Kim Akins

Program Manager for RaiderVet Central

Kim Akins serves as the Program Manager for RaiderVet Central at the School of Veterinary Medicine. She comes from the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center at Amarillo family, working in both School of Medicine and Jerry H. Hodge School of Pharmacy.

Kim was born and raised in Amarillo, Texas graduating from Amarillo High School. Kim is married to her best friend, Jay and they have 5 children, Bentley (and HER husband Keevan), Courtney, Landon, Danniel and LJ. They are awaiting the arrival of their first grandchild. Outside of work, she enjoys camping, attending sporting events, crafting, photography and traveling.

Hannah Alexander

Small Animal Caretaker

Hannah Alexander is a Small Animal Caretaker here at the School. She cares for our Raider Pups and Raider Cats every day! She makes sure everyone is fed, watered, enriched, loved, and cared for. She started working at the School in September 2024. She has been in animal care for over 10 years so it is all she knows. She has cared for a variety of animals from massive show horses to small tiny puppies and kittens. She has a deeper connection to animals, they absolutely make her dark days lighter. She was born in Texas but moved around quite a bit and even lived in Michigan at one point.

Amarillo is where her family grew up so it is home! She has two beautiful dogs so she is a full time dog mom. Roxy and Hershey are the light of her life. She actually adopted Roxy from School. She loves taking them for hikes in the Canyon and on car rides to Toot n Totum for a Pepsi and a milkbone. She also loves to spend time with her dogs, friends, and family. Going to the Canyon and to the lake are her most cherished moments. She can’t wait to see what her future at the School will be!

Amy Antunez, BA

Administrative Assistant

Amy Antunez serves as the Administrative Assistant at the School of Veterinary Medicine. Amy graduated from West Texas A&M University with a Bachelor of General Studies in Art. She provides administrative support in the Dean’s office including of departmental event planning and room reservations along with assisting Alyssa with HR tasks and Rita with travel tasks. She is excited to be working at Texas Tech. Amy was born in Dumas, Texas but grew up in the Oklahoma panhandle for many years. She moved to Stratford, Texas for high school.

She is married to Gilbert (aka Bert) and they have lived in Canyon for over 20 yrs. They have 2 cats, Miss Kitty and Lil Kitty and a foster cat Sylvester (who is still needing a loving home). They love to travel to different places to check out state parks. They even went to Arkansas to go diamond hunting. She enjoys many art-themed activities, such as painting, watercolor, ceramics, going to the Art Walk in Amarillo, etc. She loves scary movies but there can’t be clowns in them. She is also a big heavy metal fan and her top 4 bands are Gojira, Whitechapel, Soulfly, and Jinjer. (Did you watch the 2024 Olympics?? Gojira was there to play for the opening ceremony!!)

Emily Balke, MA

Director of Admissions and Student Services

Emily Balke serves as Director of Admissions and Student Services for the School of Veterinary Medicine. She oversees the DVM admissions efforts and process for the school, as well as student services for current DVM students.

Emily is an Amarillo native and graduated from Amarillo High School. She then moved to Lubbock, Texas to earn her undergraduate degree in public relations at Texas Tech University. Emily comes to us from the College of Media & Communication at Texas Tech University where she was the recruitment and student engagement coordinator for almost ten years.

During her time working for the College of Media & Communication she earned her master's degree in interdisciplinary studies in August 2020 from the Texas Tech Graduate School. Emily is thrilled to return to her hometown and help grow the School of Veterinary Medicine.

Danelle Barber

Network Program Manager

Danelle Barber is the Network Program Manager for the Office of Clinical Programs in the School of Veterinary Medicine (SVM). She serves as the primary liaison between the School’s Clinical Learning Network partners and the Clinical Programs team at the SVM.

Danelle grew up on the family farm in Nazareth, Texas, with three brothers, a sister, and a plethora of cousins in her close-knit community. After receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Economics from Texas Tech, she worked in the district Congressional offices of U.S. Representative Larry Combest in Lubbock for 10 1/2 years, and most recently, for U.S. Representative Mac Thornberry in Amarillo for 14 1/2 years.

Danelle's son and daughter are proud graduates of Bushland High School and Texas Tech University. A few of her favorite things are family, friends, sports and tailgating, rural America and its citizens, Texas Panhandle sunsets, and the Texas Tech community.

Toryn Barrientos, MBA

Admissions and Recruitment Coordinator

Toryn Barrientos serves as the Admissions and Recruitment Coordinator for the School of Veterinary Medicine. She assists in seeking out prospective students as well as providing support during the application process.

Toryn was born and raised in Amarillo, Texas. Not wanting to be far from home, she attended Texas Tech University where she received her B.S. in Kinesiology. While attending Texas Tech during her undergraduate years, she found a profound passion in helping fellow peers with their career choices, which helped her decide to get her M.B.A. During her graduate program, she was able to meet Texas Tech Career Management Center staff that advised her on her own career choices. She joined the School of Veterinary Medicine in February of 2025. She enjoys traveling, reading, and going to the beach.

Gala Beals, M.Ed.

Senior Student Program Manager

Gala Beals serves as the Senior Student Program Manager at the School of Veterinary Medicine in the Office of Clinical Programs. In this role, she is responsible for scheduling rotations and providing guidance to fourth-year students.

She brings a wealth of experience to her role in post-secondary education, with over twenty years of dedicated service. Her career journey with Texas Tech began at the Amarillo School of Medicine's simulation center, where she honed her skills and later transitioned to work with the Dean's offices, providing essential student services. Gala's academic journey includes a bachelor's degree in Career and Technical Education from Eastern New Mexico University and a master's degree in Education Administration from Tarleton State University. She is passionate about working with students to help them achieve their academic goals.

Gala is a proud Colorado native from Colorado Springs and is deeply rooted in her family. She and her husband, David, find immense joy in spending time with their children and grandchildren. Their love for family is evident in their shared passion for travel, which often revolves around visiting their loved ones.

Mattie Been

Assistant Vice President of External Relations

Mattie Been is the Assistant Vice President of External Relations at the Texas Tech University School of Veterinary Medicine, where she is in charge of fundraising efforts for the school. She serves in a dual role as the assistant vice president of external relations for the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center as well.

