Millsaps College is proud to announce the recipients of its 2025 Alumni Awards, honoring three exceptional people whose lives and careers reflect the enduring values of leadership, service and excellence.
The awards will be presented during Homecoming Weekend festivities on Friday, October 17, 2025 at 6:30 p.m. in the Selby and Richard McRae Christian Center.
This year’s honorees include:
- Gerald D. Lord ’66 – Distinguished Alumnus Award
- Dorothea Staursky ’14, ’15 MBA – Outstanding Young Alumna Award
- Johnny Wray ’73 – Jim Livesay Service Award
Gerald Lord, recipient of the Distinguished Alumnus Award, has dedicated his life to advancing higher education and public service. A retired Associate General Secretary of the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry of The United Methodist Church, Lord’s leadership has impacted thousands of institutions worldwide.
He oversaw hundreds of collegiate ministry programs, administered the Black College Fund supporting 11 Historically Black Colleges and Universities, and served as Executive Secretary of The United Methodist Senate, the nation’s first accrediting body. Before that, Lord served as Vice President of the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and also held faculty and administrative posts at Emory University and the University of Tennessee.
His career spans roles in accreditation, theological education and military service, culminating in a legacy of ethical leadership and global influence. A native of Mississippi, Lord majored in political science and music at Millsaps. He holds multiple advanced degrees, including a Ph.D. in religion and public policy from Emory University. Lord retired as a Colonel in the Army Reserve, concluding a distinguished military career as Chief of Staff of the 81st U.S. Army Reserve Command, the largest command of its kind in the nation.
Dorothea Staursky, this year’s Outstanding Young Alumna, exemplifies the spirit of service and innovation. As Director of Oncology Navigation and Support Services at UAB Medicine’s O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center, she leads efforts to improve patient outcomes and reduce barriers to care.
A two-time bone marrow donor and passionate advocate for blood cancer patients, Staursky testified before Congress in 2023 and was named Newcomer of the Year by the National Marrow Donor Program. Her leadership extends into civic life through her work with the Junior League of Birmingham and other nonprofits.
Staursky earned both her BBA and MBA from Millsaps and later completed a Doctorate in Health Administration.
Johnny Wray, recipient of the Livesay Service Award, has spent his life championing humanitarian causes. Wray earned his degree in political science from Millsaps
before pursuing a Master of Divinity in social ethics. He went on to serve congregations across the South before stepping into a global calling. For seventeen years, he served as Director of Week of Compassion, the disaster relief and development arm of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). Under his leadership, the organization advanced global efforts in refugee assistance, hunger relief, and sustainable development.
A devoted supporter of Millsaps, Wray served two terms on the Alumni Board of Directors, is a Presidents Society member, and continues to lead the Golden Triangle Alumni Chapter. He and his wife, Deb run High Hope Farm in Cedar Bluff, Mississippi, where they raise grass-fed livestock and host guests at their Grateful Guest House.
The Millsaps community looks forward to celebrating Gerald, Dorothea and Johnny during Homecoming Weekend. For more information about the Homecoming festivities, visit https://millsaps.edu/homecoming/