Around the State: Leadership changes at Buckner agency

Samela Macon

Buckner International announced two leadership promotions with Buckner Children and Family Services. Effective Jan. 1, Henry Jackson was named president, and Samela Macon was promoted to vice president of operations. Jackson has worked for Buckner since 1989, most recently as senior vice president of Buckner Children and Family Services. His additional roles included area vice president of international operations, administrator, director of residential services and human resources manager. Prior to Buckner, he was a free agent contract with the Chicago Bears in the National Football League. He earned an undergraduate degree from Angelo State University and a Master of Science degree from Amberton University. He is a licensed child care administrator and an ordained minister. Macon has about 25 years of child welfare experience, including 21 years with Buckner. Her most recent role was vice president of domestic programs and support services for Buckner Children and Family Services. She also served as foster home developer, foster home development supervisor, and program director of foster care and adoption. She earned her undergraduate degree from Lamar University and a Master of Science in leadership and human resource development from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge. Macon is a licensed Child Placing Agency Administrator, and she received the Buckner Leadership Award in 2014.

Within 24 hours after an outbreak of tornadoes in the Houston area and Southeast Texas, two Texas Baptist Men disaster relief crews already were serving, and multiple assessors were working throughout the region. A regional chainsaw team was removing limbs and fallen trees from structures in the Orange area. A box unit was distributing containers to help homeowners in Deer Park gather and contain their possessions. TBM anticipated deploying additional crews to the area.

In partnership with the Baptist General Convention of Texas, two Texas Baptist universities are hosting Congreso Experiences in early February. An event is scheduled Feb. 4 at Wayland Baptist University in Plainview and Feb. 18 at East Texas Baptist University in Marshall. Specifically designed for Hispanic students grade six and older, the Congreso Experience will encourage students to live out the call of God in and through their lives now and in the future. Activities include workshops, group activities and worship. There is no cost to participate. To learn more and register, click here.

The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor entered a partnership with the Anne Burnett Marion School of Medicine at Texas Christian University. The collaborative initiative allows medical students to earn a Master of Public Health degree from UMHB while completing their Doctor of Medicine degree requirements at TCU’s medical school. “We could not be more excited about partnering with the Burnett School of Medicine to assist in training future physicians who value a preventative, proactive approach to medicine necessary in a world plagued by chronic disease,” said Ariane Secrest, director of the UMHB public health program. UMHB’s Master of Public Health degree is a 42-credit hour program.