Board of Trustees
Dr. Norman D. Hall
President
Dr. Hall became Simpson University’s 15th president in June 2018. Prior to coming to Simpson, Dr. Hall served as the Vice President for International and Alumni Affairs & Major Gift Officer at Greenville University (Ill.). He also was Vice President & Dean of Student Development at Greenville University. He served at Azusa Pacific University (Calif.); Ashland University (Ohio); University of California, Santa Barbara; and Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. Dr. Hall received his doctorate in educational administration from Pepperdine University (Calif.), a master of science in education from Southern Illinois University, and bachelor’s degrees in biology and sociology from Greenville University.
Dr. Hall and his wife, Alison, who is from Northern Ireland, have three adult children.
Dr. James M. Postma
Chair
Dr. Jim Postma is a Professor Emeritus in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at California State University, Chico. He was a member and former chair of the Academic Senate of the California State University. He has retired from the faculty at CSUC after 37 years. Having been married to Beverly for over 45 years, they have two daughters (one a Simpson alum) and three grandchildren. Jim and Bev attend Evangelical Free Church in Chico.
Dr. Postma joined the Simpson University Board of Trustees in 2013.
Mr. Adam McElvain
Vice Chair
Adam McElvain was elected to the Board of Trustees in 2020. A Simpson alumnus, he has served in the United States Air Force and California Air National Guard and has been the speaker at Simpson University’s commencement. In 2016, Adam was elected to a four-year term on the Redding City Council and served a one-year term as mayor. As a partner at Pacific Sky Creative, Inc., a local marketing firm, Adam is able to show his unique ability to think both technically and creatively and due to this position, he has a rich history of working closely with many regional business and industry leaders. Adam and his wife have two young children. They attend the Valley Christian Church in Redding.
Rev. Dennis Pust
Secretary
Rev. Dennis Pust is recently retired from his role as Associate Superintendent for the Alliance Northwest District of the Christian & Missionary Alliance where he served from 2008 through 2021. He served as a Simpson University Trustee in the early 2000’s and was re-elected to another term that started in 2020. Prior to his district role, he served Alliance pastorates in Illinois and Oregon for over 30 years. He is a graduate of Crown College and Trinity Seminary. He and his wife, Tracey, have four children and nine grandchildren. In retirement he is serving in a part-time role as the Western Region Church Advance Coordinator for the Alliance, assisting Church Advance Specialists in the region as they come alongside churches in need of renewal.
Mrs. Kimberly Allen
Kimberly is a Senior Assistant Attorney General in the Human Services section of the Alaska Dpt. of Law. She holds a B.A. in Urban Studies and Psychology from Simpson Bible College (San Francisco Campus) and a J.D. from University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law.
Mr. Joshua R. Barker
Josh Barker is the CEO of a large Real Estate company in Redding, Calif., with over 20 years of experience in Real Estate sales, land acquisition, land development and new construction. Josh and his wife Nikole married in 1997 and have 4 children. He is a Redding native and is highly vested in Christian education and the support of young families and children.
Dr. Celine Bower
Celine is the Executive Pastor at San Jose Christian Alliance Church. A Simpson alumna, she has served in the Alliance domestically and internationally. Prior to coming back to California, she lived internationally for 18 years in the Europe & Middle East Region serving with Alliance Missions. She holds two graduate degrees from Alliance Theological Seminary, NY – Master of Divinity in Theology and a Doctorate of Ministry in Leadership in a Global Context. She is deeply committed to the character and leadership formation of emerging leaders. Celine and her husband, Brett, have been married for over 20 years and have two children.
Dr. Celine Bower joined the Simpson University Board of Trustees in 2023 and serves on the Board of Directors for the Christian & Missionary Alliance.
