Four alumni join Centre College Board of Trustees

The Centre College Board of Trustees elected four new members during its winter meeting.

Angie Dillow ’92, Omolola Fakunle ’17, Barcley Houston ’96 and David Longenecker ’96 will join the Board of Trustees, the College’s governing body.

“These four new members of the Board showcase commitment to the College that Centre alumni are so well known for,” President Milton C. Moreland said. “I’m thrilled that we have such a talented and dedicated group who are invested in the success of our students.”

Centre’s Board of Trustees is comprised of alumni, parents and friends who bring a strong commitment to enhancing the College’s academic interests and long-term mission.

Just last year, Centre dedicated the largest construction project in school history, brought new in-demand majors online and unveiled a transformational financial aid program through the Centre Promise — a robust guarantee to meet the full calculated need for any incoming first-year student. In December, the Board reappointed Moreland through 2030.

“It is a promising future at the College,” Moreland said. “During a challenging time for so many higher education institutions, Centre is charting a clear path forward with the Board acting boldly to make the necessary investments and changes to ensure more students can reap the benefits of the Centre experience.

“Angie, Omolola, Barcley and David know first-hand the value of a transformative Centre education, and we appreciate their generosity in serving on the Board.”

Angie Dillow ‘92

Angie Dillow graduated summa cum laude and as a member of Phi Beta Kappa from Centre College with a degree in chemistry, earning her doctorate in chemical engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology and post-doctorate at the University of Minnesota. She has authored or co-authored one book, five patents and 23 peer-reviewed publications in the fields of chemical engineering, smart biomaterials and targeted drug delivery.

Those successes were cultivated by a well-rounded liberal arts and sciences education at Centre, where Dillow said she learned to develop and communicate complex ideas and solve problems effectively.

 “These skills equipped me very well for a PhD in chemical engineering at a top graduate school. My ability to converse readily with all my faculty and network with other students and alumni also set the stage for a successful career navigating corporate politics and building and leading teams in the corporate world.

“The type of education that Centre provided, as well as the access to faculty were huge factors in my career success and created the foundation for lifelong friendships. I enjoy being part of the Centre community at large, and my life is enriched by the 20-plus Centre women with whom I am in nearly daily contact. Wherever I go, when I meet Centre alumni, it is like finding new family.”

Dillow currently serves as an independent director for Nonin Medical, a company that produces noninvasive patient monitoring devices for the healthcare market. She served as the chairman of the board on Regions Hospital Board of Directors, and currently serves on the advisory board for Avant-Garde Health. Dillow has previously served as vice president of global healthcare corporate accounts for Ecolab. At Centre, Dillow has been involved as a member of the Centre Alumni Board of Directors and on the President’s Advisory Council.

“I feel very lucky to have been included in the Alumni Board of Directors and the President’s Advisory Council,” she said. “It is a privilege to be able to give back to a school that means so much to me on a personal and professional level. Moving to the Board of Trustees is extremely exciting. I look forward to contributing and being a steward of the college to drive continuous improvement and success.”

Omolola Fakunle ‘17 

Omolola (Lola) Fakunle will serve the Board of Trustees as a Young Alumni member. She is an orthopedic surgeon in residency at the Cleveland Clinic, earning her BS from Centre in behavioral neuroscience. After Centre, Fakunle graduated cum laude from Emory University School of Medicine.

“Centre taught me countless lessons. If I had to choose one, it highlighted for me the importance of asking questions about the world and figuring out how to pursue an answer,” Fakunle said. “I truly believe that asking the right questions is at the root of the most meaningful change in the world.”

In addition to her surgical training, Fakunle has been awarded multiple grants for her work focused on advancing surgical technology and developing innovative approaches to prosthetic design for amputee patients. She plans to pursue a fellowship in pediatric orthopedic surgery, specializing in issues such as trauma care of injured children, scoliosis and congenital deformities. She lives in Cleveland, Ohio, with her husband, Moses Ngong ’18, who is a community and political organizer.

“My time at Centre changed my life,” Fakunle said. “I learned how to learn, and even more importantly I learned the true meaning of friendship from the people I met there. To me, serving on the board means I get to play a small role in paying forward the magic that Centre created in my life. It’s an honor.”

Barcley Houston ‘96

Barcley Houston is the president and CEO of Red Ewald Manufacturing, Inc. in San Antonio, Texas, following 20 years in senior leadership roles in corporate finance at Wells Fargo & Co. and GE Capital, Inc. Houston earned a degree in economics with minors in Spanish and religion at Centre. He has served as treasurer on the Centre Alumni Association Board and most recently served as chair of the President’s Advisory Council.

“I am deeply honored to be appointed to serve Centre College as a trustee” Houston said. “Centre has been an important part of my life for over three decades and it is an institution that I owe a debt which can never be repaid. I know that I am not alone in this sentiment and will endeavor to serve Centre as a steward of its values and mission, building on our strong legacy for all future generations to come.”

A native of Texas, Houston can trace his roots to Sam Houston, the American general who played a key role in the Texas Revolution. Since graduation, Houston completed the executive education program at Colorado School of Mines with a focus on petroleum engineering and geology.

“A Centre education prepared me for my career in ways that I could not have imagined as a young man,” he said. “When I joined the workforce, I was prepared in languages, communication, writing, history, literature, classics, economics, mathematics, sciences, public speaking, and analytics — plainly put, I ran circles around my professional peers and competitors — and advanced quickly based on my Centre liberal arts and sciences education.

“Centre students are well read, well prepared and worldly from the education and experiences received on campus and abroad. As it did decades ago, Centre continues to instill values of strong work ethic, lifelong learning, leadership, and civic responsibility to all its students today.”

David Longenecker ‘96 

A Centre graduate and now Centre parent, David Longenecker has seen the full benefits of a Centre College education from multiple angles. He earned a degree in English at Centre before completing law school at the University of Kentucky.

“As a resident of Danville, I know how important Centre is to our community,” Longenecker said. “I look forward to finding ways to strengthen the relationship between the College and Danville.”

The Centre ties run deep in the Longenecker family. In addition to two siblings who graduated from Centre, his wife, Eloise Hamilton Campbell Longenecker is also a member of the class of 1996 and the daughter of the late Charles William Campbell III, beloved Paul G. Blazer Professor of Economics at Centre College for 32 years.

“Centre made a profound and positive impact on me and on my life, personally and professionally,” Longenecker said. “It’s been a big part of the lives of generations of our family. I am honored and pleased to have the chance to contribute to the College’s future success.”

Longenecker currently works as an attorney with Stites & Harbison, based in Lexington, where he is an expert in mergers and acquisitions, advising companies and corporate governance.