The Baylor Line Foundation invited the three candidates for the open Alumni-Elected Regent position to answer a series of questions about their backgrounds, the role of the Alumni-Elected Regent, and the challenges facing Baylor and what they bring to the table to help address those challenges.
The process for the election of three Alumni-Elected Regents was created as part of the settlement of a lawsuit brought by the university against the Baylor Alumni Association. Alumni-Elected Regents serve three-year terms, and the first group were assigned staggered one-, two- and three-year terms. Julie Turner was assigned the one-year term and is up for re-election.
The three candidates are:
Melissa Purdy Mines’90, Austin: Mines is the head of brand content for Cisco Systems. She also earned an M.B.A. and Master of Public Affairs from University of Texas in 1996. The Permanent Class President for the Class of 1990, 10 of Mines’ relatives graduated from Baylor, including both parents, both siblings, and her great-grandfather, whose medical diploma was signed by Pat Neff.
Steve Mitchell ’92, Tulsa: Mitchell is CEO of Argonaut Private Equity, a private equity and venture capital firm with more than $2 billion under management. He also earned a J.D. from University of San Diego Law School in 1995. As a mergers and acquisition attorney, Mitchell has acquired 80+ companies for his clients. He has also invested $500 million+ in real estate acquisitions and development, experience that he says will be valuable as Baylor underwrites future expansion and student housing opportunities.
Julie Hermansen Turner ’67, MSED ’68, Dallas: Turner is a former full-time instructor at Baylor and a longtime community volunteer who serves on the boards of the Baylor University Women’s Council, Texas Sports Hall of Fame, and Baylor Health Care System Foundation and on the advisory boards of the Cattle Baron’s Ball and Children’s Cancer Fund. Julie served 15 years on the Board of Trustees of Dallas Baptist University and was past chairman in 2003-2004.
Turner: Baylor is my alma mater where I earned two degrees. It is where I was employed. It is where I met my husband. It is the university that I love. As a Regent I can faithfully express my beliefs and commitments to help assure that Baylor University remains the leading Christian university of higher education. I believe in the mission of Baylor University.
What is the biggest challenge facing Baylor?
Mines: The biggest challenge facing Baylor today is three-fold. First, healing is needed for those who are victims and those wounded by the divisions of recent years. Second, the university should not be reluctant to deal with issues openly, honestly, with humility, and to strive for perfection without feeling compelled to be perfect. Third embracing a student and alumni population that is more diverse – racially, religiously, and geographically – while pursuing greater academic rigor and staying true to its mission.
Mitchell: Perception. Certainly, grave errors were made [within] our athletic department and its oversight. This is being rectified and we cannot sweep under the rug the damage that was caused to those harmed. We must hold ourselves accountable. But, the reality is that Baylor is still an incredible, high caliber education and research institution that has maintained its Christian foundation and framework along the way. We need to hold firm to these principles and do the right thing at every turn moving forward.
Turner: The biggest challenge facing Baylor University is restoring confidence and trust in and through the Baylor Board of Regents by bringing Baylor constituents together. It is most important to restore the Baylor Family.
What do you see as Baylor’s greatest positive?
Mines: Baylor’s biggest strength will always be its people – students, faculty and alumni. It is the dual pursuit of academic excellence and of Christ’s teachings that set it apart. Every day and around-the-globe Baylor’s community is looking for ways to be challenged, seeking ways to serve and to find and exercise their calling in the world. Additionally, the threads of social justice and ethics that are woven into the experience of Baylor’s students and alumni are unique, and have the potential to set the university apart in a world increasingly oriented towards machine-learning and artificial intelligence.
Mitchell: Really, it’s what I mentioned above. Baylor has not given in to lower educational standards to maintain its Christian foundation and heritage. Nor has it succumbed to a secularization or dumbing down of its spiritual underpinnings in achieving its status as a highly regarded institution of higher education. Baylor is unique in this accomplishment and-this should be celebrated.
Turner: Baylor’s greatest positive is that it is an unapologetic Christian university, making us a unique university of higher education.
What do you bring to the table that will make you a strong contributor to the BOR?
Mines: I represent the eyes and ears of average alumni. Every day I hear the voices of alumni who question their loyalty, while others “bleed green and gold.” All perspectives should have a voice. To me unity doesn’t have to come with uniformity and much of what I do professionally is finding pathways and connections that need to happen for real change to occur. I also bring the experiences learned from a career in marketing where understanding the market, branding, social media, and authentic and transparent communication are expected and practiced.
Mitchell: Having served on more than 30 boards of directors (public, private and philanthropic), I understand how a board should function. I can be an immediate contributor when the university faces a growth opportunity, a crisis situation or serving in committee roles such as audit, finance and executive recruitment. I am a clear communicator and I am never afraid to tackle the tough issues.
