Birch, Goble Join Westmont Trustees

Dr. Edward Birch, who retired as executive vice president of Westmont in 2001, and Roy Goble of Pleasanton have joined the college’s board of trustees.

“I know the rest of the trustees join me in heartily welcoming Edward Birch and Roy Goble to the board,” Chairman David Eaton said. “We are delighted to have two people with such outstanding backgrounds willing to share their time, expertise and experiences with us.”

Birch joined Westmont in 1994 after serving more than 17 years as a vice chancellor at UCSB. At Westmont, he strengthened the college’s advancement and external relations programs and re-invigorated the Westmont Foundation board of directors.

A native of New York, Birch received his Ph.D. from Michigan State University and came to Santa Barbara in 1976 from Ohio Wesleyan University where he served as vice president and associate professor. He and his wife, Sue, have two children and three grandchildren.

Birch has served on numerous boards of national educational associations as well as many community organizations, including the United Way of Santa Barbara County, the Cancer Center of Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara Chamber of Commerce, Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital and Santa Barbara Bank and Trust.

Goble joins the board as the representative of the Westmont Parents Council. He and his wife, D’Aun, own Goble Properties, which invests in retail shopping centers, office buildings and owns a hotel in Maui. They founded the Christian Environmental Association, now Target Earth International, 17 years ago and have been deeply involved with that organization.

Both alumni, the Gobles are co-chairs of the Parents Council this year. Their daughter, Rachel, will be a junior in September, majoring in business.

The Westmont board of trustees sets the college’s annual budget and oversees the operations of the college. President Stan D. Gaede reports to the board, which meets four times a year.

For more information, contact Chris Call, vice president for administration, at (805) 565-6023 or ccall@westmont.edu.