pharm. atD’YouvilleUniversity in 2023, and his residency at Kaleida Health in Buffalo, New York, in 2025. IN addition to his role as an emergency medicine clinical pharmacists at Buffalo General Medical Center, he is the area director for the Christian Medical & Dental Associations (CMDA).

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]]> Unimaginable By Laura Lintner /news/unimaginable-by-laura-lintner/ Tue, 14 Apr 2026 18:40:10 +0000 /?p=97564 The post Unimaginable By Laura Lintner appeared first on ɬ.

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By Dr. Laura (Jarvis ‘06)Lintner

When I arrived at Houghton,biology was myfield ofchoice, but I had little direction beyond that. I certainlydidn’timagine working as an Associate Professor,with my days full of not just patient care, butteachingmedical students,residentsand fellows. Ididn’timagine thatI’dgo to Kenya,building friendshipsandschools, and providing healthcare for their runners. Ididn’timagine that it would be possible to have a career as well as be a wife,motherand friend.

Deep friendships, strongmentorsand meaningful solitude mark my time at Houghton.The girls ofHazlett34, now lifelong friends,held an MCAT party for me. They dressed up like cats and performed a hilarious, yet strangely encouraging, original poem. Idon’tthink Iwould’vemade it without them. Looking backonthe classroom, I was blessed to learn from some of the most vibrant professors. Dr.AaronSullivan taught me about patience and simplicity. Dr.LarryChristensen opened each organic chemistry class with a pithy saying or a short story, bringing joy to learning.ProfessorSunshineLeonard’01always reminded us that our worth was not in our grades. Dr.CathyFreytag generously welcomed me into her life as a friend. It was also during thesefouryears that I found a“frenemy”in distance running. During the volleyball off-season,I’dspend countless hoursrunningthe shoulders ofRoute 19or dizzying laps around theold suspendedtrack. UsuallyIranby myself, withonlymy prayers and thoughts. Through these miles, The Lord revealed His faithfulness to me by, not only setting a clear career path before me, but by safely getting me through literalWestern New Yorkblizzards.

Escaping that winter weather, I went to Florida for medical school then onto North Carolina for residency. I knew Wake Forest Family Medicine was the place when I found some of the brightest and most content physicians. After completing myfamilymedicine residency, sports medicineseemeda natural fit. My dad’s career was in professional sports (not to mention my mom,Linda (Clow ’76) Jarvis, andbrother,Landry Jarvis ’10,were both Houghton athletes), so my childhood was full of practices, games, and injuries. Plus, my osteopathic education seta strong foundationfor musculoskeletal medicine.

Group photo with Laura Lintner for magazine, standing outside
Laura Lintner and a patient

During my fellowship year, I was introduced to Running the Race(RTR), a missions organization with a goal of sharing the love of Jesus while providing care to local Kenyan athletes. My first trip with RTR,fiveyears later, changed my life. I fell in love with the people of Kenya, as my eyes were opened to how big our God is. Now, I get to return year after year, bringing along residents and fellows, introducing them to my friends across the world and helping toestablishsports medicine care in the “Home of Champions.”

I nevercould’veimagined a job where I meet patients in their most vulnerable state of pain. If they are willing, I get to pray with them and that is a great privilege. I nevercould’veimagined a life in Kenya where I work with some of the best runners in the world. I nevercould’veimagined the chance to meet new residents and fellows each year; teaching and learning from each other. All of this with an amazing husband, 3 beautiful wild children, countlessfriendsand a supportive community.It’smore exhausting and more extravagant than I could have dreamed. Nothing is perfect on this side of heaven, neithermy life nor Houghton, butGodfaithfully works in the broken places.I’mbeyond grateful to the Lord for these friends and mentors (many unmentioned) and the many miles.I’mthankful that Houghton is a willing vessel for His ways that are higher than ours.

Laura (Jarvis ‘06)Lintner, D.O.,is a doctor of sports medicine and family medicine with Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Family Medicine andan associate professor of family and community medicine at Wake Forest University School of Medicine, both in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. She holds abachelor of sciencein biology from ɬ and adoctor of osteopathyfromNova Southeastern University (Davie, Florida).

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]]> The Houghton Student’s Pre-Health Journey /news/the-houghton-students-pre-health-journey/ Tue, 14 Apr 2026 18:38:06 +0000 /?p=97470 The post The Houghton Student’s Pre-Health Journey appeared first on ɬ.

