The Perkins Alumni Council is comprised of representatives from among the alumni of Perkins School of Theology's degree programs and Course of Study School. Members are elected from throughout the South Central Jurisdiction of the United Methodist Church.  The council meets twice yearly in the autumn and during February's Ministers Week, assisting the school in its planning of academic programs, continuing education, development, internship, recruiting, and annual conference planning

Perkins Alumni/ae Council

Mark Adams-SWTX	Janet Bell Odom-NTX
Don Brown-TX	Juan Osorio-RG
Margaret Decker-SWTX	Dyton Owen
Brandon Dollarhite-OK	Wybra Price-LA
Sammie Ellis-NWTX	Suzanne Reedstrom-TX
Valerie Englert-NTX	Scott Rodgers-OK
Cathleen Alexander Evins-SWTX	Jill Sander-Chali-MO
F. Cole Fowler-NE	Gena Schmidt Anderson-CTX
Corky Fowler-TX	Tom Sims-KSE
Isabel Gomez-RG	Juliet P. Spencer-At-Large
Paul Gravley-CTX	Kevin Strempke-NTX
Jackie Gregory-AR	Kelly Sullivan-TX
Susan Greene-KSW	Mike Svitak-OIM
Robert Hall-SWTX	Dan Turner-DSW
Steve Harshaw-OK	Lisa Beth White-TX
Lucinda Holmes-KSE	Molly Wiggins-Simpson-KSE
Kay Johnson-TX	Jeanie Williams-NM
Rhenel Johnson-TX	Mark Williams-MO
Jeff Matsler-At Large	Shelli Williams-TX
Michael McGregor-NE	Sarah Williams Shoup-LA

 

Distinguished Alumni Award

Bishop Minerva G. Carcaño Receives 2011 Perkins Distinguished Alumna Award 

Dallas, Texas – The Perkins Alumni/ae Council has named Bishop Minerva G. Carcaño as recipient of the 2011 Distinguished Alumna Award by the Alumni/ae Council of Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University. The singular award recognizes annually one graduate of Perkins who has demonstrated effectiveness and integrity in service to the church, continuing support and involvement in the goals of Perkins School of Theology and SMU, distinguished service in the wider community, and exemplary character.

In 2004, Bishop Carcaño became the first Hispanic woman to be elected to the episcopacy of The United Methodist Church. Today, she is one of 69 active bishops leading the denomination worldwide. She currently serves as Bishop of the Phoenix Episcopal Area, Desert Southwest Conference of The United Methodist Church, and is the official spokesperson for the Council of Bishops on the issue of immigration. Bishop Carcaño received a Masters of Theology from Perkins in 1979.

Bishop Carcaño, a native of Edinburg, Texas, was ordained elder in the Rio Grande Annual Conference in 1979. In addition to serving as a pastor of local churches in Texas, Arizona, and California, in 1986 she became the first Hispanic woman to be appointed a United Methodist district superintendent. She also led the Mexican American Program at Perkins School of Theology as director from 1996-2001.

The award will be presented on Monday, February 7, 2011, at 6:15 p.m. during a dinner in Bishop Carcaño’s honor as part of Perkins’ Ministers Week.