Been joined the Texas Tech University System in 2013 as a director of development at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, where she led fundraising for the School of Nursing and School of Health Professions. Her efforts are focused around helping donors achieve their philanthropic goals and connecting them to their passions. Been transitioned to the Amarillo campus in 2017 where she began serving her dule role as assistant vice president for the health sciences center and the veterinary school. Been was an integral team member for the fundraising initiative that raised $90 million for the school.

Been graduated with her Bachelor of Science degree from Texas A&M University in 2011. She received her master’s degree in Public Administration with a certificate in Charitable Financial Planning from Texas Tech University in 2013.

Been grew up in the Texas Panhandle and is very passionate about promoting education and healthcare that directly impacts the rural and regional areas. Been is married to Cody Been and together they have two sons, Everett and Walter.

Tanikka Bell

Administrative Assistant for Clinical and Professional Skills

Tanikka Bell serves as the Administrative Assistant to the Clinical and Professional Skills deptartment. She handles scheduling for Clinical and Professional Skills, as well as administrative assistance to the department. She has been in higher education for the last 2 years and joined Texas Tech School of Veterinary Medicine in April 2023. She has 7 years of experience in scheduling and logistics. She also won the Purple Promise Quality Award for creating a system to coordinate scheduling for both local and rural deliveries as far as 150-mile radius, that is now used in many service centers across the country.

Tanikka has lived in the Texas Panhandle her entire life. She currently reside in Canyon with her husband Dusty and together they have 4 children, McKenzi, Tenley, Rhett, and Wade. Her family spends most of their time involved with/or watching sports, traveling, going to concerts or hanging out, grilling in the back yard.

Weston Brooks

Director of Communications & Marketing

Weston Brooks serves as the Director of Communications and Marketing for the School of Veterinary Medicine. He develops and implements marketing, communications, media and engagement plans for the school. Weston joined the team in October 2020. He grew up on a small ranch in Eastland, Texas with a dad who is a veterinarian and part owner of a mixed animal practice. Weston along with his parents and two older siblings are all Texas Tech Alumni. Therefore, being a Red Raider has become a family tradition! He graduated in 2019 with a B.A. in Electronic Media and Communications.

He loves watching movies and filmmaking. Weston was a team member on the creation of a short film documentary called “Texas Snow”, which is about the heritage and hardships of cotton farming in West Texas. It was featured in several film festivals. He enjoys traveling and outdoor activities such as camping and snow skiing. However, he mainly loves spending time with family.

Brenden Brown

Clinical Skills Model Technician

Brenden Brown is a Clinical Skills Model Technician for the School of Veterinary Medicine. He helps design and build models for the clinical and professional skills curriculum.

Originally from Smithville, Texas, he graduated from Sam Houston State University in 2022 with a B.S. in Criminal Justice. In his spare time, Brown enjoys doing various outdoor activities, wood and metal work, and restoring his 1978 Corvette.

Alyssa Cabello

Administrative Assistant

Alyssa Cabello serves as the Administrative Assistant at the School of Veterinary Medicine. Alyssa graduated from West Texas A&M University with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing. She provides administrative support in the Dean’s office including of departmental event planning and room reservations. She is excited to work with Texas Tech.

Alyssa was born and raised in Amarillo, Texas. She is a proud dog/cat mom to Penny, Sophie, Nugget, and JD. She enjoys spending time with her boyfriend, Joshua, as well as with family and friends. They love spending their free time outside riding bikes, playing volleyball, or just lounging at home watching her favorite show, Friends or a good rom-com.

Alexandra Cantu

Administrative Assistant for RaiderVet Central

Alexandra Cantu is an Administration Assistant for RaiderVet Central. She serves as primary contact for the Office of Academic and Student Affairs. She works with schedules for meetings with the entire school and student calendars. She also is in charge of the Office of Academic and Student Affairs’ procurement card (P-card) and reconciliation of the department P-card, responsible for travel processes for the department and overall provides administration support to those in RaiderVet Central.

Alexandra was born and raised in Amarillo, Texas. She graduated from Caprock High School in 2017 and went on to obtain her associates degree in general studies. She is married to her high school sweetheart, Alex, and they have two daughters. She loves to spend time with her husband and experiencing life with two toddlers. On free weekends, she loves to take small family trips and take their girls to new places.

McKenzie Case-Lopez

Clinical and Professional Skills Technician

McKenzie Case-Lopez is a Clinical and Professional Skills Technician at the School of Veterinary Medicine. Her role includes working alongside instructors to set up instructional labs, maintain the 24/7 study room for students to practice their skills, and care for the small animals when needed.

McKenzie is a native of Amarillo and was a Zookeeper for eight years before coming to work for Texas Tech, she lives with her husband and two daughters who mean the entire world to her. She also has her own mini zoo at home with a macaw, a tortoise, crested geckos, frogs, cats, and dogs. She is very passionate about animals, gardening, and traveling.

Emily Chavez

Small Animal Veterinary Technician

Emily Chavez serves as a Small Animal Veterinary Technician at the School of Veterinary Medicine. She brings organizational experience to the team from over 15 years of general practice. Professionally, Emily enjoys Emergency and Critical Care as well as Nutrition within Veterinary Medicine.

Emily is a San Antonio native and relocated to Amarillo to join the Raider family in 2022. Emily graduated from TAMU-SA with a Bachelor’s in Psychology and looks forward to continuing her education moving forward.

Emily enjoys crafting and reading in her downtime. She also enjoys photography, rockhounding and spending time with her husband. They also have 2 cats and 2 dogs who are wonderful parts of their lives.

Caleb Coursey

Supervisor for Clinical and Professional Skills

Caleb Coursey serves as the Supervisor for Clinical and Professional Skills. He worked over 15 years in a teaching hospital environment in Intensive Care, Surgery, Anesthesia, and Hospital Leadership. He also spent over 5 years on the pre-clinical team working with 1st – 3rd year veterinary students in skills instruction.

He was born and raised in the North Texas area but spent most of his life in southeast central Texas. His hobbies include cooking, working outdoors, fishing, and taking care of his French bulldog Pearl.

Adrián Delgadillo

Large Animal Husbandry Caretaker

Adrián Delgadillo is a large animal caretaker for the School of Veterinary Medicine. He takes care of the animals at Mariposa Station. He is happily married to his wife of 39 years. Together they have five kids and fourteen grandkids. He is originally from Durango, Mexico where he still visits his mother at least twice a year.

