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William Woods University is governed by a Board of Trustees which consists of a number of dedicated, talented, and influential citizens.
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JOHN H. EDWARDS, a board member since 2007, is the chair of the board of trustees. Originally from Pittsburgh, Pa., he earned his B.A. from Boston College and then received his M.A. in early American history from San Francisco State University. Since 1980 he has been a member of the dispensing committee of John R. McCune Charitable Trust in Pittsburgh, and since 2001 he has been a member of the planning and development committee of the McCune Foundation. John has been a board member for Hamden Hall Country Day School, a private K-12 school in Hamden, Conn., since 1991 and has been chairman since 2000. From 1984 to 1994, he was the transcriber and administrator for publishing “The Works of Jonathan Edwards,” a project based at Yale University. In 2004, he presented a LEAD program at William Woods on the importance of history and Jonathan Edwards’ place in American history. |
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NANCY WALLER THOMAS, first vice chair, has been a board member since 1987. Following her graduation from William Woods in 1967, she remained active in the National Alumni Association, serving a two-year term as president. In 1985 she received the Alumni Association’s Green Owl Award. She also served on the committee to plan the renovation of the Fairchild Alumni House. Nancy is an active community member and is involved with the Missouri State Genealogical Association. Nancy and her husband, Tom, began the Nancy Waller Thomas Endowed Scholarship. She has been a realtor for RE/MAX Boone Realty of Columbia, Mo., since 1987; she now serves as state officer with the Women’s Council of Realtors. |
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H. DALE LARUE, second vice chair of the board of trustees, was appointed to the board in 1985. In 1989, he served on the Presidential Search Committee. Dale is owner of Central Missouri Vault Company. He is a well-known Fulton community member, past president of the Callaway Chamber
of Commerce, past president of the Fulton Board
of Associates, and an organizer of the first annual Kingdom Days celebration. |
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JANET DANUSER, a graduate of William Woods and secretary of the board of trustees, was elected to the board in 2002. After attending William Woods in the late ’60s, she married Jerry Danuser of Fulton in 1970 and has made her home in the community ever since. For a number of years she was involved in the family business, Danuser Machine Company, which manufactures farm equipment and related components for customers worldwide. A past president of the Callaway County William Woods Alumni Club, she also served as a member of the WWU Capital Campaign Steering Committee. She was active in the William Woods Theatre Critic’s Circle for many years. In 1995, she was the WWU Alumni Service Award recipient. She served on the board of the Friends of the Winston Churchill Memorial for several years and is on the board of the Central Missouri Chapter of Safari Club International. She enjoys showing American Saddlebred horses. |
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DAN WESTHUES, treasurer of the board of trustees, was appointed to the board in 2008. Westhues is senior vice president, consumer banking, of Central Bank in Jefferson City. Previously he was director of E-commerce for Central Bancompany. A Westminster College graduate, he earned his master of business administration (MBA) at William Woods. He also attended the Stonier Graduate School of Banking at Georgetown University. Westhues is active in the Jefferson City community, serving as chairman of the community campaign for United Way of Central Missouri and as funds allocation panel chair since 2001. He is treasurer of the Missouri River Regional Library. He has served on the Jefferson City Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and as chair of Leadership Jefferson City. He has been on the board of directors of both the Capitol City Council on the Arts and the Jefferson City Community Concerts Association. |
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CYNDI BUTLER of Springfield, Va., is a member at large of the executive committee and was appointed to the board in 2005. A graduate of American University and a licensed nursing home administrator, she is owner/administrator of a Falls Church, Va., nursing home. She also is the president and chairman of the board of the Lucille and Bruce Lambert
Charitable Foundation, which has contributed generously to William Woods over the years. |
