This past summer, Wheaton College welcomed two new members to its Board of Trustees: Carlene Ellerman and John Chung. Their expertise includes Ellerman’s background primarily in community development and Chung’s in financial services.
President Ryken emailed faculty, staff and students on July 22 to announce the appointment, highlighting the newest trustees’ “decades of professional, educational, community and church experience.”
As stated on Wheaton’s website, those who serve in this role “exercise spiritual and fiscal oversight” concerning the college, often making key decisions to encourage advancement and maintain institutional goals. A notable example would be the Board of Trustees’ approval of faculty candidates given by the Senior Administration.
Each trustee’s term lasts a decade and members age out after reaching 75. According to Wheaton’s bylaws, the Board of Trustees operates with a maximum of 20 members. This summer, Ellerman and Chung brought the Board to its capacity.
The distinct individuals serving on the Board of Trustees span vocational backgrounds such as ministry, social work and financial services. Diversity in ethnicity, gender and geographical location are also prioritized.
Chair of Trustees Dale Wong, who spearheaded the recent Historical Task Review, stressed the importance of a myriad of perspectives in the role.
“We don’t want people who have no opinions because we all bring to the table our different experiences, our different contexts,” Wong said. “All of it contributes to being able to make the best decisions for the college and move the ball forward with our institutional mission.”
Both Ellerman and Chung are familiar with campus life, having graduated in 1977 and 1988, respectively. Both have also served terms on the Board of Visitors.
Ellerman focused her work in Wheaton. With her degree in social sciences, Ellerman and her husband, Chris, led Outreach Community Ministries, “a comprehensive youth and family resource center” as described by their current website.
Ellerman and her husband also actively housed over 60 foster children and offered their house to over 70 in-need individuals.
“At one time I had a foster son that was older than me,” Ellerman added, “I was 22, 23 maybe, he was 24.”
In total, they have served in ministry for over 40 years. In 2023, they were named Alumni of the Year by the college.
Chung is currently based in West Chester, Pennsylvania, but he has lived in New York, North Carolina and London. After becoming an executive of American Express, Chung worked for JP Morgan Bank in positions like managing director, fraud prevention, claims, disputes and anti-money laundering operations.
“I count Wheaton as one of the five most important experiences in my life,” Chung said, adding his desire to “give back” to the community.
Chung graduated from Wheaton as a sociology and math double major. He has guest lectured in the business and economics department and served as a keynote speaker for various campus events such as homecoming chapel, football chapel and the Wheaton Associates Breakfast, a yearly event hosted for supporters of the college. His position on the Board of Trustees primarily involves financial services.
“If you zoom out and you take a look at the makeup of the board, there are marketplace professionals, there are full-time ministry professionals, there are academic professionals,” Chung said. “That mix is an important recipe to get right, to make sure that, doctrinally, the school stays on track, academically, the school maintains its rigor and, financially, the school is a viable institution.”
Ellerman’s role involves speaking from her own experience as an African-American woman on Wheaton’s campus in the 1970s. Ellerman originally grew up in Jamaica before moving to Brooklyn. While she knew Wheaton was a majority-white campus, she did not expect students to treat her differently because of the color of her skin.
“It blew my mind that there were so many people like me as far as faith — so many Christians,” Ellerman said. “That’s what I was excited about. And then to get here and to be told you don’t belong was really hurtful.”
Ellerman noticed during her time at Wheaton, too, that the Board of Trustees was mostly full of white men. While she commends Wheaton for prioritizing diversity, she said there is still work to be done in addressing the issue of race on campus. The ongoing division between Christians of different backgrounds concern her.
“I still think there’s a bit of that now on campus and that saddens me because I feel like we’re all made in God’s image,” Ellerman said. “We are all brothers and sisters in Christ, so I shouldn’t look at you any differently because you’re black or white.”
Chief Intercultural Engagement Officer Vanessa Quainoo wrote an email to the Record regarding Wheaton’s race and diversity mission.
“The goal of kingdom diversity at Wheaton College includes increasing Christ-centered cultural representation, improving campus life for all racial and ethnic groups and strengthening and deepening intercultural engagement,” said Quainoo.
Yet, Ellerman has spent the majority of her life within the Wheaton community and notes it as the place of some of her deepest relationships — including her husband.
“A lot of alumni have said, why are you still connected to Wheaton? Why are you still serving there? Why are you still giving them money? Why are you doing this?” Ellerman said.
Her answer: “Because I love it.”
Chung expressed a similar sentiment.
“It’s an important ministry for me,” said Chung. “It’s important for me to, in particular, help equip students for a life of service and vocation.”
Wong added that there is often an excess of trustees when volunteering for student focus groups, a job that involves interviewing a select group of undergraduates. He believes this is due to members’ love for students.
“We’re constantly reminding each other, ‘This is about the students,’” said Wong. “It is all about students.”
