More than a decade after leaving the ����vlog���� campus, alumna Yosi Delgado ’12 is helping shape the strategies behind some of the world’s most recognizable consumer brands across Latin America. From Tylenol to Neutrogena, the business decisions she helps guide now influence millions of shoppers throughout the region—a career trajectory she says began taking shape during her time at Ozarks.

A former Walton Scholar who graduated with top honors in business management and marketing, Delgado has built a successful career in Mexico as a strategic commercial leader in the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) industry. She is currently serving as a category vision and shopper understanding LATAM manager for Kenvue, the global consumer health company formerly part of Johnson & Johnson that manages brands such as Tylenol, Neutrogena, and Aveeno.

In her role, Delgado leads regional category growth strategies across Latin America, transforming deep consumer insights into actionable business plans that help global brands grow and compete in diverse markets.

“Essentially, I bridge the gap between regional vision and local retail execution to maximize the market share of our brands,” she said.

Since graduating from Ozarks, Delgado has built more than a decade of experience in the global consumer goods industry, holding key positions with multinational companies including Nestlé, Bayer, and Kenvue, where she has worked for the past nine years.

“I have specialized in driving growth through category development, shopper insights, and trade marketing,” she said. “Throughout these years, my focus has been on translating deep consumer understanding into actionable strategies that accelerate brand performance across the retail industry.”

Delgado, whose husband is Alan Saltijeral, said what she enjoys most about her job is “the opportunity to connect with people from different countries and understand the cultural nuances of how markets operate.”

“Interestingly, this passion for multicultural connection was born at Ozarks,” she said. “Being part of such a diverse community allowed me to meet friends from all over the world, and I absolutely loved that experience because it opened my eyes to the beauty of different perspectives. Today, I’ve turned that curiosity into my career.”

She called her time at Ozarks “a transformative experience that shaped who I am today.”

“It was a life-changing opportunity that marked a before and after in my journey,” she said. “Professionally, it provided the foundation to open major career doors and incredible opportunities I never imagined. But more importantly, on a personal level, it enriched my character and opened my mind and my spirit, helping me grow into a better version of myself. I wouldn’t be the professional or the person I am today without my time at Ozarks. Choosing a favorite memory is nearly impossible because my years at Ozarks were a collection of beautiful experiences. I fondly remember my walks around the campus, the engaging classroom environment, the vibrant energy of the university activities, the fun trips we took; but mostly the simple, everyday moments shared with my life-lasting friends.”

When Delgado was awarded the Walton Scholarship to study at Ozarks, she said she had no idea the impact it would have on her life.

“Receiving the Walton Scholarship was, without a doubt, the most significant, life-changing opportunity that redefined my future,” she said. “It was a true blessing and a gift from God that transformed my world in ways that words can’t fully capture. I want to take this opportunity to thank the Walton family for the legacy started in 1985 by Sam and Helen Walton; their generosity and commitment to education is truly visionary and has opened doors for many students across Mexico and Central America for decades. I also owe a debt of gratitude to Dr. Rickey Casey, the Walton program director at the time. He was the first person who truly believed in my potential, and he gave me the greatest and most wonderful opportunity of my career and life. I will always be grateful for the trust he placed in me and all his unconditional support during this amazing experience. Being a Walton Scholar is a badge of honor I carry with pride and, as we say, Once a Walton, always a Walton.”

Delgado said her time at Ozarks was shaped by people such as her professors; her host parents, John and Julia Frost; and friends, Mike and Fran Smith.

“God’s plans for my life have been more wonderful than I could have ever imagined,” she said, “My journey at Ozarks was definitively a collective blessing, so I want to express my deepest gratitude to the entire Ozarks community, which truly felt like a big family from day one; it became my home away from home … Each of them played a vital role in my journey. I am a proud Ozarks alumna, and I am excited to see where God’s plan continues to lead me, always carrying these cherished memories in my heart.”

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����vlog���� alumna Ariel (Nichols) Merrell ’14 has gone from being a first-generation college graduate to one of the most powerful women in Arkansas.

Originally from Clarksville, Merrell was one of 94 women from across the state named to the 2025 Power Women list by Arkansas Money & Politics (AMP) in its December edition.

According to the publication, “Where there are women, their power is truly a force to be reckoned with. We at Arkansas Money & Politics are proud to highlight some of the most incredible women leaving their stamp on the state of Arkansas.”

Merrell currently serves as corporate controller for CFS Technologies in North Little Rock, Ark., where she oversees accounting and financial operations for two manufacturing plants in Arkansas. She also serves as vice president of finance and operations for C&F Flooring and Rug Gallery in Little Rock and Springdale, Ark., overseeing all financial aspects of the company while ensuring operational efficiency across sales, warehouse, and administrative functions.

