Reflecting Cheyney University of Pennsylvania’s transformational change in recent years, the university today announced the appointment of seven new members to the university’s Council of Trustees, as selected by Governor Wolf and approved by the State Legislature.
The seven include:
- Ryan Boyer, Business Manager, Laborers‘ District Councilof Philadelphia.
- Cheryl E. Harper, adjunct professor, Drexel University
- Kafi M. Lindsay, Managing Director, Senior Vice President, PNC
- Leroy D. Nunery, Founder and Principal, PlūsUltré LLC
- Jasmine E. Sessoms, Senior Vice President of Corporate Affairs, Hilco Redevelopment Partners
- James E. Turner, President, Dunamis Marketing
- Craig T. Welburn, Founder and Owner, Welburn Management
Reappointed to the Council are Pennsylvania State Senator Vincent J. Hughes; Larry C. Skinner, Vice President-Sales & Marketing at Conversion Technologies International, Inc., and Dr. Robert L. Traynham, Director of Corporate Public Affairs at Facebook. Dr. Daniel Greenstein, Chancellor of Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education, remains an Ex Officio Trustee.
The Council of Trustees includes four Cheyney alumni: Harper, Welburn, Skinner and Traynham.
“Being appointed to serve on Cheyney’s Council is an honor, but I also consider it an obligation,” Dr. Nunery said. “My up-close experience with the entire K-through-adult educational spectrum allows me to know why, especially now, higher education needs additional perspectives to thrive and grow. I plan to devote my energies to working with other trustees and President Walton to bring in additional partnerships and friends of Cheyney to build on the university’s current upward trajectory. Cheyney has earned the standing to be seen as an institution with great promise.”
In addition, former Council Chair Robert W. Bogle, publisher of the Philadelphia Tribune, recently left that post which he has held for three decades to serve on the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) Board of Governors.
“We are pleased with the new appointments and reappointments of such an accomplished group of individuals to the Council,” said Cheyney University President Aaron A. Walton. “This significant action is reflective of the transformational journey we embarked upon four years ago to dramatically change our university’s trajectory. We look forward to working with our new Council as we continue our important mission. I want to also express our university’s gratitude to the Trustees who will be leaving us for their years of dedication and service to our great university.”
After years of financial and academic challenges, Cheyney implemented a new model in 2017 in which private companies locate their businesses on campus both to provide real-world paid student internships and as a source of revenue to the university.
The university has balanced its budget for three consecutive years, raised academic requirements for enrollment and seen its areas of study shift, with 25% of students now Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM) majors with a goal of reaching 30% in the next two years.
Council of Trustees members serve a six-year term. They are an active, valuable supporting force for Cheyney University. The President frequently consults with trustees on university issues and initiatives important to the future success of the university.