Alumni Reunion - Speaker and Award Recipient Bios
Keynote Speaker
Cary Deuber
Born in Connecticut and spending her early years on the East Coast and in Ohio, Cary moved to Texas for High School and attended Baylor University, where she earned her Bachelors in the Science of Nursing.
She went straight to work at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas where she initially settled into Vascular and Trauma Surgery. Cary then went back to school at UCLA and got her Certified Registered Nurse First Assistant Degree. She finally transitioned into Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery & started working for a plastic surgeon who mentored her and taught her in her mid-twenties. Cary went back to school to get her CRNFA and began freelancing a bit more and working for different surgeons. This is where Cary met her AMAZING husband, Dr. Mark Deuber and became work buddies. Today, Cary works with Mark, who is a highly sought after Plastic Surgeon in Dallas, Texas at their growing practice, Lemmon Avenue (which now has 3 locations across the US). Cary loves what she does and feels so blessed to be able to help people with her husband.
Life is never dull with her husband, their sweet daughter and Cary’s two amazing step kids. They make family time a BIG priority & try to take about 14 weeks of vacation each year.
Alumni of the Year Award
Gracie Glendinning
Gracie Glendinning is a nursing supervisor at Baylor Scott & White Institute for Rehabilitation (BSWIR). Beginning with her nursing career in 2017 at BSWIR as a graduate nurse, Gracie has a passion for rehabilitation nursing. She is involved at BSWIR serving on committees, developing education, and training new staff members. She is also a member of the Association of Rehabilitation Nurses and is a Certified Rehabilitation Registered Nurse (CRRN). In 2020, Gracie graduated with her Master of Science in Nursing Leadership and Innovation from Baylor University.
Distinguished Graduate Award
Dr. Alicia Baldassare
Dr. Alicia Baldassare has been a Family Nurse Practitioner since 2016, caring for patients in the primary care setting. Originally from New Jersey, she moved to Texas at the start of her nursing career. Prior to becoming a Nurse Practitioner, she worked as a Registered Nurse in cardiac-telemetry and neuro-surgical intensive care unit settings at Christus Spohn-Shoreline Hospital in Corpus Christi, Texas.
She attended Villanova University for her Bachelor of Science in Biology and Nursing and earned her Master of Science in Nursing - Family Nurse Practitioner at Drexel University. She attended Baylor University as a post-master’s student and graduated with her DNP in May 2023. She is a member of North Texas Nurse Practitioners, Texas Nurse Practitioners, the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners and the Texas Nurse Practitioners Education Committee.
She is currently volunteering as a Family Nurse Practitioner at Open Arms Health Clinic in Arlington, Texas, volunteering at The Family Place in Dallas, Texas, and joined Baylor’s Louise Herrington School of Nursing as an Adjunct Lecturer this Fall trimester.
She is married to her husband, Tom, and they have two young boys – Luke (5) and Hank (almost 3). She is extremely proud to call herself a Baylor Nurse and is excited to be part of Baylor's LHSON educators!
Friend of Nursing Award
Rita & Carl Bonds
Rita and Carl Bonds have faithfully supported the Louise Herrington Baylor School of Nursing over the years in whatever way was needed and they mean the world to their Baylor family. They served as Co-Chairs on the Board of Advocates of the LHSON and in 2014 established The Carl and Rita Bonds Endowed Scholarship Fund in Nursing. Rita also served on the LHSON Going for the Gold Gala Taskforce since it began in 2012. In addition, they are members of the Judge R.E.B. Baylor Society, Old Main Society, 1845 Society, and Bear Foundation. The Bonds are avid sports fans and have season tickets to Baylor football and women’s basketball, and cheer for the Dallas Mavericks and Dallas Cowboys. Carl and Rita have been long-time members of Richardson Heights Baptist Church and both served in many ways over the years.
Carl G. Bonds grew up in Plainview, Texas, and earned his B.A. in mathematics from Baylor University in 1959 and did post graduate study in business at Southern Methodist University. He was an active member and officer of the Baylor Chamber, a men’s service club whose motto is “Anything for Baylor” and Carl still practices that motto to this day. He and Rita also established an endowed scholarship for needy members of the Baylor Chamber. Professionally, Carl had a long career in Employee Benefits in Dallas with the Equitable Life Assurance Society of the U.S. He is a Member Emeritus of the Society of Financial Service Professionals and founded and moderated the Employee Benefits Section in Dallas for over 10 years. He is President and owner of Bonds Benefit Company, Inc. He has been a member of Rotary International for over 45 years, is a member of the Paul Harris Society, has served as Club President (twice), and is a Major Donor, level 2. He served his country in the United States Army Reserves for 7 years, his last assignment being the 327th Military Intelligence Unit in Dallas. He is a life member of the American Legion and active member at Richardson Heights Baptist Church serving on the Finance Committee, Personnel Committee, Choir Member, and Chairman of Deacons
Rita C. Bonds earned her B.A. degree from Baylor University in 1969 and the M.L.S. degree from Texas Woman’s University in 1981. She was an elementary teacher and librarian for 28 years. She has also been involved in the Texas Library Association, Parent Teachers Association, Boy Scouts of America-Badge Teacher, Richardson Doll Club and Richardson Heights Baptist Church serving as a Choir Member, Youth Choir Teacher, and on Library and Personnel Committees. She has been a member of the Baylor University Women’s Council for over 20 years and served as President and Scholarship Chair. In 2015, she was named the Woman of Distinction for the Council. Rita also received the City of Richardson Leadership Grove Community Service Award Tree #138; and Parent Teacher Association-Volunteer of the Year and Life Member Award.
The Bonds have two sons, Steve, a successful tennis coach and wife Jacque, who is his assistant coach; Scott, a Baylor graduate who works for Texas Mutual Insurance, as does his wife Emily; a daughter, Janis, who is a full-time homemaker; and 9 grandchildren. The accomplishments of the grandchildren are too numerous to mention! The highlight of each year is their annual family week in Colorado. Being with family is a high priority for Carl and Rita.