Dr. Quint C. Thurman,
President
Dr. Quint Thurman recently joined the University of the Southwest as President. Prior to his appointment at USW, he served in various administrative leadership roles at Sul Ross State University in Alpine, Texas including interim President, Provost, and Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs. Before relocating to West Texas, Dr. Thurman held a position as Professor of Criminal Justice and Department Chair at Texas State University. In an academic career that spans 30 years he has written 7 books pertaining to criminal justice and law enforcement and taught more than 5,000 undergraduate and graduate students.
At Texas State University Thurman founded the doctoral program in Criminal Justice, established the University’s first ever endowed research chairperson, and also created the Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training Center in San Marcos, otherwise known as ALERRT. Dr. Thurman’s academic career also includes faculty appointments at Washington State University and Wichita State University. Dr. Thurman holds bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Sociology from the University of Oklahoma and earned his Ph.D. in Sociology at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst.
Dr. Thurman and his wife Caryn have been married for 31 years and their three grown children – Sarah, Nathan, and Nick – reside in central Texas. Caryn is an ordained Presbyterian Minister and serves as pastor of the First Presbyterian Church in Hobbs.
Dr. Ryan Tipton,
Provost
As a third-generation Lea County resident born and raised in Lovington, Ryan literally “grew up” in the petroleum industry. He briefly left the area to pursue an education at the University of Texas – Permian Basin. After receiving a BBA in Marketing and an MBA in Management/Finance, he returned to Hobbs and started an oil company. With hard work, determination, and favorable commodity prices, the company grew into a regional energy conglomerate. His companies eventually held interests in multiple energy subsectors including; oil and gas production, drilling, pipelines, and transportation. He also owned and operated two restaurants in the region.
In 2007, he sold his energy business to a publicly traded firm and agreed to serve as VP and board member. While pursuing a Doctorate in Business Administration at Walden University he founded a private consulting firm. In 2009, a chance conversation (that occurred while he was working on a consulting project) led Ryan to teach in the business program at USW and shortly thereafter he became the dean of the department. Since that time, the College of Business Administration has grown almost 900% and houses the single largest undergraduate program, the second largest graduate program, and first doctoral program at the university. After nine years of service in the College of Business Administration, Ryan became the university Provost in 2019.
Ryan and his wife Keisha (also a Lovington native) have been married 15 years and have a beautiful 14-year-old daughter, Rylee. His academic areas of interest include data analytics, corporate strategy, sustainability, and innovation. His personal areas of interest include anything involving the sky (aviation) and the ocean (sailing). Ryan will frequently comment that while he’s been fortunate enough to enjoy a personal pursuit of a wide variety of interests, he can honestly say that working in education has been one of the most rewarding.
Steven Rachel,
Vice President for Financial Services/CFO
I started my career working for Texaco in various capacities. I spent 25 years in the oil and gas industry with 15 years as Secretary/Treasurer of D.C. Well Service. I moved from oil and gas to the food processing business at 2 facilities prior to my last job with Urenco USA as the cash planner for a multi-national uranium enrichment company.
I was born and raised in Hobbs, NM. I graduated from Hobbs High School, received an Associate of Arts degree from New Mexico Junior College, and completed a Bachelor of Business Administration majoring in Accounting from the University of North Texas.
My wife Cathy and I have 3 grown children, 9 grandchildren, and 2 great grandchildren. I have been active in sports and have coached multiple sports teams.
Dawny Kringel
Vice President of Student Finance
Dawny Kringel has been employed in higher education for 12 years. She began her career at University of the Southwest in the Business Office as an Accounting Assistant and was promoted to Assistant Controller. She then accepted the position of Director of Financial Aid and now currently serves as the Vice President of Student Finance at University of the Southwest.
Dawny received her Associate’s Degree in Arts from New Mexico Junior College, her Bachelor’s Degree in Organizational Management from Lubbock Christian University, and her Master’s Degree in Business Administration from University of the Southwest. She holds active memberships in the New Mexico Association of Financial Aid Administrators, the Southwest Association of Financial Aid Administrators, and the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators.
Dawny was born and raised in Hobbs, NM and graduated from Hobbs High School. For 30 years, she served as a volunteer Youth and Children’s Leader with the Assemblies of God and has traveled on short-term mission trips with U.S. and Foreign Missionaries.
Dawny and her husband, Jayson, have been married for 21 years and have two children.
Dr. David Arnold,
Campus Steward and Associate Professor of Business
David Arnold has served University of the Southwest in several capacities over the last 16 years. He has served as director of financial aid, director of marketing, dean of the School of Business, senior administrator, and faculty member.
He currently serves the institution as Campus Steward and has oversight of: capital projects, maintenance of facilities, landscaping and housekeeping. He also serves as an associate professor of business and teaches accounting, management, finance and marketing courses.
Arnold holds a bachelor's degree in management and finance from Baylor University, a bachelor's degree in accounting from University of the Southwest, and a master's in business administration from University of Texas, Permian Basin. He received his Ph.D. in management from Colorado Technical University.
