Board of Trustees Profiles
Carson Veach – Chair
Serving since 2010
Carson Veach, a native of New York state, is a principal at Miller, Canfield and is resident in the firm's Chicago office. He also sits on the advisory board of the Chinese American Service League. Prior to joining Freeborn & Peters he was the part owner, chief operating officer and general counsel of a privately held national wine importing and distribution company from 1998-2004, when the company was sold. His pre-1998 career included a multi-year stint as a trial attorney with the U.S. Department of Justice and a 17-year association with the law firm of Seyfarth, Shaw, Fairweather and Geraldson, where he was first an associate and then an equity partner.
Carson graduated from Coe in 1974 and earned J.D. and MBA degrees from the University of Chicago. He currently resides in the Chicago metro area. Carson enjoys golf, platform tennis, watching his sons play sports, reading, music and movies.
Sigrid Strong Reynolds – Vice Chair
Serving since 2010
Sigrid Strong Reynolds graduated cum laude from Duke University in 1974 with a degree in anthropology and went on to earn a second degree in history and teacher education at Coe in 1994. She is a retired AP history teacher in the Cedar Rapids Community School District. She is currently serving as vice president at the Hattie M. Strong Foundation in Washington, D.C. The foundation’s scholarship program supports 120 student teachers at 23 college and universities in D.C., Maryland, Virginia and North Carolina.
Sigrid and Curt lived in Cedar Rapids for 30 years. In 2009, they moved to the mountains of western Maryland to continue Curt’s work as a family practitioner. Now fully retired, they reside in the Cleveland, Ohio, area and enjoy spending time with their children and grandchildren.
Curt Menefee – Second Vice Chair
Serving since 2010
Curt Menefee is currently the host of “Fox NFL Sunday,” a position he has held since 2006, and “Hello Goodbye” on the Travel Channel. Prior to that, he was a play-by-play announcer for NFL games on Fox for 10 seasons while also anchoring sports for the local Fox station in New York City.
Curt has been involved in sports television since his days as a student at Coe, where he graduated in 1987 with a major in American studies and minors in history and physical education. He began his professional career at KCRG in Cedar Rapids prior to moving on to stations in Des Moines, Madison, Washington, D.C., Jacksonville and Dallas before ending up in New York where (at the age of 29) he was the youngest sports director on television.
Curt and his wife, Viollette, have a home in the Studio City area of Los Angeles.
Having traveled to more than 70 countries and all seven continents, you can often find him at an airport near you. Curt describes himself as a “consistently crappy golfer who has fun playing!” He loves listening to music and butchering the guitar, but his real addiction is playing “Words With Friends” on his iPad. Curt received an honorary doctor of journalism degree from Coe when he delivered the commencement address to the Class of 2010.
In thinking about the college, Curt notes, “Coe has a sense of community that extends beyond the four years that you are on campus. It’s in the friends you keep in touch with, the people to whom you can’t wait to explain what ‘C-O-E’ stands for and its liberal arts focus that influences the choices you make on a daily basis. The best way to describe it is that Coe is a place that gets in your brain when you’re a freshman and stays in your heart forever.”
Kristin Patterson Lenz – Secretary
Serving since 2019
Kristin Patterson Lenz graduated from Coe in 1996 with a degree in elementary education and taught for seven years in the Cedar Rapids Community School District. After moving to Wisconsin in 2003, she became a community advocate while staying home with her five children, the oldest of whom is now a student at Coe. Kristin helped start The Children’s Museum of Fond du Lac where she also wrote curriculum and programming while serving on the board of directors. She has been active in her children’s schools and programs mentoring young moms. Kristin also served on the board of directors for the local art center.
Kristin’s passion for interior design and hospitality has developed into a growing business, White Arrows Home. She consults with decor clients, assists companies with their social media, writes lifestyle and decorating articles and co-hosts The Cabincast podcast. You can also find her helping with visitor services for the family business, Lenz Truck Center.
Kristin and her husband, Brian Lenz ’96, have been active alumni, making annual visits to Coe with their family each Homecoming, attending alumni events and staying connected to Kohawk mentors, coaches and friends.
David Hayes – Ex-officio
President, Coe College
David T. Hayes began serving as interim president of Coe College on January 1, 2021, and after a national search became the 16th president on October 1, 2021. His previous role was vice president for advancement and professor of business administration and economics. Hayes graduated magna cum laude from Coe College in 1993. He earned a Juris Doctor with high distinction and an LLM in international and comparative law from the University of Iowa College of Law.
As vice president for advancement, Hayes increased Coe’s average annual fundraising by nearly 40% over the last five years. He directed the Make Your Move Campaign, securing nearly $15 million of external support for the renovation and expansion of Hickok Hall as well as the athletic and recreational facilities.
Under Hayes’ fundraising leadership, the development of C3: Creativity, Careers, Community has resulted in national recognition. Coe has been named one of The Princeton Review’s Best Schools for Internships four years in a row and earned distinction as having a Best Alumni Network. Hayes also was an important campus partner for sustainability initiatives like the solar panels on Clark Racquet Center, the green roof on Gage Memorial Union and an award-winning water management program.
Hayes worked as an attorney with Shuttleworth & Ingersoll PLC law firm prior to returning to Coe in 2001 as director of gift planning and adjunct professor. He later joined the faculty full time and held the Louis J. & Ella Pochobradsky chair while serving as legal advisor to the president. Hayes is a two-time recipient of the Charles J. Lynch Outstanding Teacher Award. He directed Coe’s pre-law and environmental studies programs and led courses at Coe’s Wilderness Field Station before transitioning to the role of vice president in 2014.
David and his wife, Heather, are the parents of three children: Mackenzie, Johanna and Allison Hayes. Heather is the senior pastor at First Presbyterian Church in Cedar Rapids.
