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SAU Foundation Board of Governors 2026-27

The SAU Foundation Board of Governors steward and support Southern Arkansas University’s fundraising goals while serving as the governing body for SAU Foundation. They oversee the Foundation and its investments on behalf of donors and SAU.

These experienced leaders dedicate their time and talents to secure a strong future for SAU. Our Board of Governors come from a variety of backgrounds, with one common thread: sincere dedication to the success of SAU. Members meet quarterly and are led by four officers and eight committees, which include Audit, Donor Relations, Finance, Governance, Investment, Membership, Scholarship, and Strategic Planning.

LEADERSHIP

Officers

John Dews

Class of 1977
Hot Springs, Arkansas
Retired Bank President
Executive Committee (Chair)

Chris Walker

Class of 1991
McKinney, Texas
Chief Operating Officer at VitalCaring Group
Executive Committee (Vice Chair) Investment Committee Strategic Planning Committee (Chair)

Melissa Frey

Class of 1999
Zachary, Louisiana
Administrative Law Judge, Louisiana Public Service Commission
Executive Committee (Secretary) Governance Committee (Chair)

Mike Dumas

Class of 1979
Houston, Texas
Pelham Investments, LLC
Executive Committee (Treasurer) Investment Committee Strategic Planning Committee Finance Committee (Chair)

MEMBERS

Governing Members

Joey Baker

Class of 1977
Little Rock & Emerson, Arkansas
Personal Finance Educator, Speaker & Amazon Bestselling Author
Donor Relations Committee Strategic Planning Committee

Linda Barnes

Class of 1972
Little Rock, Arkansas
Membership Committee Strategic Planning Committee

Shelby Blair

Class of 2013
Magnolia, Arkansas
Chief Financial Officer, Southern Aluminum
Audit Committee (Chair)

Rex Burks

Class of 1983
Simms, Texas
School Superintendent
Executive Committee Donor Relations Committee Membership Committee (Chair)

Ken Carroll

Class of 1980
Fayetteville, Arkansas
Retired Army Officer and Federal Government Senior Executive Service member
Governance Committee Donor Relations Committee (Chair)

Cory Childs

Class of 1999
Dallas, Texas
Attorney at Santander Consumer
Executive Committee Governance Committee Investment Committee (Chair)

Greg Harrison

Class of 2008
El Dorado, Arkansas
Financial Advisor/Owner of Harrison Financial Management
Investment Committee Finance Committee

Daniel Herrin

Class of 1994
Katy, Texas
Investor and Consultant
Investment Committee Finance Committee

John Hillhouse

Class of 2005
Houston, Texas
Partner at PwC
Audit Committee Finance Committee

Mohammed Islam

Class of 1995
Dallas, Texas
Senior Manager, PepsiCo Foods
Investment Committee

Rickey Jasper

Class of 1984
Prosper, Texas
Audit Committee Finance Committee

Pam Martin

Class of 1985
Shreveport, Louisiana
Retired Senior Financial Analyst with International Paper
Donor Relations Committee Scholarship Committee

Evan McCrary

Class of 2013
Little Rock, Arkansas
Finance Manager at Amazon
Executive Committee Membership Committee Scholarship Committee

Dr. William McHenry

Class of 1972
Madison, Mississippi
Executive Director, Mississippi e-Center and Professor of Organic Chemistry
Donor Relations Committee Scholarship Committee (Chair)

Justin Morris

Class of 2008
Mandeville, Louisiana
District Manager at Airgas
Donor Relations Committee Scholarship Committee

Shelley Pruitt

Class of 2004
El Dorado, Arkansas
Chief Financial Officer of El Dorado School District
Audit Committee Membership Committee

Ryan Rainwater

Class of 2008
Magnolia, Arkansas
Deputy Prosecuting Attorney for the 13th Judicial District
Governance Committee Donor Relations Committee

David Rankin, Ph.D. (Emeritus)

Magnolia, Arkansas
SAU President Emeritus
Investment Committee (Ex-Officio) Finance Committee (Ex-Officio)

Edelma Simes

Class of 1971
West Helena, Arkansas
Retired, Dean — Phillips Community College
Scholarship Committee

Betty Stringfellow (Emeritus)

Class of 1962
Little Rock, Arkansas
Retired, Insurance VP

Denise Sweat

Class of 2000
McCaskill, Arkansas
SVP Loan Support Services at Farm Credit Services of Western Arkansas
Audit Committee Membership Committee

Ethan White

Class of 2017
Glenwood, Arkansas
Vice President/Branch Manager — First State Bank of Glenwood
Audit Committee Finance Committee

