Briar Cliff University Elects New Board Leadership

March 18, 2022

Briar Cliff University’s Board of Trustees announces the appointment of Mark Ward as the new Chair of the Board of Trustees.

Mark Ward (’02) was elected as the Chair of the Board of Trustees in October 2021. A graduate of Briar Cliff, Ward received his Bachelor of Science degree in Health and Physical Education and a Master of Art in Teaching from Hastings College. He has served on the Briar Cliff University Board of Trustees since 2020 in addition to serving on the University’s Academic Affairs/Student Development/Enrollment, Finance, University Relations, Governance, and Executive Committees. In 2012, Ward became the CEO and co-owner of Ward Electric. Ward has served on the School Advisory Council for St. John’s the Baptist Catholic School, is a member of the Local Union III, and a member of the Western States Line Contractors Negotiating Committee. Ward and his wife, Meg (’01 Biology and Human Resources), and their three children are members of St. John’s the Baptist Catholic Church.

Alongside Ward, Nick Roth will continue as Vice Chair of Briar Cliff’s Board of Trustees. Roth has served on Briar Cliff’s Board of Trustees since 2016, and as Vice Chair since 2020. He has served on the University’s Academic Affairs/Student Development/Enrollment and Governance Committees. Roth is President of Empirical Innovations Inc. and Empirical Technology Inc., formerly BPI Technology Inc. Roth and his wife, Socorra, and their three children are members of Sacred Heart Catholic Church. He received his Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Colorado.

Briar Cliff University extends gratitude to Steve Freeman (’69), former Board of Trustees Chair, who served the university for the past 12 years, including serving as the first layperson chair since 2017. His dedication, passion, service, and generosity to Briar Cliff has inspired growth and strengthened the mission of the university.