Spartanburg, S.C.— Four Wofford alumni have been elected to the Wofford College Board of Trustees, replacing former trustees Mike James, Class of 1973; Jim Johnson, Class of 1971; Pat Prothro, Class of 1996, and Joe Taylor, Class of 1980.

The new trustees were elected on June 6 at the South Carolina Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church held in Greenville, S.C. New trustees include Dr. Blanding Jones, cardiothoracic surgeon in California’s Kaiser Permanente system; Wade Keisler, real estate developer and philanthropic leader in the Midlands of South Carolina; Greg O’Dell, chief executive officer of Events DC, the official convention and sports authority for the District of Columbia; and Margaret Young, partner with international accounting and consulting firm PriceWaterhouse Coopers. Re-elected to new four-year terms on the board include John Hipp, Class of 1975; Stewart Johnson, Class of 1967; Craig Melvin, Class of 2001; and Dr. Danny Morrison, Class of 1975.

At its May meeting on campus, the board elected officers for the 2019-20 year: Corry Oakes, Class of 1989, chair; Chris Carpenter, Class of 1990, vice chair; and Costa Pleicones, Class of 1965, secretary.

About the new trustees

Dr. Blanding Jones, Class of 1992
Jones is a practicing cardiothoracic surgeon and physician leader/administrative chief of cardiovascular services for The Southern California Kaiser Permanente system. A native of Sumter, S.C., Jones graduated from the Medical University of South Carolina in 1997 and pursued extensive surgical training at both Emory University and the University of California-Irvine. Jones is deeply engaged with the college, hosting alumni events in California and serving on the President’s Advisory Council as well as serving on various committees as a member of Wofford’s Alumni Advisory Council.

Wade Keisler, Class of 1980
Keisler is a respected business and philanthropic leader in the Midlands area of South Carolina and has served as a licensed real estate broker for the past 25 years. A longtime supporter of Heathwood Hall Episcopal School in Columbia and a member of Saint Stephens Lutheran Church in Lexington, S.C., Keisler is a member of the Greater Columbia Association of Homebuilders and the National Association of Homebuilders. Keisler serves on the FOR WOFFORD Campaign Steering Committee and is a former member of the college’s Investment Advisory Committee.

Greg O’Dell, Class of 1992
As chief executive officer of Events DC, O’Dell heads the official convention and sports authority for the District of Columbia. Hailing from Stone Mountain, Ga., he was a member of the Wofford men’s basketball team from 1988 through 1992. In his role at Events DC, O’Dell oversees the operations of a $2 billion portfolio of sports and hospitality-related venues inclusive of the 2.3 million-square-foot convention center, which hosts one million guests annually. O’Dell serves on several national and international boards, including the Washington, D.C., Economic Partnership; Destination D.C.; the Children’s National Medical Center; the National Cherry Blossom Festival and the Professional Convention Management Association.

Margaret Young, Class of 1992
Young is an audit partner with PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC). A native of Camden, S.C. and resident of Blacksburg, Va., Young is the east region leader for the Private Company Services practice of PwC, overseeing a staff of approximately 600 individuals and 65 partners focused on delivering audit, tax, advisory and personal financial services to privately-held and family-owned companies with domestic and international operations. She also has served as an elder at First Presbyterian Church of Spartanburg as well as on the boards of the Girl Scouts Mountains to Midlands, the Mary Black Foundation, the United Way, the Chapman Cultural Center and Wofford’s Terrier Club.