EX OFFICIO

Ex-Officio Members

Roger Giles

Magnolia, Arkansas
VP for Administration — Southern Arkansas University

Dr. Bruno Hicks

Magnolia, Arkansas
President — Southern Arkansas University

Shawana Reed

Magnolia, Arkansas
VP for Finance — Southern Arkansas University

Dr. Connie Wilson

Magnolia, Arkansas
Vice President for Advancement — Southern Arkansas University

Jessica Greaves

Magnolia, Arkansas
Executive Director of Foundation — Southern Arkansas University

Former SAU Foundation Board Members

These individuals have previously demonstrated their commitment and dedication to our board of governors through their service and support.

  • Dr. Betty Blue (80-87)
  • Dr. Harold Brinson (80-91, 92-18, Emeritus)
  • Dr. Imon Bruce (80)
  • Gregg Buchanan (80-83)
  • Dr. Dolph Camp (80-85)
  • Cameron Dodson (80, 81-86)
  • Dr. Robert Pearce (80-88)
  • Gille Schene (80-82, 83-85)
  • D.O. Talbot (80)
  • Mack Taylor (80-83, 87-90, 95-01)
  • Col. Charlie Wilkins (80)
  • Dr. John H. Wilson (80)
  • Sanford Beshear, Jr. (80-82, 83-85)
  • Orval Childs (81-83)
  • Harold Fincher (81-87, 88-91, 93-99, Emeritus)
  • Archie Monroe (81-87)
  • Mickey Pittman (81-87, 88-94)
  • Ronnie Ribble (81-87, 13)
  • Herbert Russell (81-83)
  • Dr. Albert Stecker (81-82)
  • Emmie Gamble (82-83, 90-93)
  • James Cook (83-85)
  • H. J. Crowell (83-84)
  • Charles Downs (83-85)
  • Dr. Larry Embree (83-89)
  • Paul Hime (83-86)
  • Marion Jones (83-89, 94-97)
  • Jack Marshall (83-88)
  • Charles Wade (83-84)
  • W. T. Watson (83-88, 01-05)
  • Ralph Weiser (83-88)
  • Lee Davis (84-90)
  • Perrin Jones (84-85, 89-90)
  • Lamar Smith (84-90)
  • Mary Anna Whitehead (84-90)
  • Joe Woodward (84-90, 91-94)
  • William Handy (85-86, 90-91)
  • Sarah Newton (85-88)
  • Alan White (85-86)
  • Dr. Bob Burns (86-87)
  • James Haynes (86-92, 93-96)
  • Lois Gean Kelly (86-92)
  • Emily Klob (86-88)
  • Arthur Souter (86)
  • Shirley Combs (87-91)
  • Dr. Ron Ponder (87-93)
  • Don Ragar (87-90)
  • Virginia Todd (87-88, 93-99)
  • Ken Williams (87-93)
  • Kelvin Wyrick (87-93)
  • Bob Hendrix (88-94, 95-01, 02-06)
  • Josephine Davis (88-90)
  • Roy Ledbetter (88-89)
  • Dr. Dorothy McGarity (88-89)
  • Roger Smith (88-91)
  • Felix Fabian (89-92)
  • Bob Gantt (89-95)
  • John Gardner (89-95)
  • Joel Reeves (89-95)
  • Mary Faye Black (90-91)
  • LaVerne Burton (90-92)
  • Ken Koen (90-96)
  • Gene McPherson (90-96)
  • Carl Teague (90-92)
  • Roger Bell (90-93, 16-18)
  • Roy Fish (90-96)
  • Charles Black (91-94)
  • Richard Clark (91-97, Emeritus)
  • Betty Moore Wortham (91-94)
  • Dr. John Coppett (92-95)
  • Dr. Steven G. Gamble (92)
  • Jerry Horne (92-95)
  • Denny Smith (92-95)
  • Harry Thomason (92-98)
  • Alan Duncan (93-99)
  • Lance Larey (93-99, 01-07, 14-16)
  • Clyde Sasser (93)
  • Jean Turner (93-99)
  • Jeanie Bismark (94-00)
  • Donald Brown (94-00)
  • Sess Hensley (94-97)
  • Don Stemple (94)
  • Partee Tuberville (94-97)
  • Dr. James Whitmore (93-96)
  • Quintus Crews (95-98)
