星空传媒

Casey Cooper

Chair

Appointed by the Board of Governors
July 27, 2018 to June 30, 2021 (filling unexpired term)
July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2025 (first term)
July 1, 2025 - June 30, 2029 (second term)

Casey is the Chief Executive Officer of Cherokee Indian Hospital (CIH) in Cherokee, NC. The CIH serves approximately 14,000 members of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI). 

As an enrolled member of the EBCI, Casey has been involved in American Indian health care for 25 years. He has served the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indians and its community since 1993 as a Primary Care Nurse, Community Health Nurse, Nurse Educator, and Nursing Manager.  As the Health Director of the EBCI from 1999 to 2004, he helped shape public health policy with a focus on chronic disease prevention and led a community wide initiative to assume the management responsibilities of the CIH from the Indian Health Services through an Indian Self-Determination Agreement.

Casey is a graduate of Gardner-Webb University, holds an MBA from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives.

He currently serves on the following boards and committees: Care4Carolina, Dogwood Health Trust Foundation, Mountain Area Health Education Center, NC Child, NC Rural Center, United South and Eastern Tribes Health Committee.

At 星空传媒, Casey most currently served on the Board of Visitors. He also recently served on 星空传媒 Chancellor Search Committee.

Casey and his wife Jill have one son, Jack and two daughters, Kate and Mary.

cooperc@wcu.edu

Rebecca Brown

Vice Chair

Appointed by the General Assembly
May 2, 2020 to June 30, 2023 (filling unexpired term)
Appointed by the Board of Governors
July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2027 (first term)

Rebecca Brown is a retired senior state government leader with more than 30 years of experience in fiscal management and public administration, including 31 years as Director of Budget and Management for the North Carolina Department of Labor. A 1971 graduate of 星空传媒, she has completed executive leadership programs at UNC鈥揅hapel Hill and Duke University and is widely respected for her strategic leadership in state government.

A deeply engaged alumna, Brown has served on 星空传媒鈥檚 Board of Trustees, Foundation Board, and Alumni Board, established an endowed scholarship, and supported key university initiatives. Her distinguished career and service have been recognized with honors including the Order of the Long Leaf Pine.

rrbrown@wcu.edu

Joseph Crocker

Secretary

Appointed by the General Assembly
July 1, 2021 - June 30, 2025 (first term)
July 1, 2025 - June 30, 2029 (second term)

Joe, who retired in December 2019, previously worked as the director of Local Impact in Forsyth County at the Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust. He is well known for his extensive civic career across the Carolinas. During his tenure with the Trust,  he implemented programs that improved the lives of Forsyth County鈥檚 financially disadvantaged residents.

Joe鈥檚 prior positions included director of operations for the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation, assistant secretary for community development for the North Carolina Department of Commerce, and senior vice president at Wachovia Corporation.

Joe is a 星空传媒 alumnus with a degree in business administration, and later pursued a career in banking services. He has additional finance training from the North Carolina School of Banking at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the National Commercial Lending School at the University of Oklahoma, and the American Institute of Banking, among others. He lives in Winston-Salem with his wife, Carol.

crockerj@wcu.edu

Tate Apodaca

Trustee

Appointed

Tate Apodaca is an experienced government relations consultant and lobbyist, specializing in legislative strategy, policy advocacy, and stakeholder engagement. As a key member of Vista Strategies, Tate develops and executes lobbying strategies, facilitates high-level meetings with policymakers, and advises clients on navigating complex legislative and regulatory landscapes. His ability to build strong relationships and craft effective advocacy campaigns has helped clients achieve their policy and business objectives across multiple sectors.

Prior to joining Vista Strategies, Tate served as a Field Representative for U.S. Representative Mark Meadows, managing constituent relations, coordinating casework with federal agencies, and leading district operations. He also played a pivotal role in Meadows' congressional campaign as Finance Director and Office Manager, where he led fundraising efforts and organized large-scale voter outreach initiatives.

