BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — The WKU Alumni Association, in partnership with the Office of the Provost and the Center for Innovative Teaching and Learning, has named an inaugural class of five alumni to serve as Alumni in Residence on Nov. 7, 2023, for a day of engagement with current Western Kentucky University students.
“These alumni have been selected by their academic college as members of the inaugural class of honorees with the distinction that they are first-generation graduates,” said Dr. Anthony McAdoo, Executive Director of the WKU Alumni Association. “Each honoree’s unique journey and accomplishments exemplify the spirit of determination, persistence and success that characterizes the journey of graduates who were the first in their families to graduate from college.”
Dr. Bud Fischer, WKU Provost, said WKU’s First Gen initiative, which currently boasts more than 140 faculty, staff and alumni advocates, is designed to increase student success and sense of community for first-generation Hilltoppers. The University’s commitment was recently confirmed by being selected as a member of the First Scholars Network for 2023-2024.
The 2023 Alumni in Residence will participate in various events and activities on campus throughout the day on Nov. 7, sharing their experiences and insights with WKU students, faculty and staff. Their day in residence will precede National First-Gen Day the following day on Nov. 8, which will include additional programs and opportunities for alumni.
“WKU is committed to student success, especially first-generation student success,” Dr. Fischer said. “We are delighted to showcase alumni achievement through the inaugural Alumni in Residence program. Together, the Alumni in Residence program and the First-Generation Initiative are bringing this group of five alumni to campus to help all students, including our first-generation students, learn from their journeys and their experiences on the Hill and beyond.”
The 2023 WKU Alumni in Residence are:
Harlan, Ky., native Dr. Donna Lemaster Bredenberg (’03, ’19) will represent the College of Health and Human Services. Dr. Bredenberg works in Cincinnati, Ohio, as a Nurse Practitioner at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. She began her journey on the Hill as a Communication Studies major before eventually transitioning to the nursing field and making her way back to earn a Doctor of Nursing Practice and serve as the President of the WKU Alumni Association Board of Directors.
Owensboro, Ky., native Lonnie Gentry (’21) will represent the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences. Based in Franklin, Tenn., Gentry is the Vice President of People Operations for XSOLIS. Following eight years of active duty with the United States Army, he went on to revolutionize the human resources infrastructure for several large-scale organizations and currently serves on the WKU Young Alumni Council.
Paducah, Ky., native Evan Sayner (’18) will represent Gordon Ford College of Business. He works out of Bowling Green, Ky., as Development Director for South Central and Western Kentucky with Northwestern Mutual. A former WKU Football player, Sayner used the networking and interpersonal skills he gained on the Hill to quickly build a reputation and a career in the financial profession.
New Albany, Ind., native Kelly Stinson Brown (’08) will represent the Potter College of Arts & Letters. Based in Charlottesville, Va., Brown is Director of the Digital Campaign Experiences Team for ALSAC/St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Following an undergraduate career rich in campus involvement, she has refined her craft as an innovative and audience-first marketing professional for one of the most significant pediatric medical facilities in the world.
Evansville, Ind., native Dr. Catherine S. Stephens (’08) will represent the Ogden College of Science and Engineering. Based in London, United Kingdom, she is Director of the International Research Office with the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC). After earning an undergraduate degree on the Hill, Dr. Stephens received two additional degrees from Vanderbilt University. Her work supports and shapes the ERDC by identifying world-class research and technological innovations.
For more information about the Alumni in Residence program and the honorees, visit alumni.wku.edu/first or contact Anthony McAdoo at [email protected] or 270-745-2586.
