The Kansas University Endowment Association board of trustees elected five new members at its meeting Friday:

David Booth, who graduated from KU in 1968 with a bachelor’s degree in economics and in 1969 with a master’s in business. He is chairman and CEO of Dimensional Fund Advisors in Santa Monica, Calif. He is a life member of the Chancellors Club, KU’s major-donor organization. During KU First: Invest in Excellence, the fundraising campaign for KU that closed in December 2004, he provided support for the School of Business and, together with his brother and sister, the construction of the Booth Family Hall of Athletics in honor of their parents.

Jerome Davies, who is KU Endowment’s senior vice president for development. He joined KU Endowment in 2000 as the assistant vice president for major gifts and was promoted to his current position in January. He is a member of the KU Alumni Association and the Chancellors Club. Davies also was elected secretary of the board.

Jann Rudkin, who graduated from KU in 1973 with bachelor’s degrees in chemistry and anthropology. She is a member of the KU Alumni Association, a life member of the Chancellors Club and a member of the Elizabeth M. Watkins Society, which honors donors of deferred gifts for KU. She serves on the Women Philanthropists for KU Advisory Board and has served on the Natural History Museum board. During KU First, she provided support for several areas of KU including the renovation of the Juanita and Reginald G. Strait house, which will be known as the Wilna Crawford Community Center.

Gale Sayers, who graduated from KU in 1975 with a bachelor’s in education and in 1977 with a master’s degree in educational administration. He is president and CEO of the Sayers Group in Chicago. He is a life member of the KU Alumni Association and has served on its National Board of Directors. He also has served on the School of Education Advisory Board. During KU First, he was a member of the Steering Committee and the Athletics Committee, and he provided support for the renovation of Pearson Hall for the School of Education. Sayers is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Dolph C. Simons III, who studied journalism with the Class of 1985 at KU before joining his family’s business at the Lawrence Journal-World, where he is president of the Newspapers Division. He is a life member of the KU Alumni Association and a member of the Chancellors Club. He is a member of the William Allen White Foundation Board at the School of Journalism and a past member of the Natural History Museum board and the Spencer Museum of Art board. During KU First, he provided support for the Williams Fund, the Spencer Museum and other areas.