The Board of Trustees is the governing body of Å·ÃÀ³ÉÈË Wesleyan University, Coastal Å·ÃÀ³ÉÈË's premier university of the liberal arts and sciences. It supports the University's mission, is responsible for securing adequate financial resources for the operation of the University, and establishes long-range goals and institutional policies.
Trustees include leaders from business and industry, education, and the United Methodist Church, as well as the President of the University, who serves as an ex officio trustee. The full Board, which may consist of up to 40 elected trustees, meets three times per year and members serve staggered, four-year terms. Trustee Emeritus/Emerita status may be conferred upon members who rotate off the Board.
The majority of the Board's work is accomplished through committees that relate to the main functional areas of the University: Campus Affairs, Finance, Endowment, and University Relations.
2025-2026
Nancy T. DeFord, Ed.D., Chair
Scott D. Miller, Ph.D., President of the University (Ex officio)
Sharon S. Goodwyn, Vice Chair
J. Timothy Bailey '83, Treasurer
Mavis E. McKenley '11, Secretary
Jonathan E. Pruden, Immediate Past Chair
Susan S. Goode H'22, Parliamentarian
G. Robert Aston, Jr. H'20
Executive Chairman of the Board
TowneBank
Portsmouth, Å·ÃÀ³ÉÈË
J. Timothy Bailey '83
Retired Division President
Canteen/Compass Group
Charlotte, North Carolina
Gary D. Bonnewell '79, H'16
Senior Vice President, Financial Advisor
Morgan Stanley Smith Barney
Norfolk, Å·ÃÀ³ÉÈË
Nancy T. DeFord, Ed.D.
Vice President
DeFord, Ltd.
Å·ÃÀ³ÉÈË Beach, Å·ÃÀ³ÉÈË
Graham E. Garrenton
President
Chesapeake Bay Contractors, Inc
Å·ÃÀ³ÉÈË Beach, Å·ÃÀ³ÉÈË
William R. Gobble '03 (Ex officio)
Retired Investment Operations Analyst
Capital Group – American Funds
Susan S. Goode H'22
Community Leader
Norfolk, Å·ÃÀ³ÉÈË
Sharon S. Goodwyn
Retired Counsel
Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP
Chesapeake, Å·ÃÀ³ÉÈË
William W. Granger III
Managing Partner
Granger Investment Properties, LLC
Norfolk, Å·ÃÀ³ÉÈË
Sue Haupert-Johnson H’23 (Ex officio)
Presiding Bishop, Richmond Area
United Methodist Church
Glen Allen, Å·ÃÀ³ÉÈË
Jeffrey S. Heller
Retired Vice President, Intermodal and Automotive
Norfolk Southern
White Stone, Å·ÃÀ³ÉÈË
David L. Kaufman H'19
Founder & Senior Managing Director
Envest Private Equity
Å·ÃÀ³ÉÈË Beach, Å·ÃÀ³ÉÈË
Howard P. Kern
President & Chief Executive Officer Emeritus
Sentara Health
Å·ÃÀ³ÉÈË Beach, Å·ÃÀ³ÉÈË
John F. Malbon H'22
Retired Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
PAPCO, Inc.
Å·ÃÀ³ÉÈË Beach, Å·ÃÀ³ÉÈË
Vincent J. Mastracco, Jr.
Partner
Kaufman & Canoles, P.C.
Norfolk, Å·ÃÀ³ÉÈË
Robert W. McFarland
Partner
McGuireWoods LLP
Norfolk, Å·ÃÀ³ÉÈË
Mavis E. McKenley '11
Vice President and Trust Officer
AMG National Trust Bank
Å·ÃÀ³ÉÈË Beach, Å·ÃÀ³ÉÈË
Angela M. Mercer, M.D.
Retired Physician
Å·ÃÀ³ÉÈË Beach, Å·ÃÀ³ÉÈË
Scott D. Miller, Ph.D. (Ex officio)
President
Å·ÃÀ³ÉÈË Wesleyan University
Å·ÃÀ³ÉÈË Beach, Å·ÃÀ³ÉÈË
William L. Murray, Ph.D.
Senior Vice President-Corporate Affairs & Communications
Dominion Energy
Richmond, Å·ÃÀ³ÉÈË
Matthew R. Nusbaum
Asset Manager, Partner
S.L. Nusbaum Realty Co.