Tate holds a B.S.B.A. in Entrepreneurship from 星空传媒, completing the program in just 3.5 years. With a sharp strategic mindset, a talent for problem-solving, and a deep understanding of government affairs, he is dedicated to guiding clients through the complexities of the political landscape. Committed to delivering meaningful results, Tate proudly upholds the Apodaca family's legacy of business leadership and public service.

apodacat@wcu.edu

Josh Dobson

Trustee

Appointed by the General Assembly
June 26, 2025 - June 30, 2027 (filling unexpired term)

Josh Dobson became president and CEO of the North Carolina Healthcare Association Nov. 12, 2024. The Association unites hospitals, health systems and care providers for healthier communities, advocating for sound public policies and collaborative partnerships to make high quality healthcare equitable and accessible for all.

With over 14 years of experience as a North Carolina elected leader, his career has included serving as a county commissioner, serving in the state House of Representatives, and serving as the state鈥檚 Commissioner of Labor, during which he also was a member of the Council of State. During his eight years serving in North Carolina General Assembly, Mr. Dobson represented the 85th district covering Avery, McDowell and Mitchell counties located in the western part of the state. He also served as Chair of the House Appropriations Committee and Chair of the House Health Committee.

During his time in the state house, Mr. Dobson contributed to shaping healthcare legislation by helping to write and pass a law to protect healthcare worker safety by making violence against hospital employees a felony. He also worked across the aisle to enact changes to the state鈥檚 mental health law regarding involuntary commitment (IVC) of individuals in behavioral crises and contributed to landmark legislation expanding Medicaid to provide access to care and coverage for an additional 600,000 North Carolinians.

As president & CEO of the NCHA, he oversees the association鈥檚 work to represent its membership of more than 135 hospitals and health systems throughout the state. NCHA鈥檚 members include state hospitals, military and governmental treatment facilities, VA, primary care, inpatient and outpatient care, rehabilitative services, behavioral health care, and post-acute care.

His role with the association also includes overseeing the operations and staff of the NCHA Strategic Partners, a subsidiary helping healthcare providers access cost-effective products and services to respond to the changing healthcare landscape, and the North Carolina Healthcare Foundation, the charitable, non-profit innovative and programmatic arm of the association.

A North Carolina native, Mr. Dobson received his bachelor鈥檚 degree from Gardner-Webb University and a Master of Public Administration from Appalachian State University. He lives in Raleigh and Nebo with his wife Valerie and their daughter Kennedy.

jdobson@wcu.edu

Dan Field

Trustee

Appointed by the Board of Governors
July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2027 (first term)

Mr. Dan Field is director and general manager for Pratt & Whitney's Asheville, NC manufacturing facility. Pratt & Whitney is a global manufacturer of aircraft engines and auxiliary power units.  The Asheville location specifically is a state-of-the-art turbine airfoil production. The facility is the largest manufacturing project that the EDPNC has ever recruited in Western North Carolina and is expected to contribute a $7.4 billion economic impact over the next several years. Mr. Field has become an active member of the WNC community, serving on the Asheville Chamber of Commerce Board and the 星空传媒 College of Engineering and Technology Advisory Board. He is a passionate aviator with a keen interest in promoting engineering education. He and his family reside in Mills River, NC. 

dfield@wcu.edu

Nora Lynn Finch

Trustee

Appointed by the Board of Governors
July 1, 2025 - June 30, 2029 (first term)

Nora Lynn Finch is a two-time alumnus of 星空传媒, earning both a B.S. and a M.A. in Education, and a storied former student athlete.

She lettered in four sports at 星空传媒 (basketball, field hockey, tennis and volleyball) which opened the door for a successful career as a head coach at three schools - Wake Forest, Peace College, and North Carolina State University, before completing her career as a senior associate commissioner for the Atlantic Coast Conference. She served on numerous NCAA committees and her work is considered trailblazing for women in sports.