Dr. Jo Anne C. Cripe
Dr. Jo Anne Cripe was elected to the Board of Trustees in 2011. Jo Anne, a former Simpson University professor, retired from teaching at Butte Community College in 2016. She did her undergraduate work at Gordon College (Biblical Studies and English majors) and earned a doctorate in Counseling and Human Development from Boston University. She spent her career in higher education and local church ministries. Jo Anne and her husband Jeff (a walnut farmer) have been married for over 35 years, have two adult sons, are active in their home church, and live in the middle of their 90-acre orchard in Chico, CA.
Rev. Rob Douglas
Rob Douglas was born in Southeast Asia and spent 14 of his first 18 years there as the son of missionary parents. He has served in the C&MA in various leadership and ministry capacities including District and Denominational Leadership, Pastoring and International Missions work during his over 30 years of ministry experience. Rob and his wife, Stacy, currently live in Citrus Heights, CA where he serves as the Superintendent for the Central Pacific District of the C&MA. He and Stacy have three adult children, Joe, Josh and Mindi. He especially enjoys time with his family, sharing stories of God’s working, traveling, enjoying nature, fishing, and flying kites.
Dr. Gary D Friesen
Gary Friesen serves as Vice President/General Counsel for The Christian and Missionary Alliance. Beginning with his grandfather who attended in 1925, Gary’s family has had a long relationship with Simpson University. He oversees the legal and corporate affairs for the C&MA as well as issues related to religious liberty. Gary loves to teach and has taught biblical conflict resolution and organizational leadership across the globe. Primarily, his passion is to see people everywhere experience the redemptive power of the Gospel in their relationships, beginning with himself, his wife Laurel, and their family.
Rev. David L. Gilmore
Rev. David Gilmore serves as superintendent of the C&MA’s South Pacific District. Prior to that, he spent nearly 35 years as a pastor. He and his wife Tami have been married for over 37 years and now live in Wildomar, California. He earned his undergraduate degree in Pastoral ministries from Crown College. Two of his three adult children are married, and he currently has two grandchildren.
Mr. James W. Goddard
Jim Goddard was elected to the Board of Trustees in 2021. He and his wife, Victoria, have four adult children and three grandchildren. They have been married over forty years. Jim and his son, Mark, own Agri Guys Equipment, an agricultural equipment marketing firm. Two of their daughters attended Simpson University. Victoria graduated from the Simpson Aspire program earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Organizational Leadership. Simpson musical performances and events are one of their favorite sources of entertainment.
Jim and Victoria are area coordinators for American Christian Academy, a private school satellite program assisting home school families in Northern California.
He has a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Business from California State University Chico. Jim and Victoria attend Firm Family Church in Chico, CA.
Mr. Frank C. Harding
Frank Harding was elected to the Board of Trustees in 2021. Born and raised in Los Angeles, California, he the oldest of three children. He attended Catholic schools through high school. He served in Vietnam in 1964-1965 in the U.S. Air Force. After returning to U.S., Frank attended UCLA from 1972-1976. He left school in junior year to participate in political efforts. Frank served as Assistant to the Senate Republican Caucus Chairman in the mid 70’s. Following this job, he worked in banking and commercial real estate lending, managed real estate investments for STRS (State Teachers Retirement System), public and private pension fund real estate investments nationwide. He served as Gubernatorial appointee for Governors Deukmejian and Wilson. He owned and operated construction management firm specializing in K-12 and Community College facilities planning and construction.
Frank is the father of two daughters and one son and the grandparent of five, three girls and two boys. He and his wife, Brenda, attend The Pointe Church of Antelope.
Frank currently serves on the District Executive Committee of the Christian & Missionary Alliance as District Treasurer, is Board Member of World Relief Sacramento, assists in the relocation of Afghan refugees that have assisted U.S. forces in Afghanistan, and also serves as a Trustee on the Board of Trustees for Simpson University.
Frank and his wife enjoy traveling and camping, particularly with their grandkids. He also enjoys reading, in particular history.
Mrs. Sadie Hess
Sadie Huffmaster Hess is a Simpson Alumna, graduating in 1995 with a degree in psychology.