In these roles, Merrell oversees accounting teams, payroll, tax compliance, audits, contract negotiations, the design and implementation of standard operating procedures, KPI development, and financial planning.

The first in her family to graduate from college, Merrell earned a degree in accounting and business administration from ����vlog����.

“I know my grandpa is incredibly proud of me, even though my education and career choices have taken me away from my hometown of Clarksville,” she said. “My dad was my biggest advocate in my education so that I could live a life outside of what we had. Having this education has opened doors that just aren’t possible in our small town. I’ve seen some really cool places, provided a good life for my family, and I am always thankful for my start at ����vlog����.”

Merrell said her four years at Ozarks were special because of the relationships she formed with faculty in the business department.

“I had professors I admired who gave me not only the education needed to complete the coursework, but also mentored me on a personal level,” she said. “They helped me reach my goals outside of school and taught me how to manage my time with family, work, and education.”

Her advisor also helped her secure a valuable internship that helped launch her career.

“The accounting program was incredibly beneficial as I worked my way from bookkeeper up to vice president of finance and operations, handling financial statement preparation, tax returns, mergers and acquisitions on a large scale, budgeting and forecasting, and various ‘clean-up’ projects for companies,” Merrell said. “The business administration program helped me manage relationships with vendors and stakeholders, maintain the operational health of a company through processes and people, and lead teams with different goals and personalities. I’ve been able to blend well within many industries and connect with everyone from production-floor employees to C-suite leaders and private equity groups.”

Merrell said she might not have been able to attend college without the scholarships she received from Ozarks.

“I worked through high school and college to save money and received smaller scholarships locally and through the state, but Ozarks scholarships played a significant role in allowing me to gain a college education,” she said. “Because I was an independent student who did not rely on family financial support, my advisors helped me maximize those awards by strategically planning for me to double major in accounting and business administration.”

She still looks back fondly on her time at Ozarks.

“The connections with other students and professors are what I remember most,” Merrell said. “I made lifelong friends and learned so much from instructors who have continued to be a part of my life. I really hope they know how much I appreciate them and their role in helping me ‘make it.’ I worked a lot during college, so I didn’t participate in as many campus activities as others, but Ozarks worked hard to keep our community connected through some really great events.”

Merrell resides in Maumelle, Ark., with her husband, Jason, and their children: Maddox, Benson, Elijah, and Lucy.

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A pair of ����vlog���� art alumnus—Patrick Brown ’18 (pictured, left) and Obed Gonzalez ’17—have joined together to present an exhibit, “Machine in the Garden,” at the University’s Stephens Gallery throughout the month of October as part of the Artist of the Month Series.

The exhibit will be on display through Oct. 31 in the galley, located in the Walton Fine Arts Center. There will be a reception to meet the artists from 3-4:30 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 17, in the gallery. 

Brown is a Wichita-based artist and art educator whose work bridges the traditional and digital realms. Drawing on a foundation in charcoal and classical value studies, he brings a strong sense of light and form into his digital illustrations. HIs imagery often employs deep, atmospheric shadows and luminous highlights to create a striking chiaroscuro effect that heightens emotion and drama.  In addition to his studio practice, Brown teaches high school art, sharing his passion for visual storytelling and technique with young artists through courses such as art history, ceramics, and drawing and painting. His professional illustration work includes ongoing commission work for Sir Henry’s Haunted Attraction in Florida, as well as cover art for a range of publications.

Brown said that “Machine in the Garden” is inspired by Leo Marx’s idea of pastoral disruption—that moment when the hum of machinery breaks the stillness of the natural world.

“Machine in the Garden reflects on what remains when the boundaries between nature and human invention dissolve,” Brown said. “Marx described the machine’s whistle echoing through the quiet landscape as both promise and warning. My work follows that echo into the present, where the pastoral and the industrial no longer collide, but intertwine. Rooted in traditional charcoal technique yet realized through digital media, my imagery relies on chiaroscuro to express this tension. Light and shadow become metaphors for creation and interference, for the way progress illuminates even as it obscures.”

Gonzalez is a graphic designer, educator, and active member of the Northwest Arkansas design community. He is a recent graduate of the Master of Design (MDES) program at the University of Arkansas, where his research focused on digital fabrication, the intersection of software, machine, and material. The research blended with Gonzalez’s artistic focus on digital and vector-based illustration. He currently works in the world of water management, bringing his background in education and design to help keep water in communities across the country safe.