Terry Abernathy
Life Trustee serving since 1980
Wale Adeosun, CFA
Serving since 2014
Wale Adeosun, Coe Class of 1984, is originally from Lagos, Nigeria, and currently resides in New York City with his wife, Yvette (Hill) Adeosun ’84, and their three sons. Wale earned a double major in economics and business administration with minors in art history and computer science. After graduating from Coe, Wale earned an MBA with a concentration in finance from Washington University in St. Louis.
Wale is the founder and chief investment officer of Kuramo Capital Management with offices in New York City, Lagos, Nigeria, and Nairobi, Kenya. Kuramo Capital provides U.S. endowments, foundations and pension plans access to the tremendous sub-Saharan Africa growth opportunity.
Wale was appointed by U.S. Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker, along with 15 private sector leaders, to President Barack Obama’s Advisory Council on Doing Business in Africa (PAC-DBIA). Until recently, Wale was the chair of the investment advisory committee of the $180 billion New York State Common Retirement Fund. He is a member of the U.S. Eximbank’s Sub-Saharan Africa Board Committee and president of the Nigeria Higher Education Foundation in New York City.
Wale has almost 30 years of experience in global institutional investment management. Prior to founding Kuramo Capital, he was treasurer and chief investment officer at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), where he oversaw $1 billion in endowment and pension assets. He also served as managing director in the investments group of the MacArthur Foundation in Chicago, where he managed $2 billion in public equities and hedge fund assets.
In 2008, Wale was inducted by the New York Chapter of the National Association of Security Professionals into its Wall Street Hall of Fame. He was designated a Chartered Financial Analyst by the CFA Institute, of which he is also a member, in 1995.
Peter M. Birkey, CFA
Serving since 2010
Peter Birkey grew up in Montevideo, Minnesota, before going on to Coe and majoring in business administration and economics. An internship at Aegon in Cedar Rapids gave him his start investing for insurance companies. While at Aegon, he flew to the University of Chicago on weekends in order to earn an MBA in finance and marketing.
Starting in 1996, he worked at AmerUs Life in Des Moines, where he eventually headed the investment department. Peter worked from 2004-2013 in Boston at Liberty Mutual as the executive vice president of public markets and strategy. Currently, he sits on a number of different boards and does consulting work.
Peter has three girls and enjoys coaching their sports and living in northern Minnesota.
Kevin Buckner
Serving since 2017
Kevin Buckner is a Chicago native and attended Coe from 1990-1993, earning a bachelor’s degree in political science. Upon graduation, he worked as an admission counselor for Coe before entering the public accounting industry. Over the next 20 years, he served in various indirect tax capacities at major global professional services firms including Ernst & Young, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) and Iowa’s own McGladrey (now RSM).
Specializing in sales, use, value-added and telecommunications taxes, he has assisted companies worldwide with their tax strategies including implementing technology solutions and constructing instruments to reduce liabilities and streamline processes.
J. David Carson
Life Trustee serving since 2000
Dave Carson is originally from Chicago and presently lives in Northville, Michigan (west suburb of Detroit). Dave was a member of the senior global finance executive team at Ford Motor Company when he retired in January 2007; during his 33-year career he was based both in Detroit and in Europe. Since retiring, he has been an advisor to several companies.
Dave graduated from Coe in 1972, majoring in economics and business administration, and earned an MBA from the University of Iowa. Prior to joining Ford, he taught at Coe for two years. He has been a member of the Coe Board of Trustees since 2000, having served as the chair of the Finance Committee, the Investment Committee and as chairman of the Board of Trustees for six years.
He and his wife, Mary (Bridenstine) Carson ’73, have an adult son and daughter. Dave loves golf, reading and traveling.
Jack B. Evans
Life Trustee serving since 1978
Jack Evans is chairman of The Hall-Perrine Foundation, a private philanthropic corporation in Cedar Rapids. Prior to joining the foundation in January 1996, he was president and chief operating officer of SCI Financial Group, starting with the regional financial services company in 1972.
Jack earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Coe in 1970 and his MBA from the University of Iowa in 1972. Currently, he sits on the board of directors of Nuveen Mutual Funds and The American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery. Jack is a past member of the board of regents for the state of Iowa and chairman of the board of directors of United Fire Group.
He is past chairman and life trustee of Coe College, the Iowa College Foundation and the United Way of East Central Iowa. Other past board activities include Alliant Energy, Brucemore Inc., Cedar Rapids Airport Commission, Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, Four Oaks and Westminster Presbyterian Church. He is a former member of the Chicago Stock Exchange.
Jack and his wife, Nancy (Hamblin) Evans ’71, live in Cedar Rapids and have three grown sons, two daughters-in-law and three grandsons.
Sam Freitag
Serving since 1993
Sam Freitag, originally from Sumner, Iowa, graduated from Coe College in 1978, earning a bachelor’s degree with majors in economics and business administration. While at Coe, Sam was named a George Baker Scholar. He went on to receive an MBA in finance from the University of Iowa.
Sam has extensive experience in public offerings of equity, mergers, acquisitions and divestitures, private placements of debt and equity, leveraged buyouts and providing strategic advisory services. He served as vice chairman, director of investment banking of George K. Baum & Company and oversaw all corporate investment banking activities from 1993 to 1997. Sam also served as senior managing director of George K. Baum Capital Partners LP from 1997 to 2003. He has been an independent director of Ballantyne Strong Inc., Lansing Trade Group LLC and MarketSphere Consulting. Since 2004, Sam has been a member of several boards of directors and an independent private investor.
Christine Kaufmann Galloway
Life Trustee serving since 2005
Chris Galloway graduated from Coe in 1973 with a major in psychology. She served as director of admission at Coe before moving to the Chicago area where she completed her MBA at the Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University in 1985. Chris entered the financial services industry shortly thereafter, working with Harris Bank in Chicago before moving to Minneapolis, Minnesota, in 1993.