Delgadillo previously worked at Cargill for 35 years until retiring from there. Horses have always been a big part of his life and caring for them is what he does when he's not working so now getting paid to actually do it and learn more about horses is definitely a plus.

David Dingle

Anatomic Pathology Technician

David Dingle is a Anatomic Pathology Technician in the west wing of Amarillo Campus. David started working at Texas Tech University around August of 2023.

David grew up in Kermit, Texas and went to Howard Payne University in Brownwood, Texas to earn his Bachelor’s Degree in Biology. After graduating, he moved to Amarillo in 2019 where he still resides with his wife Destiny and daughter Divinity. David also has a husky named Maverick and a Sheepadoodle named Po (After Kung-Fu Panda, the greatest cinema trilogy to ever be produced). David enjoys many sports, watching old kung-fu movies, Godzilla, Anime, drawing, cooking, and writing short stories.

Kara Dyer

Anatomic Pathology Technician

Kara serves as one of the Anatomic Pathology Technicians. She joined the team January 2024. Her main duties are to assist with the preparation and performance of necropsies and help in the anatomic pathology laboratory. She graduated from West Texas A&M in 2011 with a degree in Wildlife Biology. Then continued on to work for the City of Amarillo at the Zoo and Animal Management and Welfare.

Kara grew up in Amarillo. She is married to her best friend Chris and they have three children. Together Chris and Kara are first generation farmers focusing on poultry and homesteading. Kara enjoys hiking, camping, cooking and spending time with her family.

Ivan R. Escarcega-Marin

IT Support Technician II

Ivan R. Escarcega-Marin serves as the IT Support Technician II at the School of Veterinary Medicine. He provides technical support and assistance to departments, faculty, staff, and students with the use of software applications, customized applications, systems support.

Ivan was born in Chihuahua, Mexico and was raised in Clovis, New Mexico. After high school, he attended Universal Technical Institute in Phoenix, Arizona. He obtained a certificate in Auto, Diesel and Industrial Technology in 2005. Ivan also graduated from Clovis Community College with an Associate Degree in Liberal Arts in 2012. He also obtained his second Associate Degree in Cybersecurity and Networking from Amarillo College in May 2023. Ivan likes to spend time with his family in Clovis as much as possible. He also has a passion for music and dancing, so he sometimes helps his friend DJ on the weekends.

Cassandra Featherston, LVT

Unit Manager and Inventory Manager

Cassandra Featherston serves as the Unit Manager and Inventory Manager at Texas Tech University School of Veterinary Medicine. She assists in the Clinical and Professional Skills Labs. Her career in veterinary medicine began in high school. She obtained her Veterinary Technician License after graduating from Penn Foster College, passing the Veterinary Technician National Exam (VTNE), and the Texas Licensed Vet Tech Exam (LVTE).

She was born and raised in the Texas Panhandle. She currently lives in Amarillo with her boyfriend and their dog, Scooby, and three cats: Cinnamon, Toast, and a three-legged boy named Picket. Her hobbies include arts and crafts, traveling, and going to concerts.

Scott Frederiksen

Anatomical Preparator

Scott Frederiksen is an Anatomical Preparator for the Anatomy Department. He is the primary anatomy technician responsible for the day-to-day operations of the laboratory and assisting the anatomists. A recent addition to the Texas Tech School of Veterinary Medicine he joined the team in March 2021.

Scott is an Amarillo native and West Texas A&M Alumni having graduated in 2018 with a Bachelors in Agriculture with a minor in animal science. Then worked for various horse and rodeo associations at shows then went to a trade school to learn how to build, design and repair guitars. In his spare time, he builds and repairs acoustic guitars, and plays classical guitar and attends concerts as often as possible.

Kristine Gaines

Small Animal Veterinary Technician

Kristine Gaines is a small animal veterinary technician at the School of Veterinary Medicine. She was born and raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico and moved to Lubbock, Texas in 2013. She started school at Vista College in the Veterinary Technician program and began working in the veterinary field in 2014. Later, she graduated with her Associates in Applied Sciences in Veterinary Technology in May 2015 and also became a certified ultrasound technician. Since then, she has moved to Amarillo in 2016 and worked for a small animal practice.

She is married to Caleb and together they have a 2-year-old son, 2 dachshunds, and 1 cat. In her spare time, she enjoys boxing and swimming.

Anna Garcia

Lead Specialist

Anna Garcia serves as a Lead Specialist for the Texas Tech University School of Veterinary Medicine. She manages the budgets and accounts of the School of Veterinary Medicine faculty. Anna graduated from West Texas A&M University with a B.A. in Finance.

Anna was born and raised in Amarillo. She began her career with Texas Tech in December of 2017 and with the Texas Tech School of Veterinary Medicine in July 2022. Outside of work, she enjoys traveling and spending time with friends and family.

Christopher Garcia

Graduate Program Coordinator

Christopher Garcia serves as the Graduate Program Coordinator for the Office of the Associate Dean of Research. He works closely with the Program Director and Program Manager to manage the graduate program and facilitate the graduate application process.

Christopher grew up in Monahans, Texas but moved to Amarillo to attend West Texas A&M University where he graduated with a bachelor's and master’s degree in bassoon performance. You can find him performing regularly in Amarillo with organizations such as the Amarillo Symphony and the Amarillo Little Theatre. When not doing music, you can often find him at home working on his baking skills our out travelling around the world.

Mohamed Ghonim

Chief Compliance Officer

Mohamed Ghonim (Ayman) will serve as the Chief Compliance Officer. He obtained two bachelor's degrees, one in Military Sciences and another in Business Administration, and a diploma in International Security Studies. Ayman came to Texas Tech from the University of Illinois, where he was an Equal Employment Opportunity Investigator, investigating discrimination cases. He also worked for Virginia Tech. Before that, he spent all his professional career in the military, starting as a lieutenant and ending as a colonel and the head of one Military Intelligence Agency offices. During his military service, he filled different global organizations positions, such as the United Nations as an International Military Observer in Morocco and the African Union as the Chief Personnel and Administration mission in Sudan.

Ayman spent his professional career investigating cases and ensuring compliance in one way or another. As the School's safety officer and liaise with the Department of Environmental Health & Safety, he will support teaching and research laboratory compliance. He will provide training for faculty and staff on compliance-related needs and maintain compliance with all federal, state, and University requirements. He will also help in other compliance-related activities.