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JOAN FIRLEY was elected to the board in 2001. Joan donated an art collection of more than 200 pieces to the university, including works by such artists as Salvador Dali. A resident of Jefferson City, she is the retired president of Casualty Indemnity Exchange. She is the widow of Art Firley, a former WWU board member who donated the Firley Soccer Field at William Woods in her honor. Joan has been a member of the WWU President’s Advisory Council. She is a member of the Jefferson City Family YMCA Board of Trustees, University of Missouri Friends of Music Board of Directors and the American Heart Association Mid-Missouri Heart Ball Committee. She was a founding member of the Ellis Fischel Cancer Center Advisory Board in 1991 and continues to serve on that board. She also serves on the Capital Region Medical Center Board of Governors and the Hospice of Jefferson City and Mid-Missouri Board of Directors. |
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CHARLES W. JAMES, a member at large of the executive committee, has been a member
since 1990. He is retired after serving as chief executive officer of Central Electric Company in Fulton, Mo., for 20 years. Central Electric manufactures electrical switchgear that is distributed nationally and internationally. His background is in electrical engineering;
he is a Registered Engineer with the National and Missouri Societies of Professional Engineers, and senior member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers. A well-known community member, Charlie served 10 years on the Fulton Board of Education and six years as director of the Chamber of Commerce. He is a former outfielder for the St. Louis Cardinals and the Cincinnati Reds. |
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SUE ANDERSON of Los Angeles, Calif., was appointed to the board in 2005 and is a member at large of the executive committee. Nancy Sue Falley Anderson came to William
Woods from Topeka, Kan., and graduated in 1961 with an A.A. degree. Sue and her husband, Dana, have four children, one of whom, Jenee, is a current student. A real estate developer and investor, Dana Anderson is vice chairman of the board and a partner in The Macerich Company, the third largest mall owner in the United States. Sue and Dana were our special guests at the 2007 WWU Commencement when Dana served as our speaker. Anderson Arena in the Helen Stephens Sports Complex is named for the Andersons, in appreciation
for their generous donation toward its complete renovation in 2007. |
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ANN
SIMIEN-CURL, a board member since 2006, was raised on a farm in Southwest Louisiana, near Lafayette, where she grew up around cattle and horses. Her father was an active member of the American Quarter Horse Association. As a child she was involved in 4-H and once won a blue ribbon for her prize Angus bull at a Baton Rouge 4-H livestock show. She moved to Kansas City and attended Penn Valley Community College. She and her husband, Rick, met in 1976, married and had two daughters, Jessica and Ashley Re’. Rick’s father was a walking horse fan, so it was easy for the family to find its way to the American Saddlebred. Ann is an American Royal governor and a 2005 recipient of the American Saddlebred Horse Association Lurline Roth Sportsmanship Award. She gives her time and energy to the American Saddlebred community in memory of daughter Ashley
Re’ Curl. |
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RANDALL B. CUTLIP served as president of William Woods 1960-1980. After his presidency he was named president emeritus and elected to the board of trustees for a four-year term. He was reelected in 1992. Prior to his William Woods tenure he was assistant
professor and director of military counseling at the University of Houston, dean of Atlantic Christian College, associate professor of psychology at Louisiana Tech University and professor of psychology and dean of the graduate division at Chapman University. From 1984 to 1996 Randy served on the Schreiner College Board and as vice president of the University of Americas Foundation Board. Randy is a trustee of the Amy Shelton McNutt Charitable Trust. |
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THE HONORABLE RAYMOND W. GRUENDER, a board member since 2006, sits on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. Previously he has served as the U.S. Attorney
for the Eastern District of Missouri, where he oversaw an office of 60 Assistant U.S. Attorneys. Prior to that, he served as an Assistant United States Attorney and spent nine years in private law practice. He earned B.S., MBA and J.D. degrees from Washington University.
