Revel in the stories of Tarleton State University graduates who now give back to the University through service to the Tarleton State University Foundation, Inc.
Now successful business professionals, and current Board Members, each Member credits personal success and growth to the culture, educational excellence, devotion to students, and opportunity afforded by the University.
I grew up in Gorman, Texas, dreaming bigger than the town I knew. Tarleton gave me the foundation — academic and personal — to build a career in medicine and, later, to take the entrepreneurial leaps I never imagined possible. That’s the kind of runway a Tarleton education gives you: it doesn’t just prepare you for one path, it gives you the confidence to forge your own.
– Dr. Alfonso Pino III, Tarleton State University Foundation, Inc. Board President 2026-2027
As a first-generation high school graduate from a family of very limited means in Stephenville, I took a very large chance by attending college at the local campus, Tarleton State. After all, I had no idea what college was or what it could do for me. Decades later, I now know that I owe higher education and Tarleton a huge debt of gratitude. Everything I am and have accomplished, everything I know and believe, my lifestyle, the opportunities my daughter has taken advantage of, simply everything, I attribute to the education that I began at Tarleton State. I never took a back seat to anyone in my graduate school or professional endeavors because of my superb undergraduate education. This is why I have such an urgency now to give back to my alma mater as much as I can, knowing I can never fully repay my debt.
– Dr. Stan Carpenter, Tarleton State University Foundation, Inc. Board Member
I chose Tarleton with the idea that it would provide the opportunity I needed to prepare for moving on to a bigger university. Instead, I stayed because I realized it had everything I needed and more – tradition, culture, a feeling of family, and all the support a student needs to thrive. From the outstanding professors that provided me a top-quality education to the friends I met and still have over 25 years later, Tarleton was a foundational part of my life and I’m incredibly proud to be able to give back and be a part of helping future generations have that experience.
– Jim Engelke, Tarleton State University Foundation, Inc. Board Member
I was blessed to have parents who taught me hard work, perseverance, and the courage to dream big. As a first-generation college student, my education at Tarleton became the bridge between those dreams and the opportunities that followed. It changed the course of Tracey’s life and mine and created a legacy that will impact my family for future generations. We have been blessed beyond anything we imagined growing up, and I will always be grateful for the role Tarleton played in making those dreams possible.
– Rocky Hardin, Tarleton State University Foundation, Inc. Board Member
Coming from a small west Texas farming community, Tarleton was a good fit for me. The education I received prepared me for graduate studies and afterwards it led to a 20 plus year career as a faculty member in the Tarleton Animal Science Department. After my time on the faculty, I began another career in real estate development and continued to stay connected to Tarleton. Thankful I chose Tarleton; it is a special place.
– Randy C. Hines, Tarleton State University Foundation, Inc. Board Member
Choosing Tarleton State University changed the entire trajectory of my professional and personal life. I arrived as a kid with a learning disability who needed a hands‑on, true‑to‑life education — and as a first‑generation college student, I needed a place that believed in me. Tarleton delivered. It’s where agriculture met business, where I earned my Ag Business degree and later my MBA, and where professors and student life made it easy to stay, even when times were hard. It’s also where I met my wife — the person who’s been at my side through every challenge and every success. Tarleton gave me the foundation to grow into an IT leader at a Fortune 100 company and eventually launch my own IT services company. Everything I’ve built traces back to that decision — and the education, relationships, and experiences that only Tarleton could provide.
– Steven Ranly, Tarleton State University Foundation, Inc. Board Member
Debbie Liles
Assistant Professor & W.K. Gordon Chair of Texas History Dept. of History, Sociology and Geography/GIS dliles@tarleton.edu 254-968-9305
Deborah Liles, Ph.D. teaches the history of Texas, local communities, the United States, women, ranching, and slavery and works with the W.K. Gordon Center. She is the author or editor of several award-winning books and articles, and she serves on the boards of different history associations throughout the state. Current manuscripts in progress are a biography of Oliver Loving, a cattleman in Texas, and a critical examination of the connection between the livestock industry and slave owning in the antebellum and Civil War South.
Lea Hart
Social Media and Marketing Assistant, W.K. Gordon Center lhart@tarleton.edu 254-968-1886
Local Texan and current student, Lea has been at the W.K. Gordon Center since 2014 as a student intern and now an employee. Lea is seeking her Bachelor’s degree in History at Tarleton State University and works as the W.K. Gordon Center’s Social Media and Marketing Assistant. Lea is one of your first lines of contact at the W.K. Gordon Center and is happy to answer any questions you may have about the W.K. Gordon Center, Thurber, or the surrounding area.
Sue Goodman
Curator of Education and Exhibits, W.K. Gordon Center sgoodman@tarleton.edu 254-968-9330
Sue’s alma mater is Southern Methodist University where she earned both Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in education. She has served as an educator in settings that include public schools, private schools, and museums. Her service in higher education includes institutional advancement at Texas Tech and University of Arizona. While working as a Community Relations Officer at Tarleton she served as advisor for Tarleton Ambassadors, leading them through several years of fundraising to create The Tarleton Ambassadors’ Core Values Endowed Scholarship. She brings energy, creativity and experience to her current position at the W. K. Gordon Museum.
Mary Adams
Director & Curator of Collections, W.K. Gordon Center MKAdams@tarleton.edu 254-968-1886
Mary Adams began her career at Tarleton at the W. K. Gordon Center in June of 2012 as the Facilities Manager and Curator of Collections. She transitioned to Director and Curator of Collections in April of 2018. Mary received both her Bachelor’s Degree in History and her Masters of History with emphasis on Museum Studies from Tarleton State University.
