The Hesston College Board of Overseers added new board members Anna Gomez of Los Fresnos, Texas, Steve Ropp of Iowa City, Iowa, and Jessica Schrock Ringenberg of Bryan, Ohio during the 2011-12 academic year. Board members serve a minimum four-year term as part of the college’s governing body.
Gomez is a psychotherapist and mediator at Ebony Center, a private psychotherapy practice in Brownsville, Texas. Gomez earned a B.A. in psychology and sociology from Texas A&M University (College Station, Texas) and a M.S. in counseling from the University of Houston-Clearlake (Texas). She is a member of Iglesias Menonita Buenas Nuevas in San Juan, Texas, where she has served as a youth sponsor, worship leader and volunteer at Mennonite Central Committee relief sales. She also served as a member of Mennonite Church USA’s Youth Convention Planning Committee and as a youth worship leader for the Columbus, Ohio, convention in 2009.
“I see Hesston College as a place where our students can develop their skills, build long-lasting relationships and gain a deeper knowledge of God’s mission in the world,” said Gomez. “It is also a place where students develop critical thinking skills, where they work together to solve problems and where they can be challenged by gifted faculty and staff.”
Ropp is Senior Vice President and Director of Commercial Banking at Hills Bank and Trust Company in Hills, Iowa. He is a 1980 Hesston College graduate and earned a B.S. in agricultural business from Iowa State University (Ames). Ropp is a member of First Mennonite Church (Iowa City) where he has served on the Stewardship Commission and as moderator and treasurer. He has also served on the boards of Crooked Creek Christian Camp (Washington, Iowa), Iowa Mennonite School (Kalona), IMS’s Building Campaign board and the food committee for Iowa Mennonite Central Committee relief sales.
“Hesston College has had a major impact on my life and the life of my family,” said Ropp. “It is an honor to serve and give back to a place that supported, challenged and encouraged us.”
Schrock-Ringenberg is a student at Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary (Elkhart, Ind.) where she is working on her masters of divinity in theological studies with a projected graduation of May 2012. She is a 2002 Hesston College graduate and earned a B.A. in Bible from Goshen (Ind.) College. Schrock-Ringenberg is a member of Zion Mennonite Church in Archbold, Ohio, where she served as pastor of youth and young adults and Christian education from 2004 to 2010. She also served on the Ohio Mennonite Conference Youth Ministry Resource Committee and as the Ohio Conference representative on the Mennonite Church USA Constituency Leaders Council. She served as a member of Mennonite Church USA’s Worship Planning Committee for the Columbus, Ohio, convention in 2009.
“Hesston College changed my life and set me in a trajectory I could never have accomplished by myself,” said Schrock-Ringenberg. “I am passionate about the mission of Hesston College and I am honored to participate in its future.”
“We are thankful for the high level of commitment and expertise of these new members of the Board,” said President Howard Keim. “Each brings unique experiences and perspectives that will help to build our programs and serve our students.”
The new members join existing members Dale Beachey of Fort Myers, Fla., Ginny Birky of Newberg, Ore., Wilbur Bontrager of Middlebury, Ind., Annette Brown of Frisco, Texas, Kelvin Friesen of Archbold, Ohio, Denton Jantzi of Hesston, Kan., Harley Kooker of Christiana, Pa., Jorge Vallejos of Sandy Springs, Ga., and Norm Yoder of Henderson, Neb. The Board of Overseers meets three times annually on the Hesston College campus to discuss college strategy and policy.