Board of Trustees

Columbia Southern University is governed by a nine to fifteen member Board of Trustees, which establishes the mission of the University and determines the general policies and affairs of the University. The Articles of Incorporation and the By-laws of Columbia Southern University clearly define the powers, duties, and responsibilities of the Board of Trustees.

Board Responsibilities

The Board is responsible for appointing the President, establishing broad institutional goals and plans for the University, approving the earned degrees, approval of all governmental and private financial aid programs, the review and approval of the annual operational and capital expenditures budget of the University, including all major contractual relationships and other major obligations executed in the name of the University, and such other responsibilities as law, governmental directives, or custom require the Board to act upon. The Board of Trustees fulfills its responsibilities through three standing committees - The Executive Committee, the Academic and Student Affairs Committee and the Finance Committee - and through established procedures to ensure that it is adequately informed about the programs and general condition of the University.

The Board meets a minimum of four times per year. Two meetings are held via teleconference.

Questions concerning the Board of Trustees should be directed to the Office of the President, Columbia Southern University.

CSU Board of Trustees

VADM (Ret.) Gerald L. Hoewing, Trustee

Chairman, Board of Trustees

Vice Admiral Gerald L. Hoewing (USN/Ret) transitioned from the U.S. Navy in 2006 after serving 35 years as a naval aviator. In his final tour on active duty, he served as the deputy chief of naval operations for manpower, personnel, training and education where he was responsible for the growth, development and advancement of all active and reserve service members.

Following his transition from active duty, Vice Admiral Hoewing served as the president and chief executive officer (CEO) of the Naval Aviation Museum’s Foundation located on the Naval Air Station in Pensacola, Florida. In his role as president and CEO, he was responsible for fundraising, development and management of business functions for the museum and the National Flight Academy, an innovative STEM education program for secondary students ranging from 7th through 12th grades.

He is currently serving as senior advisor of strategic innovation with the Division of Research and Strategic Innovation at the University of West Florida. His experience in leadership and management has helped him forge important partnerships and business relationships between the government, industry and the university.

Vice Admiral Hoewing brings both military and business expertise to Columbia Southern University and currently serves as the chairman of the board of trustees. He also serves on the academic and student affairs committee.

He received his Bachelor of Science from Iowa State University and an honorary Doctorate of Education from Purdue University and is a graduate of the National Defense University, University of North Carolina Keenan Flagler School of Business, the Navy Flag Officer Executive Leadership Program at Naval Postgraduate School, and the Leadership at the Peak training program.

Dr. Gery C. Hochanadel, PhD, Trustee

Vice-Chairman of the Board

Dr. Gery C. Hochanadel retired from Cleveland University-Kansas City where he served as the Vice President of Academic Affairs. While at Cleveland University he led the University in becoming one of the finest private health and wellness universities in the Midwest, establishing the College of Health Sciences with new degree programs. Dr. Hochanadel has accumulated over 42 years of experience in higher education administration.

He served the last four years as Provost at Parker University in Dallas Texas, where he provided leadership for the transition of Parker College of Chiropractic to a comprehensive Health and Wellness University. During his tenure Parker developed two new colleges; the College of Business and Technology and the College of Health and Wellness with ten new degree programs. The student population increased from 720 to 1,050. He led and coordinated the University's reaffirmation by the Southern Association of College and Schools, Commission on Colleges in 2012.

Prior to Parker University he served as the Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs at Keiser University in Fort Lauderdale Florida, during his seventeen year tenure the University grew from 3 campuses, 7 degree programs and 850 students to 19 campuses, 77 degree programs and 12,000 students. He led and coordinated the University's reaffirmation by the Southern Association of College and Schools, Commission on Colleges.

Dr. Hochanadel has served as President at two Community Colleges in the Midwest, and has experience as a Dean, program member and faculty member, and has extensive accreditation experience. During the past 42 years Dr. Hochanadel had the honor to serve as both committee chair and committee member on thirty committees for the Southern Association of colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges and the Higher Learning Commission

Dr. Hochanadel has a Doctorate of Philosophy in Adult and Occupational Education from Kansas State University, a Master of Science in Education Administration from Fort Hays State University and Bachelor of Arts in Public Administration, also from Fort Hays State University.

MG (Ret) Byron S. Bagby, Trustee

Maj. Gen. Byron S. Bagby is managing partner of BMB Solutions, LLC, a consulting firm specializing in executive leadership coaching and strategy development. Bagby served more than 33 years in the United States Army before transitioning off active duty in 2011 at the rank of major general.

