Each year, the six colleges of Midwestern State University honor alumni who have made significant contributions to society and whose accomplishments and careers have brought credit to the university. Honorees must be distinguished in their profession or life’s work. They must be a person of integrity and demonstrated ability who will inspire others by their recognition. They must reflect the importance of their education at MSU and show pride and a continuing interest in their alma mater. They must have earned a degree from MSU or completed at least 12 semester credit hours at MSU.

In addition to the Distinguished Alumni honors, the Arthur F. Beyer Distinguished Alumnus Award is presented to a recipient who has continually brought honor to MSU through his or her accomplishments. It emphasizes lifetime achievement in a field. College award recipients are eligible for the Arthur F. Beyer award the following year.

Arthur F. Beyer Distinguished Alumna

Carla Bolin

Carla is an MSU Texas retiree – a mass communications and theatre professor. Carla continues to be very involved in the Wichita Falls community.  She was on the first committee to launch Texoma Gives, which has raised millions of dollars for local nonprofits.  She served on the Board of Directors for Hospice, the Board of Directors for the Wichita Falls Area Community Foundation, and the Annual Fund Chair for Midwestern State University – to name a few. She and her husband, Dr. Dan Bolin, live in Wichita Falls. She earned her Bachelor’s in Mass Communication and Theatre from MSU in 1974 and her master’s degree in 1985.

Dillard College of Business Administration

Wayne Gensler

Wayne retired from Abbott Laboratories after overseeing its 600 million dollar sales revenue.  He did stints with Ticketmaster, Chili’s, Mary Kay, and Shakey’s Pizza, where he implemented a turnaround plan that took Shakey’s from a $1 million loss to a $1 million profit in one year.  Wayne and his wife, Glory, live in Orange, California. Wayne graduated from MSU in 1967 with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting.

Brandon Smith

Brandon is an Assistant Vice President with the Gardner Institute after more than a decade of higher education experience as a professor, program coordinator, and academic affairs administrator. He advises institutions on many things as he aims to help them imagine a better future and design the systems required to make that future a reality. Brandon is also a former MSU Texas theatre instructor.  He and his wife, Sara, have one son, Charlie, and live in Pisgah Forest, North Carolina. Brandon earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre in 2002.

 Gordon T. & Ellen West College of Education

Pedro Lerma Jr.

Pedro is the owner of LERMA/ Advertising Agency.  Pedro considers it a cross-cultural agency. With brands increasingly needing to connect with a more multicultural America, he sees his agency as uniquely equipped to help brands navigate the future. His clients include high-profile accounts such as Avocados from Mexico, Instacart, and the Salvation Army – each having spots in the biggest ad showcase – the Super Bowl. He and his wife Jennifer, a 1993 & 1996 MSU Texas graduate, live in Dallas. Pedro completed his BAAS at MSU Texas in 2022.