From the beginning, the Rose Institute was fortunate to have the guidance of a strong Board of Governors. Edessa Rose, Jon Lovelace, Billy Mills, and Mildred Younger were among the first members of the Board under the chairmanship of Robert Finch. Later chairs — Don Henriksen, Bob Howard, Brandy Birtcher, Al Lunsford, Darryl Wold, and Ray Remy — have presided over equally distinguished groups.
The Board of Trustees and the administration of Claremont McKenna have always given strong support to the academic freedom of the Institute and its researchers. Despite the controversial character of some research — for example, the work on redistricting reform, which was heavily opposed by various politicians, and on Orange County’s finances, which was sharply contested by County officials — the president and trustees have stood behind our work.
The director of the Rose Institute reports to the Vice President of Research at Claremont McKenna College. Several distinguished individuals have held this position: Dixon Arnett, Jim Jamieson, Don Henriksen, Mark Blitz, and Jerome Garris. The administration of the Institute itself has involved Dr. Florence Adams, Professor George Blair, Dr. Alan Heslop, Dr. Thomas B. Hofeller, Professor Helene Smookler, and Dr. Ralph Rossum.
BOARD MEMBERS:
Cole Burr, President, Burrtec Waste Industries, Inc.
Gregory C. Devereaux, CEO, San Bernardino County (Retired)
Deborah Gonzalez ’85, Director of Government Affairs, Public Policy Institute of California
The Hon. Robert M. Hertzberg, State Senator, California District 18
Robert W. Howard ’55, Real Estate Consultant, Howard & Howard, Inc.
Marguerite M. Leoni, Partner, Nielsen Merksamer Parrinello Gross & Leoni, LLP
Scott W. Ochoa ’93, City Manager, City of Ontario
Henry A. Olsen III ’83, Senior Fellow, Ethics and Public Policy Center
Richard J. Romero ’89, President, Oremor Management and Investment Co.
Christopher E. Skinnell ’99, Partner, Nielsen Merksamer Parrinello Gross & Leoni, LLP
Ryder Todd Smith ’96, President, Tripepi Smith (VICE CHAIRMAN)
Christopher J. Townsend ’82, President, Townsend Public Affairs, Inc.
Frank G. Tripepi P’96, Senior Vice President, Willdan Group, Inc.
Wayne D. Wedin, President, Wedin Enterprises, Inc.
Jessica Witt ’00, Director, Government and Community Relations, County of Orange
Scott L. Woolley ’92, Technology and Business Writer
Darryl R. Wold ’63, Former Chairman, Federal Election Commission
EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS:
Hiram Chodosh, President, Claremont McKenna College
Shana Levin, Associate Dean of the Faculty, Claremont McKenna College
Andrew E. Busch, Director, Rose Institute, Claremont McKenna College
Jacinth K. Sohi ’11, President, Rose Institute Alumni Society
HONORARY MEMBERS:
Jack L. Stark ’57, President Emeritus, Claremont McKenna College
Ralph B. “Buzz” Woolley, Jr. ’59, President, Girard Capital, Inc.
LIFE MEMBER:
D. Alan Heslop, Founding Director, Rose Institute
LIST OF BOARD MEMBERS, PAST AND PRESENT (pdf)
Last updated April 15, 2019