Westmont Magazine Return of the Warriors

ALUMNUS OF THE YEAR

Reggie conducts research in theological ethics, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, blackness studies, theological anthropology, aesthetics, the Harlem Renaissance, politics and Black church life. His book “Bonhoeffer’s Black Jesus: Harlem Renaissance Theology and an Ethic of Resistance” was the Choice Outstanding Title in 2015 in the field of religion. He publishes extensively and is working on two books: “Interrogating Theological Anthropology in the Harlem Renaissance: The Figure of the Human as a Problem for Christian Ethics” and a commentary on Joshua and Judges. In 2018, he launched McCormick’s Initiative for Incarnational Ethics.

Reggie has served on the board of directors for the Society for Christian Ethics and sits on the boards of the International Dietrich Bonhoeffer Society and the Society for the Study of Black Religion. A member of the American Academy of Religion, he serves on the Academic Relations Committee. He earned a master’s degree in theology and a Doctor of Philosophy in Christian ethics at Fuller Theological Seminary. At Westmont, he majored in religious studies, served as co- captain of the basketball team and met his wife, Stacy Williams ’95. Reggie returned to Westmont in 2001 for a few years to serve as resident director in Ocean View and established the college’s Black Student Union.

ALUMNA OF THE YEAR

In 2016, Sharon became the first woman and sixth person to serve as executive director and CEO of International Ministries (IM), which began as the American Baptist Foreign Mission Society in 1814. She travels extensively, visiting some of IM’s 120 missionaries in 70 different countries. She preaches throughout the United States and directs international missionary initiatives such as training indigenous pastors and church leaders, abolishing human slavery and promoting economic development. Previously, she served on the staff of Evergreen Baptist Church in Los Angeles, beginning as a senior associate pastor, then leading mission and community life. At Westmont, Sharon double-majored in biology and religious studies with a minor in chemistry. She also earned a Master of Divinity at Fuller Theological Seminary and later a Master of Arts in theology focused on global mission and hermeneutics. She has returned to Fuller and has nearly completed a Doctor of Ministry in leading change. The daughter of missionaries from Singapore, Sharon is part of a generation of Westmont alums in her family with her three siblings: Daniel ’01, Josephine ’08 and Joshua ’12. “I’m grateful to spend all my time facilitating God’s mission,” she says. “This has long been God’s call on my life.”

GLOBAL SERVICE AWARD

Michael Trueblood joined USAID in 2009 and has worked for the U.S. government for nearly 30 years. Previously he served with USAID in Vietnam, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Central Asian Republics and Pakistan. With the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service, he worked on policy and conducted economic research on trade issues in developing countries, food security and transitions for Russian and Ukrainian agriculture. He has also addressed trade, innovation and entrepreneurship, economic governance, energy, developing tourism, water and climate change. He has received numerous awards, including one for collaboration between the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry and USAID to produce the Provincial Competitiveness Index to improve the business environment and a USDA Departmental Honor Award to his Global Food Security Team for sustained excellence on international hunger issues. An economics and business major at Westmont, Michael was the first in his family to graduate from a four- year college. He earned a Doctor of Philosophy in agriculture and applied economics from the University of Minnesota. Attending Westmont’s International Business Institute inspired his interest in foreign affairs, and an internship with the USDA led to a full-time job. He met his wife, Kris Sellars Trueblood ’85, at Westmont.

YOUNG ALUMNI AWARD

Daniel has served as the head performance coach for the Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC) since 2018. Previously, he worked as the head strength and conditioning coach for the U.S. Soccer Federation. He spent three years with EXOS, moving from performance specialist to performance manager, and worked for nearly three years as head strength and conditioning coach for the LA Galaxy. He comes from a family of Warriors. His father, Gus Guzman ’82, and his uncles, Alfanso Guzman ’77 and Peter Guzman ’81, played soccer for Westmont. His three siblings also attended the college: Erica ’14, Michael ’16 and Jordan ’18. Daniel’s wife, Lauren ’12, comes from a Westmont family as well. Daniel earned a Bachelor of Science in kinesiology and a Bachelor of Arts in economics and business while playing on Westmont’s men’s soccer team. He earned a Master of Science in organizational leadership at John Brown University. “Westmont made such a big impact on my life,” Daniel says. “I was able to make my faith my own there.” Daniel brings his Christian perspective to his work. “Professional athletes are people before they’re athletes, so I approach them first as people. I love every moment of my job.”