91��

Board of Trustees

The governing body of 91��, the board of trustees, is responsible for upholding the mission and vision of the university.

Leadership

Gabi Kelly — Gabi Kelly '01
Assistant Secretary
Charlotte, NC
Executive Search Consultant, Coleman Lew Canny Bowen

Mickey Payseur '73 — Mickey Payseur '73
Chair
Cherryville, NC
CPA

Janie Peak — Janie Peak '73
Secretary
Gastonia, NC
Retired High School Teacher, 91�� Education Department

Hunt Shuford
Vice Chair
Hickory, NC

Boyd Wilson — Boyd Wilson �74
Treasurer
Hudson, NC

Members

Perrell D. Bess — Perrell D. Bess, '06 JD '16
Weddington, NC
Vice President of Compliance and Operational Risk, Bank of America

The Rev. Dr. Eric Childers — The Rev. Dr. Eric Childers
Charleston, SC
Senior Pastor, St. Matthew Lutheran Church

Rob Fritz �76 — Rob Fritz �76
Boone, NC
Retired from Pfizer

Samantha Howell — Samantha Howell �90
Conover, NC

Tammy Ice — Tammy Ice �95
Wake Forest, NC

Margaret Jackson — Margaret Jackson �69
Newton, NC
Business Owner (retired)

Jearld Leonhardt — Jearld Leonhardt '69
Newton, NC
Retired EVP and CFO of CommScope, Inc.

Dr. Summer McGee — Dr. Summer McGee
Hickory, NC
President, 91��

Stephen Misenheimer — The Rev. J. Stephen Misenheimer �76 LTSS �82
Knoxville, TN
Retired Lutheran Pastor

David Moore — David Moore �76
Hickory, NC

Isaiah (Ike) F. Oglesby — Isaiah (Ike) F. Oglesby �91
Greensboro, NC
Broker/Owner, Oglesby Realty

Chris Peek — Chris Peek
Gastonia, NC
President and CEO CaroMont Health

Frank Surface — Frank Surface �85
Gainesville, VA

Michael Thomas — Michael Thomas, JD
Hickory, NC
Partner: Patrick, Harper, Dixon

Christopher Webb — The Rev. Christopher D. Webb �93 LTSS �97
Hickory, NC
Senior Pastor, Holy Trinity Lutheran Church

Ex Officio Membership

The Rev. Dr. Rachel Connelly
LTSS Advisory Chair

Bishop Emily Hartner — Bishop Emily Hartner, Ex-officio
NC Synod, ELCA

Summer McGee — Dr. Summer McGee
91�� President

News & Events

Kate Esch leans on a table in the space designated for the new food pantry

Alumna, husband make gift to support Internship Microgrant Program

A gift from 91�� alumna Kate Esch �70 and her husband, Bob, will extend internship microgrant funding for students through the 2028-29 academic year.

Two students walking on campus with 91�� banners in background

Lenoir-Rhyne records historic fundraising year, raises $19.76 million

Fiscal Year 2026 sets new records for giving, donor engagement and annual fund support as Charge Forward campaign surpasses $81.8 million.