The Board of Trustees is the governing body of 51²è¹Ý Wesleyan University, Coastal 51²è¹Ý'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, 51²è¹Ý
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, 51²è¹Ý
Nancy T. DeFord, Ed.D.
Vice President
DeFord, Ltd.
51²è¹Ý Beach, 51²è¹Ý
Graham E. Garrenton
President
Chesapeake Bay Contractors, Inc
51²è¹Ý Beach, 51²è¹Ý
Susan S. Goode H'22
Community Leader
Norfolk, 51²è¹Ý
Sharon S. Goodwyn
Retired Counsel
Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP
Chesapeake, 51²è¹Ý
William W. Granger III
Managing Partner
Granger Investment Properties, LLC
Norfolk, 51²è¹Ý
Sue Haupert-Johnson H’23 (Ex officio)
Presiding Bishop, Richmond Area
United Methodist Church
Glen Allen, 51²è¹Ý
Jeffrey S. Heller
Retired Vice President, Intermodal and Automotive
Norfolk Southern
White Stone, 51²è¹Ý
David L. Kaufman H'19
Founder & Senior Managing Director
Envest Private Equity
51²è¹Ý Beach, 51²è¹Ý
Howard P. Kern
President & Chief Executive Officer Emeritus
Sentara Health
51²è¹Ý Beach, 51²è¹Ý
John F. Malbon H'22
Retired Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
PAPCO, Inc.
51²è¹Ý Beach, 51²è¹Ý
Vincent J. Mastracco, Jr.
Partner
Kaufman & Canoles, P.C.
Norfolk, 51²è¹Ý
Robert W. McFarland
Partner
McGuireWoods LLP
Norfolk, 51²è¹Ý
Mavis E. McKenley '11
Vice President and Trust Officer
AMG National Trust Bank
51²è¹Ý Beach, 51²è¹Ý
Angela M. Mercer, M.D.
Retired Physician
51²è¹Ý Beach, 51²è¹Ý
Jessie D. Mianowski '08 (Ex officio)
Clerk, Supreme Court of 51²è¹Ý
Chesapeake, 51²è¹Ý
Scott D. Miller, Ph.D. (Ex officio)
President
51²è¹Ý Wesleyan University
51²è¹Ý Beach, 51²è¹Ý
William L. Murray, Ph.D.
Senior Vice President-Corporate Affairs & Communications
Dominion Energy
Richmond, 51²è¹Ý
Matthew R. Nusbaum
Asset Manager, Partner
S.L. Nusbaum Realty Co.
Norfolk, 51²è¹Ý
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 51²è¹Ý Beach
51²è¹Ý Beach, 51²è¹Ý
Jonathan E. Pruden
Executive Chairman/Chief Strategy Officer
TASTE Family of Businesses
51²è¹Ý Beach, 51²è¹Ý
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
51²è¹Ý Beach, 51²è¹Ý
Joseph P. Ruddy ‘83
Chief Operations Officer
51²è¹Ý International Terminals
51²è¹Ý Beach, 51²è¹Ý
Jaclyn Ruelle '04
Consultant
Richmond, 51²è¹Ý
Louis F. Ryan
Retired, Executive Vice President and General Counsel
Landmark Communications
Norfolk, 51²è¹Ý
Becky Sawyer
Executive Vice President & Chief People Officer
Sentara Health
51²è¹Ý Beach, 51²è¹Ý
James H. Shumadine
Co-President
The Employment Guide
Norfolk, 51²è¹Ý
Lee T. Stevenson '85
President
LineSlip Solutions, Inc.
Onancock, 51²è¹Ý
Joseph R. Thomas
Retired Regional Vice President
GEICO
51²è¹Ý Beach, 51²è¹Ý
Kenneth G. Trinder II
President and Chief Executive Officer
EOS Surfaces, LLC
Norfolk, 51²è¹Ý
George K. (Chip) Tsantes III '83
Retired Principal
Ernst & Young LLP
Manassas, 51²è¹Ý
Jody M. Wagner
President
Jody's Popcorn
Norfolk, 51²è¹Ý
Anthony Walters
President and Chief Executive Officer
YMCA of South Hampton Roads
Chesapeake, 51²è¹Ý
Douglas B. Wilson '86
Executive Vice President
LifeNet Health
Norfolk, 51²è¹Ý
Trustees Emeriti
Jane P. Batten H'06
Community Leader
51²è¹Ý Beach, 51²è¹Ý
George Y. Birdsong H'16
Chief Executive Officer and General Counsel
Birdsong Corporation
Suffolk, 51²è¹Ý
Joan P. Brock H'10
Former Secretary-Treasurer
Dollar Tree Stores, Inc.
51²è¹Ý Beach, 51²è¹Ý
Thomas C. Broyles
Retired Partner and Attorney
Kaufman & Canoles, P.C.
51²è¹Ý Beach, 51²è¹Ý
Robert W. Collenberg II '90
President
The Shutter Door Design & Build, LLC
51²è¹Ý Beach, 51²è¹Ý
O. L. (Butch) Everett
Retired Partner
JF Petroleum Group
51²è¹Ý Beach, 51²è¹Ý
Ronald M. Kramer
Community Leader
51²è¹Ý Beach, 51²è¹Ý
Lemuel E. Lewis
Retired Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Landmark Communications
Suffolk, 51²è¹Ý
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, 51²è¹Ý
Emily S. Miles
Community Leader
Norfolk, 51²è¹Ý
Jerry L. Miller
Chief Executive Officer
The Miller Group
51²è¹Ý Beach, 51²è¹Ý
Tassos J. Paphites '79
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
BurgerBusters Inc.
51²è¹Ý Beach, 51²è¹Ý
Alan H. Shaw
Former President and CEO
Norfolk Southern Corporation
Atlanta, Georgia
William S. Shelhorse '70
Co-Founder and President
Chesapeake Bay Contractors, Inc.
51²è¹Ý Beach, 51²è¹Ý
William H. Thumel, Jr.
President
Abacus Machine Shop & Racing
51²è¹Ý Beach, 51²è¹Ý
John A. Trinder
President and Chief Operating Officer
MaxMedia, Inc.
51²è¹Ý Beach, 51²è¹Ý
As of 7/1/2025