Gonzalez said the “Machine in the Garden” motif “focuses on evoking the disturbance of sublime nature through human expansion, specifically technological and infrastructural. The motif has stuck with me since my senior year here at Ozarks, when I had the opportunity to take American Romantic Literature with Dr. Brian Hardman. Its origin focuses on the sound of trains that encroached upon Henry David Thoreau’s previously peaceful and isolated cabin along Walden Pond in his 1854 book aptly dubbed Walden���ǰ� Life in the Woods. This motif inspired a visual essay of the same name, which I did as part of my master of design (MDES) graduate program at the University of Arkansas.”

Gonzalez said that his visual essay “explored how much the city of Fayetteville is changing, precariously balancing its ‘small town in the woods’ aesthetic with ever-increasing expansion and gentrification. For a time, even though I lived less than a 10-minute walk from the Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium, I would see deer more often than my human neighbors. Those woods have become near-million-dollar homes and new ‘reclaimed’ nature trails that provide citizens with an ‘escape’ from urban life.”

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Fred Romo ’68 and Andrea (Anderson Betnar) Romo ’68 of Ozark, Ark., will receive the ����vlog����’ Alumni Legacy Award during the 2025 Ozarks Awards Ceremony on Friday, Oct. 17. The ceremony will take place in conjunction with the University’s annual Homecoming Week.

The Alumni Legacy Award recognizes Ozarks graduates “who have given unselfishly of their resources to support the University and its mission during their lifetimes.” Recipients are selected by the University’s administration.

The Romos, married for 30 years, have been steadfast supporters of the University for nearly three decades, contributing to the Ozarks Annual Fund and other campaigns. Both have also served their alma mater—Fred as a member of the Board of Trustees and Andrea as a member of the Alumni Association Board.

A native of Cuba, Fred came to the U.S. in 1962 at the age of 17.

“I landed at the airport in Miami, Florida, with nothing but a small suitcase and high hopes,” he said. “Fidel Castro was in charge in Cuba, my home country, and my parents wanted me out of Cuba for my own safety. Now I was in the United States with nowhere to go and no one who knew me. Since I was a minor, immigration at the airport placed me in a temporary foster home in Coral Gables, Florida. Classes at Coral Gable High School were interesting but useless since I did not know enough English to understand the lectures or textbooks.”

Later that summer, he was placed in a permanent foster home in Des Moines, Iowa.

“I was blessed to go live with the Greenwood family, where I learned more English and graduated from high school,” Fred said. “Classes at Roosevelt High School in Des Moines had been challenging, so I had established my own English as a Second Language protocol. During each class period, I chose five words from the chapter being taught, and I concentrated on memorizing those five words and their meanings, using an English–Spanish dictionary. By the end of each school day, I had learned 30 words, which amounted to 150 words each week.”

In the spring of 1964, Fred applied to Ozarks, where he was accepted and awarded a work scholarship. At Ozarks, he served as president of Phi Beta Lambda and Alpha Phi Omega, and was elected Outstanding Senior by his classmates before graduating with a business administration degree in 1968. He went on to serve two years in the U.S. Army and later embarked on a 24-year career with Whirlpool Corporation in Fort Smith, Ark., retiring as manager of global manufacturing.

Following his retirement and consulting work with Whirlpool, Fred taught Introduction to Business and Spanish for Law Enforcement at Arkansas Tech University–Ozark Campus. He also served as director of the Ozark Area Chamber of Commerce until a permanent director was hired and has been active in the Ozark Area Literacy Council, where he taught English as a Second Language to native Spanish speakers.

Andrea, who grew up in Ozark, received a work contract to attend Ozarks as an accompanist for the University choir and for voice lessons. She also worked for the English Department.

“At the time, I did not fully appreciate the generosity of those who donated my scholarship money,” she said. “Now that I am on the other side of that situation, I know how important it is to be a scholarship donor.”

Andrea majored in English, with minors in French, music, and education. She was elected secretary of the Student Government Association as a junior, was active in numerous organizations, and graduated Summa Cum Laude. She later earned a master’s degree in English from Arkansas State University.

Her 36-year teaching career focused primarily on English, geography, and French. In retirement, she has remained active by playing the piano and organ, volunteering as a gardener for downtown Ozark and her Methodist church, performing in handbell choirs, and traveling with Fred.

“Life’s been good, and I credit my college education with sending me down a path of joy and learning and life-changing experiences,” she said.

To kearn more about Homecoming 2025 or to pre-register, please visit HERE.

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Cristina Duran, a 2021 ����vlog���� business administration graduate and Walton Scholar alumna, called her time at the University “perfect training” for her work as a global case coordinator for Foster LLP.