She retired as president and CEO of Okabena Company in December 2014 after 21 years of service to a multi-generational family of wealth. Her responsibilities included the delivery of fully integrated financial, tax, investment management and fiduciary services.
Chris and her husband, Jon ’72, divide their time between Tucson, Arizona, and Chicago, Illinois. She is now active as an independent director serving private companies and nonprofit organizations. Chris and Jon have one son who is practicing law with Baker McKenzie in Chicago.
David Gehring
Serving since 2005
David Gehring ’89 is a native of Rochelle, Illinois. He is married to Susan (Koenig) Gehring ’89, whom he met at Coe freshman orientation and dated for nine years before getting married. While at Coe, David majored in chemistry, general science and English, with a minor in biology. He went on to earn his D.D.S. from the University of Iowa College of dentistry in 1993 and his master’s degree and certificate in orthodontics in 1995, also at Iowa. He then established Gehring Orthodontics in Cedar Rapids.
David and Susan reside in Toddville, Iowa, and have three children: Calvin, Caroline and Evelyn. In addition to maintaining his busy practice, David enjoys an activity-filled family life and serves on several nonprofit boards in Cedar Rapids. When he has time for his hobbies he enjoys water skiing and snowboarding, and he is an instrument-rated private pilot.
H. Bola George
Serving since 2023
Bola earned his bachelor’s degree in chemistry and physics from Coe in 2000. He went on to earn his doctorate in applied physics from Harvard University in 2007 and his Juris Doctorate from Yale Law School in 2013.
Bola currently serves as executive director and assistant general counsel for JPMorgan Chase & Co., where he advises on transactional and regulatory matters. Previously, he was an associate at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP in Washington, D.C., where worked on a range of white-collar investigations and complex commercial litigation matters in federal and state courts. He has also maintained an active pro bono practice. Before embarking on a legal career, he was a research scientist and data analytics consultant.
As a Coe student, Bola was involved in various extracurriculars as well as many academic honor societies. As an alum, he has attended alumni events in his area and is a loyal donor, especially in his support of the Coe physics program. He currently lives in the Chicago area.
John R. Girotto
Life Trustee serving since 1993
John Girotto grew up in Kansas and attended Kansas University, graduating in 1960 with a Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering. He earned an MBA from the University of Iowa in 1966.
John is a retired executive of Rockwell International, a diversified group of companies.
He began his professional career in 1960 as a summer engineer with the Collins Radio Company. He subsequently served in engineering and management positions, most notably as the director of commercial avionics engineering and vice president and general manager of the Collins Air Transport Division. In 1990, John was appointed president of Collins Commercial Avionics and senior vice president of Rockwell International, retiring from that position in 1998. John continues to serve on various nonprofit and corporate boards and several startup companies.
John and his wife, Janetha (deceased), have two sons, Dr. John Girotto in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and Jay Girotto in Seattle, Washington. John travels coast-to-coast to keep up with his grandchildren. He is an avid Kansas basketball fan and an enthusiastic member of his adoptive Coe College community.
Ken Golder
Serving since 2007
Ken Golder, originally from Winnetka, Illinois, is a “semi-retired” real estate investor and hotelier. He graduated from Coe in 1982 with an interdisciplinary bachelor’s degree in communication techniques.
Ken is the founder and CEO of Golder Hospitality and Golder Hotel Properties LLC. His hospitality and real estate experience span 40 years, and he owns and manages a diverse portfolio of 10 properties in five states encompassing five major hotel brands.
He and his wife, Sue (Roe) Golder ’82, have lived in Apple Valley, Minnesota, since 1986. They have a son (29), a daughter (27) and their youngest daughter (22) is a Coe graduate from 2018. Ken is an avid golfer and enjoys cooking and fishing.
Dennis Greenspon
Serving since 2013
Dennis Greenspon grew up in Chicago and lived in Highland Park, Illinois, for over 30 years. After graduating from Coe in 1968 with majors in business administration and economics, Dennis served four years in the U.S. Navy and then returned to Chicago.
For more than 40 years, Dennis and his brother owned and operated their business — LDR Industries. LDR imports and distributes plumbing, kitchen and bath products. Dennis retired in 2015.
Dennis and his wife Lisa have been married since 1982. They have two grown children, two grandchildren, one cat and two dogs and reside in Fort Meyers Beach Florida.
Dennis views the liberal arts education and the on-campus residential experience he received at Coe as integral to whatever success he has had in life.
Sarah Hemming-Meyer
Serving since 2020
Sarah Hemming-Meyer graduated from Coe in 2005 with her degree in nursing. She worked as a nurse for four years before attending medical school at Des Moines University, graduating as a doctor of osteopathic medicine in 2013. She completed her emergency medicine residency at Indiana University and returned to Cedar Rapids where she is currently an emergency medicine physician with East Central Iowa Acute Care, a group of physicians and allied health professionals who provide board-certified emergency medical care to UnityPoint Health - St. Luke’s Hospital and other hospitals in the region. Sarah also is the resident liaison and clerkship coordinator for the University of Iowa Emergency Medicine Residency at St. Luke’s.
During her time at Coe, Sarah played on the women’s basketball team. She and her late husband, Joe Meyer ’07, have one daughter, Kyley Jo.
Gene M. Henderson
Serving since 1997
Gene Henderson, a native of Monona, Iowa, is a retired corporate executive. During his professional career, he served as CEO of Idine Rewards Network in Miami and Dimac Marketing Corporation in St. Louis. In addition, he spent 20 years with Epsilon Data Management in Boston. At Epsilon, he was president of the fundraising and membership services subsidiary and, ultimately, chief operating officer of the corporation, which during his tenure was acquired by American Express.