Guy Gilbert

Instructional Designer

Guy Gilbert serves as an Instructional Designer for the School of Veterinary Medicine where his primary role consists of systematically developing instructional materials and experiences to promote the acquisition of knowledge. He has worked for Texas Tech in the field of clinical simulation since 2009. Guy’s rich professional tapestry allows him to draw from a wealth of experience and allows him to apply a remarkably diverse skill set to innovate and develop valuable educational solutions. Guy completed a bachelor's degree in Multidisciplinary Studies at the University of Texas at El Paso, and two master's degrees from Colorado State University, an MS in Organizational Leadership and an MS in Management with a specialization in Instructional Design. 

Guy is counted among a small number of individuals world-wide to be both, a Certified Healthcare Simulation Operations Specialist - Advanced (CHSOS-A), and a Certified Healthcare Simulation Educator (CHSE) through the Society of Simulation in Healthcare. 

Guy comes from a heritage of ranching in New Mexico and Colorado where his family raised foundation bloodlines of American Quarter Horses. His upbringing fostered many of his personal interests in outdoor activities like ultramarathons, mountaineering, backpacking and fly fishing. Guy enjoys taking outdoor excursions with his wife Rebecca and their 4 children.

Henry Granda

Event Specialist

Henry (“Hank”) Granda serves as the Event Specialist for the Texas Tech University School of Veterinary Medicine. He is responsible for coordinating and assisting all aspects of internal events for the School of Veterinary Medicine.

He formerly worked for Texas Tech University as an Animal Laboratory Technician for Animal Care Services. Hank graduated from Texas Tech University with a bachelor's degree in media and communication studies in 2018. As a successful former athlete, Hank played football for the University of Houston from 2012-2015, prior to transferring and finishing his degree at Texas Tech.

Hank was born in Mandeville, Louisiana, and spent his early childhood being raised in Peoria, Ill. He then moved to Houston, Texas and graduated high school from St. Pius X. He spent 6 years in Lubbock, Texas prior to moving to Amarillo. Hank met his fiancé Ashleigh during undergrad at Texas Tech University in 2016 and he looks forward to what their future holds together. He and Ashleigh have three dogs and a cat together. Hank enjoys all things sports, gaming, weightlifting, and considers himself an enthusiastic “foodie.”

Cody Greenup

Large Animal Husbandry Caretaker

Cody Greenup is a large animal husbandry caretaker at the school's Mariposa Station facility. He also helps maintain the grounds of Mariposa Station as well as operates and services the equipment on the property. When needed, he assists with the various student labs that occur at Mariposa Station. Cody was born and raised around livestock and rodeo where he judged cattle and wrestled steers and rode bulls. He started with Texas Tech University School of Veterinary Medicine in February 2023.

Cody is originally from the mountains of Colorado where he was born and raised. He became a personal trainer where he was certified in rehabilitation therapy through the International Sports Science Association. He tries to keep himself as young as possible by doing as many hobbies from becoming a nationally ranked Highland Games athlete and weightlifter to a local volunteer firefighter with Big Elk Meadows fire department in Colorado. He also enjoy all outdoor activities from hiking and climbing to snowboarding and camping.

Robert Griffin

Director of Facilities

Robert Griffin is the Director of Facilities at the Texas Tech School of Veterinary Medicine. He oversees the buildings operation and maintenance, and manages staff to maintain daily operations. He started with Texas Tech Health Sciences Center in 2015 as a Tradesman Leader and in 2017 promoted to Assistant Superintendent. Then, in 2019 he was promoted to Superintendent of Facilities.

On April 1st, 2022, Robert started with Texas Tech School of Veterinary Medicine as Director of Facilities. He grew up in the Panhandle of Texas and moved to Amarillo in 1980. He has a son and daughter in law and three grandkids that he enjoys very much. Robert is a retired musician (drummer) after 20 years and his hobbies are sports, riding a Harley and loving life.

Eric Hollingback

Small Animal Caretaker

Eric Ray Hollingback is a part-time Small Animal Caretaker at Texas Tech University's School of Veterinary Medicine. He provides the general care, feeding, and enrichment for our long-term canines and permanent felines on the weekends. He entered the world of Animal Welfare in early 2021 when he became a Veterinary Technician at a local non-profit which is the low cost spay and neuter clinic called P.E.T.S. Clinic of Amarillo. He holds both a job at the school and a position at the clinic he started at. He wants every animal to have it's potential realized so that they are seen for who they are meant to be, whether in the eyes of their owner or in the eyes of a stranger.

Eric is an Amarillo native who enjoys making others laugh and spends his limited time with friends and family. He is a believer in Jesus Christ and is heavily involved in youth ministry. He has an awesome Husky/Border Collie named Elora who gives him purpose and is so intelligent she practically trains herself!

Shelby A. Huffman

Outcomes Assessment Program Manager

Shelby serves as the Outcomes Assessment Program Manager. She conducts programmatic evaluation using qualitative and quantitative data for the success of the School of Veterinary Medicine program and its objectives. She is involved in academic advising, facilitation of exams and coordinating with faculty to ensure student success.

Shelby graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Biology and later earned a Master of Business Administration in Management. She is currently working on a Master of Science in Analytics. She joined the School of Veterinary Medicine in August of 2022. She likes to travel, be outdoors, workout and watch college sports (mainly football).

Gracie Hurt

Development Coordinator

Gracie Hurt serves as the Development Coordinator for the School of Veterinary Medicine. Gracie is responsible for the administrative duties of assisting in planning, organizing, directing, and coordinating special development efforts. These efforts include cultivation, solicitation and stewardship of individual, foundation, and corporate support for the School and its mission. Gracie began serving in this role in the fall of 2023.

Being an Amarillo native, Gracie graduated from Tascosa High School and continued her Panhandle based education at West Texas A&M University where she received her Bachelor’s and her M.B.A. in 2022. Gracie also served as an intern in Orlando, Florida during her college years, participating in the Disney College Program. Gracie is a very active member in the community and loves dedicating her time to Amarillo Little Theatre, the Delta Zeta Alumni Board, and her dog Hazel Mae.

Debbie Johnson

Executive Associate

Debbie Johnson serves as the executive associate to the Dean of the School of Veterinary Medicine. She is responsible for managing the Dean’s office and administrative assistants across the School of Veterinary Medicine. Debbie spent much of her career in Human Resources Executive Management. Previously, she served in a dual role of management and executive assistant to the CEO. She began working at Texas Tech Veterinary School in January 2021.