He has been assigned to five of the Army's 10 combat divisions and has served in the Pentagon on the Joint Staff (J5) in the directorate of strategic plans and policy, as well as on the staff of the Department of the Army. Bagby was commandant of Joint Forces Staff College in Norfolk, Virginia, leading a faculty and staff of more than 250 in educating nearly 2,500 students per year in nine different programs, one of which is accredited to confer a master’s degree. He was chief of the Office of Military Cooperation in Cairo, Egypt, and later chief of staff for U.S. Army – Europe, and director of operations for Joint Force Command Brunssum (North Atlantic Treaty Organization).

Bagby is a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. He serves on the board of directors for Management Support Technology, Inc., as the chair of the audit committee. From 2012-2017, he served on the board of trustees for Westminster College. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in economics from Westminster College in 1978. Before serving on the faculty and staff at the United States Military Academy, he earned a master's degree in higher education from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He holds an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from Lincoln College.

He has earned many honors and decorations including the Westminster College Lifetime Alumni Achievement Award, induction into the Fulton Public Schools Hall of Fame, two Army Distinguished Service Medals and four Defense Superior Service Medals. Bagby is qualified as an Army Ranger and a Master Parachutist.

Dennis Cariello, Trustee

Dennis Cariello is a shareholder at Hogan Marren Babbo & Rose, Ltd. and the co-chairman of the firm's education practice. With more than 15 years of experience, Cariello leads a diverse national law practice that allows him to provide a wide range of services to colleges and universities, student lenders, education investors and education technology and service providers. He specializes in education law and policy, corporate transactions, government and regulatory affairs, Title IX & civil rights, privacy law and litigation.

Cariello has held the position of Deputy General Counsel for Postsecondary Education and Regulatory Services at the U.S. Department of Education and Deputy Assistant Secretary for Enforcement in the Office for Civil Rights. He previously served as a negotiator on the U.S. Department of Education's Negotiated Rulemaking Panel on "borrower defense to repayment".

Chantell Cooley, Trustee

Chantell Cooley is senior vice president of Columbia Southern Education Group (CSEG), the parent company of Columbia Southern University (CSU). She is a co-founder of CSU and serves as the chief executive officer of Mayes Education, Inc..

Since 1989, Cooley has been at the forefront of online education, leveraging her interpersonal communication and relationship-building skills to encourage adult learners to fulfill their goals through higher education. At CSU, Cooley developed comprehensive staff training programs to strengthen leadership skills and instill exceptional customer service within the organization, which are areas that have been critical to CSU’s unique culture and linked directly to its success and growth. To further help individuals develop and grow, Cooley wrote three courses titled Foundations for Success, Servant Leadership and Building Your Team. These courses are offered through the department of Continuing Education at CSU.

Fueled by the work ethic and Christian ideals of her father and CSU founder, Dr. Robert Mayes Sr., Cooley led initiatives throughout many departments including admissions, outreach, human resources, marketing and partnerships. She enacted CSU’s Learning Partner program, where she successfully built lasting relationships with Fortune 500 companies, organizations, associations and local, county and state agencies that provide their employees with educational benefits.

Cooley's faith, ethics and passion are reflected in the work she does to help others find their purpose and achieve their full potential. In 2017, she started Chantell Cooley Ministries to inspire others and to share her belief in Christ’s message of hope and healing. Cooley is an accomplished author and has written several books including “Beyond the Basics: Becoming a Confident Leader”, “Winning the Game of Life,” an inspirational book which chronicles her family's struggles and her journey into success and “Stand on the Word,” which emphasizes the power of the scriptures and the importance of daily confessions of the word of God. Cooley is an international speaker and ordained minister with credentials through Christian International Apostolic Network under Bishop Bill Hamon.

Craig D’Souza, Trustee

Craig D'Souza is an accomplished executive currently serving as the global chief security officer for Meta (formerly Facebook), where he leads a world-class team of managers, investigators, lawyers, analysts, and agents across the globe to address complex internal and external security issues.

D'Souza is responsible for all global security functions, including business continuity and emergency management, data center security, employee health and safety, executive protection, fusion center operations, intelligence, investigations, physical security, product security and protective intelligence.

With a track record of steering and directing all aspects of risk management, security processes, investigations, and intelligence frameworks, D'Souza is a results-driven leader who brings extensive international skills through working, traveling, and living across the globe.

