Webster University Expands Inclusivity in Leadership with Three New Trustees

Three new members have joined Webster’s Board of Trustees, adding decades of experience in leadership and expanding the diversity and perspectives on the governing board. Phoong Tang, Eve Coulson, and Kelvin Adams, Ph.D., are already working on several subcommittees, exploring ways to continue Webster’s spectacular financial turnaround achieved in the past two years.

They were among 40 people nominated to serve as trustees as part of an effort by leadership to transform the Board into a body that represents the many groups and interests within the Webster community. 

“We intentionally recruited board members who represent the voices and experiences of our students, alumni and the community we serve, catering to the University’s centuries-long commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, and contributing to our Kairos Strategic Planning Initiative that has focused Webster on academic scholarship and financial stability,” said President Tim Keane. “Phoong, Eve and Kelvin are incredibly accomplished individuals who will infuse the board with new outlooks and ideas as we continue to build upon Webster’s reputation as a premier international educational institution.”

The Kairos Strategic Planning Initiative is using feedback from students, faculty and staff to analyze Webster’s current environment and explore ways to update processes, reduce costs and refocus Webster’s operations on its core mission of providing educational services.

As a Webster alumna, Tang brings an international perspective and technical expertise that will help guide the board, Keane said. She is a senior global executive with more than 20 years of experience driving digital transformation, IT modernization, research and development, and commercial operations in complex global organizations. She also is a champion of inclusive leadership and is known for her cross-cultural leadership, mentorship, and ability to build diverse teams that solve problems with curiosity, discipline, and empathy. 

Tang holds an Executive MBA from the John M. Olin School of Business at Washington University in St. Louis and a Bachelor of Science from Webster University, with majors in Mathematics and International Business/Marketing. 

Coulson brings the perspective of a long-time liberal arts alumna and the experience of being a Webster alumnus who lives outside of the St. Louis region and can provide guidance on how to better strengthen the alumni network nationally Keane said. Since earning a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from Webster, she has been an active alumnus and has attended numerous reunions, been actively involved for Webster’s Philosophy Conference, and currently serves on the College of Humanities and Social Sciences advisory board. Professionally, she has been a vocational counselor, corporate trainer, and a specialist in intermarriage in the Jewish world. She also has been a member and chair of several non-profit boards and has been active in civic organizations in her current hometown. 

A current resident of Princeton, New Jersey, Coulson currently serves on the board – and is past president - of Sustainable Princeton, established in 2012, leading community change to reduce greenhouse gas emission, strengthen resilience to the impacts of the changing climate and protect the local ecosystem. She has been a member of the Princeton Zoning board since 2015. 

Adams brings years of educational experience as well as an in-depth knowledge of the St. Louis region, which provides nearly two-thirds of all students to the Webster Groves campus, Keane said. He also helped reform the processes of a large school district, increasing graduation rates and significantly improving its academics.

Adams brings a wealth of knowledge about the world of education, Keane said. He served as superintendent of schools for the Saint Louis Public School District, which serves approximately 20,000 students in grades Pre-K – 12, operates 62 schools, manages more than 3,500 employees, including 1,600 teachers, and oversees an annual $400 million budget. Adams was the third longest-serving superintendent in the district’s history, having been in the role for 14 years until retiring in December 2022.

As superintendent, he focused his attention on improving student achievement.  He also helped reform the district, earned full accreditation from the Missouri State Board of Education, expanded the number of pre-kindergarten seats from 1,100 to 2,100, increased the graduation rate from 54 percent to 80 percent, and increased the number of students taking advanced placement courses by more than 300. Additionally, he opened a nationally recognized school for refugees and other new Americans and opened a nationally recognized Innovative Concept Academy for judicated youth. 

Adams earned his Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education and Special Education from Northeast Louisiana University in 1978, a Master of Arts in Elementary Education from Xavier University in 1991, and a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership in Administration from the University of New Orleans in 2005.  

All three trustees have been assigned to subcommittees. Adams and Coulson are both serving on the Academic and Student Affairs Committee and the Advancement Committee. Tang is working on the Building & Infrastructure Committee and the International Strategy Committee. 

The appointments come just a week before Webster’s 10th annual Diversity, Equity and Inclusion conference, further demonstrating Webster’s continued commitment to DEI efforts. While they are the first three new members of the Board of Trustees, more appointments are expected in the coming months as the University continues to restructure its leadership.