  • J. D. Garrett, Jr. (95-98)
  • Mike Hunnicutt (95)
  • Don Johnson (95-98)
  • Mike Kinard (95-01)
  • Terry Roberts (95-98)
  • John Clary (96-02)
  • Chris Claybaker (96-99)
  • O. A. (Buddy) Franks (96-98, 11)
  • Robert McWilliams (96-99)
  • Darline Shepherd (96-97)
  • Larry Singleton (96)
  • Gisele Souter (96-02)
  • Herschell Teague (96)
  • William Carlisle (97-00)
  • Nate Evers (97-01, 05-06, 10-11)
  • Alan Ribble (97-00, 18-)
  • Wayne Taylor (97-98)
  • George Wheatley (97-01, 04)
  • Nancy Williams (97-03)
  • Jack Harrington (98-99)
  • Ralph Holiman (98-04)
  • Della Jordan (98-02)
  • Arthur Miner (98-02)
  • Homer Stout (98-04)
  • Louis Blanchard (99-01, 02-07, 08-11, 12-14, 15, Emeritus)
  • Charles Colquitt (99-05)
  • Ben Eiler (99-05)
  • Dr. Ricky Hughes (99-01, 09-12, 13-15)
  • Clara Jones (99-00)
  • Daisy Gillaspie Kohn (99-02)
  • Saundra Lewis (99-05)
  • Daisy Kohn Uhrich (99-02)
  • Mark Wiley (99-05)
  • Paul Brewster (00-03)
  • Ken Crain (00-06)
  • Todd Griffin (00-01)
  • Lane Jean (00-01)
  • Dr. Bill Scurlock (00-06, 07-14)
  • Dr. Vernon White (00-06)
  • Jim Baker (01-06)
  • Lawrence Bearden (01-07, 08-11, 12-14)
  • Mason Cozart (01-06)
  • Milton Hambrice (01)
  • J. W. Rowe (01-14)
  • Jim Andrews, Jr. (02-05)
  • Jack Daugherty (02- 05)
  • Chris Gilliam (02-03)
  • Gerane McWilliams (02-04)
  • Charles Tripp (02-05)
  • Dr. Jerry Guess (03-04)
  • Dr. Bonnie Whitmore (03-04)
  • Stephen Bright (04-07)
  • Ben Eiler, Jr. (04-07)
  • Twyla Pruden (04-05)
  • Alex Sheshunoff (04-07)
  • Bill Stringfellow (04-07, 09-12, 15-16)
  • Dr. Mark Dixon (05-11, 13-16)
  • Jeanne Bowman Franks (05-08, 08-11)
  • Mary Harsh (05-11, 13-15)
  • Bill Anderson (06-10)
  • Shirley Bailey (06-09)
  • Bill O’Brien (06-12)
  • J. David Reynolds III (06-12)
  • Laura Shurdownitz (08-11)
  • Phil Brooks (07-13, 15-17, 18-20)
  • Tim Daniels (07-13, 18-23)
  • Dr. Kathleen Mallory (07-13)
  • Debbie Arnold (08-11,12-14, 17-19)
  • Thomas Beasley (08-09)
  • Paul Gean (08-14, 17-19)
  • Travis Buchanan (09-12, 13-15, 17-19)
  • Dr. D. Bud Dickson (09-12)
  • Julia Laney Machen (09-12, 13-15, 17-19)
  • Teddy Reynolds (09-12, 13-15)
  • Dr. Willis Beene (10-13, 14-16)
  • Sharon Eichenberger (10-13, 14-16)
  • Beth Galway (10-14, 15-17)
  • Rosie Matlock-Muldrew (10-14, 15-17)
  • Jerry Mayfield (10-14, 15-17, 21-23)
  • Joe Pieratt (10-13, 14-16, 18-23)
  • Claude Ramey (10-14)
  • Stephen Weaver (10)
  • James Freeman (13)
  • Edgar Lee (13-14)
  • Sherry Phillips (13-15)
  • Jan Story (14-16)
  • Robin Story (14-16, 17-19)
  • Dr. Claude Baker (15-17)
  • Molly Burns (15-17, 18-20)
  • Mike Dumas (15-18)
  • Kent Hendrix (15-17, 18-20)
  • Boyd Rosser (15-17)
  • Tom Watson (15-17. 18)
  • Charlotte Baine (16-18, 19-21)
  • Dr. David Rankin (16-18)
  • Terry “Bo” Ray (16-18)
  • Betty Stringfellow (16-18)
  • Beth Weldon (16-18)
  • John Dumas (17-?)
  • Charley Jackson (18-20)
  • Iverson Jackson (18-23)
  • Roger Giles (ex officio)
  • Jennifer Pierce (2018-2024)