MTSU Governing Board
J.B. Baker is CEO and owner of Sprint Logistics. He attended Martin Junior College and earned
his bachelor’s from MTSU. He is the former owner and chairman of the board for Volunteer
Express and Associated Companies, having worked at the company for 30 years. He has
served on a number of professional and civic boards, including Martin Methodist College,
Goodwill Industries, Saint Thomas Hospital Health Services Fund, and the Nashville
Symphony.
Thomas R. “Tom” Boyd is an investment advisor representative with Decker Wealth Management in Nashville.
With more than four decades of experience in financial management and banking, he
previously served as a senior vice president at Bank of America. Boyd graduated from
MTSU with a Bachelor of Science degree, holds an M.B.A., and previously served with
the Tennessee Army National Guard.
Pete DeLay is a Principal at Lynwood Ventures, LLC., a Nashville based investment management
company. Previously he led the Nashville office of Forterra Building Products, and before that, he was the president and owner of
Sherman-Dixie Concrete Industries Inc. He previously served on the board of trustees
of the University of the Sewanee-University of the South and he currently serves on
the Board of Trustees of Montgomery Bell Academy where he is Co-Chair of the Capital
Campaign.
William S. “Bill” Jones is a 1982 graduate of MTSU with a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science.
A nearly life-long resident of Murfreesboro, he has been in the financial services
industry since graduation. He currently serves as Area Executive for Pinnacle Financial
Partners with responsibilities for Rutherford and Bedford counties with over 30 years
with Pinnacle and its predecessor. Currently he serves as the Chairman of the Rutherford
County Industrial Development Board, as Chairman of the Ascension/St. Thomas Rutherford
Hospital Board and as a member and past Chairman of the Christy-Houston Foundation
in Murfreesboro. He also serves as a past President of the MTSU Foundation.
Mary Martin, Faculty Trustee, is a Professor of Mathematics in the College of Basic and Applied Sciences and is
serving on the MTSU Board of Trustees for a second term. Earning her Bachelor of
Science degree in Mathematics from MTSU, she received her Master’s and PhD. degrees
in Mathematics from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Most recently,
Martin has taught graduate and undergraduate mathematics courses, written three chapters
in a book addressing mathematical modeling and pedagogy, and secured an Upward Bound
grant of $1.5M for MTSU to use to benefit two Rutherford County high schools. Her
past service in shared governance at MTSU and her overall experience in higher education
allow her to bring an engaged and complete perspective to her role on the Board.
Molly Mihm, Student Trustee, completed her Bachelor of Science in Professional Studies with a focus in Healthcare
Administration and a minor in Leadership in May of 2023. Her undergraduate studies
provided her with the opportunity to become involved with several campus departments.
While at Middle Tennessee State University, Molly worked primarily within the Office
of New Student and Family Programs with CUSTOMS, the university's program for incoming
students. From 2021 to 2022, she served as a Student Orientation Assistant (SOA),
and from 2022 to 2023, she served as a Student Coordinator. Her next step will be
to continue her education at Middle Tennessee State University, where she will pursue
a Master of Public Health degree. In addition to her studies, she is also serving
as a Graduate Assistant in the Student Organizations and Services office of the Center
for Student and Involvement and Leadership. Her future career plans include applying
her education to the Public Health field, specifically in Behavioral Health and Substance
Abuse.
Stephen B. Smith, Chair, serves as Chairman of Haury and Smith Contractors Inc. He has served on a number
of boards including Federal Home Loan Bank of Cincinnati; Nashville Planning Commission;
and Chairman of the Nashville Park Board. Currently, he serves on the boards of
Capstar Bank and Williamson County Sports Authority. Smith received his Bachelors
of Science degree from MTSU in 2011. He was elected to MTSU Athletics Hall of Fame
in 2004, and received the Jennings A. Jones Champion of Free Enterprise Award in 2010.
Christine Karbowiak Vanek, Vice Chair, retired from her roles as Chief Administrative Officer, Chief Risk Officer, Executive Vice President, and Vice
Chair - board of directors of Bridgestone Americas Inc., as well as her Executive
Officer and Executive Vice President roles with Bridgestone Corporation, effective
January 1, 2021. She is active in community organizations and has served on numerous
boards including the Tennessee Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Japan America Society
of Tennessee, Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce, and Franklin American Music City
Bowl (now known as the Transperfect Music City Bowl). She has received a number of
recognitions for her civic work and she recently was conferred the Order of the Rising
Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette by the Government of Japan for her work to strengthen
Tennessee-Japan relations over the past nearly three decades. She holds bachelor’s
and law degrees from the University of Illinois.
Pamela J. Wright founded Wright Travel and built the company into one of the largest travel agencies
in the US, with offices throughout the country. She sold it in 2015. She now is
President and Managing Partner of Wright Development, a real estate investment company.
She has served on numerous non-profit boards in Nashville. She holds a bachelor’s
degree in Psychology from MTSU.
