Aubrey Jenkins
Columbia-Richland Fire Department Chief Aubrey Jenkins was recently honored for his 45 years of service. He has served the community since the 1970’s. Jenkins, Columbia-Richland County’s first Black fire chief, has served in that role since 2011. He has also served as president of the South Carolina State Association of Fire Chiefs. He currently leads around 600 employees at 32 fire stations, including volunteer firefighters. He is a 2011 CSU graduate.
Deanna Shepard
Deanna Shepard, a certified healthcare facility manager, has been selected for inclusion in Marquis Who’s Who. She has over 25 years of leadership in the field of women’s health care. Shepard is currently a practice administrator at Queen City Women’s Health. She received her bachelor’s degree in health care administration in 2024 from CSU.
Michael Hodges
The Metropolitan Nashville Police Department has promoted Michael Hodges from officer to sergeant. Hodges is a five-year MNPD veteran who is currently assigned to the Madison precinct. He will now be a supervisor on the East precinct’s overnight shift. He earned a bachelor’s degree in organizational leadership from CSU in 2015.
Brent Burton
Brent Burton has been included in Marquis Who’s Who for his dedication to the field of firefighting. He is currently with the Los Angeles County Fire Department. He also co-founded and served as the president of the African American Firefighter Museum’s board of directors for many years. While his career has been filled with highlights, he takes the most pride in serving as the Los Angeles County Black Firefighter Association’s president. He is a two-time CSU graduate earning an associate degree in general studies and a bachelor’s degree in organizational leadership.
Robert Hicks
After more than three decades in law enforcement, Leesburg Police Chief Robert Hicks has been promoted to deputy city manager. The Army combat veteran has been with the City of Leesburg for 28 years and served as police chief for the last ten years. He is a 2007 CSU graduate.
Lon Schmidt Jr.
Lon Schmidt Jr. has joined the Centenary men’s and women’s golf staff as a volunteer assistant. Schmidt, currently an active-duty Lieutenant Colonel in the Air Force assigned to Global Strike Command Headquarters at Barksdale Air Force Base, is a 2007 graduate of the United States Air Force Academy. Schmidt earned an MBA concentrated in sports management at CSU in 2014.
Jayson Bonk
The Windermere Police Department’s deputy chief has been selected for the FBI academy. Jayson Bonk has 24 years of law enforcement experience. “I’m going to have the opportunity to just detach myself from everything I’ve been doing and focus on being a better leader and learning from the best, so that I can come back here and use those new tools that I’ve learned to help our department,” Bonk said. Bonk received both an associate degree and bachelor’s degree from CSU in criminal justice.
Disclaimer: These testimonials may not reflect the experience of all CSU students.
Multiple factors, including prior experience, geography, and degree field, affect career outcomes.
CSU does not guarantee a job, promotion, salary increase, eligibility for a position, or other career growth.
