Board of Governors Members

James Cherry, Ph.D.
Title	Chair, Board of Governors
Dr. James M. Cherry ’96 received his doctorate in Biology with a concentration in Biomedical Science from The Catholic University of America in 2008 and his Master of Science in Biotechnology from The Johns Hopkins University in 2000. In his dissertation research, Dr. Cherry studied molecular changes in ovarian tumor progression, and identified several biomarkers that proved to be useful in early diagnosis of this disease that often eludes detection until it has reached a very advanced stage. He joined QIAGEN Inc. in 2008 as a research fellow in their Gene Expression Laboratory, where he studied the role of miRNAs in various disease states and identified novel miRNA targets in phosphodiesters in cancer stem cells. Following his fellowship, he was promoted to a research scientist in QIAGEN’s research and development laboratory, where he proceeded to work on QIAGEN’s SYBR-Green chemistry platform, miScript, for miRNA detection, low and high-throughput miRNA molecular profiling platform. In addition, he developed the automated applications for Q-PCR gene expression miRNA/mRNA molecular profiling kit and marketed it to the biomedical research community. This new product generated $5.8M net sales in year one for QIAGEN Inc. in 2010. He was then recruited back to the NIH/NCI in 2010 to become a Scientific Program Director/Assistant Project Officer of the Advanced Technology Program (ATP), and the Contracting Officer’s Representative, COR III, for the Operational Technical Support Contract for the National Cancer Institute’s (NCI) Division of Intramural Research. The ATP/CRTP is currently a $17M program that provides state-of-the-art technologies to the NCI’s principal investigators, postdoctoral and clinical fellows at NIH/NCI and other federally funded research institutes. In 2011, Dr. Cherry co-developed a $4M technology development arm for the ATP/CRTP. This program was established to promote a collaborative environment with the NCI intramural community to develop innovative technologies in all areas of biomedical research including genomics, proteomics, imaging (subcellular, cellular, and whole animal), nanotechnology, genetically engineered animals, veterinary histology/pathology and bioinformatics. In 2013, his responsibilities pivoted from the ATP/CRTP to the Laboratory of Animal Science Program (LASP). During his government oversight of the LASP, he has successfully implemented the NCI’s Gnotobiotic operations, Genomic Modification Core and the HIV reservoir laboratory and continued the development of the LASP technology development effort. In 2019, Dr. Cherry took on a leadership role and collaboratively worked with NIH senior leadership to launch SeroNet and the Clinical Translational Serology Task Force at the Federally Funded Research and Development Center, FFRDC, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. There they advanced the understanding of all aspects of the immune response to SARS-CoV-2 and increased national capacity for serological testing in collaboration with the FDA, NIH-Clinical Center, BARDA, and CDC. In 2021 Dr. Cherry served as the co-principal investigator for the HHS’s American Rescue Plan Act to support two separate initiatives, 1) COVID-19 vaccine booster trail for immunocompromised patient and 2) the establishment of a trans-governmental collaborative network to address critical gaps in serology development, validation, and standardization through the implementation of high-quality testing assays for public health response to SARS-CoV-2 infections. Both proposals were accepted and ~$90M dollars was awarded to establish these efforts through the FFRDC that can meet the needs of public health. Dr. Cherry also served as the scientific advisor for all high school, undergraduate, graduate and capstone students at the NCI at Frederick campus/FFRDC. In 2021, Dr. Cherry was selected to be chief of NIAID’s Research Technologies Branch. There he established an interdisciplinary resource that provided investigators access to leading-edge technologies and specialized expertise that are fully integrated to study complex biological questions. The first initiative launched in year one was the Integrated Data Sciences Section, IDSS. This section focuses on providing scientific consultation, training on computational and data scientific support up through manuscript preparation. In 2022, Dr. Cherry was named chief for the Center for Human Immunology, Autoimmunity and Inflammation, where he worked in full collaboration with the newly established scientific advisory board to increase the visibility and approve 16 projects during FY’22 and 22 projects in FY’23. During FY’23, Dr. Cherry was able to launch the Metabolomics/Lipodomics Discovery Center in Rocky Mountain Laboratories under the RTB. In less than a year, the laboratory completed 40-plus projects for intramural investigators, with 30-plus in the queue for consultation. Dr. Cherry has been appointed to several scientific advisory boards representing NIAID for various universities in the state of Maryland and West Virginia, and currently serves on the Shepherd University Board of Governors as its Chair. Dr. Cherry is an associate professor at Hood College and an adjunct professor at Mount St. Mary’s University, where he teaches Biomedical Ethics, Introduction to Cancer Biology, Cell Biology, Protein Biochemistry and Advanced Technologies Genomics and Proteomics applications.

