PLAINVIEW – Dr. Toia Farmer, Lead Clinical Systems Trainer at Basset Community Hospital in Fort Wainwright, Alaska, was named Wayland Baptist University’s Alumnus of the Year during the Blue and Gold Banquet, which was part of the university’s Homecoming 2023 celebration.
Dr. Farmer was named the 2022 Distinguished Alumni Award winner for Wayland’s Fairbanks campus earlier this year, qualifying her for consideration for Alumnus of the Year. The university has selected a Distinguished Alumni Award winner for each campus since 2018.
Working with both civil service and contract trainers, Dr. Farmer ensures approximately 600 end users meet training requirements necessary to document care provided to military members, veterans and their dependents.
An ordained minister at St. John Baptist Church, she also serves as a Christian counselor and a spiritual mentor to young women within her community and is on the Alaska Women’s Missionary Union Leadership Board.
A veteran of the U.S. Army, Dr. Farmer earned her first degrees while serving her country. She earned a Master of Management in Human Resources from Wayland in 2021. She also holds a Doctor of Ministry and is a licensed clinical pastoral counselor through the National Christian Counselors Association.
“Dr. Farmer is a great example of the servant-leaders within the Wayland alumni family. She is using her gifts and training to ultimately bless service members who pass through Alaska and is serving in her community to extend that impact,” said Jeffrey Vera, director of alumni relations at Wayland. “She’s an excellent choice for the Distinguished Alumni Award for Fairbanks, and we’re proud to honor her. It’s no surprise that past honorees selected her for Alumnus of the Year to represent Wayland Pioneers everywhere.”
In addition to Dr. Farmer, Distinguished Alumni Award winners included Rick Cooper, longtime basketball coach; Kathie Jackson, longtime educator; Richard Miller, longtime probation officer and pastor of Happy Union Baptist Church in Plainview; and Donnie Brown, Director of Spiritual Life for the Wayland Baptist University System. Dr. Hailey Budnick, a neurosurgical resident, was the young alumnus honoree, and Sally Dillman Eaves was the benefactor honoree at the banquet.
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