FALL 2025 7 ANDREW HERNDON DBU’s First Battalion Commander in UTA’s ROTC Program At the intersection of faith, service, and leadership stands Andrew Herndon, a trailblazer for DBU and the newly appointed Battalion Commander in the University of Texas at Arlington’s ROTC program, in which DBU students participate. With grit forged in training and character shaped by Christcentered mentorship, Andrew’s journey is one of purpose and quiet strength. He is making history as the first student from Dallas Baptist University to serve in this role. As Battalion Commander, he holds the highest cadet position, overseeing the training and development of the entire battalion. “My role is to ensure that all training is being carried out at a level that will help the most people succeed,” Andrew shared. “The goal of ROTC is to prepare college students for leading in the United States military.” This leadership comes to life in preparation for Cadet Summer Training, a pivotal assessment for Army-bound juniors and seniors. “My staff carries out that vision and makes it happen to the best of our ability under the Cadre’s supervision,” he explained. Becoming Battalion Commander was a testament to Andrew’s character, consistency, and calling. Over the semester, he expressed his interest to ROTC seniors, and after thoughtful consideration, he was chosen to lead. “My time at DBU has helped me because I’ve learned what it means to be a good leader, like how Christ modeled for us in John 13.” His path toward leadership began in 2023, when he enlisted in the National Guard and shipped out to Fort Benning, Georgia, for Infantry OSUT. “The experience at Fort Benning taught me what it truly means to be a soldier,” he reflected. “It changed the way I approach everything.” Balancing ROTC and academics, Andrew values people the most. “I have been so blessed by all the people I’ve gotten to meet,” he said. Among them are cadets Elijah Flood, Dub Shumake, and Joshua Stiftinger, as well as Chris Havens, DBU’s Chief of Police and Andrew’s mentor. As he looks ahead, Andrew’s mantra is simple: “Winning matters. Winning every day on a personal level means getting better every single day.” FROM SETBACK TO BREAKTHROUGH A DBU Professor’s Research Journey A breakthrough study conducted at UT Southwestern Medical Center and led by Dr. Dongjae Jun, biology professor at Dallas Baptist University, has identified a new treatment strategy for Schnyder Corneal Dystrophy (SCD), a rare eye disease in which cholesterol accumulates in the cornea and clouds vision. Published this year in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the study highlights the collaborative work of Dr. Jun and fellow researchers, offering a potential noninvasive treatment strategy for SCD. Dr. Jun began his research in 2009 as a postdoctoral fellow at UT Southwestern. His first projects on HMG-CoA reductase proved discouraging. “Midway through my fellowship, I felt as though years of effort had evaporated, leaving me discouraged and nearly empty-handed,” he shared. He then turned to UBIAD1, the gene responsible for SCD. “Subcellular-localization experiments had revealed a pivotal clue: every disease-associated mutant was trapped in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), whereas the wild-type protein resided in the Golgi apparatus,” Dr. Jun explained. His hypothesis was simple: “If a small molecule could reroute mutant UBIAD1 from the ER back to the Golgi, we might be able to halt, or even reverse, the progression of SCD.” Using a drug repurposing strategy with FDA-approved medications, Dr. Jun discovered several compounds that restored protein localization. One, rivoceranib, showed striking promise. “The next morning, my advisor told me he couldn’t sleep after seeing the images,” Jun recalled. Careful verification confirmed rivoceranib’s effect, and collaboration with chemists revealed it binds to UBIAD1, offering a “rewarding discovery” and a possible non-invasive treatment. “While further studies and clinical trials are still needed… the fact that it has an established safety profile strengthens its potential as a future treatment option,” Dr. Jun explained. His findings also suggest rivoceranib could serve as a “statin adjuvant,” enhancing cholesterol-lowering therapies, while possibly contributing to cancer suppression. Now, with a patent filed in 2024 and publication in PNAS, Dr. Jun reflects: “I’ve come to hold onto a quiet but steady truth: if we keep seeking, answers do find their way to us.” His journey, he shares, has echoed the words of Jesus: Seek, and you shall find.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy ODc4ODgx