James Cherry, Ph.D.

Title

Chair, Board of Governors

Dr. James M. Cherry ’96 received his doctorate in Biology with a concentration in Biomedical Science from The Catholic University of America in 2008 and his Master of Science in Biotechnology from The Johns Hopkins University in 2000. In his dissertation research, Dr. Cherry studied molecular changes in ovarian tumor progression, and identified several biomarkers that proved to be useful in early diagnosis of this disease that often eludes detection until it has reached a very advanced stage.

He joined QIAGEN Inc. in 2008 as a research fellow in their Gene Expression Laboratory, where he studied the role of miRNAs in various disease states and identified novel miRNA targets in phosphodiesters in cancer stem cells. Following his fellowship, he was promoted to a research scientist in QIAGEN’s research and development laboratory, where he proceeded to work on QIAGEN’s SYBR-Green chemistry platform, miScript, for miRNA detection, low and high-throughput miRNA molecular profiling platform. In addition, he developed the automated applications for Q-PCR gene expression miRNA/mRNA molecular profiling kit and marketed it to the biomedical research community. This new product generated $5.8M net sales in year one for QIAGEN Inc. in 2010.

He was then recruited back to the NIH/NCI in 2010 to become a Scientific Program Director/Assistant Project Officer of the Advanced Technology Program (ATP), and the Contracting Officer’s Representative, COR III, for the Operational Technical Support Contract for the National Cancer Institute’s (NCI) Division of Intramural Research. The ATP/CRTP is currently a $17M program that provides state-of-the-art technologies to the NCI’s principal investigators, postdoctoral and clinical fellows at NIH/NCI and other federally funded research institutes. In 2011, Dr. Cherry co-developed a $4M technology development arm for the ATP/CRTP. This program was established to promote a collaborative environment with the NCI intramural community to develop innovative technologies in all areas of biomedical research including genomics, proteomics, imaging (subcellular, cellular, and whole animal), nanotechnology, genetically engineered animals, veterinary histology/pathology and bioinformatics. In 2013, his responsibilities pivoted from the ATP/CRTP to the Laboratory of Animal Science Program (LASP). During his government oversight of the LASP, he has successfully implemented the NCI’s Gnotobiotic operations, Genomic Modification Core and the HIV reservoir laboratory and continued the development of the LASP technology development effort.

In 2019, Dr. Cherry took on a leadership role and collaboratively worked with NIH senior leadership to launch SeroNet and the Clinical Translational Serology Task Force at the Federally Funded Research and Development Center, FFRDC, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. There they advanced the understanding of all aspects of the immune response to SARS-CoV-2 and increased national capacity for serological testing in collaboration with the FDA, NIH-Clinical Center, BARDA, and CDC.

In 2021 Dr. Cherry served as the co-principal investigator for the HHS’s American Rescue Plan Act to support two separate initiatives, 1) COVID-19 vaccine booster trail for immunocompromised patient and 2) the establishment of a trans-governmental collaborative network to address critical gaps in serology development, validation, and standardization through the implementation of high-quality testing assays for public health response to SARS-CoV-2 infections. Both proposals were accepted and ~$90M dollars was awarded to establish these efforts through the FFRDC that can meet the needs of public health. Dr. Cherry also served as the scientific advisor for all high school, undergraduate, graduate and capstone students at the NCI at Frederick campus/FFRDC. In 2021, Dr. Cherry was selected to be chief of NIAID’s Research Technologies Branch. There he established an interdisciplinary resource that provided investigators access to leading-edge technologies and specialized expertise that are fully integrated to study complex biological questions. The first initiative launched in year one was the Integrated Data Sciences Section, IDSS. This section focuses on providing scientific consultation, training on computational and data scientific support up through manuscript preparation.

