Board of Trustees

The Board of Trustees is the ultimate governing body of the University of La Verne. As stewards of this institution, the board manages and allocates funds to fulfill the university’s educational mission and ensure its future. The board meets regularly to review the financial goals of the university, set policies and their application, and confirm La Verne functions in accordance with those policies and goals.

It is a significant responsibility for all members, one met with great enthusiasm. The board is composed of many voices, all community leaders who bring a range of personal and professional experiences to the task of guiding the university. Yet the outcome remains the same since our founding in 1891: guard La Verne’s legacy as a strong and vibrant center of learning. As an alumnus, I am honored to serve in this position.

Anthony R. Revier ’93
Chair of the Board of Trustees

Current Board Membership

Officers

Chairman
Anthony R. Revier ’93
President, CEO
Uyemura USA
Vice Chair
Valerie C. Romero
Executive Vice President
Oremor Management and Investment
Secretary
Susan M. Searing (’71)
Retired Educator

Trustees

Emeriti

 

Board of Trustees

Tony Revier Tony Revier ’93
First Joined Board 2016
Anthony Revier is the President/CEO of Uyemura USA, a subdivision of Uyemura International Corp. Prior to that, he was Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Baker Brothers Systems Engineering in Arcadia, CA and held several sales roles at Walgren West, Turner Engineering, M&T Chemicals. He served in the United States Navy Reserve from 1968 -1970 in Vietnam. He earned a BS in Chemistry from the University of Central Oklahoma, and his MBA from the University of La Verne. Anthony is also a member of the University’s College of Business Advisory Board.
Valerie Romero Valerie C. Romero ’00
First Joined Board 2006
Valerie Romero is executive vice president of Oremor Management & Investments. She holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Scripps College and a juris doctorate from the University of La Verne College of Law and Public Service. She and her family have a history of committed involvement with the university and of supporting its programs and projects.
Susan Searing Susan M. Searing ’71
Secretary
First Joined Board 2009Sue Searing is a retired educator, having served 25 years in elementary school education in the Ontario-Montclair and Arcadia Unified school districts. She also owned and operated her own preschool/kindergarten from 1978-90 in Arcadia. She earned her bachelor’s degree (1971) and teaching credential (1972) from La Verne. She is currently a President’s Associates member.
Michael Abraham Michael A. Abraham
First Joined Board 1999
Mike Abraham is CEO of MKA Capital Group, Inc., which he founded in 1979. He is a past member of the University of California Santa Barbara Foundation and his company is a founding sponsor of the UCSB Technology Management Program. La Verne presented him with an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters Degree in May 2005, and he and his wife, Sara, received the University of La Verne President’s Award in 2007. He also holds a bachelor’s degree from UC Santa Barbara.
Kim Bowen Kim Bowen
First Joined Board 2016
Kimberly Bowen received a Bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Irvine (1979) in Social Ecology with an emphasis in environmental studies and urban planning. She spent her senior year abroad at the University of Nairobi, Kenya, researching low-income housing funded by the World Bank. She went on to earn a Master’s degree in Architecture from Rice University (1983) in Houston, Texas and has been a licensed architect since 1987. She has been a member of the American Institute of Architects (A.I.A.) and the Royal Institute of British Architects (R.I.B.A.), practicing architecture both in the U.S. and the U.K. She was an adjunct faculty member at Citrus Community College in Glendora from 1993-2007 in the Science and Technology Department, teaching design, drafting and architectural history. Kim is currently President and CEO of Bow’n Arrow Properties, LLC, a real estate investment and management company. She is also an associate broker and realtor at Coldwell Banker Blackstone in Glendora, California and a member of the Citrus Valley Association of Realtors.
Mike Brown Mike Brown
Previously Served 2002-2005; Joined Board 2020
Michael Brown is the Owner of Mike Brown Construction, Founder and President of Mike Brown Grandstands, Inc., and President and CEO of American Grandstand Seating Co. Mike Brown Grandstands, Inc. provides temporary seating for outdoor sporting and special events. American Grandstand Seating Co., specializes in the custom fabrication and installation of permanent and temporary bleachers. In the 1970s and 1980s, Mike Brown Grandstands was the largest seating company in the world, and continued to be one of the top three largest (if not the largest). It provided seating for some of the most prestigious events in the country including the Rose Parade, the Long Beach Grand Prix and many more.
Kim Burchiel Kim J. Burchiel, M.D.
First Joined Board 2012
Kim Burchiel is John Raaf Professor and Chairman of the Department of Neurological Surgery at Oregon Health Sciences University. He is the President-elect of the Society of Neurological Surgeons. Kim completed his undergraduate education at the University of California, Davis, majoring in Biochemistry and Genetics. He then went to medical school at the University of California, San Diego, graduating in 1976. He completed his surgical internship at the UCLA/Harbor General Hospital in Torrance, California and entered neurosurgical residency at the University of Washington under the leadership of Dr. Arthur A. Ward.
Clifford Daniels Clifford Daniels
