• Meet Baylor’s new class of Regents

    Headshots of Baylor's new Board members: Sarah Gahm, William Mearse, Mark Petersen, Manny Ruiz, David M. Slover, Randall A. Umstead

    As Baylor’s Board of Regents holds its regular summer meeting this week, six new Regents are taking their seats at the table to start new terms: three serving at-large, one elected by alumni, one nominated by the Bear Foundation, and one new Faculty Regent:

    • Sarah Gahm, BS ’84, at-large Regent, is a senior vice president of Baylor Scott & White Health Care, where she has served for more than 30 years. The Dallas resident also serves on the boards for Baylor Heart and Vascular Hospital, the Baylor Scott and White Quality Alliance, and Health Texas Provider Network.
    • William Mearse, BBA ’78, MBA ’79, at-large Regent, retired from Accenture as resources group operating officer in November 2013 after more than 33 years. Today, he serves as a Baylor College of Medicine trustee, on the Houston Baylor Business Network board, and on the Baylor School of Engineering and Computer Science board of advocates.
    • Mark Petersen, MBA ’84, Bear Foundation Regent, is a partner in MBD Solutions LLC and president and managing partner for PRF Capital LLC. He is past president of the Baylor Bear Foundation and has served on the Hankamer School of Business Advisory Board and the board of the Baylor Alumni Association.
    • Manny Ruiz, BBA ’81, at-large Regent, is president and senior lending officer for San Antonio’s TexStar National Bank and the father of two recent Baylor graduates. He serves as steering committee chair for the San Antonio Baylor Business Network and on the Baylor Alumni Network Board of Advocates and the advisory board for the Hankamer School of Business.
    • David M. Slover, BA ’86, MBA ’89, an alumni-elected Regent, is senior vice president and chief strategy officer at HighGround Advisors, an investment, asset management, and gift planning company. He previously served as president of the Buckner Foundation and as executive vice president of Buckner International.
    • Dr. Randall Umstead, a Faculty Regent, is associate dean for academic affairs and associate professor of voice in Baylor’s School of Music. A member of Baylor’s faculty since 2006, he is a past chair of the Faculty Senate and a current member of the board of directors of the National Association of Teachers of Singing.

    Including the new Regents listed above, 93% of this year’s Regents — 38 of 41 — are either Baylor alumni, professors or current students (including 10 who have earned multiple degrees from the university). Many are also Baylor parents. Given the unique Baylor experience — a truly transformational education built on the foundation of our Christian faith — it’s good to see so many BU alumni answer the call to come back and serve their alma mater.

    Sic ’em, Baylor Regents!