In 2022, Dr. Cherry was named chief for the Center for Human Immunology, Autoimmunity and Inflammation, where he worked in full collaboration with the newly established scientific advisory board to increase the visibility and approve 16 projects during FY’22 and 22 projects in FY’23. During FY’23, Dr. Cherry was able to launch the Metabolomics/Lipodomics Discovery Center in Rocky Mountain Laboratories under the RTB. In less than a year, the laboratory completed 40-plus projects for intramural investigators, with 30-plus in the queue for consultation.

Dr. Cherry has been appointed to several scientific advisory boards representing NIAID for various universities in the state of Maryland and West Virginia, and currently serves on the Shepherd University Board of Governors as its Chair. Dr. Cherry is an associate professor at Hood College and an adjunct professor at Mount St. Mary’s University, where he teaches Biomedical Ethics, Introduction to Cancer Biology, Cell Biology, Protein Biochemistry and Advanced Technologies Genomics and Proteomics applications.

Austin J. Slater, Jr.
Title	Vice-Chair, Board of Governors
Austin J. Slater, Jr. ’76 has over 40 years of experience as an executive in the energy industry, retiring in March 2020 following 18 years as President and CEO of the Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative. He formerly served as VP for Education and Training at National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) in Arlington, Virginia, and as General Manager of Tideland EMC in eastern North Carolina. Slater has served as a Board Member and Chairman of the Board of ACES Power Marketing and was a founding Member and Secretary of the National Renewables Cooperative Organization. Slater is presently Board Vice Chairman and Lead Independent Director of a publicly traded $6-billion community bank that operates in Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia; Board Member and President for the Shepherd University Foundation; an instructor in NRECA’s Director Education curriculum; and an active member of the Shepherdstown Rotary Club. Slater has served as both Director and Chairman of the Maryland Chamber of Commerce, the Southern Maryland Workforce Investment Board, and the College of Southern Maryland Boards. He also served on the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond Board (Baltimore Branch) and as director and Vice Chairman on the University of Maryland Charles Regional Medical Center board. Slater was recognized by the Maryland Chamber of Commerce as a ‘Business Hall of Fame’ recipient in 2013, and as the 2014 ‘CEO of the Year’ by the College of Southern Maryland Leading Edge Awards. Slater graduated from Shepherd College in 1976, earning a BS in business and economics. He graduated from George Washington University in 1994 with an MBA in finance. He and his wife Carmen reside in Shepherdstown, West Virginia.

Austin J. Slater, Jr.

Title

Vice-Chair, Board of Governors

Austin J. Slater, Jr. ’76 has over 40 years of experience as an executive in the energy industry, retiring in March 2020 following 18 years as President and CEO of the Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative. He formerly served as VP for Education and Training at National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) in Arlington, Virginia, and as General Manager of Tideland EMC in eastern North Carolina. Slater has served as a Board Member and Chairman of the Board of ACES Power Marketing and was a founding Member and Secretary of the National Renewables Cooperative Organization.

Slater is presently Board Vice Chairman and Lead Independent Director of a publicly traded $6-billion community bank that operates in Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia; Board Member and President for the Shepherd University Foundation; an instructor in NRECA’s Director Education curriculum; and an active member of the Shepherdstown Rotary Club.

Slater has served as both Director and Chairman of the Maryland Chamber of Commerce, the Southern Maryland Workforce Investment Board, and the College of Southern Maryland Boards. He also served on the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond Board (Baltimore Branch) and as director and Vice Chairman on the University of Maryland Charles Regional Medical Center board. Slater was recognized by the Maryland Chamber of Commerce as a ‘Business Hall of Fame’ recipient in 2013, and as the 2014 ‘CEO of the Year’ by the College of Southern Maryland Leading Edge Awards.