Norfolk, Å·ÃÀ³ÉÈË
Eric C. Nyman '94
Chief Executive Officer
Revelyst
Providence, Rhode Island
Hon. Deborah M. Paxson '75
Retired Judge, Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court
City of Å·ÃÀ³ÉÈË Beach
Å·ÃÀ³ÉÈË Beach, Å·ÃÀ³ÉÈË
Jonathan E. Pruden
Executive Chairman/Chief Strategy Officer
TASTE Family of Businesses
Å·ÃÀ³ÉÈË Beach, Å·ÃÀ³ÉÈË
Michael R. Rawls '91
Retired Chief Executive Officer/Executive Vice President
Xome (a division of The Mr. Cooper Group)
Flower Mound, Texas
Robin D. Ray
President
Atlantic Dominion Distributors
Å·ÃÀ³ÉÈË Beach, Å·ÃÀ³ÉÈË
Joseph P. Ruddy ‘83
Chief Operations Officer
Å·ÃÀ³ÉÈË International Terminals
Å·ÃÀ³ÉÈË Beach, Å·ÃÀ³ÉÈË
Jaclyn Ruelle '04
Consultant
Richmond, Å·ÃÀ³ÉÈË
Louis F. Ryan
Retired, Executive Vice President and General Counsel
Landmark Communications
Norfolk, Å·ÃÀ³ÉÈË
Becky Sawyer
Executive Vice President & Chief People Officer
Sentara Health
Å·ÃÀ³ÉÈË Beach, Å·ÃÀ³ÉÈË
James H. Shumadine
Co-President
The Employment Guide
Norfolk, Å·ÃÀ³ÉÈË
Lee T. Stevenson '85
President
LineSlip Solutions, Inc.
Onancock, Å·ÃÀ³ÉÈË
Joseph R. Thomas
Retired Regional Vice President
GEICO
Å·ÃÀ³ÉÈË Beach, Å·ÃÀ³ÉÈË
Kenneth G. Trinder II
President and Chief Executive Officer
EOS Surfaces, LLC
Norfolk, Å·ÃÀ³ÉÈË
George K. (Chip) Tsantes III '83
Retired Principal
Ernst & Young LLP
Manassas, Å·ÃÀ³ÉÈË
Jody M. Wagner
President
Jody's Popcorn
Norfolk, Å·ÃÀ³ÉÈË
Anthony Walters
President and Chief Executive Officer
YMCA of South Hampton Roads
Chesapeake, Å·ÃÀ³ÉÈË
Douglas B. Wilson '86
Executive Vice President
LifeNet Health
Norfolk, Å·ÃÀ³ÉÈË
Trustees Emeriti
Jane P. Batten H'06
Community Leader
Å·ÃÀ³ÉÈË Beach, Å·ÃÀ³ÉÈË
George Y. Birdsong H'16
Chief Executive Officer and General Counsel
Birdsong Corporation
Suffolk, Å·ÃÀ³ÉÈË
Joan P. Brock H'10
Former Secretary-Treasurer
Dollar Tree Stores, Inc.
Å·ÃÀ³ÉÈË Beach, Å·ÃÀ³ÉÈË
Thomas C. Broyles
Retired Partner and Attorney
Kaufman & Canoles, P.C.
Å·ÃÀ³ÉÈË Beach, Å·ÃÀ³ÉÈË
Robert W. Collenberg II '90
President
The Shutter Door Design & Build, LLC
Å·ÃÀ³ÉÈË Beach, Å·ÃÀ³ÉÈË
O. L. (Butch) Everett
Retired Partner
JF Petroleum Group
Å·ÃÀ³ÉÈË Beach, Å·ÃÀ³ÉÈË
Ronald M. Kramer
Community Leader
Å·ÃÀ³ÉÈË Beach, Å·ÃÀ³ÉÈË
Lemuel E. Lewis
Retired Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Landmark Communications
Suffolk, Å·ÃÀ³ÉÈË
John E. Lingo, Jr.
Manager and Retired Vice President
Jack Lingo Realty
Lewes, Delaware
Elizabeth F. Middleton '91
Retired Corporate Secretary
E.G. Middleton, Inc.
Community Leader
Norfolk, Å·ÃÀ³ÉÈË
Emily S. Miles
Community Leader
Norfolk, Å·ÃÀ³ÉÈË
Jerry L. Miller
Chief Executive Officer
The Miller Group
Å·ÃÀ³ÉÈË Beach, Å·ÃÀ³ÉÈË
Tassos J. Paphites '79
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
BurgerBusters Inc.
Å·ÃÀ³ÉÈË Beach, Å·ÃÀ³ÉÈË
Alan H. Shaw
Former President and CEO
Norfolk Southern Corporation
Atlanta, Georgia
William S. Shelhorse '70
Co-Founder and President
Chesapeake Bay Contractors, Inc.
Å·ÃÀ³ÉÈË Beach, Å·ÃÀ³ÉÈË
William H. Thumel, Jr.
President
Abacus Machine Shop & Racing
Å·ÃÀ³ÉÈË Beach, Å·ÃÀ³ÉÈË
John A. Trinder
President and Chief Operating Officer
MaxMedia, Inc.
Å·ÃÀ³ÉÈË Beach, Å·ÃÀ³ÉÈË
As of 10/1/2025