LINDSBORG, Kan. — Roper DeGarmo ’00, was named chairman of the Bethany College Board of Directors effective July 1, 2019.
DeGarmo is the owner of Signature Personal Insurance located in Mission, Kan.
Born and raised in Kansas, Roper graduated magna cum laude from Bethany College with a double major in communications and finance. Even before graduation, Roper began his insurance career by becoming a licensed insurance agent and interning with a nationally respected Kansas City-based insurance agency. Roper graduated first in his class at the National Alliance School for Producer Development. He gained considerable experience working for a prestigious insurance firm until he felt the next logical step in his development was to build his own agency. He set his sights on creating a truly service-oriented insurance agency and never looked back. Roper earned his designation as a Certified Insurance Counselor administered by The National Alliance for Insurance Education and Research. He also has participated in the AIG Private Client Group Risk Management Conferences and PURE Leadership Forums.
Susan Lundstrom, ’78, board member from Lindsborg, said “Roper’s positivity will make him a great leader.”
Roper previously served on the Bethany College Alumni Counsel. He also served as a church council member for Trinity Lutheran Church, Mission, Kan., as well as a high school youth counselor. He is a member of the Kansas Association of Independent Agents. Roper was also selected to the 2009 class of Centurions by the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce. Roper and his wife, Rachel ’00, have two children.
“I’ve enjoyed working with Roper over the past year and look forward to continuing this working relationship as we each serve Bethany in a new capacity,” said Interim President, Dr. Elizabeth Mauch.
Bethany College, established by Swedish Lutheran immigrants in 1881, is a college of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The mission of Bethany College is to educate, develop, and challenge individuals to reach for truth and excellence as they lead lives of faith, learning, and service.