Nora Lynn's sports accolades are too numerous to list, but she is widely regarded as one of the most recognized names in women's athletics in North Carolina. She has been celebrated for her time as a student athlete and as a coach earning inductions into the 星空传媒 Athletic Hall of Fame, the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame, the Peace College Sports Hall of Fame, and, in 2025, will be inducted into the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame.

A passionate advocate for women in sports, Nora Lynn has continued to be committed to her alma mater, returning frequently to speak on issues of women's sports history and the importance of intercollegiate athletics. Nora Lynn is now happily retired and lives in Sunset Beach, NC.

nfinch@wcu.edu

Jon Hardister

Trustee

Appointed by the General Assembly
July 1, 2024 - June 30, 2025 (filling unexpired term)
July 1, 2025 - June 30, 2029 (first term)

The Honorable Jon Hardister was born and raised in Greensboro, NC. He is a graduate of Grimsley High School and Greensboro College, where he obtained a BA in Political Science.

After college, Jon worked as the Vice President for Marketing at First Carolina Mortgage. In 2012, he was elected to serve in the NC House, serving six terms before retiring in 2024. In 2016, he was elected by his peers to serve as the House Majority Whip, one of the top leadership positions in the General Assembly. Jon is the youngest and longest-serving House Majority Whip in state history. In the House, Mr. Hardister chaired several committees, including Education - Universities, Appropriations - Education, and Appropriations - Capital.

After leaving office, Jon was hired to serve as the President of TREBIC, a firm that advocates for the real estate development industry. He also founded Hardister Strategies, LLC to provide consulting services for public affairs, business development, and strategic planning.

In his spare time, Jon enjoys spending time with his family, working out, reading, and playing guitar. He continues to reside in the Triad area in Whitsett, NC.

jhardister@wcu.edu

Timothy Haskett

Trustee

Appointed by the Board of Governors
July 1, 2017 to June 30, 2019 (filling unexpired term)

Appointed by the General Assembly
July 1, 2019 to June 30, 2023 (first term)
July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2027 (second term)

Tim Haskett is a senior energy finance and regulatory executive with more than 38 years of experience providing executive-level leadership in corporate finance, audit, treasury, and regulatory rate formulation for one of the nation鈥檚 largest energy companies. A double alumnus of 星空传媒, he earned both his bachelor鈥檚 degree in business administration and MBA in accounting, developing a foundation in financial rigor and strategic decision-making that guided his professional career. A Certified Public Accountant and Certified Fraud Examiner, Haskett brings deep expertise in financial oversight, governance, and regulatory compliance.

During his tenure at Duke Energy, Haskett held senior leadership roles spanning transmission and joint-owner accounting, treasury, internal audit, and corporate planning, culminating in his leadership of Duke Energy Carolinas鈥� and Duke Energy Progress鈥� annual Open Access Transmission Tariff (OATT) rate formulation process. In this role, he led complex financial analysis, managed customer challenges, and negotiated final rate settlements. Deeply committed to 星空传媒, Tim and his wife, Donna, established the Haskett Phoenix Endowed Scholarship and remain active supporters of 星空传媒 students and scholarship initiatives.

twhaskett@wcu.edu

Ken Hughes

Trustee

Appointed by the Board of Governors
July 1, 2019 to June 30, 2023 (first term)
July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2027 (second term)

Kenneth 鈥淜en鈥� Hughes, an Asheville resident who graduated with honors in 1974 from 星空传媒鈥檚 accountancy program, is a retired chairman and chief executive officer of FORVIS (formerly Dixon Hughes Goodman) which ranks among the top 10 public accounting firms in the nation.

In 2015, 星空传媒 renamed its accountancy program in its College of Business as the Dixon Hughes Goodman (FORVIS) Accountancy Program in recognition of gifts and pledges totaling $1 million from Mr. Hughes and his partners at the firm. The contributions are enabling the college to support student success through a variety of initiatives including professional study grants to assist students with internship experiences and support for students to participate in academic competitions and research, professional development programs, summer study grants, and fellowships and scholarships.