Slater graduated from Shepherd College in 1976, earning a BS in business and economics. He graduated from George Washington University in 1994 with an MBA in finance. He and his wife Carmen reside in Shepherdstown, West Virginia.

Gat Caperton
Title	Member, Board of Governors
Gat Caperton is the founder and CEO of Gat Creek, a domestic manufacturer of solid-wood furniture that employees over 160 artisans in Berkeley Springs, West Virginia. He holds a master’s degree from the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business and a Bachelors of Arts in Economics from Davidson College. Caperton was a member of Shepherd’s Board of Governors from 2006 to 2014 and served as board chair from 2011 to 2014. He also served as a member of the 2015 Presidential Search Committee.

Gat Caperton

Title

Member, Board of Governors

Gat Caperton is the founder and CEO of Gat Creek, a domestic manufacturer of solid-wood furniture that employees over 160 artisans in Berkeley Springs, West Virginia. He holds a master’s degree from the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business and a Bachelors of Arts in Economics from Davidson College.

Caperton was a member of Shepherd’s Board of Governors from 2006 to 2014 and served as board chair from 2011 to 2014. He also served as a member of the 2015 Presidential Search Committee.

Henry Kayes, Jr.
Title	Member, Board of Governors
Henry Kayes is currently chief operating officer and regional president for United Bank Incorporated and is responsible for the bank’s entire West Virginia market. United is West Virginia’s largest publicly traded company and trades as [Nasdaq: UBSI]. Kayes joined United in 2012 at the time of the Centra Bank/United Bank merger. He was a founder of Centra Bank Berkeley County in 2001 and served as its president from 2001-2012. Prior to that he served as senior vice president and market president of BB&T Bank for the Eastern Panhandle region of West Virginia. Kayes is a lifelong career banker, starting in the training program of First Union National Bank of North Carolina in 1986. He is a graduate of Elon University (1990). Kayes is a native of Huntington, West Virginia. He and his wife Amy have two daughters, Meredith and Caroline. His wife and both daughters are graduates of Shepherd University. His community leadership activities include: current board member for WVU Medicine-University Healthcare and Farmer and Mechanics Insurance Companies; past chairman and board member, Martinsburg-Berkeley County Chamber of Commerce; former board member, Eastern Panhandle United Way and the Eastern West Virginia Community Foundation.

Henry Kayes, Jr.

Title

Member, Board of Governors

Henry Kayes is currently chief operating officer and regional president for United Bank Incorporated and is responsible for the bank’s entire West Virginia market. United is West Virginia’s largest publicly traded company and trades as [Nasdaq: UBSI]. Kayes joined United in 2012 at the time of the Centra Bank/United Bank merger. He was a founder of Centra Bank Berkeley County in 2001 and served as its president from 2001-2012.

Prior to that he served as senior vice president and market president of BB&T Bank for the Eastern Panhandle region of West Virginia.

Kayes is a lifelong career banker, starting in the training program of First Union National Bank of North Carolina in 1986. He is a graduate of Elon University (1990).

Kayes is a native of Huntington, West Virginia. He and his wife Amy have two daughters, Meredith and Caroline. His wife and both daughters are graduates of Shepherd University.

His community leadership activities include: current board member for WVU Medicine-University Healthcare and Farmer and Mechanics Insurance Companies; past chairman and board member, Martinsburg-Berkeley County Chamber of Commerce; former board member, Eastern Panhandle United Way and the Eastern West Virginia Community Foundation.