In 2003, he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws degree by William Woods University. Ray is a past president of Alternatives to Living in Violent Environments. He serves on the allocations committee of the St. Louis Variety Club and received its 2003 “Have a Heart, Lend a Hand” volunteer award. He also has served as a director of the Shakespeare Festival of St. Louis. Ray and his wife, Judy, reside in St. Louis. |
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VICTORIA GUNN, who was appointed to the board in 1984, graduated summa cum laude from William Woods in 1971 with a major in biology. She graduated from the University
of Missouri School of Medicine in 1975, and now practices dermatology in Jefferson City, Mo. She has served as president of the Mid-Missouri Dermatological Society, as well as on the board of directors of the Missouri Dermatological Society. In addition, Vicki is a member of the American Academy of Dermatology, the American Medical Association, the American Society of Investigative Dermatology and the Dermatology Foundation. In 1983, Vicki delivered the fall convocation address at William Woods. She also established the Victoria Gunn Henry Scholarship. |
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MELINDA CHERYL HALL-PATTERSON, a board member since 2002, is a 1969 graduate of William Woods University and the mother of Maria Schiffen WWU ’92. She succeeded her father, Melvin Hall, who had been a member of the William Woods University Board of Trustees since 1962. Cheryl has been a member of the President’s Advisory Council, a group of select individuals who visit campus on a regular basis to advise the president on various issues. She has assisted with the management of her father’s numerous businesses, including the ownership of several financial institutions and, more recently, business ventures pertaining to the entertainment and tourism industry in Branson, Mo. The scholarship sponsored by the Hall family is the largest endowed scholarship at the university. |
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DEBORAH HUTCHISON graduated from William Woods in 1974 and was appointed to the board in 1997. She is vice president of Panther Productions, Inc., a Los Angeles-based feature film and television production company specializing in animation, live action and RTA (real time animation). Deborah is responsible for acquiring projects and developing original ideas for both live action and animation. Early in her career, Deborah owned Rosen-Knutsen Casting, and was responsible for casting such films as “Dr. Detroit,” “Class,” “Streets of Fire,” “Code of Silence” and “Weird Science.” She also served as an assistant director on “Weird Science,” “Hill Street Blues,” “Lady Blue” and on various television commercials. Deborah is a member of the Directors Guild of America. |
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THE HONORABLE STETEPHEN N. LIMBAUGH JR., former chief justice of the Missouri Supreme Court, was appointed to the board in 1997. He has had a distinguished career in public service, beginning in 1978 when he was elected prosecuting attorney of Cape Girardeau(Mo.) County. In 1987, he was appointed circuit judge of the 32nd Judicial Circuit, filling an unexpired term. The following year he was elected for the remainder of the term. In 1992, Steve was appointed to the Missouri Supreme Court and was retained in the 1994 and 2006 general elections. Judge Limbaugh was recently appointed to the U.S. District Court for Eastern Missouri. He is a member of the American Bar Association and a fellow in the American Bar Foundation. |
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MARTHA MARES LEBO, a 1959 graduate of William Woods, was appointed to the board in 2000. She has been involved in education her entire career. After completing a B.S. in education at the University of Missouri, she taught first grade in Jefferson County, Colorado, for two years and Alexander County, Illinois, for four years. She also worked for Operation Headstart. While teaching fourth grade at Judson ISD in San Antonio, Texas, she earned her master of education from Our Lady of the Lake University. She then worked as an elementary school librarian for 12 years at Judson ISD. A member of several teacher and library professional associations, she was named Distinguished Educator in 1985 and 1997. She has been a member of numerous organizations, including the San Antonio Symphony, San Antonio Botanical Gardens, Children’s Fine Art Series, McNay Art Museum, Chi Omega Alumnae, AAUW, Beta Sigma Phi and the William Woods Alumni Board. |
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CARLOS ORTEGA MALDONADO, a board member since 1993, is founder and president of the Espiritu Santo University in Guayaquil, Ecuador. Carlos received the Doctor of Jurisprudence from the Catholic University Law School of Guayaquil. He is also a graduate of the Goethe Institute in Germany. He attended American high schools in Nebraska and Indiana. In 1989, Carlos founded Corazon De La Patria, an elementary school located in an underdeveloped area of Guayaquil. He is founder and director of Pramar and Bonafide, Shrimp Farm Companies, and founder and general manager of CETI Corporation. He is also a real estate broker, president of the Social and Sport Club Espiritu Santo, and director of the Administration Board of Conticorp in Guayaquil. |
