Gov. DeWine reappoints Board Treasurer Beth Ferris and names student Ella Vaught to Wright State Board of Trustees

Beth Ferris received a six-year term on the Wright State Board of Trustees.

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine reappointed Beth Ferris, treasurer of the Wright State University Board of Trustees and executive vice president and CFO of Belcan, to a new six-year term. He also appointed Ella Vaught, a sophomore marketing major, as a student trustee.

Ferris, who first joined the Board of Trustees in 2022 to complete an unexpired term, will now serve through June 30, 2031.

“Wright State plays a vital role in preparing students for meaningful careers and lives of impact,” she said. “I’m honored to continue supporting that mission and to help strengthen the university’s role in shaping the region’s future workforce.”

In addition to serving as board treasurer, Ferris chairs Wright State’s Finance, Audit, Governance and Compliance Committee and is a member of the Executive Committee. She also serves on the board’s special committees on Aerospace and Defense and Athletics and Campus Recreation.

A senior financial executive with more than 30 years of experience, Ferris has served as chief financial officer of Belcan since 2016, leading the company’s global finance and accounting operations. Headquartered in Cincinnati, Belcan provides engineering, manufacturing, IT and digital solutions for industries including aerospace, defense and automotive.

Ferris previously spent over two decades at LexisNexis, where she held several leadership roles, including senior vice president of global finance and CFO of its U.S. division.

She earned a Master of Business Administration, with a concentration in finance, from Wright State University and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in Marketing from Bowling Green State University. She also completed the RELX Harvard Executive Management Program and Six Sigma Executive Champion training.

Student Trustee Ella Vaught

Ella Vaught, a sophomore marketing major, received a two-year term on the Wright State Board of Trustees.

Ella Vaught was appointed as a student trustee for a term ending June 30, 2027, succeeding Madisyn Crabtree. She is one of two student members on the Board of Trustees who represent the student voice in university governance.

“I am beyond excited to start a new journey with the Wright State Board of Trustees,” Vaught said. “I have always had a deep passion and appreciation for student advocacy, so I’m excited for the opportunity to represent the student body and bring their voices to the board. Wright State has shaped so much of who I am, and I’m committed to serving and advocating for the needs and success of our diverse student community.”

A presidential scholar and honors student, Vaught majors in marketing with a concentration in business analytics. She serves on the Raj Soin College of Business Dean’s Student Advisory Board and works as an involvement mentor and social media manager in the Student Involvement and Leadership Center.

She graduated with honors from Xenia High School in 2024.