KU Endowment Association board elects 7 new trustees

LAWRENCE -- The Board of Trustees of the Kansas University Endowment Association met for its 112th annual meeting today at the Dole Institute of Politics at the University of Kansas, electing seven new trustees to the board and appointing two additional members to its Executive Committee.

The board comprises up to 75 trustees who represent and support KU around the country. Their duties include reviewing reports on fund raising and asset management, and serving on committees that provide advice and recommendations for KU Endowment programs and activities.

On Friday, the board elected as new KU Endowment trustees: Beverly Smith Billings of Lawrence; Howard E. Cohen of Leawood; Linda S. Ellis of Houston; Lewis D. Gregory of Leawood; A. Drue Jennings of Leawood; M.D. "Mike" Michaelis of Wichita; and Steve Sloan of Pittsburg.

Beverly Billings graduated from KU in 1968 with bachelor's degrees in French and psychology and in 1970 with a master's degree in psychology. She is president of Alvamar Inc. in Lawrence.

Howard Cohen graduated from KU in 1979 with a bachelor's degree in business administration. He is a partner with Deloitte & Touche LLP in Kansas City, Mo.

Linda Ellis graduated from KU in 1979 with a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering. She also received a master's degree in business administration from the University of Memphis in 1985. She is an account executive at ExxonMobil Corp. in Houston.

Lewis Gregory graduated from KU in 1975 with a bachelor's degree in speech and drama. He is senior vice president and district trust manager for Merrill Lynch Trust Company FSB in Leawood.

Drue Jennings graduated from KU in 1968 with a bachelor's degree in education and in 1972 with a juris doctorate. He is the retired chairman and chief executive officer of Kansas City Power and Light Co. and served as interim athletics director at KU this past year.

Mike Michaelis graduated from KU in 1968 with a bachelor's degree in business administration and in 1969 with a master's degree in business. He is president of Emprise Financial Corp. in Wichita.

Steve Sloan graduated from KU in 1983 with a bachelor's degree in journalism. He is president of Midwest Minerals Inc. in Pittsburg.

Also on Friday, the Board of Trustees appointed Drue Jennings and Deanell Reece Tacha to the Executive Committee. Jennings served previously on the committee and the Board of Trustees prior to his appointment by Chancellor Robert E. Hemenway as KU's interim athletics director earlier this year. Tacha is chief circuit judge for the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals and has served on the Board of Trustees since 1992.