Gene was a biology major at Coe, earned an MBA at the University of Chicago, spent 14 months with the 1st Air Cavalry Division in Vietnam and over the years has served on several corporate and nonprofit boards. He and his wife, Glenda (Sullivan) Henderson ’75, have one son and three grandchildren who live in Lake Forest, Illinois. The Hendersons are residents of Miami Beach and have homes in Clayton, Missouri (St. Louis area), and Lake Forest. Gene is an avid golfer and a live music enthusiast.
Kent Herink
Serving since 2005
Kent Herink is a retired patent attorney for the firm of Davis, Brown, Koehn, Shors & Roberts PC, in Des Moines, where he practiced his entire career. Kent graduated from Coe in 1976 with a degree in physics and earned a master’s degree in physics at the University of Iowa in 1979. He went on to study law at Iowa, graduating with a J.D. in 1982.
Kent is one of five siblings who graduated from Coe between 1975 and 1987. He and his wife, Elaine, have three sons who are in the early stages of their careers. Kent and Elaine are avid skiers and enjoy spending time in Italy.
Shirley J. Hughes
Life Trustee serving since 2008
Shirley Hughes was elected the first woman chair of Johnson C. Smith University’s Board of Trustees in April 2016. She previously served as vice chair and has been a member of Charlotte, North Carolina’s Historically Black College and University’s (HBCU) board since 2004. In 2015, she was inducted into the university’s Golden Bull 1867 Giving Society, honoring her long-standing philanthropic commitment to the university.
Shirley retired in 2005 from her executive officer position as senior vice president of human resources at Ceridian Corporation, where she was responsible for global human resources strategy and the company’s community and philanthropic initiatives. Prior to that, her 35-year corporate career includes vice president of human resources for Mercy Health Services (now Trinity Health) of Farmington Hills, Michigan.
Previously, Shirley served on the board of directors of the Foundation of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota; the Corporate Blue Cross Board Inc.; and Graywolf Press, a premier national nonprofit literary publisher.
Shirley is actively involved in professional and local branches of national community organizations including Minneapolis-St. Paul chapter of the Links Inc.; former president of the Minneapolis-St. Paul chapter of GirlFriends Inc.; and as a steward of St. Peter’s A.M.E. Church.
Shirley has participated on various Twin Cities-based nonprofit boards, such as Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Greater Twin Cities and Second Harvest Heartland. Her long-standing civic and philanthropic giving was recognized by the National Center for Black Philanthropy during its Twin Cities conference in 2005.
Shirley is a native of Minneapolis, Minnesota, where she currently resides. In her free time, she is an enthusiastic book club member and is active in the lives of her extended family and godchildren.
Douglas Wyman Hyde
Life Trustee serving since 1996
Douglas W. Hyde is the former CEO and chairman of the board of Oshkosh B’Gosh Inc. Doug was instrumental in the company’s decision to aggressively pursue the children’s wear market in the late 1970s. He joined the company as a sales representative in 1975 and held various positions in the company, including vice president of merchandising and senior vice president of marketing. In 1991, he was elected president and CEO, and in 1993, he also assumed the position of chairman of the board. Prior to his employment with Oshkosh B’Gosh, he worked at Sundstrand Aerospace Corporation as a contract administrator.
Doug earned a Bachelor of Arts at Coe in 1974 and served in the U.S. Army Reserves. He resides in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, and Boca Grande, Florida, with his wife, Chrys ’74. They have two children, Andrew, who resides and works in Minneapolis, and Sarah, who lives and works in Chicago.
Doug is an enthusiastic supporter and past board president of the Oshkosh Boys & Girls Club, mentors youth at the club and has raised funds for the building of its Teen Center and many programs. Doug is an avid boater and is trying to improve his golf handicap.
Doug thinks Coe is a special place.
William P. Johnson
Life Trustee serving since 1988
Bill Johnson is a partner in Rothgerber Johnson & Lyons LLP, a Denver law firm. Bill is chairman and a founding director of FirstBank Holding Company, which conducts a banking business in Colorado, California and Arizona. Bill has served as a trustee of the University of Colorado Foundation and serves on the investment committee of the Denver Foundation. Bill served as president of the University of Colorado Alumni Association in 1980.
Bill and his wife, Lynda, live in Boulder, Colorado. They have three sons and six grandchildren. Bill is a 1953 graduate of Coe with a major in political science and a 1958 graduate of the University of Colorado Law School. Bill feels strongly that Coe prepared him well for law school and a subsequent career.
Mary Cook Jorgenson
Serving since 2016
Mary Cook Jorgenson grew up in Michigan and Kansas and graduated from Coe College in 1980 with a degree in English. She graduated cum laude and as a member of Phi Beta Kappa and Phi Kappa Phi. She is married to Mark Jorgenson, a 1979 graduate of Coe College.
Mary taught at Penn Valley Community College in Kansas City, Missouri, before devoting herself full time to raising her children and volunteer community service.
She has served extensively as a lay leader in the Presbyterian Church (USA), most recently on the National Board for Presbyterian Women including three years as the national moderator (2012-2015).
She currently serves on the board for Girl Scouts of NE Kansas and NW Missouri; United Inner City Services (home of St. Mark Child and Family Development Center); and Starlight Theater, Kansas City, Missouri.
Mary currently resides in Kansas City. She has four children (including Molly, Class of 2011) and three grandchildren. She enjoys traveling, reading mysteries and biographies and knitting.
Shion Kabasele
Serving since 2023
Originally from Dallas, Texas, Shion came to Iowa to earn her bachelor’s degree in biology, psychology and neuroscience from Coe College in 2022. She is currently attending the University of Iowa as a PhD candidate in the behavioral cognitive neuroscience program, studying the neural pathways involved with substance abuse.