D'Souza served nearly a decade as an undercover officer with the Toronto Police Service, where he was involved in major, large-scale investigations for the majority of his tenure. He successfully led several cases to conclusions through every level of the court system, showcasing his legal acumen and strategic thinking.

In addition to his time with the Toronto Police Service, D'Souza has worked for large multinational organizations for several years, providing strategic expertise to multiple industries. He also spent time consulting on regulatory requirements and laws, ensuring compliance across a wide cross-section of financial, retail, and commercial sectors.

D’Souza is a frequent speaker and subject matter expert. He received his MBA degree from Columbia Southern University and possesses several industry credentials.

Domenica Farmer, Trustee

Domenica Farmer has 30 years of experience in the comprehensive waste and environmental services industry. As area vice president of Waste Management, Farmer is responsible for all profit and loss aspects of the company’s operations in the Gulf Coast area. She oversees and leads the collection, disposal, recycling and landfill operations in a four-state area: Louisiana, Mississippi, southern Alabama and the Florida panhandle.

She began her career with Waste Management in April 1992 as a sales representative and transitioned into the organization’s operations area through holding a variety of senior level positions.

A fluent Italian and Spanish-speaker, Farmer received her MBA and bachelor’s in business management from the University of West Florida. Domenica served as the chairman of the board for the Niceville-Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce in 2015 after serving on the board of directors since 2012. She remains active in her community, presently serving as a Destin Rotarian, and continues to educate groups on benefits of recycling and creating sustainable solutions.

Forney Howard, Trustee

Forney Howard is a retired fire chief for the City of Orange Beach, Alabama. In April 2004, he was appointed interim fire chief. The following month, the mayor and City Council confirmed him as the second career fire chief in the history of Orange Beach. His experience and abilities were tested quickly in 2004 as fire chief and emergency management director when Hurricane Ivan hit the Gulf Coast. Before serving as chief, Howard worked in several positions including firefighter, paramedic, training officer and fire inspector. He came to Orange Beach after 30 years with the Birmingham Fire Department. Upon retiring, he had achieved the rank of battalion chief and was working in the eastern district of Birmingham as operations chief. He also served in the Training Division for five years as captain and as chief of training. As battalion chief, he also served as chief of fire communications. He was part of the first paramedic class in Alabama during the summer of 1973. The students were trained at the University of Alabama Regional Technical Institute in Birmingham and licensed by the State Department of Health.

He has attended many National Fire Academy classes and completed fire service courses for certification through the Alabama Fire College. He is a 2008 graduate of Columbia Southern University with a bachelor's in fire science. He was 62 years old. He reminds everyone that he had the honor and privilege of speaking at his own graduation and this is something he will never forget. Later, he was named CSU's Outstanding Graduate of the Year.

Howard served on the board of trustees for the South Baldwin Medical Center in Baldwin County. His work history includes the University of Alabama emergency room as an EMT for almost four years. He served at the Jim Walter Coke Oven Operations/North Birmingham as a clinic paramedic for 13 years and as a regional coordinator for the Alabama Fire College for seven years. He was recognized as Firefighter of the Year in 2003, Emergency Technician of the Year in 1975, and is a past president of the Alabama Association of Fire Chiefs.

Minnie Mayes, Trustee

Mrs. Mayes is a co-founder of Columbia Southern and serves in an executive advisory capacity at CSU. Mrs. Mayes has also been with CSU since its founding, is on the Board of Directors and follows strict ethical standards and requires that all staff members do likewise. Before CSU, Minnie co-founded a safety consulting company that provided training and services to small businesses nationwide. Mrs. Mayes has much knowledge about CSU through her long tenure as a board member and numerous work and advisory experiences in all aspects of distance study for more than 20 years.

Robert Mayes, Jr., Trustee

As the chief executive officer of Columbia Southern Education Group, the parent company of Columbia Southern University (CSU), Robert Mayes provides strategy and leadership support to the institutions and is responsible for governmental affairs. Mayes has more than 25 years of experience in distance education.

Along with his parents and sister, Chantell Mayes Cooley, Mayes cofounded CSU, an online university headquartered in Orange Beach, Alabama, in 1993. He transitioned to the role of president of CSU in 2005 and served until May 2018. In his role as president, Mayes worked closely with leadership to accomplish the goals, objectives and strategies of the university. During this time, the university grew from 7,000 students to 30,000. He was awarded the title of president emeritus on May 1, 2018, for his contributions and impact on the university. Mayes also led the acquisition of Waldorf University (previously Waldorf College) in Forest City, Iowa, in 2010, a task that included achieving approvals from the U.S. Department of Education and the Higher Learning Commission.

