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Leadership

Meet our Board:


 

Sheldon Alston: has spent time serving and volunteering for his church throughout his life.  He knows that when times are hard, he has found a safe place of refuge in his church community and sanctuary.  An attorney, father of three sons, and husband of a seminary student, Sheldon was able to travel with Solar Under the Sun and Living Waters for the World to Haiti, where the experience enriched his life, broadened his world, and brought him closer to God. Sheldon brings crucial knowledge and gifts in non-profit work as well as an eagerness for personal enrichment serving on the Solar Under the Sun Board. 

   
 

Dane Broussard:  Dane Broussard earned a BS in Electrical Engineering at Lamar University in 1979.  He is retired after working 38 years in the defense industry and holds two patents in digital data compression and expansion.  Dane is a Deacon at First Baptist Church Garland, TX. where he has served on several committees, including Missions, Nominating, and Scholarship. Dane resides in Wylie, TX. with his wife of 35 years, Teri. He loves going on missions and has participated in several mission trips in Honduras, Spain, Sierra Leone, Uganda, and the Rio Grande Valley.

  Dan Daniel: Dan Daniel is a retired Electronic Systems Engineer with over 50 years of experience in the design and development of systems for the US Government.  Dan holds a Masters of Science degree from the University of Arizona and is a Registered Professional Engineer (inactive) in the State of Texas.  As a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Tyler, Texas, he became involved with Solar Under the Sun in May 2014, first as a Solar 2 student in Solar School #10 and then as a Solar 2 instructor.  Dan has participated in multiple solar installation and maintenance mission trips to Haiti, Honduras, and Puerto Rico.
  Bonnie Edwards: Bonnie Robertson Edwards is a happily retired Certified PC(USA) Christian Educator living in east Texas. She has worked with churches in four denominations. She enjoys running, quilting, dancing, hiking,  making music, and getting dirt under her fingernails in the garden. She and her husband, Jarrett have one son and four grandchildren.
  Eileen Ellis: As a long-time member of Second Presbyterian Church, she has served a number of years on the outreach ministry where she first heard about SUS. She is a pediatrician and has been to Guatemala more than 30 times on medical mission trips.  She first went to Honduras on a Presbytery trip to help build houses along with Habitat for Humanity.  During that trip, she saw how much of a difference providing solar power to families could make, and attended Solar School in October 2017 to become Solar II trained.  In the spring of 2018, she went to Honduras on a SUS Direct trip and installed solar power in 14 homes.  She has three adult children adopted from Guatemala 

  Pat Felter:  Pat Felter, a native Texan, has served as an Elder or Pastor in four Presbyterian churches and one new church development. She's retired and lives in Dallas, TX.  Her two daughters are in college, and she is married to the Rev. Shane Whistler. 

Pat has been interested in solar energy, both passive and active, since graduate school at Texas Tech.  Her 1980 thesis explored consumer acceptance of passive solar energy.  

Pat loves to read, travel, and enjoy their tiny urban farm and farm animals.  Although not on social media, she enjoys catching up with old friends.  She likes puzzles and mysteries, which feed her need to solve problems.  She’s a brainstormer and can always find a question to ask. 


  Rob Lowry: An Arkansas native, Rob grew up in Little Rock and was a member of Second Presbyterian Church and later a charter member of St. Margaret Episcopal Church. He holds degrees from Millsaps College, Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary, Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary at Northwestern University, and Columbia Theological Seminary. Before deciding to return to parish ministry, he completed his course work (but not his dissertation) for the PhD at King’s College in the University of Aberdeen (Scotland) in the area of Political/Practical theology.

Rob currently serves as the Pastor/Head of Staff at Westover Hills Presbyterian Church in Little Rock, Arkansas. He has served churches in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Michigan, as well as multiple committees and boards in the Presbyterian Church (USA) and in the community. 

When he isn’t working, Rob can usually be found in his garden, binge-watching a new BBC show, or indulging his newest passion—baking random things from The Great British Baking Show.

