Honoring talented alumni is a highlight of Homecoming, from the career and community success of the Distinguished Alumni and First Decade Awardee, to the continued commitment to Austin College of the Heywood C. Clemons Volunteer Service Award and the Cindy Bean Service-to-Alumni Award honorees.
Distinguished Alumni Award Recipients
Lydia Bean ’02 graduated from Austin College with majors in Spanish and Music then earned a master’s degree and a Ph.D. in Sociology at Harvard University. She joined the faculty at Baylor University Honors College, teaching courses in religion, inequality, race, and social theory from 2009 to 2013. That year, she founded Faith in Texas, a nonprofit faith movement for social justice and served as its executive director. She writes and consults on religion in public life, grassroots organizing, civic leadership development, and expanding the electorate. Lydia has written a book, as well as several articles. She and her husband, live in Arlington, Texas.
Helen Lowman ’88 graduated from Austin College with majors in International Studies and Spanish. Her career includes 25 years of leadership in international diplomacy, development, and human rights advocacy. She has worked around the globe for the Peace Corps, from her first stint in Thailand upon graduation to country and regional directorships and agency leadership. She was an appointee of President Barack Obama from 2010 to 2017 in the senior Foreign Service for FEMA and the Peace Corps. In 2017, Helen became President and CEO of Keep America Beautiful, a national community improvement nonprofit. She lives in Westport, Connecticut.
Richard “Scooter” Merritt ’66 completed his Austin College degree in Psychology then spent two years with the Peace Corps in India. His career in national health care reform and state health policy development focused on providing state health lawmakers with timely, nonpartisan research and analysis and technical assistance. Since retirement in 2016, he has advocated for improved health care access for low-income, uninsured residents in his Alexandria, Virginia, community, creating an annual free health clinic. In 2013, Scooter was honored as a “Living Legend of Alexandria” for his contributions.
First Decade Award
Chelsea Freeland ’12 graduated from Austin College with a major in History and minors in Chemistry and French, then earned a master’s degree in Maritime Archaeology from East Carolina University. She has worked as a maritime materials expert for the U.S. Navy, as an archaeologist for the United Arab Emirates government, and as a nautical archaeologist for the U.S. Department of Transportation. She is now a cultural heritage analyst at the U.S. Department of State, focusing on the illicit antiquities trade and international cultural heritage law. She also is a regular community volunteer. She lives in Washington, D.C.
Heywood C. Clemons Volunteer Service Award
John E. Herron enjoyed a successful 45-year career as a registered interior designer, retiring in 2016. He was Senior Vice President in charge of interior design at CCI Club Design in Dallas and later, Baltimore-based H. Chambers Company, both specializing in private country, golf, city, and yacht clubs. A ruling elder at First Presbyterian Church of Dallas, he served on the committee for the recent renovation of its historic sanctuary. A longtime volunteer for Austin College, he recently devoted many hours alongside College trustees on renovations of the President’s Home at Wood House.
Cindy Bean Service-to-Alumni Award
Marguerite Tanner has assisted more students and alumni—and in more numerous ways—than can be counted during her 15 years working at Austin College. An employee of Aramark since 2003, Marguerite began work as line server then supervisor for the dining hall. She moved to catering services in 2005 as a supervisor and now is lead supervisor in catering. She has been named Aramark’s Austin College Employee of the Month and twice been selected by the Austin College Student Assembly as Staff Member of the Month. She lives in Sherman.