Converse Board of Trustees

Converse University is governed by a Board of Trustees, an independent entity free from undue influence from political, religious, or other external bodies.

2026-2027

Board Officers

Linda Layman Redding ’88, Chair
Dwight Van Inwegen, Vice-Chair
Christy Davis Stoner ’87, Secretary

Trustees

Nakia Martin Alexander ’97
Brant Bynum
Chris Cannon
Rhonda Coker ’84
Paul Cote
Dawn Davis Deck ’99
Katherine Fulmer ’96
Walter Goldsmith
Shannon Jaynes ’93
Ann Mullins Johnson ’99
Steve Johnson
Kim Kent ’97
Jay Lynch
Elisabeth Kinney McNiel ’89
Brelan Montgomery ’06
Lynn Pettus ’90
Wallace Prestwood ’89
Linda Redding ’88
Emily Rushing ’73
Anne Richardson Seabrook ’82
David Smart
Louis Smith
Michel Stone ’99
Christy Davis Stoner ’87
Dwight Van Inwegen
Sandra Beason Watson ’79

Ex-Officio Trustees

Cary Perkins ’96, President, Alumni Association
Jayne Stewart Reuben ‘85, Chair, Board of Visitors

Advisors to the Board of Trustees

Boone J. Hopkins – President
Ninel Martinez-Macedo ’27 – President, Student Government
Dallas Witt – President, Staff Council
Jenn Hawk – President, Faculty Senate

Life Trustees

William Barnet, III
Kenneth B. Howard
Susan Phifer Johnson ’65
Lucy Simpson Kuhne ’66

Board of Trustees News

Framing the Future: Art and Impact in Action at Converse

Written by Lindsay Bartholomew There was magic in the air in Wilson Hall on the evening of September 16, 2026, as more than 130 members …

Converse Mourns the Loss of Former Board of Trustees Member Bee Smith Maybank ’66

Written by Amanda Mathis Beatrice “Bee” Smith Maybank ’66 served with grace throughout her life. The Converse alumna and past Board of Trustees member passed away in …

Converse University Announces 2026-2027 Trustees

Converse University is pleased to welcome 4 new members to its esteemed Board of Trustees: Walter Goldsmith Walter Goldsmith, based in Charlotte, North Carolina, is the CEO of …