Shion has worked as a research assistant at the University of Iowa in various capacities, a patient care technician at UnityPoint Health and an admission assistant for Coe College. She also volunteered as a tour guide, panelist and scholarship interviewer for Coe. As an undergraduate student, Shion was involved in the psychology club, Japanese Student Association and many academic honor societies, and she was a Supplemental Instruction (SI) leader for introductory biology courses.
Steven Kline
Life Trustee serving since 2004
Steve Kline is managing director of Sustainability & Policy Consulting where he advises organizations on sustainability reporting and policy as well as energy-related policy and regulatory issues. Over a 32-year career with Pacific Gas & Electric Company and PG&E Corporation, he served as director of corporate planning and vice president — regulation at Pacific Gas & Electric and vice president — corporate environmental and federal affairs at PG&E Corporation. In 2010, he was named PG&E’s first chief sustainability officer.
He has testified before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the California Public Utilities Commission and the U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives. He serves on the board of the China-U.S. Energy Efficiency Alliance and is a trustee of Coe College. Through 2013, he was a member of the executive advisory board of the EDGE Center at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business, and through 2012 he was a member of Hewlett Packard’s Executive Environmental Advisory Council.
Steve earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and economics from Coe College and a master’s degree in diplomacy from the Patterson School of Diplomacy, and he is a graduate of the University of Michigan’s Executive Business Program. His article, “Regulatory Policies for the Transition to the New Business Paradigm,” co-written with William Miller and Roland Risser, was published in “Distributed Generation and its Implications for the Utility Industry” (F. Sioshansi, Academic Press, 2014).
Mary Jeanne Krob
Serving since 1990
Mary Jeanne Krob earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry and general science at Coe in 1973. She went on to receive a master’s degree in genetics at the University of Missouri in 1974, her M.D. at the University of Iowa in 1978 and a master’s degree in instructional design and technology at the University of Iowa in 1995.
As a physician and surgeon, Mary Jeanne served as the medical director of the Burn Center at Mercy Hospital in Pittsburgh from 1987-1991 and currently works as a medical director for Highmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield. She also serves as an adjunct associate professor in the Department of Physician Assistants at Duquesne University.
Mary Jeanne serves on several nonprofit boards in the Pittsburgh area and on the family business board.
Mary Jeanne thinks Coe is a special place because it sees every student as a unique individual and helps them to see and realize their potential.
Stephanie Kroger
Serving since 2023
Stephanie earned her bachelor’s degree in English and political science from Coe in 1988. After graduating, she went on to earn her Juris Doctorate from Columbia University in 1991 and was admitted to the Texas state bar.
She has served as senior vice president of regulatory and business development for the Hunt Energy Network in Dallas, Texas, since 2022. In her current position, she is involved in developing large-scale battery energy storage and distributed energy projects through Texas. She has over three decades of experience in the electric utility industry, including being deeply involved in developing landmark competitive electricity legislation in Texas. Prior to her current position, Stephanie built her professional career as an attorney at Eversheds Sutherland LLP, Andrews Kurth LLP and Mayor, Day, Caldwell & Keeton LLP.
Stephanie was a highly-involved student during her time at Coe, including being a member of many academic honor societies and spending a term in Washington, D.C. Today, she is an equally active alumna, regularly attending Homecoming, loyally supporting the Annual Fund and previously serving as a member of the President’s Advisory Council (PAC). She and her husband, John, have two daughters, Katherine and Mary Margaret.
Vincent L. Martin
Life Trustee serving since 1989
Vince Martin grew up in southern California and attended Stanford University, graduating in 1960 with a B.S. in industrial engineering. He earned an MBA from Harvard Business School in 1963.
Vince’s professional career included experience with Westinghouse Air Brake, FMC Corporation (1974-79 in Cedar Rapids) and AMCA International. In 1985, Vince co-founded Jason Incorporated in Milwaukee, a diversified manufacturing business that now has operations in 11 countries with over 3,000 employees. Jason became a public company in 1987 and was subsequently taken private in 2000. Vince retired as CEO in 1999 and as chairman in 2004. He continues to serve on various corporate and nonprofit boards.
Vince's wife Jan passed away in 2020; they have two daughters in California, a son in Tennessee and six granddaughters. Vince resides in Saratoga, California.
Dave McInally
Life Trustee serving since 2013
David McInally took office as the 15th president of Coe College on July 1, 2013, and retired following the 2020-2021 academic year. A first-generation college student and National Merit Award winner, Dave earned a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration and a Master of Arts degree in English language and literature, both from the University of Akron. He received his Doctor of Education degree from the University of Pittsburgh in administrative and policy studies. Prior to his time at Coe, Dave served as the assistant dean of students, dean of students, secretary of the college and vice president for finance and planning at Allegheny College, beginning in 1986.
During his tenure at Coe, Dave launched efforts to increase Coe's enrollment and improve student success rates. Under his leadership, Coe welcomed the seven largest incoming classes and full-time enrollments in its history. Higher retention rates, reduced endowment spending and enhancements to campus infrastructure also are attributed to his presidency.
In addition to enrolling the most diverse incoming classes over the course of seven years, Dave’s focus on diversity and inclusion initiatives resulted in the 2016 dedication of the James Randall Intercultural Center, Reflection Room and LGBTQIA+ Resource Center.
Dave was instrumental in creating the college’s five-year strategic plan, A Bolder Coe, in 2015. The plan introduced the Learning Commons, a holistic learning environment providing academic support and guidance to help Kohawks get the most out of their Coe experience. It also paved the way for the creation of the C3: Creativity, Careers, Community center, which has been a catalyst for Coe’s inclusion in The Princeton Review’s Top 25 Best Schools for Internships in the Nation for several consecutive years.
