Jewell Leadership

William Jewell College is led by the president and vice presidents of the College, commonly referred to as the President’s Cabinet. Under direction of the president, the Cabinet leads and manages the day-to-day operations of Jewell and plans for its future. Cabinet members work closely with the Board of Trustees to establish strategic initiatives and goals consistent with the College’s mission and fulfillment of its strategic plan, which calls for the College to act intentionally to fulfill our promise to transform students and to achieve our mission.

President

Kelli Schutte portraitDr. Drew Van Horn
Interim President
816-415-5096 | president@william.jewell.edu
B.A. from Elon University; M.Ed. from Campbell University; Ph.D. from University of South Carolina (hired 2025)

Dr. Drew Van Horn’s extensive higher education experience includes 10 years as president of Brevard College (North Carolina) and seven years at Young Harris College (Georgia). He has specialized in supporting private liberal arts institutions embarking on strategic change.

His vision emphasizes personalized education rooted in the liberal arts and humanities, aimed at preparing students for successful careers and civic engagement in a constantly changing world. He is known for improving student experiences, strengthening academic programs and increasing commitment to affordability and tuition transparency. Under his leadership, both Brevard and Young Harris experienced a rise in student enrollment, developed new academic and pre-professional pathways, and expanded opportunities for experiential learning, including internships and undergraduate research. Van Horn also held roles as vice president of institutional advancement at two universities and director of the Independent College Fund of North Carolina.

Van Horn holds a B.A. from Elon University (North Carolina) where he was named a two-time CoSIDA and GTE Academic All-American in basketball, an M.Ed. from Campbell University (North Carolina) and a Ph.D. in education from the University of South Carolina. He is a Thrivent Leadership Fellow, a member of Alpha Chi Academic Honor Society, Omicron Delta Kappa Leadership Society and the Elon University Athletic Hall of Fame. The North Carolina native also has extensive civic leadership in education and nonprofit organizations.

Cabinet members

VP Eric Blair portraitEric Blair
Vice President of Marketing, Enrollment and Student Life
816-415-5217 | blaire@william.jewell.edu
Bachelor of Arts from William Jewell College; Master of Public Administration from Park University (hired 2019)

 

VPAA Keli Braitman portraitDr. Keli Braitman
Vice President of Academic Affairs; Dean of Faculty; Professor of Psychological Science
816-415-7881 | braitmank@william.jewell.edu
Bachelor of Science from Frostburg State University; Master of Arts and Ph.D. from Southern Illinois University​ (hired 2012)

 

Chris McCabe portraitChris McCabe
Associate Vice President of Athletics Strategy and External Relations; Head Men's Basketball Coach
816-415-5947 | mccabec@william.jewell.edu
Bachelor of Science from Kansas State University; Master of Science in Secondary School Administration/Principalship (hired 2019)
 

CFO Julie McGovern portraitJulie McGovern
Chief Financial Officer
816-415-7802 | mcgovernj@william.jewell.edu
Bachelor of Science from University of Kansas; C.P.A. (hired 2024)

 

 

VP Clark Morris portraitClark Morris
Vice President for Institutional Advancement; Artistic Director of the Harriman-Jewell Series
816-415-5997 | morrisc@william.jewell.edu
Bachelor of Arts from William Jewell College; Master of Business Administration from Mid-America Nazarene University; Graduate of the Executive Program for Non-Profit Leaders in the Arts at the Stanford Graduate School of Business (hired 1990)

 

Board of Trustees​

  • Gary V. Ainsworth, ’82
  • Susan Chambers, ’90
  • Shane Davolt, ’93
  • Charles N. Funk, ’76
  • William C. Gautreaux, ’85
  • M. Tyler Griffin, ’01
  • Sarah J. Hon, ’88
  • Diane E. Hopkins, ’81
  • Aimée G. Larrabee
  • David F. Oliver
  • David D. Powell, ’80
  • Antwaun Smith
  • Bradley N. Sprong, ’86
  • Qiana F. Thomason
  • David Warm
  • Todd E. White, ’85

Advisory Trustees

  • William A. Hall
  • Jonathan M. Kemper
  • William D. Snyder, ’62
  • Maurice A. Watson

Trustees Emeriti

  • Julius J. Anderson, Jr., ’71
  • Robert A. Bernstein
  • Edward D. Douglas
  • William E. Dreyer, ’60
  • Robert Gengelbach, ’69
  • John R. Gill, ’79
  • Eileen L. Houston-Stewart, ’79
  • Burnell Landers, ’60
  • Ollie Malone, Jr., ’75
  • Karen M. Mathes, '80
  • James W. McCrossen
  • James K. Pierce, ’66
  • W. Edward Place, ’82
  • Fred H. Pryor, ’56
  • Linda J. Roos, ’68
  • Dianne C. Shumaker, ’66
  • Joy L. Steincross
  • John F. White, ’67
  • Thomas R. Willard, ’76
  • Richard Wright, Jr., ’78
  • Craig Zahnd, ’89