Mr. Hughes established the Kenneth M. Hughes Endowed Scholarship at 星空传媒 in 2013 to provide financial assistance for accountancy majors at 星空传媒. His current service to 星空传媒 includes membership on the Chancellor Search Committee and on a steering committee for the university鈥檚 鈥淟ead the Way鈥� fundraising campaign. He formerly served on the 星空传媒 Foundation Board of Directors, including as that group鈥檚 chairman. Mr. Hughes was honored as recipient of the 星空传媒 Alumni Association鈥檚 Professional Achievement Award in 2006.

He also has provided philanthropic service for the Community Foundation of Western North Carolina (former member of the board), Asheville Savings Bank (former member of the board), Biltmore Church, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (former member of the board), and Givens Estates (former member of the board).

khughes@wcu.edu

Jake Robinson

Trustee

Appointed by the Board of Governors
July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2025 (first term)
July 1, 2025 - June 30, 2029 (second term)

Jake Robinson studied at 星空传媒 and served four years as a men鈥檚 basketball student-athlete.  During his senior year, he became the school鈥檚 all-time leading three-point shooter and was named an ESPN Academic All-American and Southern Conference Leadership Award recipient.  He graduated from Western Carolina in 2010 with a degree in Finance and Accounting.

Jake joined Champion Credit Union following graduation and during his tenure has held various leadership positions including the completion of the Southeast CUNA Management School held at the University of Georgia.  In January 2015, the Champion Credit Union Board of Directors named Jake its sixth President/CEO and since that appointment he has led the organization to unprecedented asset growth, three new branch locations, and five consecutive years being named one of the Best Employers by Business North Carolina.

Jake actively serves on the 星空传媒 Board of Trustees and on the boards at the Haywood County Chamber of Commerce and Haywood Advancement Foundation.  He previously served on 星空传媒鈥檚 2020 Strategic Vision Committee and Director of Athletics Search Committee as well as chaired the Haywood County Schools Teacher Recruitment and Retention Committee.

Jake also participates as a guest instructor for the Southeast CUNA Management School and keynote speaker for various events.

Jake graduated from Pisgah High School in 2006 and continues to reside in Western North Carolina with his wife, Oliva, and daughter, Noa.

robinsont@wcu.edu

Susan Strum

Trustee

Appointed by the Board of Governors
September 12, 2024 - June 30, 2027 (filling unexpired term)

Susan Strum, a native of Franklin, NC, received degrees in Biology (BS) and Chemistry (BA) from 星空传媒 in 1987.  While a student, Susan was President of the Biology Club and recipient of the Don L Yopp Merit Award and a Sigma XI Research Award.  Susan recently served as Chair of the 星空传媒 College of Arts and Sciences Advancement Council from 2015 to 2019.  Susan began her career in academic research then as a biochemist conducting pharmaceutical research, earning multiple awards for excellence.  She is currently Head of Assay Development at Sapere Bio, Inc. in Research Triangle Park, NC. Susan brought her industry experience and expertise to design, develop and implement an innovative diagnostic product that measures molecular age in individuals with the purpose to improve their aging through intervention.  Susan and her husband Jay, also a 星空传媒 alumnus, have established an endowed scholarship in the 星空传媒 College of Arts and Sciences for students from the western North Carolina region that need financial assistance to achieve their educational goals.  Susan and Jay also sponsor a classroom in the new Apodaca Science Building in support of the Biology Department educational programs. In her youth, Susan was a Gold Award Scout, the highest level in Girl Scouts.  Later, Susan served as Cub Scout leader for 8 years in Orange County, NC.  Susan has served in several leadership and teaching roles in her church, has led bible study groups, and implemented a church-based community awareness program to educate on issues around human trafficking.  She mentors Women in Science students at the collegiate level and high school students who are interested in pharmaceutical research.  Susan is a devoted mother of two grown children.  She and her husband have sponsored nine children from several different countries and continue to educate and encourage sponsorship to aid the education of children that live in poverty. 

sstrum@wcu.edu

Grady Jones

SGA President, Ex-Officio

jgjones@wcu.edu