Turner: My business experience, which included the founding of one of the top beverage companies in the U.S. and my leadership in developing one of the top bottled water brands in the country, coupled with my teaching background, as well as my experience as Chairman of the Board of Trustees at Dallas Baptist University prepared me to be an effective member of Baylor Board of Regents.
What have you done to support the university since you graduated?
Mines: I serve as permanent class President for the class of 1990 and stay engaged through the Presidential Summits that occur each year. Our family contributes when possible to the School of Arts and Sciences and to Student Foundation.
Mitchell: I support Hankamer School of Business through financial donations. My company also actively recruits on campus and we are always looking for sharp Baylor graduates to join our team. I am scheduled to speak at the business school this spring and next fall as well. I’m also proud to support our student athletes through membership in the Baylor Bear Foundation.
Turner: Years ago our family became supportive of the school in many ways. Through our financial support we contributed to the Turner Riverfront Complex in athletics, which encompasses men’s and women’s basketball, women’s softball, men’s baseball, tennis, and soccer. We are Founding Members of McLane Stadium and have endowed scholarships in sports and academics. We were a contributor to the Paul F. Foster Business School through the Jim and Julie Turner Mezzanine. To instill “sisterhood” among Baylor coeds we contributed to the Stacy Riddle Panhellenic Building where you will find Turner Terrace. I am serving my first year on the Board of Regents in support of our university. (Jim served 9 years on the BOR and was Chairman.) It is easy to see how dedicated we are to serving Baylor. To what extent should the Alumni-Elected Regents update alumni on the important issues being discussed by the regents?
Mines: Alumni deserve to be informed about our university. Baylor is not and should not be defined nor constrained by a select few. We understand that some topics are confidential and subject to legal constraints. However, alumni deserve to hear more, see more and ask more of those who make major decisions for Baylor.
Mitchell: That’s a good question. I believe transparency is very powerful. Obviously the Alumni-Elected Regents must live within the confines of any confidential situations that the board may address. Beyond that, I think the Alumni-Elected Regents should provide updates to the alumni as appropriate and in whatever form or venue reaches the most alumni. My goal is to use every tool available to ensure that alumni feel well informed and in touch with every decision the Board of Regents makes.
Turner: The Alumni-Elected Regents should share as much information as possible as long as it doesn’t violate the confidentiality rules of Baylor Board of Regents.
How would you go about obtaining input from alumni on important issues that might be discussed by the regents?
Mines: We live in a digital world. It is time for Baylor and the BOR to build stronger ties with all alumni – not just those in Texas – through frequent communication, communities, polls, questionnaires and surveys. All people matter. All voices matter. If someone takes the time to respond, it means they care, even if [we don’t all agree]. My desire is [not] to be reluctant to view situations with honesty and openness.
Mitchell: Don’t laugh, but as I wrap up my second term as the PTA President of my kid’s public elementary school, I realize one of the best things I did was host office hours at the school every Monday morning. Parents could ask questions of our executive council and get answers immediately and that goes a long way toward gaining trust and also helps hold us accountable to what we’ve committed to do. Similarly, access to the regents is clearly an important issue for Baylor alumni. Whether it is live chat sessions, taking suggestions and giving feedback through email or town hall meetings around homecoming or other events, I believe the Board of Regents should be interactive with the alumni and that there needs to be a two-way flow of communication.
Turner: I feel strongly that the entire Baylor family deserves to be heard and represented on Baylor issues. Through personal interaction and openness, I encourage input so that I can effectively represent Baylor University constituents.
What does Baylor mean to you?
Mines: Much of Baylor means family to me, literally and figuratively. It is a place where every day there are amazing students and faculty who are doing great things. It is a network of alumni who want to care and need more reasons to connect to their alma mater. It is a university that can lead by example if it chooses to be honest, intellectually strong, transparent and loving towards all of God’s world, no exceptions.
Mitchell: Baylor is proof in our time that an organization can live up to its Christian foundation and still reach world class standards within the context of its mission of higher education. Baylor was a trajectory changer in my life and I want to ensure that every Baylor student has the same opportunities I did. Baylor is also family. My older brother is a proud Baylor graduate and was incredibly instrumental in me choosing Baylor. Many of my closest friends today are the result of friendships that were forged during school and have only grown over time. Baylor is a huge part of my life – it was instrumental in making me who I am today and continues to influence me every day.
Turner: Baylor will always remain special to me because of my successful student experience, the special faculty and student relationships I developed and what Baylor University has meant to our family. I believe in the mission of Baylor University and believe that all leaders of Baylor must be an unapologetic Christian Leader.
