Texas Tech Employees, Alumni Honored as Top Twenty Under 40

October 19, 2021

Four are current faculty and staff members, and nine others are graduates.

Texas Tech University was well represented in the Lubbock Chamber of Commerce's 2021 Top Twenty Under 40, which honors some of the top up-and-coming individuals in the Lubbock community.

Four of the 20 honorees announced last week currently work at Texas Tech:

Paul Allen Hunton, general manager, Texas Tech Public Media (TTPM)

Hunton oversees the day-to-day operations of two Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) member stations and two National Public Radio (NPR) member stations in Lubbock, San Angelo and El Paso. In 2019, he led the strategic merger of TTPM and PBS El Paso, expanding the organization's audience reach to over 1.7 million people in two countries and consolidating resources and infrastructure to build a model rural station for the future. Hunton is the vice chair of Texas PBS and has led various projects and engagement initiatives for the state organization, which is made up of some of the largest market stations in the country. He also is a board member of Vision Maker Media, an organization with a mission to empower and engage native people to help fund and distribute stories by indigenous creators. Hunton is currently serving a three-year term on the PBS board of directors. He earned his master's degree in mass communication and media studies from Texas Tech.

Claire Nevarez, associate director, Student Union & Activities

Nevarez coordinates community outreach events, such as student volunteering opportunities, the Tech Can Share food drive, Tech to Town and Tech-or-Treat, as well as Arbor Day, Homecoming, Late Night Movies and RaiderGate: A Student Tailgate Tradition. In addition, she serves as the adviser for Student Activities Board, encouraging campus community and unity through exciting, relevant, engaging, entertaining and educational events and programs. Outside of work, Nevarez is involved with the Children's Advocacy Center of the South Plains.
Megan Sunderman, director of membership, The Texas Tech Club

Born and raised in Abilene as the daughter of two Red Raiders, Sunderman always knew Texas Tech was in her future. She graduated in 2006 with a bachelor's degree in Restaurant, Hotel & Institutional Management. After several years in Dallas restaurant operations, she returned to Lubbock and joined ClubCorp in 2015. Outside of work, she is involved with Duty First Assistance Dogs.

Clay Taylor, assistant vice provost, eLearning & Academic Partnerships

Clay Taylor oversees the Office of Continuing & Professional Education, which includes continuing education and event management, professional education and communications, the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, the Texas Tech Center at Junction and Texas Tech's Professional Education & Academic Advising Office at Jefferson. In addition, he is responsible for the High School Partnerships unit, including OnRamps and the Estacado Early College High School, and the Recruitment and Partnerships unit, including the Office of Academic Agreements, Texas Tech University at Brownwood and recruitment responsibilities for TTU K-12, Worldwide eLearning and regional sites. A graduate of the 2018 President's Leadership Institute at Texas Tech, Taylor serves on many committees and task forces to represent the division, and he participates in numerous professional associations. He is an adjunct professor in the College of Education; he received his doctorate in higher education administration from Texas Tech.

Also honored were the following Texas Tech alumni:

Kristin Bingham, department chair and associate professor of biology, South Plains College

Jessie Cayton, teacher, Lubbock Independent School District

Jera Gentry, major gifts and campaign manager, UMC Health System
Dustin Janssen, pediatric dentist, Parkview Pediatric Dentistry
Travis Johnson, research and development specialist, BASF
LeAnne Lagasse, human resources and communications consultant, ROI Talent Development
Clark Lammert, vice president of investor relations, Madera Residential
Christopher Lopez, principal, Lubbock ISD
Liz Morgan, studio leader of interiors practice, Parkhill

tags: Achievements, Faculty, Staff, Stories

Texas Tech University

A new era of excellence is dawning at Texas Tech University as it stands on the cusp of being one of the nation's premier research institutions.

Research and enrollment numbers are at record levels, which cement Texas Tech's commitment to attracting and retaining quality students. In fall 2020, the university achieved a goal more than a decade in the making, reaching a total student population of more than 40,000. In 2018, the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education again placed Texas Tech among its top doctoral universities in the nation in the “Very High Research Activity” category. Texas Tech is one of 94 public institutions nationally and 131 overall to achieve this prestigious recognition.

Quality students need top-notch faculty. Texas Tech is home to a diverse, highly revered pool of educators who excel in teaching, research and service. The university strives to foster an environment that celebrates student accomplishment above all else. Texas Tech is large enough to provide the best in facilities and academics but prides itself on being able to focus on each student individually.

The momentum for excellence at Texas Tech has never been greater.

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Student Union & Activities

Student Union & Activities promotes student success by offering a variety of programs, activities, services, and facilities that, when taken together, represent a well-considered plan for the development of community at Texas Tech University.

The Student Union is the community center of the Texas Tech University campus. It provides an environment for relaxation, social interaction, education and exchange of thoughts. It serves Tech students, staff, faculty, alumni and the greater Lubbock community. Student Activities complements the University's academic programs. It enhances the overall educational experiences of students through development of, exposure to, and participation in social, cultural, multicultural, intellectual, recreational, traditional, community service and campus governance programs.

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