John and I served together for several years as deans at Trinity Western University.  Over that time I came to respect John not only as a leader in his own academic field but also as someone who could provide fresh insight into a question that came before us as a Deans Council. 

John is a very clear thinker and always speaks to the heart of the issue under consideration.  He is very articulate and can speak to issues with clarity. This is often done in a spirit of good humor which can break the ice in tense situations. 

My sense is that he would continue to be an excellent school trustee, based on his understanding of academic issues and his clear insight into solving problems.