Houghton University: A Legacy of Notable Alumni

Houghton University, a private Christian liberal arts college located in Houghton, New York, has a rich history of producing graduates who have made significant contributions in various fields. Founded in 1883 by Willard J. Houghton, a Wesleyan Methodist minister, the institution has evolved from a coeducational high school (Houghton Seminary) to a respected university offering associate and bachelor's degrees in 46 majors, as well as master's degrees. This article explores the stories of some of Houghton's notable alumni, highlighting their achievements and the impact they have had on the world.

Honoring Alumni Achievements

Houghton University recognizes its distinguished alumni through various awards and events. The annual Legacy Chapel, a significant event in the university's calendar, serves as a platform to honor graduates who have demonstrated exceptional achievements and contributions in their respective fields.

Legacy Chapel Awards

During the Legacy Chapel, Houghton University President Wayne D. Lewis, Jr. presents awards to alumni who have made a significant impact. These awards recognize a range of achievements, from professional success to community service and embodying the values of Houghton University.

In a recent Legacy Chapel, several alumni were honored for their remarkable accomplishments:

Dr. P. Douglas ’62 and Mrs. Barbara (Pechuman ’62) Kindschi: Recognized for their enduring commitment to Christian values and their contributions to the ever-changing needs of the world. The Kindschis remarked, “We are grateful for the blessings of family, friends, and church communities over the 62 years of our marriage. We have experienced much joy and many challenges along the way. It is a pleasure to know that Houghton’s approach continues to prepare students for the ever-changing needs of our world, while maintaining a solid Christian foundation undergirding their spiritual growth."
Mr. David Causer ’74: Presented with the Alumni Distinguished Achievement Award for his successful career with Southwestern Advantage, where he serves as President.
Dr. Jordan Scott ’17: Recognized for his achievements in pharmacy and his commitment to his faith. Dr. Scott remarked, “Houghton University was crucial in setting me up to become the best professional I can be. At Houghton, I learned the essential skills for a career in pharmacy, while simultaneously building my faith in Jesus Christ."
Dr. Rogan: Received the FEARLESS Award in recognition of his generosity in fostering, supporting, and mentoring young men from the foster care system and those with troubled backgrounds, inspiring them to pursue higher education and careers, including two who attended Houghton to follow in Dr. Rogan’s footsteps.

These awards highlight the diverse paths that Houghton alumni have taken and the positive impact they have had on their communities and the world.

Notable Alumni Profiles

Houghton University boasts a diverse group of alumni who have excelled in various fields, including science, business, theology, and the arts. Here are a few notable examples:

Deborah L. Birx

Deborah Leah Birx is an American physician and diplomat who served as the White House Coronavirus Response Coordinator under President Donald Trump from 2020 to 2021. Birx specializes in HIV/AIDS immunology, vaccine research, and global health. Starting in 2014, she oversaw the implementation of the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) program to support HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention programs in 65 countries. From 2014 to 2020, Birx was the United States global AIDS coordinator for presidents Barack Obama and Donald Trump and served as the United States special representative for global health diplomacy between 2015 and 2021. Birx was part of the White House Coronavirus Task Force from February 2020 to January 2021. In March 2021, Birx joined ActivePure Technology as Chief Medical and Science Advisor.

Kim Pegula

Kim S. Pegula is a South Korean-born American former businesswoman and the wife of American multibillionaire Terry Pegula. She was the president of Pegula Sports and Entertainment, the holding company that managed the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League and the Buffalo Sabres of the National Hockey League, in addition to several other minor league sports teams and entertainment assets. By extension she was the president of several teams under Pegula Sports and Entertainment, including the Bills and Sabres; Pegula, Shahid Khan, Zygi Wilf were the only three NFL team owners who were not born in the United States. Pegula Sports and Entertainment was dissolved in 2023, following an incapacitating stroke she suffered the year prior.

Robert Beckford

Robert Beckford is a British academic theologian and currently Professor of Climate and Social Justice at the University of Winchester, and has associate roles as a Professor of Black Theology at The Queen's Foundation, and a Professor of Theology at VU University, Amsterdam. His documentaries for both the BBC and Channel 4 have caused debate among the religious community, instigated policy change and won national and international awards.

Douglas Comer

Douglas Earl Comer is a professor of computer science at Purdue University, where he teaches courses on operating systems and computer networks. He has written numerous research papers and textbooks, and currently heads several networking research projects. He has been involved in TCP/IP and internetworking since the late 1970s, and is an internationally recognized authority. He designed and implemented X25NET and Cypress networks, and the Xinu operating system. He is director of the Internetworking Research Group at Purdue, editor of Software - Practice and Experience, and a former member of the Internet Architecture Board. Comer completed the original version of Xinu in 1979. Since then, Xinu has been expanded and ported to a wide variety of platforms, including: IBM PC, Macintosh, Digital Equipment Corporation VAX and DECstation 3100, Sun Microsystems Sun-2, Sun-3 and SPARCstations, and Intel Pentium. It has been used as the basis for many research projects. Furthermore, Xinu has been used as an embedded system in products by companies such as Motorola, Mitsubishi, Hewlett-Packard, and Lexmark.

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Richard Mouw

Richard John Mouw is an American theologian and philosopher. He held the position of President at Fuller Theological Seminary for 20 years (1993-2013), and continues to hold the post of Professor of Faith and Public Life.

Neil MacBride

Neil Harvey MacBride is an American attorney who served as the General Counsel of the Department of the Treasury in the Biden administration. He previously served as the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. Attorney on September 15, 2009, and he took office three days later. He left office on September 13, 2013.