Duran is back in her home country of El Salvador working for Foster LLC, a Houston, Texas-based global immigration law firm dedicated to helping employers and individuals obtain nonimmigrant and immigrant work visas and permanent resident options worldwide.

Most of Duran’s clients are from Europe where she assists companies and businesses with onboarding new employees. 

Duran, who returned to visit the University in September for the first time since her graduation, said her four years on the diverse Ozarks campus prepared her for working with people from all over the world.

“When I first arrived at Ozarks, it really opened my eyes seeing the various perspectives and cultures of the students from different countries,” Duran said. “That diversity definitely helped me to become more culturally aware and helped me learn how to relate and communicate with people who were different than me and who had different backgrounds than I had. It gave me the confidence and perspective that continues to help me today as I work with people from all over the world.”

Duran also praised the University’s LENS program that encouraged her to try different courses and areas of study. She ended up earning four minors—art, psychology, international business and marketing—to go with her business administration major.

“LENS gave me the courage to try a lot of different areas and it really got me interested in areas such as art and psychology that I probably would not have considered otherwise,” she said. “LENS especially helped me discover how much I loved art. I continue to work on my art today and it remains a big part of my life.”

Duran, who has gone on to earn a master’s degree in project management, said receiving the Walton Scholarship has been “one of the biggest blessings in my life.”

“It not only helped me get a great education, receiving the scholarship has helped me realize that I have a responsibility to help my country and to help others in any way I can,” Duran said. “I feel like I need to give back and I try to do that by volunteering where I can and by being involved in the Rotary Club here that works on community projects.”

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Emily Black’s childhood career dream hasn’t quite come true yet, but the ����vlog���� marketing graduate has landed pretty close to her target in the decade since graduating.

The Clarksville, Ark., native grew up watching the WNBA on television and dreaming of someday being the commissioner of the women’s professional basketball league. Today, the 2015 U of O graduate is living in New York City  and working in the front office for the WNBA as the organization’s business development lead.

“Other than my parents and grandparents, nothing inspired me more as a kid than the WNBA,” Black said in a recent interview. “I loved basketball growing up — my parents aren’t sports fans so they still ponder where my passion came from — and I played in junior high and high school. Watching the WNBA and seeing women excel on the court, as well as women leading the league’s business off the court, made me feel like I could do it too someday. I used to dream of being the commissioner of the WNBA, and now I sit just a few feet outside of the commissioner’s office.”

As the business development lead for the WNBA, Black is responsible for generating revenue through the sale of large-scale marketing partnerships, or sponsorship sales. She helps identify prospects uniquely aligned to the WNBA’s mission and values, conduct sales outreach and host meetings with senior-level marketing decision-makers at brands and agencies. She develops integrated marketing partnership pitches and proposals, and leads negotiations from initial conversation to contract execution. Over the past year, she has spearheaded WNBA efforts to secure partnerships with such companies as the handbag brand Coach, Ally Bank, Delta Airlines, the dating app Bumble.

Black has worked with the WNBA since 2023 has been a part of an amazing growth spurt that has seen the league become one of the fastest-growing brands in the world. Since 2023, attendance has grown by 50 percent, television viewership has grown by more than 150 percent and merchandise sales are up a whopping 600 percent.

“Having the opportunity to contribute directly to the league’s growth trajectory during this historic period is unlike anything I’ve experienced in my career to-date,” Black said. “I love knowing that every single day, my work has an impact that I can directly see. I am also motivated by helping to grow the league that inspired me so much as a young girl.”

After graduating from Clarksville High School in 2011, Black enrolled at Ozarks to study marketing while also working in the University’s sports information office, an experience she treasures to this day. 

“Working in the sports information department was my favorite ‘extracurricular at Ozarks,” she said. “I spent dozens of days, nights, and weekends doing everything from keeping score at baseball games to taking photos on the sidelines of soccer matches to live tweeting basketball games. In the office, I would help with anything from writing articles and game recaps to updating pages on the website. It was my first opportunity to work in sports, and it gave me hands-on experience that I took straight into the workforce.”

After graduating from Ozarks with a marketing degree and high honors in 2015, Black participated in a summer immersion program designed for students and recent graduates interested in working in sports marketing. Through this program, she made important connections and started building her network in the sports industry. 

She soon began her career at a startup called Hashtag Sports that produces industry conferences and award programs. She was the company’s first full-time employee, and since they were in startup mode, Black found herself wearing several hats, including both sales and marketing, from newsletter editor and social media manager to event programming and sponsorship sales.

“In my first week of work at Hashtag Sports, I remember being assigned my first couple of tasks and thinking, wow I already know how to do this because I did it in the sports information office,” she said.