Rob lives in Little Rock with his husband, Brian, their Welsh Springer Spaniel Mo, and Welsh Pembroke Corgis Wednesday and Huck.

  Chris McRae:  Chris McRae is a member of Central Presbyterian Church of Fort Smith, Arkansas. Chris is considered to be the founder of SUS, given that it was his vision to bring solar power to those areas and individuals suffering from energy poverty, and served as its Executive Director until 2017. Chris is a Climate Reality Leader who seeks to inform the general public of the consequences of global warming. He serves on the Board of Directors for Haiti Education Foundation and is a past Presbyterian Disaster Assistance Committee member. He has been very active in Habitat for Humanity, serving as the first Habitat for Humanity Project Director for the New Orleans Area 1988-1991. Chris is also trained as a Commissioned Ruling Elder (CRE) in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
 

Rob Owens:  Rob is a native Arkansan, born and raised in Little Rock.  He went to the University of Arkansas and, after graduating, returned to Little Rock and worked in the investment business for 44 years, retiring in 2018. While attending the U of A, I met Susan, his bride of 46 years, who is from Alexandria, Louisiana.  They have two grown children and three grandchildren, all living in Little Rock.  Susan and Rob joined Second Presbyterian Church in 1978, where they have been most active "because of our love of our church."  They have been on many mission trips with the church over the years, but Rob believes "my two to Honduras have been most fulfilling and purposeful."

Rob's first trip to Honduras was with Heifer International in 2016, building four houses.  Megan Rubio was with them and gave a tour of several homes where she and others from SUS had installed solar panels for lighting on previous trips.  Seeing these systems made him want to learn more about SUS and return to Honduras to put in systems in 2018.

In Rob's opinion, "the reason mission trips to Honduras are so meaningful is because of the ongoing community building and relationships established with these wonderful people year after year.  Also, most importantly, is the strong presence of the Presbyterian Church--its leaders as well as other committed community leaders--all working to improve the community and bringing the knowledge of God's love to all. For these families who have lived in darkness their whole lives, the light of a single light bulb is life-changing."  As he says, "I think there is something biblical about Light...."

Megan Rubio: Megan earned a BS in Astronautical Engineering from the Air Force Academy and served as an AF officer for 6 years.  She is married to Stuart Rubio, a currently active Air Force officer, and they have three sons.  In 2003, she left the military to raise her boys and support her family through their ongoing Air Force adventures. She is an active volunteer in her churches, schools, and Air Force community.  She has served as an elder and deacon in the PCUSA and is passionate about international mission and Solar Under the Sun.  Megan is Solar 1 and 2 trained, a Solar 2 instructor, and has participated in several installations in Haiti and Honduras.

Tom Ulrich: Tom is currently serving as the pastor of New Covenant Community Church in Akron, Ohio. He previously served with his wife as co-pastor of Central Presbyterian Church, Fort Smith, AR. Prior to that, he served as chaplain at the University of the Ozarks in Clarksville, AR, where he also taught courses in the New Testament. Tom earned an undergraduate degree from Louisiana Tech in mathematics and physical education, as well as a master's degree in mathematics. He attended Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, GA, for his Masters of Divinity degree. Tom is a Solar 1 instructor and has led mission trips in Nicaragua, El Salvador, Mexico, and Haiti.

 

Rollin Wycoff:  Dr. Rollin Wycoff is a graduate of the first Solar School and is currently a Solar 2 instructor. He has been to Haiti for multiple installation and survey trips. Both his children have attended solar school, and his daughter, Samantha, has gone to Haiti twice as well. Dr. Wycoff is a semi-retired Family physician in Arkansas. He is also a Home Inspector and operates multiple short-term vacation rentals.

