New trustees bring added expertise to already strong board

By Luanne Williams

Wingate University continues to deepen the talent on its leadership team, adding three new members to the Board of Trustees, all accomplished in their fields and avid contributors to their communities. Former educator Caroline Moser Brown, hospital administrator Rashard Johnson and nonprofit director Suzanne Philemon joined the board in June.

"Wingate University is a pillar in our community and has a long-standing relationship with Atrium Health that I greatly respect," says Johnson, Atrium Health's south market president. "I wanted to be a part of such a great team focused on making generational change in the lives of students." He says the vision for growth and the innovation strategy he heard about from University President Rhett Brown piqued his interest in terms of leveraging community relationships.

"As a trustee, I'd like to further the pipeline of talent for healthcare workers," Johnson says. "Wingate is the quintessential partner for any healthcare organization seeking top talent and future leaders in the healthcare industry."

Prior to his role at Atrium Health, Johnson led hospitals in Georgia, Illinois, Texas and Florida. He holds bachelor and master's degrees in health services administration from the University of Central Florida and a certificate in executive healthcare leadership from Cornell University. Johnson is also active in numerous professional and service organizations, including the National Association of Health Services Executives, the American College of Healthcare Executives, Young Presidents Organization, the YMCA, and the March of Dimes.

Caroline Brown, a member of Wingate's class of 1985 and a former Union County Public Schools teacher, already has experience serving on boards at the University. She is a former member of the Board of Visitors and has served on the Friends of the Ethel K. Smith Library Board. A Monroe resident, Brown has been instrumental in the city's redevelopment efforts and co-chaired, with her husband, Ron, the campaign to revitalize the Dowd Center Theatre and to build the Monroe Science Center. She has also served on Monroe's Downtown Advisory Board and on Turning Point's Board of Directors.

Like Brown, Philemon is also an alum, earning her bachelor's degree in communication studies in 2009 and her master of business administration in 2014. She also worked for the University in alumni affairs and marketing before joining the Cannon Foundation as a program officer for higher-education grants in 2016. She is now executive director of the well-known philanthropy. Philemon served on Wingate's One Day, One Dog Philanthropy Panel in 2022.

"Wingate is my home," she says. "I grew up here; I received both my undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University; and I started my professional career at Wingate. I owe a lot to this place, and I am grateful to serve in this capacity."

Sept. 17, 2024