Speakers

Dr. Caroline Crimm was born and raised in Mexico City.  She holds degrees from the University of Miami, Texas Tech and a Ph.D. in Latin American History from the University of Texas at Austin.  After 40 years of teaching, she retired and been honored as a Professor Emeritus from Sam Houston State University.

Amos Savell grew up in Huntsville, Texas, working in his father's logging business and boxing at the international and Olympic levels. At the University of West Florida, friendships with local Marines inspired him to enlist in the U.S. Marine Corps at 19.    Amos completed a grueling two-year pipeline to become a Force Reconnaissance Marine, deploying to Iraq in 2004–2005. He then joined the CIA's Global Response Staff, supporting covert operations in the Global War on Terror until 2018 and logging more than 30 combat tours across Iraq, Afghanistan, and beyond.

Above all, Amos is devoted to his family — a loving husband to his wife, Tracy, and proud father to their two sons, Malakai and Elijah.

Melissa L. Mednicov, PhD, is a Professor of Art History at Sam Houston State University, where she is known for her expertise in Pop Art, Texas modernist art, and contemporary art criticism. She is also an art critic, curator, and book reviews edit.  Dr. Mednicov holds a PhD and has a strong focus on Pop Art, particularly its intersection with identity, cultural shifts, and visual expression in modern consumer culture. Her research also explores Texas modernist art and its role in broader national and international art trends. 

Bobby Lumpkin was appointed Executive Director of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) by the Texas Board of Criminal Justice and began his role on September 1, 2025, succeeding Bryan Collier.  He is a 35-year veteran of TDCJ, having started in 1990 as a Correctional Officer at the Diagnostic Unit.  In his statement accepting the appointment, Lumpkin emphasized his commitment to public safety, rehabilitation, and reentry, pledging to lead with integrity and to position TDCJ as a national model of criminal justice excellence. He oversees an agency supervising over 140,000 incarcerated individuals and employs thousands of Texans.

Diana McRae is a longtime resident of Walker County, a graduate of Huntsville High School, attended Sam Houston State University, and a member of Northside Baptist Church.  She has been the Tax Assessor-Collector for Walker County for over 15 years.  The position also oversees Vehicle Registration, Voter Registration and Elections for Walker County. 

She is going to give us an update on things happening in her department.

Victoria Stoddard has served as an Account Manager with Gulf Coast Blood since July 2024. In her role, she partners with businesses, schools, churches, and hospitals to organize mobile blood drives that support Huntsville and surrounding areas. A dedicated and passionate blood donor herself, Victoria will present on Donor Eligibility and Myth Busters, while spotlighting several in Huntsville-based organizations that make a meaningful impact by hosting blood drives in this community.