Board of Trustees
The St. Michael's High School Board of Trustees is the governing body that oversees policy, budget and other issues related to the school, including the perpetuation of the lasalian tradition in our mission as well as academic and extra-curricular programs.
John R. Fox (’71), Chair
John R. Fox, the current chair of the St. Michael’s Board of Trustees, has been an SMHS trustee since 2004. Mr. Fox has been a practicing attorney in Santa Fe since 1978. He currently operates Southwestern Title in Santa Fe and Espanola, and Fox Law Firm and Ten Thirty-One Exchange Corp. in Santa Fe.
William Garcia, Vice Chair
Bill Garcia was elected to the St. Michael’s Board of Trustees in March 2008; in 2009 he co-chaired the 150th Anniversary Committee. He is a retired businessman with experience in the telecommunications and computer chip manufacturing field. Mr. Garcia served as the New Mexico secretary of economic development from 1991–94. He is a member of the Catholic Foundation, Highlands University Foundation, and UNM Foundation. He is married to Aileen Garcia, a retired school administrator.
Leslie Carpenter
Leslie Carpenter is a retired educator with many years of experience as a teacher, school principal, and chief operations officer in the public schools. Most recently, she served as superintendent of the Santa Fe Public Schools. Ms. Carpenter is president/principal of an educational consulting company, Creative School Designs, LLC, and provides professional development on educational issues. Ms. Carpenter has advanced degrees from the University of New Mexico and is originally from Louisiana. She is an active member of St. Francis Cathedral Parish and is married to Richard Carpenter, a retired attorney. They have three children and five grandchildren.
Fabian Chavez III (’69)
Fabian Chavez III, a lifelong resident of Santa Fe, holds a B.S. in horticulture from New Mexico State University and an M.A. in education administration from the University of New Mexico. Mr. Chavez worked in the public schools as a teacher and administrator for 26 years; currently he directs the City of Santa Fe Parks Division. Mr. Chavez is serving his second term on the Board of Trustees of St. Michael’s.
Jerry Coppler ('82)
Jerry Coppler has served on the St. Michael’s Board of Trustees since 2009 and has served for several years on the Board of the St. Michael’s High School Foundation. He has practices law in Santa Fe since 1990 and holds a BA, MBA and JD. He has his wife, Kati, who is also an attorney, have two children: a daughter in kindergarten and a son in third grade.
Joe Dennis (’65)
Joe Dennis is a senior project director with The Pacific Institute. He consults with organizations, including educational institutions, that use a four-step transformation process as a proven strategy for dramatic performance improvement and organizational culture transformation. Mr. Dennis was elected as secretary of the SMHS Board of Trustees in 2008.
Kurt Gilbert
Kurt Gilbert has served on the SMHS Board of Trustees since 2007. Mr. Gilbert is a director in the Santa Fe office of the Rodey Law Firm, where he is a member of the Litigation Department. His practice represents healthcare providers, product manufacturers, insurance companies and utility companies in personal injury and complex commercial litigation. Mr. Gilbert serves as treasurer of the board of directors for the First Judicial District Bar Association. He and his wife, Elicia Montoya (’92), have two children.
Exilda Martinez (’57)
Exilda Trujillo Martinez is a retired middle school teacher and principal. She is involved with many civic, social and professional activities; she serves on boards and committees primarily associated with health, welfare, and safety of children and youth in the educational arena. She is actively engaged in the preservation of culture and the arts. Exilda is a graduate of Loretto Academy and her husband, Ramon, is an alumnus of St. Michael’s.
Max E. Myers
Max E. Myers is Executive Vice President of New Mexico Bank and Trust. Mr. Myers’ banking career began in 1979, when he served as assistant national bank examiner in the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, and has since included senior leadership positions at Southwest National Bank and First National Bank of Albuquerque, FirstBank Santa Fe, and Sunwest Bank of Santa Fe. From 1998–2002, Mr. Myers managed M3, LLC, and from 2002–2006 he was executive vice president of Century Bank. Mr. Myers graduated from Santa Fe High School in 1975. He holds a BBA in finance from New Mexico State University and an MBA from the University of New Mexico. Mr. Myers has served as the local United Way Campaign Chair and on the advisory board of the New Mexico State University Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Management School. Mr. Myers and his wife, Linda Cooper Myers, live in Santa Fe. Their children, Reese, Blake, and Eric, are St. Mike’s alumni.
David Vlaming
David Vlaming is retired after 35 years in banking; he currently serves on the finance council of St. Francis Cathedral Basilica and as a board member of the Santa Fe Railyard Community Corporation. He is serving his second term as a St. Michael’s trustee. David’s son Patrick is a 1989 graduate of St. Michael’s.