Debbie grew up in the picturesque mountain town of Ruidsoso, NM, but now considers herself a native of Amarillo. She is married to her best friend, Brad, and they have 2 daughters (Ashlee and Taylor). Their grandchildren, Grayson and Rhyan are the most fun! The newest addition to the household is a rescue dog, named Buddy. She and Brad enjoy all activities relating to the outdoors, and plan annual family vacations camping, hiking and riding off-road vehicles.

Sarah Kacin

Small Animal Veterinary Technician

Sarah Kacin is a Small Animal Veterinary Technician for the Community Practice Clinical Rotation for the clinical year. She was born and raised in Tucson, Arizona. When she was 16, she started working in shelter medicine at, Pima County Animal Care Center. She moved to Amarillo, Texas nine years ago and had transitioned into human health care, becoming a CNA. While working with people was very rewarding, she knew her passion was to work with animals, so she started working at Amarillo Animal Management and Welfare.

She was honored to transition into her role now, as a community outreach, small animal veterinarian technician, in 2024. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her fiance and their three fur babies, hanging out in the backyard and cooking out. They also love to travel and experience new places and exploring new restaurants and different types of food.

Soni Khandelwal

Research Associate

Soni Khandelwal serves as a Research Associate for the Office of the Associate Dean for Research at the School of Veterinary Medicine. She performs specialized work in planning, coordinating, conducting, and supervising School of Veterinary Medicine-wide research activities. Prior to joining the School of Veterinary Medicine in July 2022, she was a postdoctoral scholar at UC San Diego and worked as Scientist II at ThermoFisher Scientific. She graduated with a PhD degree in Nutritional Sciences from Texas Tech in May 2018.

Originally, Soni is from India and loves gardening. In her free time, she loves spending time with friends and family, watching movies, embroidery. She is also in the process to learn crochet.

Elizabeth Langwell

Veterinary Technician

Elizabeth Langwell serves as a Veterinary Technician for the School of Veterinary Medicine. She assists in the Clinical and Professional Skills Labs. She received her Certificate of Completion in Veterinary Assisting from Amarillo College and then her B.S. in Biology from the University of Texas at Arlington.

She was born and raised in Amarillo and spent 15 years living in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area. Her family owned and operated an independent pharmacy in Amarillo for 40 years. She has always had a heart for animals and enjoyed raising and showing Quarter Horses for many years. She shares her home with two dogs, two hamsters, two birds, and a Uromastyx named Petra.

Hannah Manning, LVT

Anesthesia Technician

Hannah Manning serves as an Anesthesia Technician at Texas Tech University School of Veterinary Medicine. After serving in the United States Marine Corps, she moved to Texas with her husband and attended Cedar Valley College in Dallas, TX to obtain her AAS in Veterinary Technology. She has been a Licensed Veterinary Technician since 2016.

Hannah is a Virginia native, but she got to Texas as fast as she could! Her hobbies include running, reading, and baking. Hannah and her husband, Brandon, have one son together that keeps them on their toes, and share their home with a former Raider Pup, Melody.

Rita Mayberry

Senior Business Assistant

Rita Mayberry serves as the Senior Business Assistant for the School of Veterinary Medicine. She manages Travel and the reconciling of the Departmental PCard reports of the School of Veterinary Medicine faculty and staff. Rita completed her Associate Degree in Office Administration at Amarillo College and later attained a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with a minor in Human Resource at Wayland Baptist University. She comes to us with over seven years of experience from Texas Tech University Health Science Center, where she worked in the Office of the Regional Dean as a Lead Specialist.

She grew up in the small town of Quanah, Texas. There she discovered her love for the annual parade and rodeo. For many years she would attend the rodeo with one of the greatest cowboys of all times, her grandfather. Still today Rita LOVES parades and her greatest desire is to one day attend the Annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, and the Tournament of Roses Parade. Growing up in a large family with seven siblings (four boys and four girls) being number five of eight children, Rita was the first of her siblings to graduate high school and the first to attend and graduate college. Through the years, she has been her family’s biggest advocate for the importance of education. Her greatest joy is watching other family members walk in and/or surpass her footsteps.

Mike Mercado

IT Specialist IV

Mike Mercado serves as the IT Specialist IV for the Texas Tech School of Veterinary Medicine. He provides technical support and assistance to departments, faculty, staff, and students with the use of software applications, customized applications, systems support, and websites, etc. He also manages area and unit IT software projects in support of business operations.

Mike was born and raised in Floydada, Texas. He attended and graduated from West Texas A&M University. He began his IT career while attending WTAMU and has spent more than 20 years serving in several different positions from an IT Technician to an IT Director/Coordinator for area public and private schools. Recently coming from TTUHSC’s Managed Care department, he now provides all technical support for the Texas Tech School of Veterinary Medicine. Mike is married to his wife Priscilla, and together they have two children. They are avid fans of their two favorite softball and baseball players. Together they spend their free time chasing their daughter around the tri-state area supporting her and her softball team as well as their son that is just getting started in baseball.

For faculty and staff IT support, please contact svm.itsupport@ttu.edu.

Woody Mihm

Custodial Supervisor

Woody Mihm is the custodial supervisor here at the school. His role is to be over the custodial staff and take care of all the supply needs. Woody attended West Texas A&M in college and received a B.S. in Agribusiness with a secondary in Economics.

While attending school, he was a volunteer firefighter with the Happy, Texas VFD. There Woody received his EMT-B license which has been current now for over 21 years. Woody has been married to his wife Melanie for 26 years and has four kids. Woody’s oldest son and daughter-in-law are in the Airforce.

Woody has seven dogs and four cats. He spends most of his spare time outdoors at the lake with the family or hunting on his farm he purchased in Childress, Texas. His family all reside in Fritch, Texas.

Scott Mitchell

Chief Operations Officer

Scott Mitchell serves as the Chief Operations Officer for the School of Veterinary Medicine. Scott performs executive-level operational and administrative oversight for the school. This includes organizational oversight and management of staff, implementation of projects for accreditation, facilities management, organizational build-up, and fostering the school’s core values.