She is the CEO of Compass Disability Services, which she founded one year later in 1996. She supports over 600 individuals with disabilities and has over 600 staff and twelve offices throughout California. Her company also developed a software product for the industry. Her husband Eric joined her in 2005 as the CFO and they run the company together so they can also have time for their family. They have three awesome kids—Trinity, Ryan and Elayna and attend Bethel Church, still calling Redding home.
Mr. Raymond L. Homan
Raymond Homan was elected to the Board of Trustees in 2004 and serves as chair of three committees: Business Finance, Employee Benefit Plan, and Audit. A Simpson alumnus, he has worked in business management for over 30 years and with a military storage contractor for 20 years. He serves on the finance board of the First United Methodist Church in San Diego, where he lives.
Mr. Mark B. Matheson
Mark Matheson was elected to the Board of Trustees in 2009 and is the owner/president of Matheson Trucking. He and his wife, Sherrie, have a son, Josh, who graduated from Simpson University and a daughter, Lauren, who graduated from Biola University. He is a life member of Full Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship. Mark and Sherrie attend Rolling Hills Church in El Dorado Hills, CA.
Dr. Thomas J. Perry
Dr. Thomas Perry is an OBGYN physician, currently retired and served the Redding community for 38 years. He currently does part time work for vacation relief for the practitioners at Shasta Maternity Center, and participates in a medical lecturer series for residents at Mercy Medical Center. Dr. Perry is a lifetime member of the Christian Medical and Dental Society and a member of Pathway Church, while also being on the board for Gatehouse Ministries, a MK ministry associated with Simpson University. He and his wife, Betty (married 49 years), serve on the marriage mentors ministry. He and Betty have done multiple medical mission trips to many countries around the world. Dr. Perry currently takes nursing students from Simpson for a cross cultural medical trips to Mexico. Dr. Perry and Betty have three children and six grandchildren.
Mr. Norm F. Reinhardt
A graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point with a B.S. in Engineering Science, Norm Reinhardt was commissioned as an officer in the US Army Signal Corps. He transitioned into executive leadership roles at technology companies to include General Instrument, Cisco Systems, and World Wide Technology. Norm is currently the Senior Vice President of Client Support and Operations at a privately held technology company, Levels Beyond. He holds graduate degrees from Pepperdine University (MPA) and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (MS). Norm and his wife, Brenda, have been married for over 40 years and have two adult daughters. They have been active in The Christian and Missionary Alliance churches in Georgia and Southern California.
Mr. David S. Richey
Dave Richey was elected to the Board of Trustees in 2007 and is the Senior Business Leader at Visa Inc. He attended Simpson College in San Francisco, 1974-1978. He also attends Neighborhood Church of Castro Valley. Dave and Kim met while attending Simpson and have been married for over 45 years. They have three sons and seven grandchildren, who are indescribable joys.
Dr. Nha Tran
Nha Tran was ordained with C&MA and has been in ministry for over 40 years in Vietnam as well as in the States. Currently he is the lead pastor of the Vietnamese Evangelical Church in Garden Grove, CA and the Director of Association of Vietnamese Evangelical Churches in the States. In addition, he is the Principal of Alliance Theological College (ATC) to train pastors and Christian workers for Vietnamese Alliance Churches around the world as well as an adjunct professor of Biblical Studies and Theology at Bethesda Christian University, Anaheim, CA. He finished his theological degrees at Talbot School of Theology (Biola University, CA) and Fuller Theological Seminary (Pasadena, CA).
Nha Tran and Hong-Hanh Pham have been married for over thirty years. They have two grown children and two grandchildren.
Rev. Dr. Monty Wright
Monty C. Wright serves as the District Superintendent for the Alliance Northwest District. He is also the founder and former president of the Bible Institute of Seattle, as well as the founder and president of Planet Changer, a global non-profit. Prior to becoming the District Superintendent of the Alliance NW, Monty was the founding and lead pastor of Snoqualmie Valley Alliance Church. Monty has been married to Amy Wright, Ed.D., for over 30 years and is dad to two leaders, Emma and Liam. Monty and Amy reside in Camas, Wash.