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By Dr. Jamie Potter

When studentswalksthrough my door for the very first time, they usually already have an idea of what profession they want to pursue. They often know the courses they mightneedand that shadowing someone in the profession isa good idea—andmay evenberequired. They know excellent grades, top scores on entrance exams, and stellar letters of recommendation are necessary.However, they usually don’t knowwhythey want to taketheparticular paththey’ve chosen.

Some of my students want to pursue a medical profession because they want to help people. Some have been on the receiving end of care and found the work being executed on them fascinating. Some had a close friend or family member who needed specialized care and they saw what a provider did for them in their time of greatest need. Many are pretty smart cookies with proven academic acumen, and they’ve been told they should go into medicine with that aptitude. All of these reasons are good, but none of them really gets to the root of “why medicine is for me.”

Not a single studentwill walk thesame path. Each one must developanindividual planalongside their advisors, and then they mustallow for adjustments as theylearn and grow in their own experiences and abilities. Conversationswith my studentsare often long,and sometimes hard,as they realize their own limitations,discovertheir real interests, andexploretheir unique skills. They start tofindtheirown personal vocational path, and theybegintothinkdeeplyabout theirwhy.

In order todiscover their true passion for the vocation of medicine,mystudentsmust move beyond the basics of grades,transcripts,aptitudes,and idealized visions of medicine tofind their passion andtheirreason for pursuing thisjourney.

So, how does Houghton helpstudentsdiscovertheirwhy? Theylikely won’tfind it in a classroom, or a lab, or even shadowing a physician. Healthcare isapeople-oriented, service-oriented field fraught with disparity, inaccessibility, and loopholes. Toprepare students for the reality of serving in the medical field,they must engage with medicine and the healthcare fieldin the most realistic wayspossible.

Houghton studentsneed to step out of theirclassroomsand into theircommunity.Our students are encouraged to engage in service opportunitieslikevolunteering at the campus influenza vaccineclinic,assistingthe Red Cross at communityblood drives, andinvesting inopportunitiesthat place them in direct communicationwith our rural,low-income communityhere in Allegany County.

Once studentsstart engaging, in addition toobservingand learning, they discover theycan playvital rolesin their own communities. They start to see notwhatthey can be—amedical provider—butwhothey can be. Theybeginto understand ways they can serve the peoplearound them in medicine. They realize “why medicineisfor me.”Their realizations areusually rooted in a single powerful idea:beingthe hands and feet of Jesusisn’ta symboloran image we can behold,it’sthe physical act of showing love,compassionand care for others.

Houghton professor Jamie Potter.

Jamie Potter, Ph.D., is the Interim Dean of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Professor of Biology and Director of Pre-Health Professions at ɬ.

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]]> A Tale of Two Siblings /news/a-tale-of-two-siblings/ Tue, 14 Apr 2026 18:35:30 +0000 /?p=97467 The post A Tale of Two Siblings appeared first on ɬ.

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By Amanda (Shine ‘05) Zambrano

Students’ paths into Houghton’s pre-med track mightlooksomewhatsimilar, but siblingsDr.Jonathan Figueroa ’13andDr.Alyssa Figueroa ’14discovered that the pathsbeyond Houghtonare as unique and varied as the students themselves.

Jonathancameto Houghton in the fall of 2009thanks to adesireto study ata Christian liberal artscollegeknown for itsstrongpre-med programanda little guidance fromfellow Timothy Christian School (Piscataway, NJ)alumnusTyler Haggerty ’08. Although Jonathandidn’tinitially plan to playcollegiatesoccer, a campus visit introduced him tothe coach at the time,Dr.MatthewWebb,and a team of great young men—solidifying Jonathan’sdecisionto attend Houghtonandpursue a biology degree on the pre-med track.

Alyssa, like Jonathan, grew up with aspirationsof becominga physician. Although Houghtonwasn’tinitially at the top of her list, she loved the small class sizes and intimate feel of campus. During acampusvisit for a winter indoor soccertournament, Alyssa metCoachDavid Lewis and a few incoming teammates.The opportunity to study in the Balkans with Houghton’s East Meets West honors program was the final selling point.A year after her brother, Alyssa alsoenrolled at Houghtonas a biology major on the pre-med track.

The Figueroa siblings were attracted bythe wayHoughton facultyindividualized the pre-health professions track. According to Dr. Jamie Potter,Interim Dean of Natural Sciences and Mathematics,Professor of Biology and Director of Pre-Health Professions, faculty help students identify what they love most abouthealth professions andthenalign those passions withtheir academic and co-curricular experiences to put each student on the best possible path.

