The Howard Payne University Board of Trustees elected officers for 2011 during their recent meeting.

Brad Helbert, retired executive director of the West Central Texas Council of Governments in Abilene, has been elected to serve a second term as chairman of the board. A 1965 graduate of Howard Payne, Helbert has served on the board since 2006 and has previously been first vice chairman.

“Howard Payne has been very successful this past year under our new president Dr. Ellis’ able leadership and we are looking forward to an even greater year in 2011,” said Helbert. “Our officers are all excited about their new opportunity to serve the university. They are dedicated to the time and attention it takes to make Howard Payne an even greater university.”

Dr. David Lowrie, Jr., senior pastor of the First Baptist Church of El Paso, will serve a second term as first vice chairman. He has served as a member of the Student Life and Christian Environment Committee of the board and is now chairman of the Denominational Relations Task Force. Lowrie began service on the board in 2006.

Robert Carter, a financial services consultant from Fort Worth, has been elected as second vice chairman. A 1973 graduate of HPU, Carter was recognized as the university’s Distinguished Alumnus in 2007. He began service on the board in 2009 and has served on the Financial and Support Services Committee.

Dr. E. Nell Hoffman, a retired educator from Bedford, will serve as secretary. She began service on the board in 2007 and is a 1950 graduate of the university. She has previously served on the Academics and Faculty Services Committee of the board and now serves on the Student Life and Christian Environment Committee.