 

Sally Smith:  Dr. Sally Smith is a retired family practice M.D. who is trained in Solar 1 and 2, and is also a Solar 1 instructor. She enjoys cooking, reading, traveling, jogging, and gardening, along with volunteer work in various philanthropic organizations. Sally is a member of First Presbyterian Church of Tyler, TX, where she serves on the Mission Committee and works with the Children's Ministry. Her work with Solar Under the Sun has taken her to Puerto Rico and on numerous trips to Haiti

 

Solar Under the Sun Staff:


 

Ruth Dwyer, Director of Operations

A pivoting pediatrician, Ruth is Interested in how ordinary individuals can connect to improve lives worldwide. While working on an MBA (GWU anticipated graduation spring 2024), she has taken courses on sustainability and strategic foresight. She has learned about how energy poverty impacts health, education, and one’s ability to get out of poverty- especially for women and children. As such, she is thrilled to join the SUS team with all of the good the SUS family has done in such little time.

 

 

Instructors

Dane Broussard, Solar 2 Instructor                                                                                                                                                                                        

Dane Broussard earned a BS in Electrical Engineering at Lamar University in 1979.  He is retired after working 38 years in the defense industry in various roles as a Design Engineer, Systems Engineer, Program Manager and in Strategic Business development and holds two patents in digital data compression and expansion.  Dane is a Deacon at First Baptist Church Garland, TX where he has served on several committees; Missions, Nominating and Scholarship (current). Dane resides in Wylie, TX with his wife of 30 years, Teri.  They have a son, Adam, in graduate school getting his PhD in Astrophysics at Rutgers University.  He loves going on missions and has participated in several mission trips in Honduras, Spain, Sierra Leone and the Rio Grande Valley.

Dan Daniel, Solar 2 Instructor                                                                                                                                                                                

Dan Daniel is a retired Electronic Systems Engineer with over 50 years’ experience in design and development of systems for the US Government.  Dan holds a Masters of Science degree from the University of Arizona and is a Registered Professional Engineer (inactive) in the State of Texas.  As a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Tyler, Texas, he became involved with Solar Under the Sun in May 2014 first as a Solar 2 student in Solar School #10 and then as a Solar 2 instructor.  Dan has participated in multiple solar installation and maintenance mission trips to Haiti, Honduras, and Puerto Rico.

Steve Fairbanks, Solar 2 Instructor 

Steve earned a BS in Business Administration at Kansas State University in 1972. He owned and operated Putt-Putt Golf Courses for 30 years and is retired from a 25 year career with United Parcel Service. He is also a retired Colonel in the United States Army. Steve was the Elder Commissioner to the 220th General Assembly from Cimarron Presbytery and just finished a fourth term as an Elder and Trustee of the First Presbyterian Church in Stillwater, OK. He is a Solar 2 graduate and is an instructor for Solar 2. He is married to Cathy Fairbanks, has two children, and two grandchildren.               

Dave Howell, Solar 2 Instructor, Emeritus                                                                                                                                                                                         

 David Howell is a retired telecommunications engineer with the Bell Telephone System working with switching and transmission systems including fiber optics. Dave has BS and MS degrees from the University of Tennessee in electrical Engineering and is a Registered Professional Engineer in the state of Tennessee (Retired). In addition to his engineering work Dave has run a beef cattle operation on his family farm where he still lives. Dave is an elder and deacon at First Presbyterian Church (PCUSA) in Lebanon, TN and he has served on committees of the Presbytery of Middle Tennessee. Dave has been with Solar Under the Sun since the beginning, working on the design of the initial "proof" system installed at Living Waters for the world where he was a Lead Instructor and member of the Tech Team for several years. Dave has continued doing design and updates for the SUS solar systems and updates on the solar handbook. He served as the Lead Solar 2 on the two initial 24 volt systems installed in Honduras. He has other international work through his experience with Living Waters for the World.