While she loved the creativity of marketing while working at Hashtag Sports, Black soon discovered that she appreciated the importance of strategic sales as she learned more about sponsorship development and revenue strategy.

“In 2023, I was offered the opportunity to join the WNBA’s business development team in a role focused on securing new marketing partners for the league,” she said. “It’s my dream job.”

Black, whose parents James and Angel Black also attended Ozarks, called her time at the University “the best career prep I could have asked for.”

“From my advisor offering me the opportunity to participate in a marketing research group focused on studying enrollment and retention at the University to my senior capstone project teaching me how to understand and analyze financial statements, I entered the workforce not only knowledgeable about business and marketing but confident that I had the real-world experience needed to immediately contribute,” she said. 

Black’s advice to current students is to “capitalize on opportunities to gain hands-on experience while on campus, and if there isn’t an existing opportunity, raise your hand and see if someone will create one for you.”

“As a freshman, I reached out to the Sports Information Director Josh Peppas to share my interest in working in sports marketing and asked if I could shadow him or work in his office,” she said. “I ultimately worked in the sports information department for all four years of college and the skills and experience I gained were directly transferable to working in marketing for a startup early in my career.”

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Kelly Robins of Reno, Nevada, a 2003 graduate of ����vlog���� and a former Eagles soccer player, has made a $127,500 gift for the soccer press box in the University’s new Wilson Athletic Complex.

The press box will be named Robins Nest in honor of the gift, according to University officials.

The University has raised approximately $8.85 million toward the $10.75 million complex, including the lead gift of $6.2 million from Mr. and Mrs. Thomas D. Wilson of Tulsa, Okla. The University is fund-raising the remaining $1.9 million of the project’s total cost and there are numerous naming rights available for various areas of the new complex, including the soccer and softball fields, BBQ deck, dugouts and locker spaces. Construction on the complex was completed earlier this semester.

Originally from Arkadelphia, Ark., Robins earned a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Ozarks in 2003 before going on to earn an MBA from the University of Nevada, Reno. He is the general manager for New Millennium, a Steel Dynamics company, in Reno. 

Though he only played one year of soccer at Ozarks, he said he made life-long friends during his time on the team and at the University. One of those life-long friends was Eric Steinmiller ’01, a current member of the University’s Board of Trustees and a childhood friend whom he had grown up with in Arkadelphia.

“Eric was really the reason I had come to Ozarks originally and he continues to have an incredible passion and love for the University that can be infectious,” Robins said. “The guys who played soccer around that time really wanted to get involved in helping this project become a reality. We had a text thread going and the guys tried to inspire, and in some cases harass, others in the thread to donate and to be a part of this. Kind of tongue-in-cheek, I mentioned how it would be cool to name the press box Robins Nest, and they thought it was a great idea and really encouraged me, with a little peer pressure, to go ahead and do it.”

Robins visited the new athletic complex in late April during an alumni match to see the new complex. It was the first time he’s been back to campus since he graduated 22 years ago.

“Seeing today what the soccer program has done and the administration and coaches have built is absolutely incredible,” Robins said. “To see how far not only the athletic programs and facilities have come, but also the academics and beautification of the campus is amazing. It’s going to draw students from throughout this region and that’s an exciting thing. To be able to have a small part in that gives me a sense of pride. It makes you feel like you’re contributing in a positive way.”

Robins said he looks back at his time at Ozarks with a little bit of regret that he didn’t take better advantage of the academic opportunities he had at the University.

“After being away a few years and then going back to get my master’s degree, I realized that I missed out on a lot of opportunities to take advantage of the great academics and professors here,” he said. “Even though I believe I received a great education here, I realized that I had even more opportunities to really learn more and get so much more out of my academics. I think I was just young and didn’t realize it at the time, but now with some maturity and humility I can look back and see it. I think that was really a motivating factor for me to go ahead and get my master’s degree and to not take the academics for granted.”

Robins said looking back at his time at Ozarks, the social aspect of the campus is what he remembers the most.

“The diversity on campus was something I really appreciated; meeting people from throughout Central America and throughout the region,” Robins said. “It was really a special time. This sense of community and comradery really resonated with me and I’ve made life-long friends from my time here.”

Robins said he hopes his gift will play a small role in helping current and future students build the same kind of bond that he and his teammates and classmates built more than 20 years ago.

“I only played soccer my freshman year here, but I still formed a bond with the players and the team that I’m still close with today,” he said. “For me, it’s much more about supporting those types of relationships that sports can bring about and that also fosters an environment that brings in good quality student-athletes to the University. It’s not so much an emotional connection to the program and the team, but what that opportunity represents. This facility can help foster these types of relationships that these young men and women will have for the rest of their lives.”

