REDLANDS, California (August 29, 2016)—The University of Redlands Board of Trustees recently welcomed four new and three returning members. The Board of Trustees has a fiduciary responsibility to the university as a whole and are responsible for electing the president and approving an annual plan of financial operation. Through the University bylaws, the day-to-day administration of the University is delegated by the trustees to the president.

New trustees: 

Luann Bangsund ‘74, ‘79

After graduating from the University of Redlands in 1974 with a bachelor's degree in art history and earning her master’s degree from the School of Education in 1979,  Bangsund went on to UCLA to complete an MBA in finance and Claremont Graduate University for a Ph.D. in management.

Bangsund has recently retired as a professor of finance and accounting from the Keck Graduate Institute (KGI) in Claremont. While at KGI, she served as director of the Masters of Bioscience program and also as chair of the curriculum committee. 

Bangsund is currently serving as president-elect on the University of Redlands Alumni Association Board.  She helped to establish the Redlands Alumni Admissions Program, served on the Young Alumni committee of the Board, and on the 75th Anniversary Committee.  She earned the Ray Whitmus Young Alumni Award in 1985 and an Alumni Career Achievement Award in 1994.

In the community, she serves as treasurer on the board of directors for Redlands Day Nursery, treasurer of the Redlands Symphony Association, and is active in First Presbyterian Church of Redlands

Christopher Bonney ‘87

Christopher Bonney graduated in 1987 from University of Redlands with a degree in psychology.  While a student, Bonney was involved in the Associated Students, a member of Kappa Sigma Sigma and the Maroon and Grey Ambassadors, and studied in Salzburg.

Bonney is currently senior vice president/principal at Lee & Associates®, City of Industry.  He specializes in the sale and leasing of industrial and office properties in the San Gabriel Valley. From January 2007 to January 2015, he served as president, chief financial officer, and broker of record of the City of Industry office of Lee & Associates®.  

Bonney and his wife, Ann ’90, were married in 1992.  They have two children, Jocelyn and Jason. The couple enjoys skiing and cycling.

Mindy Harris

Mindy Harris received her bachelor’s degree in 1977, graduating Phi Beta Kappa, and Juris Doctor (JD) in 1980 from the University of Denver.

Harris serves as senior vice president, general counsel, compliance officer, and corporate secretary for Nordstrom fsb, the banking subsidiary of Nordstrom.  She has more than 30 years of experience advising and representing financial institutions, bank servicing organizations, and related entities as in-house legal counsel.  Over half of her career has been with Nordstrom; previously she was with US Bank and its various predecessor entities.  

A Colorado native, she currently resides in Denver with her husband Rich Podoll.  They have two children.

Hon. Elbra Wedgeworth ‘78

Hon. Elbra M. Wedgeworth received a bachelor’s degree in sociology/anthropology from the University of Redlands in 1978.

In 2007, she was hired as the Chief Government and Community Relations Officer for the Denver Health and Hospital Authority where she is responsible for hospital policy matters on the local, state and federal level, and also for community outreach initiatives.

Wedgeworth began her public service career with the City of Denver in 1989.  She has the unique distinction of being the only person, male or female, in recent memory who has served in all three branches of city government in Denver: City Council, City Auditor’s Office, and Mayor’s Office.  

In 2015, Wedgeworth was named the Downtown Denver Partnership Honorary Partner and the Denver Business Journal awarded her with their Legacy Award, which recognized her significant contributions to local business and community throughout her career.  In 2014, the Elbra M. Wedgeworth Municipal Building was dedicated in her honor and she subsequently privately funded and donated the building mural by artist Frank Gaza entitled, "No Shoes Too Big" for the city and county of Denver.  In 2014, she was inducted into the "Blacks in Colorado" Hall of Fame by the Denver Public Library.  In 2013, 5280 Magazine named her as a Woman of Colorado who has played a historically significant role because of chiefly being responsible for bringing the 2008 Democratic National Convention to Denver.  In 2012, she was named by the Denver Post as One of Colorado's Most Influential Women and was named one of Denver's 25 Most Powerful Women by the Colorado Women's Chamber of Commerce, also receiving their ATHENA Award.

The Honorable Elbra M. Wedgeworth is a proud Denver native where she currently resides.  She is a member of Visit Denver Foundation Board of Directors.  She also served as the Past Chairwoman for the Downtown Denver Partnership Inc. (2013-2014).  Wedgeworth is the first person of color, male or female, to serve as Chairperson in their 60-year history

Returning trustees:

Larry Burgess ‘67

After graduating from the University of Redlands in 1967, Larry Burgess earned his Ph.D. in history from Claremont Graduate University.  He began his career at the A.K. Smiley Public Library in Redlands in 1972, first as an archivist and later as the library’s director.  He was named acting director in 1985 and was appointed by the library's Board of Trustees to the position permanently in 1986.  He retired from the A.K. Smiley Library in 2012 (after 40 years of service).  From 2003 to 2006, Burgess also served as president of the Historical Society of Southern California.

A prolific writer, Burgess is the author of a number of articles and books including "The Smileys," "With Unbounded Confidence—A History of the University of Redlands," and co-author of "The Hunt for Willie Boy" and "Images of California: Redlands. 

He has received numerous awards, including the University’s 75th Anniversary Medal and Centennial Award.  He was named "Redlands Man of the Year" in 1987 by the Redlands Chamber of Commerce. 

In 1981, Burgess came to the Board of Trustees as president of the Alumni Board of Directors.  During this period, he chaired the University's 75th Anniversary Celebration.  He served as chair of the board's Campus Planning Committee between 1996 and 2005, a period that saw over $107 million invested in the institution’s physical plant.

Burgess and his wife, Charlotte '69, reside in Redlands, California, where she serves as the University’s vice president and dean for student life.

Becky Campbell Garnett ‘69

Becky Garnett graduated from the University of Redlands in 1969 with a bachelor’s degree in economics. After college, she worked with Transamerica Investment Counselors and Xerox Corporation.  She is currently an independent sales associate with Worth New York.

Community service has always been important to Garnett. She is actively involved in the Pasadena Guild of Children’s Hospital, which is currently funding an endowed chair in Developmental Biology and Regenerative Medicine. 

She served as a member of the National Campaign Committee for the Centennial Campaign and assisted with the Centennial Celebration committee’s successful effort to secure a float in the January 2007 Tournament of Roses Parade. Garnett is a recipient of the University’s ‘R’ Award and Centennial Award. 

When not volunteering, she enjoys time spent with family and friends, traveling and playing bridge. Garnett and her husband, Bill, reside in Pasadena, California. 

Darren S. Rose ‘91

After graduating from the University of Redlands in 1991 with a degree in mathematics and computer science, Rose joined Raytheon Services Nevada as a project engineer with the company's device assembly facility project team.  He then returned to the University and held various positions including director of alumni and development information services, MIS manager for business and finance, and senior project manager for the university relations division's computer conversion.  

Today, Rose is the president of Rose & Tuck, a consulting firm offering project management, business process improvement, software selection, software application, software development and business intelligence consulting and training services to higher education and not-for-profit clients.

In 2001, he was elected to the Board of Trustees for a three-year term as president of the Alumni Association.  He returned to the board in 2006.  He has served as a volunteer for the Campaign for the Science, Redlands Fund Leadership Committee and the Centennial Celebration Committee. He is the 2003 recipient of the ‘R’ Award.

Rose enjoys sailing, golf and card games.  He resides in Marlborough, Massachusetts.  He has two children.