During his time at CSU, Mayes worked directly in the areas of online university operations, including key roles in accounting, finance, information technology, online course design, outcomes assessment, policies and procedures development, accreditation and more.

Mayes serves as a member of the National Advisory Committee for Institutional Quality and Integrity (NACIQI), which reviews and advises the U.S. Secretary of Education on the recognition of accrediting agencies. He is chairman of the board of directors for South Baldwin Christian Academy. He serves as a board member of the Business Council of Alabama. He served eight years on the board of the Distance Education Accrediting Commission board of directors and served on its executive, finance and nominating committees. In 2017, Mayes was awarded the Distance Education Accrediting Commission’s Distinguished Service Award and was a Boy Scouts of America Golden Eagle Honoree. In 2019, he was named the Distance Education Accrediting Commission’s Person of the Year.

Clayton Hess, Ph.D., Trustee

Dr. Clayton Hess, former Lincoln Memorial University (LMU) president and chief executive officer, was responsible for general supervision of all academic and non-academic areas of the institution. Dr. Hess earned a Bachelor of Arts in history in 1981 and two master’s degrees from LMU, one in counseling (1987) and the other in curriculum and instruction (2006), and a Ph.D. in human services counseling from Walden University in 1998.

Shortly after graduating with his bachelor’s in 1981, Dr. Hess began his career at LMU as assistant director of admissions before becoming director of testing and then director of career planning and placement. He was named director of institutional advancement in 1996 and director of institutional research, effectiveness, and accreditation in 1998. In 2008, he was promoted to assistant vice president of academic affairs for planning and accreditation and was named vice president for academic affairs (VPAA) in 2010. In 2015, he was named provost and served as provost and VPAA until July 1, 2017, when he became the university’s 21st president.

Dr. Hess was the founding chair of LMU’s Institutional Effectiveness Committee. He coordinated the university’s strategic planning and institutional effectiveness processes for more than 10 years and has chaired the university’s general education committee. Dr. Hess has guided LMU’s growth at all levels, chairing committees to initiate new extended learning sites offering associate, baccalaureate, post-baccalaureate, graduate, and professional degree programs. He chaired the committee responsible for degree-level accreditation change to pave the way for LMU’s DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine and subsequent professional programs including the Doctor of Jurisprudence (J.D.), Doctor of Education (Ed.D.), Doctor of Business Administration (DBA), Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM), and Doctor of Medicine in Dentistry (DMD).

Dr. Hess was a member of the 2016-2017 Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) Principles Review Committee, charged with reviewing and recommending changes to SACSCOC accreditation standards and processes. He has served as a member of the University Council of Jamaica’s Institutional Accreditation Review (IAR) Committee since 2018 and has served on American Bar Association sabbatical site teams. Dr. Hess currently serves on the board of directors for the Appalachian Colleges Association (ACA). The ACA is a non-profit consortium of 35 private, four-year liberal arts institutions located in the central Appalachian Mountains of Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. Dr. Hess has presented numerous sessions and speeches at professional association meetings.

Dr. Clayton Hess is wearing a black suit with white shirt and blue tie

Edward P. Meehan, Trustee

Mr. Meehan is the founder of Arcady Bay Partners, an advisory firm that works with companies and investors in the technology and education sectors as an investor and advisor on financing, strategy, and merger and acquisition matters. In addition, he has done advisory work for several well-known investor groups in the education and technology sectors.

Ed formed Arcady Bay Partners in 2002 and has worked with companies such as Venetica, eko Systems, Provost Systems (sold to Edison Schools), EmpoweredU (sold to Qaulcomm), Helix LMS (sold to Ellucian) and others on M&A and fund-raising assignments.

From June 1998 to January 2002, Ed was a managing director with Legg Mason, responsible for overseeing their technology banking efforts in Reston, Va., focusing on Internet-based business models. During that time, his group completed more than 25 financing and advisory assignments in the technology and education sectors. Meehan was responsible for raising private equity for companies such as Capella Education and Marketswitch, and IPO's for Bluestone Software and U.S. Internetworking.

