University Elects Indiana Business, Education Leaders to Board of Trustees

Tri-State University has named Tobias Buck and Dennis Trinkle to its Board of Trustees. Buck is Chairman and CEO of Paragon Medical Inc., based in Pierceton, Ind. Trinkle is Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs and Chief Information Officer at DePauw University, in Greencastle, Ind.

“We are fortunate to have this caliber of leadership join our board,” said TSU President Earl D. Brooks II, Ph.D. “Toby and Dennis have exhibited great leadership in their careers, and we are confident they will help us capitalize on our recent successes as we plan new technology initiatives, enhance our faculty and facilities, expand adult learning options and complete our $70 million capital campaign.”

Buck co-founded Paragon Medical in 1991. The company designs, manufactures and delivers medical devices, including delivery systems, surgical instruments, trials and implantable components for the global surgical instrument marketplace. Through acquisitions and expansions under Buck’s leadership, Paragon has become a recognized leader in the worldwide medical device marketplace. Buck was named 2004 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year in life sciences and 1998 Indiana Entrepreneur of the Year for small manufacturing firms. Currently, he is a member of the Pheasants Forever National Board of Directors, MJM Board of Directors and resides on the IndianaNature Conservancy Board of Trustees. He earned a B.S. in Industrial Engineering Technology from Purdue University in 1986 and is a graduate of Harvard University’s Executive Development Program and MIT’s Birthing of Giants Program.

Trinkle joined the DePauw faculty in 1997. He holds the Tenzer University Professorship in Instructional Technology and is the founding director of DePauw’s award-winning 361º Initiatives and Information Technology Associates Program. The author or editor of a dozen books, he publishes and speaks widely on technology, teaching and learning, and IT planning and management. He serves on the Board of Directors for Opelin Corporation and eLrn, Inc and on the Advisory Boards for Askahistorian.com., Student Advantage, Localités/Localities, and the Gale Group. He graduated magna cum laud and Phi Beta Kappa in 1991 from DePauw with a B.A. in History. He received his M.A. and Ph.D. with high highest honors from the University of Cincinnati in 1998. He also holds a MBA from the University of Phoenix.