Board of Trustees
Board of Trustees Membership Site
The Board of Trustees is Willamette’s governing body. They work to preserve and protect the institution by helping to define, support, and protect its mission and appropriately balance its obligations to current and future generations of students.
The board is composed of up to 60 volunteer trustees, a diverse group of leaders in their respective fields who share their talent, expertise, and resources to advance the university and who are united by a deep affection and commitment to Willamette.
The board establishes strategic policy and direction, oversees the university’s financial affairs, approves the university’s budget and major financial expenditures, program initiatives, and construction projects, and stewards the endowment and other capital resources. The board also appoints and supervises the President who serves as Willamette’s chief executive officer and who is also a trustee.
The board does not direct or participate in the day-to-day management or operations. Primary responsibility for the academic programs and management and operations of the university is delegated to the President, administration, and faculty.
The board meets in person three times a year–in October, February, and May. A committee structure provides the framework for the board to oversee the important functions for which it is responsible. Student and faculty representatives from each school participate in all board meetings together with the president’s leadership cabinet, and other invited guests.
2025-26 Board of Trustees
Jasmine Ames MBA '18
Vice President Senior Relationship Manager; U.S. Bank
Bishop Cedrick Bridgeforth
Bishop, Greater Northwest Episcopal Area, The United Methodist Church
Blythe Butler ’93
Co-Director of College Counseling at The Catlin Gable School
Katherine S. Cahill P’13
Managing Director, BlackRock, Inc. (Retired)
Charlotte P. Carpenter P’14
Director of Admissions and Marketing Strategy, Sage Ridge School (Retired)
Jeff Chung ’90
President, Allen Broadcasting Co.
Truman W. Collins, Jr. ’86
President, The Collins Foundation
James B. Cuno Ph.D. ’73
President/CEO, The J. Paul Getty Trust
Eloise Damrosch
Arts Administrator (Retired)
Laurie Day '99
Director of Connectional Ministries Pacific Northwest Conference
David A. Drinkward JD’07
President/CEO of Hoffman Construction Company
Julie D. Filizetti, Ed.D.
Partner, Isaacson, Miller
Bonnie B. Flynn ’97
Vice President of Finance Transformation and Strategy, NIKE Inc.
Jill Terry Hall ’82
Principal, Hall College Consulting
Mariam K. Higgins
Administrator, Portland Public Schools
Joseph F. Hoffman ’71
Partner/Board Member, KPMG LLP (Retired)
Brian R. Hufft ’01
Principal, Upward Partners
Linda Hutchins BFA'88
Visual Artist, Linda Hutchins Studio
Elizabeth J. Large JD’96
Co-Founder, Office of General Counsel Network, LLC
Michael S. Martinez ’00, MBA’11
CEO, Natural Plant Products, LLC
Kenneth W. Morris B.M.Ed.'75
Founder/CEO, KnectIQ, Inc.
Sean B. O'Hollaren ’83
Senior VP, Public Affairs Executive (Retired)
Reverend Karyn Richards-Kuan
Reverend, First United Methodist Church, Greater Northwest Episcopal Area
Lynne H. Saxton ’76
Director, Oregon Health Authority (Retired)
Kevin R. Smith ’79
Head of the Americas, PGIM Real Estate (Retired)
Stephen E. Thorsett
President, Willamette University
Johnny C. Vong ’02
President, Blackfish Capital, LLC
Life Members
James F. Albaugh ’72
Chairman, National Aeronautic Association
President/CEO, Commercial Airplanes, The Boeing Company (Retired)
Julie E. Branford ’67
Global Director, Human Resources & Facilities, InFocus Corporation (Retired)
Robin O. Brena JD’83 MBA’83
Owner/Managing Attorney, Brena, Bell & Walker, P.C.
Donald G. Brown ’68
Dean Emeritus, Trinity Episcopal Cathedral-Sacramento, CA
Stewart M. Butler ’61
Wallace P. Carson Jr. JD’62
James A. Fitzhenry JD/MBA’81
CEO, Abom Optics, Inc., Owner, Roy Manufacturing, Profile Laser
Eric M. Friedenwald-Fishman ’88
Creative Director/Founder, Metropolitan Group, LLC
Allan Brian Gard ’68
Senior Partner, Gard Communications
Alan C. Goudy ’51
Stuart A. Hall ’62, JD’65
Dale C. Harris ’55
United Methodist Clergy (Retired)
Melvin Henderson-Rubio ’74
Dale M. Hermann ’65, JD’69
Director, CorSource Technology, LLC
Henry H. Hewitt JD’69
Senior Counsel, Stoel Rives, LLP (Retired Partner)
Mary K. Hughes JD’74
President, John C. Hughes Foundation
Eva M. Kripalani JD’86
Co-Founder, Office of General Counsel Network, LLC
Konrad “Chip” R. Kruger P’15, P’16
Managing Member, Five Mile Capital Partners, LLC
Eric B. Lindauer JD’66
Arbitrator/Mediator, The Law Office of Eric Lindauer
William D. Long ’59
Chairman/CEO, Devco Properties, Inc.
Joan H. McNamara ’59
Thomas E. Neilsen MBA’86
Robert W. Nunn ’72
Business Counselor at Law (Retired)
Robert G. Packard ’73
Partner, ZGF Architects, LLP
Heidi A. Patterson ’75
Biomedical Services, American Red Cross (Retired)
Punit Renjen MM ’87
Global CEO Emeritus, Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited
Lynn E. Ristig JD’85 MBA’85
Chief Counsel-Shared Services Group, The Boeing Company (Retired)
Sandy M. Rowe
Editor, The Oregonian (Retired)
Melissa Smith Ph.D.'79
Principal, Artkos Organizational Design & Development (Retired)
Patricia (Patsy) C. Smullin
President/Owner, California Oregon Broadcasting, Inc.
Guy C. Stephenson ’73
President, Westwood Shipping Lines Incorporated (Retired)
Kerry R. Tymchuk ’81, JD’84
Executive Director, Oregon Historical Society
Patrick J. Waite MM’84
Roderick C. Wendt JD’80
Vice Chairman, JELD_WEN Holdings Inc.
Steven E. Wynne ’74, JD’77
Private Investor