Another key component of the strategic plan, the Center for Health and Society, will be named in honor of Dave and his wife, former First Lady Janice McInally. The facility will open in fall 2022 and will be a space dedicated to advising, mentoring and preparing students for careers in the growing health care industry.
In fall 2015, Dave introduced the Make Your Move Campaign, which culminated in enhanced academic and athletic spaces for Kohawks. In fall 2019, expanded athletic opportunities were announced including a clay target team, women’s bowling, women’s triathlon, archery, esports, men’s bowling and men’s triathlon.
With Dave at the helm, Coe saw more than $40 million in campus renovations. The campus was transformed into an Urban Field Station through a variety of sustainability initiatives including energy reduction, water management, installation of the green roof on Gage Memorial Union and solar panels on Clark Racquet Center.
Dave and Janice now reside in Urbandale, Iowa. They are the parents of two children, Will and Susannah.
Julie Johnson McLean
Serving since 2011
Julie Johnson McLean, a native of Mechanicsville, Iowa, is a senior shareholder of the law firm of Davis, Brown, Koehn, Shors & Roberts PC in Des Moines. She has a general business practice specializing in the areas of banking, bankruptcy and creditors’ rights, business organizations and transactions and mergers and acquisitions. Julie has served as an officer of several professional and business associations and on various nonprofit boards in central Iowa.
Julie graduated with majors in business administration and sociology from Coe in 1978 and earned her Juris Doctor at the University of Iowa in 1981. At Coe, Julie met her husband, Brian McLean (1979), and they have two daughters. Julie is a sports enthusiast and loves golf, biking, Hawkeye football and the Chicago Cubs.
Julie believes Coe prepared her well for law school and her subsequent professional career and involvement in the community. She believes Coe is a special place because of its focus on liberal arts, the residential campus experience and, most importantly, the talented and accessible faculty and staff who take a personal interest in the development and success of each student.
Paul Meyer
Serving since 2010
Paul Meyer grew up in Springfield, Missouri. He graduated from Coe, where he was a George F. Baker Scholar with a double major in economics and business administration, in 1974. After graduating from Coe, Paul earned a J.D. (cum laude) from Harvard Law School and an MBA from Harvard Business School in 1978.
After graduating from law school, Paul joined Rogers & Wells in New York City as an associate and became a partner in the corporate department in 1986. Rogers & Wells merged into Clifford Chance LLP in 2000, where Paul was a partner heading the Americas Insurance Transactional and Regulatory Group until his retirement in April 2013. Paul’s practice involved insurance industry public and private mergers, acquisitions, reorganizations, financings, securities offerings, joint ventures, reinsurance agreements and regulatory matters. He is the author of “Investments by Insurers” and “Holding Companies: Controlled Insurers” in the New York Insurance Law treatise published by Matthew Bender & Co. Inc. Paul also serves on several boards of not-for-profit organizations.
Paul and Deborah, his wife of 41 years, live in Chappaqua, New York. They have three adult children, Dr. Laura Meyer Carey, Steve Meyer and Catherine Meyer, and four grandchildren.
Paul believes Coe is special because it provides not only a first-rate academic experience, but also a closely knit community in which students are encouraged to actively participate in a variety of aspects of campus life. This produces graduates who are well rounded and prepared to successfully pursue their life’s work while serving as a positive force in their communities. In addition, Coe is special because its scholarly, enthusiastic and devoted professors work closely with students as mentors guiding and encouraging them to explore their interests and realize their potential.
Sumit Nijhawan
Serving since 2019
Sumit Nijhawan is the president and CEO of Ruffalo Noel Levitz (RNL), a company serving colleges, universities and nonprofits by providing strategies for inspired and relevant engagement in enrollment, student success and fundraising. Sumit is an active board member and an executive advisor to data and analytics companies. He also serves on the Carter Center’s Philanthropy Council.
Prior to joining RNL in 2018, Sumit was the CEO and president of Infogix, where he was responsible for leading company strategy, operations and customer partnerships. His other experiences include leadership roles at Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, SPSS Inc. and PwC.
Sumit earned his degree in physics and chemistry from Coe and his doctorate in engineering from Brown University, and he attended the Program for Leadership Development at Harvard Business School.
Sumit and his wife, Anmol, live in Aurora, Illinois, and have two children.
Chuck Peters
Life Trustee serving since 1991
Chuck Peters serves as chair of the board of Foundations in Learning, dedicated to improving literacy for all students.
Chuck earned his undergraduate and law degrees at the University of Iowa. A lawyer by training, Chuck spent a decade in the appliance business, including five years as president of Amana Refrigeration, and he served until 1998 as vice president — administration of Maytag. Between appliance assignments, he was the CEO of Breakthrough, an Iowa City startup software and consulting company engaged in developing effective early literacy programs for school systems.
Chuck is active in many civic and charitable organizations, including the Hall-Perrine Foundation, in addition to Coe College
Chuck and his wife, Mary Ann, have three sons — Nate, Scott and Nick.
In reflecting on what makes the college special, Chuck notes, “Coe’s very talented faculty and staff take a personal interest in the development of each student. In my years on the Coe board I have seen many students, some the first in their families to attend college, develop significantly during their time at Coe.”
James Phifer
Life Trustee serving since 1996
James Phifer retired in 2013 following nearly three decades of distinguished service to Coe College. He joined Coe as the vice president for academic affairs and dean of the faculty in 1985, and he became the 14th president of the college in 1996. Dr. Phifer received his bachelor’s, master’s and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Colorado - Boulder and served at Wayne State College and the State University of New York before coming to Coe.
Coe College became a larger and stronger institution under President Phifer’s leadership. The campus more than doubled in size during his tenure. Among the projects completed were the construction of Nassif Admission House, McCabe Hall and four new student apartments — all done as part of the first campus expansion project. Major renovations were completed on several buildings, and athletic facilities have been enhanced.
