Volunteer Leadership
- Ben F. Johnson, III ‘61, Chairman, Governing Board
- Simon Arpiarian '94, President, Alumni Association
- Suzy Ellis, Parent Community President
Academy President and Vice Presidents
F. Stuart Gulley, Ph.D., President
Frank Stuart Gulley, Ph.D., became the seventh president of Woodward Academy on July 1, 2009. President Gulley came to Woodward Academy from LaGrange College, where he served as president for 13 years. A native of Nashville, Tenn., President Gulley graduated from Vanderbilt University with the B.A. in Modern European History, cum laude, in 1983. Following his time at Vanderbilt, he attended Emory University's Candler Schoolof Theology, from which he earned the Master of Divinity degree, magna cum laude, in 1986. He completed his Doctor of Philosophy degree at Georgia State University in 1999, which he began while working full-time at Emory University. He is the author of a book, “The Academic President as Moral Leader: James T. Laney at Emory University, 1977-1993,” published by Mercer University Press in 2001.
David R. McCollum, Headmaster
Ron McCollum has been serving Woodward in various roles for more than 30 years. An ordained United Methodist Minister, Mr. McCollum came to Woodward Academy in 1979 as the Academy Chaplain. He taught religion and was a member of the Upper School Counseling Department until the fall of 1984, when he was appointed principal of the Upper School. Mr. McCollum remained in that position until 1999, when he was selected to succeed Don Woolf as Academy Headmaster. Mr. McCollum earned his undergraduate degree from Millsaps College in Jackson, Miss. He also holds the Master of Divinity degree from Emory University, and the Master of Education and Specialist in Education degrees from the University of Georgia.
Barbara Egan, Vice President of Finance and Administration
Barbara Egan has been a part of education for over thirty years. She started as a classroom teacher; expanded her skills as a program coordinator / executive director in youth serving agencies; and has subsequently served in senior leadership in independent schools for more than 25 years. In addition to working at Woodward Academy since 2000, she also been at The Bush School, Seattle, WA; The Webb Schools, Claremont CA; and Saint Paul Academy and Summit School, Saint Paul, MN.
Barbara has also served as a regional and national trainer and consultant in topics such as school management, strategic planning, human resource management, team-based management, accounting for independent schools, and leadership. She is a member of the Board of Trustees for NAIS and has served as an accreditation chair in both the Western Association of Schools and Colleges and the Southern Association of Independent Schools; and has served as a member of the Business Services Committee for NAIS. Regional participation and memberships over the years have included: MISBO; ISACS; MidWest Business Officers; Western Boarding School Business Officers; CAIS; SCISBO; PNAIS; and ABOIS. She is the 2007 recipient of the Will J. Hancock Award, from NBOA, that recognizes business officers who have made a profound difference in their schools.
Robert F. Hawks, Vice President for Advancement
Bob Hawks assumed the role of Vice President for Advancement at Woodward Academy in March 2003. He came to the Academy most recently from Providence Day School, Charlotte, NC after leading two successful campaigns. He also led campaign efforts at Darlington and Lovett. He received his BA from Berea College (1977) and his M.Ed. from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (1983). Bob has served on a number of boards to include the Berea College Alumni Executive Council (1977-79), Case III Board of Directors (1990-91) and Case III Conference Committee (1989-91). He is also a two-time CASE Circle of Excellence Award winner for Educational Fundraising (1995 and 1998). He and his wife, Kathy, reside in Peachtree City.
Russell L. Slider, Vice President for Admissions
Rusty Slider graduated from Woodward Academy in 1975. He has held a variety of roles in his thirty years employed at Woodward Academy, beginning in 1980. He served as Alumni Director and Parents Club Liaison, Admissions Director, Director of Development and Assistant to the President, Dean of Students and Director of Resident Life and began serving in his current role in May 1990. He received his BA in psychology from the University of Georgia, his M.Ed. and Education Specialist degrees from Georgia State University. He is currently working on completing his PhD in School Psychology with Georgia State University. He was a member of the City Council of College Park from 1995 until 2007. During his tenure he was also Mayor Pro Tem of the City of College Park. He is a founding co-President of the College Park Historic Neighborhood Association. In addition, he is a member of the South Fulton Municipal Association, the Georgia Municipal Association and a member of the Atlanta Area Association of Independent School Admission Directors Group. He, his wife Sandra and son (who work and attend Woodward Academy respectively), now reside in Griffin.
Chris M. Freer, Ph.D., Vice President - Dean for Student Life
Dr. Freer came to Woodward in 1994, teaching U.S. government and economics. He has coached at the varsity level for the football, wrestling and track-and-field programs, serving as head coach for track-and-field. Dr. Freer has served as the Dean of Student Life in the Upper School since 1998 and added the role of Upper School Assistant Principal in 2007. He earned his bachelor’s degree in political science from Davidson College, master’s degree in educational leadership from the University of Georgia and Ph.D. in educational policy studies from Georgia State University. He is married to Amanda Freer, and two of his three sons are students at Woodward’s Primary School.