President's Cabinet

Jim Krall

Senior Vice President for University Advancement

After serving as vice president for University Advancement for more than 22 years, Dr. Jim Krall was promoted to senior vice president for University Advancement. In this capacity, he spearheads fundraising efforts and alumni and parent relations.
 
Dr. Krall's journey in university advancement began in 1996 when he joined JBU as director of planned giving. He holds a doctorate in leadership studies in education with a higher education concentration from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, a Master of Arts in counseling from Ball State University, and a bachelor's degree in psychology from Taylor University.
 
Before his tenure in university advancement, Dr. Krall dedicated nine years to student development, including serving as dean of students at King College. His diverse career also spans human resources, sales, and business management roles.
 
An active member of the Siloam Springs community, Dr. Krall attends Siloam Springs Bible Church fand served as an elder. He has served on the board of New Life Ranch since 2001. His commitment to community service is further exemplified by his previous role on the Siloam Springs Hospital Foundation Board and his current membership and former chairmanship of the XNA Airport Board.
 
Dr. Krall and his wife, Pam, are proud parents of three married children and have five grandchildren. His personal and professional life is marked by a deep commitment to leadership, community service, and the advancement of educational excellence.

Ryan Ladner

Vice President for Enrollment Management

Dr. Ryan Ladner joined JBU in 2015 as a professor of business and has served as chair of the undergraduate and graduate business programs and dean of the Soderquist College of Business (SCOB) before taking on the role of vice president for enrollment management in June 2023.

Before coming to JBU, Ladner was an assistant professor of marketing at Palm Beach Atlantic University.

In April 2022, Ladner was appointed as a special advisor to Kim Hadley, chief operating officer, to direct the enrollment team and strategies for the graduate and online undergraduate programs during personnel transitions. Both programs saw impressive new student enrollment growth under Ladner's leadership. He also served as an assistant professor, director of online operations and director of enrollment at Bryan College.

Ryan obtained his Doctor of Business Administration from George Fox University, where he wrote his dissertation on “The lived experience of college choice.” He also has a Master of Arts in Theological Studies from Liberty University, an MBA from Mississippi College and a bachelor’s degree from The University of Southern Mississippi. 

He enjoys working out, golf, playing sports and competing in intramurals. He is married and has two children – one boy and one girl. 

Robert Norwood

Vice President for Academic Affairs

Dr. Robert Norwood has served at JBU since 1998, first as a faculty member and then in the Office of Academic Affairs since 2009, first as the dean of undergraduate studies and then as associate vice president for academic administration. He was appointed vice president for academic affairs in June 2023.

Rob is JBU’s primary contact with the institutional accreditor, the Higher Learning Commission and has served on many HLC peer review teams.

Dr. Norwood graduated from Stanford University with a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering. He then continued at Stanford and earned a master’s and Ph.D. in electrical engineering, with a minor in computer science.

He and his wife Sherri have eight children, five of whom have attended JBU so far.

Anne Tohme

Vice President for Student Development

Anne M. Tohme began her role as Vice President for Student Development at John Brown University in July 2024. Tohme provides leadership for JBU’s residence life program, student counseling center, health services, career development, the Office of Christian Formation, student activities, and campus safety. 

Tohme earned a Master of Divinity with a concentration in Educational Ministries from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in 2007. She also holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, with a management concentration and a family studies minor, from John Brown University.

Before returning to JBU, Tohme served four years as the vice president for student life at Warner University in Lake Wales, Florida, where she oversaw a wide range of student services and athletics. She played a key role in modernizing policies and enhancing student engagement. Before her time at Warner, Tohme spent 17 years at Trinity International University in Deerfield, Illinois, where she held various roles, including director of student care and engagement, director of residence life, and adjunct professor in the Christian Ministries department. 

Anne and her husband Kelvin have two children, Landon and Lauryn, and a miniature goldendoodle named Daisy.  

Julie Gumm

Chief Marketing & Communications Officer

As chief marketing and communications officer, Mrs. Gumm oversees the University Marketing & Communications and University Events teams. Together, they are responsible for JBU's overall marketing strategy, internal and external communications and university events.

A 1995 journalism graduate of John Brown University, Julie has spent her career working in corporate, public higher education, church and international NGO roles before joining JBU in 2013. Initially, Julie served part-time with admissions in Phoenix, Arizona, before joining the UMC staff full-time in 2014 and moving her family to Siloam Springs. She also teaches public relations classes in the undergraduate program. 

Julie earned a Master of Science in Design Thinking & Innovation from JBU in 2020 and is an IBM-Certified Design Thinking Co-Creator. Since 2020, she has served on the  CCCU Public Relations & Strategic Communications Commission.

Julie is an active member of Community Christian Fellowship, serving in the children’s ministry and as part of the women's ministry board. Julie and her husband Mark (also a JBU alumni) have four adult children - Luke, Noah, Beza and Natalie - and a Goldendoodle named Buddy. Julie is the author of an award-winning book on adoption and has been featured on the Dave Ramsey Show.

Keith Jagger

Keith is responsible for providing leadership for the ongoing spiritual growth of the university community, specifically through the supervision of the chapel program, pastoral ministry to students and staff, and leading the Office of Christian Formation in the execution of broader campus programming. He has a doctorate in early Christianity from St. Andrews in Scotland, a master's in New Testament from Asbury Theological Seminary and a bachelor's in religion, classics and music from Augustana College. Before coming to JBU, Keith served as lead pastor and teaching pastor of Grassroots Church in Thunder Bay, Ontario.

Ted Song

Chief Intercultural Engagement Officer, Chief Innovation Officer

Dr. Ted Song has been serving as Chief Intercultural Engagement Officer in the President’s Cabinet since 2021. He joined JBU in 2012 as a professor of electrical engineering and has served as Coordinator of Diversity, Chair of the Faculty Affairs Committee, Director of Innovation, and Chair of the Engineering, Computer Science, and Cybersecurity Departments. In addition to his Chief Intercultural Engagement Officer role, he started serving as Chief Innovation Officer in 2023.

Ted grew up both in the U.S. and Korea and is a CQ® (Cultural Intelligence) certified facilitator. He was an ROTC cadet during his undergraduate studies and served as an Air Defense Artillery Officer in the Republic of Korea Army. He received his Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in electrical and computer engineering from the University of Texas at Austin, his Master of Divinity (M.Div.) from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, and his law degree (M.S.L.) from Samford University, with a concentration on higher education law and compliance.

Outside JBU, Ted serves as a Peer Reviewer for the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) and Chair of the Council for Christian Colleges & Universities (CCCU) Diversity & Inclusion Commission. In addition, he serves on the Boards of Water for Good and Western Benton County Partnership. As a passionate teacher and leader in Christian higher education, he is a proud recipient of the 2012 Texas Exes Teaching Award, the 2018 JBU Faculty Excellence Award, and the 2022 Leading with Excellence Award from Black Action Collective. In 2023, Ted was selected as an inaugural CCCU Presidential Fellow.

Ted and his wife, Michelle, live in Siloam Springs, Arkansas, and have three daughters. They are members at Siloam Springs Bible Church (an Evangelical Free Church), where Ted leads the College Ministry and serves as an elder.