During the Phifer era, two highly successful capital campaigns were completed that provided funds for needed campus improvements, as well as to support student scholarships and enhancements to the academic program. A total of $150 million was raised, which exceeds the sum of all other Coe campaigns combined. As well, Coe’s total endowment grew from $37 million in 1995 to more than $85 million in 2012.
President Phifer kept the focus on educating traditional, full-time students with top quality academic programs in a supportive residential environment. The full-time enrollment at Coe grew by 30 percent during the Phifer years, while at the same time the average academic profile of incoming students rose significantly. He also spearheaded the college’s move to the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference in 1997.
Upon retirement, the Coe College Board of Trustees honored President Phifer as president, emeritus and professor of history, emeritus.
Jim and his wife, Linnie, reside in Castle Pines, Colorado. They are the parents of Trystan Phifer O’Leary and Tamsyn Phifer Johnston. The entire Phifer family was deeply involved in the life of the college during their years at Coe.
Jon Reiner
Serving since 2023
Jon earned his degree in business administration from Coe in 2009. He served as executive vice president of Ryan Turner Specialty for 13 years, and in January he became co-president of RT Professional and Executive Liability (ProExec), where he is a team lead for Team Reiner/Richmond. Prior to his work at RT Specialty, Jon was a member of the Chicago office of CRC Insurance Services.
He has received many recognitions including being a three-time Broker of the Year and four-time Professional Liability Broker of the Year. His team was also recognized as the Business Insurance Wholesale Broker Team of the Year in 2022.
While a student at Coe, Jon played four years on the baseball team as a catcher. He and RT Specialty have loyally supported the Coe athletic department as sponsors of the Annual Coe Athletic Golf Outing & Fundraiser.
Jon currently lives in the Chicago area. In his free time, he enjoys golfing, snowboarding and spending time with his wife, Abby, and their two children.
Okpara Rice
Serving since 2023
Since 2015, Okpara has been the CEO of Tanager Place, Linn County’s first children’s human service agency. Okpara utilizes his extensive experience in mental health, child welfare and human services to provide direction for the organization to offer programs and serve over 4,000 young people each year. Throughout his professional career, he has demonstrated a history of advocacy, coalition building, collaboration and goal attainment.
Both inside and outside of work, Okpara is a leader in his community, serving on the board of directors for Cedar Rapids Bank and Trust, the Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation and the Marion Public Library. He is also a Civil Rights Commissioner for the city of Marion. In 2020 Okpara was honored as an Iowa History Maker by the African American Museum of Iowa, and in 2021, he was named to the Corridor Business Journal’s Most Influential Leaders List.
Okpara earned his degree in social work from Loyola University Chicago in 1995 before receiving his master’s degree in social work from Washington University in St. Louis in 1997, where he was honored as a Distinguished Alumnus in 2018.
Okpara and his wife, Julie, live in Marion, Iowa, and have two children.
Brett Rule
Serving since 2007
Brett Rule graduated from Coe in 1986 with a major in economics and went on to earn an MBA from Vanderbilt University. Upon graduation from Vanderbilt in 1988, he began to work for Texas Commerce Bank (TCB) in the real estate group. After working at TCB for two years, he accepted a development manager position with a local commercial developer in Houston, Texas. In 1992, Brett formed a correctional facilities development company and over the subsequent four years constructed several detention facilities in Texas and Missouri. He has also been a trader and investor in the public and private equity markets for many years.
Brett and his wife, Libba, have been married for 26 years and have three great kids. When not trading, he enjoys golfing, playing tennis and fly fishing in the mountains of North Carolina.
Tim Sagers
Serving since 2019
Tim Sagers earned his degree in biology and general science from Coe and his medical degree from the University of Iowa. He is board certified in family medicine and has practiced at MercyCare Community Physicians in Cedar Rapids since 2004. He is also a medical director at MercyCare Business Health Solutions. Tim is a member of the American Association for Physician Leadership, American Medical Association, Iowa Medical Association and Linn County Medical Society. He was nominated for a Patient Advocate Award in 2017.
Tim and his wife, Laura, live in Cedar Rapids. Their son, Ben, is a 2018 graduate of Coe.
Gary Schlarbaum
Life Trustee serving since 1988
A native of Van Horne, Iowa, Gary Schlarbaum likes to say he was recruited to play basketball at Coe by Bill Fitch. Gary received his bachelor’s degree at Coe in 1965, double majoring in mathematics and economics. He went on to earn a Ph.D. in economics with a specialty in finance from the University of Pennsylvania in 1971.
Gary taught at Purdue University from 1969-1984, leaving as a professor of finance.
Subsequently, he pursued a career in the investment business. Gary served as head of asset allocation for First Chicago Investment Advisors form 1984-1987, then was head of the equity division for Miller, Anderson and Sherrerd from 1987-1996, when the firm was sold to Morgan Stanley. Gary then worked as the managing director and head of small- and mid-cap value investing until 2002. He came out of retirement in 2008 to be in business with his son, and their current firm is Palliser Bay Investment Management.
He is married to Ruthanne (Dempsey) Schlarbaum ’67, and they have two children and five grandchildren. Gary and Ruthanne live in Villanova, Pennsylvania. They travel frequently, particularly to San Francisco where their daughter and two of their grandchildren live. Gary likes to play golf and is an avid reader.
Gary believes Coe is a special place because of the focus on liberal arts, the campus and facilities, the care and concern of the faculty and the excellence of the athletic program.
Bruce E. Spivey
Life Trustee serving since 1984
Bruce Spivey grew up close to the Coe campus and graduated with a degree in general science in 1956. He went on to earn a medical degree from the University of Iowa in 1959, a Master of Science from the University of Iowa in 1964 and a Master of Education from the University of Illinois in 1969.