Scott holds a Master's degree in Range Management from the College of Agriculture Sciences and Natural Resources at Texas Tech University. Scott comes to the School of Veterinary Medicine from the private wealth sector, where he managed a large portfolio of farms and ranches in Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas. Scott grew up on his family's farm/ranch in the small rural community of Lazbuddie, Texas.

Lynnsey Montgomery

Administrative Business Assistant

Lynnsey Montgomeryserves as the Administrative Business Assistant at the School of Veterinary Medicine. She is responsible for assisting in managing the Dean’s office.

Lynnsey attended Amarillo College after graduating from Tascosa High School. She worked as a Certified Veterinary Assistant for a few years and later completed training for Medical Transcription. Over the years, she gained quite a bit of administrative, clerical, and customer service skills, and she is very excited for the opportunity to combine her education and experience here at Texas Tech School of Veterinary Medicine.

Lynnsey has a daughter and three dogs that keep her on her toes at home. In her spare time, she enjoys horror movies, true crime, producing and editing her podcast, reading, painting, photography, and spending time with her loved ones.

Cheri Moore

Large Animal Veterinary Technician

Cheri serves as a veterinary technician for The Texas Tech School of Veterinary Medicine. Cheri is currently positioned at Mariposa Station and assists in Clinical and Professional Skills labs, as well as aids with the treatment and care of the large animals housed at Mariposa Station. She received her Certificate of Completion in Veterinary Assisting from Cedar Valley Community College, and has worked in several area vet clinics, and brings both skill and compassion to the work force.

Cheri has two small children, four horses and one blue heeler. When she is not at Texas Tech, Cheri works as a horseback riding instructor at a local boarding stable. She loves spending time with friends and family, and enjoys fine arts, cooking and outdoor activities.

Kristina Pennell

Senior Director of Administration and Finance

Kristina Pennell serves as the Senior Director of Administration and Finance for the School of Veterinary Medicine. She helps implement budget goals for the school as well as manage start-up funding and research accounts for SVM faculty.

Originally from Schertz, Texas, Kristina graduated from Texas Tech University with a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Communications in 2012. In 2013, she began her career at TTU as the lead account processor for the Department of Animal & Food Sciences, where she managed gift, grant and state funding for various professors. She also served as the Compliance Coordinator in Accounting Services, where she specialized in implementing effort regulations on sponsored projects. In her free time, Kristina enjoys spending time with her husband, Corey and their son, Cash.

Christopher Perrin

Anatomic Pathology Technician

Christopher Perrin serves as a Anatomic Pathology Technician at the School of Veterinary Medicine. Chris has been a small animal veterinary technician for the past three years. Previously, he has had experience with several different species of animals as well as serving for five years in the Army as an animal care specialist. Chris started working at Texas Tech University's School of Veterinary Medicine in September 2023.

Chris grew up here in Amarillo, Texas. He enjoys spending time with his family as well as his friends. He enjoys most all activities relating to the outdoors, fishing, cookouts, and camping.

Heather Perrin

Small Animal Caretaker

Heather Perrin works at Texas Tech University's School of Veterianry Medicine as a small animal caretaker. She is responsible for caring for the animals in small animal housing. Previously, she worked at Swann Animal Clinic in Amarillo as a veterinary technician assisting veterinarians in the care of patients.

She was born and raised in Borger, Texas and moved to Phoenix after she graduated high school. She moved all over the place until she settled in Las Vegas for 12 years and then decided to move back home. She has two kids (Hayden Michael and Skylynn Ann) and a goofy hubby (Chris Perrin) who works at the School of Veterinary Medicine as well. She enjoys road trips, old music, working on art, loving their zoo at home, and being around my family. Family is everything to her.

Asher Pitts

Clinical and Professional Skills Technician

Asher Pitts is a Clinical and Professional Skills Technician at the School of Veterinary Medicine. His role includes working alongside faculty to set up and moderate instructional labs, make sure students have the resources needed to practice skills in the 24/7 practice room, help instruct students on proper care, restraints, physical assessments, and phlebotomy of small animals. He also helps in the care and maintenance of both small and large animals.

Asher joined the School of Veterinary Medicine in March of 2024. Before he joined, he was a veterinary and surgical nurse at Swann Animal Clinic. After leaving Swann, he became a certified dog trainer for Off Leash K9 Training. Through both of these endeavors he has developed a passion for small animal behavior, as well as, client/patient interaction and teaching future veterinarians on how they could approach and talk to clients about patients needs including physiological and mental heath.

At home Asher is a huge nerd that enjoys playing video games with his kids, watching anime with his wife, watching horror movies(albeit by himself here), and loving on his horde of animals. He is proud and honored to be apart of Texas Tech School of Veterinary Medicine and loves to interact with everyone including staff, faculty, administration and especially the students!

Sherri Powledge, MS

Research Manager

Sherri Powledge serves as a Research Manager for the Office of the Associate Dean for Research at the School of Veterinary Medicine. She performs specialized work in planning, coordinating, conducting, and supervising SVM-wide research activities. She started her career with Texas Tech in December 2021, after graduating from West Texas A&M University in 2021 and Texas Tech in 2019 with her Master’s and Bachelor’s in Animal Science, respectively.

Originally from Aztec, New Mexico, Sherri enjoys camping, skiing, and all things cattle. She and her husband, Johnathon, recently welcomed their first son, Joey, a future Red Raider. They love spending time outdoors with family, friends, and their dog, Robbie.

Payton Priest

Associate Director of Development

Payton Priest serves as the Associate Director of Development for the School of Veterinary Medicine. Payton is responsible for the administrative duties of planning, organizing, directing, and coordinating special development efforts. These efforts include cultivation, solicitation and stewardship of individual, foundation, and corporate support for the School and its mission. Payton began serving in this role in the fall of 2021.

Payton is a Texas Panhandle native and a third generation Red Raider. She graduated from Texas Tech University with highest honors in May 2019 with a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Communications. Her husband, Laramie, is a fourth-generation cattleman. Laramie manages Priest Cattle Company’s operations based in the Panhandle and West Texas while also owning and operating Priest Genetics, Payton and Laramie’s show cattle business.

Nicole Pruitt

Business Manager

Nicole Pruitt serves as a business manager for the School of Veterinary Medicine. She manages the budgets for the accounts of the SVM faculty. Nicole received her associate’s degree in Medical Management from Amarillo College. She comes to us with 24 years of experience from Texas Tech University Health Science Center-Managed Care, where she worked in the finance department.

