Campus | Photo by Arden Reimer | The Wright State Guardian
WSU welcomed two new members to the Board of Trustees to fill in for members whose contracts have ended. These members were appointed by Governor Mike DeWine on Aug. 2. Here is what you should know.
What is the Board of Trustees?
The Board of Trustees is the governing body of WSU. The members are appointed by the governor and are intended to work in the best interest of WSU. There are several committees that meet within the Board that discuss various topics. They also appoint National Trustees that join meetings but cannot vote on separate issues.
Anyone is allowed to address the board at a meeting if they have concerns, as long as they give at least a 72 hour notice.
Stephen Jacquemin is a biology professor from the Lake Campus that proposed the Wetlands project back in February.
“It was fairly easy to get the board to hear my concerns,” Jacquemin said, “The key in your proposal is to come prepared and have any piece of data you may need.”
The next Board of Trustees meeting is on Friday, Sept. 13, at 9 a.m.
Ricky Peters
Ricky Peters is a 1984 Alumni of WSU with a bachelors in systems engineering. He was a part of several committees during his original 2000’s run as a National Trustee.
Peters is Vice Chair on Aerospace and Defense and a member of the Finance, Audit, Governance and Compliance Committee, the Special Committee on Medicine and Health and the Special Committee on Athletics and Campus Recreation.
Outside of WSU, Peters is the chief strategy officer of Tenet3, a cyber security company in Dayton, Ohio. At Tenet3, he works with leadership to develop and implement the company’s vision.
WSU’s office of communications sent a campus-wide email detailing the background and work of the two new board members. The communication highlights Peters’ work with the Air Force.
“He previously served for 35 years as a civilian leader in the U.S. Air Force, retiring in 2015 as the executive director of the Air Force Research Laboratory. He was responsible for leading a workforce of 10,000 and guiding the Air Force’s $2.5 billion science and technology program and an additional $2.75 billion in customer-funded research,” the email reads.
Students feel he is fit for his position overall. Cory Agler, an integrated science studies major, is one of the many that agrees.
“It sounds like he should know what he is doing. I would at least hope that he knows what he is doing, given his credentials,” Agler said.
Peter’s Term ends June 30, 2027.
Ellen Miller
Ellen Miller was recently appointed as the Community Relations for CareSource Foundation Associate Vice President. She is working towards helping create initiatives to help the community.
Miller has a history in leadership and risk management as highlighted in the office of communications’ email.
“Before joining CareSource in 2022, Miller was the director of development at Altafiber, where she was responsible for establishing and increasing market share. She also spent more than 16 years at Fifth Third Bank where she served in multiple capacities and areas, including risk management,” the email reads.
She is active in the Dayton community and is to bring her expertise to the Board of Trustees.
Students like Autumn Abney, a psychology major, are generally positive about Miller’s addition.
“Personally I think that she is an amazing addition. She sounds like she has everything she needs in order to be successful. I didn’t even know we had a position like this on the Board of Trustees, so I hope she is active and brings in Public outreach,” Abney explained.
Miller’s term ends on June 30, 2033.
Sue says
Wright State President Sue Edwards and Board of Trustees Chair Tom Gunlock expressed their approval and excitement of the appointment of these new members.
“The appointees from Gov. DeWine possesses expertise in areas of strategic importance to the university,” Gunlock expressed in the email. “We sincerely appreciate the governor’s careful selection of appointees with leadership experience in both health care and defense industries.”
Edwards praised the appointments and expressed her excitement.
“I am very thankful to Gov. DeWine for appointing two strong community leaders from the Dayton region to the Board of Trustees at such an exciting time for the university,” Edwards said in the email.
The Wright State Guardian reached out to the new trustee members for interviews, none were provided.