First Joined Board 2021
Clifford Daniels is Senior Vice President/Chief Strategy Officer at Methodist Hospital of Southern California, where he is responsible for strategic planning, business development, physician alignment, digital strategies, marketing/communications, community outreach, and public relations. He has served in this position since 2012. Prior to joining Methodist, Clifford was Chief Development Officer at Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs, California. He has more than 30 years of experience bringing together hospitals, physicians, and payors to create high quality, cost effective delivery networks, and he remains passionate about improving the health status of Southern Californians. Clifford is active with various community organizations, serving on the Boards of the San Gabriel Valley Economic Partnership, Healthy Living Productions, and Reach Out. He chaired the 2009 Heart Gala in the Coachella Valley, and was named Volunteer of the Year in 2009 by the American Heart Association. Clifford attended UCLA, where he majored in Economics. He lives in Rancho Cucamonga with his wife, four children, and three dogs.
Martha Daniel Martha Daniel ’84
First Joined Board 2019
Martha Daniel is president and chief executive officer of Information Management Resources, Inc. (IMRI). An expert in cybersecurity, she presides over companies that provide network security and asset management to clients from around the globe. Her companies employ more than 150 professionals, and manage $300 million in data center operations. Daniel earned her Master of Business Administration from University of La Verne in 1984.
Ann Quay Davis Ann Quay Davis
First Joined Board 1996
Ann Quay Davis, also known as Mary Ann Quay, is a Certified Public Accountant. She is a sole practitioner with an office in San Dimas, CA, after having spent over 40 years with Vicenti, Lloyd & Stutzman, CPAs, including time as a co-managing partner. She specializes in individual, estate and trust taxation. Ann holds a bachelor of science in accounting from Cal Poly Pomona and a master’s degree in business administration in taxation from Golden Gate University. She has been very active in business and charitable community organizations and has taught individual tax at both Cal Poly and ULV. Ann was born in Claremont, CA and is a life long member of the La Verne Church of the Brethren.
Lupe De La Cruz Lupe De La Cruz
First Joined Board 2022
As Senior Director of Government Affairs, Lupe represents PEPSICO’s diverse convenient food and beverages portfolio with policy makers and community leaders. He manages State and local political and public policy activities for 19 states in the western United States, directing PEPSICO’s community engagement in those states and supports PEPSICO’s national initiatives in the Latino community. His passion for public policy issues was cemented while working in the office of Congressman Esteban E. Torres and later as Advocacy Director of the AARP. Born in Fresno, California, he grew up in the Greater Los Angeles area. Lupe graduated from UCLA with a degree in Political Science. As an undergraduate, he served as a reserve deputy with the County of Los Angeles Juvenile Probation Department. Currently, Lupe serves as the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes. He also serves on the Boards of the Getty House Foundation, the Dream.US, the California Business Roundtable, and the CalAsian Chamber of Commerce. He serves on the Advisory Boards of the UnidosUS and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute.
Robert Dyer Robert P. Dyer ’63
First Joined Board 2014
Robert P. Dyer graduated from La Verne College in 1963 with a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration. The University of La Verne has honored Bob with the Centennial Citation of Distinction (1990); the Alumnus of the Year Award for Outstanding Service to Alma Mater (1996); and he was inducted to the Athletic Hall of Fame in 2003. Bob was on the Alumni Advisory Board from 1973 until 1979; has announced football games since 1987; basketball games since 1990; and has been president of the La Verne Athletics Associates (LVAA) since 1985. He is a retired educator of the Chino Valley Unified School District.
Peter Eckel Peter D. Eckel
First Joined Board 2013
Peter Eckel is Senior Fellow/Director of Leadership Programs at the University of Pennsylvania. He has written and spoken extensively about academic leadership, institutional change and campus governance. In addition to writing and speaking, Eckel serves as Senior Fellow/Director of Leadership Programs at the University of Pennsylvania in its Graduate School of Education and teaches in its executive doctorate program. He holds a Ph.D. in Education Policy, Planning and Administration from the University of Maryland, College Park.
Zoila Escobar ’03, MBA ’13
First Joined Board 2017
Zoila D. Escobar is the Vice President of Strategic Development and Community Support and President of the AltaMed Foundation. She has an extensive history in the health care field. Ms. Escobar was nominated by the Los Angeles Business Journal as Woman of the Year in 2006 and Received the Mexican American Opportunity Foundation Woman of the Year award in 2007. In 2008, she received the National Latina Business Woman Association L.A. In 2011, she received the 2011 Latino Spirit Awards from the California Latino Legislative Caucus. Ms. Escobar is an alumna and completed both her B.S. in Health Services Administration (2003) and a MBA both from the University of La Verne (2013).
Luis Faura Luis F. Faura ’89
Chair
First Joined Board 2002