From 1978 to 1995, he was with Merrill Lynch and from 1995 to 1998, he worked for Smith Barney in their respective New York City Investment Banking Groups. From 1978 to 1981, he was an accountant and accounting manager working in the international and leasing departments at Merrill Lynch. In 1981 Ed became an investment banker. At Merrill Lynch he worked on structuring investment partnerships, did M&A work for Merrill Lynch corporate initiatives and worked with several U.S. public utilities such as PSE&G, Baltimore Gas and Electric, Southern Company, Texas Utilities, and Portland General. In his capacity as a utility and energy banker at Merrill Lynch, and later Smith Barney, he worked on more than 100 public debt and equity financing transactions, raising billions of dollars for clients in the sector as well as numerous M&A and strategic assignments.

Mr. Meehan has an MBA in finance and bachelor's degree in accounting from St. John's University in New York. He is also/was a board member of eko Systems, Vision Chain, Second Avenue Learning, MindShare and Straighterline.

Cheryl Carpenter-Davis, Ed.D, Trustee

Dr. Cheryl Carpenter-Davis received her doctorate in educational leadership and policy analysis from the University of Missouri - Columbia in 2005. She began her teaching career in physical therapy education in 1991 at the Metropolitan Community College, Penn Valley Campus, and continued in 1995 medical center campus at the University of Kansas. While within the Metropolitan Community College system, she held many different positions including tenured faculty, associate dean, and dean of instruction.

Dr. Carpenter-Davis served as the vice president of academic affairs for Cleveland University - Kansas City from 2018 to 2022. She was responsible for academic accreditation and compliance in addition to providing oversight of the associate, baccalaureate, master’s and doctoral degree programs. She currently serves as a peer reviewer for the Higher Learning Commission and the Council on Chiropractic Education.

CMSAF (Ret) Kaleth O. Wright, Trustee

Chief Master Sgt. Kaleth O. Wright is an organizational leadership consultant, executive coach and professional speaker with an outstanding record of helping organizations achieve peak performance by training and mentoring executives in the art of servant leadership and motivating multi-generational teams across cultures and geographies.

He currently serves as the CEO of the Air Force Aid Society where he guides a team that provides $20 million per year in emergency financial assistance, scholarships and community programs to service members and their families. He is a thought leader in diversity, resilience and leadership with mastery in the use of interpersonal and mass communications via social media where he has hosted the “Blueprint Leadership” and “The New Normal” podcasts.

Wright is a veteran who served 32 years in the Air Force, culminating as the 18th chief master sergeant of the Air Force, where he provided direction and represented the interests of the enlisted force. He also served as the personal advisor to the chief of staff of the Air Force and secretary of the Air Force on all issues regarding the welfare, readiness, morale, and proper utilization and progress of the force. During his career, Wright led at every level to include squadron, group, wing, air expeditionary task force, numbered Air Force Major Command and he deployed in support of Operations Desert Shield/Storm as well as Operation Enduring Freedom.

As a dynamic and engaging speaker, Wright has delivered more than 200 keynote addresses to audiences around the world. He has provided more than 10,000 hours of teaching, coaching and leadership expertise to individuals and audiences at all levels of leadership. Wright championed international leadership development programs for 17 partner nations and worked with Congress on legislative affairs to enhance quality-of-life policies and programs for service members and their families.

Wright earned a Bachelor of Science in business management from the University of Maryland’s Global Campus and an MBA from the University of Phoenix. He studied executive leadership in distinguished programs at the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business, Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government Center for Public Leadership, Cornell University’s SC Johnson College of Business, Howard University’s School of Business as well as the Center for Creative Leadership. He was recognized as one of the Mighty 25 by the “We Are the Mighty” in 2020 for his exceptional leadership and military service. Wright also was honored in 2020 by Waldorf University with the dedication of the Kaleth O. Wright Excellence in Leadership Scholarship, a four-year award for military members. He currently serves as an affiliate instructor for Harvard University’s National Preparedness Leadership Initiative and is a member of the Forbes Coaches Council.

Dr. Nelson Tuazon, Trustee

Nelson Tuazon, who holds a Doctor of Nursing Practice and Doctor of Business Administration, has a successful track record in nursing practice, academia, and executive leadership spanning over 40 years. His involvement in professional associations, advisory boards, and chambers of commerce has influenced nursing practice, education and regulations, public policy, and workforce development. He is a board-certified nursing and health care executive, patient safety professional, and nurse educator. He holds fellowships with the American College of Healthcare Executives, the National Academies of Practice, the Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments, and the American Academy of Nursing. He currently serves as Vice President & Associate Chief Nursing Officer at University Health in San Antonio, Texas.