Robins encourages other student-athletes and alumni to be a part of the Wilson Athletic Complex.

“I would tell other alumni that if you’re someone who treasured your experience here, either academically, athletically or socially, those experiences are only sustained through giving back,” Robins said. “It doesn’t matter what you can give, but if you can do something to honor the experience you had here and to be able to pass it on for future students. I think you would find that it can be very satisfying and fulfilling.”

After graduating from Ozarks, Robins started out as an international steel trader for Commerical Metals Company out of Dallas, Texas, before working for a renewable energy company. He has worked for New Millennium since 2010 and has served as general manager since 2020. He has also served as district sales manager and sales manager for the company, a division of Steel Dynamics Inc. (SDI), that was founded in 1999 in Butler, Indiana. Today, it is one of the largest providers of high-performance structural steel joists, joist girders, and deck solutions for commercial steel construction projects.

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A 2001 marketing graduate from Ozarks, Pinzon was named in February as one of 17 Mountaintop Fellows from around the world for 2025. The Mountaintop International Fellowship program, is a paid, one-year, full-time fellowship designed for “emerging leaders who aim to drive systemic change in lower-income communities around the world, typically by staying or returning to their home communities to work with local NGOs, governments, and social ventures.” The program includes a summer leadership institute at Harvard University and provides mentorship and access to grant opportunities.

Since 2006, Pinzon has served as CEO of Esperanza Juvenil (Boys Hope Girls Hope Guatemala) in Guatemala City. The boarding and day school helps academically motivated children and youth rise above disadvantaged backgrounds and become successful in school, college and beyond. The school works with and supports children from third grade through college.

Pinzon’s personal journey is a powerful testament to resilience and hope.

Raised in Tecpán, Guatemala, in a Maya Kaqchikel family, he experienced profound hardship, losing his father to the civil war at the age of four. By 10, financial struggles forced his mother to send him and his siblings to Hogar Tío Juan, a children’s home and orphanage that provided them with education and stability. Determined to make the most of his opportunities, Pinzon excelled in school and went on to earn a Walton International Scholarship to study at Ozarks, becoming the first from his orphanage to go to college.

“When I think about how I grew up in Guatemala, knowing that kids like me normally don’t get opportunities for an education, it’s really hard for me to believe where I am today,” Pinzon said in a recent interview. “My mom deciding to take me to the city and leave me at a program similar to the one I’m serving now, that was hard for all of us. I remember being so very homesick and crying a lot. But in the end it was the best thing that could have happened.”

Pinzon said he belies his hardships growing up in Guatemala was God’s work.

“I really do believe that God prepared me for this position I am in now, from growing up in an orphanage and getting an opportunity for a good education that led me to studying at Ozarks,” he said. “I think those experiences helped prepare me to come back to Guatemala to help children and young people who are living in poverty and giving them a chance at a good education.”

Since joining Esperanza Juvenil, Pinzon has overseen an extraordinary transformation, growing the program from just 29 scholars to more than 200, and empowering young people and changing the future for many Guatemalan youth.

“It’s exciting to be able to offer these opportunities to more and more young people in Guatemala,” he said. “We’ve currently have 45 students who are enrolled in universities and a total of 18 who have graduated from universities and who are starting their professional careers. Those numbers are going to continually grow.”

Growing up in an orphanage gives Pinzon an unique perspective in helping the students at Esperanza Juvenil.

“I could never have dreamed of doing something like this when I was a small boy,” Pinzon said. “I can relate to our students because I know what it is like to be homesick and to have to leave your family. I can serve them in a better way because I can relate to them. I realize now that it wasn’t that my mom didn’t want me, she just couldn’t provide me the same opportunities that I could receive at the orphanage. I try to convey that same message to our students, that they can dream big and that we can help make those dreams come true.”

Pinzon said his time at Ozarks helped “open his mind to other cultures and people.”

“It not only helped me academically, but it put me outside my comfort zone and I grew a lot as a person and as a leader,” he said. “My English improved dramatically and I met people from other countries. I grew up so much as a leader, even though I probably didn’t realize it at the time. After I graduated from Ozarks, I came back with so much more confidence in myself.”

After graduating from Ozarks, Pinzon returned to Guatemala and worked as a marketing manager in the business sector for several years. When the opening came up at Esperanza Juvenil, Pinzon did not hesitate to take the position.

“I saw this as an opportunity to give back to the community that had given me so much,” said Pinzon, who went on to earn an MBA in 2009. “I just knew this is where God wanted me.”

One of his former students at Esperanza Juvenil is now a structural engineer in Guatemala who is the project manager for an expansion at Pinzon’s school.

