Today@Sam Article

College Of Humanities And Social Sciences Recognizes Alumni With Wall Of Honor

Feb. 22, 2024
SHSU Media Contact: Mikah Boyd

The Sam Houston State University College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHSS) recognized SHSU alumni Ron L. Gay, Lt. Col. Vanessa Hicks-Callaway and SHSU faculty member, Terry M. Thibodeaux during the 2024 Wall of Honor ceremony on February 16.

The CHSS Wall of Honor was established by the college’s alumni advisory board to acknowledge faculty and alums who have distinguished themselves throughout their careers through personal and professional achievements and who have made significant contributions to SHSU, the students, society, and thus have brought honor and distinction to the university.

Ron L. Gay

Ron Gay earned two degrees in political science from Sam Houston State University, first in 1977 with a bachelor’s degree, and then again in 1984 with a master’s degree. Since 2008, Ron has served with distinction on the College of Humanities and Social Sciences Advisory Board, and in 2016 he was elected as its chairman where he continues to serve. He was elected to the Alumni Board of Directors in 2019, and he is a life member in the Sam Houston State University Alumni Association.

Gay began his marketing career with Fidelity Union Life Insurance Company in 1978 before moving to Bryan-College Station to work for the Bryan Broadcasting Company in its marketing department. Gay eventually moved on to have a successful 22-year career as the regional marketing director for the Baylor Scott & White Health Plan. Today, he is a registered representative with Cambridge Investment Research. In January of 2017, Gay opened his own practice—Ron Gay Financial Services—in College Station, Texas, showing his dedication to serving Sam Houston State University as well as his local community.

Since 1980 he has been an active member of the College Station Noon Lions Club serving in numerous leadership positions at the local, district, state and international levels. In May 2021, he was inducted into the Texas Lions Hall of Fame in recognition of more than four decades of service to his community, state and nation. He is also an active member in the Knights of Columbus where he also served at the local, state and international levels. Gay is a Knight of the Grand Cross in The Equestrian Order of the Knights of the Holy Sepulcher of Jerusalem, a Papal honor bestowed on him by Pope John Paul II. He has held countless leadership positions in other well-respected organizations over the years, including the Bryan/College Station Chamber of Commerce and the College Station City Council. Ron Gay has dedicated his life to the service of Sam Houston State University, his local community and the state of Texas. He and his wife, Terri, are both passionate world travelers. They currently reside in College Station, Texas and have three children and five grandchildren.

Terry M. Thibodeaux

Terry Mark Thibodeaux received his first two degrees, a Bachelor of Arts in Speech Education and a Master of Education, from McNeese State University in 1978 and 1980, respectively. He then went on to receive a doctorate in communication from the University of Southern Mississippi in 1986.

Since 1987, he has dedicated more than 35 years of service to the Sam Houston State University community. He has been a professor, dean, department chairman and more in his years at the university, giving back to the students, faculty and staff around him. From 2013-2020 he served as a university marshal, a presenter and mentor for incoming freshman events for seven years, as well as judged for the Miss Sam Houston Pageant for four years. In his time as dean of College of Humanities and Social Sciences, associate dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and associate dean of CHSS he was dedicated to student success. He was an avid supporter of the SAM Center and was an advisor in the center for years. Even after retirement he continued to support student success through advising.

As a professor, Thibodeaux excelled in making the class come alive. He offers trips to cultural festivals from surrounding states and areas. He invites guest speakers and lecturers, even musicians on a few occasions, to come speak to his classes. Students to this day keep in touch with him because of his willingness to commit to the classroom and the students. All this is seen on his high scoring teacher evaluations, his development of community engagement courses and his willingness to serve as the Lambda Pi Eta, the communication honor society, advisor. For his commitment to students in and outside the classroom he has won the 2001 Texas Communication Association’s Educator of the Year Award. Recently, he was nominated for a Keys of Excellence Award by the SHSU Orange Keys. He also served as a member of the editorial board for the undergraduate journal, The Measure.

For the last several years he has served on the advisory board for the Texas Review. In 2019, he served on the search committee for a new managing editor for the Texas Review Press. He has served as a paper reviewer, panel moderator and committee member as an active member of the Southern States Communications Association (SSCA). In 2004 he was elected president of the SSCA.

Over the years he has published several peer review articles, authored one book chapter, co-authored a book and wrote a textbook. He has always strived to engage, promote and cultivate a diverse academic community sitting as department chair. He also helped pursue an environment for new faculty to feel welcome and have somewhere to go to feel supported and ensure we are keeping a strong focus on the students.

Lt. Col. Vanessa Hicks-Callaway

Vanessa Hicks-Callaway earned a bachelor’s degree from SHSU in Political Science with a minor in Military Science while serving in the U.S. Army Reserves as a military police officer. During this time, she also worked as a correctional officer in a maximum-security prison that housed death row inmates. Her service in the U.S. Army as a supply sergeant and intelligence officer included two separate deployments to combat zones and earned her the Bronze Star Medal. She then continued her education by earning a master’s in Human Resources Management from Central Michigan University.

In 2011, she released a Christian self-help book called “Decision Precision Vision,” showcasing her devotion to Jesus Christ. After retiring from the military following 26 years of dedicated service, she instructed junior ROTC students as a Senior Army Instructor and never lost her commitment to service. She has volunteered for multiple non-profit organizations, including the Old Landmark Committee, Disabled American Veterans/Auxiliary, Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion, Warriors Weekend, Court Appointed Special Advocate, Victoria Beach Festival, Victoria Police Foundation, Community and Schools, The Gabriel Project and the Victoria Business Education Coalition as a student mentor. She has also served as president in the Kiwanis Club.

Hicks-Callaway worked as a congressional staffer in 2016 for the Texas 27th Congressional District, U.S. House Representatives for nearly 3 years. She helped lead the fight to re-elect Texas Senator Ted Cruz as his field director for the South-Central Region in the 2018 midterm election. She previously served Texas governor Greg Abbott as his appointee for the council for Cardiovascular Disease and Stroke Prevention. This position is especially meaningful to her as a survivor of open-heart surgery. She remains active in politics and served as a secretary, outreach coordinator and Precinct 21 Chair for Victoria GOP. She is a county and state delegate for the Republican Party of Texas and is a member of the Victoria County Republican Women’s Organization and the Texas Federation of Republican Women.

In line with her passion and commitment to helping others, she works as a motivational speaker and plans on writing another Christian self-help book. She has been married to fellow U.S. Army Veteran Jason Ohm Callaway for 27 years and they have been blessed with two sons, Eric and Edward Callaway. Eric, who was a SHSU full scholarship track athlete, not only earned his Bachelor of Science in Electrical and Computer Engineering from SHSU in 2021, he also earned a Master of Science degree in Computing and Data Science from SHSU in 2023. Edward is currently a senior at Victoria East High School and plans to pursue a career in the arts.

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