Ira S. Bowen

Ira Sprague Bowen was an American physicist and astronomer. In 1927 he discovered that nebulium was not really a chemical element but instead doubly ionized oxygen.

Robert E. Longacre

Robert E. Longacre was an American linguist and missionary who worked on the Triqui language and a text-based theory and method of discourse analysis. He is well known for his seminal studies of discourse structure (text linguistics), but he also made significant contributions in other linguistic areas, especially the historical linguistics of Mixtec, Trique, and other related languages. His PhD was at the University of Pennsylvania under Zellig Harris and Henry Hoenigswald. His 1955 dissertation on Proto-Mixtecan was the first extensive linguistic reconstruction in Mesoamerican languages. This was one of several SIL studies which helped to establish the Oto-Manguean language family as being comparable in time depth to Proto-Indo-European. His research on Trique was the first documented case of a language with five distinct levels of tone.

Walter Sheffer

Walter S. Sheffer was an American photographer and teacher, born in Youngsville, Pennsylvania. He moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1945 to work at the studio of John Platz, Milwaukee's main society photographer. When Platz retired, Sheffer inherited his clientele and was able to establish his own "look" and very successful portrait studio by 1953. He also taught advanced portraiture at the Layton School of Art from 1952 to 1970.

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Wilfred Conwell Bain

Wilfred Conwell Bain was an American music educator, a university level music school administrator (former Dean of two major music schools spanning 35 years), and an opera theater director at the collegiate level. Bain is widely credited for rapidly transforming to national prominence both the University of North Texas College of Music as dean from 1938 to 1947, and later, Indiana University School of Music as dean from 1947 to 1973. Both institutions are major comprehensive music schools with the largest and second largest enrollments, respectively, of all music schools accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music. He was born in Shawville, Quebec, and died in Bloomington, Indiana.

The Houghton Experience: Shaping Future Leaders

Houghton University aims to provide a high-quality education that prepares students for successful careers and fulfilling lives. The university's emphasis on Christian values, combined with its rigorous academic programs, creates a unique environment that fosters intellectual, spiritual, and personal growth.

Academic Programs and Opportunities

Houghton University offers a wide range of academic programs, including:

Writing Major: Focuses on composition, prose, poetry, and various forms of writing, preparing students for careers in journalism, advertising, publishing, and more.
Worship Arts Major: Integrates music, theology, and biblical studies, equipping students for careers in worship leadership and music ministry.
First Year Honors Program: Provides qualified first-year students with challenging academic experiences, including the London Honors program, where students spend a semester studying in London.
Science Honors: Involves research in real-world issues such as fuel-efficiency, climate change, and energy sources.

These programs, along with the university's commitment to small class sizes and close relationships between students and faculty, provide a supportive and challenging learning environment.

Extracurricular Activities and Community

Houghton University offers a variety of extracurricular activities and opportunities for students to get involved in the community. These include:

Athletics: The Houghton Highlanders compete in the NCAA Division III, offering opportunities for students to participate in a variety of sports.
Clubs and Organizations: A wide range of clubs and organizations cater to diverse interests, from academic and professional groups to social and recreational activities.
Student Life: Houghton provides a vibrant campus community with various events, activities, and support services to enhance the student experience.

These opportunities allow students to develop their leadership skills, build relationships, and make a positive impact on the world around them.

The Impact of a Houghton Education

A Houghton education can alter the trajectory of a student’s life, and alumni will gladly tell you: Houghton will not only prepare you for a job after you graduate - it will lay the groundwork for an amazing life.

Houghton University graduates are equipped for successful careers, fulfilling their God-given calling, thanks to the high-quality, affordable Christian education that they received. At Houghton, you will receive a high-quality education that puts God first and prepares you for the fast-paced and ever-changing world.

As David Causer, a graduate of the Houghton Class of 1974, has daily opportunities to create a learning and working environment for aspiring entrepreneurs from around the world that allows them to grow and flourish while enforcing ethical and principled business and sales practices.

Tanner Hoffman ’17 wanted to attend a university that would allow him to simultaneously pursue international development and biology, study abroad, and play baseball at a high level. Houghton gave him opportunities to play baseball, grow academically within his double major, and he was even able to study abroad three times (Tanzania, Sierra Leone, and Ecuador).

Kelly (Daugherty ’97) Studley wanted a place that felt like home when she began her college search. At Houghton, she found community with the volleyball team, the friends on her floor and professors who challenged and encouraged her every step of the way.

Ronnie Lott ’20, was drawn to Houghton University because of the focus on Christ-centered faith and community, small class sizes led by professors at the top of their field and the chance to play NCAA DIII baseball. As a biology and pre-med major and part of the early medical school acceptance to Lake Erie College of Medicine (LECOM), he learned the value of hard work, persistence and dedication to his academics. He enjoyed studying the Bible and praying before games with his baseball teammates, and experiencing the power of communion, worshiping and working together to not only play better baseball, but to become better men. Now, Ronnie is in his third year of medical school at LECOM, and his hard work and dedication to his studies was recognized when he was named Student Doctor of the Year.

A Lasting Legacy

Houghton University's legacy extends far beyond its campus. Its alumni have made significant contributions in various fields, embodying the university's values of scholarship, service, and faith. As Houghton University continues to evolve and adapt to the changing needs of the world, it remains committed to its mission of preparing students to make a positive impact on society. The stories of its notable alumni serve as an inspiration to current and future generations of Houghton graduates, demonstrating the transformative power of a Houghton education.

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