Board of Trustees
The Board of Trustees is the governing body of Virginia Wesleyan University, Coastal Virginia'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, three-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 five functional areas of the University: Academic Affairs, Students Life, Advancement, Finance and Administration, Enrollment, and oversight of endowment investments.
2018-2019
David L. Kaufman, Chair
Scott D. Miller, Ph.D. (Ex officio), President of the University
Jonathan E. Pruden, Vice Chair
Cynthia M. Rodriguez '14, Secretary
J. Tim Bailey '83, Treasurer
George K. (Chip) Tsantes III '83, Parliamentarian
Gary D. Bonnewell '79, Immediate Past Chair
J. Tim Bailey '83
Division President
Compass Group/Canteen
Charlotte, North Carolina
Susan Torma Beverly '72
Retired Principal
Virginia Beach, Virginia
Gary D. Bonnewell '79
Certified Financial Planner
Norfolk, Virginia
Nancy T. DeFord, Ph.D.
Vice President, DeFord, Ltd.
Retired, Superintendent
Park City (Utah) School District
Virginia Beach, Virginia
Troy DeLawrence '93 (Ex officio)
Lead Test Engineer
CACI
Virginia Beach, Virginia
O. L. (Butch) Everett
Director
Jones & Frank Corporation
Norfolk, Virginia
William H. George
President/CEO
YMCA of South Hampton Roads
Chesapeake, Virginia
Sharon S. Goodwyn
Counsel, Hunton Andrews Kurth
Norfolk, Virginia
Susan S. Goode
Community Leader and Volunteer
Norfolk, Virginia
William W. Granger III
Managing Partner
Granger Investment Properties, LLC
Norfolk, Virginia
Mary C. Haddad
President
Louis & Mary Haddad Foundation
Suffolk, Virginia
Jean T. Jenkins '89
Community Leader and Volunteer
Virginia Beach, Virginia
Alexander B. Joyner (Ex officio)
Superintendent, Eastern Shore District
United Methodist Church
Parksley, Virginia
David L. Kaufman
Founder & Senior Managing Director
Envest
Virginia Beach, Virginia
Howard P. Kern
President & CEO
Sentara Healthcare
Norfolk, Virginia
Ronald M. Kramer
Community Leader and Volunteer
Virginia Beach, Virginia
Sharma D. Lewis (Ex officio)
Presiding Bishop, Richmond Area
United Methodist Church
Glen Allen, Virginia
John F. Malbon
Chairman and CEO
PAPCO, Inc.
Virginia Beach, Virginia
Vincent J. Mastracco, Jr.
Partner
Kaufman and Canoles, P. C.
Norfolk, Virginia
Robert W. McFarland
Partner
McGuireWoods
Norfolk, Virginia
Scott D. Miller, Ph.D. (Ex officio)
President
Virginia Wesleyan University
Virginia Beach, Virginia
Eric C. Nyman '94
President
Hasbro North America
Providence, Rhode Island
Tassos J. Paphites '79
Chairman & CEO
BurgerBusters Inc.
Virginia Beach, Virginia
Deborah M. Paxson '75
Retired Judge, Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court
City of Virginia Beach
Virginia Beach, Virginia
Jonathan E. Pruden
Owner/President
Taste Unlimited, LLC
Norfolk, Virginia
Robin D. Ray
President
Atlantic Dominion Distributors
Virginia Beach, Virginia
Cynthia M. Rodriguez '14
Treasurer
Bay Mechanical, Inc.
Virginia Beach, Virginia
Louis F. Ryan
Retired, Executive Vice President
and General Counsel
Landmark Communications
Norfolk, Virginia
Alan H. Shaw
Executive Vice President
and Chief Marketing Officer
Norfolk Southern Corporation
Norfolk, Virginia
James H. Shumadine
Co-President
The Employment Guide
Norfolk, Virginia
M. Wayne Snead (Ex officio)
Superintendent, Elizabeth River District
United Methodist Church
Norfolk, Virginia
Lee T. Stevenson '85
Chief Operating Officer
North America
Marsh LLC
New York, New York
Joseph R. Thomas
Retired, Regional Vice President
GEICO
Virginia Beach, Virginia
Kenneth G. Trinder II
CEO & President
EOS Systems
Norfolk, Virginia
George K. (Chip) Tsantes III '83
McLean, Virginia
D. Henry Watts
Retired, Vice Chairman
Norfolk Southern Corporation
Virginia Beach, Virginia
Michael J. White '81
CEO and Head of TradeLens
Maersk GTD Inc.
Jersey City, New Jersey
Trustees Emeriti
Jane P. Batten
Former Chair, VWU Board of Trustees
Community Leader and Volunteer
Virginia Beach, Virginia
George Y. Birdsong
Former Chair, VWU Board of Trustees
CEO, Birdsong Corporation
Suffolk, Virginia
S. Frank Blocker, Jr.
President, EAD
Norfolk, Virginia
Joan P. Brock
Former Chair, VWU Board of Trustees
Former Secretary-Treasurer, Dollar Tree Stores, Inc.
Virginia Beach, Virginia
Thomas C. Broyles
Partner
Kaufman & Canoles, P.C.
Virginia Beach, Virginia
Robert W. Collenberg II '90
President
The Shutter Door Design & Build, LLC
Virginia Beach, Virginia
Robert H. DeFord, Jr.
President
DeFord, Ltd.
Virginia Beach, Virginia
William J. Fanney
Retired Director and Chairman Emeritus
Life Savings Bank
Virginia Beach, Virginia
Lemuel E. Lewis
Retired Executive Vice President and CFO
Landmark Communications
Norfolk, Virginia
John E. Lingo, Jr.
Vice President
Jack Lingo Realty
Lewes, Delaware
Elizabeth F. Middleton '91
Corporate Secretary, E.G. Middleton, Inc.
Community Leader and Volunteer
Virginia Beach, Virginia
Emily S. Miles
Community Leader and Volunteer
Norfolk, Virginia
William S. Shelhorse '70
President
Chesapeake Bay Contractors, Inc.
Virginia Beach, Virginia
William H. Thumel, Jr.
President
Abacus of Hampton Roads
Virginia Beach, Virginia
John A. Trinder
President and COO
MaxMedia, Inc.
Virginia Beach, Virginia
As of 10/24/18