About our Board of Trustees

Upon its inception in 1858, the founders of Baker University deemed that the university be governed by an overseeing body of no more than 32 members.

Today, the Baker University Board of Trustees remains the highest governing body of the university, meeting three times annually to approve university programs, budgets, faculty promotions, and conferment of degrees to graduates.

Our Board Members

Mr. Dustin Baker
Alcove Development, LLC
Baldwin City, Kansas

Mr. Spencer Breithaupt, ’83
MWI Animal Health
Leawood, Kansas

Mr. Eric Conaway, ’95
Providence Equity Partners
Overland Park, Kansas

The Rev. Dr. Ira DeSpain, ’70
Baker University Minister Emeritus
Olathe, Kansas

Mr. Silas Dulan, III, ’06, MSM ’13
Black & Veatch
Kansas City, Missouri

Judge Kenneth Garrett
16th Circuit Court of Jackson County Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri

Mr. Hoot Gibson, ’73
Retired, Midwest Builders’ Casualty
Lawrence, Kansas

Mr. Scott Grauer, ’86
Bank of Oklahoma Tower
Claremont, Oklahoma

Mr. Jason Hooper, ’96
KVC Health Systems, Inc.
Shawnee, Kansas

Mr. Skip Kalb, ’73
Retired, Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway Co.
Azle, Texas

Mr. Brian King
Kansas State Bank
Leawood, Kansas

Mr. Eddie King, ’89
JSC Engineering Directorate Integration Office, NASA
League City, Texas

Mr. Gordon E. Lansford, III, ’93
J.E. Dunn Construction Co.
Leawood, Kansas

Mr. Mike McCarthy, ’87
Dallas Cowboys
Dallas, Texas

Mr. Gene Meyer
Retired, Lawrence Memorial Hospital
Olathe, Kansas

Ms. Melissa Ness
Connections Unlimited, Inc.
Topeka, Kansas

Ms. Stacie Prosser, ’92
Kansas City Business Journal
Shawnee, Kansas

The Rev. Dr. Nanette Roberts
Retired, Grace United Methodist Church
Olathe, Kansas

Dr. Kay Schallenkamp
Retired, Black Hills University President
Spearfish, South Dakota

Ms. Brenda Stasiulis, ’88
Logistics Dynamics
Leawood, Kansas

Mr. Gregory Stoskopf, ’86
Deloitte Consulting LLP
New York, New York

Mr. John Thomson, ’95
PayIt
Parkville, Missouri

Mr. John Warne, ’86
RIE Coatings, LLC
St. Joseph, Minnesota

Mr. Dale Werts, ’84
Lathrop GPM, LLP
Edgerton, Missouri

Board Meetings

The board meets as a whole three times a year in October, February and May. Each meeting has a specific focus in order to address different aspects of the institution.

October | Planning
This meeting focuses on facilities and strategic planning.

February | Faculty & Curriculum
This meeting provides opportunities for classroom visits and meetings with faculty to discuss curriculum updates and areas of growth. The board votes on tenure and promotion candidates.

May | Students & Student Learning
Board members are invited to eat lunch in the cafeteria with students, and student accomplishments are highlighted. An outgrowth of this meeting has been the establishment of a Scholars Day, initiated in 2009, which showcases student research, performance and art in a daylong conference. The conference is scheduled near the date of the May board meeting so that out-of-town trustees may attend.