Jonathan (Jay) Mason
Title	Member, Board of Governors
Jay Mason ’08 is employed with Montgomery County Public Schools as a 5th-grade teacher. Mr. Mason graduated from Governor Thomas Johnson High School in 1991 and completed his undergraduate studies at Shepherd University in 2008, where he was also a 3-year starter as a quarterback and captain of the football team from 1992-1994. In 2011, he completed his graduate work at Frostburg University with an M.A.T. in Elementary Education. Jay is a 3rd-year doctoral student at Hood College working on a Doctorate of Organizational Leadership. Jay was elected to the Frederick County Board of Education in November 2018 for a four-year term: December 2018-2022. The Board elected Mr. Mason as its President for the 2020-2021 term, and he previously served as the Board Vice President for the 2019-2020 term. He served two terms as the President of the Board for Habitat for Humanity in the fiscal years of July 2019 – June 2020 and July 2020 – June 2021. Currently, he is an associate broker at Frederick Land & Home and has been a licensed Realtor since 2004. He graduated from the Maryland Association of Realtors Leadership Academy in the spring of 2016. Mr. Mason spent numerous years coaching football at Frederick and Montgomery County high schools and Frederick youth organizations. He has assisted Heartly House in their fundraising efforts for several years in the annual Walk a Mile in Their Shoes and Affair of the Heart events. His wife, Beth, a longtime Frederick resident, and he are the proud parents of three children, one a college graduate and two attending Frederick County schools.

Jonathan (Jay) Mason

Title

Member, Board of Governors

Jay Mason ’08 is employed with Montgomery County Public Schools as a 5th-grade teacher. Mr. Mason graduated from Governor Thomas Johnson High School in 1991 and completed his undergraduate studies at Shepherd University in 2008, where he was also a 3-year starter as a quarterback and captain of the football team from 1992-1994. In 2011, he completed his graduate work at Frostburg University with an M.A.T. in Elementary Education. Jay is a 3rd-year doctoral student at Hood College working on a Doctorate of Organizational Leadership.

Jay was elected to the Frederick County Board of Education in November 2018 for a four-year term: December 2018-2022. The Board elected Mr. Mason as its President for the 2020-2021 term, and he previously served as the Board Vice President for the 2019-2020 term. He served two terms as the President of the Board for Habitat for Humanity in the fiscal years of July 2019 – June 2020 and July 2020 – June 2021. Currently, he is an associate broker at Frederick Land & Home and has been a licensed Realtor since 2004. He graduated from the Maryland Association of Realtors Leadership Academy in the spring of 2016.

Mr. Mason spent numerous years coaching football at Frederick and Montgomery County high schools and Frederick youth organizations. He has assisted Heartly House in their fundraising efforts for several years in the annual Walk a Mile in Their Shoes and Affair of the Heart events.

His wife, Beth, a longtime Frederick resident, and he are the proud parents of three children, one a college graduate and two attending Frederick County schools.

Susan Mentzer-Blair
Title	Secretary, Board of Governors
Susan Mentzer-Blair ‘72 earned a teaching degree from Shepherd University and a school counseling degree from Marshall University. She taught in Kanawha County, West Virginia, and continued her career in education as a school counselor in Jefferson County. She completed her 42 years in education in Frederick County, Maryland, where she earned her National Board Certification and earned certification as a Licensed Public Counselor. She was honored by her colleagues as Maryland High School Counselor of the Year in 2000. Sue retired in 2014 and retains strong opinions on the college selection process. She now spends her time serving on the Development Committee of Frederick Health Hospital, as a committee member of the Brunswick Main Street and a volunteer with the Brunswick Heritage Museum. Mentzer-Blair is a member of the Board of the Shepherd University Foundation (emeritus), an active member of WISH (Women Investing in Shepherd) and both the Alumni and Gridiron Associations. She was honored to be named Shepherd University 2020 Alumna of the Year.

Susan Mentzer-Blair

Title

Secretary, Board of Governors

Susan Mentzer-Blair ‘72 earned a teaching degree from Shepherd University and a school counseling degree from Marshall University. She taught in Kanawha County, West Virginia, and continued her career in education as a school counselor in Jefferson County. She completed her 42 years in education in Frederick County, Maryland, where she earned her National Board Certification and earned certification as a Licensed Public Counselor. She was honored by her colleagues as Maryland High School Counselor of the Year in 2000.

