Presidential Search Committee | Wittenberg University

Representing the Board of Directors

Mr. William S. Boggs '68

While attending Wittenberg, Mr. Boggs was a member of several groups including the Student Court, Pick and Pen, Tiger football team, and Phi Kappa Psi fraternity. After graduating from Wittenberg, he earned his J.D. from Harvard Law School in 1972. He moved to San Diego where he practiced law for 44 years, most recently with DLA Piper LLP US. He handled high stakes litigation matters in California and throughout the country. In 2016, Mr. Boggs retired from law practice and for two years acted as a consultant with DLA Piper’s National Litigation Training program. Since retiring, Mr. Boggs has served on the boards of several San Diego charities. In addition to his service on the Wittenberg Board of Directors, Mr. Boggs has given back to Wittenberg in multiple volunteer capacities. Several of his family members are Wittenberg alumni, as well, including his sister, Sally (Boggs) Bashore ’66, and his cousin, John Boggs ’68.

Rev. Suzanne Darcy Dillahunt

Rev. Darcy Dillahunt serves as bishop of the Southern Ohio Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). She previously served as assistant to the bishop in the ELCA Southern Ohio Synod and as pastor of Grace Lutheran Church in Eaton, Ohio, Peace Lutheran Church in Gahanna, Ohio, and Christ Lutheran Church (now known as Faith in Christ Lutheran Church) in Springfield, Ohio. Bishop Dillahunt’s son, Nathaniel, is a 2015 Wittenberg graduate, and the University hosted her Installation to the Office of Bishop of the ELCA Southern Ohio Synod in 2013, marking the first time a woman was named bishop of a corporate-size ELCA Synod.

Mr. William D. Edwards, Class of 1989

Mr. Edwards officially became Board chair in July 2020. A former partner with Ulmer & Berne LLP in Cleveland, Ohio, where he served as the chair of the firm's Employment and Labor group, Mr. Edwards is now a partner with Taft in Indianapolis, Indiana. He has been recognized numerous times by Best Lawyers in America and Ohio Super Lawyers. A history major and a member of the football team during his time at Wittenberg, he earned his J.D. at Case Western Reserve University in 1993. Mr. Edwards' family has a lasting legacy at Wittenberg, starting with his grandfather, also William “Bill” Edwards, who served as Wittenberg’s head football coach and athletics director from 1955 until his retirement in 1973. Bill Edwards Drive, the road running directly in front of the Wittenberg Stadium and Health, Wellness & Athletics Complex, is named for Mr. Edwards' grandfather.

Ms. Wendy G. Ford, Class of 1976

A retired director of human resources with the Springfield City School District, Ms. Ford is a leader in the Springfield community through her service as a member of the Springfield Symphony Foundation Board, the Opportunities for Individual Change, the Benjamin Prince Society, the Community Health Foundation's Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee, the Ferncliff Cemetery Association, and United Senior Services. Ms. Ford is married to Eddie Ford '75.

Mr. David Gogol, Class of 1973

Mr. Gogol was raised in Avon Lake, Ohio, but spent his entire career in Washington, D.C. For eight years, he worked in the United States Senate, initially as a senior aide to Senator Richard Lugar and then as staff director of the Subcommittee on Housing and Urban Affairs. After leaving the Senate, Mr. Gogol spent 40 years leading the government relations practice at a Faegre Drinker Biddle. While he worked for clients across the nation, he specialized in helping Indiana communities. He was awarded a Sagamore of the Wabash for his service to the State of Indiana. Mr. Gogol is representing emeriti members of the Board of the Directors.

Mr. Douglas E. Kentfield, Class of 1978

Mr. Kentfield currently serves as CEO for the US Division for TAK Systems, a technology company developing a biometric payment system. His career was primarily in financial services, most recently serving as President of Steward Partners, an independent wealth management firm. Prior to Steward, Mr. Kentfield was the Western Divisional Director for Morgan Stanley Wealth Management. For 28 years he held positions in senior management at Morgan Stanley and predecessor firms and was a member of the Executive Committee. He was on the Alumni Board before joining the Board of Directors in 2008. He served three terms and then rejoined the Board in 2020. Mr. Kentfield is chair of the Board's Finance Committee and Endowment Sub-Committee.

Dr. James J. Lakso, Class of 1967

Dr. Lakso previously served as Provost and Vice President for Student Development and Professor of Economics Emeritus at Juniata College. He joined the Juniata faculty in 1970, was promoted to full professor in 1981, and was named Provost and Vice President for Student Development in 1998. Juniata's Center for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning was named in his honor, and The Lakso Endowment for Faculty Excellence was created in 2011 to support faculty development. Dr. Lakso previously served as the vice-chair of the board of directors for Kish Bancorp (KISB) and on the board of United Lutheran Seminary. An economics major at Wittenberg, Dr. Lakso was awarded an Alumni Citation in 2014. He and his wife, Bonnie, have two daughters.