Bruce was in the ophthalmology residency program at the University of Iowa from 1960-1964 and served in the United States Army, becoming the first ophthalmologist in Vietnam in 1965-1966. From 1966-1971, he taught on the ophthalmology faculty at the University of Iowa and was chairman of the department of ophthalmology at California Pacific Medical Center from 1971-1987. Also, he was the dean of the School of Medical Sciences at the University of the Pacific from 1971-1976.
For the balance of his career, Bruce served as the founding CEO of various health care organizations, including the Pacific Presbyterian Medical Center (now CPMC, 1976-1992), American Academy of Ophthalmology (1976-1992), California Healthcare System (1987-1992), Northwestern Healthcare Network (1992-1997) and Columbia Cornell Care (1997-2002). From 1994-2006, Bruce was the secretary general of the International Council of Ophthalmology, and since 2006, he has served as president of the organization. He also was the chairman of the Pacific Vision Foundation from 2007-2018.
In addition, Bruce has served as president of the American Board of Medical Specialties, Council of Medical Specialty Societies, Society of Medical Administrators, American Ophthalmological Society and other organizations. He has served and continues to serve on numerous other boards, including Helen Keller International, the Ophthalmology Foundation and the American Priory of the Most Venerable Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, each of which he continues in an officer position.
He has given 42 named lectures, received 48 medals or honors and has published 147 peer-reviewed scientific publications. He is extremely proud of being the ninth recipient of the Coe Founders’ Medal.
Bruce was married to Nancy Spivey ’56 from 1956-1977. In 1987, Bruce married Patti Amanda Birge Tyson. He has two children, Lisa and Eric, and four grandchildren.
Jerre Stead
Life Trustee serving since 1987
John Strohm
Life Trustee serving since 1996
John Strohm is a founding and managing partner of Farrell-Roeh Group, a family-owned private investment company formed in the late 1990s. Farrell-Roeh has investment interests in a wide array of opportunities, including private equity, mezzanine financing, distressed debt, tax liens, mobile home communities and commercial real estate. John was also a co-founder of and served as chief financial officer of Interlink Group Inc. until a majority interest in the company was sold to Texas Pacific Group in 2000. Interlink Group was reacquired by John and others in 2002 and subsequently sold to EMC Corporation in May 2006.
John, along with his two sisters, Tara Strohm and Nina Golden, are all 1979 graduates of Coe College. They were recruited to Coe in 1975 by Barron Bremner. John graduated from Coe with a degree in business administration and went on to earn an MBA from the University of Iowa in 1981. John was licensed as a CPA in 1982. John and Mary Pat currently reside in Englewood, Colorado. John and Mary Pat have four children. Kristin is a 2005 graduate of Coe; Matt is a 2011 graduate of St. Louis University; Kelly is a 2013 graduate of Coe; and Claire is a student at Occidental College. In 2015, John and Mary Pat welcomed twin granddaughters, Sophie and Caroline, into their family.
Lori Sturdevant
Life Trustee serving since 1978
Lori Sturdevant is a Minnesota journalist and author and a member of Coe’s Class of 1974. She retired in 2018 after 43 years as a reporter, editorial writer and columnist for the Minneapolis Star Tribune. She is the author, co-author or editor of 12 books, most recently "Turnout: Making Minnesota the State That Votes" (Minnesota Historical Society Press, 2020).
A native of Dell Rapids, South Dakota, Lori first came to Coe in 1970 to attend a National Science Foundation summer program for high school students from small towns. She returned the next year to take advantage of the opportunity Coe offered to design her own interdisciplinary major, science journalism. She is an advocate for the interdisciplinary, individualized approach to the liberal arts that remains Coe’s hallmark.
Lori lives in Saint Paul. She is the wife of Martin Vos and the mother of three adult children, among them Ted Carroll, Coe Class of 2006. She has been a member of Coe’s board of trustees since 1980.
Hank Taylor
Serving since 2020
Hank Taylor graduated cum laude from Coe in 1975. He was a Distinguished Military Graduate in the Air Force ROTC program and upon graduation was commissioned in the U.S. Air Force where he served for 30 years. He retired from active service in 2005 as a brigadier general and returned to his hometown of Charleston, South Carolina. He is active in economic development at the state, regional and local levels. Currently, Hank serves as the chairman of the board for the Dorchester County Economic Development Corporation. In addition, he serves on the boards of several for-profit and nonprofit organizations.
Hank also earned a Master of Human Relations degree from the University of Oklahoma in Norman, Oklahoma, in 1986 and a Master of Science degree in national security strategy from National Defense University in Washington, D.C., in 1996.
Hank and his wife, Dell, are the proud parents of two adult children, Mark and Savita.
Ed Walsh
Serving since 1992
Ed Walsh graduated from Coe in 1970 and thereafter received his Juris Doctor from Loyola University Chicago School of Law in 1973. Ed is the founding member (1980) of the Chicago and Wheaton, Illinois, and La Crescent, Minnesota, law firm of Walsh, Knippen & Cetina Chtd. Ed is admitted to practice law in Illinois and Minnesota; and he is a trial lawyer and concentrates his practice representing people who are catastrophically injured or killed by negligent doctors, hospitals and corporations.
By appointment of the Illinois Supreme Court, Ed is a member of the Supreme Court Rules Committee and the Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism. Ed is a frequent speaker on the topics of trial practice, courtroom technology and professionalism at continuing legal education programs throughout Illinois.
Ed and his wife, Bobbi (Covert) Walsh ’70, have four adult sons, including Michael Walsh ’02, and five grandchildren. Ed provides pro bono legal representation to several environmental not-for-profit organizations in southeast Minnesota where he and Bobbi enjoy environmental stewardship, native plant restoration and reforestation at their upper Mississippi River Valley farm.