Both Jonathan and Alyssabenefittedfrom guidance and advising from Dr. Potter, along with insights from beloved Professor Emeritus of Biology Dr. Jim Wolfe, former biology professorsDr. Matthew Pelletierand Dr. Aaron Sullivan,andcampus physicianDr. David Brubaker ’90. Alyssa hadvisions ofinternalmedicineor pediatricswhile Jonathaninitially considered a career ininternational medicine.

“I liked having professors who really took the time to get to know me,” shared Jonathan. “They wanted me to perform well, but they also challenged me. Nothing wasgiven,I had to work for it.”

Alyssareflected onthe well-known challenges presented byDr. Karen Torraca’s ’93infamous organic chemistry course—affectionately (or not) known by generations of Houghton students as “O-Chem.”

“I hadaconversation with Dr. Wolfe as well as Dr. Potter, wondering if I should keep pursuing medicine, ifitwasgoing to be possible for me,” said Alyssa.“They were mentors who assured me I was capable, that everyonestrugglesand itwasn’tmeant to be easy.Thatclose mentorship was important to me.”

Jonathan’sinternationalinterests resulted in a minor in public health, which included a study abroad opportunityin Ecuadorwith former intercultural studies professorDr. NdungeKiiti’88. Dr.Kiitiinspired Jonathan to see health beyond a medical and pharmaceutical viewpoint,helping himdiscover how tointegratehis faith with his work—a formative learning experience he carries into his work today.

Alyssa explored options in both osteopathic and allopathic medicine, and in heradvising withDr. Potter discovered that osteopathic medicinewas the right approach to her career aspirations.AlyssafoundLake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM), in Erie, Pennsylvania,to be the rightoptionfor her to pursuemedical school.

Jonathan was intent onpursuit ofallopathic medicine.After Houghton, Jonathan attended St. George University School of Medicine (Grenada),motivated by St. George’s placement rate at his residence hospital of choice—New York Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital. Afterthree yearsinresidency, Jonathandid a two-year fellowship at Hackensack Meridian Jersey Shore University Medical Center.

Today, Jonathan is an endocrinologist at New York University Langone, where he teaches residents, primarily in an outpatientclinical setting. Alyssadidher residencyin internal medicine at Jefferson Health Northeast in Philadelphia. When her husbandLucas, a member of the US Air Force, was stationed for active duty in Tucson, Arizona, shetook on the role ofinternal medicine hospitalist at Northwest Healthcare—Tucson. She recently wasalsoappointedAssociate Director for the Internal Medicine Residencyat the hospital.

The Figueroa siblings carry the things they learned at Houghton with them as they serve their patients on opposite sides of the country.

Photo of two siblings outside of the building at graduation

“Houghton’s affiliation with the Wesleyan Church broadened my scope of howtoapproach Christianity and meld it with medicine,”saidAlyssa. “In Medical Ethics with Professor BenjaminLipscomb, Ithought about taking care of people from allwalks of lifeand all perspectives and religions and backgrounds. I thought deeplyabout how I would approach my beliefs within the medical system.”

“There is benefit to having a strong conviction about your beliefs,” remarked Jonathan. “But I think that some of whatwe’reseeing in the world today ismore or less aresult of not being able tohear the other side and not being able to love people who are different. Part of my education at Houghton was that—loving people who arevery different. Houghton allowed me to explore how to love in the way that Christ would love and still hold my convictions strongly.”

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]]> Lifelong Learning: From Classroom to Boardroom /news/lifelong-learning-from-classroom-to-boardroom/ Tue, 14 Apr 2026 18:34:18 +0000 /?p=97460 The post Lifelong Learning: From Classroom to Boardroom appeared first on ɬ.

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By Amanda (Shine ’05) Zambrano

Lifelong learning is a thread running through the fabric of 1986 graduate Dr. Tim Coetzee’s story. The story begins at a small Christian school in New Jersey where Tim fell in love with biology under the tutelage of his AP biology teacher, Kathleen (Fink ’77) Donaldson. He was interested in a career as a physician, and Kathleen shared Houghton’s outstanding pre-med reputation with him. As a missionary kid and pastor’s kid, Tim discovered the financial aid Houghton offered made it an affordable choice for his family. But it was more than just pre-med and scholarships that brought Tim to Houghton. The direct influence of a Houghton alumna was a driving factor in Tim’s choice.

Tim started his Houghtonjourney,ashavemany alumni, on the Highlander Wilderness Adventure under the leadership ofDoris “Mabel” Nielsen ’71. During Highlander, he read Francis Schaeffer’sThe Mark of a Christian, and it was a defining moment. “Fortyyears later,” said Tim, “I still remember the impact of that book.It’sa bit of an organizing principle for me today. There are so many things we could be distinguished by, but the idea that‘they’ll know you by your love for each other’is something that infuses the work I do today.”

