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.

Board of Trustees

Leadership


Madeleine Dassow '75, Chair
Boyd Wilson '74, Vice Chair
Katherine Esch '70, Secretary
Janie Peak '73, Assistant Secretary
Jearld Leonhardt '69, Treasurer

Members


Dr. Edward (Eddie) L. Beard, Jr. ’85
Hickory, NC
President and CEO, Catawba Valley Medical Center

Perrell D. Bess, '06 JD '16
Weddington, NC
Vice President of Compliance and Operational Risk, Bank of America

Dr. Steven (Steve) R. Carter ’74
Pinehurst, NC
Anesthesiologist (retired)

The Rev. Dr. Eric Childers
Charleston, SC
Senior Pastor, St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church

Madeleine S. Dassow ’75
Greensboro, NC
Businesswoman/Former Teacher

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

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

Katherine B. (Kate) Esch ’70
Hickory, NC
Civic Leader

Boyd George
Hickory, NC
Alex Lee, Inc.

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

Gabrielle Kelly ’01
Charlotte, NC
Executive Search Consultant, Coleman Lew Canny Bowen

Dr. Leslie Lambert
Roanoke, VA

Jearld L. Leonhardt ’69
Newton, NC
Retired EVP and CFO of CommScope, Inc.

Hansel (Hank) McCrorie ’60
Hickory, NC
McCrorie Family Vineyards, LLC

Katherine F. McKenzie ’69
Wilmington, NC
Executive VP and Chief HR Officer, Citizens Financial Group (retired)

The Rev. J. Stephen Misenheimer ’76 LTSS ’82
Knoxville, TN
Retired Lutheran Pastor

George Moretz
Hickory, NC
O. Leonard Moretz Foundation

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

Corie Pauling
Davidson, NC
Senior Vice President, Chief Diversity Officer, TIAA

Janie Parks Peak ’73
Gastonia, NC
Retired High School Teacher, LR Education Department

Chris Peek
Gastonia, NC
President and CEO CaroMont Health

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

Michael Thomas, JD
Hickory, NC
Partner: Patrick, Harper, Dixon

The Rev. Christopher D. Webb ’93 LTSS ’97
Hickory, NC
Senior Pastor, Holy Trinity Lutheran Church

Dr. Fred K. Whitt
Hickory, NC
President, Lenoir-Rhyne University

Boyd Wilson, Jr. ’74
Hudson, NC
Executive VP, Broyhill Investments, Inc.

Ex Officio Membership


Dr. Fred Whitt, Lenoir-Rhyne University President
The Rev. Dr. Timothy M. Smith Bishop, NC Synod, ELCA
The Rev. Richard Goeres, Interim Chair, LTSS Advisory Council

News & Events

Aerial view of campus

Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary will officially begin its new chapter in Hickory with an opening service on January 15, 2025 in Grace Chapel.

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Eric Dunaway sits on the steps of the Rhyne Building

In the Navy, Eric Dunaway '26 helped rescue refugees. Then he had to rescue himself. Now he's looking to a future supporting his fellow veterans.

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