Sue retired in 2014 and retains strong opinions on the college selection process. She now spends her time serving on the Development Committee of Frederick Health Hospital, as a committee member of the Brunswick Main Street and a volunteer with the Brunswick Heritage Museum.

Mentzer-Blair is a member of the Board of the Shepherd University Foundation (emeritus), an active member of WISH (Women Investing in Shepherd) and both the Alumni and Gridiron Associations. She was honored to be named Shepherd University 2020 Alumna of the Year.

Tyler Furbee
Title	Student Representative, Board of Governors
Tyler Furbee is a junior and serves as the president of the Student Government Association for the 2025-2026 Academic Year. He is pursuing a major in business administration with a concentration in management and a minor in recreation and sports studies. An Eagle Scout and native of Morgantown, WV, Tyler is excited to take on the role of being a member of the Board of Governors to make sure that the student voice is heard. Improving the lives and involvement of students is a top priority that he hopes to strengthen during his time as president. Tyler was previously the Vice President and Parliamentarian of the Student Government Association. He is a member of Delta Sigma Pi and the Order of Omega. He was a part of the 2024 August A-team and attended the LEADs Program in August 2023.

Tyler Furbee

Title

Student Representative, Board of Governors

Tyler Furbee is a junior and serves as the president of the Student Government Association for the 2025-2026 Academic Year. He is pursuing a major in business administration with a concentration in management and a minor in recreation and sports studies. An Eagle Scout and native of Morgantown, WV, Tyler is excited to take on the role of being a member of the Board of Governors to make sure that the student voice is heard. Improving the lives and involvement of students is a top priority that he hopes to strengthen during his time as president.

Tyler was previously the Vice President and Parliamentarian of the Student Government Association. He is a member of Delta Sigma Pi and the Order of Omega. He was a part of the 2024 August A-team and attended the LEADs Program in August 2023.

Danielle Stephenson
Title	Classified Staff Representative, Board of Governors
Danielle Stephenson is a native West Virginian and a first-generation college student. A two-time alumna of Shepherd University, Danielle earned her Bachelor of Science in Political Science in 2020 and her Master of Arts in College Student Development and Administration in 2022. Her experiences as a first-generation student inspired her passion for supporting students through leadership roles during her undergraduate years. Danielle currently serves as a Success Coach at Shepherd University, where she oversees the Shepherd Success Academy—an invitation-based cohort program for incoming students who need additional academic support. She also coordinates Shepherd’s Peer Success Leader program, a peer-mentoring initiative that guides students navigating the college experience. Danielle is currently pursuing her Doctorate of Education in Higher Education Leadership and Administration through Slippery Rock University. She hopes to work in higher education policy in West Virginia to advocate for underserved student populations.

Danielle Stephenson

Title

Classified Staff Representative, Board of Governors

Danielle Stephenson is a native West Virginian and a first-generation college student. A two-time alumna of Shepherd University, Danielle earned her Bachelor of Science in Political Science in 2020 and her Master of Arts in College Student Development and Administration in 2022. Her experiences as a first-generation student inspired her passion for supporting students through leadership roles during her undergraduate years. Danielle currently serves as a Success Coach at Shepherd University, where she oversees the Shepherd Success Academy—an invitation-based cohort program for incoming students who need additional academic support. She also coordinates Shepherd’s Peer Success Leader program, a peer-mentoring initiative that guides students navigating the college experience. Danielle is currently pursuing her Doctorate of Education in Higher Education Leadership and Administration through Slippery Rock University. She hopes to work in higher education policy in West Virginia to advocate for underserved student populations.

Future Students

Current Students

Alumni & Friends

Faculty & Staff

Visitors

Board of Governors Members

James Cherry, Ph.D.

Austin J. Slater, Jr.

Gat Caperton

Henry Kayes, Jr.

Jonathan (Jay) Mason

Susan Mentzer-Blair

Tyler Furbee

Danielle Stephenson