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DILIP G. PARULEKAR was appointed to the board in 1997. He is the rotating chief of surgery at Callaway Community Hospital in Fulton, Mo., and board certified in general surgery. For the last 20 years, Dilip has provided surgical teaching and training to rotating family practice residents for the University of Missouri School of Medicine’s family practice program. In 1969, after completing his medical residency in India, Dilip came to the United States, serving St. Luke’s Hospital in St. Louis, Mo. From 1970 to1974, he remained at St. Luke’s and was appointed to general surgery residency and later named chief surgical resident. In 1976, Dilip became associated with Callaway Community Hospital. He is the former president of the Callaway County Medical Society and is a member of the Missouri State Medical Association and the American Medical Association. |
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LUANN RIDGEWAY, a state senator from Smithville, Mo., was appointed to the board in 2007. She has served the 17th District as a state senator since 2004. Previously, she served as state representative for Missouri’s 35th District, 1992-2002. A Moberly, Mo., native, she graduated magna cum laude from William Woods University in 1978 with a bachelor of arts degree. She studied at Oxford University in England and graduated from the University of Missouri-Kansas City in 1981 with a juris doctor degree. As a state representative,
she was assistant minority whip of the House Republican Caucus, 1995-1999. As a state senator, she was elected to the majority caucus chair leadership position in 2007. In addition to her law career, she is active in local organizations and serves as pianist at Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Smithville. |
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THERESA S. VONDERSCHMITT, a businesswoman and William Woods benefactor, was elected to the board in 2004. Theresa manages more than 50 limited partnerships and a portfolio of investments in more than 200 companies. She also serves as a member of the Board of Japan Communications, Inc., a mobile communications company based in Japan. A native of Japan, Theresa divides her time between her homes in Jasper, Ind., and San Jose, Calif., with frequent trips to Japan. She has extensive management experience in the airline industry, including an 18-year tenure with Pan American World Airways. She is a member of Alpha Sigma Lambda and a recipient of the Economist’s Award from Fordham University. In 2003, Theresa was named an Honorary Alumnus of William Woods University in recognition of the generous scholarship help she has provided to WWU students. |
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BERNARD W. WEITZMAN, a member of the board since 1976, and former longtime treasurer, is an attorney for Friedman, Weitzman and Friedman in St. Louis, Mo. A member of the ABA and the National Association of College and University Attorneys, Bernie has assisted William Woods for many years in the development of important institutional policies and procedures. Bernie has established the Bernard Weitzman Scholarship Fund, and assisted in providing the campus-wide administrative/instructional computer system. In 2000, in appreciation for all he has done for the university, William Woods dedicated its new model courtroom in his name. |
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BEN WELLS, executive vice president and chief financial officer for Burger King Corporation, was appointed to the board in 2008. Wells has more than 25 years of financial experience and currently serves as a key member of the Burger King executive leadership team. He has also served as the senior vice president, treasurer of the company. Prior to Burger King, he was vice president, corporate treasurer at Compaq Computer Corporation. Before that he held various financial and treasury responsibilities over a 10-year period at British Petroleum. He earned his bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Missouri-Columbia, master’s degree in economics from Texas A&M University and a master’s degree in business administration from Canisius College. His daughter Kate is a student at WWU. |
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Honorary Board Members |
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MARJORIE BARRETT CARROLL of Cincinnati, Ohio, was a student at William Woods in 1944 to 1945. She has been active in alumni organizations: former president of St. Louis Alumni Club, former National Alumni Board member, and past president of National Alumni Association. She was the recipient of the Green Owl Award in 1963 and the Distinguished Alumnus Award in 1986. A former board member, she became an honorary member in 1993. |
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JOSEPH P. CANGEMI, a board member since 1988 and an honorary member since 2005, is professor of psychology and full member of the graduate faculty at Western Kentucky University. Joe is author or co-author of numerous books, served as editor of three behavioral science journals, and has had hundreds of articles published. During his career in professional leadership and organizational development consulting, he
has consulted for more than 200 major corporations worldwide. He is the three-time recipient of the Excellence in Productive Teaching Award from the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences at Western Kentucky University, the Distinguished Alumnus Award from the State University of New York at Oswego and the Distinguished Public Service Award from Western Kentucky University. He and his wife established the Joseph and Amelia Cangemi Scholarship and the Lisa Ann Cangemi Scholarship, named for their daughter, a 1988 graduate. |
