ETSU presents 2024 Alumni Awards

Key Takeaways:

• ETSU honored seven distinguished individuals with the 2024 Alumni Awards.
• Awardees have made significant impacts in fields like finance, medicine, education, and entrepreneurship.
• Honorees include leaders such as B.J. King, ETSU’s former CFO overseeing a $400 million budget.
• Craig Charles received the Alumni Award of Honor for his entrepreneurial success and community contributions.
• The awards reflect ETSU’s commitment to celebrating alumni who transform lives and communities.

Honoring Outstanding Alumni at ETSU

East Tennessee State University (ETSU) recently celebrated the achievements of seven exceptional alumni and friends by presenting them with the 2024 Alumni Awards. “These seven individuals represent just a sampling of the incredible graduates whose journeys and stories began on our campus,” said Whitney Goetz, executive director of the ETSU National Alumni Association. “We are so proud of their accomplishments and the many ways they have transformed their communities and improved the lives of others. What amazing legacies they have established!”

B.J. King – Outstanding Alumna

Dr. B.J. King was honored as ETSU’s 2024 Outstanding Alumna for her remarkable career in financial leadership and education spanning over 30 years. Serving as the university’s chief financial officer from 2017 to 2023, King oversaw an institutional budget of $400 million. Her dedication to ETSU is further exemplified by her prior executive finance roles at the university from 2001 to 2017.

King holds a Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership from ETSU, where her dissertation focused on internet policies in academia. Additionally, she earned a Master of Accountancy from ETSU, being recognized as the Outstanding Master of Accountancy student in both Management Accounting and Management Advisory Services. A member of the ETSU College of Business and Technology Hall of Fame, King’s impact extends beyond campus through her active service in the Johnson City community, including roles with BrightRidge, the United Way, and Covenant Presbyterian Church.

Juan DeAngulo – Outstanding Alumnus

Receiving the 2024 Outstanding Alumnus award, Juan DeAngulo’s journey from Cali, Colombia, to ETSU showcases a story of athletic talent and business acumen. As Colombia’s top junior tennis player, DeAngulo came to ETSU to play tennis and study business, graduating in 1997. He co-founded Inselligence, leveraging deep sales and process expertise to guide the organization’s growth from a startup to a sustainable enterprise.

DeAngulo is also a co-founder and partner at Elion Partners, where he is a voting member of the firm’s Investment and Asset Management Committees. Under his leadership, Elion developed into a vertically integrated, institutional-grade real estate investment platform, managing more than $4 billion in assets. His career reflects a blend of strategic leadership and operational excellence in the world of real estate and investment management.

Dr. Sean Ochsenbein – PRIDE of ETSU Award

Dr. Sean Ochsenbein, honored with the PRIDE of ETSU award, is a board-certified emergency medicine physician and one of the chief medical officers for Ballad Health in Johnson City. His commitment to service began early, earning him the Unsung Hero Award for rescuing a driver from a burning vehicle during medical school. In 2018, President Donald J. Trump awarded him the Public Safety Medal of Valor for risking his life to save others while serving on specialized rescue teams.

Ochsenbein’s dedication to medicine and community safety is complemented by his leadership roles during natural disasters, such as the rescue of 60 individuals during historic flooding caused by Hurricane Helene. His career exemplifies the intersection of medical expertise and heroic service.

Kenneth Lee Carder – Distinguished Alumnus in Service

As the recipient of the Distinguished Alumnus in Service award, Kenneth Lee Carder’s lifelong dedication to ministry and education is noteworthy. Earning degrees from ETSU, Wesley Theological Seminary, and Vanderbilt Divinity School, Carder served in the United Methodist Church across several congregations. As senior pastor of First United Methodist Church in Oak Ridge, he initiated dialogues between scientists and theologians on ethics and nuclear weapons.

Elected as a bishop in 1992, Carder led United Methodists in Tennessee and Kentucky until 2000. Upon retirement, he joined Duke University Divinity School as the Ruth W. and A. Morris Williams Jr. Distinguished Professor of the Practice of Christian Ministry. His contributions to ethics, education, and ministry have left a lasting impact.

Craig Charles – Alumni Award of Honor

Craig Charles received the 2024 ETSU Alumni Award of Honor for his entrepreneurial spirit and commitment to education. An ETSU alumnus, Charles turned his passion for barbering into a successful career, founding Craig’s Crown Cutz and later expanding to Crown Cutz Academy with three locations. His vision extends beyond technical skills, preparing students to be well-rounded individuals through lessons on domestic violence, mental health, and financial literacy.

Charles hosts the popular podcast “The Barber College Success” and collaborates with national organizations like The Confess Project of America, focusing on mental health in barbershops. Recognized as the Small Business Person of the Year in Tennessee and the Minority Business of the Year by the U.S. Small Business Administration, Charles’ impact resonates both locally and nationally.

Dr. Larry Calhoun – Honorary Alumnus

Named the 2024 Honorary Alumnus, Dr. Larry Calhoun’s influence on pharmacy education is profound. As the founding dean of the ETSU Bill Gatton College of Pharmacy, appointed in 2005, Calhoun led the college through its establishment and accreditation, graduating its inaugural class in 2010. His commitment to innovative funding models and community involvement was crucial to the college’s success.

Calhoun’s career includes roles as president and CEO of Wilson Pharmacy and Home Health, president and CEO of Unicoi County Memorial Hospital, and vice president within the Mountain States Health Alliance system. His contributions to pharmacy education and healthcare administration have been invaluable to ETSU and the broader community.

Dr. David Stout Jr. – Distinguished Alumnus in Education

Dr. David Stout Jr., the 2024 recipient of the Distinguished Alumnus in Education award, has devoted his career to adult education. Beginning as an admissions representative and academic dean, Stout transitioned to public education, leading adult education initiatives across South Carolina. In 1983, he was named Rookie Adult Education Director of the Year.

Later, as the state director of adult education for the South Carolina State Department of Education, Stout became the longest-serving state GED administrator in the nation. His efforts have significantly advanced adult education, and he continues to contribute as a consultant and through philanthropic efforts supporting veterans.

Celebrating a Legacy of Excellence

The 2024 Alumni Awards highlight the diverse paths ETSU alumni have taken, all leading to significant contributions in their fields and communities. These honorees exemplify the university’s mission and the profound impact its graduates can have on the world. As Whitney Goetz expressed, their remarkable legacies are a source of pride for the entire ETSU community.