Luis Faura is president and CEO of Gluten Free Foods, Mfg, LLC. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from La Verne, an MBA from Pepperdine University, and a Ph.D. from Oklahoma State University. He also serves as member of the Board of Visitors with Pepperdine University, Advisory board for Padres Contra El Cancer, and is an active member of Vistage 35.
Joseph Fengler Joseph V. Fengler ’89
First Joined Board 2013
University of La Verne Alumnus Joseph Fengler is Vice President of Government Relations at Honeywell International where he serves as the global lead for civil aviation and infrastructure projects as well as coordinating Honeywell’s Washington DC political operations. Prior to joining Honeywell in 2006, he served 13 years in the federal government, four years as a professional staff member on the House Armed Services Committee and nine years as a Department of Army civilian financial manager and budget officer. He began his federal career in 1993 as a Presidential Management Fellow. He holds a bachelor of arts in political science from the University of La Verne, a master’s in national security studies from California State, San Bernardino, and a master’s in international studies from Claremont Graduate University.
Mark Hicks Mark Hicks ’90
First Joined Board 2009
Mark Hicks is a business consultant. He earned his bachelor’s degree from La Verne in 1990 and serves on the College of Business’s Business Advisory Board. He is also on the Board of Directors for the California Association of Medical Product Suppliers. He is currently a President’s Associates member.
Peter Hidalgo Peter G. Hidalgo
First Joined Board 2022
Peter Hidalgo is a seasoned government affairs and communications leader, elected official, youth mentor with more than 25 years of experience in the private and public sector. He earned his bachelor’s degree and Masters of Organizational Leadership from Azusa Pacific University. He is a Spectrum government affairs executive with responsibility for local government relations throughout greater Los Angeles County. His previous employment includes the City of Los Angeles as a Council Chief of Staff and as an LA Mayor’s Press Secretary. He has held leadership roles in corporate communications with Sempra Energy Southern California Gas Company and was part of the start-up team that launched the region’s long-distance commuter rail system, Metrolink as Director of External Affairs. In 2020, he was elected to the Mt. San Antonio College Board of Trustees. He serves on the Boards of the Los Angeles County Fair Association, LA’s BEST, Just Us 4 Youth, the San Gabriel Valley Public Affairs Network, Los Angeles County Business Federation and the San Gabriel Valley Economic Partnership.
Wendy Lau, Esq. ’98
First Joined Board 2011
Wendy Lau currently serves as the Risk Management Senior Manager – West Region for AECOM, a global Fortune 500 infrastructure consulting firm. She is engaged in the evaluation and mitigation of risk on potential pursuits and actively assists business lines and teams with the management of risks throughout the lifetime of a project. Wendy also serves on the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Global Steering Committee, is the West Regional Lead for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, the president of the Women’s Leadership Alliance, the women’s employee resource group at AECOM, and as a Global Well-Being Strategic Partner. Prior to working for AECOM, Wendy was a partner at Wood Smith Henning & Berman, LLP, a national law firm with offices across the country. She served as legal counsel to hundreds of companies ranging from local start-ups to multi-million dollar national corporations and is well-versed in defending clients in litigation and providing proactive guidance on organizational risk management and compliance. Wendy’s volunteer responsibilities include serving as a Trustee for the University of La Verne, a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI); as a Director on Phi Sigma Sigma’s National Housing Corporation; and as a Council member for the City of La Verne.
Alex Lester Alex D. Lester, Esq. ’08, ’11
First Joined Board 2014
Alex Lester was born and raised in Milwaukie, Oregon, a suburb of Portland.  He attended the University of La Verne and was involved in Greek Life, student government, orientation week, the Landis Leadership Scholars Program, the honors department, and the Leadership Education and Development Program in the Office of Student Life.  Alex graduated with a B.S. in Political Philosophy, a self-created major, in 2008.  He immediately continued on to attend the University of La Verne College of Law and Public Service and graduated with his J.D. in 2011.  Alex is currently an attorney licensed to practice in California and works at the Law Offices of Mark John Tundis in Upland, practicing general civil litigation.  He is a member and past President of the Alumni Advisory Board, and an advisor to his fraternity Phi Delta Theta.
Kenneth Little Kenneth D. Little ’89
First Joined Board 2008
Ken Little is a partner in Brandes Investment Partners, L.P. A Chartered Financial Analyst and Certified Public Accountant, Ken graduated cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in accounting from La Verne and also received his a master’s in business from Duke University. He is vice chair on the Board of Directors for the Barrio Logan College Institute and formerly served on the board of the Helix Community Conservancy. He is currently a President’s Associates member.
David Lizárraga
First Joined Board 2017
Dr. David C. Lizárraga is the Founder & Chairman of TELACU Education Foundation. He is internationally renowned as a pioneer in the field of community and economic development. He created the innovative TELACU Model, the community investment engine that sustains TELACU as the nation’s largest Community Development Corporation. He also shares his expertise, leadership, insight and time with many other civic, business, educational, governmental and community based organizations. David is a past Chairman of the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, advocating for more than 2.5 million Latino businesses throughout the nation.