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ALBERT W. “BUD” DOEPKE became a board member in 1987 and an honorary trustee in 2002. He is the former president of Browning-Ferris Industries of Kansas City. Bud now owns and operates Far View Farm, Inc., of Bucyrus, Kan., where he and his family breed, raise and train quarter horses. Bud is a trustee of University Hospital and College, Lakeside Hospital, University Towers, and is a member of the Board of Governors of the American Royal, the American Quarter Horse Association and the Northeast Kansas Quarter Horse Association. Bud established the Doepke Family Scholarship at William Woods, in recognition
of his wife, Martha Jo, and two daughters, Sherri and Cassie, all William Woods graduates. |
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BRUCE EDWARD GROSSMAN, a Mexican citizen, was appointed to the board in 1995 and became an honorary trustee in 2003. Bruce is chairman of the board and CEO of Consultores Patrimoniales, S.A. de C.V., as well as member of the advisors board for the Family Business Network, based in Switzerland. He has a strong marketing background, working as a marketing department brand manager for Procter & Gamble de Mexico, S.A. and as president of Grossman y Asociados, S.A. He is the vice chairman of the board of Grupo Continental, S.A., a publicly held holding company that owns and operates 46 corporations including the fifth largest Coca-Cola operation in the world. Bruce is an associate member of the Society of International Business Fellows and a member of the board of trustees of the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio, Texas. |
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IRENE KEMP KENT, a member of the board of trustees for 14 years, is a 1945 alumna of William Woods and now resides in Muscatine, Iowa, where she is active in community affairs. She serves on the board of trustees of the Muscatine Art Center, and is a member of the YWCA, PEO, and the American Association of University Women. Irene and her husband, Jim, share interest in their international company, Grain Processing Company–Kent Feed Company. They have supported William Woods through the establishment of the Kent Family Scholarship, as well as support for the renovation of the Fairchild Alumni House and the construction of the deck for Tucker Dining Hall. She became an honorary trustee in 2001. |
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WAYNE NEWTON has performed live to more than 30 million people, including a thrilled audience at William Woods University in December 1999 when he donated his services to raise money for scholarships. He became an honorary trustee in 2000. He has epitomized the talent, glamour and energy that is Las Vegas--the entertainment capital of the world--for so long that he is called “Mr. Las Vegas.” He sets records every time he steps on a stage. His charisma and talent have translated well to the movie screen and he has appeared in several major motion pictures. He has recorded hundreds of albums and has entertained troops in Vietnam, Lebanon and the Persian Gulf. The U.S. Defense Department gave him its highest civilian award for being the only American entertainer to perform in all three spots. In 2001 he succeeded Bob Hope as USO goodwill ambassador, and each year he makes a contribution to that organization in the name of William Woods University. |
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CLAUDINE BARRETT COX O’CONNOR, WWU ’43 and a member of the board from 1954 to 1991, was named to honorary status in 2003. She was alumni association president in 1951-52 and, over the years, has made substantial financial contributions to WWU. She is the recipient of the Green Owl Award and the Distinguished Alumni Award. Claudine earned B.A. and M.B.A. degrees from Drury College, and a Ph.D. in economics from the University of Missouri. She taught at Drury and Southwest Missouri State University. She was also the portfolio manager and financial consultant for Cox Medical Center and several family corporations and trust funds. Involved in numerous activities, she was the first chairman of the state-based National Endowment for the Humanities and the U.S. representative to the
Luso-American Development Foundation in Portugal. She was also the alternate U.S. representative to the executive board of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). |
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C. TRAVIS TRAYLOR JR. became interested in William Woods in the 1970s when his daughter, Susan, attended. Travis is self-employed as a private investor and real estate developer. He was the chairman of the board and president of First Mortgage Company of Texas and First General Realty Company until 1983, when he retired. He joined the William Woods University Board of Trustees in 1973 and was named to honorary status in 1998. He lives in Houston, Texas. |
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JOE WEIDER, president of Weider Health and Fitness, was named an honorary trustee in 1994. His company publishes Muscle & Fitness, Shape and Flex magazines, among the most popular health magazines on the newsstands. Joe was named honorary trustee for his energetic advocacy of health education and fitness at WWU. He lives in Woodland Hills, Calif. |
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