Westmont Magazine Westmont Parents Join the Board of Trustees

Two new trustees, Mitch Vance and Richard Danson, both have children attending Westmont

Two new members have joined the Westmont Board of Trustees, which oversees the operations of the college: Mitch Vance, a founding partner of a private equity investment firm, and Dr. Richard Danson, a physician specializing in internal medicine.

Vance, who graduated from the University of Oregon, first visited Westmont with his wife, Leslie Eaton Vance ’83, and was impressed by the faculty, staff and students he met. “There is something special about Westmont students,” he says. “They leave Westmont purposeful about their lives. The college has a transformational impact on them.” The Vance’s daughter, Claire ’16, attends Westmont.

Danson, who earned his bachelor’s and medical degrees from UC Irvine, says his daughter, Lauren ’13, visited two dozen colleges before choosing Westmont. “She considered Ivy League and big, Midwest schools; however, the Christian focus, great academics and the availability of resources made Westmont a perfect fit,” he says. His son, Austin ’15, applied only to Westmont.

Danson and his wife, Randi, co-chair the Westmont Parents Council. “I want to serve the Lord and be a resource to the school in any way I can,” Richard says. “I hope to share knowledge about medicine, running a business, ministry, evangelism and being a parent.”

Vance says he hopes to contribute positively to the board at this interesting juncture of history for higher education. “The trustee board will certainly face the opportunity and threat posed by online learning and the affordability challenge of attending a residential liberal arts college like Westmont,” he says.