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, 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.
2024-2025
Jonathan E. Pruden, Chair
Scott D. Miller, Ph.D., President of the University (Ex officio)
Nancy T. DeFord, Ed.D., Vice Chair
J. Timothy Bailey '83, Treasurer
Mavis E. McKenley '11, Secretary
John F. Malbon H'22, Immediate Past Chair
G. Robert Aston, Jr. H'20
Executive Chairman of the Board
TowneBank
Portsmouth, Virginia
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, Virginia
Jessie K. Dawe '08 (Ex officio)
Clerk, Supreme Court of Virginia
Chesapeake, Virginia
Nancy T. DeFord, Ed.D.
Vice President
DeFord, Ltd.
Virginia Beach, Virginia
Graham E. Garrenton
President
Chesapeake Bay Contractors, Inc
Virginia Beach, Virginia
Susan S. Goode H'22
Community Leader
Norfolk, Virginia
Sharon S. Goodwyn
Retired Counsel
Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP
Chesapeake, Virginia
William W. Granger III
Managing Partner
Granger Investment Properties, LLC
Norfolk, Virginia
Sue Haupert-Johnson H’23 (Ex officio)
Presiding Bishop, Richmond Area
United Methodist Church
Glen Allen, Virginia
Jeffrey S. Heller
Retired Vice President, Intermodal and Automotive
Norfolk Southern
White Stone, Virginia
David L. Kaufman H'19
Founder & Senior Managing Director
Envest Private Equity
Virginia Beach, Virginia
Howard P. Kern
President & Chief Executive Officer Emeritus
Sentara Health
Virginia Beach, Virginia
John F. Malbon H'22
Retired Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
PAPCO, Inc.
Virginia Beach, Virginia
Vincent J. Mastracco, Jr.
Partner
Kaufman & Canoles, P.C.
Norfolk, Virginia
Robert W. McFarland
Partner
McGuireWoods LLP
Norfolk, Virginia
Mavis E. McKenley '11
Vice President and Trust Officer
AMG National Trust Bank
Virginia Beach, Virginia
Angela M. Mercer, M.D.
Retired Physician
Virginia Beach, Virginia
Scott D. Miller, Ph.D. (Ex officio)
President
Virginia Wesleyan University
Virginia Beach, Virginia
William L. Murray, Ph.D.
Senior Vice President-Corporate Affairs & Communications
Dominion Energy
Richmond, Virginia
Matthew R. Nusbaum
Asset Manager, Partner
S.L. Nusbaum Realty Co.
Norfolk, Virginia
Eric C. Nyman '94
Chief Executive Officer
Vista Outdoors
Providence, Rhode Island
Tassos J. Paphites '79
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
BurgerBusters Inc.
Virginia Beach, Virginia
Hon. Deborah M. Paxson '75
Retired Judge, Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court
City of Virginia Beach
Virginia Beach, Virginia
Jonathan E. Pruden
Chief Executive Officer
Taste Unlimited, LLC
Virginia Beach, Virginia
Michael R. Rawls '91
Executive Vice President and Chief Executive Officer
Xome (a division of The Mr. Cooper Group)
Flower Mound, Texas
Robin D. Ray
President
Atlantic Dominion Distributors
Virginia Beach, Virginia
Joseph P. Ruddy ‘83
Chief Operations Officer
Virginia International Terminals
Virginia Beach, Virginia
Jaclyn Ruelle '04
Vice President of Marketing
Homes.com
Richmond, Virginia
Louis F. Ryan
Retired, Executive Vice President and General Counsel
Landmark Communications
Norfolk, Virginia
Becky Sawyer
Executive Vice President & Chief People Officer
Sentara Health
Virginia Beach, Virginia
James H. Shumadine
Co-President
The Employment Guide
Norfolk, Virginia
Lee T. Stevenson '85
President
LineSlip Solutions, Inc.
Onancock, Virginia
Joseph R. Thomas
Retired Regional Vice President
GEICO
Virginia Beach, Virginia
Kenneth G. Trinder II
President and Chief Executive Officer
EOS Surfaces, LLC
Norfolk, Virginia
George K. (Chip) Tsantes III '83
Retired Principal
Ernst & Young LLP
Manassas, Virginia
Jody M. Wagner
President
Jody's Popcorn
Norfolk, Virginia
Anthony Walters
President and Chief Executive Officer
YMCA of South Hampton Roads
Chesapeake, Virginia
Michael J. White '81
Retired Chief Executive Officer and Head of TradeLens
GTD Solution Inc.
Scotch Plains, New Jersey
Douglas B. Wilson '86
Executive Vice President
LifeNet Health
Norfolk, Virginia
Trustees Emeriti
Jane P. Batten H'06
Community Leader
Virginia Beach, Virginia
George Y. Birdsong H'16
Chief Executive Officer and General Counsel
Birdsong Corporation
Suffolk, Virginia
Joan P. Brock H'10
Former Secretary-Treasurer
Dollar Tree Stores, Inc.
Virginia Beach, Virginia
Thomas C. Broyles
Retired Partner and Attorney
Kaufman & Canoles, P.C.
Virginia Beach, Virginia
Robert W. Collenberg II '90
President
The Shutter Door Design & Build, LLC
Virginia Beach, Virginia
O. L. (Butch) Everett
Retired Partner
JF Petroleum Group
Virginia Beach, Virginia
Ronald M. Kramer
Community Leader
Virginia Beach, Virginia
Lemuel E. Lewis
Retired Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Landmark Communications
Suffolk, Virginia
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, Virginia
Emily S. Miles
Community Leader
Norfolk, Virginia
Jerry L. Miller
Chief Executive Officer
The Miller Group
Virginia Beach, Virginia
Alan H. Shaw
Former President and CEO
Norfolk Southern Corporation
Atlanta, Georgia
William S. Shelhorse '70
Co-Founder and President
Chesapeake Bay Contractors, Inc.
Virginia Beach, Virginia
William H. Thumel, Jr.
President
Abacus Machine Shop & Racing
Virginia Beach, Virginia
John A. Trinder
President and Chief Operating Officer
MaxMedia, Inc.
Virginia Beach, Virginia
D. Henry Watts, D.B.A. H'07
Retired Vice Chairman
Norfolk Southern Corporation
Virginia Beach, Virginia
As of 1/2/2025