Frank Lizarraga Frank Lizarraga, Jr. ’80
First Joined Board in 2020
Frank Lizarraga Jr. is the Chair of the Board of Advisors for the University of La Verne College of Law and Public Service. He is a mentor, advisor, and provocateur. His support for ULV’s program of legal education and our students play an important and instrumental role in nurturing, promoting, and maintaining our relevancy in and connection to the Inland Empire and beyond. Frank was the planning commissioner for Ontario for 13 years, and stepped down in 2010. He is currently the owner of Lizarraga Law Firm, APC. Most of his 33-year legal career has been as a civil litigator, having seen more than 70 jury trials to completion.
Mary Ann Melleby Mary Ann Melleby ’79, ’91
First Joined Board 2000
Mary Ann Melleby is a former elected member of the Board of Directors of the San Gorgonio Pass Water Agency. She retired in 2011 from her position as the Public Affairs Director of the Monte Vista Water District, following a 32-year career in public relations and marketing. She graduated cum laude from La Verne with a bachelor’s in journalism and a master’s in organizational management. She also holds a diploma in nursing from Thomas Jefferson University. She has served as a board member of Brethren Hillcrest Homes of La Verne, the Pomona Valley Council of Churches, the Pomona Valley Branch of the American Association of University Women. She was the first woman president of the West Covina Chamber of Commerce.
Paul Moseley Paul Moseley ’88
First Joined Board 2005
Paul Moseley is co-owner of Ruby Springs Lodge in Alder, Montana. He earned his bachelor’s degree in business from La Verne. Along with being an active supporter of Montana charities and organizations, he has contributed to La Verne athletic and scholastic programs including establishment of a lectureship series in honor of Professor Ahmed Ispahani and Ispahani’s cousin, the late Benazir Bhutto. He is currently a President’s Associates member.
Chris Pierce ’94
First Joined Board 2022
Chris has more than 30 years of successful consulting across the military, civil, intelligence, commercial, and international markets focused on management and technology. He is in the field of cybersecurity. Chris was a Naval Flight Officer. Mr. Pierce is also an alumnus from the University of La Verne; he earned his Masters of Science in Business Organizational and Systems while on active duty.
John Raffoul '02 John Raffoul ’02
First Joined Board 2021
John Raffoul is the president of Adventist Health White Memorial (AHWM), a 353-bed not-for-profit, faith-based, teaching medical hospital that provides a full range of inpatient, outpatient, emergency and diagnostic services to the communities in and near downtown Los Angeles.John began his career at White Memorial in 1984 as an accountant. In 1987 he left to serve as the controller at Casa Colina Hospital, Inc. in Pomona, and then vice president of finance & chief financial officer at Terrace Plaza Medical Center in Baldwin Park. He returned to AHWM in 1992, where he worked his way up through leadership positions. John assumed the role of AHWM president in March 2015, the same time Adventist Health was starting to come together as a system, serving more than 80 communities on the West Coast and Hawaii. He holds a doctorate in public administration from the University of La Verne, a master’s degree in finance from the University of California, San Bernardino, and a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Loma Linda University. Since 2003 John has been a professor of accounting and finance at the University of Southern California, Graduate School of Policy Planning and Development and is a Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives.
Owen Skelton Owen “Ray” Skelton
First Joined Board 2011
Ray Skelton retired from his senior sales management position as Regional Vice President at Black & Decker. He currently devotes his retirement to community and civic leadership. Ray and his wife, Katie, are parents of two sons who graduated from the University of La Verne in 2009. Last year, he and his wife established the Skelton Endowed Scholarship in order to provide financial aid to students in the College of Arts and Sciences. They have been donors at the President’s Associate level for the last three years. He is currently a President’s Associates member.
Emmett Terrell Emmett L. Terrell ’70
First Joined Board 1996
Emmett Terrell is retired deputy superintendent with the Pomona Unified School District. He has 22 years of experience leading Human Resources in a 30,000+ student district, with over 3,000 personnel, and 40 years of experience as an educator/administrator in an urban, low income K-12 district where 39% of students are English Language Learners. He earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of La Verne and a master’s from Azusa Pacific University. He currently serves as a member of the L.A. County Fair Association and L.A. County Fair Educational Foundation, as a Board member for Hillcrest Retirement Community, and as a Board member for Bright Prospects.
Reggie Webb Reggie Webb
First Joined Board 2014
Reggie Webb is a McDonald’s franchisee, owning 11 locations throughout Southern California. Reggie served in the U.S. Coast Guard in the late 1960s and was involved in the Civil Rights movement in Los Angeles. He has extensive experience with personnel issues and a deep understanding of underrepresented groups in urban culture.

