Board of Trustees


The governing body of Lenoir-Rhyne University, the board of trustees, is responsible for upholding the mission and vision of the university.

Leadership


Gabi Kelly
Gabi Kelly '01
Assistant Secretary
Charlotte, NC
Executive Search Consultant, Coleman Lew Canny Bowen
Mickey Payseur '73
Mickey Payseur '73
Chair
Cherryville, NC
CPA
Janie Peak
Janie Peak '73
Secretary
Gastonia, NC
Retired High School Teacher, LR Education Department
The Charge statue of Bear on LR campus
Hunt Shuford
Vice Chair
Hickory, NC
Boyd Wilson
Boyd Wilson ’74
Treasurer
Hudson, NC

Members


Perrell D. Bess
Perrell D. Bess, '06 JD '16
Weddington, NC
Vice President of Compliance and Operational Risk, Bank of America
The Rev. Dr. Eric Childers
The Rev. Dr. Eric Childers
Charleston, SC
Senior Pastor, St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church
Rob Fritz ’76
Rob Fritz ’76
Boone, NC
Retired from Pfizer
Samantha Howell
Samantha Howell ’90
Conover, NC
Tammy Ice
Tammy Ice ’95
Wake Forest, NC
Margaret Jackson
Margaret Jackson ’69
Newton, NC
Business Owner (retired)
Jearld Leonhardt
Jearld Leonhardt '69
Newton, NC
Retired EVP and CFO of CommScope, Inc.
Dr. Summer McGee
Dr. Summer McGee
Hickory, NC
President, Lenoir-Rhyne University
Stephen Misenheimer
The Rev. J. Stephen Misenheimer ’76 LTSS ’82
Knoxville, TN
Retired Lutheran Pastor
David Moore
David Moore ’76
Hickory, NC
Isaiah (Ike) F. Oglesby
Isaiah (Ike) F. Oglesby ’91
Greensboro, NC
Broker/Owner, Oglesby Realty
Chris Peek
Chris Peek
Gastonia, NC
President and CEO CaroMont Health
Frank Surface
Frank Surface ’85
Gainesville, VA
Michael Thomas
Michael Thomas, JD
Hickory, NC
Partner: Patrick, Harper, Dixon
Christopher Webb
The Rev. Christopher D. Webb ’93 LTSS ’97
Hickory, NC
Senior Pastor, Holy Trinity Lutheran Church

Ex Officio Membership


The Charge statue of Bear on LR campus
The Rev. Dr. Rachel Connelly
LTSS Advisory Chair
Bishop Emily Hartner
Bishop Emily Hartner, Ex-officio
NC Synod, ELCA
Summer McGee
Dr. Summer McGee
Lenoir-Rhyne University President

News & Events

George Hall at sunset with Charge Forward logo

Lenoir-Rhyne University has surpassed the $90 million goal of its Charge Forward comprehensive campaign ahead of schedule, reaching a historic milestone in the largest fundraising campaign in university history.

View More
Ethan Craig sits in a red-orange chair in a hallway in the Mitford Museum

First-year student Ethan Craig ’30 turned a summer internship at the Mitford Museum into hands-on experience in museum curation — and caught a glimpse of the places his passion for art might someday lead.

View More