Spring Hill College Welcomes New Trustees

Sep 30th, 2004

The Spring Hill College Board of Trustees welcomed several new members at its September 23-24 meeting. From educators and advocates to a new Jesuit member in Rev. Kenneth Gavin, S.J., Spring Hill President Greg Lucey, S.J., said these new members are expected to deepen the diversity of the board while at the same time bringing fresh ideas and new perspectives. New members include:

Mrs. Mary Lou Barter ’70, Kiawah Island, S.C.

Mrs. Mary Lou Barter ’70 attended Spring Hill College and received a bachelor of science degree in elementary education. She is married to John W. Barter ’68 and has three children and one grandchild. She is a volunteer with the Gibbes Museum of Art, Trident United Way, and the program WINGS for kids, an after-school program that fosters social and emotional learning in youth.


Dr. Gay Culverhouse, St. Johnsville, N.Y.

Dr. Gay Culverhouse earned a B.A.E. degree in special education from the University of Florida as well as an M.A. and Ed.D. from Teachers College at Columbia University in mental retardation and mental retardation research respectively. She has served on more than 50 boards, many of which are for non-profit organizations. She founded the Center for Opportunities and Outcomes for People with Disabilities research newsletter and was the chair for the center under the Teachers College at Columbia University. Beginning in 1997 and continuing through her tenure as chair of COOPD, Dr. Culverhouse was a lecturer at the Teachers College. Previous to this engagement, Dr. Culverhouse was the president of the Notre Dame College of Ohio from 1995 to 1996. Additionally, she served as the president of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers NFL Franchise from 1991 to 1994, and she had previously been both vice-president and treasurer from 1985 until 1989. Dr. Culverhouse was recognized as a distinguished alumna by the University of Florida in 1997 and named the executive woman of the year by the Network of Executive Women in 1992.


Daniel G. Elcan ’80, Mobile, Ala.

Daniel G. Elcan ’80 earned his bachelor’s degree from Spring Hill College in 1980 and is the president of Elcan and Associates, Inc., a full service commercial real estate/development company with more than 20 years of experience in developing real estate projects with national retailers. His firm develops single standing buildings, shopping centers, office buildings and apartments. In the mid ’90s, Elcan and Associates, Inc., expanded its focus to include investments in energy and telecommunication. In 1997, the company began exploring opportunities in developing alternative fuel production facilities eligible for Section 29 tax credits, which today is another primary sector of the company. Elcan is a member of the St. Ignatius Parish Council the St. Ignatius building committee and teaches 8th grade religion at St. Ignatius for the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine students. He is an active supporter of the American Cancer Society and American Heart Association as well as United Way. Additionally he coached Little League baseball for eight years and is a member of the National Association of Youth Athletics. He married Jamie Mostellar in 1988 and has three children, Paul (14), Bennett (12), and Lisa (11).


Rev. Kenneth J. Gavin, S.J., Washington, D.C.

Rev. Kenneth J. Gavin, S.J., entered the Jesuit Order in 1962 and earned an A.B. degree with honors from Fordham University in 1968. In 1972 he received an M.A. in linguistics from the State University of New York at Buffalo. He earned a master of divinity from Weston Jesuit School of Theology in 1975 and was ordained to the priesthood that same year. After receiving his Ph.D. in speech pathology at Northwestern in 1981, he taught for nine years at Marquette University in Milwaukee where he served as departmental chair and director of the Departmental Graduate Program. In 1989 he was appointed executive assistant to the Provincial of the New York Province of the Jesuits. Additionally, in 1992 he began a four-year term as the president of Regis High School in New York City, and then served for six years as the Provincial of the New York Province of the Society of Jesus. In addition to serving as a trustee at both Canisius College in Buffalo and Fordham University in New York, he also served as chair of the Board of Directors of Weston Jesuit School of Theology. He currently serves as the national director of Jesuit Refugee Service/USA in Washington, D.C.


Dr. John A. Hendry ’71, Lafayette, La.

Dr. John A. Hendry ’71 received a B.S. from Spring Hill in 1971. He graduated from Louisiana State University School of Dentistry in 1977 and completed his pediatric dentistry specialty in 1979. He began a private practice in Lafayette, La., in 1980. He was on the founding Board of Directors of the Federation of Special Care Organizations in Dentistry in 1987. He served as president of the American Academy of Persons with Disabilities in 1988. In 1992 he was a founding member of the Lafayette Community Health Care Clinic, a program that provides comprehensive health care, at no charge, to the working poor as well as handicapped children. Since 1988, he has served as the national spokesperson for the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. From 1986 until 2003, he served as president/chairman of The Louisiana Open, a PGA Tour stop. He has been on The United States Golf Association Junior Amateur Championship Committee since 1994. In addition to numerous local civic responsibilities, he serves on the Board of Directors of Home Bank in Lafayette. In 2001, Dr. Hendry received the Ignation Award from Spring Hill College.


Ms. Katherine Viragh, Reno, Nev.

Ms. Katherine Viragh graduated from Maryville University in St. Louis, Mo., in 1976 with a degree in Nursing. Her 27-year clinical nursing career has included positions in various hospitals and outpatient surgery centers in St. Louis, MO; Orange County, CA; and Reno, NV. During the course of her years in the nursing field, she became involved in the travel industry, working in sales for seven years. This opportunity fueled her passion for travel, adventure and cultural enrichment. Katherine has been an active volunteer with the American Cancer Society and Yellowstone House, a recovery house for women suffering from drug and alcohol addiction. She is also associated with Human Options, an organization that assists victims of domestic violence, and Thomas House, a shelter for homeless families. She is a member of the board of the Viragh Family Foundation and serves on the board of Rydex Global Advisors.


Mr. Chris Walgreen, Chicago, Ill

Chris Walgreen is owner of ClearCreek Farms in northern Illinois and is very active in the Chicago chapter of the SHC Alumni Association.


Trustee Emeriti

In addition to the newest members of the board, the Hon. Herman Thomas ’83 and Vaughan Morissette, both of Mobile, have been honored with Trustee Emeriti status. Trustees Emeriti serve as advisors to the president as well as a support group for current trustees and the College as a whole.