The governing body of Lenoir-Rhyne University, the board of trustees, is responsible for upholding the mission and vision of the university.
Board of Trustees
Leadership
Madeleine Dassow '75, Chair
Boyd Wilson '74, Vice Chair
Katherine Esch '70, Secretary
Janie Peak '73, Assistant Secretary
Jearld Leonhardt '69, Treasurer
Members
Dr. Edward (Eddie) L. Beard, Jr. ’85
Hickory, NC
President and CEO, Catawba Valley Medical Center
The Rev. Mark Bernthal LTSS ’86
Vero Beach, FL
ELCA Pastor, Our Savior Lutheran Church
Perrell D. Bess, '06 JD '16
Weddington, NC
Vice President of Compliance and Operational Risk, Bank of America
Dr. Steven (Steve) R. Carter ’74
Pinehurst, NC
Anesthesiologist (retired)
The Rev. Dr. Eric Childers
Charleston, SC
Senior Pastor, St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church
The Rev. Dr. Rachel L. Connelly LTSS ’90
Walhalla, SC
ELCA Pastor, St. John’s Lutheran
Madeleine S. Dassow ’75
Greensboro, NC
Businesswoman/Former Teacher
Marvin S. (Eddie) Edwards, Jr.
Hickory, NC
President & CEO, CommScope, Inc.
Katherine B. (Kate) Esch ’70
Hickory, NC
Civic Leader
The Rev. G. Scott Homesley ’83
Abingdon VA
ELCA Pastor, St. John Lutheran Church
Margaret Jackson ’69
Newton, NC
Business Owner (retired)
Gabrielle Kelly ’01
Charlotte, NC
Executive Search Consultant, Coleman Lew Canny Bowen
Dewyone (Pedie) King ’96
Hickory, NC
King Suzuki of Hickory
Dr. Leslie Lambert
Roanoke, VA
Jearld L. Leonhardt ’69
Newton, NC
Retired EVP and CFO of CommScope, Inc.
Hansel (Hank) McCrorie ’60
Hickory, NC
McCrorie Family Vineyards, LLC
Joseph P. (Joe) McGuire
Asheville, NC
President, McGuire Wood and Bissette P.A.
Katherine F. McKenzie ’69
Wilmington, NC
Executive VP and Chief HR Officer, Citizens Financial Group (retired)
The Rev. J. Stephen Misenheimer ’76 LTSS ’82
Knoxville, TN
Retired Lutheran Pastor
Isaiah (Ike) F. Oglesby ’91
Greensboro, NC
Broker/Owner, Oglesby Realty
Corie Pauling
Davidson, NC
Senior Vice President, Chief Diversity Officer, TIAA
Janie Parks Peak ’73
Gastonia, NC
Retired High School Teacher, LR Education Department
Chris Peek
Gastonia, NC
President and CEO CaroMont Health
The Rev. Dr. Timothy M. (Tim) Smith
Salisbury, NC
Bishop, NC ELCA Synod
Michael Thomas, JD
Hickory, NC
Partner: Patrick, Harper, Dixon
The Rev. Christopher D. Webb ’93 LTSS ’97
Hickory, NC
Senior Pastor, Holy Trinity Lutheran Church
Dr. Fred K. Whitt
Hickory, NC
President, Lenoir-Rhyne University
Boyd Wilson, Jr. ’74
Hudson, NC
Executive VP, Broyhill Investments, Inc.
Ex Officio Membership
Dr. Fred Whitt, Lenoir-Rhyne University President
The Rev. Dr. Timothy M. Smith Bishop, NC Synod, ELCA
The Rev. Richard Goeres, Interim Chair, LTSS Advisory Council