“That’s really something to know that a student who started here in kindergarten is now coming back to the school as a professional and helping us expand,” Pinzon said. “He even talked to some of our students and helped show them what’s possible if they study and do well.”

Through the Mountaintop International Fellowship, Pinzon will take part in a fully funded two-week leadership institute at Harvard University this summer, receive one-on-one mentorship from global experts, and gain access to new funding opportunities—all of which will help him expand his impact in Guatemala even further.

“It was quite a surprise and an honor to be selected for this fellowship,” Pinzon said. “There were numerous forms and essays and interviews involved in the process and I just went into it thinking I was going to do my best and see what happens. This experience taught me to take advantage of the doors that open for you and to commit to the process—do your very best.”

The opportunity comes just as Esperanza Juvenil begins working on its strategic plan for the next five years.

“I will be able to get a lot of resources and tools from this fellowship that will help us as we look ahead,” Pinzon said. “I’m excited about gaining new skills and knowledge that are going to help us better serve our students and my country.”

Pinzon and his wife, Rosa Raxon, an attorney, were married in 2015 and they have two children—John Lucas, 9, and Maya, 5.

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����vlog���� alumna and accomplished young adults author Ginny Myers Sain ’95 will present a book signing for her fourth book, When the Bones Sing, at 6 p.m. on Monday, March 10, in the University’s Robson Library.

The public is invited to attend the event and there will be copies of the book available to purchase.

Sain is the New York Times bestselling author of Dark and Shallow Lies, Secrets So Deep, and One Last Breath. She graduated from Ozarks in 1995 with a degree in theatre. She also worked at the University as director of the Walton Arts & Ideas Series from 1997 to 2012 and ran a youth theatre company on campus for many years.

Published by Penguin Random House and set to be released on March 4, “When the Bones Sing” is described as a “southern gothic supernatural thriller about a teen girl in a small Ozark town who can hear the bones of the dead.”

A native of Oklahoma, Sain said her latest book is a “love letter to the Ozark Mountains and the state I called home for a big and important chunk of my life.”

“The wild and beautiful Arkansas Ozarks are steeped in folklore, mystery, and magic,” Sain writes in the book’s Acknowledgments. “One of the things I loved most about living there, was the idea that in those ancient hills just outside my sleepy college town, anything could happen. To ����vlog����, the institution that really made me who I am, and to the people I met on that campus over the many years I studied and later worked, taught and directed there … friends and colleagues and so many theatre students who became family … this book is for every single one of you.”

Her book-signing event at U of O is a part of a 35-venue tour in Florida, Arkansas and Oklahoma.

When the Bones Sing synopsis:  “The past three years have been tough for Lucifer’s Creek, Arkansas, a small town quietly tucked away in the Ozark mountains. More than two dozen people have disappeared on the local hiking trails; there one moment, gone the next, not a trace left behind, until their buried bodies are discovered. 17-year-old Dovie doesn’t believe in magic even though she comes from a long line of women who can hear the bones of the dead sing, and for the past few years the bones have been crooning nonstop, calling out to Dovie to dig them up. Some of the old-timers believe that it’s the monstrous Ozarks howler snatching people off the Aux Arc Trail. Well Dovie doesn’t believe in the howler, and she doesn’t believe her best friend Lo when he tells her he is being haunted by dark shadows. All she believes in is her talent that guides the local sheriff to the bones when they begin their song, then reuniting the dead with their families to give them some peace. Lo doesn’t know peace, though. The shadows follow him everywhere. He soon learns they’re the murdered hikers and they want answers. But the truth of their deaths isn’t buried with their bones; it’s hidden somewhere deep in the hills. And Lo and Dovie must unearth it before anyone else is killed.”

Sain resides in St. Cloud, Florida, and has spent the past 20 years working closely with teens as a director and acting instructor in a program designed for high school students seriously intent on pursuing a career in the professional theatre. Having grown up in deeply rural America, she is interested in telling stories about resilient kids who come of age in remote settings.

In addition to being a New York Times bestseller, Sain is an Indie Bookstore Bestseller, a Barnes & Noble YA Pick of the Month, an Amazon Editor’s Pick, and a 2022 CRYSTAL KITE award winner from the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. Her books are available world-wide in more than 10 countries. More information about Sain can be found website at .

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����vlog���� alumnus Clayton Guiltner ’95, a Los Angeles-based writer, director, and producer leading GC Films LLC, will release his first feature-length film, “Hope’s Hollywood Christmas,” on Amazon Prime Video on November 25.

The film is written, directed and produced by Guiltner, an accomplished director who recently transitioned from theatre to film and television. A native of Oklahoma, Guiltner graduated from Ozarks in 1995 with a degree in theatre.

