Three College of Arts and Sciences graduates have been named to the 2024 cohort of the Texas A&M University 12 Under 12 Young Alumni Spotlight.
Dr. Austin Baty '13 (bachelor of science in physics, 2013), Maj. Brawnlyn Patterson '13 (bachelor of arts in international studies, 2013) and Bailey Relford '16 (bachelor of science in psychology, 2016) are among this year's 12 recipients selected by The Association of Former Students to receive the prestigious honor recognizing former students who have graduated within the past 12 years for demonstrating excellence in business and service while representing Texas A&M’s core values of excellence, integrity, leadership, loyalty, respect and selfless service.
Additional members of the 2024 cohort include Cammile Adams '14, Travis Burks '13, Lindy Chiaia '14, Capt. Matthew Keller '13, Bryton Praslicka '19, Maj. Ryan Reed '13, Taylor Sass '13, Dr. Mary Kate Walters '17 and Eduardo Zaldivar '16.
About Austin Baty
Baty is an assistant professor at the University of Illinois Chicago, where he runs a nuclear physics group of about 15 people. He earned his Ph.D. in physics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 2019 and completed a postdoctoral research fellowship at Rice University before joining the UIC faculty in May. with a Ph.D. in physics. His research focuses on study the world's hottest man-made form of matter and the forces that dictate the dynamics of this matter. Through his research, he actively collaborates and runs experiments at European Center for Nuclear Physics (CERN) using the world's most powerful particle accelerator, the Large Hadron Collider. He also teaches a variety of physics courses and mentors students at all levels.
"Austin goes above and beyond the call of duty for students who need advocates within the intense university academic environment, and this represents his dedication to leadership and selfless service," Baty's nominator said.
About Brawnlyn Patterson
A member of the United States Air Force since 2016, Patterson has been serving since July as Chief of Allied ISR Operations and Collection Plans, U.S. Africa Command. She received her master of arts in military intelligence with summa cum laude honors from American Military University in 2021 and a master of science in military strategic intelligence from National Intelligence University in 2024. After four months of self-study in French, Patterson demonstrated working-level proficiency to become a Language Enabled Airman Program Scholar. The recipient of four Air Combat Command awards, she also spearheaded infertility treatment access for service members as the co-lead for the Department of the Air Force Women’s Initiatives Team Line of Effort 3.3.
While at Texas A&M, Patterson was a member of Squadron 12 in the Corps of Cadets, where she served as the Corps Scholastics officer and commander of the Special Tactics Squadron, becoming the first female in that position. A member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, she was inducted into the O.R. Simpson Honor Society, Arnold Air Squadron and Cadet Action on Diversity and Equity Team (CADET) while also participating in the Academy for Future International Leaders.
About Bailey Relford
Relford is an adjunct professor at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor as well as an occupational therapist and owner of Dandelion Occupational Therapy, an independent practice providing in-home services and community outreach, since 2022. Prior to relocating back to Texas in 2023, she spent three years as an occupational therapist with the Natanusak-Susitna Borough School District in Alaska, where she also was a Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities Fellow, partnering with the state foster care system to teach caregivers how to best care for foster children with special needs. In addition, she serves as a Special Olympics coach and Soldier Family Readiness Group leader.
The 12 Under 12 Young Alumni Spotlight was conceived by the Young Alumni Advisory Council, a selected body of younger former students who advise The Association’s staff on ways to better connect with the hundreds of thousands of recent graduates of Texas A&M. Since the award's inception in 2014, only 132 of Texas A&M’s 500,000-plus former students have been recognized with the accolade.
The Association of Former Students, established in 1879, is the official alumni organization of Texas A&M University and the oldest organization serving the university and Texas Aggies. The Association connects hundreds of thousands of members of the worldwide Aggie Network with each other and the university and will provide $15.5 million in impact to university scholarships, awards, traditions and student activities and recognition for students, faculty, staff and former students in 2024.
Nominations for the 2025 cohort will be accepted through Feb. 28, 2025. For more information about the Texas A&M 12 Under 12 Young Alumni Spotlight or The Association, visit www.AggieNetwork.com.