The Emporia State Foundation announced the addition of 10 Trustees at the annual meeting of the Foundation Board of Trustees held during Homecoming weekend.
Foundation Trustees are committed, engaged and dedicated to the Foundation’s mission of raising and managing philanthropic resources to advance the mission of Emporia State University. As Trustees, they remain informed as they use the appropriate diligence, care and skill in making decisions regarding Emporia State University Foundation’s future.
“We are pleased to welcome these new Trustees to the Foundation. This class brings a wealth of experience and expertise to assist us in recruiting prospective students, in inspiring philanthropy to change lives at ESU, as well as advocating for the University,” said Steve Williams, Board Chair.
The 2015 class of Emporia State Foundation Trustees:
Jason M. Fanning
Jason Fanning of Olathe, Kansas earned his bachelor of science in business degree in Accounting from Emporia State University in 1995. Currently, he is a Cost Management and Continuous Improvement Manager for Sprint. Fanning has served Emporia State as a member of the National Campaign Committee, Champion for Athletics Committee, Hornets for Higher Ed, Students Through Alumni Recruitment Team (START), and the Alumni Board from 2007-14. He also has Emporia State affiliations with Sigma Tau Gamma, Union Activities Council, ESU’s Accounting Club, and the ESU Catholic Campus Center.
Dr. H. Edward “Ed” Flentje
Dr. H. Edward “Ed” Flentje earned his bachelor of science in education in mathematics from Emporia State in 1964. He later earned a master of arts in government from George Washington University in 1965, and a Ph.D. in political science at the University of Kansas in 1970. Currently, Dr. Flentje is a professor emeritus at Wichita State University.
In 2010, Dr. Flentje earned the Emporia State Distinguished Alumni Award. Dr. Flentje was a former Interim President at Emporia State University, as well as a past member of both the Foundation Board and the Alumni Board. He has served on a number of Emporia State committees, including the National Campaign Committee, the Political Science Advisory Committee, and the Class of 1964 Reunion Committee. Outside of Emporia State, Dr. Flentje has served as a Former Chair of the Wichita Airport Authority, and the Kansas Development Finance Authority. Dr. Flentje is a former Interim City Manager of Wichita.
Robert L. “Bob” Hamman
Robert L. “Bob” Hamman earned two degrees from Emporia State. In 1969, he obtained his bachelor of science in education in business and then received his master of science in educational administration in 1972. As a Hornet, he was involved with Theta Xi fraternity.
Hamman is the President for First Asset Financial, Inc. in Salina, Kansas and has given back to the community by serving on numerous boards. He has been a board member for the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors Chapter for the last nine years. In 2014 and 2015, he was president of the chapter. Currently, he is the Vice President of Program with the Boy Scouts Coronado Area Council, and serves on the Board of Stewardship at the Trinity Lutheran Church.
Mary “Charlene” (Allen) Hughes
Mary “Charlene” (Allen) Hughes of Olathe, Kansas, who earned her bachelor of science degree in elementary education from Emporia State in 1981, is the founder of OnTRAC Sports. The Neodesha, Kansas native has strong ties to Emporia State. She is a member of the National Campaign Committee, the Kansas City Alumni Chapter and Kellogg Society.
Hughes was a member of the Leadership Olathe Class of 2001, and was named the 2009 Paul Harris Fellow, Olathe Rotary Club recipient. Hughes is on the Olathe Public Schools Foundation Board and is a member of Life Church, Olathe Junior Service League and the Pillar Committee of the Olathe Medical Center.
Gene L. Merry
Gene L. Merry of Burlington, Kansas earned his bachelor of science degree in business administration in 1976, and is the Owner/Manager of Merry Investments LLC. As a Hornet, he was the president of Sigma Tau Gamma Fraternity and was involved in Associated Student Government, Phi Beta Lambda, American Marketing, and an honorary member of Blue Key.
Merry was a Kansas Humanities Council board member for seven years and served as Chairman in 2014. He was a board member of the Kansas Sampler Foundation for 12 years, Central National Bank for over 20 years and the Kansas Barn Alliance, Inc.; Merry was a past President for the Burlington Chamber of Commerce, where he was named Businessman of the Year. He was a past president of the Burlington Chapter of Rotary International and Paul Harris Fellow.
Merry has been involved in public service for more than a decade; serving as Mayor / City Councilman for Burlington, as Coffey County Commissioner, and as Public Officer for the Coffey County Historical Society & Museum.
Dr. Fred S. Neuer
Dr. Fred S. Neuer earned his bachelor of science degree in chemistry from Mount St. Mary’s University in Emmitsburg, Maryland, and later received his master’s degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He is the owner of F&N Leasing, LC, and a retired physician/diagnostic radiologist at Emporia Radiology and Nuclear Medicine.
Dr. Neuer was a Foundation Trustee Emeritus from 2005-2014 and a member of the 2014 Veteran Reunion Honorary Committee. He also assisted with the revitalization of neighborhoods east of the Emporia State campus through providing private, up-to-date housing for Emporia State students. He is currently an advocate for Hornets for Higher Education. Dr. Neuer is involved with the Emporia Building Futures Campaign and is the Chairperson of the Housing Committee.
Noel C. Roach
Noel C. Roach earned his bachelor of science degree from Emporia State in 1996. The Emporia, Kansas native is currently a partner for Financial Designs, Inc. in Overland Park, Kansas. As a Hornet, Roach played football. He is now helping with the Now & Forever Athletic Committee, and is a member of the National Campaign Committee.
John R. “Trip” Shannon, III
John R. “Trip” Shannon, III earned his bachelor of science in business in accounting from Emporia State in 1985. Shannon, of Overland Park, Kansas, is the Co-Owner/CFO of A & B Body Shop, Inc. in Northmoor, Missouri. Shannon was a member of the Emporia State football team and Accounting Club. As a member of the Grimsley Family, he is a 2014 Hornet Heritage Award recipient.
John D. “J.D.” Rios
John D. “J.D.” Rios earned his bachelor of science in education in social sciences from Emporia State in 1983. Rios, a Kansas City, Kansas native, was a Resident Assistant while at Emporia State. He was also involved with Associated Student Government and Emporia State Black Student Union.
Rios is involved with two other institutions of higher education, the University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC) and Kansas City, Kansas Community College (KCKCC). He is currently on the Hispanic Advisory Board and is a past Alumni Board Member at UMKC. Rios is a KCKCC trustee.
Rios serves in his community as well. He is a board member of El Centro, the largest Hispanic serving non-profit organization in Johnson County (Kansas) and Kansas City, Kansas.
Dr. Judith E. (McDonald) Wakefield
Dr. Judith E. (McDonald) Wakefield earned two degrees from Emporia State: a bachelor of science in education in elementary education in 1969, and a master of science in education in 1971. Later, Dr. Wakefield earned a Ph.D. in educational technology at the University of Oklahoma in 1986. She is currently a Professor of Advanced Professional and Special Services at the University of Central Oklahoma.
As a Hornet, she was a member of Emporia State Black Student Union. The University of Central Oklahoma’s African-American Staff Association honored Dr. Wakefield as the 2013 You Made a Difference Award recipient.