Four distinguished alumni were honored for exemplary careers and service during Homecoming 2024. These individuals are recognized for excellence in their professions and communities, and for modeling the spirit of service and broadened perspective fostered by Austin College. A fifth alumnus and an Austin College employee were honored for service to the alumni community.
DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI AWARDS
Squire Booker ’87
Squire Booker is Evan Pugh Professor of Chemistry at The Pennsylvania State University. Along the way to becoming a professor of Penn State’s highest level, he was selected as a Howard Hughes Medical Investigator in 2015, and Penn State awarded him their Faculty Scholar Medal in 2016. Squire lives in State College, Pennsylvania, where he is heavily involved in the mentoring of young scientists, particularly those who come from groups that are historically underrepresented in the sciences.
Holly Mace Massingill ’94
Holly Mace Massingill has been a successful residential realtor for over two decades, and has become a demonstrated leader in her field. She has represented her industry on political committees and has also served on the Texas Realtors Board of Directors. Holly served on the Austin College Board of Trustees from 2015 until 2023, endowed the Mace Massingill Scholarship, was a founding member of the Kappa Gamma Chi Scholarship Committee, and since 2020 has served as advisor to the Kappa Gamma Chi Alumnae Board.
Robin Reynolds ’74
Robin Reynolds served over 44 years in health care volunteer management. While working for Central Arkansas Radiation Therapy Institute (CARTI), Robin designed and implemented a program called CARTI Kids, which sponsored educational retreats for pediatric patients and families. She implemented Knitting for Noggins, a program which continues today, recruiting volunteer knitters across the world to knit caps for patients and family members. Robin also designed and implemented the Festival of Stars program, which fulfills holiday wish lists of hospitalized children during the holidays.
FIRST DECADE AWARD
Suzanne Timmerman ’15
Suzanne Timmerman is an office management specialist with the U.S. Department of State, currently posted in the Regional Security Office in the U.S. Embassy in Barbados, serving the Eastern Caribbean and the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States. Suzanne has received several group and individual honor awards from the U.S. Embassy for her work on the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility Council, with the DipNotes Choir, with Public Diplomacy in support of Ukraine, and for filling in at the Executive Office.
HEYWOOD C. CLEMONS VOLUNTEER SERVICE AWARD
Ginny Harleston ’79
Ginny Harleston has been actively engaged in service to Austin College for many years. She has dedicated her time and talents to supporting a variety of departments and initiatives and recruiting students from East Texas. She has also taken a special interest in creating connections between East Texas alumni and their families and Austin College presidents. In her community, Ginny has served with the League of Women Voters, her children’s schools’ PTA and Band Parents Association, her HOA board, and has held several positions in her local United Methodist Church.
CINDY CURTIS BEAN SERVICE TO ALUMNI AWARD
David Turk
David joined the Austin College staff in 1997 and currently serves as the executive director of facilities. For nearly three decades, he has maintained the campus buildings and outdoor spaces, ensuring students, faculty, and staff are comfortable, and upholding Austin College’s reputation as an extraordinarily beautiful place to learn, live, and work. David also manages all campus renewal projects, and is largely responsible for bringing the significant upgrades throughout the grounds in the past several years to fruition.
Four distinguished alumni were honored for exemplary careers and service during Homecoming 2024. These individuals are recognized for excellence in their professions and communities, and for modeling the spirit of service and broadened perspective fostered by Austin College. A fifth alumnus and an Austin College employee were honored for service to the alumni community.
DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI AWARDS
Squire Booker ’87
Squire Booker is Evan Pugh Professor of Chemistry at The Pennsylvania State University. Along the way to becoming a professor of Penn State’s highest level, he was selected as a Howard Hughes Medical Investigator in 2015, and Penn State awarded him their Faculty Scholar Medal in 2016. Squire lives in State College, Pennsylvania, where he is heavily involved in the mentoring of young scientists, particularly those who come from groups that are historically underrepresented in the sciences.
Holly Mace Massingill ’94
Holly Mace Massingill has been a successful residential realtor for over two decades, and has become a demonstrated leader in her field. She has represented her industry on political committees and has also served on the Texas Realtors Board of Directors. Holly served on the Austin College Board of Trustees from 2015 until 2023, endowed the Mace Massingill Scholarship, was a founding member of the Kappa Gamma Chi Scholarship Committee, and since 2020 has served as advisor to the Kappa Gamma Chi Alumnae Board.
Robin Reynolds ’74
Robin Reynolds served over 44 years in health care volunteer management. While working for Central Arkansas Radiation Therapy Institute (CARTI), Robin designed and implemented a program called CARTI Kids, which sponsored educational retreats for pediatric patients and families. She implemented Knitting for Noggins, a program which continues today, recruiting volunteer knitters across the world to knit caps for patients and family members. Robin also designed and implemented the Festival of Stars program, which fulfills holiday wish lists of hospitalized children during the holidays.
FIRST DECADE AWARD
Suzanne Timmerman ’15
Suzanne Timmerman is an office management specialist with the U.S. Department of State, currently posted in the Regional Security Office in the U.S. Embassy in Barbados, serving the Eastern Caribbean and the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States. Suzanne has received several group and individual honor awards from the U.S. Embassy for her work on the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility Council, with the DipNotes Choir, with Public Diplomacy in support of Ukraine, and for filling in at the Executive Office.
HEYWOOD C. CLEMONS VOLUNTEER SERVICE AWARD
Ginny Harleston ’79
Ginny Harleston has been actively engaged in service to Austin College for many years. She has dedicated her time and talents to supporting a variety of departments and initiatives and recruiting students from East Texas. She has also taken a special interest in creating connections between East Texas alumni and their families and Austin College presidents. In her community, Ginny has served with the League of Women Voters, her children’s schools’ PTA and Band Parents Association, her HOA board, and has held several positions in her local United Methodist Church.
CINDY CURTIS BEAN SERVICE TO ALUMNI AWARD
David Turk
David joined the Austin College staff in 1997 and currently serves as the executive director of facilities. For nearly three decades, he has maintained the campus buildings and outdoor spaces, ensuring students, faculty, and staff are comfortable, and upholding Austin College’s reputation as an extraordinarily beautiful place to learn, live, and work. David also manages all campus renewal projects, and is largely responsible for bringing the significant upgrades throughout the grounds in the past several years to fruition.