MSU Alumni Profiles

We invite you to meet some of our extraordinary alumni who embody the optimism, excellence and drive that is synonymous with MSU Texas.

You may recognize these names and faces. Each person represents a dynamic life path or a life-changing career. From Broadway to robotics, classrooms to laboratories, they all have one thing in common: Midwestern State University as their foundation for success.

Linda Valdez Thompson

Linda (Valdez) Thompson 1981

Linda Valdez Thompson is one of the 13 individuals and six companies selected by the Dallas Business Journal for its first class of Leaders in Diversity Awards in 2021.

The event, which was held virtually on March 4, honors organizations and individuals that have shown exceptional commitment to promoting practices that advance diversity and inclusion in the workplace. These honorees have also shown leadership and bolster equality across all areas of diversity — including age, disability, gender, sexual orientation, race, and religion.

Thompson, a Midwestern State University graduate, remembers fondly her time on campus and in Wichita Falls. She has served at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport since 2001 and is currently the Executive Vice President Diversity, Equity & Inclusion.

“My favorite class was Human Economics, I think that was the name of the class, but the required reading was Night Comes to the Cumberlands, and I was touched by the impact of poverty on the human spirit,” Thompson said. “It greatly influenced my value system about the crucial role of employers to improve the lives of their employees, families, and the community. I grew up in Wichita Falls, so my favorite eating places were always any ‘hole in the wall’ with good Tex-Mex food.”

Thompson said employees have different expectations than they did 20 years ago. Making adjustments and maintaining a commitment to excellence drive her along with a commitment to excellence.

“Providing leadership to support organizational goals, while advocating for creating environments which appreciate diversity are equitable, and they create a sense of belonging for all employees,” Thompson said. “Employees are motivated by different factors. The biggest difference for employers is creating environments that engage and develop all the diverse talent in their organizations.”

Thompson says she’s a lifelong learner, something instilled in her by teachers and professors.

“Education has made a significant impact on my life and career,” she said. “A degree helped open doors, provided a structured and disciplined approach to problem-solving, and taught me the importance of managing my time, projects, and investing in relationships. I can honestly say, my degree was a positive turning point in my life and I am most grateful.”

For the past 13 years, the Dallas Business Journal honored hundreds of North Texas leaders with its Minority Business Leader Awards program, which recognized diverse business leaders who held distinguished track records in advocating for others in their communities and workplaces.

Thompson has received many honors and distinctions over the years, including being named Woman of the Year by Hispanic Business Magazine, and Ultimate Latina by the US Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

photo of J.J. Belcher

J.J. (Bagley) Belcher 1998

Midwestern State University graduate J.J. Belcher was selected as the Red River Best Chevy Dealers Teacher of the Year for 2019-2020.

Belcher is a math teacher at Windthorst High School.

Her honor was reported in the Archer County News. “She always reaches out to each student to find the positive no matter what challenges they have. Mrs. Belcher is simply one in a million,” Windthorst Independent School District Superintendent Lonnie Hise said. “J.J. deserves all the accolades she receives. She is an outstanding person and the best math teacher I know.”

J.J. is married to Scott Belcher (1995), a teacher/coach at Windthorst High School. They have two sons, Cy Belcher, a senior at WHS, and sixth-grader, Brock.

Hunter Brooks 2014

Governor Greg Abbott has appointed Hunter Brooks as District Attorney for the 50th Judicial District in Baylor, Cottle, King, and Knox counties.

Brooks, of Seymour, is currently an Assistant District Attorney in the Wichita County District Attorney’s Office. He is a member of the State Bar of Texas. Brooks received a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from Midwestern State University and a Juris Doctor degree from Oklahoma City University School of Law.

Hanna Bell 2007

Midwestern State University graduate Hanna Bell is the new executive director of the USS Fort Worth Support Committee, returning to Texas after five years in Germany and China, the committee said.

According to an article at FortWorthBusiness.com, Bell worked overseas in Germany with Army Entertainment and China with Fantasy Performing Arts. "After COVID put a halt to my work in the performing arts here in the Metroplex, I went back to my military roots to work with the USS Fort Worth,” Bell said.

She earned her bachelor of fine arts from Midwestern State University (YEAR) and her master of fine arts, performance, and pedagogy, from Texas Tech University.

She also is an active member of the DFW theatre community, both as performer and costume designer, as well as the volunteer coordinator for Onstage in Bedford.

Jodie Connaughton 2002, 2004

Attorney Jodie Connaughton was featured in Fort Worth Business Press as part of a 40 Under 40 series of accomplished professionals.

The article praised Connaughton as an accomplished and capable attorney who represents clients who have nowhere else to turn. “She never loses a case when representing women and children who have been impacted by family violence and neglect,” said Melanie Hanna of Methodist Justice Ministry, who nominated her.

Previously, she worked for Patsy’s House, Children’s Advocacy Center in Wichita Falls, SafeHaven of Tarrant County and briefly a Joshua law firm where she practiced family law.

“Jodie makes a difference in the lives of our clients that we serve everyday leading them out of a life of domestic violence by handling the toughest of the tough cases that require a tremendous amount of time researching and securing documentation to present in court,” Hanna said.

TiAda (Hill) Radtke 1995, 2009

TiAda Radkte, who earned a Bachelor of Science in Education and a Master of Education in Educational Leadership, was named the Region 9 Outstanding Assistant Principal of the Year for 219-2020.

Radtke is an assistant principal at Rider High School in Wichita Falls. The honor is presented by the Texas Association of Secondary School Principals. School administrators were nominated and chosen by their peers within their regions. Radtke is eligible to compete for the state title of Texas Assistant Principal of the Year.

TiAda (Hill) Radtke was a standout volleyball player at Midwestern State, three times earning all-conference honors in her college career. She was named to the Hall of Honor in 2008.

photo of Gerad Troutman

Gerad Troutman 2002

Gerad Troutman of Lubbock, a Midwestern State University graduate, is the EMS Medical Director for Lubbock and Amarillo and Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center.

Troutman is a past president of the Texas College of Emergency Physicians. Currently, he serves as a Delegate to the House for the Texas Medical Association, and a committee member of the American College of Emergency Physicians and a member of the National Association of EMS Physicians, and the Texas Association of EMS Physicians. Additionally, he volunteers as a member of Lions Club International. Troutman received a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from Midwestern State University, a Master of Business Administration from West Texas A&M University, and a Doctor of Medicine from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center.

Sean Gill 2007

Gill family photo.