Arnold attended New Mexico Junior College before transferring to Baylor University and studying Management and Finance while attaining his bachelor's degree. He completed his master's in business administration at University of Texas of the Permian Basin. During his service to USW, he also completed a second bachelor's degree in accounting and is currently pursuing a doctorate in management from Colorado Technical University.
Before joining USW, Arnold worked for a family owned oil-field construction business in Odessa, Texas.
His volunteer service has included the Board of Boys and Girls Club of Hobbs, United Way of Hobbs, and he holds active memberships in New Mexico Association of Financial Aid Administrators, Southwest Association of Financial Aid Administrators, National Association of Student Affairs Administrators, and the Academy of Management. He and his wife, Melody, are members of First United Methodist Church and have three adult children. In his spare time, Arnold enjoys fishing, golfing, and traveling
Steve Appel,
Acting Athletic Director
New Mexico native Steve Appel was named head coach of the University of the Southwest baseball team in June of 2014. Appel has quickly made his mark on the Mustang Baseball program.
Appel has led the Mustangs to 119 wins in his five seasons - the most in a five-year span for USW on record. In Red River Athletic Conference play, Appel has guided USW to 66 wins in five seasons, again the most in a five-year span on record.
The Mustangs continued to trend up in 2019, winning 30 games for the first time since the 2003 season. Along with winning 30 games in 2019, the Mustangs also gave Coach Appel his 100th win in a Mustang jersey and broke 28 baseball records.
In each year since the arrival of Appel, USW has continued to win more games each year, now making them a yearly contender in the RRAC.
Several student-athletes have earned post-season accolades under Appel. Pitcher Bryan Hernandez earned 2015 1st Team All-Conference and 2015 First Team Rawlings Gold Glove National Awards. In 2017, hurler Alex Goodman earned First Team All-Conference, outfielder Isaiah Peters was named First Team All-Conference and pitcher Travis Dotson earned Second Team All-Conference accolades. In 2018, Ean Smith earned Second Team All-Conference Utility and JJ Kruzel also earned Second Team All-Conference on the mound.
Appel and his staff have built and remodeled the baseball facility. Appel aided in the largest donation in school history, which was used to build the indoor baseball facility, renovate Jake Williams Field, which includes upgraded playing service, new metal fence and renovated grandstand area. This last fall, Appel aided in reconstructing the new backstop which features a new netting system, concrete wall, and padding from dugout to dugout.
Off the field, Appel and his staff continue to strive in excellence. His players continue to work tirelessly in the community with various community outreach programs. The team has also built a strong foundation in the classroom, maintaining over a 3.0 team GPA in the last three years.
Appel came to USW after serving as head coach at Oklahoma Panhandle State University in Goodwell, Oklahoma. While at OPSU, Appel transformed the Aggie baseball team into a disciplined program that was being built to succeed in the highly competitive NCAA Division II Heartland Conference. Under his leadership, OPSU baseball student-athletes also excelled in the classroom as the team GPA improved from 2.20 in 2011 to 3.30 in 2014. During his tenure, Appel was the catalyst for a number of facility enhancements that turned the OPSU baseball field into one of the top facilities in the Heartland Conference.
Appel, a Socorro, New Mexico native, began his intercollegiate athletic playing career at Fort Scott Community College in Fort Scott, Kansas, where he received his associate’s degree before continuing his collegiate playing career at the University of Bridgeport in Bridgeport, Connecticut where he served as team captain for the baseball program, earned his Bachelor of Science degree with Magna Cum Laude honors and was also awarded his Master of Science degree. Immediately following his collegiate playing career, Appel joined the coaching staff at his alma mater as an assistant pitching coach and began his climb in the baseball coaching profession. Appel was named the UB baseball program’s top assistant and pitching coach in 2006 and by 2009 had constructed a pitching staff that finished the season with a 3.25 ERA and was ranked sixth in the nation.
Following the 2009 season, Appel was selected by Oklahoma Panhandle State as its top assistant coach. After the 2010 season, he was named the head coach of the Aggies baseball team and began his efforts of building a program that would compete at a high level, earn the respect of its opponents and become a source of pride for the university and its community. Appel’s recruiting efforts throughout the states of New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma and the Southwest region resulted in the establishment and growth of an Aggie baseball program that boasted 55-60 student-athletes on its roster during his tenure.
Appel holds an associate’s degree from Fort Scott Community College, a Bachelor’s from University of Bridgeport and a Master’s, also from Bridgeport.
Amanda Guzman,
Director of Student Affairs
Amanda Guzman has been at the University of the Southwest for 5 years. She began her career at University of the Southwest in the Registrar’s Office as an Undergraduate Academic Advisor. She then accepted the position of Director of Undergraduate Admissions and Student Support for the College of Business Administration. She currently serves as the Director of Student Affairs and continues to advise all of the Undergraduate College of Business Administration students.
She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Communication from Angelo State University.
Amanda was born and raised in Denver City, TX and graduated from Denver City High School.