MOUNT OLIVE – The University of Mount Olive has appointed two new Board of Trustees: J. Matthew Rast and Dusk Stroud to each serve six-year terms.
J. Matt Rast of Pikeville, NC, graduated from East Carolina University, where he obtained a BS in Construction Management with a minor in general business. He and his wife, Trudi, have two children, Maci, 11, and Kase, 9.
Rast has worked in the construction field for over 20 years. He is the Owner/Vice President of his company, Eastern Building Solutions, LLC. With a long history of leadership roles, Rast has a record of coordination and cooperation, making him a valuable addition to the Board of Trustees.
Aside from his professional history, Rast is an active member of Pleasant Grove Original Free Will Baptist Church, serving on the Trustee Board. He actively coaches football, basketball, and baseball for the Princeton Little Tar Heel League Youth Sports Organization, where his children play sports. Rast is an Eagle Scout from Troop 5 in Pikeville, NC, and was President of the East Carolina Construction Association at East Carolina University.
Dusk O. Stroud of Kinston, NC, is a graduate of East Carolina University, the University of Mount Olive, and Lenoir Community College, where he obtained his Ed.D and BS, MBA, and AA, respectively. He and his wife, Katie, have one child, Garner, who is three months old.
Stroud has held positions at Lenoir Community College, ranging from Adjunct Instructor to Director of Admissions, and Enrollment Management. He has a long history of leadership success in the area of education including workforce development, recruiting, and implementing changes in learning management system software. He has over 30 professional affiliations, and has served on multiple boards and committees throughout his professional career.
Aside from his professional history, Stroud is an active member of Stoney Creek Church. He also serves on the Mock Interview Panel for the Annual Miss Neuse Scholarship Pageant, the Interview Committee for Junior Leadership Lenoir, the Lenoir County Public Schools Business Advisory Committee, and the Lenoir County Crime Stoppers Board.
“The University of Mount Olive Board of Trustees is delighted to add these talented and well respected business leaders to our Board,” said University of Mount Olive President Dr. H. Edward Croom. “Their individual and collective knowledge, insight, and connections will surely help to elevate and advance the mission of our institution.”
The University of Mount Olive Board of Trustees is the University’s governing body and has been a pivotal aspect of the growth and development of the University since its founding. The Board comprises 30 trustees, all of whom have demonstrated expertise in numerous vocations. These include education, theology, agriculture, human resources, finance, accounting, medicine, and law. This unique conglomeration of individuals brings an invaluable perspective to the institution’s governance and is instrumental in its progress. The University of Mount Olive is a private institution rooted in the liberal arts tradition with defining Christian values. The University is sponsored by the Convention of Original Free Will Baptists. For more information, visit www.umo.edu.