Chris McRae, Solar School Director                                                                                                                                                                                      

Chris McRae is a member of Central Presbyterian Church of Fort Smith, Arkansas. Chris is considered to be the founder of SUS, given that it was his vision to bring solar power to those areas and individuals suffering from energy poverty, and served as its Executive Director until 2017. Chris is a Climate Reality Leader who seeks to inform the general public of the consequences of global warming. He serves on the Board of Directors for Haiti Education Foundation and is a past Presbyterian Disaster Assistance Committee member. He has been very active in Habitat for Humanity, serving as the first Habitat for Humanity Project Director for the New Orleans Area 1988-1991. Chris is also trained as a Commissioned Ruling Elder (CRE) in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

Ann Owen, Solar 1 Instructor                                                                                                                                                                                        

Ann earned a Master of Public Service degree at the UA Clinton School of Public Service, and a BA in communication at the University of Alabama. She has served as a municipal recycling coordinator in Texas, in community relations at Heifer International, as an AmeriCorps volunteer, and at a nature center in Little Rock. She and her husband Rick, trained in Solar 1 and Solar 2, respectively, are passionate about sustainability issues and have just built an LEED-certified home with solar panels. She is involved with environmental ministries at Second Presbyterian in Little Rock and is a very proud mother and grandmother.

Megan Rubio, Solar 1 & 2 Instructor                                                                                                                                                                                        

 Megan earned a BS in Astronautical Engineering from the Air Force Academy and served as an AF officer for 6 years.  She is married to Stuart Rubio, a currently active Air Force officer, and they have three sons.  In 2003, she left the military to raise her boys and support her family through their ongoing Air Force adventures. She is an active volunteer in her churches, schools, and Air Force community.  She has served as an elder and deacon in the PCUSA and is passionate about international mission and Solar Under the Sun.  Megan is Solar 1 and 2 trained, a Solar 2 instructor, and has participated in several installations in Haiti and Honduras.

Sally Smith, Solar 1 Instructor

Dr. Sally Smith is a retired family practice M.D. who is trained in Solar 1 and 2, and is also a Solar 1 instructor. She enjoys cooking, reading, travel, jogging, and gardening, along with volunteer work in various philanthropic organizations. Sally is a member of First Presbyterian Church of Tyler Texas where she serves on the Mission Committee and works with the Children's Ministry. Her work with Solar Under the Sun has taken her to Puerto Rico, and on numerous trips to Haiti   

Mark Tew, Solar 2 Instructor, Emeritus

Mark Tew has been active in Solar Under the Sun from the early days, serving as the Lead Solar 2 on SUS's first two installations prior to the first Solar School.  He has served as Lead Instructor in Solar 2 and participated in writing the Solar Power Handbook.  Mark received the BSEE and MS in Engineering Science from the University of Mississippi and the PhD in Electrical Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.  He is an Emeritus Professor at the University of Mississippi where he taught electrical engineering for 25 years.  He is a graduate of Living Waters for the World's Clean Water U and has served as an Instructor at CWU 103 class.   

Tom Ulrich, Solar 1 Instructor

 Tom is currently serving as the pastor of New Covenant Community Church in Akron, Ohio. He previously served with his wife as co-pastor of Central Presbyterian Church, Fort Smith, AR. Prior to that, he served as chaplain at the University of the Ozarks in Clarksville, AR. where he also taught courses in the New Testament. Tom earned an undergraduate degree from Louisiana Tech in mathematics and physical education, as well as a master's degree in mathematics. He attended Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, GA for his Masters of Divinity degree. Tom is a Solar 1 instructor and has led mission trips in Nicaragua, El Salvador, and Mexico as well as Haiti. 

Rollin Wycoff, Solar 2 Instructor                                                                                                                                                                                    

Dr. Rollin Wycoff is a graduate of the first Solar School and is currently a Solar 2 instructor. He has been to Haiti for multiple installation and survey trips. Both his children have attended solar school, and his daughter, Samantha, has gone to Haiti twice as well. Dr. Wycoff is a semi-retired Family physician in Arkansas. He is also a Home Inspector and operates multiple short-term vacation rentals.

 


 

 

 


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