FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 18, 2008

Webster University Names Five New Board of Trustees Members

Webster University Chairman of the Board of Trustees, George H. Walker III, has named five new members of the university’s board:

W. Randolph (Randy) Adams is the former president and executive director of the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra (2001-2007).  Prior to his tenure at the SLSO, Adams accrued more than 25 years of business experience as a management consultant and commercial banker. He serves on the boards of numerous civic and charitable organizations in the St. Louis area.  Adams holds degrees from Dartmouth College and Syracuse University. 

Brig. Gen Sheila Baxter recently retired from her 30-year military career where she was the commanding general for both Western Regional Medical Command and Madigan Army Medical Center.  Baxter was responsible for the care of more than 300,000 beneficiaries and 10,000 medical service corps officers.  As one of the Medical Service Corps’ most integral leaders, Baxter lead military health care operations for most of the Northwest United States.  She was the first female General to serve in the Army Medical Corps.  She holds degrees from Virginia State University and Webster University.

Thomas Cornwell is president of the Sustainment Systems Business Segment of DRS Technologies Inc., a leading supplier of integrated products, services and support to military forces, intelligence agencies and prime contractors worldwide.  Cornwell previously served as CEO of Engineered Air Systems Inc., a subsidiary of Engineered Support Systems Inc., before it was acquired by DRS in January 2006.  Cornwell holds degrees from the St. Louis College of Pharmacy and Southern Illinois University.

Sue Neumann serves as senior vice president of corporate communications at Smurfit-Stone Container Corp.  She is responsible for the company’s internal and external communications efforts, including employee communications, media relations and public relations.  Neumann also oversees Smurfit-Stone’s governmental affairs function.  Prior to joining Smurfit-Stone, Neumann held various senior positions at Albertson’s Inc., a large U.S. food and drug retailer.  An active community volunteer for several civic and business organizations, Neumann holds two degrees from Western Michigan University.

Michael Staenberg is president of THF Realty, which manages/owns more than 22 million square feet of retail shopping center property. Known for his entrepreneurial vision and creative management style, Staenberg has received numerous business-related awards including the Richard Weiss Man of the Year award and the St. Louis Entrepreneur of the Year award.  Both the City of Clayton and the City of Chesterfield have named Staenberg Businessperson of the Year.  Staenberg serves on more than a dozen non-profit boards and is highly recognized throughout the region as a civic leader, volunteer and philanthropist.  Staenberg holds a degree from Arizona State University. 

With its home campus in St. Louis, Webster University (www.webster.edu) is a worldwide institution committed to delivering high-quality learning experiences that transform students for global citizenship and individual excellence. Founded in 1915, Webster offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs through five schools and colleges, and a global network of more than 100 campuses. Its 20,000-plus student population represents almost 150 nationalities. The University’s core values include excellence in teaching, joining theory and practice, small class sizes, and educating students to be lifelong independent learners, fully prepared to participate in an increasingly international society. 

Since opening its first campus overseas in Geneva in 1978, Webster has become a recognized leader and innovator in global education, with an international presence that now includes campuses in London; Vienna; Amsterdam and Leiden, the Netherlands; Shanghai, Shenzhen and Chengdu, China; and Bangkok and Cha-am, Thailand. Webster also has educational partnerships with universities in Mexico and Japan.