For GaBrielle Mallet, McMurry University was never unfamiliar territory. Growing up in Abilene, she spent much of her childhood on campus while her father, Freddie Famble Jr., worked in McMurry’s IT department. After school, her family would walk through the courtyard or spend time in the library, moments that quietly shaped her sense of belonging. Long before she became a student, McMurry already felt like home, making it a natural fit when it came time to choose a college.
Once enrolled, GaBrielle immersed herself in campus life. She balanced academics with involvement as a cheerleader, a member of Gamma Sigma, Chemistry Club, and Band, while also serving as head lab assistant for the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. At the time, her future seemed clear. She arrived at McMurry with plans to attend medical school and had no intention of becoming a teacher, despite being raised by educators. Her mother was an elementary school teacher, and her father was deeply involved in teaching at their church, influences she admired but did not initially plan to follow.
Everything changed when a single opportunity shifted her path. While serving as a lab assistant, Dr. Veltkamp approached her with a proposal that would prove transformative. She invited GaBrielle to teach a General Chemistry lab from start to finish, trusting her ability and leadership. That moment opened a door GaBrielle did not know she needed. Teaching peers sparked a passion she had long tried to resist and planted the seed for a career dedicated to students and learning.
That experience at McMurry directly led her to her first teaching roles at Texas State Technical College, where she began teaching Beginning and Intermediate Algebra and later First Year Seminar courses. As her career progressed, GaBrielle felt drawn to leadership, stepping into roles that allowed her to serve students on a broader scale. The servant leadership principles she learned at McMurry guided her as she moved into positions of increasing responsibility, including Associate Provost of the Sweetwater campus. Today, she serves as Director of Learning Support at TSTC, overseeing Access and Learning Accommodations, Testing Services, and Library Services statewide. What began as a single teaching opportunity has grown into a career impacting countless students across Texas.
One of the most meaningful moments of her professional journey came in 2017 when she received the W.R. Potter Mark of Teaching Excellence Faculty Award. Teaching developmental math courses, GaBrielle worked with students who often entered the classroom feeling discouraged or defeated. Her encouraging teaching style focused on building confidence and helping students rediscover their ability to succeed. Watching students pass her courses and complete their degrees affirmed her purpose and reinforced her commitment to higher education.
At the heart of GaBrielle’s leadership philosophy is service. She leads by supporting others, building genuine connections with students and colleagues, and asking how she can help. That approach is rooted in her McMurry experience, where faculty took the time to know and care for their students. She now strives to model that same care and intentionality in her work every day.
Her love for McMurry continues through her service on the McMurry Alumni Association Board of Directors and the Recognition Committee. After receiving the Young Alumni Achievement Award in 2019, GaBrielle felt called to give back by helping recognize other alumni making meaningful impacts. She treasures meeting fellow alumni, hearing their stories, and celebrating their accomplishments, knowing firsthand how powerful that recognition can be.
For current McMurry students, GaBrielle encourages openness and curiosity. She believes students should embrace opportunities even if they do not align with their original plans, build relationships with faculty, and seek out community on campus. Those connections, she says, are among the most valuable parts of the McMurry experience.
Today, being a McMurry alum means being part of a family. GaBrielle loves returning to campus for Homecoming, participating in Career Services interview panels, and connecting with students who are just beginning their journeys. Her story has truly come full circle. This spring, she returns to the classroom once again as an adjunct instructor teaching Chemistry for Allied Health, a moment that mirrors where it all began. From lab assistant to professor, student to leader, GaBrielle Mallet’s journey is a testament to the lasting impact of opportunity, service, and the McMurry community.
Do you or an alum you know have a great post-McMurry story? We’d love to feature YOU! Contact the Alumni Office at alumni@mcm.edu to schedule an interview.