Announcing the Lenoir-Rhyne Tuition-Free Guarantee

Lenoir-Rhyne announces tuition-free guarantee for North and South Carolina students
With the Lenoir-Rhyne Tuition-Free Guarantee, tuition will never stand in the way of your dreams. Starting in fall 2026, eligible students from North and South Carolina can earn a world-class education tuition-free—powered by scholarships and grants, not loans.

View the Lenoir-Rhyne Guarantee

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

Mickey Payseur '73 — Mickey Payseur '73
Chair
Cherryville, NC
CPA

Chris Peek — Chris Peek
Vice Chair
Gastonia, NC
President and CEO CaroMont Health

Janie Peak — Janie Peak '73
Secretary
Gastonia, NC
Retired High School Teacher, LR Education Department

Gabi Kelly — Gabi Kelly '01
Assistant Secretary
Charlotte, NC
Executive Search Consultant, Coleman Lew Canny Bowen

Jearld Leonhardt — Jearld Leonhardt '69
Treasurer
Newton, NC
Retired EVP and CFO of CommScope, Inc.

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

Duane Dassow — Duane Dassow ’75
Greensboro, NC
Retired Business Owner

Stephanie Delgado — Stephanie Delgado ’07
Jacksonville, FL
Senior Director, International Media (PGA)

Marvin S. (Eddie) Edwards, Jr. — Marvin S. (Eddie) Edwards, Jr.
Hickory, NC
President & CEO, CommScope, Inc.

Rob Fritz ’76 — Rob Fritz ’76
Boone, NC
Retired from Pfizer

Boyd George — Boyd George
Hickory, NC
Alex Lee, Inc.

Tammy Ice — Tammy Ice ’95
Wake Forest, NC

Margaret Jackson — Margaret Jackson ’69
Newton, NC
Business Owner (retired)

Dr. Leslie Lambert — Dr. Leslie Lambert
Roanoke, VA

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

George Moretz — George Moretz
Hickory, NC
O. Leonard Moretz Foundation

Isaiah (Ike) F. Oglesby — Isaiah (Ike) F. Oglesby ’91
Greensboro, NC
Broker/Owner, Oglesby Realty

The Rev. Dr. Timothy M. (Tim) Smith — The Rev. Dr. Timothy M. (Tim) Smith
Salisbury, NC
Bishop, NC ELCA Synod

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

Boyd Wilson — Boyd Wilson ’74
Hudson, NC

Ex Officio Membership

Summer McGee — Dr. Summer McGee
Lenoir-Rhyne University President

The Rev. Dr. Timothy M. Smith — The Rev. Dr. Timothy M. Smith
Bishop, NC Synod, ELCA

Rev. Richard Goeres — The Rev. Richard Goeres
Interim Chair, LTSS Advisory Council

News & Events

Avery Webb

Where mentorship meets opportunity

From family tradition to the Fritz Honors College, psychology major Avery Webb ’26 embraces mentorship, research and leadership opportunities to shape her college experience and future.

Students walk outside the Cromer Center.

Shurtape Technologies, LLC, gift advances revitalization of Lenoir-Rhyne University’s Cromer Center

A $250,000 gift from Shurtape Technologies brings the Cromer Center one step closer to a modern refresh—new spaces, improved accessibility, and even more energy in the heart of campus life.

November 18 7:30 PM - 7:00 PM / P.E. Monroe Auditorium

LR Wind Ensemble & Wind Symphony Concert: The Harvest

November 20 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM / Belk Centrum

Visiting Writers Series: Patrick Bringley "All the Beauty in the World"