Nicole grew up in Wellington a small rural community in the Texas panhandle, in a farming/ranching family. She now resides in Bushland with her husband Mark. Together they have 5 wonderful children and many awesome grandchildren.

Kami Ray

Lead Specialist

Kami Ray serves as a Lead Specialist for the School of Veterinary Medicine. She manages the budgets and accounts of the SVM faculty. She started her career at Texas Tech in June of 2015 and with the Texas Tech School of Veterinary Medicine in April of 2020.

She is originally from Ohio, but spent her elementary years between Amarillo & Spearman, TX. Her middle and high school years were spent back in Ohio with her family. At the age of 17, she moved back to Amarillo where she met and married her husband of 24 years, they have three beautiful kids together. Their family spent 13 of those years in Lubbock, TX where she first started working at Texas Tech in the Student Disability Services Department. She is excited to be back in Amarillo and be a part of this wonderful program!

Thomas Rodriguez

Shipping and Receiving Specialist

Thomas Rodriguez is the Shipping and Receiving Specialist. He is in charge of receiving all of the shipments and mail for the School of Veterinary Medicine as well as any outgoing mail and packages. Many of the packages that he receives pertain to research. He started at the school in September 2022.

Rodriguez was born in Hereford, Texas and lived there most of his early life. He graduated from Caprock in Amarillo. He and his wife, Felicia, have been married since April 2012 and have 3 children, Micah, Lilyana, and Katalina. They also have several animals one dog, Kozmo and three cats, Charlie, Tiny, and Lucy. In his free time, he enjoys camping, hiking, and swimming. He also has a few hobbies which include woodworking and gardening.

Elizabeth Rowe

Instructional Designer

Elizabeth Rowe serves as an Instructional Designer. She is involved in the implementation, use, and best practices associated with Blackboard (our Learning Management System) and best practices in the use of various classroom technologies. Elizabeth started her career with Texas Tech University School of Veterinary Medicine in July of 2020.

A Tennessee native, Elizabeth completed her Bachelor of Science degree in Human Learning at the University of Tennessee-Martin. She then went on to the University of Tennessee-Knoxville, where she completed a Master of Science degree in Instructional Technology and a Specialist in Education (EdS) degree in Instructional Technology and Educational Studies. Elizabeth spent the first 6 years of her career in K-12 education, where she was heavily involved in instructional mentorship, data analysis, and outcomes assessment as a mentor teacher in the Teacher Advancement Program (TAP).

After moving to Kansas in 2013, she joined the College of Education at Kansas State University as an academic advisor. Most recently, she served as the Instructional Designer for Lincoln Memorial University's novel Doctor of Medical Science Program, where she played an integral role in curricular development and program design. Elizabeth is married to Josh Rowe, an Associate Professor of Anatomy here at the School of Veterinary Medicine. Together, they have one daughter, Jocelyn. They love to spend time exploring the local terrain, taking the Jeep offroad, and playing with their two dogs.

Heather Scalf

Program Manager

Heather Scalf began her career with the Texas Tech School of Veterinary Medicine in November 2021, serving as Program Manager for the Office of the Associate Dean of Research. She works closely with the Associate Dean of Research to manage the graduate and professional student Research programs. She also coordinates Research-related events, seminars, and communication.

Heather graduated from West Texas A&M University with a B.A. in English. She has previously managed departments and projects related to Creative, Communications, Human Resources, and Strategic Accounts.

Heather is an Amarillo native. She and her husband, Joel, stay busy with their two daughters, Avery and Liddy. Everyone knows her favorite family member, though, is the family’s rescue dog, Elle. She enjoys savory snacks, walks around the neighborhood, and road trips. Heather enjoys those things too.

Payton Schertz, MBA

Administrative Assistant

Payton Schertz serves as the administrative assistant to the Dean of the School of Veterinary Medicine, where she plays a vital role in supporting the school's mission and initiatives. In this capacity, she is responsible for overseeing travel arrangements, procurement reconciliation, and assisting in the organization of departmental events. She also supports scheduling, reservations, coordination, and communication efforts, contributing to the seamless operations of the Dean's office.

A proud graduate of Texas Tech University, Payton earned her Bachelor's degree in Animal Science from the Davis College, where she was deeply involved in student activities. Most notably, she was a member of Texas Tech’s prestigious meat judging program. Building on her passion for leadership and business, she pursued an advanced degree at the Rawls College of Business, earning her Master of Business Administration.

Originally from Denton, she has embraced West Texas as home, having spent the past five years in Lubbock with her family. Now based in Amarillo, Payton is excited to contribute to the success of future veterinarians, helping them turn their aspirations into reality. Beyond her professional endeavors, Payton enjoys spending quality time with friends and family, discovering new destinations, and running her own small business—a mobile beverage service that reflects her entrepreneurial spirit. With a deep passion for mentorship and student success, Payton looks forward to making a lasting impact at the School of Veterinary Medicine.

Travis Sills

Project Manager for Research Development

Travis Sills serves as the Project Manager for Research Development at the Texas Tech University School of Veterinary Medicine. He provides support to all faculty regarding sourcing potential funding opportunities, and proposal preparation, review, and editing. He also liaises with the Office of Research Services and Office of Research Development and Communications regarding research opportunities and submissions.

Travis was born in Austin, Texas and grew up in Hutto, Texas (home of the famous Hutto Hippos!). He graduated first from the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor and again with his master’s degree from Baylor University’s George W. Truett Theological Seminary. He has spent time as a pastor and as a public-school teacher before coming on board the School of Veterinary Medicine. Travis enjoys spending time traveling with his wife, Nichole, and three great kids, Hannah, Parker, and Andrew.

Stevie Sinclair

Administrative Assistant

Stevie Sinclair serves as an Administrative Assistant at the School of Veterinary Medicine. She oversees the department’s purchasing cards as well as provides administrative support in the finance office. She is very excited to be a part of the Texas Tech family.

Stevie was raised in Inola, Oklahoma. When she was eighteen, she moved to Denver, Colorado where she spent the next nine years. She recently relocated to Amarillo to be closer to family. She enjoys cooking, attending concerts, camping, being with family and friends, and spending time with her cat, Sushi.

Olivia Smirl

Outcomes Assessment Specialist

O serves as an Outcomes Assessment Specialist. They help their team with academic advising, facilitation of exams, and coordinates with faculty to ensure student success.

