The ACU Board of Trustees appointed three new members at its February meeting during Sing Song weekend.
Jana Hanner, Elise Mitchell and Randy Owen were voted to the university’s governing body and help comprise the 35 members of the board.
Hanner (’81) is the comptroller of Hanner Chevrolet GMC in Baird, about 20 miles east of Abilene. Originally from Lewiston, Montana, she met and married her husband Mark Hanner (’80) at ACU. Her ACU service includes University Council, President’s Venture Council, Lettermen’s Club and former president of Wildcat Parents. She lives in Abilene and has three children, all of whom graduated from ACU.
Mitchell (’83), Outstanding Alumnus of the Year recipient for 2015, is the CEO of Mitchell Communications Group and CEO of the international Dentsu Inc. public relations network. After receiving her bachelor’s degree in mass communication from ACU, she received a master’s degree in public relations from the University of Memphis. Mitchell frequently writes and speaks on strategic communications and entrepreneurship. She lives in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
Owen (’81) grew up in Abilene and graduated from ACU with a BBA in accounting. He is COO/CFO of Envision Healthcare, a publicly traded national healthcare company that owns the largest national ambulance service, American Medical Response, and one of the nation’s largest physician staffing businesses, EmCare. Owen and his wife Dara were married in 1988, have two children and moved to the Denver area in 2003.
Dr. Barry Packer, chair of the ACU Board of Trustees, said the new members have been approved but will officially start their term of service at their first board meeting in May.
“All three of them are immensely talented,” he said. “They have a love and passion for the university, which is what we look for in trustees.”
Packer said they bring a “tremendous amount of gifts” to the table, specifically their visions for ACU.
“We look for people who don’t get caught up in the details and who are willing to speak up on behalf of the university’s constituents.”
Mitchell said she is honored to help the university as it grows and develops.
“It’s an exciting time to be engaged in ACU’s mission to prepare students for Christian service and leadership throughout the world,” she said. “I have always been very passionate about these things in my career, so I look forward to supporting the university in this important work.”
