UPSem board of trustees elects new leadership

From left, incoming chairman Alex Evans, UPSem President Brian Blount, incoming vice chairman Edward Roberson.

The Reverend Alex Evans (M.Div.’87), pastor for Second Presbyterian Church in Richmond, Virginia, has been named chairman of the board of trustees for Union Presbyterian Seminary. Edward L. Roberson, III, the president of Fountain Roberson Anderson Insurance Agency in Tarboro, North Carolina, has been named vice chairman.  Evans is preceded by William L. Rikard, Jr., a lawyer in the firm Parker Poe in Charlotte, NC, who served on UPSem’s board for 12 years, January 1, 2005 to December 31, 2016, with the last six of that term as chairman.

“William Rikard has been a phenomenal chair, widely and rightly respected by the Union community and the larger PCUSA community of seminary presidents and board chairs,  said UPSem’s President Brian K. Blount. “Rikard will be greatly missed. And yet, Union’s bench is deep. Alex Evans and Ed Roberson bring with them the complete confidence of the board.  They both have years of leadership experience in the church and on the board.  As president, I could not be more delighted. Their wisdom will help shape a wonderful new future for Union Presbyterian Seminary.”

“UPSem holds a cherished place in my life,” said Evans. “My grandfather and father both served on the board. I grew up playing ball on the campus, mostly with children of professors. My faith and life continue to be shaped by the studies and sense of community that I found as a student. My current ministry as pastor at Second Presbyterian allows me to interact with faculty and students in meaningful ways. I am deeply honored to serve God in this way. I look forward to doing my best to support President Blount and strengthen the important work of Union Presbyterian Seminary.”

Roberson, a member of the board of trustees since 2010, is a resident of Tarboro anda lifelong member of Howard Memorial Presbyterian Church. He has held leadership roles at the church within its Diaconate Session and Men of the Church. Roberson was vice chair of Howard Memorial’s Presbyterian Retirement Corp., which was instrumental in creating The Fountains at Albermarle retirement facility in downtown Tarboro. He is the president of Fountain Roberson Anderson Insurance Agency and has 30-years experience in the insurance industry. Roberson is a 1971 graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill.