Alumni Organizations & Awards

Mr. Drue Pounds, ’92

Mr. Drue Pounds has demonstrated a deep commitment to service through his involvement with Hardin-Simmons University and his local church. A 1992 graduate with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting and Finance, Drue served on HSU’s Board of Trustees from 2013 to 2022 and again beginning in 2024. He has chaired the Finance Committee and previously served on the Board of Young Associates.

In 2004, he was inducted into the HSU Athletic Hall of Fame and was a two-time NAIA Academic and Athletic All-American in golf. A deacon and former elder, Drue has held church leadership roles in both Texas and California. He and his wife, Chris Anne, are proud parents of two HSU graduates: Abby Hester (’22), a speech-language pathologist, and Jack Pounds (’24), who is pursuing a master’s degree in library science. Drue currently serves as CFO of ALL4 LLC, a global environmental consulting firm.

Dr. Todd Baumann ’96

Dr. Todd Baumann is the owner of a private prosthodontics practice in Dallas, Texas, and serves as an assistant clinical professor in the graduate prosthodontics residency program at Texas A&M University College of Dentistry. He is a member and past president of several professional organizations, including the Dallas County Dental Society, the Southwest Academy of Restorative Dentistry, and the Baylor College of Dentistry Alumni Association. In 2018, he was named Dallas County Dental Society’s Dentist of the Year. In addition to his professional work, Dr. Baumann has served on dental mission trips to Mexico, Jamaica, and Zambia.

Todd earned a Bachelor of Science degree in biology from HSU in 1996, graduating magna cum laude. As a student, he was quarterback and team captain of the Cowboy football team, earning All-American and Academic All-American honors. He was inducted into the HSU Athletic Hall of Fame in 2013.

Mrs. Jennifer (Wegenhoft) Smothermon ’98/’00

Mrs. Jennifer Smothermon earned both a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Bible in 1998 and a Master of Arts in Family Psychology in 2000 from Hardin-Simmons University, graduating summa cum laude. She currently serves as Clinical Director of Beltway Counseling Group, Director of Development and therapist at the Ministry of Counseling and Enrichment, and is founder of Smothermon Professional Services, PLLC. With over two decades of experience in counseling and supervision, she was appointed by two Texas governors to lead the State Board of Examiners of Marriage and Family Therapists and served as President of the National Association of Marriage and Family Therapy Regulatory Boards. In 2025, she was named Outstanding Supervisor by the Texas Association for Marriage and Family Therapy.

As an HSU student, Jennifer was President of Psi Chi and Epsilon Pi Alpha, a Clinard Scholar, and active in BSM, Pioneer Drive Baptist Church, Moot Court, and community service. She remains involved at HSU as an adjunct faculty member, site supervisor, and mentor.

Dr. John Wilson ’68

Dr. John Wilson earned a Bachelor of Music degree from Hardin-Simmons University in 1968 and went on to receive a Master of Music from Baylor University and a PhD in Educational Administration from Texas A&M University. Commissioned through ROTC at HSU, he began his career in education as a teacher and advanced to serve as superintendent in several Texas school districts. As superintendent, he led nationally recognized STEM initiatives in partnership with NASA, including the award-winning Robonauts robotics team and the Longhorn Project at Johnson Space Center. He later founded a consulting firm and created and directed the doctoral program in Educational Leadership and Policy at Baylor University.

As a student at HSU, John was president of Tau Alpha Phi fraternity, a member of Phi Mu Alpha, the A Cappella Choir, and Student Government, and served as pianist and organist for campus and local churches. He later served on HSU’s Board of Trustees and Board of Development.

Mrs. Kayla (Willis) Dillman ’14/’16

Kayla (Willis) Dillman is a Licensed Professional Counselor Supervisor and co-owner of GrowthPoint Counseling and Consulting in Colleyville, Texas. She earned a Master’s degree in Clinical Counseling and Marriage and Family Therapy, as well as dual Bachelor’s degrees in Ministry and Psychology, from Hardin-Simmons University. At HSU, she joined the Chi Sigma Iota Counseling Honor Society, served as a Six White Horses rider, and administered tests to peers with testing accommodations in the Testing and Disability Services Department.

Calling her HSU experience “truly transformative,” Dillman blends evidence-based counseling with her certification as a PATH International equine specialist, integrating animal-assisted therapy into her practice. She is also a senior adjunct professor at Abilene Christian University, mentoring future counselors.

Active on the HSU Board of Trustees, Dillman is a member of the American Association of Christian Counselors and serves on the SOS International Red Light Rescue Panel. Guided by faith, she helps clients pursue growth, connection, and lasting change.

Dr. Juvenal Havyarimana ’11

Born in Burundi and raised in a refugee camp in Tanzania, Dr. Juvenal Havyarimana came to the United States in 2006, settling in Abilene, Texas. Introduced to Hardin-Simmons University by family friends, he earned a Bachelor of Science in biochemistry and molecular biology in 2011, graduating with multiple academic honors.

HSU shaped not only his career path but also his values. A professor once drove him from Abilene to Lubbock for a medical school program interview — an act of kindness that inspired his lifelong commitment to helping others.

Havyarimana went on to earn a Master of Public Health and a Doctor of Medicine from Texas A&M University, followed by an emergency medicine residency at the University of Florida. Today, he serves as an emergency physician in Florida and Georgia and has held leadership roles, including assistant medical director and EMS medical director.

With his wife, he founded Children Education Angels Inc., a nonprofit supporting more than 80 children in Burundi. In 2020, the Tallahassee Democrat named him Tallahassee Man of the Year. A devoted husband, father of three, and active church member, Juvenal continues to live out his calling with integrity, faith, and compassion.

Geoffrey Turner serves as Lead Pastor of Beltway Park Church in Abilene, Texas, where he has faithfully ministered for more than 18 years. Since joining the staff in 2007, Geoffrey has served in a variety of roles—including Student Pastor, College Pastor, North Campus Pastor, Weekend Services Pastor, and Teaching Pastor—before stepping into the Lead Pastor role in May 2025.

A 2008 graduate of Hardin-Simmons University with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology, Geoffrey also earned a Master of Theological Studies from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Originally from Lubbock, he moved to Abilene just before starting his senior year of high school and quickly found a church home at Beltway Park.

Geoffrey met his wife, Sarah ’08, in high school, and the two continued their journey together at HSU, where they built lifelong friendships. They married in 2006 and are now raising two daughters, Berkley and Ellie Katherine. Geoffrey is a servant leader whose heart for ministry, devotion to family, and commitment to the gospel have shaped a legacy of influence that extends far beyond the walls of his church.