Produce by Guiltner’s GC Films and filmed in Oklahoma, “Hope’s Hollywood Christmas” is described as a “heartwarming film” that tells the story of a struggling single mom who takes a temporary job with a has-been, aging movie star and teams up with the star’s chauffeur to stop a scheming lawyer and agent from stealing her fortune. Together, they find love, a new sense of family, and holiday magic along the way.

“This film was a labor of love,” Guiltner said. “It not only captures the magic of Christmas, but also the spirit of generosity and coming together, which is what the holiday season is all about.”

The films stars Lisa Fenimore (“American Underdog,” “The Story Behind the Story”), Charlie Wood (“Billionaire Daddy,” “I Wish It Were You”), and Claire Montgomery (“Reagan: From Movie Star to President,” “Christmas with the Foxes”).

For the first time since filming wrapped this past summer, the film’s stars and Guiltner will reunite at the film’s red-carpet world premiere on Tuesday, Nov. 19, at the Main Theatre at The Los Angeles Film School.

“I’m overjoyed to reunite with our team and celebrate the debut of Hope’s Hollywood Christmas, particularly in the iconic Hollywood setting,” Fenimore said.

Guiltner said in a 2017 interview with U of O’s Today magazine that he considers his Ozarks education the foundation of his career.

“Not only did my major in theatre expose me to professional methods in the entertainment industry that I use each day, but many other courses I took in humanities and business have shaped my understanding of the entirety of my work,” he said. “College for me was not only about the coursework and instruction, but the life skills I learned in time management, discipline, organization and responsibility. These are invaluable skills all of us need in any industry.”

Guiltner previously was the producing artistic director of The Grex Group Theatre in New York City and Grex Group-LA in Los Angeles. He is a lifetime member of the Directors Unit of the renowned Actors Studio, where he was mentored by the late Martin Landau and director Lou Antonio.

In addition to his degree from U of O, he has earned a pair of master’s degrees.

“My career began with a passion for storytelling and performance, which led me to pursue a formal education in the arts,” Guiltner said, “With a bachelor of arts in theatre, a master of arts in business leadership, and a master of fine arts in directing, I’ve always strived to bring a combination of creativity and professionalism to all of my work.”

A classically trained actor, he embarked on his career touring nationally with the Act One Drama Company before transitioning into directing and producing. For the first two decades of his career, Guiltner focused on directing and producing live theatre, including musicals, dramas, comedies, and classical theatre, in various venues throughout New York City and the U.S. Encouraged by his mentors at the Actors Studio, he began exploring film and television directing and producing. He initially worked as a creative producer, director, and writer for a boutique film production company in Orlando, Fla., where he gained comprehensive knowledge of filmmaking.

Since 2015, Guiltner has directed and produced an Indie television series, short films, and developed numerous films, refining his producing skills, business acumen, and creative storytelling abilities. His other films include, “The Prevalence” (writer/director) and “Some Things Private” (writer/director).  His original TV Series, “Finding Miles,” was featured in the U.S., U.K., Germany, and Japan.

In addition to his professional directing work, he currently serves on the faculty counsel and as lead faculty for the entertainment business program at The Los Angeles Film School in Hollywood where he teaches a wide range of courses in performance, entertainment business, and leadership as well as serving as an adjunct professor teaching script analysis and acting at Ventura College.

In a recent interview with Canvas Rebel, Guiltner reflected on hitting the 30-year milestone in show business.

“When I celebrated 30 years in this profession, I realized just how much I’ve given—years of study, financial struggle, and even relationships,” he said. “It’s frustrating when people who haven’t walked that path don’t see the difference between a hobbyist and someone who’s spent a lifetime perfecting their craft. I like to think everyone has a creative side. Whether it’s the accountant planting flowers on the weekend, the manager streamlining work systems, or the teacher making lessons fun—creativity shows up in all kinds of ways. But there’s a big difference between someone who enjoys it as a hobby and someone who pursues it as a career. When creativity is your career, it comes with financial hardship, personal sacrifice, and years of training. It’s not just about passion—it’s about the grit to keep going when the challenges pile up.”

“This isn’t about arrogance. It’s about recognizing that mastery takes time and sacrifice. Just as a first-year medical student isn’t on the same level as a seasoned doctor, the same applies in the arts. Behind every great film, play, or song are countless hours of learning, failure, and hard work. So, to anyone new to the arts: stay humble, stay curious, and be ready for the long haul. The creative journey is full of rewards, but it requires dedication, patience, and a relentless pursuit of excellence.”

Guiltner lives in Los Angeles with his wife, Erin, and four kids.

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