O is originally from Amarillo, Texas. They graduated from West Texas A&M University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in English. They joined the School of Veterinary Medicine in January 2025. They love studying literature and film, playing with their two dogs (Sophie and Sebastian), and spending quality time with family and friends. They find joy in creative projects, and in their free time you can often find them crocheting, reading, or practicing their baking skills!

Juan Solano

Research Associate

Juan Sebastian Solano serves as a research associate at the School of Veterinary Medicine. He works in the Fon Tacer laboratory, focusing to gain insight in the role of MAGE genes in pancreatic cancer. Also, he provides administrative support to the Fon Tacer lab. Juan is native to Colombia, where he graduated as a biologist and obtained a master's degree in science-biotechnology.

Juan was born in Ibague, a small town in Colombia, in the mountain zone. He lived in Colombia for 30 years and now, he is happy to have moved to Amariilo. He is passionate by sports. Watching soccer or rugby games is one of Juan's favorite activities, as well as working out and going for a run. He also loves going out to eat with his friends.

Eden Taylor

Lead Specialist

Eden serves as a Lead Specialist for the Associate Dean of Clinical Programs, where she manages the program’s budgets and accounts. Eden graduated from New Mexico State University with a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Economics and Business.

Eden was born and raised in Amarillo and moved to Taos, New Mexico in 2008. She enjoys spending time outside with her husband, Keegan and two dogs, Jax and Griff.

Eric Van-Reet

Large Animal Veterinary Technician

Eric is a large animal veterinary technician for the Texas Tech School of Veterinary Medicine. He is currently assigned to the Hereford Vet Clinic where he assists students during their clinical rotation and also serves the area seeing large animal cases. Eric grew up in Midland, Texas but for a short stint went to high school in Katy, Texas before coming back to West Texas where he graduated from Texas Tech University with a degree in Animal Science Production with an equine certificate. Upon graduation he began working as the stallion manager for the 6666 Ranch under Dr. Blodgett where he found a passion for learning and passing on knowledge and experience to the interns. His greatest fulfillment was seeing the interns go on to achieve their goals and become valuable members in the industry.

Eric is married to Tyler and they have 2 kids (Lottie and Lawson) and a red dog named Taz. Together they enjoy everything outdoors. Typically, you can find them somewhere on the ranch taking care of their herd of Red Angus cattle or training the horses they raise.

Kayla Veach

Clinical and Professional Skills Technician

Kayla Veach is a Clinical and Professional Skills Technician at the School of Veterinary Medicine. Her role includes working alongside instructors to set up instructional labs, maintain the 24/7 study room for students to practice their skills, and care for the small animals when needed.

She is originally from Andrews, Texas and moved with her family to Amarillo in 2018. She lives with her husband and two boys and they have two dogs, two cats and a bearded dragon. In her spare time, she loves to hang out with family doing various activities.

Courtney Ward

Small Animal Veterinary Technician

Courtney began her career at Texas Tech University in July of 2023. She is a Small Animal Veterinary Technician for the Community Practice Clinical Rotation for the clinical year. Her job duties include helping students learn in their clinical year the importance of helping in the community. Things like that include disaster relief, community shelter training, helping in rural areas, etc. She is very passionate about community outreach. She also helps with the AniMeals program through Meals on Wheels.

Courtney was a small animal veterinary technician for almost 15 years before coming to Texas Tech. She brings experience in small animal abdominal ultrasound, echocardiograms, euthanasia, and emergency and critical care. She has a deep passion for veterinary medicine and is excited to be a part of helping teach the next generation of veterinarians.

Courtney was born and raised in the small town of Tulia (Go Hornets), where she developed her love for animals at a very young age. She went to college at Wayland Baptist University, then served in the United States Navy before moving to New Mexico to get some hands-on experience in veterinary medicine at one of the best veterinary clinics in Southern New Mexico. She was eager to move back home to be closer to family and is so grateful to be a part of the Texas Tech family. She enjoys running, being outside, spending time with her wife, Jenn, and their amazing pup, Fenix at their favorite breweries. She loves her Texas Rangers. And of course, Harry Potter.

Stephanie Wertman, LVT, VTS-EVN

Mariposa Station Manager and Large Animal Technician

Stephanie Wertman serves as the Mariposa Station Manager and Large Animal Technician at the School of Veterinary Medicine. She began her veterinary career 35 years ago in the United States Army as an Animal Care Specialist. Equine medicine and surgery has been her focus over the last 23 years. The Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital was her home for the last 11 years as the Equine Internal Medicine lead technician. Then she moved up as the Equine Medicine Supervisor and Service Coordinator. She obtained her Veterinary Technician Specialist certification in Equine Nursing in 2017. Most recently, she had the privilege to be a chapter co-author (Neonatal Care of Puppies, Kittens, and Foals) in the 10th edition of the Bassert: McCurnin's Clinical Textbook for Veterinary Technicians and Nurses.

Stephanie has been married to her husband, John, for 33 years and have grown children, Michael and Christopher. She also has Jasmine, the best Great Dane ever. She loves to ride horses when the opportunity presents itself, read, and looks forward to the opportunity to hike and camp.

Brighton White

Student Services Program Manager

Brighton serves as the Student Services Program Manager. She works closely to assist prospective and current students with student resources, coordinating Wellness Events, and assisting student organizations. In addition, Brighton will be helping with the student mentoring program and admissions.

Brighton graduated from Texas Tech University with a B.S. in Human Development and Family Studies in August 2019. She began her career with Texas Tech in July of 2019 and with the Texas Tech School of Veterinary Medicine in July of 2022. She is overjoyed to be serving her Texas Tech community. Brighton loves all things Texas Tech including basketball, football, baseball, and the award-winning meat judging team.

Chris Williams

Large Animal Husbandry Caretaker

Chris Williams is a large animal caretaker at the School of Veterinary Medicine. His job is to look after the animals at Mariposa Station. When needed, he assists with the various student labs that occur at Mariposa Station as well. He is originally from a small town in southwest Kansas but moved to northern Colorado when he was eleven. When he was fifteen years old, he worked on his first ranch for a roping cow rancher. He held several construction jobs and for the last six years he managed a ranch for a local eye doctor.

Williams enjoys spending time either at the gym or smoking barbeque for friends and family. He has one son and enjoys being able to spend time with him and his wife and making them try new spice rubs that he creates.