DBU REPORT 8 The honor of being named Professor Emeritus at Dallas Baptist University is reserved for faculty members who have served at DBU for 20 years or longer. Each candidate must receive recommendations from their Dean, the Provost, and the President before final approval by the Board of Trustees. This year, DBU is pleased to bestow this recognition upon Dr. Mike Williams and Dr. Curtis Lee. Dr. Mike Williams commemorates his 30th anniversary at DBU, a milestone marked by faith, education, and mentorship. He earned his undergraduate degree in history and education at Troy State, a master’s degree in history from Auburn University, and later completed his Ph.D. in church history at Southwestern Seminary. Joining DBU in 1991 as an adjunct professor and becoming full-time in 1995, Dr. Williams quickly gained recognition as Professor of the Year, served as Dean for 15 years, and was later appointed Senior Professor of History. He has authored multiple works, received numerous honors, and found joy in seeing God work in his students’ lives. Dr. Curtis Lee celebrates 28 years of service to DBU, reflecting both his longevity and his lasting impact on students. A graduate of Texas A&M University with a degree in Animal Science, he went on to complete a master’s in agriculture and a Ph.D. in Anatomy and Structural Biology from the University of South Dakota. Called to teaching, Dr. Lee joined DBU in 1997 as Professor of Natural Sciences, where he invested deeply in the lives of students. He describes his time as “fulfilling, inspiring, humbling,” with graduation serving as an annual highlight. This recognition of Professor Emeritus for Dr. Williams and Dr. Lee honors their remarkable service and dedication, while also reflecting DBU’s mission to equip Christ-centered servant leaders through the faithful investment of faculty who teach, mentor, and inspire students for generations to come. DBU HONORS DR. MIKE WILLIAMS AND DR. CURTIS LEE as Professors Emeriti DBU TAKES FIRST PLACE at UNESCO’s 3rd Global Forum on the Ethics of AI Representing DBU with excellence, Dr. Danxia (Christina) Chen, Dr. Cicely Jefferson, and Dr. Joanne Hix captured first place at UNESCO’s 3rd Global Forum on the Ethics of AI, receiving top honors on the international stage. Dr. Chen, a certified data scientist, teaches in DBU’s Carter School of Business (CSB) and College of Humanities and Social Sciences, focusing on AI techniques in the Master of Science in Ethical AI and Strategic Decision Sciences program. Dr. Jefferson serves as Dean of CSB, and Dr. Hix is a professor of management. The award-winning research idea, Carrot or Stick: A Comparative Study of AI Ethics Policies Across Countries, began in Fall 2024. “Through my research, I noticed that previous studies focused on specific areas or countries. Few have explored cross-country and cross-disciplinary comparisons of AI ethics policies. This motivated me to fill in a huge research gap,” Dr. Chen explained. Drawing from Stanford University’s 2025 AI Index Report, Dr. Chen focused on the United States, China, and the United Kingdom. “All three countries at the beginning prioritized AI development and technology advancement (‘carrot’). At the intermediate stage, they grappled with ethical and social issues. Subsequently, a series of AI ethics policies, governance, laws, and regulations were established (‘stick’).” Dr. Chen credits her team: “I would like to give special thanks to Dr. Cicely Jefferson… I am also deeply grateful for Dr. Joanne Hix and Dr. Jon K. Reid’s valuable contributions.” From over 600 submissions, only 36 were selected for presentation. Dr. Chen presented in Thailand alongside researchers from Harvard and the Alan Turing Institute. Just before the closing ceremony, she learned their research had earned First Place in the National, Regional, and Global AI Governance track. “I was so excited to represent DBU and our research team at this significant event and bring DBU to the global spotlight!” Dr. Chen reflected. “Throughout my journey, I could feel God’s wisdom and the DBU Family’s prayers. To God be the glory!” Dr. Cicely Jefferson, Dr. Danxia (Christina) Chen, and Dr. Joanne Hix For more information about stories included in News & Notes, go online to dbu.edu/news.
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