Redlands, Calif. (PRWEB) September 16, 2014
Seven members have been appointed to the 2014-2015 University of Redlands Board of Trustees. Four new members and three former trustees join the now 37-member board that serves the University. Their three-year terms began July 1, 2014.
The Board of Trustees has a fiduciary responsibility to the University as a whole and is responsible for electing the President, approving an annual financial plan, and voting on all matters presented to them. Each individual who is asked to serve as a trustee has demonstrated support of, commitment to, or interest required by the University to realize its vision and fulfill its mission. Through the University bylaws, the day-to-day responsibility for administration of the University is delegated by the trustees to the President.
The seven members are:
Jim Ashby ’82
Jim is a healthcare entrepreneur and currently serves as the President and CEO of CareMeridian, a network of 23 subacute care and rehabilitation facilities located in four states. He founded CareMeridian, formerly Meridian Neuro Care, along with University of Redlands classmate Sherri Medina ’84. Jim graduated from the University of Redlands with a double major in biology and Spanish. In addition, Jim holds a master’s degree in business administration from San Diego State University. Jim served on the Board of Directors of the University of Redlands Alumni Association in the late 1990s. He and his wife, Donna, have four children.
Rich Hunsaker ’52 (Returning Member)
Rich and his wife Ginnie ’52 have transformed the University of Redlands through their leadership and philanthropy. Rich is in the real estate development/property management business. He is the recipient of the University’s Centennial Award, 75th Anniversary Alumni Award, and the Alumni Association’s Distinguished Service Award. Rich was first elected to the Board of Trustees in 1973 and named Chair in 1985, a position he held for the next 15 years. Ginnie also served on the Board for nearly a decade.
Terry Kupfer ’57 (Returning Member)
After graduating from the University of Redlands with a degree in economics, Terry served three years in the U.S. Navy, stationed at Pearl Harbor. He passed the CPA exam in 1962 and worked for Arthur Anderson & Co. in Los Angeles for nearly 30 years, ending his career as a partner. Throughout most of his career, Terry worked as an auditor, providing professional practice leadership to Andersen's offices in Southern California, Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico and Hawaii. His areas of expertise were in risk management and assistance to engagement teams in resolving client accounting and auditing issues. Terry was first elected to the Board of Trustees in 1977 and has also received the 75th Anniversary Alumni Award. He and his wife, Sandy, reside in Redlands, California.
Ann Lucas (Returning Member)
First elected to the University of Redlands Board of Trustees in 1983, Ann has a special interest in the recruitment of minority students and faculty. She also provided volunteer leadership as a member of the National Committee for the successful "A Campaign for Redlands.” Known in Los Angeles for her volunteerism, Ann’s record of service has included time spent as president of the Neighborhood Youth Association Board of Trustees (NYA serves at-risk children in the Venice and Mar Vista areas of Los Angeles, providing a full-day care and pre-kindergarten program and after-school tutoring and enrichment.) Ann graduated from the University of Michigan in 1956 with a degree in psychology. She holds honorary degrees from the University of Redlands and the Church Divinity School of the Pacific.
Brian Murphy ’04
Brian is Managing Director at Meridian Capital and leads the firm’s niche manufacturing/aerospace and defense group. Brian joined the company as an associate in 2006, where he works across a variety of industries providing financial analysis, valuation guidance, due diligence, and transaction management. Brian serves as the President Elect of the Board of Directors of the University of Redlands’ Alumni Association. He and his wife, Kerri Hatfield ’04, reside in Seattle, Washington.
Robert (Bob) Oda ’69
With more than 30 years of experience in real estate development, Bob Oda, has extensive expertise in hotel management, operation, and development. He has served in his current role at Kamehameha Schools for the past 10 years and has been responsible for the redevelopment and coordination of projects on Kamehameha Schools' commercial lands. Bob was originally elected to the Board of Trustees in 1994. He and his wife, Tara, reside in Honolulu, Hawaii.
Joseph (Joe) Rulison
Joe has spent his career in the financial services sector, working his way up from an account executive at Prudential-Bache Securities and Tucker Anthony to his current position as Managing Director for J.P. Morgan Private Bank. In this capacity, he manages the Northeast United States Private Client Direct team covering Trusts, Estates, Investment Management and Custody of assets for individuals, family businesses, and nonprofit organizations having assets between $1 million and $50 million. Joe graduated from St. John Fisher College in 1978 and received an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree from his alma mater for his work on behalf of the college and the community of Rochester, New York.
About the University of Redlands
The University of Redlands is an independent, nonprofit, liberal arts and sciences university consistently ranked among the best master’s universities in the nation. Since the university's founding in 1907, Redlands has emphasized academic rigor, personal development and interdisciplinary studies. Adults may continue their education with programs tailored for working professionals at the Schools of Business and Education, offering evening degree-completion and graduate programs in several convenient Southern California locations.