Emeriti of the Board of Trustees

Kenneth Calkins Kenneth L. Calkins ’56
First Joined Board 1980
Ken Calkins retired from Garden Grove Unified School District in 1995. In his career, he served as teacher, coach, counselor, dean of counseling and guidance, psychologist, high school principal and Assistant Superintendent in charge of Personnel. He also served in the U.S. Army for two years. He received his B.A. in Education from La Verne in 1956, his M.S. in Psychology from Cal State University Los Angeles in 1966, and his Ed.D. in Educational Administration from USC in 1979. Ken has served on the Board of Trustees at La Verne for 32 years. He began as the Alumni Representative to the Board, later became Trustee-at-Large, and has served in various capacities since: vice chairman, chair of the Human Resources Committee, member of the Executive Committee. He represented the Board on the Compensation Task Force for eight years and, most recently, as co-chairman of the recent, successful Presidential Search Committee. He is currently a President’s Associates member.
Jerry Davis Jerry A. Davis ’52
First Joined Board 1975
Jerry Davis is a retired farmer who earned his bachelor’s degree from La Verne in 1952. He also holds a bachelor’s of science from UC Davis and a master’s from Claremont Graduate School of Education. He is currently a President’s Associates member.
Cecilia Martinez Morris Cecilia Martinez Morris ’75
First Joined Board 2003
Cecilia Martinez Morris has been with State Farm Insurance Cos. for 25+ years as an agency owner, consultant and California agency recruiting manager. She attended the University of Texas El Paso, Cal State, Fullerton and UCLA for Human Resources Certification. Cecilia earned her bachelor’s in education from La Verne and began working as a high school guidance counselor after graduation. She later entered the human resources management field, becoming Assistant Vice President in Human Resources for the Bank of California (BankCal). While at BankCal she co-founded the Hispanic Bankers Association, was appointed as an adjudicator for the California State Bar, appointed to the California Superintendent of Schools Council for Hispanic Affairs, volunteered as USC and Whittier College Latin Business Student Associations Advisor and sat on the board of the UCLA Institute of Hispanic Media and Culture Community. Cecilia has served as advisor and president of the University of La Verne Latino Alumni Association, Founder and Advisor of the CAPA Alumni Association and is a President’s Associates member.
Steven Reenders Steven N. Reenders ’73
First Joined Board 1989
Steve Reenders is president of The Reenders Company, a consulting and investment firm located in San Clemente. He is also chair of the Covina Irrigating Company and a director of SunWest Bank in Irvine. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of La Verne.
David Shively David D. Shively, DDS ’74
First Joined Board 1985
Dr. David Shively has a dental practice in Bakersfield. His involvement in many facets of the dental profession include being an active member of the Flying Samaritans, serving as a community health volunteer and educator, and chairing a dental health committee. He earned his bachelor’s degree in science from La Verne and his D.D.S. from University of the Pacific. He has served on the board of the Bakersfield Church of the Brethren and is currently a President’s Associates member.
Donald Wilson Donald G. Wilson ’63
First Joined Board 1979
Don Wilson is a retired entrepreneur. He earned his bachelor’s degree from La Verne in 1963. His parents, Elvin and Betty Wilson, were generous benefactors of the university and the school’s library is named in their honor. Don Wilson was elected to the Board of Trustees the year his father concluded 12 years of distinguished board service.