Although Tim was initially determined to become a physician, by his sophomore year he knew he was on the wrong path. After a three-week practicum experience, during which he shadowed a family medical doctor, Tim found himself seeking the guidance of his advisor, Houghton biology professor and director of pre-med at the time, Dr. Donald Munro. Tim’s love of biology and desire to move away from clinical medical practice landed him in Houghton’s biology labs conducting research. Like Houghton students today in the Shannon Summer Research Institute and in independent research studies, Tim was pursuing his study of biology in a distinctly Houghton way—doing science in a lab rather than simply listening to a lecture.

“It was great, because at Houghton I was pretty much learning by doing,” said Tim. “The uniqueness of Houghton was that I was doing a lot of research on my own, figuring things out for myself through trial and error. Itwasn’tan opportunity I would have had at larger institutions.”
Tim completed two independent research projects and a senior honors project during his time at Houghton. Healsofound his passionat Houghton,inDr. Charles Detwiler’s ’72classroom studying microbiology. The seeds planted in microbiology led Tim to post-graduate education at Albany Medical College where he completed an M.S. and a Ph.D. studying molecular biology—particularlythat now-famous molecule mRNA.

Tim’s work in molecular biology put him on a path that led through research labs with fundingprovided bythe National Multiple Sclerosis Society, to offices where he managed projects and started up the for-profit research armFastForwardLLC. He found himself on another learning curve, which required him to rely on the soft skills he picked up at Houghton—particularlyeffectivecommunication.
“Dr. Munro instilled the importance of communication,” remarked Tim. “Ilearnedthat clarity in communication, bothin how you write and in how you speak,is important. But because the ideas in science often require visuals, I also learned about the importance of visuals that have clarity and impact.”

A year ago, Tim entered another phase of his lifelong learning journey when he was appointed CEO of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Those lessons in communication have grown to encompass storytelling, relating to prospective funders about the difference the society’s work makes in the lives of people living with multiple sclerosis.

And itisn’tjustthecommunication skillshoned at Houghtonthat Timrelieson. “The commitment to people is something I continue to carry with me.I look back on the people part of my time at Houghton, the emphasis on relationships with people and the way my faith journey influences how I serve the people right in front of me every day.”

Tim Coetzee

“Houghton taught me the importance of constantly learning.You’reneverdone.It’snevertoolate to be a better leader.”

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]]> From the President | Winter 2026 /news/from-the-president-winter-2026/ Tue, 14 Apr 2026 18:33:14 +0000 /?p=97870 The post From the President | Winter 2026 appeared first on ɬ.

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Dear Friends,

One of the greatest blessings of serving Houghton as President is getting to know our students. They inspire me daily and remind me of why Houghton’s mission is so vitallyimportant,todayand tomorrow.

As students come to Houghton,theyare in various stages of understanding the vocations the Lord is calling them to and equipping them for. For some, their calling has been clear for years. Forsome, their understanding of how the Lord wants to use them is evolving.For others, they are confident of vocational callings in ordained ministry, as teachers orasmusicians.Among the group of students who come to Houghtontypicallyhaving recognizedearly academic giftedness and ability are those preparing for careers in the health sciences.

Pre-health studentsrepresenta healthyportionof the Houghton student body. While their beds and clothes are in their residence hall rooms, many of themspendingmost of their wakinghours(and some of their sleepinghours!)in the Paine Center for Science. As they matriculate,more and moreof their coursework is taken in Paine, but outside of class, youarelikely to find small groups of students in laboratories, faculty offices,anddedicated study spaces as well as improvised ones.

Houghton has long been recognized as a place for serious Christian students to study science and prepare for careers in the health sciences. There is no shortage of Houghton graduates who have gone on tohavelong and impactfulcareers as medical doctors,nursesand medical missionaries.Houghton continues to provide outstanding preparation for students who pursue nursing, D.O.andM.D degrees.

But additionally,with robust partnerships with professional and graduate programs,Houghton is preparing students for vocations in veterinary science, physical therapy, pharmacy, occupational therapy, nutrition and dietetics, dentistry, and athletic training.As the Lord continues to call young people to vocations in the health sciences, Houghton continues to provide Christ-centered, rigorous preparation to equip them for that work.

With this issue, we are privileged to share some of the stories of our students, faculty, and alumni who have been a part of Houghton’s rich history inthe healthsciences. We are grateful to be a part of what God has done and continues to do in and through the lives of our graduates.

Yours in Christ’s service,

Wayne D.Lewis,Jr.
President

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