Mr. Stephen M. Neely, Class of 1975

Mr. Neely serves as president of Springfield-based Armoloy of Ohio Inc., where he works directly with renowned companies such as Kraft Foods and Kellogg’s. A community leader, Mr. Neely has served numerous organizations in the Springfield area, including the Springfield Foundation, the Clark State Foundation, and the Community Healthcare Foundation. He is also a past president of the Springfield Rotary Club, and it was through Springfield Rotary that Mr. Neely became involved in aiding orphaned children from the South African Kingdom of Lesotho after learning about the effort through Wittenberg. He is married to Mary Alice Schryver Neely '75, and together they are members of the University’s Hawley Society and Benjamin Prince Society.

Mr. John M. Shumate, Class of 1999

Mr. Shumate is a visionary executive leader with a proven track record in brand building and growth across diverse sectors, including consumer goods and sports. An award-winning strategist, he excels in assembling high-performing teams and implementing innovative marketing initiatives that consistently achieve double-digit sales growth. With extensive experience leading within Fortune 500 industry giants, Mr. Shumate has a knack for unlocking consumer segments and reinvigorating brands. His impact extends to academia, having delivered the Opening Convocation address at Wittenberg University in 2021. Appointed to the Board in 2019, he continues to inspire and empower those around him.

Representing Faculty

Dr. James Allan, Professor of Political Science

Dr. Allan currently serves as chair of the Department at Political Science at Wittenberg. An expert in comparative politics, public policy, political economy, and international relations, Dr. Allan joined the Wittenberg faculty in 2003. He earned his B.A. in politics from the University of Strathclyde, his M.A. in political science from Virginia Tech, and his Ph.D. in political science from the University of Connecticut. His work has appeared in publications across the United States and Europe, including in The American Journal of Political Science, Comparative Political Studies, and the Journal of European Social Policy and World Politics. He has also presented papers at more than 20 professional meetings in the United States and Canada.

Dr. Scott Rosenberg, Professor of History

The previous chair of Wittenberg's African Diaspora Studies program, Dr. Rosenberg is the current director of International Studies and the University's Peace Corp Prep Program. In 2014 Wittenberg became the second college in the United States to have a Peace Corps Prep program. Since 2003, he has also led 17 service-learning trips to the southern African kingdom of Lesotho, in which more than 500 students have participated. Additionally, for the last nine years, he has run a nonprofit with Wittenberg students called the Lesotho Nutrition Initiative, which has sent 4.2 million meals to combat childhood malnutrition and stunting in the country. In 2014 he was appointed Honorary Consul for the Kingdom of Lesotho. Since joining the faculty in 2000, he has won both the Omicron Delta Kappa Award for Excellence in Teaching and the Alumni Association Award of Distinguished Teaching, the top faculty prize at Wittenberg.

Ms. Emily West, Professor of Practice, Business & Economics

Ms. West joined Wittenberg in fall 2021 and currently teaches courses in Financial Accounting, Managerial Accounting, Auditing and Accounting Information Systems. Professor West spent the first five years of her career in public accounting at regional firms. She then continued her work as an accounting manager before she and her husband purchased a struggling business in 2006, which they have since grown into a successful venture. As a business owner, Professor West has helped to train others in her industry. In 2019, she returned to the work world as an accounting manager for a public relations firm before joining Wittenberg. A CPA, she earned her B.S. in accounting and MAcc from Wright State University.

Representing Staff

Ms. Elizabeth Howe, Class of 2007, Executive Assistant, Office of the Provost

Ms. Howe earned her M.S. from Wright State University and has been with Wittenberg since 2011. In addition to her work in the Office of the Provost, she also serves as a flute instructor for the Center for Musical Development. An alumna of Kappa Delta sorority, Ms. Howe has volunteered for the chapter since 2017. This past year, she received the Torch Bearer Award, "the highest award presented to a Wittenberg staff member," as well as the SOCHE Staff Excellence Award. She also currently serves on the Staff Advisory Council as co-chair.

Representing Students

Ms. Claire Patton, Class of 2026

An education major from Mason, Ohio, Ms. Patton serves as the faculty student coordinator and is on various faculty committees for the Student Senate. Additionally, she leads the Student Education Association, Weaver Chapel Association, Cru, and the Art League. She traveled to Lesotho this summer as part of a Wittenberg service-learning experience. Ms. Patton also plays the flute in the Symphonic Band, is a member of the Honors Program, sits on the Education Student Advisory Board, and works as an advisor at the Writing Center.

Representing Alumni

Ms. Kelly Sumption, Class of 2001

Ms. Sumption is currently the Vice President, Client Marketing Leader for Synchrony. During the past 14 years at Synchrony, formerly GE Capital, she has partnered with retailers in a variety of industries to drive marketing strategies for double-digit growth. Prior to that, she was the Senior Marketing Leader with Macy’s, Inc., where she led marketing and branding strategies for their credit and loyalty programs. Kelly is the President of the Wittenberg Alumni Association Board and has served on the board since 2000 as a committee chair, secretary, and President-elect. She and her husband Jeff, class of 2001, live in Dublin, Ohio, with their sons.

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