Laurie Labarca and Steve Packebush have been appointed to the Wichita State University Board of Trustees by Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback.

Labarca has been assigned to fill an unexpired term created by the resignation of David Coleal until June 30, 2016. Packebush will serve a three-year term until June 30, 2018. He succeeds John Eric Engstrom.

Vernell Jackson has been reappointed to a three-year term on the WSU Board of Trustees and will serve until June 30, 2018, and Thomas Winters has been reappointed to a three-year term until June 30, 2018.

Labarca is the administrator for hospital operations for Via Christi Health, the largest healthcare provider in Kansas and the second-largest private employer in Wichita. She earned her bachelor’s degree in occupational therapy from the University of Kansas in 1985, and her master’s degree in Healthcare Leadership from Friends University in 2011. Labarca also serves on the WSU College of Health Care Professionals Dean’s Advisory Board.

Packebush is president of Koch Ag & Energy Solutions, LLC; a subsidiary of Koch Industries Inc., for which he serves as senior vice president –Ag & Energy. He is a graduate of Kansas State University with a bachelor’s degree in agricultural economics.

The Board of Trustees supports the educational undertakings of the university through the management of the Wichita State’s endowment and the 1.5 mill levy.

The Board of Trustees was established in 1963, the same year that the Municipal University of Wichita came into the state system and became Wichita State University. The board consists of nine members appointed by the governor.