Jewell Leadership

William Jewell College is led by the president and vice presidents of the College, commonly referred to as the President’s Cabinet. Under direction of the president, the Cabinet leads and manages the day-to-day operations of Jewell and plans for its future. Cabinet members work closely with the Board of Trustees to establish strategic initiatives and goals consistent with the College’s mission and fulfillment of its strategic plan, which calls for the College to act intentionally to fulfill our promise to transform students and to achieve our mission.

Cabinet members

Susan Chambers portraitSusan Chambers
Interim President
816-415-5902 | chambers@william.jewell.edu
Bachelor of Science from William Jewell College (hired 2024)

 

 

VP Eric Blair portraitEric Blair
Vice President of Marketing, Enrollment and Student Life
816-415-5217 | blaire@william.jewell.edu
Bachelor of Arts from William Jewell College; Master of Public Administration from Park University (hired 2019)

 

VPAA Daniel Jasper portraitDr. Daniel Jasper
Vice President of Academic Affairs
816-415-5045 | jasperd@william.jewell.edu
Bachelor of Arts from Macalester College; M.A. and Ph.D. from the New School for Social Research (hired 2023)

 

CFO Julie McGovern portraitJulie McGovern
Chief Financial Officer
816-415-5977 | mcgovernj@william.jewell.edu
Bachelor of Science from University of Kansas; C.P.A. (hired 2024)

 

 

VP Clark Morris portraitClark Morris
Vice President for Institutional Advancement, Executive and Artistic Director of the Harriman-Jewell Series
816-415-5997 | morrisc@william.jewell.edu
Bachelor of Arts from William Jewell College; Master of Business Administration from Mid-America Nazarene University; Graduate of the Executive Program for Non-Profit Leaders in the Arts at the Stanford Graduate School of Business (hired 1990)

 

VP Rodney Smith portraitDr. Rodney D. Smith
Vice President for Access and Engagement
816-415-7848 | smithr@william.jewell.edu
Bachelor of Arts from Morris Brown College; Master of Education from Tennessee State University; Doctor of Education from Tennessee State University (hired 2020)

 

Board of Trustees​

  • Gary V. Ainsworth, ’82, Lexington, Massachusetts
  • Gary D. Barnes, ’75, Liberty
  • Charles N. Funk, ’76, Iowa City, Iowa
  • William C. Gautreaux, ’85, Kansas City
  • Diane E. Hopkins, ’81, Alexandria, Virginia
  • Aimée G. Larrabee, Kansas City
  • J. Beto Lopez, Lee’s Summit
  • David F. Oliver, Kansas City
  • David Powell, ’80, Houston, Texas
  • Sarah Fidler Rowland, Kansas City
  • Antwaun Smith, Columbia
  • Qiana F. Thomason, Overland Park, Kansas
  • David Warm, Kansas City
  • Todd E. White, ’85, Kansas City

Advisory Trustees

  • William A. Hall, Kansas City
  • Jonathan M. Kemper, Kansas City
  • Helmar E. Nielsen, ’58, St. Petersburg, Florida
  • William D. Snyder, ’62, Manhattan, Kansas
  • Maurice A. Watson, Kansas City

Trustees Emeriti

  • Julius J. Anderson, Jr., ’71, Naples, Florida
  • Robert A. Bernstein, Kansas City
  • Susan Chambers, ’90, Bella Vista, Arkansas
  • Edward D. Douglas, Chillicothe
  • William E. Dreyer, ’60, San Antonio, Texas
  • Robert Gengelbach, ’69, Plano, Texas
  • John R. Gill, ’79, Kansas City
  • Eileen L. Houston-Stewart, ’79, St. Joseph
  • Burnell Landers, ’60, Kearney
  • Ollie Malone, Jr., ’75, Coppell, Texas
  • Karen M. Mathes, '80, Liberty, Missouri
  • James W. McCrossen, Overland Park, Kansas
  • James K. Pierce, ’66, Lake Jackson, Texas
  • W. Edward Place, ’82, Kansas City
  • Fred H. Pryor, ’56, Paradise Valley, Arizona
  • Linda J. Roos, ’68, St. Louis
  • Dianne C. Shumaker, ’66, Overland Park, Kansas
  • Joy L. Steincross, Kansas City
  • John F. White, ’67, Mount Pleasant, South Carolina
  • Thomas R. Willard, ’76, Mission Hills, Kansas
  • Richard Wright, Jr., ’78, Mission Hills, Kansas
  • Craig Zahnd, ’89, Overland Park, Kansas