Emory University’s Board of Trustees has elected three new members: Crystal Edmonson, broadcast editor of the Atlanta Business Chronicle; Bishop Sue Haupert-Johnson, episcopal leader of the North Georgia Conference of The United Methodist Church; and Stuart A. Rose, executive chairman of the board, REX American Resources Corp. of Dayton, Ohio.
Edmonson serves as liaison to the Atlanta Business Chronicle’s radio and television partners in her capacity as broadcast editor. She contributes local, in-depth stories about business and the economy on National Public Radio affiliate WABE-FM and provides business reports throughout the day on WYAY-FM and WCNN-AM. She also is host of the weekly television program “Atlanta Business Chronicle’s BIZ,” aired by WXIA-TV.
Edmonson received a B.A. degree in international studies from Emory in 1995 and an M.S. degree in journalism from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism. She has received several journalism and community honors, including the National Association of Black Journalists Chuck Stone Salute to Excellence Award for investigative reporting.
She has been involved in mentoring college students and young professionals across the country, including providing regional leadership for the American City Business Journals’ (ACBJ) summer internship program, which has placed dozens of college students in newspaper internships.
In 2008, Edmonson served as president of Emory’s Alumni Board and helped launch the University’s successful $1.6 billion fundraising campaign.
Haupert-Johnson was elected bishop by the 2016 Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference of The United Methodist Church and consecrated in July 2016. Her first assignment as bishop is to the North Georgia Episcopal Area of the UMC, and she began service in North Georgia in September.
A Florida native, Haupert-Johnson holds a B.S. degree in business and a J.D. degree from the University of Florida. She received a M.Div. degree summa cum laude from Emory’s Candler School of Theology in 1995, and was ordained as a deacon in the Florida Annual Conference of the UMC in 1996 and an elder in 1998.
After serving pastoral appointments in Lakeland, Tampa, Cape Coral, and Ocala, Haupert-Johnson served as the North Central District Superintendent of the UMC’s Florida Annual Conference from 2013-2016, and was the Florida Conference’s clergy delegation leader for General Conference 2016. She is chair of Candler’s Alumni Board and on the Board of Trustees of Bethune-Cookman University.
Rose is a well-known leader in the Dayton business community. The former chief executive officer and founder of REX American Resources Corp., a Dayton-based alternative energy investment company, he currently serves as executive chairman of REX's Board of Directors. He also serves as vice chairman of the Oil Shale Exploration Company, a Utah shale oil production company owned by the country of Estonia.
A 1976 graduate of Emory with a bachelor’s degree in business administration, Rose began his career with Bain and Company in Boston, then joined Niederhoffer, Cross and Zeckhauser before founding what is now REX American Resources, one of the leading ethanol producers in the world.
Rose serves as chairman and president of the Stuart Rose Family Foundation, which emphasizes support for children’s programs, rare book libraries, education and cultural projects.
In 2015, Emory recognized Rose’s ongoing support and significant gifts to its Manuscript, Archives and Rare Book Library by naming it the Stuart A. Rose Manuscript, Archives and Rare Book Library.
Rose also is a member and head of the collection committee of the Folger Shakespeare Library's Board of Governors. Earlier this month, Emory was the site of an exhibition of the First Folio, the first collected edition of Shakespeare’s plays, published in 1623, and the only display of the literary treasure in Georgia. Emory’s exhibition also included the Second (1632), Third (1663) and Fourth (1685) folios, with the exhibition of the Second and Third folios made possible by a loan from Rose.
The 40-member Board of Trustees oversees the governance and long-range fiduciary health of the University. Term trustee nominees are selected by the board's Governance, Trusteeship and Nominations committee; alumni trustee nominations are recommended by the Emory Alumni Board. Both are submitted to the Board of Trustees for consideration and approval. Final approval rests with the Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference of The United Methodist Church.
Edmonson was appointed an alumni trustee, and Haupert-Johnson and Rose were appointed term trustees; all were elected to serve six-year terms.